1–2. With a name like Crabby Dick’s (Delaware City, 832-5100; Rehoboth Beach, 645-9132), you’d expect a decent crab cake. Here the crab “fluff” is dipped in beer batter and fried. At Gilligan’s Waterfront Restaurant & Bar (Lewes, 644-7230), the softball-shaped cakes are dusted with panko breadcrumbs and flash fried.
3–4. Jerry’s Seafood (Lewes, 645-4657) is home to the crab “bomb,” a 10-ounce bronzed beauty full of jumbo lump. The setting is modest at Woody’s Dewey Beach Bar & Grill (Dewey Beach, 260-9945), but the crab-packed patties are exceptional.
5–7. Ironically, perhaps, some of the lumpiest, purest cakes are served where you wouldn’t expect it, to wit: University & Whist Club (Wilmington, 658-5125), Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware (Newark, 456-3800) and Brasserie Grille at the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana (Newark, 781-7000).
