It was a sunny October day, so it only felt appropriate to pretend it was still summer. Summer, to me, always means seafood. Since The Original Crab Shanty on City Island had been on my list, I took the long commute up to the hidden gem Bronx neighborhood for some good old-fashioned crab cookin’.
Even from the outside, I knew I was in for a treat. The Original Crab Shanty looks from the outside like a chain restaurant in suburban America . Yet, unlike a chain restaurant in suburban America, there’s nothing quite like it, especially in New York City.
As I entered the premises around 2 p.m. on a Sunday, I was greeted by colorful and endearingly tacky decor with a bustling crowd to match.
Riding out further on the escapism train, I impulsively ordered a mai tai. I was on an island, after all. I sat down with Sharon, the manager of The Original Crab Shanty for 46 years, which is impressive considering they’ve only been open for 47.
I immediately like her demeanor. She told me she was in sweatpants because she got sprayed by a sprinkler, though it’s unclear why a sprinkler was on in October. If only she knew the Daily News was coming in today, she joked.
The menu is quite expansive, and as I took my time scanning over the seemingly endless options, I was given a massive loaf of golden garlic bread . As I tore into it, Sharon told me people come strictly for the garlic bread, and I understand why. I realized my decision to come to City Island alone was well worth it for tha.