Reviews: Sunbury Crab Co. Restaurant & Marina

Reviewed by: Rhea Hill , Knot Tide Down, on Sep 19, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

We were pleased with our stay. Plenty of depth going into the dock. Everyone was friendly, from the help we had tying up 5 minutes before a storm to the food and conversation at the restaurant. It was a relaxing night after fighting full moon tides for two days. Our dog gives it 5 also, plenty of room to roam. Finally, they have the best iced tea I have had so far on the ICW!

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Reviewed by: David Waugh , Winds of Change, on May 24, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Finally made it for dinner. We stopped on our way south November but on a day the restaurant was closed. This time we dodged the storms and made it for Sunday dinner. Well worth the adventure. The low country boil and bake oyster appetizer were outstanding. The staff (dock and restaurant) were friendly and excellent service. Ms Elaine is a true treasure.

And you cannot beat the location. Views are unsurpassed and so peaceful.

Well worth the 6 miles excursion from the ICW.

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Reviewed by: D. Jenkins on May 21, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

We adjusted our schedule to ensure that we were at the Sunbury Crab Co. when the restaurant was open.... and very glad we did. Current was present, but the floating face docks made arriving and departing easy. Bobby met us on the dock to catch lines and help refueling. Appreciated the very nice bath and shower facility by the pool. Beautiful setting with very low traffic. Enjoyed the sunrise over the marsh, with a cup of coffee.
Mrs Elaine was so welcoming and ensured our stay was excellent. She was patient as we adjusted our travel dates and stayed in communications with us as we arrived. Was great learning about the history of the restaurant and the family. Made us feel right at home.
The restaurant was outstanding as expected. Do not pass up the whole flounder... or the collard greens and fresh cream corn!

We liked the out-of-the-way location and really enjoyed visiting with local pleasure boaters who saw us in the cockpit and stopped to chat. We had a great stay and wished that we had hung around a few days longer..... as we will certainly do on our next visit.

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Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer , Do It Now, on Nov 25, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 4

We went to Sunbury Crab Company primarily for dinner and, if we could have eaten earlier and finish before sunset, we would have anchored. But we wound up spending the night there.

The restaurant is good, but perhaps a bit overpriced. A friend recommended the flounder and it did not disappoint me. My companion had a scallops special that he enjoyed. Both entrees were over $30 each.

The marina has limited facilities. There seems to be one restroom on shore that's open even when the restaurant is closed. There didn't seem to be any showers. There were power pedestals at the docks but we didn't use them or the water. The docks were dimly lit at night, which I like. The area was quiet and although there's a swift current going through the marina, everything held nicely. Wake was not an issue.

I left the marina with the same kind of "been there, done that" feeling I got when I left Coinjock earlier this season.

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Reviewed by: Bev Hewitt , Blue Odyssey, on Nov 25, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Mom and pop run place, charming, rustic and wonderful. Restaurant was fun, had great food, reasonable prices and very friendly, welcoming staff. Shrimp nachos were amazing!! Some of the best cooked shrimp I've ever had! Steamed seafood platter was great too! Lots of food - we shared one.
We walked about 2 miles to the old fort and learned so much about the area - the musuem was small but a wealth of history and the 10 min movie was outdated but informative and interesting. Highly recommend a stop. Gorgeous area too.

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Reviewed by: David Waugh , Winds of Change, on Nov 6, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Restaurant is closed on Mondays but they welcomed us anyway. Owner is great. Docks are fine. And the scenery is unsurpassed. Will definitely be back when the restaurant is open.

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Reviewed by: Lisa Vidor on Jun 18, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

One of the last mom and pop places. Very friendly place. Dinner was good. Quaint.

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Reviewed by: John Medlin on Apr 2, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

No VHF monitoring; must call and ask for marina assistance. Well protected from southern winds we had last night; plenty of maneuvering room to line up for docking. If you're coming in & want to eat @the restaurant, call for reservations, especially on weekend. We've always enjoyed the food. Not every dock pedestal has 50A.

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Reviewed by: Susan Rooke on Mar 29, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 3.7'

Rating: 5

We thoroughly enjoyed the Sunbury Crab Co Restaurant at Sunbury Marina. The outstanding fish (mahi & blue claw crabs), the rustic ambiance, super friendly owner & staff. The marina was very quiet, but very easy docking!! Folks that require 5-Star accommodations may not agree, but the quality and rustic ambiance certainly made the trip up the Med very worthwhile!

