Ministry of Crab image

Ministry of Crab

Restaurant Seafood restaurant

One of the Most Reviewed Seafood restaurants in Colombo


Address

Old Dutch Hospital Complex, 04 Hospital St, Colombo 00100, Sri Lanka

Website

www.ministryofcrab.com

Contact

+94 77 002 4823

Price rating

$$$$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (3.7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 12 to 10:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 12 to 10:30 PM
  • Thursday: 12 to 10:30 PM
  • Friday: 12 to 10:30 PM
  • Saturday: 12 to 10:30 PM
  • Sunday: 12 to 10:30 PM
  • Monday: 12 to 10:30 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: crab (89) experience (32) restaurant (29) service (27) good (27) Crab (22) prawn (22) crabs (20) staff (18) curry (18)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 3/5 Michelle W. 3 months ago on Google • 41 reviews New
    Overrated, which our local hosts warned us it would be. How this is one of the best restaurants in Asia I will never understand. The service was responsive but so quick that we felt we were being rushed to turn the table. The avocado crab salad was bland and only tasted like honey mustard, the baked crab was tasty but I probably could have made better at home, and the garlic chili crab was positively soaked in oil and had mediocre flavor at best. Worth $170? Definitely not
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Keith C. 4 months ago on Google • 226 reviews
    I'm baffled by the popularity of this restaurant, as I couldn't find anything remarkable about their crabs. The chili crab, in particular, was a disappointingly bland and uninspired dish. While I initially enjoyed the oysters, I was struck with food poisoning shortly thereafter, experiencing severe diarrhea and vomiting for about three hours. While taste preferences vary, I cannot recommend this establishment to anyone. My dining experience left me utterly dissatisfied, and I will not be returning.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ankit P. 2 years ago on Google
    Highly recommended in Colombo and I sea why! Had a booking at 7pm wouldn’t recommend much later as they do run out of crab sizes through the evening. The coconut creme brûlée is a must.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Nikhil K. 7 months ago on Google
    We decided to see what all the hype was about at this restaurant, and we left with mixed feelings. Let's start with the positives. The service was truly exceptional. What added a unique touch was the use of wireless headphones by the restaurant staff to communicate with each other, which added a certain level of sophistication to the dining experience. However, when it came to the food, we were slightly underwhelmed. In the menu at that moment only three options: small, medium, and large crab was available . We opted for the large crab, which had a decent flavor, but we couldn't help but feel that the price was quite steep for what we received. We had previously dined at other restaurants with similarly sized crabs at a significantly lower cost. One redeeming aspect of this restaurant is its commitment to a noble cause. They mention that their profits go to a non-governmental organization (NGO), which gives some justification to the higher prices. In conclusion, if you're looking for a unique dining experience with excellent service and don't mind paying a bit more for a good cause, this restaurant might be worth a visit. However, if you're primarily seeking value for money in your crab feast, you might find better options elsewhere.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Pillappan K. 1 month ago on Google • 548 reviews New
    Great place to savour seafood, especially crabs in colombo. Housed in a 400 years old Dutch hospital building that has been converted to food court, it is a must visit place for crab lovers. Dishes are priced according to the size of the crab. Assortment of breads and rice preparation serve as accompaniments. Reserve a table before your visit as it is quiet a busy place with tourists.

