Clancy’s Crab Broiler has been a Glendale seafood institution since 1975. The restaurant is nothing new and exciting, but it does make you feel comfortable and at home.

Upon walking in, you’ll feel like you stepped into a Midwesterner’s idea of what a Bay Area seafood joint looks like. The walls are covered in fisherman tchotchkes and photos of old San Francisco. There’s a fresh seafood display at the host counter, as well as a crab tank. You get to greet the little creature that will soon be on your plate.

Once seated, they serve a breadbasket full of hot rolls, which are fried, so you know they’re good. The rolls are accompanied by a super light, house-made honey-whipped butter.

The menu is vast, plus they have daily meal specials. My group ordered Oysters Rockefeller and raw oysters on a half shell. The Rockefeller came six to an order, and it had a warm pile of cheese and spinach. It may be one of the best ways to consume cooked oysters. The raw oysters were presented to us on a mound of ice with their cocktail sauce in the center. It was cold and fresh, and slid down my throat, as a slick oyster should. It’s ordered a la carte, so you don’t have to limit your intake.

Sunday night is Crab Night, although one would imagine every night is crab night at Clancy’s Crab Broiler. For the half-pound king crab meal, it comes with your choice of a salad, clam chowder or shrimp cocktail, crab legs, a twice-baked potato, steamed vegetables, drawn butter and a dessert … all of this for $17.95. Old places like Clancy’s always offer giant portions and include dessert. It’s so classic.

The clam chowder was well received by the table, as it is served hot and creamy, and full of clams. A small cup is all you’d need, as it’s pretty rich. The salad comes with small, cold shrimp, so you are never without seafood in anything.

All crab dishes come with a bib that I wore proudly when tearing into the crab legs. King crab is a little spinier than other crab, and I cut myself twice, so please be cautious when cracking into those crustaceans. They’ll fight back! Since Clancy’s been doing this for over 35 years, they know how to steam a crab, which was sweet and meaty. A good reward for all the work you have to do to get to it.

Clancy’s has other varieties of seafood on their menu, including an affordable jambalaya (two different jambalayas to choose from) with your choice of fettuccini pasta or rice pilaf. It comes in a large silver bowl full of clams, shrimp, sausage and a fish filet swimming in a spicy tomato broth. It doesn’t come close to any Cajun place’s jambalaya, but it’s a good substitute if you are in the mood for heartier Cioppino. Plus, if you decided to stay with a turf meal, their steak and other land meats are done equally well.

The vegetable sides are a bit unimpressive, though, as you’ll get bland steamed asparagus or carrots and zucchini. If it weren’t for drawn butter and salt, their steamed vegetables would just be considered garnish.

Dessert is what you would expect, with no fancy reductions and flambé here. I got a chocolate mousse that was a rich, creamy, chocolaty whip. We also ordered a very dark cappuccino ice cream. Nothing special, but it is a pleasant ending to a gigantic, satisfying meal.

This is by no means high-class dining. It’s a fun family restaurant that’s also good for groups. The meals are reasonably priced for seafood. It’d be a great place to take folks that want seafood, without any flare or unfamiliarity. It’s like what Red Lobster wants to be: a friendly neighborhood seafood restaurant that serves quality seafood without the pizzazz.

Plus, you get to keep the bib.



For more information, call (818) 242-2722 or visit clancyscrabbroiler.com.