Crab Cake Cafe Puts Twist on Classic Favorite

Local flavors with a twist.

That's what Catherine Witt, executive chef of the upcoming Crab Cake Cafe, hopes to accomplish with her new restaurant concept.

Witt plans to serve crab cake sandwiches—a Maryland favorite—but include flavors from different regions across the country. For example, the New Orleans sandwich will have andouille sausage, okra red onion, green bell pepper and a spicy remoulade sauce.

"The idea is to change up the flavor of a typical crab cake but still stay true to Maryland," Witt said.

But purists shouldn't worry. The traditional crab cake with tarter or cocktail sauce is still on the menu.

Witt, a 15-year restaurant industry veteran, described the service style as "fast casual" but added that the food is anything but.

"It's restaurant quality done in a fast food environment," she said. "Everything is made from scratch. Everything is made on-site."

The menu also includes Maryland crab soup, cream of crab soup, gumbo and seafood salads.

Crab Cake Cafe will open at 2641 Riva Road in late-May.