  • 5/5 Anna B. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely delicious. Although we did not go for the crabs per se, we thoroughly enjoyed our choices. Ministry of Crab is a must when in Colombo.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 KJ 1 year ago on Google
    Food was very good. Had garlic and chilli crab and curry crab. Great experience. Attentive staff. Good for a one time experience as not completely worth the high price.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Krish L. 1 year ago on Google
    Average at best !. I know unpopular opinion, but we found the food very average and still wondering what all the hype is about. The service was of course was very good and 5 starts for that ! However, the food was very average and if its Crabs you want to enjoy, there are plenty of other option is Sri Lanka ! While the crab dish was disappointing, we did find the giant prawns tasty and somewhat made the visit enjoyable.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Martina Z. 1 year ago on Google
    The service is very fast and professional. The food is good...reminds a gourmet cousin with asian flavours. To be a franchising I have to say that the experience was better than expected. The crab avocado salad was great. The fresh water prawn was also satisfying. Tiger prawns were normal and the big prawn was good. Prices are a bit higher than other restaurants. I would go back.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joanne R. 1 year ago on Google
    WOW……….we travelled from Abu Dhabi to come here and they did not disappoint. We went here for my husbands birthday and I can’t believe just how good it was. From the service to the ambiance to the quality of food, nothing was short of exceptional. The staff are on point, they even assisted me when they saw I had not managed to eat some of the crab meat inside. We had: Oysters. AWESOME, the way they present these was so original and so cool. Having the 2 sauces in test tubes!!! Crab pate. AWESOME, this was soooooo tasty and with the tiny drip of honey was incredible. Clams. AWESOME. omg the sauce, this blew our minds, it was insanely good. Then the 1.4kg crab each. I had the pepper sauce and my husband had the garlic and chili. This was the best crab I’ve EVER eaten in my life…. Seriously the sauce and the meat on the crab pure pure heaven. They kindly did a birthday pudding for my husband as I messaged them on Facebook and they responded sooo quickly. It was well worth the plane ride, all we ask now is PLEASE PLEASE open one in the UAE. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED a million ⭐️. You nailed it!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Huyen B. 1 year ago on Google
    The food is good. The service is fast and professional. The crab was great. The fresh water prawn was also satisfying. Prices are a bit higher than other restaurants.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yara C. 1 year ago on Google
    Incredible place with incredible food! The prawn curry is hands down the best curry I’ve ever had! The pepper crab was delicious too! If I can recommend two things here they would be the prawn curry and the crab fried rice! Highly recommend the ice tea carafe too! Refreshing drink! Definitely worth visiting.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ayona P. 2 years ago on Google
    This was the first time that I hv ever been at “Ministry of Crab” ... It was a great dinning experience. The restaurant had good social distancing procedures. Excellent service n delicious food ... Loved it ...
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Michie W. 5 months ago on Google
    I ordered the half a kilo crab with garlic chili and the presentation of the meals was very impressive, However, it was drenched in oil- there was way too much oil in the meals that I couldn’t really enjoy the flavors. The crab itself was good quality. For the hefty price that I paid, I expect the food to be near flawless. I’m only awarding three stars due to the excellent service that I got, but I know I can get much better value for money elsewhere. The place seems a bit but overhyped and I’m disappointed to say the least.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sebastian J. 4 years ago on Google
    The restaurant knows hows to tailor the experience to delight the customer. The server walked me though what and how to order. Even got a tour of the kitchen and chef walked me though how they cook the crab. I was dining alone but the servers made the experience memorable. Though I have to say I did not find the Chilly Garlic crab spicy at all. Maybe I should have requested but none the less will definitely recommend the place.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thao N. 2 months ago on Google • 204 reviews New
    Delicious fresh and alive crab, made with their special spicy sauce. We had 1.5 kg for three persons, more than enough! Additionally we had fried rice and other side dishes to complete our meal. The iced tea is a must have, so is the crab. The clams were not well cleaned so they didn't charge us for it. Overall, a great moment with delicious food and 225€ bill :)

  • 5/5 Hungry Two T. 1 month ago on Google • 169 reviews New
    We had an unforgettable experience here at the Ministry of Crab. The crab is of excellent export quality, and the size of some of them is insane. We had an incredible meal, the crab was meaty and tender, and the service was top notch. If you can fit this into your travel plans, we highly recommend it! Check out our channel for a full review of our experience: Hungry Two Travel.

