Fatty Crab

We met people here for dinner at 6:30 on Friday night. From the decibel level, I should have suggested we walk. We were literally shoved into a table and the rush to order was on. This was at 6:30 not 8. We were given no time to look at the damn menu, not to mention talk to people we have been wanting to meet for some time. The waitress darted back and forth making an assault every 5 minutes. When the food came (we were told that for 4 it was family style), it was not only meagre, but well below the level of the comparable UWS versions. The slidders were tasteless and dry with added gristle to boot, the duck was mostly fat and bone, the fish fry meagre but at least spicy. It's hard to believe that this is the same place that has a satellite on the UWS. Actually it isn't. They are two different beasts. If you want an unhurried chill place to have dinner, DON'T COME HERE! The bill was $160 for 4 people with 4 glasses of wine. This is a great bargain, Frank Bruni, for mediocre hockey-puck-sized portions of food with service that had a broom in its hand showing you the way out. STAY AWAY!

Pros: None

Cons: Poor & meagre food, rushed service, loud music

Posted 10/11/09

I thought rock bottom was reached when I was waited on by a waiter talking into his cell phone at the same time as he served; but I now have to state I?ve been subjected to a new low.

The Fatty Crab was a hip little restaurant in the Meat Packing District that got touted by Martha Stewart so it got big enough to open a branch on Broadway at 76th. Since that?s my neighborhood I thought I?d give it a try, after all, I worship The Martha.

First impression: not so hot. Uncomfortable seating and close quarters. But the worst experience was the bathrooms.

The Fatty Crab has two unisex rooms, ill-lit by red light. First off, I?d like to state that when a woman goes into a restaurant bathroom, usually it is not just to look around. She is there to accomplish something. Darkness does not help.

So there I am, attempting to accomplish something in the dark, when a big dog barked at me from out of nowhere. That made me jump. Then I realized the barking was coming from a speaker ? it was just a weird sound effect.

That would have been annoying enough. But then the screaming started. I mean real screaming. Torture screaming.

So I was stuck in a dark room, that I could not get out of for a couple of minutes at least, and the screaming didn?t stop.

I am feeling outrage now as I type, but interestingly enough, at the time, all I really felt was bored and annoyed. I was being subjected to one more moron?s idea of ?hip?. When I told my waiter ? the guy in the dirty tee shirt with all the ink on his arms ? he just shrugged and said ?It?s a tape.? I told him it should stop, but being merely a customer, I assume I was ignored.

I am sad to live in a time when it is almost impossible to go out for a pleasant meal. It cost me $50 at the Fatty Crab to be the victim of some idiot whose therapy had failed.

Cons: The Worst Experince In a Long Time

Posted 08/11/09

Great food. Thought watermelon, pickles, and pork belly was a weird combo but proved to be delicious. Like the other reviews mentioned, chili crab with the sauce will make you forget the damage it did to your wallet. Citysearch should upgrade this place to $$$.

Pros: Fun. Tasty. Unique. Friendly staff

Cons: Bit pricey

Posted 06/12/09

This was a great meal with very good food and service. I'd heard about it for a long time and only just tried it. Everything we ordered was good - particularly the Fatty Duck and the mini sliders. Would highly recommend!

Pros: Great food, really good service, great atmosphere

Cons: Small, fairly loud

Posted 04/25/09

I had to sit with my girlfriend in the middle of the place. We had elbows bumping into us and other guests hovering over us as we ate our food. I don't care how good the food is, no one should be subject to that kind of service. If I'm spending my money i expect to eat in comfort!

Pros: The food is great.

Cons: too crowded

Posted 04/19/09

It still baffles me that people complain about the size restrictions of the OFC. Their new spot is whatever, the food's fine but who the hell would want to eat dinner on the UWS, anyway? And for all the scene-sters or clueless people out there. Why don't you try this place when it's not jampacked? Like for lunch or early bird specials with the elderly.

Pros: Delicious food.

Cons: What are the drawbacks?

Posted 04/19/09

Good quality food, great Asian taste. Hip staff. Pricier than Citysearch suggests. Crab was $42, which is twice the price of crab in Chinatown. The sauce with the crab is almost worth the price in itself. I'll be back for more!

Posted 03/03/09

I don't write many reviews, but after lasts night dinner I felt compelled! All I can say is WOW! Everything from the service to the food was incredible. The watermelon with fried pork, toasted tamaki duck, chili crab and two bottles of wine really made for a great dinner!! Go if you want good food and like to eat with your hands. Thanks to Joe for making great recommendations!

