One of the big to-do items when visiting Baltimore is to try the crab cake.  The city is famous for them, after all.  More than likely, you'll be in the Inner Harbor area at some point, either for your daytime activities, and/or for your lodging.  And that area is definitely not without its crab cake options.  But do you venture down to the harbor, where names like the Rusty Scupper, Phillips and McCormick & Schmick's entices you?  Or do you eat at the hotel restaurant where you are staying?

17 Light is located at the Residence Inn, which is one of the more family-friendly locations around the Inner Harbor.  Suites are typically more spacious, allow for more privacy, and have kitchens where you can make traveling a bit more affordable.  And upon looking upon the menu, you may notice that they have a crab cake.  Brilliant!  The Baltimore Marriott Waterfront over in Harbor East had some delicious crab cakes.  Will these follow suit?  Or should you venture somewhere else (say, around the corner)?  Read on to find out!

Mama's On The Half Shell set out to provide Baltimore with a "classic" seafood house that the city was desperately missing.  A seafood house with tastes and smells that Baltimoreans can remember growing up with.  While there are still some out there, you first have to find them, and then get to them.  And they'll most likely not be anywhere near the Inner Harbor.  Luckily, Canton is accessible by water taxi, so the adventuresome tourists can leave the sanctity of the Harbor and venture out to parts unknown.  And it must be worth the trip, as this place was packed on a Tuesday afternoon with tourists and locals alike.  But a raw bar and drink specials aren't enough.  A classic Baltimore flavor is the crab cake.  How did they do?  Let's find out!

What started out as a saloon back in 1889 has now become known as Hull Street Blues.  Located in what is known as Locust Point, the restaurant serves as a testament and honor to Issac Hull, who was a naval hero in the war of 1812 (which is kind of a big deal around Maryland).  If you haven't been in South Baltimore lately, there is a lot of revitalization happening, with new businesses and shopping centers opening up alongside historic locations such as Hull Street Blues.  Accessible by car or water taxi, we'll bet you're wondering if the trip is worth it.  Follow along and find out!

Since 1974, as the name implies, Jimmy's has been famous for their seafood offerings, although they offer far more than just seafood.  You're probably wondering how a restaurant can get so famous, seeing as how most of you are asking yourselves, "Where ever in the city is Broening Manor?"  Go there, and you may start to ponder what you're even doing there, and if the CCR lead you astray or not (the neighborhood is very industrial).  Fret not, fearless readers, Jimmy's is there!  Broening Manor is located in SE Baltimore, at the point where you're almost in Dundalk.  But is it worth the trek in our search for the city's tastiest crab cakes?  Let's find out!

Sinatra.  Sammy Davis Jr.  Ella Fitzgerald.  Walking into Supano's Steakhouse is like walking back into the good old days.  Cobblestone streets on the outside, wood and brick on the inside.  Sinatra-era music filling the restaurant.  Supano's Steakhouse has been a family-owned steakhouse since 1937.  It's a place you would think to find in Little Italy, but is located over by the Inner Harbor.  Water St is a bit hard to miss, seeing as how from the Light St side, it looks like a small alley that you can't drive on.  So how was it, once you stopped circling the block?  Let's find out!

The other weekend was Honfest, which despite all the controversy surrounding it, is a festival celebrating Baltimore and the hard working ladies of the 50's and 70's with their beehive hairdos and cat's eye glasses, otherwise known as Hons.  This yearly festival brings thousands to The Avenue (aka 36th St) in Hampden.  If you were there, you were most likely distracted by all of the activities going on and all of the other food vendors selling everything from grilled cheese to, yes, crab cakes.  Even without the distractions, it may be easy to miss one of Hampden's newest eateries, Alchemy.  Recently opened back in December 2010, Alchemy bills itself as a modern American eatery, that also boasts The Avenue's only champagne brunch.  Looking to escape the heat and craziness of Honfest, the CCR stepped inside to sample what they had on offer.  Read on to see how it all went down!

If it's a luxurious evening out on the town you are looking for, then search no further than The Prime Rib.  The Baltimore location was the first of the three locations in the area to open back in 1965, set to emanate the elegance of the supper clubs of 1940's era Manhattan.  Business casual is the minimum dress code, with most patrons in suits/jackets.  Live baby grand piano and string bass music fills the restaurant, creating the perfect romantic ambiance.  So why are we going to a restaurant specializing in prime rib for crab cakes?  Were we lured in by the claim of their recipe being "award winning"?  Or are we afraid of beef?  Continue on with the article to find out! 

When you think of Little Italy, your thoughts drift immediately to visions of spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread, and gelato (mmmm....Vaccaro's).  If you had to think Italian seafood, then you would probably just imagine calamari, and maybe a nice bronzini.  But certainly not crab cakes.  But that is where Pacific Coast is different.  Located amongst the Italian eateries lies this new establishment to Baltimore's restaurant scene, which opened in April 2011.  The idea is a California grill using fresh, natural ingredients, which is something that a seafood town like Baltimore can appreciate.  So how does West Coast fare do on the East Coast?  Continue on and find out!

A new recipes section has just been added!  Check out what we have listed, and submit your own favorite crab cake recipe!

This recipe was found on the side of a tub of Graham & Rollins blended backfin crab meat:

1 Pound crab meat
1 Teaspoon (or more) Old Bay Seasoning
3/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tablespoon chopped parsley
1 Egg, beaten
2 Slices bread, crust removed, soaked in milk

Step 1:  Mix ingredients and shape into cakes.
Step 2:  Place on place and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes to "set up."
Step 3:  Fry quickly in 1/8" of shortening until brown on both sides.

Serves 4