  • 5/5 Ramachandran CS (. 1 year ago on Google
    Located at the Old Dutch Hospital in Colombo, the ambience of the place is unique and upscale. Managed by a team of amazingly friendly, focused and knowledgeable team, they ensure every customer have a great experience. They take time to ensure that you order the dish as per your dietary. Highly recommended for a lover of seafood..
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Skyler H. 8 months ago on Google
    What a meal. Definitely worth a visit at least once. Even the Ice Tea Soda was Amazing. Had two different prawns, three different crabs, bread, ice tea soda, and the coconut creme brulee
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Arjun V. 1 year ago on Google
    The service was super quick and amazing hospitality . Loved the taste but yes pricey for crab or lobsters . I went around 4 the flies really spoiled the whole fund of enjoying dish .
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Adhithyan S. 9 months ago on Google
    A one of a kind experience! I recently had the most amazing dining experience at Ministry of Crab in Colombo. Let me tell you, it was a seafood lover's dream come true! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with such warmth and the ambiance was just perfect. Now, let's talk about the star of the show—the crab. Oh boy, the crab dishes here are something else! I couldn't get enough of the Crab Curry; the flavors were out of this world. And I have to mention the Crab Liver Pâté—such a unique and delicious creation. But Ministry of Crab isn't just about crab. They also serve up some incredible prawn dishes. The Prawn Bisque was velvety and rich, and the Garlic Chili Prawns had the perfect balance of flavors. Every bite was pure bliss. The service was top-notch. The staff was friendly, attentive, and really knew their stuff. They made great recommendations and made me feel right at home. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, adding a touch of elegance to the whole experience. You can even see the chefs in action in the open kitchen—it's like a culinary theater! In short, Ministry of Crab is a must-visit if you're in Colombo. The food, the service, the atmosphere—it's all incredible. Whether you're a local or a traveler, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to the culinary wonders at Ministry of Crab. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Monyen C. 11 months ago on Google
    This place is great! Atmosphere is chill and cool. Absolutely the best seafood meal we had while in Colombo. Chilli garlic prawn is a MUST try!! We spent 30,000 lkr per person. And it's worth it! Highly recommended!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Nikhil A. 2 years ago on Google
    We dined at this place on first day of our trip to Sri Lanka. I had heard good reviews of this restaurant for its international locations and wanted to try the original one. The booking was recommended considering the high demand. We messed up the day of our booking. However, they accommodated us with only 5 min wait. We ordered the 'Buttered Clams' and 'Mud Crab in Srilankan style'. Both dishes were amazing. The crab in particular had lots of flavours. The restaurant decor and location is also good. My only suggestion would be to include few veggiterian dishes as well. My wife being veggiterian couldn't find much to order and end up having side salads only. Few veggiterian options may be good for group of people as well where now its easy to have at least one vegan friend. Overall, MoC stood up to all its hype. I will highly recommend this to anyone travelling to Colombo.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Belén A. 2 years ago on Google
    Really nice food including crabs, prawns and international wines. Great service and value for money. Superb choice !!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jack H. 4 months ago on Google
    I was quite suspicious of this restaurant at first because the price was in USD, and it's not cheap for locals. The food is excellent in flavour in every dish we ordered. We didn't order the crab because it was simply overpriced compared to dungeoness crab back in San Francisco. Got to try the curry crab for two... excellent in flavour and it comes with bread which certainly will fill you up. The price is over and beyond for the average local to try and they charge $2 per bottle for water. Service is excellent as usual in Sri Lanka and service with a smile!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rizwan T. 3 months ago on Google New
    Excellent Food | Awesome Experience | Expensive Meals | Highly Recommended ————— Detailed Review Below ————— Ministry of Crab is an upscale restaurant serving an assortment of seafood but specializing in crab. MoC is a venture created (or at least promoted so) by two of the most iconic sportsmen of Sri Lanka, Kumar Sangakarra and Mahela Jayawardene, in partnership with the celebrity chef, Dharshan Munidasa. Given its ranking as one of the top 50 restaurants in Asia, MoC is a must-visit place during your Colombo stay. There are a few things that make MoC a unique place. 1. Location: MoC is located right inside the city center, inside the grounds of the old Dutch Hospital (which has been converted into a happening spot featuring bars, open air music venue, and several top-notch restaurants). Come a few minutes early and take a leisurely stroll through this artfully renovated and repurposed venue. 2. Seafood: MoC uses locally sourced seafood, including hard-to-find freshwater prawns and Sri Lankan crabs (the country’s most iconic export, relished the world over) The food itself is VERY good. The first time we ordered the Curry Crab (prepared in the Sri Lankan sauce) made with an OMG! Crab (1.8 kg), with the Pol Sambol. The crab - and the curry - was flavorful and delicious. The second time, we decided to have the baked crab, their clay pot prawn curry, and a smaller crab cooked with garlic. I’ve read some remarks about the servers upselling you to bigger sized crabs. That was our experience as well but we were glad because otherwise we would really not have had much crab meat to enjoy. That said, I agree that the meals here are expensive. At approx 300 USD for two people (without drinks) the meal was very expensive, and likely out of the reach of most locals. Verdict: Highly recommended - for the food as well as the overall experience Food/ Quality - 5/5 Location/ Ambiance - 5/5 Price (Value for Money) - 3/5 Service - 4/5 Others: Asian Top 50 experience - 5/5
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Debasish B. 4 years ago on Google
    It's a fabulous restaurant one of its kind. If you are a seafood lover, it's a place for you. Crab dishes are the speciality. The quality of food, the ambience and the services makes you feel special. Though it is better to have an advanced booking but that is only a phone call away. Only issue is that the place is not air conditioned and for having crab you should be ready to use your hand.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Edward A. 2 years ago on Google
    A full service restaurant with a unique blend of adventure and cuisine. Created by three legends but the blood of Sri Lankan authenticity runs deep thru the dining experience. The OMG and Crabzilla will be for the foodies. King Prawns also unforgettable. A must go after the pandemic!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Legal Alien in Sri Lanka Warrick S. 3 years ago on Google
    Quiet nice place and taste crab with nice waiters. U should spend min usd 100 per person. Be aware yourself.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Zach Y. 2 months ago on Google • 122 reviews New
    The restaurant is located inside a 400-year-old hospital built by the Dutch, providing a fantastic ambiance. The staff is exceptionally friendly. The crab is among the best I've ever had, and don't miss out on the prawns – they are large, with a delightful texture, making the dining experience truly enjoyable.

