Tim's II (VA - King George)

Last week I had the opportunity to sample my first crabs of the season at Tim's II in King George, VA. Tim's is a short ride down the Potomac from DC and well worth the trip. Most patrons arrive by boat and either pull into the dock or, if they arrive at low tide when there are only about two feet of water, drop anchor and await Tim's complimentary shuttle service to the restaurant.

We played it straight down the middle - a pound and a half of steamed shrimp and a dozen large crabs - no soup, sandwiches, corn on the cob, fries or onion rings to get in the way. The shrimp were outstanding. Spicy, succulent morsels - each about the size of your thumb - cooked to perfection - tender and juicy and not at all chewy.

The crabs were somewhat of a disappointment. The preparation was flawless - just the right amount of spice, crabs steamed just long enough to free the meat from the shells - but the crabs were very light.

[For those of you who are not regular consumers of these delightful crustaceans, they are sold by size - medium, large, extra large, and jumbo - which refers primarily to the size of the crabs "from point to point" - meaning the distance across the widest part of the crab's back. Equally as important, though never quoted in the initial order, is how "heavy" or "light" the crabs are. Heavier crabs have more meat than lighter crabs, so it is possible for a "heavy" medium to have more meat in it than a "light" large, only you pay more to get the large order.]

The waitress must have known we were less than thrilled, because when we ordered another half dozen large, she brought out some behemoths - definitely jumbo and very heavy. These were prepared every bit as well as the first batch, but far more rewarding to pick.

If you find yourself on the Potomac this summer, stop by Tim's II - you won't be disappointed.