Phillips Crab House Reviews

Very clean & fresh rotation of food choices. One of better buffets I have been to.

I honestly haven't been there since the 1970's but have the fondest memories of the spiced whole Blue Crabs and various crab dishes. I was just a teenaged surfing beach bum for a couple of summers in the OC area in those days but Phillips Crab House, all things considered, is to this day one of the very finest restaurants at which I've ever had the absolute pleasure to dine. PHENOMENAL food and atmosphere!!! TEN STARS!!!

Visited for the first time with my wife, and our son and his family. Arrived shortly after opening and on a Monday hoping to avoid large crowd but there was still a line for buffet. We got in and were quickly seated. Based on the ratings I was hoping for a better experience. Waitress was attentive and friendly but food was subpar at best. It was busy but not full and they were constantly running out of food. People were forming a line waiting 10 minutes or longer to replenish the crab legs. Crab cakes and other high demand items were often non existent as well. Best thing I had were the oysters. Would not recommend and will not return.

Good was great while I was there. Once leaving approx an hour later I started having severe pains in my abdomen and was rushed the the hospital and diagnosed with food poisoning. It completely washed out the rest of my vacation with my family because of how sick I was and sure I ll be receiving a huge medical bill from the hospital with what my insurance couldn t cover. So very horrible experience. I do not recommend.

1st time eating here and it was so delicious! We took a day trip to Ocean City, MD and Phillips was on the itinerary for it They did not disappoint!

Was overpriced and the crablegs were small,felt like i was in a cafeteria

What we had was good, we only got appetizers because 1 thats one crab cake was 40 dollars.

The best Phillips location and the best seafood buffet. Family tradition spot for Memorial day weekend.

Had the breakfast Buffet. Food was great. Service was great.

The price paid was not worth the food. Crab legs and a cream of crab soup were good. Crab cakes were also good but the create your own pasta bar was a joke, and was frankly nasty. As well as the peal and eat shrimp was rubbery. Will not go back.

Great place to eat with a reasonable price. Not a single complaint from me. Really good food choices for seafood and non-seafood eaters. Large place and free parking aswell, whats not to love.

Very good, our server chris was very pleasant and very courteous

Huumm tasty food nice people even though the waiting took us an half hour. It was worth to be for kids family and friends

It was wonderful and we really enjoyed it. Large crowd one rainy July day. Good service. Great food

Went about an hour or two before close and food was dry, rubbery and tasteless from sitting under the heat lamps far too long. The food selection was below par for the price and my drink was watered down. Even the floor below my table was slippery and unkempt. For $90.00 I DO NOT recommend!

Phillips has really gone down hill. This was always our last night vacation dinner. Last year we didn't enjoy it so we figured we'd give it one more try. Even worse this year. Buffett options are very minimal. Food is cold. Do yourself a favor and visit The Bonfire Buffett instead.

The food was absolutely amazing very fresh and seasoned to perfection. Definitely would recommend this restaurant great atmosphere the staff are very friendly and professional.

Extraordinary food and service! Our waitress bri was very personable and an absolute sweetheart. I am a vegetarian and was accommodated wonderfully. Would definitely recommend

Love this place my husband and I come every year great food, pleasant staff thanks we will be back again smooches

Steak was over cooked twice and very very dry.. it was supposed to be med rare

Buffet is great during the summer! Menu dining is excellent when not doing the buffet!

This was the worst experience i had on my stayed at ocean city meriland the food not good at all the service same they don t offer you refills or ask about it for the price vs food I ll pay 10 dollar anywhere s here they charge you 39.99 per person kids 19.99 ridiculous for the cheap food they have I ll never spend my money there ever again this is my opinion if any one like to try please do .. then Judge for yourself ...

Sad imitation of former carryout. Disinterested & unhelpful counter staff. Old favorite items no longer offered. Don't bother.

Go here every year for the buffet. The main attraction for me is the fresh raw clams and oysters shucked right in front of you. My wife and I have been going here for the last 15 years. The rest of the food is good. Its a buffet. I am not sure what everyone expects for a buffet but it is decent. No it is not Vegas. I would like to say to all the people that think it is pricey, you all must eat at some cheap places. $33-$35 is very reasonable. I get that value in the oysters and clams alone. I read all of these reviews about the buffets and everyone says they are too expensive. What do you expect??? A Chinese Buffet at $12.99??? If you are visiting for the first time give it a try. The servers have always been friendly and the food is good. The prime rib is nice too and they have a pasta station. If you are expecting a gourmet experience than find a gourmet restaurant but then you you will pay $50.00 a person. By the way I work in the restaurant industry and really do find it enjoyable.

