Soft-Shell Crabs Crawl Onto Charleston Menus [Updated]

The appearance of soft-shell crabs in the Lowcountry tends to create an eating frenzy among aficionados aware of the short season. The Grocery hosts a countdown on its website every year, marking the days until guests can happily crunch into the spindly legs of the sea creatures. And while the numbers show seven more evenings until softies hit land, it seems fellow downtown restaurant FIG got an early delivery of the delicacy yesterday.

Executive chef Jason Stanhope posted a sizzling video of the ocean beauties last night "#softies."

Have you spotted soft-shells on other menus? Let us know in the comments.

UPDATES:

Softies are on the menu at Cypress as well. Chef Craig Deihl serves them crispy with cabbage and rice purloo, celery, radishes, carrots, and crab roe cream.

Barony Tavern is also in the soft-shell game with a tempura-fried version served with toasted pecan butter, steamed asparagus, and spring onion and Parmesan grits.

Roadside Seafood in James Island is frying softies up:

Peninsula Grill has them:

The Grocery got their batch early:

Yay! #softies pic.twitter.com/57EEflG5v7

— Kevin Johnson (@kevinjohnson_) April 3, 2015