Don’t Knock It ‘Till You Shake It!: Blind Tasting at Shaking Crab

“Emily! Shake the bag!” I was instructed after being guided to the table, blindfolded. A huge plastic bag had been placed in my hands, and I dutifully shook it. Confused, I uttered a couple of questions: “What on earth could be so heavy? What am I going to be blind tasting?” Of course, none of these questions were answered, simply dismissed with, “You’ll find out, just be patient.” So, I sat down and waited for the game to start. I had a distinct feeling that I was not going to do well, but hey, at least I got to eat the food, right?

I must admit, I am a proud foodie who’s confident in my ability to eat, however, I had no idea how accurate my senses would be if my eyes couldn’t identify the food before it touched my tongue. I guess the texture of the seafood makes it a bit easier to identify, but I was kind of terrified that there might be something alive and capable of attacking me. It probably didn’t help that when I was exiled to the corner as the crew decided on my menu, my colleague sauntered up to me, claiming that something was, in fact, alive and moving.

Thank goodness the three seafood items on the list were very much cooked, and I got almost all of them correct. The first was a huge lobster that covered the opening of the bag. The firmness of the meat is what gave away its identity. I guess whether the lobster is the size of my hand or my face, the texture doesn’t change. Muscles and shrimp were straightforward (also perfectly cooked), and then there were the quail eggs and broccoli. My initial guess for the latter had been cauliflower but I was able to redeem myself.

When I was finally told I could take the blindfold off and finish the food, I ecstatically dug in, savoring the garlicky taste of the seafood. The sauce that came with it – dubbed Shakin – is their most famous. It’s made with a particular kind of butter, as well as garlic and Cajun seasoning so the hint of spicy plus the creamy undertone adds a complex layer of flavor when dipped in the seafood. While I was eating, from the corner of my eyes I saw my phone blowing up with notifications, however, there was no inclination to reach for it. I was too busy enjoying the food.

This sort of reaction is exactly the mission Shaking Crab is going for, reflected in their slogan “Bibs up, phones down.” They aim to make diners forget about their phones, don an apron and pair of gloves, and get lost in conversation with friends, something we don’t see often anymore. Also, for what it’s worth, I hope you aren’t tempted to check those notifications given how greasy your hands would be.

Temporarily curbing your phone addiction isn’t the only thing that’s unique to Shaking Crab. If you look at the menu, you’ll notice that the lobsters are sold individually, not by pound. This is because the restaurant believes in the trust that they build with their customers and minimizes any confusion that might arise when it comes to ambiguous pricing. Unlike most restaurants that charge fresh seafood by weight, this place removes the guesswork and tells you exactly how much each crustacean will cost.

What’s more, they strive to be as family-friendly as possible. With more than 30 Shaking Crab restaurants around the US (the first was founded in Boston, MA) and a growing international presence, they have a wealth of experience in fostering a family-friendly environment. As such, Beijing’s Shaking Crab noted that their most popular family orders include the lobster (RMB 298) and the Alaskan King Crab (RMB 398). Generally speaking, kids don’t have the patience to pick apart smaller seafood, so, in terms of crabs, the Brown Crab (RMB 398) is also a local favorite.

This was an experience I enjoyed. Even though I was robbed of my sight, I basically guessed all the food options correctly. I suppose the moral of this blind-tasting story would be that even though you can’t see the food you’re eating, your brain naturally compiles years of memories that are ready to be tapped at a moment’s notice.

Shaking Crab’s “bibs up, phones down” ethos makes it an ideal restaurant for some quality family bonding time. After all, when your hands are covered in a tasty sauce, it’s hard to want to check your phone for updates. And aside from that, the food was amazing and definitely some of the best I’ve had in Beijing!

Shaking Crab has a happy hour Monday to Thursday from 6-8pm. A few of the deals include BOGOF Goose Island beer and buy five get one free on draft beers. They’re perfect both for parents taking their children out for dinner, or colleagues who want to unwind after a long day of work.