This New Jersey Seafood Buffet Serves Crab The Way Shore Locals Have Always Demanded
Last summer, I discovered a true Jersey Shore treasure in Wildwood Crest — the Crab House at Two Mile Landing.
Tucked along the back bays near Cape May, this bustling waterfront spot has earned a loyal following for doing one thing exactly right: serving blue crabs the way locals have always demanded them — fresh from the water, piled high on the table, and seasoned to perfection.
From the moment you step inside and catch that briny-sweet aroma of Old Bay and steam rising from bushels of crab, you know you’ve found the kind of authentic shore experience families have cherished for generations.
Fresh Catches Straight From Local Waters
The morning fishing boats barely have time to dock before their haul makes its way to Two Mile’s kitchen. I watched in awe as bushels of blue crabs arrived through the back door while I sipped my coffee at the bar.
Local fishermen have first-name relationships with the staff, ensuring the restaurant gets priority access to the day’s best catches. This isn’t your typical frozen-and-shipped seafood operation.
The difference in flavor is immediately noticeable, with that sweet, briny freshness that only truly fresh crab can deliver.
Crab The Way Shore Families Have Always Loved It
Growing up, my grandpa taught me the proper way to crack a crab – no fancy tools, just your hands and maybe a wooden mallet if things got stubborn. Two Mile honors this tradition perfectly.
Brown paper covers every table, mallets stand ready in buckets, and the bibs aren’t just for show – you’ll need them! The preparation is gloriously straightforward: steamed with generous layers of Old Bay seasoning, the way generations of shore families have enjoyed them.
No fussy sauces or complicated preparations here. Just sweet crab meat that requires a bit of work to enjoy – exactly as it should be. The reward for your labor? That incomparable taste of summer that keeps locals coming back decade after decade.
A Buffet That Balances Tradition And Variety
“You’ll run out of stomach before you run out of options!” That’s what the cheerful server told me as I stared, wide-eyed, at the seemingly endless buffet line. Beyond the star attraction of steamed blue crabs, Two Mile’s spread offers something for every seafood lover.
Snow crab legs glisten next to garlic butter dipping stations. Fried soft-shell crab sandwiches – a Jersey shore specialty – disappear almost as quickly as they’re brought out. For the less adventurous, there’s even a selection of land-based options.
What impressed me most was how they’ve maintained quality despite the quantity. Unlike many buffets where food sits under heat lamps, Two Mile’s staff constantly refreshes each station with small batches, ensuring everything tastes just-made.
Why Locals Swear By Two Mile’s Seafood Spread
“We’ve tried fancy places up and down the coast, but we always come back here,” confessed a sunburned gentleman at the next table, clearly a regular. His family nodded in agreement while expertly dismantling their crab piles.
Two Mile has earned local loyalty through consistency and value. While tourists might flock to trendier spots with higher prices and smaller portions, generations of Jersey families return here for the authentic experience. The restaurant doesn’t advertise much – they don’t need to.
Word-of-mouth recommendations have sustained them for decades. I noticed something special in how staff greeted many guests by name, asking about family members not present. This isn’t just about food – it’s about community and tradition, something increasingly rare in tourist destinations.
From Steamed Crabs To Shellfish Towers
My jaw dropped when I spotted the seafood tower being carried to a nearby celebration table. While the all-you-can-eat buffet satisfies most appetites, Two Mile’s legendary shellfish towers represent the ultimate splurge for special occasions.
These multi-tiered monuments feature chilled lobster tails, jumbo shrimp, littleneck clams, and oysters from Cape May’s own beds. The towers come in three sizes – “High Tide” for couples, “Storm Surge” for foursomes, and the massive “Hurricane” that feeds eight hungry seafood lovers.