  • 5/5 Ransalu S. 3 months ago on Google • 42 reviews New
    We stepped here with the impression that it's an overpriced and overated restaurant. However, it's a lot of good quality crab meat for what you pay. Crabs and prawns were fresh, meaty, and succulent. You could actually feel the subtle taste of crab meat (yet not fishy) rather than the taste of some spices/herbs/condiments. The few sauces/cooking styles we tried had distinctive taste. As a heads up, if you've trained your tongue to very strong tastes, you might not enjoy the crab here. Customer service wasn't that great as they were less attentive and less explanatory. They should consider getting rid of old school, sexist rules such as "No singlets (tank tops) are allowed as per our dress code (Men Only)." Consider doing more pest control as flies landed on my bread multiple times!

  • 2/5 Asif P. 10 months ago on Google
    Ambience good but lack of AC in this weather quite shocking for a restaurant of this price Crab highly highly disappointing. For a one KG grab we barely got a few strands of meat. Later on the said we could have informed them earlier, but you can't know the quantity till you are done. The flavor of of the curry was very good, so our best part was dipping the bread into the curry. Side dishes. Chicken curry is disappointing. The shrimp was actually good, especially the tigher shrimp. The curry's in all the dishes were great, so dipping bread in that and putting that on rice was the highlight, however for the prices this should hsve been much better. If I just want good curries I go to somewhere else, we can here for the seafood and leave disappointed Crab - 0/5 Shrimp - 4/5 Curries - 5/5 Value for money - 1/5 I bought my whole family here so leaving highly disappointed by the experience

  • 3/5 Sahan De S. 3 years ago on Google
    Service is top notch, by the entire staff. The food was ok. I went with the top moving dishes based on staff recommendation. Surprisingly the best item I had was “Garlic grilled bread”. I would bump this to 4 stars if it weren’t for a rat that walked from kitchen to bar.

