What are your favorite stone crab restaurants in Bradenton? Here’s what you told us
Stone crab season in Florida runs through May 1. That’s long stretch, but perhaps not long enough for some stone crab claw fans.
With much of the season ahead, we asked our readers where they find the best stone crab claws in Bradenton — price, freshest catch, best taste.
For two weeks, readers voted in our admittedly unscientific poll to surface the most popular stone crab places.
So, where is the most popular among our voters?
The winner
The honor goes to ... Star Fish Company in Cortez.
Star Fish Company has been in the Bradenton area since the 1920s and has been producing stone crabs “quite a long time.”
“We live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world,” Karen Bell, owner of Star Fish Company, told the Bradenton Herald. “I think we’re lucky to have stone crabs in Florida, and Starfish is definitely a great place to enjoy stone crabs right on the bay.”
Our reviewers said they liked the stone crabs at Starfish the best because of the freshness.
One voter wrote: “Fresh daily off the boats, never frozen.” Another boasted about the size of the claws, saying, “Very fresh, generous sizes, and good Dijon dipping sauce!”
While most stone crab eaters go for the colossal claws slathered in Dijon sauce or butter, Bell prefers the small claws without either since they take away the flavor of the crab meat.
“If they have a chance, people should try them with just plain lemon, because, boy, is that good,” she said.
The most popular
Below are your top six stone crab restaurants in Manatee County:
Starfish Company 12306 46th Ave W, Cortez
Anna Maria Oyster Bar 6906 14th St W, Bradenton
Captain Brian’s Seafood Market & Restaurant 8421 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Swordfish Grill 4628 119th St W, Cortez
Mar Vista 760 Broadway St, Longboat Key
The SandBar Restaurant 100 Spring Ave, Anna Maria
