The Crab Shed in South Hams

Excellent food and location overlooking the harbour in the Crab, themed restaurant. Not very big can be busy so booking, even for a lunchtime out of holiday season recommended.

Our first time visiting the Crab Shed and definitely not the last. Lovely potted crab and crab bruschetta for starters followed by a whole crab (to share). Fabulous tasting food, lovely location on the waters edge and excellent, friendly service from Nicola(?). Highly recommended

Had a fabulous lunch today, 2/12/24. We enjoyed the amazing bouillabaisse and crab sandwiches, chips and pinot grigio rose. Highly recommended with very attentive staff, who made the eating experience fantastic.

Fantastic restaurant. Locally caught crab and scallops were amazing. The service was pitched perfectly - a super friendly and attentive team! All Round lovely evening and meal. A Must try when in Salcombe! 10/10

We drove down from chudleigh for some seafood 🦞 We usually go to the crab shack in teignmouth, but last year we were a little disappointed, and decided to try somewhere different. The service was welcoming and friendly. We ordered the fruits de mer (for 2), which usually includes lobster, but sadly they had run out 😭 We came for the lobster, but the staff were so apologetic and made up for the lack of lobster with extra crab, scallops, prawns and mussels. It was a feast for the eyes and the belly. We went away satisfied, and would definitely go back again. 🙏🏽

My wife and I went here whilst on our honeymoon last week. We cannot wait to bring some of our family back again soon to enjoy more of the delicious seafood! Service was amazing. Crab Shed was the highlight to our stay in Salcombe!

Amazing food! Have the muscles and the crab sandwich! Lovely people as well. Come here, you won’t regret it?

So good we came twice in one week. Lovely service, great food and so welcoming.

Delicious crab linguine and scallops. Very welcoming staff today with efficient service.

The food was absolutely mouthwatering, especially the Catalan fish stew. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, and the stunning view perfectly complemented the meal.

Great meal. Enjoyed the crab sandwich with a salad and some fries. Delicious. Staff were very friendly and polite. Lovely setting as we sat outside on the deck and enjoyed the view. Highly recommended.

Early booking for my wife, 4 month old and I after strong recommendations. Lovely spot, real nice inside. Maitre D was fabulous all evening - steering my wife away from “messy” dishes that wouldn’t be ideal with a 4 month old in her hands!! Food was fab, the best bit if bass I’ve ever eaten. Service could be a little sharper - I had to ask for more drinks and chase my fries that arrived halfway through the meal. That aside, great evening. Call ahead to book for sure.

Top notch, reception, service & food. This without doubt is a treat not to be missed. The staff, food & ambience is just superb. Great experience from booking, reception, service, chef & the whole team. We loved it! Get in there & enjoy, a real pleasure. Thank you. 🙏🏻 😁👏💯

Excellent cracked crab. A bit of effort, but well worth it. The dressed crab looked good too if you want something a little easier. Great service.

Fabulous dinner and great service

This is a real gem of a place. Dont miss out the opportunity. We had the best cooked battered fish and crab salad you could experience. Superb. Great staff, young, enthusiastic and hard working to ensure your experience is complete. Sat by the waters edge at the lovely town of Salcombe.

A must must try in Salcombe. Really friendly staff and great food.

Superb food. Fish of the day presentation was amazing. Just wish we lived closer

Great food, fresh and good size portions. Lovely location too

I had the bruschetta to start and cracked crab in butter sauce for my main, it was delicious! My first time picking crab and it was super fun and rewarding because it was so tasty!

I've only eaten there once and my experience was very positive. The staff were very warm and welcoming. The restaurant is very busy and it's advisable to book well in advance. We just managed to get a table outside. Luckily the weather stayed dry. There was 6 of us and 4 of us had their daily special which lucky for us was freshly caught that day "Hake". Perfectly seasoned on a bed of crushed new potatoes with a crab and tomato bisque. My youngest granddaughter had a crab linguine that tasted devine. My grandson not being adventurous had battered haddock and fries with pea puree and tartar sauce. The over all experience was excellent and to all dog owners they are pet friendly. If I venture to Salcombe again I will definitely pay another visit to the crab shed.

