Crazy Crab

Right down beside the harbour, the Crazy Crab is in the premises formerly occupied by Le Poisson D’Or. It’s now owned by local residents Mairead and Mike Crowley who have many years experience in the fishing industry between them – he in his native West Cork and Mairead here in Kilmore Quay, where she has spent all her life – so who better to showcase the best and freshest of local seafood?

They’ve given the premises a fresh contemporary makeover so it has real seaside café feel, with lots of crisp white paint and cheerful blue highlighting the simple lines of the building. Inside the theme continues, with modern artwork, smart white contemporary chairs and glass topped tables all working well to brighten the room, which is quite long and narrow, with big port hole windows overlooking the harbour – and the Irish Sea.

In fine weather there are a few tables outside which, together with the long opening hours, make it a great place for visitors to drop into during the day – and, walking by, the delicious aroma of freshly cooking seafood is bound to entice you in.

The menu isn’t long but it’s both attractively priced and well thought out to allow for varying demand at different times of day – so you could drop in for a snack or light lunch of something like Kilmore Quay fish cakes with a green side salad and home made salsa, or have something more substantial such as fish of the day (panfried or breaded) with homemade chips and salad, or the Crazy Crab Seafood Platter.

At about €24, this is the most expensive dish by far but you’ll get the works – probably including scallops, prawns, crabmeat, crab claws, smoked salmon and smoked mackerel...

Local crab, scallops and prawns (which are the same as the lovely big Dublin Bay prawns, ie langoustines) are the key treats that bring people here, and you’ll find them in variety of light and main course dishes.

Anyone not in the mood for seafood can opt for a homemade beefburger, or a feta cheese or warm chicken salad - and there’s a choice of homemade fish or chicken goujons for children too.

Everything is zinging fresh and very tasty, including lovely homebaked breads, well dressed salads and freshly made desserts, which are listed on a blackboard each day.

Crazy Crab has an honest formula for success: simple super-fresh local food which is skilfully cooked and served efficiently by friendly well-informed staff – with all this, plus good value and a harbourside location, what more could you want?