Pros: everthing

Posted 02/28/09

This is the first review I have ever written on any website, ever. Here goes....

The food, service and staff at Fatty make it one of my favorite places in the city. I eat there at least once a week. I literally have dreams of the fatty crab sauce and the sliders. The music is great, the scene is perfect.

The people who hate on Fatty are absolute hoosiers with no taste buds. They should take their Jdates elsewhere.

Pros: Everything, seriously

Posted 02/18/09

I read a lot of reviews here and elsewhere for this restaurant. I would return, but I would focus on the crab... it's a large portion and it's definitely messy eating, but there was plenty of meat and the sauce was really good.

We also ordered the large wontoon mee (noodle soup) which was just OK. The noodles are quite thin, and for the price ($17) it was quite small; I'm not the biggest guy and I could've finished the whole thing alone. But the fatty tea sandwiches were surprisingly good.

As others have noted, this restaurant has limited space. We arrived quite early, but many customers arrived soon afterwards.

I went more out of curiosity, and I'd return - for the crab, which was really quite good, but pricy, at $40.

For those of you who will visit this restaurant and order the crab - you may wish to bring plastic kitchen gloves. I did and it made the eating infinitely easier (the staff provides moist paper towels if you order the crab, but the sauce was very pungent and I'm sure the towels alone wouldn't have fully gotten rid of the smell).

They did charge me $4 for extra toast, which I ordered to scoop up the leftover crab sauce with. I wasn't happy.

Pros: great crab, fun eating

Cons: service was a bit slow towards the end, very cramped space

Posted 11/23/08

I have never had the food, but they make nice shots and drinks- just dont come with a huge group because it is a very small group.

Posted 11/23/08

If you're looking for classical South-East Asian fare, then forget it. Being from South-East Asian, I know what classical fare is. This place has its own spin and combines flavors and recipes that you wouldn't find in any "traditional" Singaporean, Malaysian or Indonesian restaurant (try finding their signature Watermelon Pickle and Cirspy Belly Pork dish anywhere else!) That said, what comes out of the kitchen is quite delectable in a weird kind of way. It makes you sit back and go "Huh! Who would've thought of doing it this way? But it's not bad either and actually kind of yummy." I particularly like their Fatty Tea Sandwiches with Pork Belly and Sambal Aioli (a combination which would have a traditional SE Asian chef scream "Sacrilege!" and your cardiologist tear his hear out at the tsunami of cholesterol going into your system) but it's oh-so-delicious and irresistible. Their Nasi Lemak with the poached instead of fried egg and the interesting chicken curry without the anchovies and with an odd spinach rendition is also quite tastebud-tweaking. The Short Rib Rendang is a lot closer to the traditional Beef Rendang and they have a decent "Chicken Rice" albeit without the Hainese Chicken that normally comes with the dish for those who are rigid traditionalists so there's something for everyone. The prices, unfortunately, aren't cheap but are at French bistro levels.

Pros: Weird renditions/combinations of traditional SE Asian recipes and some self-invented stuff

Cons: Prices, small dining area

Posted 11/09/08

My friend and I arrived a little past 8pm on a Friday night and were immediately given a table (although to be fair 10 min later, there was a line out the door). The waiter was attentive and his recommendations were on point. The best dish by far was the Fatty Duck and for $14 a terrific bargain. The food is made for sharing, and although the portions are not that big, the food is rich enough that they don't need to be. I had an amazing and enjoyable experience and will definitely be back.

Pros: Food, Service, Beer List

Cons: Small space

Posted 08/29/08

Just finished a wonderful dinner with superb (yes messy but not to be missed) crab, unbelievably tender short ribs, great shrimps which you wrap in lettuce with lots of accompaniments--actually every dish was good. Service was very friendly, very efficient, didn't rush us at all. We went with kids 6 and 9 who loved the spicy food, paid their compliments to the chef and got a big appreciative smile.

Posted 06/03/08

avoid the chili crab. it's a f***ing mess, and it's $40 (M.P. on the menu), which I found shocking considering a menu of $10-16 items.