How do you like your Crab ?? Served in hot garlic butter !!!! Great place, over looking the estuary.

We had some lovely crab here, but the catch of the day special was lovely. Seabass with bombay potatoes and crab korma.

A fantastic restaurant located just out of town in Salcombe. I ordered the catch of the day which was curried monk fish. An unbelievable dish. So fresh and tasty. My wife ordered the fish and chips which was also very tasty. Definitely have to try this place if you are near by. You will need to call ahead and book!

Staying here with friends, had a late lunch here. Beautiful food, served by cheery staff. Potted crab (had by two of us)was excellent, as were the scallops had by the other two. Three then had the local catch of the day - hake, with crushed new pots, beans, I had the Crab Shed bouillabaise. The food was really very good. Well cooked & presented. The bouillabaise was full of fish, mussels, clams, hake, mackerel, prawns, in a wonderful broth, plenty of bread. Highly recommended. Bill for 4, inclusive of wine was just about £250, which I thought was reasonable for what we had.

Refreshing the to be served by staff who engage and enjoy humour. Had a lovely afternoon. Would recommend the mussels for starters and carb for main.

Really casual atmosphere, with exceptionally high food quality!

We had a great lunch here, the food and service were brilliant.

We had lunch at the Crab Shed with our 2 young children. Our youngest aged 10 had been excited to try a crab for the very first time. We ordered a crab linguine, fish and chips and the whole crab. We were so impressed with the food and service. The lovely owner took the time to teach our son how to best tackle the crab as this was a first time experience for him. We can’t thank you enough for the whole experience.

Can’t recommend the Crab Shed enough! I’d easily say it’s the best food I’ve had in Salcombe.

I liked it, as did the rest of the family. Great location and we had a fantastic table outside in the sun. Warning though, as it can get a bit breezy, so take a jumper and possibly a waterproof. Service was ok, a little slow to take drinks order. Food was good without being excellent. My paella had I little too much saffron in it, so had started to get that slightly ‘medicinal’ taste.

Fantastic lunch at the Crab Shed. Brilliant food and wine.

A gorgeous place, informal and relaxed atmosphere. The food was beautifully cooked, would highly recommend!

Great food party of ten all fully fed and enjoyed all meals

Fantastic place to enjoy the freshest crab in Salcombe. Very attentive service, only a short wait for food to arrive despite restaurant being full. Potted crab starter and crabby fries with our mains were absolutely divine! Fairly expensive, but good food normally is, and this was worth every penny. Overall we couldn’t fault the place (although did suggest some outside patio heaters just to take the chill off the evening air). Well done CrabShed. 👏👏

Great place for crab and fish dishes, well worth a visit.

Crab sandwich and crabby fries . What’s not to like . Oh to add a great estuary vista . Friendly service . Loved visiting this busy place and getting lucky with a walk-in.

Amazing food, fresh and well presented. Staff are all great! Friendly and warm. Knowledgeable about the menu and about my gluten free (coeliac) diet. Drinks were great, good champagne. Look forward to going back!

Amazing crab and seafood. The outdoor seating overlooks the water which is perfect especially on a beautiful sunny day.

Fantastic food and service! I had the whole crab (the house special) which is amazing. Huge. But… very messy! Be prepared! My husband had the monkfish special which was delicious. Staff were super friendly and helpful. Our only improvement would be some background music and slight mood (less bright) lighting in the evening to give it a bit more atmosphere. Will 100% be back - looking forward to a sunny day and enjoying the “Fruits de mer” platter on the terrace with a bottle of rose!

We strolled over to the restaurant without a reservation. Luckily we were able to snag some seats, near the entrance. Emma took care of us. Suggested a few choices that we all agreed on. Fruits de Mer ; Included a whole crab, Salcombe lobster, mussels, clams, scallops and prawns served with garlic and herb butter. Classic Fish and Chips Crab Shed Bisque As some guests had left, Emma moved us indoors. The first dish served was the Crab Shed Bisque, which was delightful—creamy, rich and bursting with crab flavour in every spoonful. It was truly authentic! Following that was the fish and chips which I found to be decent but not outstanding. The Fruits de Mer looked quite impressive with an array of seafood on display. The lobster was expertly prepared with a balanced flavour that I particularly enjoyed. However the South Devon crab didn't quite meet my expectations; it had a drier texture. Personally, I prefer the tender and juicy meat of tropical mud crabs compared to the crab meat from colder waters. Despite this I remained unfazed. I savoured the cooking and ambience by the sea. Salcombe crab shed is truly a place that I adore. I'm already looking forward to returning next year.