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Reviewed by: Kirk Conners , Fancy Nancy, on Sep 11, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

The docks were OK (I wouldn't call it a marina). Had one pedestal that had a loose connection and had to move boat to another to get a good electrical connection. That's just a maintenance item that needs to be addressed.
The restaurant is all outside seating. Not good for either me or the Admiral, so we passed.
This was definitely not worth the trip up the river (8 miles, or about an hour), which has some shallow spots you need to be aware of to avoid. There are other choices close by for a quick nights tie up to be had.

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Reviewed by: Gena Olson on May 19, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Lovely peaceful spot in the low country. Had a nice meal. Excellent service. But, one reason we came was the low fuel prices, based on heresay and Waterway Guide. That is no longer true. Shame on us for not asking. The pump isn't visible from the dock, and, when we looked later, the price wasn't recent. WWG showed the diesel at $5.399. Imagine our shock when presented with the bill that evening - for 100 gallons, the price was $675!! Yes, price was $6.75 a gallon. When we expressed our dismay, Clay (owners' son who was running the place that day) offered us a shirt. I know the owners make very little on the fuel - not much he could do. Buyer beware.

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Reviewed by: Karen Ratte on Mar 28, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 49'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

So worth the 6 mi off the ICW. Owners Elaine and Bernard are the epitome of hospitality. Restaurant is iconic local fare and ambience. Even a peacock on the grounds! This will be our regular stop on this stretch of the ICW.

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Reviewed by: Bret Butler , Lucy 2, on Mar 15, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Great service. The restaurant was excellent. Also fun to walk around the community and explore the old cemetary. Four starts because only one shower and it is a long walk from the dock. All in all well worth the few miles off the ICW to explore and stay for a night.

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Reviewed by: John Tyrell on Mar 4, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 3.7'

Rating: 4

We found it easy to get to off the ICW and saw plenty of depth following Garmin charts and Aquamaps (>15 feet) on the way in and at the dock. This is not your fancy marina with lots of amenities. It is rustic but beautiful. The owners, Bernard and Elaine were friendly from the moment I called for reservations and throughout our stay. There is not much here. I think they are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The food at the restaurant was great and fairly priced. The dock was an easy alongside approach. The dock was sturdy but showing its age. A lot of no seeums when we were there. A different but pleasant experience for a night or two.

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Reviewed by: Benjamin Resch on Jan 16, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 47'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 5

A few miles off the ICW, and well worth the trip. Turn off between marker 114A and 116 and head up the Medway River. Sunbury Crab Co has easy, long face docks, 30/50A, and gas/diesel. Sunbury Crab Co. is a local favorite, with fresh local seafood simply prepared and served with a smile. A neat historical site is a long walk south of the docks - tells the story of the old town of Sunbury that rivaled Savannah until the mid 1800s. We stayed two nights to wait out some high winds and storms that were passing through the area. Glad we found it!

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Reviewed by: Mary Gillen , Baccawoppa, on Aug 21, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Wonderfully refreshing and relaxing place.owners very friendly and . Food was fresh and delish. We arrived late and they waited for us helped with docking. Extremely friendly and accommodating. Very peaceful setting and well worth the stop will definitely stop on our way back.

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Reviewed by: Jim Zeigler on May 7, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Read all the reviews on the Sunbury Cafe. This is far from a waterway resort and not for every boater. The owners are courteous and helpful. The food is great. We did encounter some depths less than we expected along the shoal across from Jones Creek but easily corrected our course towards deeper water. Given the apparent lack of traffic on the Medway River (there are no markers above "2"), it is likely that the charts are based on older surveys but generally correct. As always, prudence dictates standing off the charted shallow water and maintaining a watch on the depth sounder.

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Reviewed by: Rob Dare , Liberty Call , on Mar 9, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Our favorite stay so far on the loop. Long face dock that was easy to get onto even despite rough weather. The restaurant is well worth the 8 mile side trip off the ICW. The ribeye steak was unbelievably good and my wife says the chargrilled shrimp was the best she ever had. The marina is located in an area with waterfront homes and lots of nice places to take our dog on long walks. Our second night here the restaurant was closed and the peace and quiet of the river was perfect.

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Reviewed by: Rob Irvine on Feb 9, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 35'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 3

Overall not a bad experience. Except for the restaurant, there is nothing at Sunbury, GA. We were the only boat on the dock. Water is provided by garden hoses run down the dock. There is no pump out. We had to stay an extra 2 nights because of the weather. The docks are not the cleanest but acceptable. Didn't use the "showers/restroom" as they are actually in a guest house of the owner and a bit of a walk. The restaurant appeared very busy.

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Reviewed by: Technomadia on Jun 20, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 47'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

Disappointed in making the diversion off the ICW for this stop. It was over 100 degrees out, and we kept reading reviews of a shaded swimming pool on another review site.