Posted 04/20/08

I went to Fatty Crab with a friend last night. We read the reviews and arrived before 8pm to avoid the long wait. We were seated promptly and started to enjoy the yummy cocktails right away. Our waiter was attentive and we finished the order within 5 minutes. Since one of my friend may be joining us later, I asked the waiter if it was possible to add a chair when she arrived. Everything was great so far -- then the manager came over to discuss with us about our query. He first told us that he could not add a chair to our 2-seat table, which is understandable considering it's a small dining room, but he went on and said that he could not have us occupying his table and not ordering food. I was stunned by his rude assumption, but I calmly told him that we had finished our order (4 dishes and wine) . He seemed a bit embarrassed by what he said, but did not apologize and just went away. It is quite a shame that a wonderful restaurant is staffed with a manager who is poor at communicating with the customers. We still left a hefty tip for our waiter because he was very sweet and helpful. But we will not go back and take the risk of being rudely treated by the manager again.

Pros: Atmosphere; creativity of food

Cons: Rude manager

Posted 03/11/08

I'm a Malaysian so trust me when I say its worth the wait!!! The food here is as authentic to Malaysian food as you can get anywhere else in New York. Service is good as well. So waiting in the cold for a seat was definitely worth the wait!!

Pros: Authentic Malaysian Food

Cons: Long wait

Posted 03/06/08

went to fatty crab for dinner with a girlfriend this past saturday night, around 9:30 p.m. they don't take reservations, but we were seated almost immediately. we had time for a drink at the bar. the bartender greeted us within a minute, and he was friendly - a rarity for the MPD. The moment our drinks came up, we were seated. tables are small, but cozy (sort of like the restaurant itself). our waiter was over moments later, and again, he was super friendly and knowledgable. we decided to order a starter of sliders, the watermelon pickle salad, and for our entrees, the short ribs and fatty duck.
the watermelon salad came out a few minutes later, and it was delicious - the salty and slightly sweet flavor of the pickle counteracted the cubes of rich pork belly on the salad. the sliders came next, and although they were really good, the aioli was a bit much - just a little bit too spicy, which sort of overpowered the other flavors on the burger.
the short ribs were melt-in-your mouth tender, and while they were also spicy, the coconut milk sort of mellowed out the flavor. the fatty duck was FATTY!! crispy and delicious, definitely can't use chopsticks on these.
we didn't have dessert (i don't think they even do dessert), but we did get two little cubes of coconut mochi with our check. all told, it was about $100 for 4 plates and 4 drinks. i thought it was a pretty good deal (i've paid much more for much less interesting food and good service.)
i would definitely go back to fatty crab - i loved the atmosphere (and soundtrack - we went from MIA to Public Enemy in the course of a meal), and the service was great (and also very VERY nice to look at, which is reason to return a few times... ). i'm not sure when other reviewers have gone that they've had bad experiences with service, etc., but i can't think of anything bad to say about this place!

Pros: incredible food, friendly, efficient service, great location, foxy waiters ;)

Cons: tiny tables, single restroom, no dessert menu, didn't see many vegetarian options

Posted 01/27/08

I have never EVER posted a comment on citysearch before..However, after my dining experience last night at Fatty Crab..I feel it is necessary. NY mag listed this place to have the ?best? burgers?.I am quite perplexed as I just don?t get it. A horrible blend of beef and pork, and a spice to make your head start spinning! Now on to the lovely noodle dish that was drowned in coconut milk with a smell I don?t even want to describe. My night ended with a $$ bill, and a meal that consisted of coconut rice?NICE!! So next time you want to get ?the best burger?, take my advice and go down the street about 5 blocks to Pop Burger!!!!!!

Posted 01/17/08

This is the 1st time I am ever posting a comment on citysearch. com. I am doing so because I would never wish the meal that I experienced at fatty crab on my worst enemy. NY Magazine recommended this restaurant as one of the best burgers in NYC. In what country does this awful blend of pork and beef constitute as a burger? Would have rather eaten at McDonalds....

Cons: Food

Posted 01/17/08

Having eaten at the Fatty Crab 3 times, I have found the food is going downhill fast. The first time I ate here, the crab was amazing. Last night it was horrible, and for $36 per crab you are getting ripped off. I ate a better one at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco last week for $11 that kicked butt. The pork belly tea sandwiches are a joke - there's barely any meat on it, and pork belly is one of the cheapest meats to purchase. The sauteed spinach was gross. While I understand this place is for hipsters, I have no problem with the crowded tables, and loud music, but this music was super loud to the point of a rock concert. Ironically, I found the service to be excellent, fast, and knowledgeable despite what others have written. Sad to say I will not return to eat here.

