A Taste of Maryland in North Carolina

My parents recently moved from New Hampshire to North Carolina for many of the same reasons that I moved to Maryland. They’ve been dreaming of moving there for 18 years, so I’m glad that they’ve finally made it happen. They chose a small town on the coast by the name of New Bern. For the past two months that they have lived there they have raved about this restaurant called MJ’s Raw Bar and Grille, claiming it’s one of THE best seafood restaurants in town. So, I decided to visit them this past weekend and see if the food really did match the hype. 

MJ’s, located at 216 Middle Street in New Bern, NC, was founded by a Maryland native who hailed from Columbia. After 18 years in the coffee bar business, the owner decided it was time for a change and thus MJ’s was born. Their claim to fame is the “touch of Maryland” in all their dishes. 

The Private's Platter

My parents and I walked into the restaurant and decided to sit at the bar. The bartender was prompt and friendly and a bowl of salty, roasted peanuts awaited us. We decided to start our feast off with a couple of appetizers. Up first, the Private’s Platter for $10.95, which comes with three oysters, three clams and a 1/4 lb. of steamed shrimp smothered in Old Bay. Want more of it? Well at MJ’s they’ll let you double or triple the Private’s Platter. While this review is strictly for all things crab, I have to comment on how delicious the platter was. Made fresh behind the bar, you can even see the bartender shuck your oysters and create your platter. You know you’re getting freshness.

MJ's Crab Pretzel

Our second appetizer was MJ’s Crab Pretzel. A jumbo soft pretzel smothered in crab dip, then topped with melted cheddar cheese, the Crab Pretzel is a great deal for $8.95.  Served with MJ’s signature Jamaican Jerk tartar sauce, the Crab Pretzel is an ooey gooey delight. The soft and warm pretzel plays the perfect wing man to the creamy crab dip – as fine as any you would find in Maryland. While the old adage says that cheese and seafood should never mix, here on the Crab Pretzel they create perfect harmony. When digging into the Crab Pretzel, make sure to have an equal balance of pretzel, crab and cheese and don’t forget to dip it in MJ’s special tartar sauce. The Jamaican Jerk tartar sauce is sweet and tangy without being too spicy or overbearing with jerk flavor. It surprisingly plays a great accompaniment to any of their crab dishes, giving them an extra layer of flavor and is sure to set MJ’s apart from their competition. 

Mom's Soft Shell Crab Sandwich

Finally it was time for dinner. My dad had ordered the Lobster Tacos while my mom got the Soft Shell Crab Sandwich. In search of the perfect crab cake and sitting here in NC, I of course had to order MJ’s Signature Crab Cake. A family recipe handed down from the founder’s grandmom, the signature dish is made with all lump crab meat and “just enough breading to hold it together.” It is served with a house salad, smashed potatoes and the vegetable of the day, which just happened to be green beans when I visited. All of this comes in at $19.95. Want the Caesar salad instead? Swap it in for just $1.00 more. How about their special Strawberry Walnut Salad? That’s just $2.00 more. 

MJ's Signature Crab Cake

As the dish was placed before me, I had to do my duty and inspect it. Did it look like a Maryland Crab Cake? Well yes sir, it did. Now it was time for the taste test. As I dipped my fork into the crab cake, it gently fell apart upon my plate. The heaping amount of lump crab meat had been broiled and lightly dusted with Old Bay and had just been holding its shape, waiting for me to break it apart. The meat was fresh and light. Barely any filler, fresh herbs ran throughout and once again, the Jamaican Jerk tartar sauce played the perfect counterpart to the crab cake. It even served as a good dipping sauce for my al dente green beans, of which there seemed to be an abundance of. With my plate overflowing with food, I unfortunately could not finish my meal (perhaps the Private’s Platter and Crab Pretzel had something to do with it), but I enjoyed every bite. The smashed potatoes were creamy and buttery but had just enough lump in them to make them feel home cooked. My leftovers served as a great dinner the next night.

Four Claws Decision:

MJ’s Crab Pretzel
Crab Meat Quality:
Taste:
Texture:
Value:
Overall: 

MJ’s Signature Crab Cake
Crab Meat Quality:
Taste:
Texture:
Value:
Overall: 

So, have I found a taste of Maryland 400 miles south in a small town in North Carolina? I most certainly think I have. The founder of MJ’s has held true to his Maryland roots and has done an exceedingly well  job of spreading the gospel of all things crab to his new NC neighbors. If you find yourself in the town of New Bern and are craving some Maryland style crab cakes, go no further than MJ’s. You won’t be disappointed.

So Where Can a Girl Get a Good Crab Cake, Anyway?

Portsmouth, NH

Approximately eleven months ago I uprooted my life in Boston for a change of pace and a new adventure. I’m a New England native, born and raised. A boater’s daughter from Norwalk, CT, we moved to Portsmouth, NH, a fantastic little seacoast town situated on the thirteen miles of seacoast New Hampshire has to claim, when I was only three. From there on I was hooked on the ocean. I spent five summers through high school and college working at the local yacht club, learning how to drive boats and receiving tips from fishermen in lobster. The yacht club was next to a lobsterman’s house where his wife sold fresh lobster rolls daily. Salt water ran through my veins.

I went off to college in the suburbs of Boston to learn about business. After I graduated, I moved closer to the city to get a “real” job and become a “real” contributing person to society. By the time I was twenty-five, I had had it with New England winters. These are winters that start as early as October and last as late as April. We don’t get spring; sometimes we barely get a fall. We have summer and winter essentially, and since I didn’t ski or snowboard, summer was way too short for me.

So one especially chilly, snowy morning in March of 2009 while I was getting ready for work, I caught a glimpse of the cherry blossoms in bloom in D.C. on the TV. That was enough for me. A few months later I had quit my job, started working for the family firm and moved to Annapolis to embark on a fresh start.

Upon my arrival I knew I had to sample some of the famous crab cakes that Maryland was known for. I had some friends in the area so I asked them their opinions. Well, wouldn’t you know it, every person I asked had a different idea of where I could find the best crab cake. Eventually I gave up asking people and tried to find a review site that had a list of local restaurants known for their crab dishes and reviews on them. I couldn’t find one site that did this consistently either. Becoming frustrated, I ventured out on my own.

While in pursuit of that perfect crab cake, I’ve decided to create Four Claws Reviews. This is my answer to the lack of resources there appear to be for tourists, locals and newbies, like me, to find out where they can get a decent crab cake. Four Claws Reviews is more than just the name of this site. It’s the standards by which we judge the crab dishes we try and the highest rating a restaurant’s dish can receive. We look for quality crab meat, a good value, a pleasant taste and texture in our dishes. Our reviews cannot be bought. Eventually, advertising may pop up on this site for restaurants, but please know that even though a restaurant may have an advertisement here; it does not mean that this will influence our evaluation of their dish.

I’m looking forward to eating my way through the Chesapeake Bay region, sampling the various ways crabs can be prepared. If you think you know where I can find the best crab cake, the best dip, soup, steamed crab, imperial, etc – let me know! You never know, perhaps your favorite joint could end up in my blog!