  • 5/5 Craig T. 3 years ago on Google
    Night before last. It's great to see great restaurants not admitting defeat. Voted one of the top 50 restaurants in Asia. From the bisque to the brulee we had fun. The staff were exceptional. I mean with 3 couples in the entire place you can all afford to crack a smile. Not easy to keep a kitchen open so thanks. Great to see the owner breaking bread with his staff. Respect.

  • 5/5 Jerin J. 2 months ago on Google • 27 reviews New
    What an incredible experience at Ministry of Crabs in Colombo! It absolutely lived up to the hype. The crab here is simply outstanding, the best I've ever tasted. A definite must-visit for any seafood lover!

  • 4/5 Russel V. 3 years ago on Google
    Expensive + Novel + Generous portions A novel restaurant known for their crab & seafood centric menu. You are bound to enjoy a hearty yet messy meal. But, don't worry too much since they equip you with all necessary utensils & cutlery to handle the monster of a crab. Speaking of big crabs... you can pick from a few different sizes of creams crab, with the biggest being the 'Crabzilla'! But, make sure you make an early reservation & request your preferred size. They can't guarantee that you'd get it, but they surely reserve it for you, if the catch for the day at sea did go well!

  • 3/5 Iqbal 2 years ago on Google
    Crab taste i dont like but i tried here it was ok. But prices are too high. Desert is good

  • 1/5 arshani r. 2 years ago on Google
    We decided to pay a visit to the Ministry of crab because of the hype on the seafood, especially on the crab. Honestly not worth the hype at all. The food wasn't good at all, the crabs extremely salty and flavourless. After our meal, while we were waiting for the bill, they started to clean the table where we had to move. The service was horrible, super uncomfortable and disappointed. We had to ask them to continue wiping the table once we left. Definitely not worth the price or hype! We expected better food.

  • 2/5 Ali M. 2 years ago on Google
    As good the food was, one of the WORST ambiences ever. Ruined a perfectly fine night, with a cacophony of music (two different loud music) coming from two different sides - unbelievable. In addition to that, was surprised to see that there was no dedicated bathroom - had one of the dirtiest public bathrooms. Good of them to give a sanitary kit, but come-on.

  • 3/5 Rumesh M. 2 years ago on Google
    We went here to celebrate my birthday. Products are fresh and good, but the taste is unfortunately average at least for what we took. We took prawn bisques, Crab cook as Sri Lankan curry, with garlic rice and a crème brûlée. Price is high but regarding the place and the products they serve it's not a surprise honestly. We had lot of expectations from MOC unfortunately they didn't meet it on the taste. Other points was my wife asked to arrange a little suprise (candle with the dessert, which was proposed by the staff prior our venue) but they just ignored it. Customer service wise it's bad to do that.

  • 5/5 Riyanka R. 2 years ago on Google
    Undoubtedly, this is the best place to try crabs! They're delicious, perfectly cooked and the sauces are mouth watering. The ambiance is top notch, offering a fine dine experience. Look out for Akram, he's one amazing guy who served us and also recommended add ons to us. Also, the coconut creme brulee is too good to be missed out!