Pros: service, if you like loud music

Cons: food, noise, cramped space

Posted 01/09/08

I heard a lot of reviews about FattyCrab and decided to head down for dinner with 4 friends of mine. Reach the spot at around 7pm. The restaurant was like 10% full, we were possibly the biggest group other than two other couples eating there. We were promptly seated to two small tables, We requested for one more table because the seating were really small but the waiter there refused, saying that in 10 mins time, the restaurant will be filled up. We even politely requested to use the table next to us and promised to give it up when the crowd gets in but again we were refused. We ordered about 10 dishes in all, and everything the food gets brought in, we had to shuffle to make space and keep dumping the empty plates next to the empty table that we requested. The food was awful. The KangKong belacan was soggy and my order of Wanton noodles were so so. Being raised from SouthEast Asia, i know how the food should exactly taste. The chicken wings were undercooked. I requested for extra broth for my soup because it came in a tiny rice bowl and i was charged 4 dollars for it which I think its really extravagant and unnecessary. In all, only one waiter was nice and attentive. When we finished our dinner and settle the bill, the table next to us is still empty, and the restaurant wasn't even full house. I will never go back there to eat again!

Pros: near subway.

Cons: Bad service, mediocre food.

Posted 10/30/07

Another grossly overrated meat-packer; rude wait staff; avoid "traditional" Vietnamese fish noodle soup at all costs----go to Chinatown instead.
Will never eat here again.

Pros: great fried fish dish

Cons: rude staff, lack of proper entree description

Posted 10/21/07

Restaurants are supposed to entice their customers to stay and try out their cuisine. This much hyped place was supposed to be a birthday dinner celebration but it totally left us appalled at the way they treat potential customers. We arrived 6:30 PM and waited for one more in out party - the place was quiet with only two couples dining. Parking ourselves at the bar, an order of wine spritzer and a glass of Reisling which was not even half way - billed at $25 for two drinks. I would understand if its top shelf and two full liquor drinks but one was a spritzer - so never mind. We waited and we got a call from the person we're waiting for that he might not make it - so we asked to be seated. "But there's only three of you." The brusque remark came from the waitstaff and I explained it will only be 3 for dinner so we got pointed to the worst table by the door - I asked for the other table but was met with "But that seats four!" Yeah, like I hadn't noticed but they seated one of the couples in a table for 4. Well, that did it - this place gets a big fat F for their rude treatment of potential customers and it's a shame - maybe the fat has gone to their head. Go somewhere else which we did and had a good birthday dinner anyway.

Posted 09/26/07

After reading all of the great reviews in Time Out MagazIne and Online I expected a lot more than what we got. Don't get me wrong the food was good but the overall experience was not worth it at all.

The service was awful, I mean really poor and I am not one to be highly critical of service. Our food came out painfully slow, it took over four times to get the waiter to bring rice for one entree she had already been done with her dish for about ten minutes. When it finally came they charged us twice for it. The waiters are like chickens running around with their head cut off. This place is poorly managed and frankly the food was good but not as great as its supposed to be. So definitely not worth it nor the hype.

Skip it and go somewhere good.

Pros: Good but not great food

Cons: SERVICE WAS THE WORST IN NYC

Posted 09/02/07

Just got back from dinner at Fatty Crab. I arrived around 6.15pm to an almost empty restaurant. While waiting for my friend to arrive, the bartender, waiter, cook and host all came over to chat with me and keep me company...totally nice and extremely accomodating!!! The overall experience was delish...loved the steamed pork buns and the chili crab was messy yet lots of fun to eat...Forget the utensils...use your hands!
The staff was so outstanding...the food was good too yet the friendliness of this place will make me go back...Just get there early I guess....

Pros: Great and knowledgeable staff

Cons: cramped quarters...

Posted 08/20/07

WellI live in the neighborhood and finally stopped by this hot spot!! The food was so tasty and delicious I wanted seconds. I especially loved the crab....i will definitely come back and bring my friends.

Pros: Great Tasty Food!!

Cons: Bar area could be bigger

Posted 07/05/07

Wow, we were shocked at the bad service after all the good reviews we'd read. Not only did I get covered in wet black paint from a freshly painted wall (and got no apologies from the staff) but we had to wait forever since the final member of our party was late. And the food was not so great and mine was cold! Please, don't believe the hype about this place.

