L P Steamers in Baltimore: Old-Line Steamed Crabs and Casual Waterfront Dining
L P Steamers is a casual seafood counter and bar in Fells Point that specializes in steamed blue crabs, shrimp, and clams sold by the pound and served at picnic tables indoors and on a small patio. It operates as a no-frills eating spot where the menu centers on live crustaceans steamed to order and cold beer, drawing locals and tourists looking for Baltimore's crab-house experience without tablecloths or table service.
What L P Steamers actually is
The restaurant occupies a modest storefront with a walk-up ordering counter, a small indoor dining area, and an open-air patio. Crabs arrive live in tanks behind the counter; customers select their choice of size and weight, then wait while kitchen staff steam them in batches. No reservations. The tone is working-waterfront casual, with wooden tables, paper napkins, and wooden mallets provided for cracking shells. Alcohol sales focus on domestic beer and simple mixed drinks.
Menu, pricing, and how to order
Steamed blue crabs are priced by the pound or by the dozen, typically ranging from $15 to $25 per dozen depending on size and current market rates; verify current pricing when you call. Steamed shrimp runs $12 to $18 per pound. Clams and mussels are also available seasonally. The standard accompaniments are Old Bay seasoning (applied before steaming or available on the side), corn on the cob, and sliced potatoes or rice. Beer options include Natty Boh (National Bohemian), Miller High Life, and Budweiser on draft and in bottles. No wine list.
Orders are placed at the counter. Customers pay upfront, receive a number, and sit at communal or small two- and four-top tables. Food arrives in steaming baskets lined with paper. Expect 20 to 45 minutes during peak hours; lunch service is typically faster. There is no kitchen menu of sides, salads, or prepared appetizers; the focus is entirely on crustaceans.
How L P Steamers compares to other Baltimore crab houses
Faidley's Seafood, also in Fells Point, operates as a full-service sit-down restaurant with a raw bar, crab cakes, and fried seafood alongside steamed crabs, at moderate to high prices. Koco's Pub in Canton offers a similar casual steamed-crab format with beer-drinking crowds but smaller quarters and a neighborhood rather than tourist orientation. Bo Brooks in Canton, on the Patapsco River, positions itself as upscale-casual with more spacious waterfront seating and a broader menu, at higher prices.
Choose L P Steamers if you want quick, no-ceremony steamed crabs close to Fells Point shops and galleries. Choose Faidley's if you want one meal that includes fried food, crab cakes, or raw oysters. Choose Koco's if you prefer a tighter, denser bar crowd. Choose Bo Brooks if you want calm waterfront views and a fuller menu.
Who this place suits and who it does not
L P Steamers works well for groups (crabs are shareable and informal), people comfortable eating with their hands and getting messy, and visitors on a budget seeking an authentic Baltimore experience. It suits solo diners and walk-in crowds. It does not suit diners who are squeamish about live shellfish, who prefer table service, who need vegetarian options, or who want a full menu with alternatives. It is not a date-night venue or a place to linger; turnover is expected.
What the first visit involves
You enter through the front door and immediately approach the counter. Point to or describe the size and quantity of crabs you want. You will be told an estimated wait time. Pay with cash or card (confirm current payment methods). You find a table indoors or on the patio, claim a spot on a bench or at a small table, and wait for your number to be called. Food arrives in a disposable basket. Crabs will be hot; a wooden mallet and small metal pick are already on the table. There are no servers. When finished, you bus your own table to a bin near the counter and leave.
Hours, parking, and logistics
L P Steamers is open daily, typically from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., though hours shift seasonally (call to confirm). Street parking on Thames Street and nearby side streets is available but fills quickly during summer weekends. The nearest paid lot is one block away. The patio is open-air and unheated; plan accordingly in cold months. The interior can be loud and humid during peak service. Takeout is available; crabs travel in cardboard containers but lose heat quickly.
L P Steamers delivers the Chesapeake crab experience Baltimore expects: live crabs steamed simply, eaten casually, and priced fairly for the protein. It has remained a local anchor in Fells Point for decades by refusing to overcomplicate the formula.