  • 5/5 Jenny T. 2 years ago on Google
    Do not miss out on this place! We loved it so much on our first night, we came back on our last. The crabs were the best crabs we’d ever had. Would 100% recommend the chilli garlic sauce - its not too spicy and incredibly more-ish. Staff were lovely and even let us see and hold the crabs - this is the OMG crab! Drinks and dessert here were also amazing. SO worth coming

  • 5/5 Angshuman D. 3 months ago on Google New
    Craving of crab ! Just step in … wide range of size and amazingly tasty crab preparation . I order butter garlic crab with white rice .. a perfect combination! Crab meat was sweet and succulent . Morden ambience open kitchen in a Colonial establishment . Book your Crab and table before you go ….. must try.

  • 5/5 T R. 2 years ago on Google
    Wow. The food was very nice and enjoyable. The cold tea was fantastic (I forgot the name) the crab pate which is served with the trickle is beautiful and of course the crabs and prawn curry was to die for!

  • 4/5 kathrin de s. 1 year ago on Google
    Located in the old Dutch hospital in colombo walking distance to Kingsbury Hotel. Friendly even dog friendly stuff 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩. Very nice atmosphere sitting in the yard. Listening to live music saxophone player from restaurant next door. The food is ok. We had a large prawn. Bit pricy with loads of oil. There are no sides included. We ordered rose wine and they tried to sell us blanc Sauvignon as Rose …. Hmmm I had experienced something similar in saman villa in Bentota when there was no red snapper available that they served us something else without saying. I really can’t understand this behaviour as it is so much easier and simple just saying is not available. The stuff did. with charm so it’s ok. Would give the same rating if that hasn’t happens. We ate well and had a good time.

  • 5/5 Oana S. 2 years ago on Google
    Hard to find, but worth it. We tried crabs (of course!) and a dessert (coconut brulee, I think). Crabs are fresh and they are tasty (if you want to see how big they are, the waiters can bring them alive at your table and you can choose). Dessert was yummy!

  • 4/5 Esha S. 1 year ago on Google
    The food was delectable. It was my first experience eating crab meat and while the meat itself didn't have much taste (due to it being behind very tough 🦀 exterior), the dip and the gravy (we had garlic chilly crab) on which the crab was served was superb and when paired with the Kade bread - the taste was so so good. It was an experience every meat lover should go for if they are in Colombo.

  • 3/5 Paul H. 9 months ago on Google
    Went there last night. Loved the service and feel of the venue. The baked crab was delicious. The giant prawn was overcooked and of the 250 gm size about 40 grams of edible prawn. At 25 usd really disappointing for one prawn. Next was the clay pot prawn curry.. These were over cooked and the tiger prawns cooked away to virtually nothing but the curry was delicious the bread was nice to soak up the beautiful curry. Dessert was the highlight we tried both the options. Good to try but extremely expensive for the quantity of food served up. Marketing is terrific and the staff are friendly.

  • 2/5 Jira C. 8 months ago on Google
    To be honest, I expected more of this restaurant for being one of the 50 best Asia’s restaurants. It is overhyped and overrated; huge disappointment. The pepper crab was overwhelmingly peppery without any other taste. To be honest, I’ve had better crabs in Thailand or even chili crabs in Singapore were a lot better. I ordered two types of carb to be eaten with the crab. First, the bread. It was just plain cheap bread.. not really soft..they should have done something with it before serving it like steam to make it softer or toast it to make it warmer and crispier but dang, nothing. Secondly, steamed Japanese rice. I eat Japanese food quite often and the rice that was served to me was not Japanese rice! Very disappointing… could have just put it as steamed rice. Also, ordered another dish which was sear teriyaki fish (extra spicy).. it was not good. The teriyaki sauce was weird and very sweet. Nonetheless, the staff was very attentive and the atmosphere was quite alright. Overall, I would not recommend this place; save your money and spend it somewhere nicer.

  • 5/5 E D. 1 year ago on Google
    Perhaps the last ministry still standing strong in the area 😁... with all legitimacy. OMG 1.6kg Lagoon crab a worthy contender, many other sizes and options such as prawns and oysters. The garlic and chilli butter really enhance the quality of the pure crab flavour. Excellent seafood with excellent preparation! Prepare for the dive in butter and garlic juices🤿, all protective equipment and tools provided for the experience. Prices are in proportion to the premium product and prime location. Also special mention for the service team very proactive and keen to engage without intruding. The mother of all crab ministries definitely deserves her title.