So our first disappointment was being told by the dockhands that the pool is actually owned by the restaurant owners, and swimming is by invitation only - and since they have family visiting, it was not available to us.

Only thing to do here is eat at the restaurant. It's ok food, not overly impressed with it - and overpriced.

So paid $1.50/ft to dock at a restaurant to spend another $60 on a meal, plus a total of 12 miles of extra time/fuel round trip to get here.

The food was good.. but not THAT good.

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Reviewed by: Capt. John on Jan 8, 2019
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Cruising the Loop and have stopped here since we discovered it a few years ago. Great food. Great Experience! Worth every single round trip mile off the ICW. . .

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Reviewed by: J Fred on May 19, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Easy docking and a short walk up the restaurant. The food was a religious experience. The seared tuna was the best I’ve ever had. Next up was the ribeye topped with blue cheese and a skewer of grilled shrimp. My daughter went for the shrimp and oysters and they were cooked to prefection. The staff is friendly and Elena is a delight to talk with. Don’t pass this place; next time I will plan to be here for lunch and stay for suppper.

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Reviewed by: Capt. George on Apr 24, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Well worth the 5 ½ mile side trip off the ICW. The staff is very friendly and the docks are in good shape, with 30 & 50 amp service and water. The food is worth the trip, with large portions at reasonable prices. Don’t miss it!

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Reviewed by: Elena&Meg on Dec 29, 2017
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 46'
Draft: 6.0'

Rating: 5

First and foremost, if you are a foodie you need to stop at the Sunbury Crab Co., tie up your boat, tie on a bib, and have about the best, quintessentially American, dining experience this side of Key West! This is no blathering superlative: this place is great. Elena had the local, marsh shrimp (caught by one of the sons that morning), fire-grilled to perfection by another son, and served by his girlfriend. I had mahi-mahi, fresh caught, and grilled and seasoned so exquisitely, all I can say is, I have never before (not in Paris, San Francisco, New York, or other pinnacle of haute cuisine) had a better fish dish.

The decor is hurricane-ravaged authentic, Ernest Hemingway, beach-shack local. Open rafters and framing, blistered and peeling, bright enamel paint on the inside of clapboard siding, exposed wiring and naked (actual tungsten) lightbulbs, real family photos and memorabilia, neon, bent nails, gritty floors, plank tables. 80's music reminds of crazy days with a board on the beach and an appetite for life and love. There is zero pretense here. This is as real as it gets. This is the end of Earth, backwoods, deep south... Georgia.

Locals crowd the other tables. Laughter fills the air. That down suth accent reaches into your heart and just kind of reminds you to let loose, cuz y'all among friends now, heck, this here's Georgia! The family and their girlfriends, and cousins and kids, run the place. As we finished our dinner, Elaine, the matriarch and proprietress of this fine "seafood dive" joined us for some yakking about almost everything but politics, religion, and the civil war. That's kind of a rule, by the way. We learned that the fine young man who handled our lines, pumped our diesel and got us into a slip, was also the catcher of our shrimp and sometimes cook, unless it's his brother's turn in the kitchen. The boys learned their "cooking" at home, trying things out in endless ways until it was just right. And did they ever hit it, just right.

The hurricane ravaged patina of the marine facilities is authentic. Sadly, the docks and supporting services took a really hard hit last fall. The family is running the place heroically, given the level of damage. Don't let that stop you, they will get you fuel, water and and electricity any way they can. The place isn't tickety-boo yacht-club pahhhhhwheeeze... it's the real thing: raw and beautiful. For us, doing just about the entire Atlantic ICW, our stay and dinner at the Sunbury Crab Co. was the highlight.

No matter where you are going on the ICW, if you are anywhere near St. Catherines Sound, just south of Savannah, dial up Elaine, pull on in, and let the Sunbury Crab Co. define your waterway experience.

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Reviewed by: Jay Porterfield on Jan 10, 2017
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 500'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

This is the definition of Southern Hospitality. Bernard and his wife Elaine went out of there way to make us feel wanted. The trip up the river is beautiful and worth the 30 to 45 minute trip from the inlet. Lots of deep water all the way. You will not find a better place to the north or the south if you are looking for place for the night or relax a day or two.

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Reviewed by: Andrew Skelton on Dec 11, 2016
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.5'

Rating: 4

This is a little off of the "beaten path" but worth it if your hungry and want some southern hospitality. Elaine is both the owner of the marina and the restaurant. You won't find wifi or showers here, but you will find awesome food, friendly people and a really neat waterfront restaurant, tucked in a rural neighborhood. We had a nice walk before dinner. The docks are in good shape. Depending on when you arrive, there may be live music at the restaurant. We did not regret making the trip up the river to Sunbury Crab Company.

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