I had an amazingly good whole lobster. Cooked to perfection with simple garlic butter. Beautiful.

Great spot at the far end of Salcombe. Sitting outside looking across the water is ideal. Team could not be more pleasant or helpful. Prompt service. Food solid performance if not standout.

Welcomed like a prison door, perhaps because we are French!! Lots of free tables outside and we are told that everything is reserved even for a drink!! Ahahahha good joke!

Quite simply - THE BEST seafood meal I've ever had. From the effort they made to squeeze us in when calling to book, to the meal itself - an all round first class experience. Every mouthful of our food was utterly delicious. Even the side salad was a thing of delight. We were seated next to the semi-open kitchen and had some good banter with the chefs too. Cant wait to come back! Thank you for running such a fabulous place.

Fab place for seafood- great portions of fresh, great quality fish and shellfish. Staff were lovely too.

Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely a highlight for us

Lovely food. Waitresses were very helpful and smiley. Location is lovely overlooking the water. Can highly recommend

We booked here to celebrate my wife's birthday. We live locally and are lucky to have a wide choice of excellent venues. I am an ex Hotel and Food Inspector so I like to feel I know what I am looking at! This venue is quirky in the grand scheme of things, so if you like different, you like good fresh seafood, and a choice of something to wash it down with, then get yourselves booked in. Booking is essential!! The staff are superb. The young lady serving our table is called Catherine. Good food knowledge, combined with a superb personality made our evening. My wife chose Prosecco, Potted crab and beautifully presented scallops. ( a slice of lime on top would have completed the presentation)...but superbly cooked. I went down the route of Salcombe Brewery IPA, Potted Crab and a Crab Linguini. The food was amazing , the evening sun warming and the view stupendous. It was one of the best meals ever, in a location that you could not buy. Our bill including service was a shade over £100. With food, I am an avid believer that you get what you pay for. I really wish this establishment, and their fantastic staff well for the future in an ever more competitive market. Thank you all for a memorable evening.

Always such a fantastic experience! Always worth a visit! Delicious!

Best fish and chips I’ve had in a long time. Salads were also amazing. Great wine, and right on the water with beautiful views. Dog friendly too

Fabulous food and reasonably priced….. booked for another visit ❤️

Sadly didn’t get to eat here. Pre-booked online via their website and had a prompt to save to my iPhone calendar which I did. However, when I presented on the day at the time I thought I had booked there was no reservation? Strangely though having never been to the Crab Shed before it had my name and mobile number in its system? Staff member kept asking if I’d had email confirmation. Well no but please explain why you have my name and number if I hadn’t made some sort of connection via your online booking portal. Clearly a glitch but was made to feel like it was my fault! Would I rush back? No, went to Ferry Inn much nicer views and friendlier staff.

Lovely meal in the Shed, nice atmosphere throughout. Crab was delicious. Worth visiting.

Sitting outside for lunch by the muddy because of the low tide time wasn’t great. Otherwise great!

Great location. Beautiful food (really lovely!) Decent wine list. Lovely people. Only slightly marred by the frostiness of front of house on booking, arrival and during. Small thing though. Fab place! Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

I got the Crab Shed Bouillabaisse and it was absolutely delicious. There were lots of fish and shellfish such as scallops, mussels, shrimp, etc. The staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was wonderful. I do recommend you book it beforehand.

Perfect place to enjoy the best prepared Salcombe crab. Worth a major detour.