Pros: Location

Cons: Bad service, limited seating

Posted 06/27/07

Went in for lunch recently and left disappointed. We were handed menus by a gentleman who didn't greet us with a smile or even a word. We waited a while for our food and when it came only one of us was served. Nothing was said regarding the missing entree nor was it explained to us that the food comes out of the kitchen when ready and not together. Maybe it was due to the fact that there was only 1 cook in the kitchen. When we asked for the check it came quickly, but when we had the money ready to pay, we waited quite a while. All I ask is for a restaurant to pay a little more attention to their guests and strive to give the basic steps of service. That way we can all leave satisfied.

Pros: I'm not so sure anymore

Cons: staff members seem like they have better things to do rather than to serve the guests

Posted 05/14/07

i went here for lunch a few weeks ago and it was PACKED, even at 1:30pm on a friday afternoon. regardless of how busy it was, the service was great. the female bartender was really really friendly and although she was only one of two servers working was very attentive. we had the watermelon and pork salad (sooooo good, but def a heart attack on a plate), the sliders (also very tasty - i love the sauce/sambal on the burgers), the black pepper mussels and coconut rice. we also had some interesting imported beers. overall i would say that it wasn't cheap, but i would def go back.

Pros: great food, inventive menu, fun imported beer

Cons: not cheap, not a lot of servers for the number of tables

Posted 04/21/07

I had high, high expectations for Fatty Crab, especially after such a high citysearch rating. However, when I had dinner there a lot of the dishes were simply very average. They weren't bad yet, they didn't leave any cravings for more. The two exceptions to that were the steamed pork buns which were excellent and the Chilli Crab which I would definitely go back for. Go there, have only those two and you won't be dissappointed!

Posted 04/08/07

I've had my share of rude dining experiences in new york (sparks anyone) but not at fatty crab. (maybe i've been lucky) I've been there three times, lunch, dinner, drinks and each time found the food amazing.

The shortribs are incredible as are the noodles and chicken wings. Spiced in an unusual way. I actually heard my friend exclaim, this is delicious, after eating the chicken wings. They are!

I guess people should stay away at prime time to avoid the hassle but its definitely worth it if you want good food, reasonably priced, and not your typical sushi or steak frites

Pros: Great Food

Cons: crowded and small

Posted 03/09/07

We went for lunch at noon on a thursday. We were the only patrons there and the waitress, Angela, treated us like we had grossly offended her just by showing up. She gave us the wrong menu twice before finding the lunch menu. We ordered the fatty duck and braised short ribs which were both DELICIOUS. We wanted to order more food, but she dropped our check as she cleared our plates. No, the restaurant was not full, not even close. She chided us for requesting knives. Her attitude really ruined a pleasant lunch among friends. I would go back, but only with the hopes of having another server.

Pros: the food

Cons: the service

Posted 03/05/07

I am not sure why this place has such a high review. The food is mediocre and nothing to rave about. I had better tasting dungess crab at other establishment. The host was just plain rude, but the waiters were cool.
But they do have inventive and original food, but it's just quail shooters-nothing special.

Pros: Inventive food

Cons: Food and bad host, and limited amount of space!

Posted 03/05/07

I read the reviews, good and bad, and have to say, as with all great things in New York, sometimes, you've got to tolerate more of something than you'd prefer, but, if it's good, it's usually worth it. I don't think this restaurant ever pretends to be something it's not, and in order for them to satisfy the desire of many people to eat there, they have to turn tables, and maybe even have rules about extra seats in an isle, but, all-in, I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant with my foodie friend from Petaluma, CA. We had the best of everything; the crab, the duck, and some other things that I don't recall. All I remember was the sauce/soup for the crab. That, alone, is worth an award, and can be purchased on it's own as a take-out item - FYI. I loved the food, and my hat goes off to whomever started this restaurant. As for the service, the way I look at it, as long as I am being served, and enjoying the food, I am not concerned with a little bit of attitude; it's New York.