This place is amazing! It was my first time visiting this year and I was blown away with how many options you have and how delicious everything was. I was also very impressed with how massive this place was and how they manage to never run out of food at any given time. I cannot wait to come back next year when we visit OC, MD!

If you want good seafood in Maryland , DONT come here. You WILL waste money.

Great food and service. Our waitress, Jessica, was excellent and the best server we had wait on us at all of the restaurants we visited in OC.

Best seafood I have ever had anywhere from coast to coast

Go in a little after 3pm and get the discount. Line was non existent, got right in. A little before 4 it becomes a madhouse. Food selection is insane. Always fresh and hot. Never a bad experience here !

Every thing was top notch. Just wish they would have been more upfront with the wait time. Told us 45 min... Turned internet about 1 hour 45. But I took it out on them in clams and crab legs

This is a must eat all you can eat seafood and they literally have pasta bar with fresh seafood you can create any kind of pasta with different sauces they have to choose from the buffet has all kinds of fresh oysters clams crab shrimp crab cakes pretty much any Seafood you want they also have a small kids portion on the buffet that is not Seafood with chicken tenders or things like kids like pizza and they also have all you can eat dessert bar with cakes cookies brownies and soft serve ice creams with all the toppings my family and I have made it a tradition everytime we are in Ocean City to make sure we take a day out of our vacation to eat here we look forward to it every year and wish we could go there a lot more the staff are super friendly and accommodating I will definitely tell you to go early they have a happy hour pricing or early bird pricing when they first opening a little cheaper and it will also help to not have a big line if you go early

The food is great. The service is good. The restaurant is clean. When visiting Ocean City Maryland this is a must for your dining experience.

We no longer buy the buffet at Phillips. Prices have gone way up and quality of the foot is not the same. On our most recent visit, we decided to purchase our favorite carry out. Prices have almost doubled. The food was good but we ended up buying the same thing at another carryout for less a few nights later. The food was better and less expensive.

Great dinner!!! Really good food!!!
Amazing service ( Alexa was unbelievable helpful, nice and knowledgeable, she speak a little bit of Italian ).
The place was packed but we wait less than 15 minutes to be seated on the menu side !
Highly recommended!!!!

Operating personnel in need of learning. Food mediocre, priced, actually too high.

Food was great though it was pricey but compaired to other buffets that want about same price it was excellent.

After coming here consistently for years on vacation I've noticed considerable differences most notably from last year to this year. Now I come from hospitality/service background and very forgiving and generous when it comes to the restaraunt experience.

1. Spaces feel more cramped than years before. (my partner and I are short and small lol) Navigating through corridors, and the narrow walk spaces near the large buffet was a task. Especially when people are bit less considerate nowadays. (Monday August 14th we literally witnessed a collision and major spill in the main walk way by the buffet.

2. Bathrooms are sub-par. If you're a true crab eating fan then you're cracking and butter dipping and making a mess. You're going to want a nice space to wash up for dessert. No such luck here.
All the bathrooms (male) are cramped, run outdated equipment such as toilets/urinals/hand dryers..(maintenance and contractor is my job), outdated dispensers and paper products, dull colors, weathered floor tile, unreliable faucets, and a loose door knob.

3. The food.
-Raw shellfish has seen a better, more respectful shucking. These clams and oysters were cleaned and displayed haphazardly. You'll spend more time picking out bits of dirt/shell than you will eating them.
-The side dishes are somewhat neglected, greens/veggies tasted bland and texture was what you expect if they sit in the hot trays for too long.
-The carving station stood out as one of the front runners. The polite attendant made quick work of cutting me a portion of brisket, against the grain, and placed on my plate. Very good.
- The crab was a bit of a let down. Some crab portions were vibrant, and delicate, popped free effortlessly but most were a messy battle that left more to be desired.

4. Conclusion
My partner and I have a soft spot in a our hearts for Phillips from years past but its time for Phillips to take their quality a bit more seriously, update the rest areas and consider making a bit more room.

SUPER EXPENSIVE. Look, I dont mind paying alot if the service and food is good. If you want that...go elsewhere. This place hired lithowanian children for staff and they speak broken english at best. Oh, four dollars for a drink...dont drink it too fast bc a refill is NONEXISTANT. The food is OKAY. the lobster was overcooked and chewey. the steak is unseasoned and overcooked as well. Combine the terrible staff with the piss poor food and you get a 150$ tab for two people...Do yourself a favor, WALK UP THE STREET TO EMBERS.