First visit to this cute place.fully booked but the kind lady (yellow crocks) said pop back at sharp 12 noon and there’s a outdoor table(stools)available,great beautiful day slight breeze tide Out unfortunately. Ordered One fish/chips and One small fish/chips and served with in ten minutes great.chips lovely,fish lovely too but what was disappointing was how Small the portion of homemade pee purée was (delicious) Tablespoon max, Tartare sauce Also Disappointing ,mayonnaise (homemade???) with just couple bits of chopped capers added to it . When chopped capers,gherkins,onion and parsley (French recipe)Marinated in the mayonnaise for 2/3 days will give you that real Distinctive taste of proper tartar Sauce , my partners small portion Was Not served with either the purée or tartare sauce For £12.50 yes definitely for the price.Service Charge £5.15 was fine because the waitresses that served us was very nice ,helpful,friendly chatty .Will we return YES we will,bring my own tartare sauce to accompany your delicious fish Yes I will LOL.

Great atmosphere and service, and the food was very good. I am not a fan of eating with my hands so went for the dressed crab which was delicious. All in all, a great meal that met my expectations, but it was not outstanding against all restaurants in this world.

The best possible meal you can have within 100 miles of Salcombe. The staff are incredible, the chefs are professional geniuses and the atmosphere is excellent! Cannot fundamentally flaw anything about the Crabshed.

Lovely friendly staff, nothing was too much trouble. Fantastic food. Had sea food paella. Great value. All in all first class! Would highly recommend.....

Great lunch with great choice of delicious seafood (and non-seafood) options. Paradoxical setting beside a creek with water and boats on one side and a car park the other! That said, this is a lovely little restaurant well worth a visit.

Food was absolutely amazing, the young lad who served us couldnt do enough for us , shame they was fully booked and we had to sit in the most windy place with work men at the side of us the tables that was reserved was still empty when we were leaving, such a shame as everything else was perfect

Food and Location was amazing. Staff were pleasant on arrival and however refused to seat us outside despite phoning to confirm we would be outside. It was birthday and they were unaccomodating, insinuating it was our mistake which it was not, we ended up being seated outside in the breakfast bar which was nice however not what we expected especially when paying for an expensive meal.

If you have ever been anywhere that loads so much incredibly fresh, delicious crab into a salad or sandwich then please let me know. This place was amazing and I wish we lived closer!! The staff were really lovely and they were very good with our two small kids. This place is a must if you're visiting the area.

Went to the Crab Shed today for the first time after visiting Salcombe many times a year for many years. All I can say is why have we not been before! Service superb, relaxed but attentive and quick, polite. We had two toddlers in our party and when we requested food items for them first they came extremely quickly which assisted with the overall calm and easy experience. The food was excellent and one of the best meals we’ve had in ages, throughly delicious. Our party of 4 adults shared everything and ordered a good selection so we got to try a large variety of the menu and after trying a good 6-7 dishes between starters and mains there was nothing we didn’t like. The value for money is great. Honestly one of the best dinning experiences we’ve had in a long time.

Absolutely brilliant, staff amazing and food absolutely amazing 🤩

Really nice seafood restaurant. Would definitely recommend.

What a wonderful find! Right on the quayside in charming Salcombe. I love the description in the Good Food Guide: "One of those perfect, no-frills seafood spots you dream of finding in every fishing village but rarely do." We went for the crab, but firstly shared delicious: - Crab Shed Bisque: a rich crab and tomato soup with our own fresh mixed crab meat served with bread - Classic Moules Marinière: mussels, garlic, onions, cream, wine, herbs and bread The crab bisque was excellent with a deep, rich flavour and the moules were fat and juicy, served with the delicious cream cooking liquor. And then: - Whole Salcombe Cracked Crab cracked and ready to pick, with fries and bread, served chilled or hot with garlic butter - our signature dish This was a fabulously fresh steamed crab (we had 1 each), served with melted garlic butter and chips. It was just perfect, and a really good size. Lovely service in a really laid-back place. We loved it! What an excellent lunch! Thank you Crab Shed Also posted to my food blog on Instagram @AbbeyKing16

We booked a table here a couple of days ago. When we arrived the owner/manager seemed to cave lost control and told me to”stand in the corner” until she could deal with me. We waited for so long even the chef was sympathetic. Eventually just left as no sign of a table and based on all of the other people trying to get the table they booked we weren’t the only ones. Heard great things but based on the incompetence of the owner/manager I wouldn’t risk relying on a table booking.

