Seasons Pizza has crab cakes. Really.

Patricia Talorico The News Journal

Published 11:00 p.m. UTC Jun 13, 2018

The Great Delaware Crab Cake Hunt is in progress.

Over the next few months, I'm seeking out the best places in Delaware to get a crab cake. While this isn't a new pursuit, it's been almost 10 years since our last search.

Earlier this month, we asked readers to tell us where they like to go for great crab cakes that have plenty of meat and almost no filler.

And we've been sifting through an avalanche of emails, Facebook posts and phone messages ever since.

Let's just say, Delawareans have fervent feelings when it comes to crab cakes.

Readers have written passionate letters about crab cakes, even including photographs and old family recipes.

Just to be clear: We want to know about places, open to the public, that are located in Delaware.

Several people have mentioned restaurants in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Thank you for writing and offering your thoughts, but that kind of defeats the purpose of The Great Delaware Crab Cake Search.

Still, we're checking out the recommendations and we will be featuring establishments throughout the summer.

One of the most intriguing suggestions, which has been mentioned by quite a few readers was – wait for it, wait for it – Seasons Pizza.

Seriously. Seasons Pizza, the regional chain with more than 25 locations in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

To be honest, this doesn't shock me because back in 2009, when we last conducted a search, Seasons Pizza also was frequently mentioned as a favorite spot for a crab cake.

I even picked a crab cake from Seasons in Talleyville as one of my top choices.

So why is it a worthy contender? Here are a sample of the emails we've received about Seasons Pizza:

"I’ve eaten crab cakes at many places in Delaware and my family crabs and makes their own as well. But the best I’ve ever had was at Seasons Pizza."

Jenn

And another thought:

"You need look no further for excellent crab cakes than Seasons Pizza.

Flush, full, packed, lump, lightly browned. I've been eating crab cakes for 50 years and they are simply delicious anyway they are served."

Eric S. Campbell

Few readers specified which Seasons Pizza location they preferred, though Kevin McMullin of Bear mentioned the one on U.S. 40. But, he added, "I haven't had them recently."

Back in 2009, I liked the cake from the Seasons Pizza at 3901 Concord Pike in Talleyville.

I wrote then that the cake had "huge lumps of crab with every bite. The crabby flavor could be more intense, but this is a very good, affordable cake in the most unlikely setting. I couldn’t have been more surprised."

This time, I zeroed in on Seasons Pizza in the Midway Shopping Center at 4723 Kirkwood Highway. If you're not eating there, you can order online and pick up or have the order delivered.

I got a two-piece crab cake dinner for $33.98. It comes with French fries. I added a house salad and a roll for an additional $1.49. (One crab cake and fries is $18.99)

Each "Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cake," as it's called on the website, is 8 ounces and it's served atop of what looked like an oversize Carr's Table Water Cracker.

I understand why these baked crab cakes are frequently mentioned as a favorite. The cakes looked very promising. Each one was studded with a good amount of jumbo lump crab meat and the unbroken lumps are very impressive .

But the cakes tasted bland and the lumps of meat were surrounded by a mushy, bread filling that reminded me of unseasoned Thanksgiving stuffing.

After a few bites, I found myself picking out the lumps and leaving the squishy filling on the plate.

It's an OK crab cake, better than some I've had before, but nowhere near what I would now call my favorite.

The search continues.

DELAWARE FOOD

The hunt is on for Delaware's best crab cakes

Heirloom in Lewes might be Delaware's best restaurant

Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico

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