boudreaulicious wrote:

Kman wrote:

Evil Ronnie wrote:
I respectfully suggest that his "Only come in once a year" is a sales "schtick."

I was interpreting it as that the group of 10 guys comes in once a year, ostensibly to go crab-wild.

Correct (I was fortunate to be there last night as well!!)

These guys actually have a name for their party, they call it ASS fest for Asian Soft Shells.

Dear God! I can't run over today, will you have it tomorrow also?

I'll ask Chef - we picked up 3 dozen... kinda testing the waters.. I was mildly against it (initially) - hoping we could continue fine tuning our regular menu and refining our system (you know, since we've only been open 10 days)... however, after trying the sandwich this morning - this has my full endorsement and green light to appear anytime Jon feels like it... so freaking delicious!

Txt Jon - he'll give you the scoop

mbh wrote:Dear God! I can't run over today, will you have it tomorrow also?

rubbbqco wrote:This weekend, we're running a special:
Nashville Hot softshell crab sandwich: brioche bun, smoked paprika aioli, vinegar slaw, bread and butter pickles.


The Budlong
2928 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657
http://www.thebudlong.com
773 270 9005

Facebook post said they'd have it all weekend or til they run out.

Thanks rubbbq and boudreaulicious, I'll text Jon to see if there are any left by tomorrow.

mbh wrote:These guys actually have a name for their party, they call it ASS fest for Asian Soft Shells.

Really enjoying this thread.
Bob Chinn's has soft shell crabs. $21 for a lunch portion of two sauteed crabs.

Not to mention being plated upside down!

Missing claws are unavoidable. Look at them the wrong way, and claws start falling off. 0.25% hit the back door missing a claw. Steve Z's soft crabs from BFM seem to be missing quite a few front appendages.

Maybe ASS actually stands for Amputee Soft Shells.

$31 for two at Citrine in Oak Park, over potatoes, asparagus, olive-lemon pesto.

mkess wrote:Really enjoying this thread.
Bob Chinn's has soft shell crabs. $21 for a lunch portion of two sauteed crabs.

Chinns Soft Shell Crab 5.25.16.jpg

Wow, those look nice and big (even upside down).

I had a soft shell crab po'boy at Riva at Navy Pier a few weeks ago before seeing the Edward III/Henry V/Henry VI, Part 1 marathon at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. I ordered it because I didn't want to miss a chance to have soft-shell crab this season in case I didn't get another, but it was a puny specimen, frankly, compared to those guys.

I just had the Salt & Pepper Soft Shells at Go4food. Although a little on the small side, they were easily the best prep I've had this season.

Truly perfect soft shell crab special at new GNR (yay!) Izakaya Mita last night. Well seasoned, lightest dredging, and served with delicate ponzu. Delicious.

rubbbqco wrote:This weekend, we're running a special:
Nashville Hot softshell crab sandwich: brioche bun, smoked paprika aioli, vinegar slaw, bread and butter pickles.


The Budlong
2928 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657
http://www.thebudlong.com
773 270 9005

I can report that the Budlong's soft shell crab sandwich was delicious. Sizable crab that had that juicy flavor explosion with every bite.

Dirk's Fish, live plump pristine soft shell $5 per =dinner!

Based on the above called Dirk's Thursday and ordered a dozen.
Ventured into the City to Dirk's yesterday.
Picked up a dozen soft shells.
Excellent quality but small, I would call them 'Mediums' in terms of softshell size.
Everything in Dick's appeared to be of excellent quality. Came home with 'steamer' clams also. First time I have seen them in years in the Midwest. No one will ship them anymore.-Richard

had a perfectly prepared softshell at Publican Anker last night. notably not over-seasoned - just simple, juicy crab flavor shining through.

Lucky tens! We found these ten beauties at Heinen's in Glenview at 10:00 a.m. this morning, and bought six of them for dinner tonight.

nsxtasy wrote:for dinner tonight.

Gorgeous soft shells at Anteprima tonight--3 hotels --menu prep was charred escarole with sun dried tomato pesto--I asked to sub the salmon prep which was a fava bean purée, asparagus, white beech mushrooms and lemon vinaigrette. Wonderful.

Also loved the spaghetti with garlic, chilis, crushed fennel, pea shoots and parmigiano.

boudreaulicious wrote:Gorgeous soft shells at Anteprima tonight--3 hotels --menu prep was charred escarole with sun dried tomato pesto--I asked to sub the salmon prep which was a fava bean purée, asparagus, white beech mushrooms and lemon vinaigrette. Wonderful.

Also loved the spaghetti with garlic, chilis, crushed fennel, pea shoots and parmigiano.

Anteprima in spring is just the best.

Special on the menu Thursday night at Boeufhaus after BUG. Thicker breading, perhaps, than necessary, but it didn't detract from terrific crabby-ness and helped soak up a smoky sauce anchored with ham and scallion. Really nice dish. One of many on the menu. A little disappointed that cauliflower is off the menu for the (sometimes) warmer weather, but a small quibble, really. Love that place.

All these pics look great! Never ordered soft shells from a restaurant; just made hem myself. I'm curious as to if most places leave the tomalley. I totally would...

Soft Shelled "Shelter" Crab (chilli, garlic, black bean, lemon aioli) is back on the menu at Fat Rice. It's crispy-licious and is quite possibly my favorite prep of all time.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Soft Shelled "Shelter" Crab (chilli, garlic, black bean, lemon aioli) is back on the menu at Fat Rice. It's crispy-licious and is quite possibly my favorite prep of all time.

=R=

I was at Fat Rice Friday for lunch, now I have to get back this week, thanks for the heads up.

i had one enormous soft shell crab for dinner at dove's luncheonette sunday night. it was perfectly delicious, breaded but not greasy, and served with crunchy house made giardiniera and smoked green olives(which i didnt eat). it's not on the regular menu, so who knows if it'll appear again....memorable.

Pretty tasty corn-meal crusted rendition at RL last night.

Nice rendition at Monteverde last night

Go4Food is my go to for soft shells, salt and pepper or Hong Kong style.

A friend reported that HB had softshells on Friday with watermelon, so I think separate from the softshell sandwich on the menu online.

Late lunch today at Tortoise Supper Club - my companion had chef's special of soft shell crabs meuniere. He was president-for-a-day of the clean plate club. Our first time there, look forward to returning.

Last week I got an email from Prairie Moon that they had a special entree of soft shell crabs. By the time I went to their website a few hours later, it had vanished from their menu; I called and they confirmed that they had sold out.

Yesterday I got another email from Prairie Moon that they have the same special. As of right now, they're still available.

Restaurant Michael (Aboyer, Silencieux) is also doing a special of soft shell crabs tonight.