The perfect end to an already amazing day!! We had a lovely day out at salcombe and were craving some seafood. We rang the crab shed the morning of and the lady kindly managed to squeeze us in for 6 so definitely book in advance to guarantee a table!! When we were there lots of walk ins weren’t able to be seated due to them being fully booked. Location is stunning we were lucky with it being a sunny day so we sat outside over the waters edge but inside also looked lovely. James was our server and he was great! Very attentive and smiley and really added to making it a lovely experience. The food was incredible. We decided to push the boat out and go for lots of different dishes, the special that day was a Hake fillet with crushed new potatoes, greens and a lemon and caper butter and oh my god it was the best fish dish I’ve ever had. My partner had a whole lobster and again it was fab. We also shared a range of starters and they were all so delicious too, couldn’t fault any of it! It was expensive but that’s expected for what it was and we were more than happy to pay the discretionary 12.7% service charge as everyone there from chefs to servers to managers were great! Will definitely be going back!

We visit here everytime we are near and always look forward to doing so - food is the best in salcombe and the atmosphere is unbeatable - plus you are literally on the 🌊

Fantastic, Crabshed at its best. Food amazing, service friendly and efficient and wonderful wine. We had the Moules, dressed crab and bouillabaisse. 😋 sat outside in the glorious sunshine..

Delicious! An absolute must if you’re visiting Salcombe

Very good food and great service.

Excellent menu and beautiful setting with professional and friendly service. We enjoyed a beautiful lunch here to celebrate a belated Mother's Day and we were not disappointed. We loved the ambience and decor which was classy, modern and bright. The menu offers creative dishes centered around their naamesake, crab. Every dish was delicious and the perfect size. We also enjoyed wonderful desserts. The service was prompt, attentive and very professional, whilst also being warm and friendly. Dogs are very welcome here which was wonderful for our three 4 legged friends. We will definitely return when we are next in Salcombe and we will highly recommend this place to everyone.

Awesome! We both had the crab and prawn salad and it was amazing. Service was super quick too. We sat outside (hadn’t booked…) and rugs were available to keep us warm.

I couldn’t recommend this place enough - exceptional fresh seafood and super friendly staff. A must go to place in Salcombe - don’t forget to book as it gets super busy!!!!

Visiting area to met up with family. Had a lovely meal in the crab shed.

Fantastic food. Great service -extremely helpful we hadn’t booked and couldn’t have been more accommodating. Gave you plenty of information about choices from the menu and it didn’t disappoint. Food very fresh and the crab fries were just very different and extremely nice.

Passing by on a cold mid afternoon, we saw the sign for the restaurant clearly advertising 'coffees' which is what we wanted. On entering, a man with a beard came over to us and when we asked if we could just come in for coffee, he bluntly snapped 'no'. Of course it may be that they were too busy with lunch guests to accommodate us, but there is a way to handle this diplomatically. Don't waste your time with this stuck up pretentious eatery.

We had read Trip Advisor reviews, parked up in the large adjacent pay & and display, and booked a table for later that lunchtime We are so glad we did. It's a small, independent establishment, but everything was top notch, from meet & greet; explanation of the use of local ingredients & their providence; wine selection; to THE FOOD !!!!. When we booked our table, we saw the chef preparing the squid - and the lady at front of house told us about the squid risotto with so much passion, so that definitely had to be ordered. My wife had the risotto & I had dressed crab. The crab was excellent, but my wife's risotto was truly divine (well, the little she allowed me to taste was). She finished it all, and would have eaten more - and she was someone who wasn't that keen on squid (until now). Why did we only find the Crab Shed on our last day in the area.

The young girl that served us was very informative about the menu and made myself, husband and very well behaved dog feel welcomed. I had the Salcombe crab in garlic butter which was superb, my husband had the crab linguine and also really enjoyed it. If I had to give any negative it's very tight inside especially if you have a dog, the other waitress asked us to move our dog but where to? Other then this it was a great experience.

