Stone crab season is upon us, and if you don’t “know a guy” with a sketchy shack in his backyard where you trade cash for claws, that’s OK—you head out to any of these local spots to satisfy your craving instead. Just remember to give into the mess when you're eating stone crabs—grab those claw crackers and throw all caution to the wind.

Lefty’s Oyster & Seafood Bar

428 N. Lemon Ave., Sarasota, (941) 954-8688, leftysoysterseafood.com

New(ish) to the Rosemary District, Lefty's capitalizes on its building’s breezy indoor and outdoor floor plan. Lean in to the coastal vibe and order stone crab claws with oysters, lobster rolls and conch fritters. If you're gonna indulge, you might as well go all-out, right?

Walt’s Fish Market

4144 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 921-4605, waltsfishmarketrestaurant.com

The Wallin family, who owns Walt's Fish Market, has roots in Sarasota dating back to the early 1900s, when their ancestor, Claus Wallin, found the area by way of the circus train. Since then, the family has been fishing and selling their catch to everyone in town. These guys know stone crab. If you want to dine in, be prepared to wait, but trust us: it's worth it.

Crow’s Nest

1968 Tarpon Center Drive, Venice, (941) 484-9551, crowsnest-venice.com

Venice Island’s Crow’s Nest is so boater-friendly that it even has a harbor
master who will help direct you to a nearby slip. Is there anything better than ending your cruise with heaping helping of stone crab claws?

Anna Maria Oyster Bar

Multiple locations throughout Sarasota and Manatee, oysterbar.net

If you're heading to Anna Maria Oyster Bar for stone crab, don't forget a side of oysters. Raw bivalves from around the country are served with either cocktail sauce or chimichurri, while roasted oysters are served in five different styles. Paired with the claws, it's a match made in seafood heaven.

Ocean Prime

501 Quay Commons, Sarasota, (941) 404-1024, ocean-prime.com

At Ocean Prime, you can expect prime steaks, seafood and an incredible warm butter cake—and right now, stone crab claws, too. Start with them, end with that cake, and thank us later. 

Crab & Fin

420 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, (941) 388-3964, crabfinrestaurant.com

One of our favorite activities is sitting solo with a Caesar salad and a half dozen oysters outside Crab & Fin, listening to the pianist riff on old favorites. Add a half pound of chilled stone crab claws you'll feel like you're on vacation, even though you're in our own backyard.

Dry Dock Waterfront Grill

412 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, (941) 383-0102, drydockwaterfrontgrill.com

Stare across Sarasota Bay at the Ringling and New College of Florida while counting the boats speeding by. Dry Dock has multiple levels, but dining outside on the patio and adjacent lawn is a great way to let the kids run around and let off steam while you kick back with a pile of stone crab—a perk of adulthood.

Beach House Waterfront Restaurant

200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, (941) 779-2222, beachhousedining.com

This is the only spot we can think of where you can stick your toes right into the sand while cracking claws—a true reminder of why you live in Florida. Plus, it cuts cuts back on the mess, right?

Phillippi Creek Restaurant & Oyster Bar

5353 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 925-4444, creekseafood.com

This entire restaurant is a massive tiki hut, with a massive menu to match. We'll make ordering easy for you: grab some stone crab and a “combo pot,” a variation on a seafood boil, with steamed oysters and shrimp. Done and done.

Dockside Waterfront Grill

509 N. Tamiami Trail, Venice, (941) 218-6418, docksidewaterfrontgrill.com

Underneath the Venice Island bridge is a secret tiki hut. Managed by Gecko’s
Hospitality Group, this spot operates like a well-oiled machine. Go there, order yourself some a plate of stone crab claws, and pretend you've stepped back into Old Florida for a little while. 

Big Water Fish Market

6641 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota, (941) 554-8101, bigwaterfishmarket.com

The best spot to buy seafood on Siesta Key, Big Water carries a rotating selection of Gulf species, all of them picked out by owner Scott Dolan. If he won’t eat it, he won’t sell it, which means you can count on getting the freshest amberjack and mahi-mahi, and the best stone crab around. Grab a couple of pounds to take home, or belly up to one of the tables and enjoy.

Star Fish Co.

12306 46th Ave. W., Cortez, (941) 794-1243, starfishcompany.com

Located in the historic Cortez fishing village, this dockside restaurant hearkens back to simpler times, when the skyline was lower and the roads were clear. Still, despite Southwest Florida’s many changes, Star Fish remains the same, serving fresh Florida seafood to customers from near and far—including stone crab. Just be sure to stop by the ATM before you go—the restaurant only takes cash.