The South’s No. 1 seafood restaurant is in Georgia, poll shows. Why it’s special
A Georgia eatery tops the list of the South’s best seafood spots, and two others placed close behind, according to Southern Living.
Readers voted The Crab Trap on St. Simons Island the No. 1 seafood dive in the South, per rankings published by the lifestyle magazine March 11.
Gnat’s Landing, also on St. Simons Island, and The Original Crab Shack on Tybee Island also earned spots on the top 10 list of must-visit eateries, coming in at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively.
“Whether you prefer your catch fried to golden perfection, broiled with a squeeze of lemon, or steamed with Cajun spices, these beloved restaurants more than know their way around a seafood plate,” Southern Living editors wrote.
For its “South’s Best” list, the magazine commissioned Proof Insights to poll readers about their favorite places across the South. The survey included more than 10,000 respondents and was conducted July 10-Aug. 21, 2024, according to its website.
Here’s how they stacked up:
The Crab Trap
Foodies in search of “no-fuss” seafood can find it at the Crab Trap on St. Simons Island.
According to its website, customers can dine on the “finest local shrimp, scallops, oysters and fish all served with battered fries, hush puppies and coleslaw.”
The fan favorite? Its “world famous” crab soup.
One customer dubbed The Crab Trap “one of my favorite places” on St. Simons Island.
“They have the best crab soup I’ve ever eaten,” they wrote in a Yelp review, giving the restaurant a five-star rating. “I’ve begged for the recipe! Food is cooked very well, the staff is nice. And the atmosphere is great. We make it a point to go here (every) time we are on the island!”
Other popular dishes include fried shrimp, crab legs and Alaskan snow crab, according to the restaurant’s Yelp page.
“Each table has a hole in the middle of it so customers can discard their oyster shells and shrimp peels with ease,” Southern Living reported.
Gnat’s Landing
Customers also have their pick of dishes from classic Po’ Boys to a crab BLT and savory grit bowls topped with Andouille sausage and customers’ choice of protein, according to its website.
The popular dive, opened as a “flip-flop friendly” hangout for beachgoers, serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, the restaurant’s website says.
The Original Crab Shack
What started as a fishing camp is now a Tybee Island staple that welcomes seafood lovers from near and far.
The Original Crab Shack serves a smorgasbord of seafood dishes including steamed oysters, crawfish, dungeness crab, and peel & eat shrimp by the pound, according to its website. In the mood for barbecue? They’ve got that, too.
“This popular spot has waterside views of the marsh and a lagoon with live alligators,” Southern Living reported. “Order their huge Low Country Boil, and prepare to get messy.”
Jack and Belinda Flanigan bought the Chimney Creek Fishing Camp in 1983 after seeing a “for sale” ad in the newspaper, according to the restaurant’s website.
Together, they ran the camp and nearby marina while pursuing their captain licenses and hosted gatherings frequented by friends and locals. The Original Crab Shack would soon come to be.
“The first menu was drawn on a 4x8 sheet of plywood and hung on a wall where it could be seen from all six tables,” the restaurant’s website says.
Popular dishes include the deviled crab, clam chowder and seafood platter combo, according to the restaurant’s Yelp page.
This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM with the headline "The South’s No. 1 seafood restaurant is in Georgia, poll shows. Why it’s special."