My philosophy regarding good restaurants usually includes an axiom about the dinkiest looking restaurants often have some of the best food around. This axiom is proven to the nth degree by Jerry’s Seafood. Diane introduced me to this place, after she and her work folks used it regularly as a place to entertain important clients. Jerry’s is east, off the DC Beltway, on Lanham-Severn Road. It’s in a grungy parking lot and the sign, as noted below, isn’t always well lit. It’s a first-come first-serve place with interior decor reminiscent of beach seafood family restaurants from New Jersey, Delaware or Maryland.

Once you get in and get pasted the kitsch, you’ll be amazed. The menu isn’t too varied with a few fried fish items here and there. But, the reason to go to Jerry’s is for the Bomb. The Crab Bomb. It’s a ridiculously large jumbo-lump crab meat. It’s baked not fried. And it’s got like no filler. The only thing holding this puppy together is the good faith of the restaurant staff. And it’s one of the best things you’ll ever eat. If you’re looking for something a bit spicier, you can get the firecracker version of the bomb. It’s made with cracked black pepper and ground mustard seed. Oh my god, it’s yummy. Note that the there are two sizes of the bomb: regular and baby. The baby is 6 ounces, the regular 10. With almost zero filler, that’s a heck of a lot of crab, and well worth the time and expense. That’s the only drawback, if you need to have a drawback. Jerry’s isn’t cheap. But then again, the crab is wonderful, handpicked by staff in the back and perfect. So, treat yourself sometime! I recommend a Baby Firecracker Bomb.