Community Corner

Where to Get Fresh Crab in Los Gatos, the Coast?

Catch your own, buy off the docks or eat out, crab season is underway on the Coast, and there are plenty of options for indulging in 'all things crab.'

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The highly anticipated Dungeness crab season is underway. The commercial season opened last Friday and runs through the end of June. 

During this time, the Coastside celebrates this seafood delicacy with mouthwatering dishes at local restaurants and opportunities to catch your own crab.

Here's where to get crab on the Coast:

• Discover the freshest catch of the day by downloading the FishLine app that lets users know where to buy fresh, locally harvested seafood. 

• Purchase directly off the fishermen’s boats at Pillar Point Harbor. Call 650-726-8724, ext. 3 to find out the day’s catch. 

• Visit local fish markets that are happy to cook, crack and clean your crab for you: Half Moon Bay Fish Market at 99 San Mateo Rd. or Princeton Seafood Company at 9 Johnson Pier.

• Catch your own from the Jetty at Surfer’s Beach in El Granada or the Pacifica Pier in Pacifica. Read How to Catch Crab on the Coast for tips. Or, go by boat. Several local companies offer fishing and crabbing excursions: 

• Eat out. These local restaurants always have crab on the menu:

Billy's Boston Chowder House, 29 East Main St., in Los Gatos, sells rock and dungeness crab. The restaurant caters to hearty sea lover appetites in search of traditional Yankee fare. A whole crab costs $33 and includes a side of rice pilaf and broccoli or cole slaw. Details: 408-827-4005.

Flying Fish Grill, 211 San Mateo Road, a local favorite and award-winning restaurant for more than 20 years, Flying Fish Grill is one of the best kept secrets in Half Moon Bay. During the Dungeness crab season, patrons will enjoy fresh Dungeness crab cioppino and crab sandwiches. Details:650-712-1125.  
 
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, 390 Capistrano Rd., Half Moon Bay, a beloved destination known for its award-winning, handcrafted beer and sustainable coastal cuisine, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company has quite a catch of Dungeness crab this season! Enjoy an assortment of dishes such as warm or cold whole cracked crab, warm whole cracked crab with pesto, half crab cioppino, crab and pumpkin bisque, crab cake benedict and crab omelettes. Details: 650-728-2739. Media contact: Caitlin Sandberg, 530-400-9207, or caitlin@ellipsespr.com.
 
It’s Italia, 401 Main St., Half Moon Bay, a traditional trattoria specializing in gourmet pizzas, house made pastas, creative salads along with seafood and meat selections from their rotisserie and mesquite grill. Joining in on the crab festivities, It’s Italia is offering baked Dungeness crab cakes, crab and shrimp Louisa salad, a grilled cheesy crab and shrimp sandwich and a Dungeness crab cioppino. Details: 650-726-4444.      
 
La Costanera, 8150 Cabrillo Hwy, Montara Beach, known for its contemporary Peruvian cuisine and breathtaking views of the Pacific, La Costanera is celebrating crab season by featuring Pastel de Cangrejo, a potato chip crusted Dungeness crab cake with mushrooms and sweet Rocoto sauce that is sure to delight patrons. Details: 650-728-1600.
 
Miramar Beach Restaurant, 131 Mirada Rd., incomparable views, exceptional food, and impeccable service provide a dining experience that exceeds the expectations of seafood lovers wishing to celebrate Dungeness crab season. Diners will enjoy the seasonal whole cracked crab and seafood cioppino. Details: 650-726-9053.
 
Moss Beach Distillery, 140 Beach Way, Moss Beach, enjoy stunning ocean view dining and great local seafood at this historical point of interest. In celebration of crab season, the Moss Beach Distillery Restaurant will be offering their Distillery Cracked Crab, a whole Dungeness crab sautéed in a white wine garlic butter sauce. In addition, fresh crab is available every Friday through Sunday for the duration of crab season. Details: 650-728-5595,. 
 
Princeton Seafood Company, 9 Johnson Pier, Pillar Point Harbor, this spot offers a relaxing atmosphere while providing exquisite seafood. This crab season, customers will enjoy crab cioppino, crab linguini, crab cocktail, crab Louie, crab sandwiches, crab cakes, a half crab entrée and a whole crab entree served with warm butter. They also have crabs available in the fish market (live or cooked) and customers can bring in their fresh catch (Monday-Friday) to be prepared while they wait. Details: 650-726-2722.
 
Sam’s Chowder House, 185 University Avenue, Palo Alto; and 4210 North Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay; known for fresh, off-the-boat seafood and stunning views of the Pacific, uber-popular Sam’s is featuring their mouth-watering, fresh local crab, steamed or chili-garlic style during the commercial season (Nov. 15- June 2014) along with their year-round line up of crab wonderment such as cioppino, jumbo prawns stuffed with Dungeness crab and wrapped in smoked bacon, blue crab cakes, New Orleans style gumbo, Sam’s Dungeness Crab Louis and blue crab sandwich. Details: 650-712-0245, or  650-614-1177.

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