Stone crab season ends May 1; find plenty of claws, and discounts in Palm Beach

Palm Beach restaurateurs once again are anticipating a sad spring farewell to a beloved island delicacy that’s one of Florida’s claims to gastronomic fame.

May 1 is the last day of the state's annual stone-crab season, which has been shortened since 2020 as part of statewide conservation efforts.

After Wednesday, gourmands who enjoy devouring fresh claw meat — perhaps with a squeeze of lemon and a touch of traditional mustard sauce — won’t be able to do so until fisherman are allowed to reset their crab traps in October.

For now, the good news is: Most restaurants in town that serve seafood will continue serving fresh stone-crab claws until the season ends.

“Stone crab is such a Florida delight everyone loves in Palm Beach,” Lucian Puscasu, Café Boulud’s general manager, told the Daily News on this week.

“Whether it is locals or guests from New York or somewhere else in the world, stone crab is a sought-after menu item we serve during the season,” Puscasu said.

Café Boulud at The Brazilian Court on Australian Avenue is among restaurants in town serving stone-crab claws through Wednesday — and some of them feature discounted prices on claws during happy hour or on certain days of the week.

The most popular stone-crab claw size in Palm Beach is classified as “jumbo,” which is the second-largest size classification after “colossal.” Small, medium and large claws also are offered.

While stone crab often is priced per claw at Palm Beach restaurants — with colossal claws easily costing more than $50 per claw — Café Boulud serves five large claws in an appetizer with fresh lemon and Key lime aioli for $120.

“We serve it with the Florida Key lime aioli because it’s all about appreciating a special local Florida food experience,” Puscasu said.

At PB Catch on Sunrise Avenue, large claws ($24 each) and jumbo claws ($44 apiece) typically are what’s on hand daily along with what the seafood restaurant and raw bar has termed “extra-large” claws for $34 each.

Throughout stone-crab season, PB Catch features 50% off claws on Mondays, so claws this Monday will be half-priced all day.

Similarly, Henry’s Palm Beach on Royal Poinciana Way features large-sized stone crab claws for half price between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday as part of its “social hour” (another name for happy hour), when cocktails and select menus are half price at the bar.

It’s important to note half-price social-hour stone-crab claws at Henry’s apply only to large (not jumbo or colossal) stone crab claws when they’re available.

Otherwise, large claws at Henry’s, which is owned and operated by The Breakers, are $45 each; jumbos are $65 apiece; and colossal claws are $85 each.

Other Breakers’ restaurants, such as Flagler Steakhouse and The Seafood Bar, also offer stone-crab claws starting at $45 per claw.

“Our diners love stone crabs,” The Breakers’ executive chef of restaurants, Anthony Sicignano, told the Daily News. “Their unique sweetness, succulent texture and striking appearance make them a guest favorite. We serve ours with a well-balanced, house-made mustard sauce to complement the meat’s natural flavor.”

At other resorts on the island, The Four Seasons is featuring a stone-crab special at its Florie's restaurant: A platter of four large claws or five medium claws is $86. They're served with a mustard sauce made from a recipe by Florie's partner/executive chef Mauro Colagreco.

Elsewhere, look for claws at Cucina, among other restaurants featuring stone crab through the end of the season. The Royal Poinciana Way restaurant usually serves only colossal claws for “around $50 each,” executive chef Kent Thurston said.

Stone-crab claws are “a local delicacy,” Thurston told the Daily News. Because of the “sweetness and texture of the meat,” he said, “they’re loved.”

When fishermen catch two-clawed stone crabs in their traps, the rules call for them to remove one regulation-sized claw and then return the crabs to the ocean, where the crabs have the ability to regenerate lost claws.

For years, the annual stone-crab season in Florida continued through May 15, but since 2020, the cut-off has been May 1.

Shortening the season is part of an effort to strengthen Florida’s stone-crab fishery and turn the tide on what has been a significant long-term decline in the annual stone-crab harvest, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Stone crab season ends May 1; find plenty of claws, and discounts in Palm Beach