HAMILTON TOWNSHIP – The sign outside says “Suds & Seafood.” It is a summer tradition, but here at Crabby’s, the spicy crabs and savory shrimp are served in steaming heaps with a roll of paper towels all year round. This is not the place to wear your Sunday best. It is a place to dress comfortably and be prepared to dig right in and get your fingers messy.

The oval bar is large and serves seven beers on tap and more than 30 varieties of bottled beer as well as mixed drinks. Soda is served by the glass or the pitcher. Monday through Thursday 6 to 9 p.m. and Sunday 2 to 6 p.m. there are all-you-can-eat specials such as Dungeness crab, snow crab, blue-claw crab and shrimp. 

About 20 years ago Lynn Albanese got tired of working at Lenox China.  She said she saw no career opportunities and realized it was time to make a move. Albanese, who was born and raised in Somers Point, decided to open the restaurant with a partner. Before long she bought out her partner’s share.

Albanese has created some of her own special recipes. One that the seafood spot is known for is the He-Crab soup.  She only makes it on weekends, but customers can buy it by the pint to take home for another day. Albanese said she makes it with chunks of crab from only male crabs.

“I don’t want to deplete the population, so I refuse to buy female crabs,” she explained.

Allbanese makes sure there are always plenty of crabs at Crabby’s.

“I fly crabs in during the winter, and in the summer we get them from Maryland. They are always fresh,”

About seven years ago she hired Brian Sexton as chef and general manager.  Sexton was born in Long Branch in Monmouth County.  He has been a chef for more than 30 years, 19 of them at Captain Young’s Seafood in Atlantic City. Sexton started working at an International House of Pancakes when he was 14 and gradually worked his way up.

“I can prepare any seafood.  That’s my forte. All of our soups are homemade. The crowd here is sociable, and we have a lot of regulars.  People brought their kids 20 years ago and now those kids are grown and bringing their children. Everybody enjoys the food. We cater to all ages.”

Some of Crabby’s delicacies are salmon stuffed with scallops, filet medallions topped with crab imperial, homemade crab cakes and seafood Italiano.  Prices run from $2.50 for a hot dog with chips to Surf & Turf, an 8-ounce filet mignon with 8-ounce lobster tail, at $31.99. If you have room for dessert there’s Crabby’s fresh strawberry delight.

Customer Len Streeper said he comes for the blue crabs.

“I’ve been coming here for at least 10 years.  I always enjoy the blue crabs.  They’re excellent, the best crabs I ever tasted.

Another customer, Ron Gaskill, recommended the seafood gumbo.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “You can compare it to what you would get in New Orleans.”

Albanese runs a golf tournament at the Mays Landing County Club with the proceeds going to cancer research. Visitors to the restaurant may notice dollar bills pinned up on the ceiling. Customers leave bills that Albanese collects and at the end of each year donates to a cancer research fund.