Very good would love to go here if they open up the buffet again

Went to he sit down menu side and order a raw seafood tower for two! It was hands down the best raw seafood we have eer tried. Service is great! Cocktails we're strong and price is fairly reasonable. Don't miss trying this place

No crackers for crab. Very tight space. People were spilling stuff left and right trying to get into their tables. Food options not significant. For the cost I was hoping would be better.

Decent, if kitschy. Got the platter. Salmon is not fresh, its watery and flavorless, even after being seasoned and overcooked to the point of dry. The shrimp skewers were alsobocer cooked, dry and firm to the point of stinginess. The crab cake is excellent. However, the crab imperial is a mediocre. Three tiny r3dbpotatoes, also broiled were added to "round out" this broiled platter.

Note: This is a review of the menu dinning not the buffet.
The last time I was at Phillips was 10 years ago. I must say this was one of the worst dinning experiences I've ever had. The appetizers came out after the meals. The entry's were bought out in parts (ex. Crab legs followed 5 minutes later by the sides). Finally both men's and women's restrooms were filthy. At the prices of Phillips the experience should be better then McDonald's.

A great place to get a variety of Seafood. Great food and family friendly

The lobster bisque and the mini-crab cakes were outstanding. Perfect for lunch.
We came 2,500 miles to eat at Phillips Crab House. We live Spokane, WA and rely on frozen Phillips Crab Cakes to hold us over till be come back East.

This place, overall, was good. The atmosphere was enjoyable. The establishment was clean. My only issue was how hit-or-miss the dishes were. e.g. the Snow crabs, mussels, shrimp, and most of the fish dishes were on point, but all of the blue crabs our group got were so unbelievably dry and disgusting. It was like gnawing at a pencil eraser. The same goes for the Crawfish boil. The crab cakes seemed to have many shells in them. I would also avoid the lackluster desserts, and I mean that especially with the weird custard cups and dry, dry cakes.

It's a little pricey but seafood isn't cheap. A lot of the food is too buttery for my taste but again that is personal preference.

To start, crab legs were insanely tiny, the buffet wasn't impressive for $83 for 2 adults. The desert bar was about 6ft and no toppings for ice cream. Then there was the tiny, dirty, extremely out dated bathrooms. One toilet and one urinal in the men's. There's no handicap restrooms either. Should have stuck with the Bonfire

The food was excellent, especially the crab legs! There was plenty to choose from, and it was all fresh! Just make sure to check in to see wait times as it can get a bit crowded, otherwise this is definitely worth visiting on your trip!

Food was tasteless not very good the place is complete kaos no organization for the lines just craziness and didnt see out waitress but twice in an hour and a half place is nuts on the second floor

Great all you can eat seafood! A little expensive but all the "all you can eat" seafood restaurants are pretty much at the same price point. Service was great and server was very kind!

Food is amazing, however they don't want to give out metal crackers to open your crab legs. If I order 40.00 crab legs. I would like a metal cracker instead of a plastic stick.

This is the 3rd AYCE place I've been to down here and by far the best. They have both blue crab and snow crab legs for AYCE. it was crowded, but not overly loud. Service was slow, but there were a lot of tables for our server, so could just have been swamped. Dessert options were good, not lavish, but I don't usually go to these types of places for dessert. Nice size raw bar, but I wasnt heading for oysters or clams in this particular trips. Plenty of great seafood and non seafood options. Kids under a certain age are free as well.

Don t know who the bartender is upstairs but they are godsend. My drink was perfect had the right amount of booze and sweet, as did for my girlfriend. The buffet selections are endless and to die for, best of all its all FRESH. From the fried catfish, to the crab cakes, crab poppers and Maui Maui it was all absolutely delicious. I couldn t get enough till my stomach told me to call it quits. This place is Definetly with every penny and will always be on my OC list of eats when I go here. Service was great as could be and the wait wasn t to terrible maybe 20-30 mins top. Thank you Phillips

Seafood buffet is a must when vacationing in Ocean City and Philips is the best! So many yummy options and friendly service. Make sure to save room for dessert too!

Very good food and a decent price for the family and within walking distance. Keep up the good work.

Excellent!!! Very good service and exquisite food !!

I have been there 3 times and I have been Always satisfied, the buffet is huge and it has a great selection of items to choose, although the price is a little bit high, I highly recommend it, is not a place where you eat everyday...

To be honest. I very much liked their previous location, but this one is still good. Perhaps the best all you can buffet in OC.