Pros: Unique, Delicious Food

Cons: Tight quarters, can't linger too long

Posted 02/12/07

there are many things about fatty crab i dont like. its always crowded, there's always a wait, there's very little waiting room at the bar, and the tables are cramped to the point where you're elbow-to-elbow with your neighbors crabs. having said that, i've been back to fatty crab time and time again simply because the food kicks major phenom. from the fatty pork tea sandwiches, to the turmeric fish fry, to the nasi lemak, to the ribs, and the crab - every dish on the menu is a winner. for people who enjoy getting their hands dirty and aren't shy of spices, fatty crab is a must. best of all, kitchen's open late. i would recommend fatty crab to locals and visitors alike.

Pros: great food, kitchen open late

Cons: always crowded, cramped tables

Posted 01/22/07

Not much to write home about. Dark and cramped hole in the wall eatery in trendy "Meat Packing District".
My party of 3 showed up at 7pm on a wednesday and it was already packed. 45 minute later, we were seated next to the exit door. The food was pretty good. But for them to claim "Malaysian" is kind of a stretch. Having had Malaysian roommates in college, and also been to Singapore, making things spicy and adding Fish Sauce(NamPlah) and Oyster Sauce to dishes does not constitute Malaysian cuisine. That said, if someone was looking for some spicy crabs for dinner, I would point them in this direction, but I'm not looking to go back any time soon.

Pros: Nice Meat Packing Scene

Cons: Dark and Cramped

Posted 01/18/07

Been twice. Once for dinner and once for lunch. Yes it's small and crowded. But the food is really inventive. My advice? Go for lunch. It's quiet with a much more mellow vibe. Having said that if you're not a hipster you're reallly going for the food. The green mango with sour sweet dipping salt, the watermelon and pork belly salad, the chili crab (not fatty size but heavenly flavors) are standouts. I've also enjoyed the inventive soft boiled egg shooters and black pepper mussels and sticky ribs.

Pros: Food and lunchtimes

Cons: No reservations policy

Posted 12/08/06

There were three open tables; one for three against the abuttment, a table for four and one of the tiny bench seats. We are told that we can't sit at either larger table since they have to hold it for a larger party of three. Needless to say that during our short stay no one else occupied the tables as the servers kept shoving patrons against the wall... But, I digress... Lets talk about the food. Duck is one of those foods that I adore. I can go so far as to say that i have almost never met a duck I didn't like. I live for crunchy fatty skin that cracks open revealing the moist, oily duck flesh beneath. It makes my mouth water just to think of it. So, when I order a duck dish that is described as brined, steamed and fried I assumed (wrongly) that the duck would arrive crispy, maybe even brittle on the outside with soft, yeilding morsels of tender duck meat beneath. What I got was four little chunks of duck that appeared to be hacked from the carcass without rhyme, reason or a knowledge of waterfowl anatomy. While the duck was tough and almost devoid of flavor the pickle and rice bed beneath the duck had a somewhat musty (for lack of a better descriptive word). Did I mention that every dish they serve also costs between twenty and fifty percent more that the prices on the menu online? Not that I really mind pay $17 for a dish that claims to be $9 on the website but maybe they have not had a chance to post the new menu yet, maybe they are too busy picking tomorrow evenings selections of overly loud music to pump through the place. Iaasume they play the music at this volume soons can't discuss the quality or lack thereof of there food. The wife had the slow cook pork ribs. (listed at $8 online but in actuality was $17) Yikes! To say that the ribs were to sweet, greasy and a gooey mess, not to mention mealy would not be an overstatment. So if you are in the move for highly mediocre food in a cramped, deafingly loud atmosphere, than you have found your place.

Pros: A clean toilet

Cons: Overpriced, underflavored and wat too loud

Posted 12/02/06

After having heard so many good things about Fatty Crab, through reviews, friends' recommendations, I went in w/ high hopes (esp considering I LOVE fatty foods). We tried out many of the recommended dishes: fatty duck, crispy pork w/ pickled watermelon salad, chicken wings, fatty tea sandwiches, and the chili crab. None of the dishes stood out except for the crispy pork w/pickled watermelon salad (above average and unique) and the chili crab. The chili crab was GREAT - but expensive and very messy. Would I go here again? Perhaps, but only for the crab.

Pros: Chili Crab

Cons: There is only one crab dish

Posted 09/30/06

Unlike most of the below reviews, I can say that the manager and servers were more than accommodating when I went (although we were only a party of 2, so maybe they're only stupid when serving larger parties). HOWEVER, I totally agree with the reviewer who said that the food was not authentic -- not only is it inauthentic, it's just not that GOOD. The spices and flavors were definitely overbearing, confused and cloying. And I'm the biggest fan of fatty foods, but these people take the belief that fat=flavor WAY too seriously and needlessly bathe everything in oil, which messes up and disguises the real flavor/texture/whatever. Another hipster trap, reeling in the clueless.

