damnlines for iPhoneLive lines & push alerts — freeGetdamnlines.comA City Island seafood institution known for its no-reservations weekend policy that produces a genuine first-come, first-served wait.
361 City Island Ave, Bronx, NY 10464
damnlines hasn't pointed a lens at The Original Crab Shanty yet. The most-wanted lines get a camera first.
The Original Crab Shanty does not take reservations on weekends at all, per the restaurant's own posted policy: 'Do to the limited size of the restaurant we do not accept reservations on the weekends. (first come first serve).' That makes Saturday and Sunday dinner strictly a walk-in, wait-your-turn situation, and a Tripadvisor reviewer summed up the reality bluntly in a review titled 'Go only if you have time to wait.'
Even on weekdays, when the restaurant does accept reservations, it warns diners that seating can still slip because the dining room is small and it can't hold tables: 'Many times people are late or people arrive at different times,' per the restaurant's own FAQ. That combination — no weekend bookings plus a tight room — is what generates the wait.
Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.
Reservations: Weekday reservations accepted; weekend service is first-come, first-served only (no reservations).
Walk-ins: Required on weekends; available anytime.
11am-4pm lunch, 4pm-11pm dinner Mon-Fri and Sun; Saturday lunch begins around 10am; last seating 11pm daily, per the restaurant's site.
The restaurant doesn't publish a wait estimate, but a Tripadvisor review titled 'Go only if you have time to wait' signals it can be a real wait, especially on weekends when there's no reservation line to skip.
Only on weekdays. The restaurant states directly: 'On the weekdays, we accept all reservations,' but weekends are first-come, first-served only due to the restaurant's limited size.
Yes, and on weekends it's the only option since reservations aren't accepted then, per the restaurant's own posted policy.
Sources: The Original Crab Shanty - FAQ