The Owner of Duke’s Grocery Will Bring U Street an All-Outdoor Crab Shack This Summer

The restaurateur behind beloved pub Duke’s Grocery is expanding onto U Street NW later this summer with the opening of a permanent, all-outdoor seafood spot at the corner of Vermont Street NW.

Chesapeake Crab Shack & Bar will serve shellfish, fresh-squeezed crushes, and all-DMV brews in “casual dockside” setting, according to a news release announcing the new venture. Look for Maryland blue crabs, lobsters, snow crab legs, and peel-and-eat shrimp, plus sides like corn on the cob, cabbage slaw and pasta salad (925 U Street NW).

The all-outdoor setup from Daniel Kramer, who also owns Korean barbecue place Gogi Yogi nearby, will feature a large awning with fans and heaters to keep the seafood shack operational year round. Neighboring Service Bar operated a temporary pop-up last year at the same sunny and grassy corner:

Kramer called dibs on the prized patch of grass earlier this year but kept his vision for the site under wraps until now.

“The best thing about living in the mid-Atlantic are the beach towns, the family-run restaurants and bars by the Bay, and the overall welcoming vibes out there,” says Kramer, in a statement.

Shaw is largely amiss of a year-round seafood shack. Valor Brewpub brought Barracks Row a seasonal spot to pick crabs last summer, and Swiss staple Stable did the same for H Street.

Unlike Duke’s Grocery and Duke’s Counter, the East London-inspired gastropubs Kramer also runs in D.C., there won’t be a sandwich or Proper Burger in sight.

“If it’s got a shell, there’s a good chance it’ll be on the menu,” adds Kramer.

• Two Barracks Row Bars Will Turn Into a Combined Crab Shack on Weekends [EDC]