Wonderful meal and very friendly service🦀🦀

From the moment we stepped into The Crab Shack in Salcombe, we knew we were in for a treat. The warm, inviting atmosphere paired with the friendly and attentive staff set the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. First, let's talk about the food. The Crab Linguine was a masterpiece of flavors, with perfectly cooked pasta perfectly complemented by succulent crab meat, all bathed in a rich, creamy sauce that danced on the palate with each bite. And the Slow Roasted Tomato Gnocchi? Simply divine. Each pillowy gnocchi was infused with the sweetness of slow-roasted tomatoes, creating a dish that was both comforting and gourmet. But what truly set The Crab Shack apart was the staff. From the moment we were seated to the moment we left, we were treated like royalty. Our server was knowledgeable, passionate, and attentive, guiding us through the menu with expertise and ensuring that every aspect of our dining experience was nothing short of perfection. In summary, The Crab Shack in Salcombe not only delivered exceptional cuisine but also provided a dining experience that was second to none. We left feeling satisfied, delighted, and already planning our next visit. Thank you to the entire team for an unforgettable evening."

I cannot fault the food or service. We enjoyed garlic prawn scallops and bruschetta to start then shared a crab with hot garlic butter fries and bread and our daughter had the mozzarella and tomatoes pasta - all delicious fresh and well worth the money . Booking is essential! The wine selection pairs brilliantly with the menu.

We visited for lunch and had the most enjoyable couple of hours. The fish was fresh and tasted amazing. We had the plaice goujon special and the scallops for starters. We followed this by one of us having fish and chips, whilst I opted for the whole cracking crab with garlic butter. The crab was clearly on steroids as it was the largest crab that I've seen in my life ...it was HUGE and oh so delicious! I have added a picture to show the size of the crab ....as well as the 2 starters. I totally recommend the crab shack as a chilled, relaxed, friendly place...the food is superb, and the drinks to accompany chilled to perfection! Will definitely be back!

Fabulous place! Staff were super helpful and really kind, explained how to get the most from our fresh whole crabs. Tiny kitchen, and only 2 chefs but able to cope with gluten and dairy free, and offer me almost the entire menu. Definitely one to repeat next time we are in the area.

A wonderful seafood experience. Salcombe crab and scallops are sublime. The team - Simon, Misha, Martin, Will, Alex, Amy and wonderful Emma are fantastic. Very hard to get a table but worth it. Dropping from 6/5 to 4/5 because the price has risen exponentially beyond even London! Crab has been £20 but has now risen to £32 driven by the owner. High net worth summer holiday guests won’t notice but the locals are heading to Wild Artichokes in Kingsbridge instead.

Staff informative & very professional to start. We had the plater. Crab was so good. Lobster was tasteless So the best was the Crab the bread and garlic butter gravy. Kind of a tick exercise really. But wow a drink each a sheared seafood plater for close to £200. And a service charge on the bill 20% not mentioned. I did expect a good buy. But nothing Lovely location & food served around us looked so good I should have had the crab linguine but left hungry. Sorry

What a lovely find. The food was stunning, lovely friendly service too. Highly recommend, booking is probably essential. Fab

I can't comment on the Crab Shed as I never got to try it. I placed an order on the Web page for a crab and go. Then, I tried to book a pick slot, but the webpage said there were none available. So I phone to say the webpage would let me book a pick up time. Only to be told ,we only do the Crab and go in November and December. Then I would suggest you only put it on the webpage when you're actually providing this service. Thanks for a very disappointed potential customer.

Best meal we’ve eaten in a long time. Lots of gluten free safe options. I have a special seafood crab risotto - TO DIE FOR. Still thinking about it - great chef Service a little inattentive

Spot great for casual dining however the restaurant is small and chairs very close together. Limited bookings as so small and quite cold

Really good seafood, knowledgeable and friendly service

Fantastic little place. Amazing food and great view and service. Will def return

Amazingly friendly, warm and welcoming. The scallops were to die for. The crack crab took me a little time to work through but every part was delicious. Highly recommended

Amazing food and lovely place to visit. If you like fresh seafood cooked to perfection this is the place. Service was excellent and very friendly

Great location opposite the boat yard, super friendly service, very knowledgeable staff and fantastic fresh scallops, mussels and crab dishes all sourced locally, finished off with a cracking chocolate tart, we're both foodies & have eaten at many restaurants but this was right up there, definitely recommend.