Pros: Service

Cons: Food, cramped atmosphere

Posted 09/27/06

I've never been to Malaysia but if it's anything like Fatty Crab...I'm there.
Food was amazing, music and staff make it worth checking out alone.

Wu Tang + Rendang = Super Cool

Pros: Food, Service, Music

Posted 09/20/06

Fatty Crab is adorable. The restaurant is teeny tiny with about four tables available for outdoor seating. My friend and I shared a table with a couple and felt a bit cramped (we were right by the kitchen and bathroom) but the food made it worth it! We had the watermelon and pork salad (delish), the spare ribs (enough food for two people) and the Nasi Lemak (spicy!). I had a glass of red wine which was mediocre at best. The food was fabulous and worthy of overindulgence. It's messy, filling, and flavorful. A word of advice - we showed up around 7:30PM and there were tons of people stopping by to get a table. So show up early...they don't take reservations!

Posted 09/19/06

I'm a regular at Fatty Crab and I just wanted to set the record straight. For all the reviews about Fattv Crab being unaccomodating... you're kinda right. The place doesn't take reservations and they only have 28 seats. I've seen on so many occasions tables of 8 or more walk in on a Saturday night at 9pm getting so angry at the host because the wait is over an hour or they are unable to accomodate them. Those people are not cool. The food at Fatty Crab is awesome the service friendly and the beer/wine unmatched. If you're not a pompous moron you will get it and have a great time.

Pros: Rare asian beers/Austrian wines

Cons: Can be a bit loud

Posted 09/17/06

Went thelast week with two friends and had an amazing time. We went at 8pm on thursday and had to wait about 20 minutes (which we expcexted due to its popularity). Once we were seated we asked the waiter to reccomend some dishes. Everything he gave us was amazing...It was so much different thany thing else in the city and the wine list is dead on. I would reccomend this to any person who enjoys great food.

Pros: Amazing food at a fair price

Cons: Wish it was bigger

Posted 09/05/06

Unlike others I found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. The setting was close, loud and interesting. The problem was the food. Spices didn't stand-out, fat did -maybe I should have paid attention to the restaurant's name. Not saying I had a conprehensive sampling of their menu, but the ribs were fatty, rice dull and sauce didn't save it - can't help but think it's indicative of other offerings. With limited nights in town, I'm sure there are more interesting choices.

Pros: Setting

Cons: Spice fell short

Posted 09/05/06

I ate at fatty crab last weekend and had one of the most memorable meals in recent memory.
i came early because they dont take reservations with one other person at around 7 and was seated within a couple of minutes. I immediatley noticed the energy of the restaurant with the music and dim lighting. We asked the server to pick out the best things on the menu and he just continued to bring out on great dish after another. I particularly thought the watermelon salad was awsome and the pork buns were the best in the city. I also loved the duck and skate.
The crab was just about the messiest thing ever but the flavor was amazing. I thought the service was great and cant wait to come back again. I definately would not go with a large group though the place is tight.

Pros: great food reasonable prices

Cons: small space

Posted 09/03/06

This looks like a great establishment, but I was really turned off by how unaccomodating the waiter and management was at a recent birthday celebration.

We were a party of 4 seated in the corner, and had one additional guest stop by for a drink. The manager wouldn't allow one extra seat to be added in the corner (out of the walk way of everyone) because he said there wasnt enough room.. when there clearly was. Not only that, but his demeanor matched the rude watier's. I left to accompany the extra friend elsewhere, and they forever lost my business.

Cons: Small, Rude service

Posted 08/30/06

Coincidently, I went in the day that the restaurant was featured on Martha Stewart's show. I had a reservation, was required to wait 15 min and was seated in the aisle. When the guests next to us left, we asked to be moved only to get a huge sigh, and to make matters worse, our waiter rushed us through dinner, told us there was no dessert or coffee (even though I saw an espresso machine at the bar) and allowed the guests that were waiting for our table to put their coats and purses down on the chairs next to us. The food was great but because the wait staff were so rude (we did not take too long to eat, btw), I would NEVER go back.

Pros: food

Cons: wait staff

Posted 08/28/06