  • 5/5 Cas T. 8 months ago on Google
    Great service, friendly staff. Crabs were fresh and delicious! I ordered the oyster sixers, claypot curry prawn, pepper crabs, garlic chili crab, ice tea sodas. Everything tasted great! No doubt the price is on the steeper side but I think it is worth a visit considering the great service and lovely ambience. Check out their cute crab nut cracker! I bought 4 of them home! It’s simply cute and easy to use!

  • 4/5 Karan K. 1 year ago on Google
    Great food and great ambience! Delicious crabs, just feel they need to train their staff a little more to be able to guide first time visitors to the restaurant and on what to decide on the extensive menu :) enjoyed the meal

  • 1/5 Johnny S. 1 year ago on Google
    I am honestly shocked that I wasn't able to find a single bad review online for this place. We were a party of 3 in the Melbourne pop up store in Crown Casino, I've eaten all around the world and quite often eat fine dining and I can confidently say that this is the worst and most underwhelming experience i've ever had. At $185AUD per person, we were served a 5 course meal, the first course of crab pate and crackers was probably worth $5 worth of raw ingredients, the two serves came out looking completely different due to one being stored at a different temp (according to the waiter) which looking like growing mould on a petri dish (absolutelu failed in presentation and 2 dishes not consistent with each other). The second dish was literally a small (tablespoon size) of premium tinned crab mince meat in half an avacado, this would have cost the restaurant ~$3 in raw ingredients. The third course was a prawn, not like the one at the original restaurants, but an Australian Banana Prawn which is about 1/4 the size of what is shown in the original website, understand that our country may not have the same size prawns, but at $185, at least serve two, one banana prawn this size in Australia would cost around $3. The main (4th course) was the pepper crab, our crab had so little meat that the restaurant actually decided to guve us a second serving of it because just serving one would have been robbery, the pepper taste was way too overpowering and strong and was balance with white rice which was steamed with too much water (it was mushy), I've eaten singapore/malaysian pepper crab dozens of times and this was not it. The dessert was literally just a creme brulee in half a coconut, I can make this at home, in fact, I'm quite certain I can replicate every single dish that was served and i'm not a culinary master by any means, the best dish was the XO prawns, which was literally just a pan fried prawn laid on a bed of XO chilli sauce which tastes exactly like the jar one you can buy from your local asian grocer. We spent $600AUD for 3 people and all 3 of us were extremely disappointed and felt completely ripped off. Maybe its a different experience at the original store but the owner and chefs should honestly be ashamed for what we were served vs what they are charging.any fine dining restaurant (or even normal restaurant) in Melbourne is MUCH better than this, and i eat out a lot. If I could rate this place a negative I would.

  • 2/5 Kate H. 1 year ago on Google
    Ministry of Crab popup in Melbourne: Expectations = high. Choice of venue = sublime, giving you the spectacular view of Melbourne city. Wait staff = polite and swift. Except we've come away full but utterly unsatisfied. Entrée was their touted crab pate - one portion was smooth and creamy, the second still cold and firm, so it came apart in chunks. The palm sugar drizzle did nothing for me. Next course was a tablespoon of crab and mayo in half an avocado. That's it. It was as appetising as it sounds. The kitchen did a poor job of preparing the crab, as we were all pulling shards of cartilage and shell from our mouths with almost every bite. Prawn in xo sauce with bread - 1 medium sized prawn, a tablespoon of sauce/oil, and twice the amount of bread than we needed. Best dish of the night, which also happens to be the worst prawn in xo I've had in a very long time. Very small prawn portion with standard flavours. Main was crab in pepper sauce. The first taste of the sauce - wowee is it overpowering! Mixed together with the unevenly cooked rice to mellow it out some - still quite unpleasant. The crab itself was substantial, but inconsistently cracked - We had 2 portions and the claws of one crab were very easily cleaned out, whereas the other had to be cracked over and over to reach the meat. Despite the extra effort, it worked out in our favour because it wasn't drowned in the subpar sauce, so you could actually appreciate the sweet flavour of the crab. From this course, I'm left with an uncomfortable mouthfeel, the sauce leaves a bad after taste. Lastly, crème brûlée in half a coconut. Crème is thick and slightly overcooked. We're told we should dig into the coconut itself to eat the flesh for a fresh pop. The fruit is so hard it's near impossible to scrape anything out. I fear breaking the cup it rests on, or having the coconut fly across the room from trying. The most delightful aspects of the night was the cute, crab shaped bowl that held our avocado half, and being able to watch the storm outside. For $185 per head, an incredibly disappointing dinner. Skip the Ministry, stick with home grown; Melbourne is the home to so many amazing seafood restaurants that out shine Ministry in both quality and value.

  • 5/5 Labiba L. 1 year ago on Google
    First and foremost thanks to Dilanka for the excellent service. We were walking by and decided to try our luck at a table at around 18h45 (one must always book ahead here) and were graciously greeted by the Maîtresse d'hôte who informed us that we can be accommodated til 20h15. Keeping it as short as possible, amazingly delicious butter soy clams (though they were minuscule), the oysters were forgettable (sorry), superb 1/2lb prawns (excellent recommendations by Dilanka) one with garlic butter and one with simple butter sauce (exquisite), and curry crab. Ordered the pol sambol (grated coconut side dish/accoutrement/"salad") with soft white fluffy bread (it looks like the origins of the bunny chow receptacle) that was AMAZING for sopping up all the delicious curries and sauces. Dilanka advised me to dunk the bread in the crab curry sauce, add some crab meat, and top with the pol sambol. It was delicious! (Definitely use your hands throughout. There are conveniently placed washbasins inside the restaurant for one's hands for before and after the meals) The black tea to finish off was lovely though I do recommend they use a different pot as this finicky one was quite inconvenient and spilled most of the tea in the saucer and on the table. What would've been even better is if they served the traditional milky tea as it would add a beautiful sweet finish to the meal or even "ready tea" which I call the Sri-Lankan equivalent to Milky tea/Tea Tarik/Kadak chai. We were too full for dessert and decided to walk back to our hotel to digest our feast. This is not a cheap restaurant by any standard but the taste and service makes one ignore the fact. As a treat I'd definitely go again!

  • 5/5 Daniel B. 1 year ago on Google
    I recently visited the Ministry of Crabs restaurant and was blown away by the delicious cuisine and impeccable service. The standout dish was definitely the Sri Lankan crab, which was cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. The ambiance of the restaurant was also top-notch, with a chic and upscale atmosphere that added to the dining experience. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making sure that our every need was met. They were knowledgeable about the menu and made great recommendations, which only added to the deliciousness of the meal. Overall, I highly recommend the Ministry of Crabs for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience. The food is incredible, the service is impeccable, and the atmosphere is truly unique. I can't wait to come back and try more of their amazing dishes!

  • 4/5 Devar s. 1 year ago on Google
    It was the first time we try this chain of restaurants. And overall it’s definitely worth the experience. Personally, I liked the prawns more than the crab. Very professional staff and everything was great. I would say my only concern was that I felt everything was overpriced. These prices would be very okay in Dubai or in USA, but since it’s in Srilanka, I felt they could do a lot more on pricing. Nevertheless, recommended to at least try it once.

  • 4/5 Dilan J. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice place to stop and have some crab or prawns. Nice friendly staff goes over and beyond to make sure you are served well. Expect to pay a bit more. I don't expect people to go here every day. It is much more once in a while dinning experience. Very spacious and well organised.


Call +94 77 002 4823 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Paid parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Assistive hearing loop
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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