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  • Bookers BBQ + Crab Shack

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Reserve at Bookers BBQ + Crab Shack

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Bookers BBQ + Crab Shack
Bookers BBQ + Crab Shack

Bookers BBQ + Crab Shack Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://www.bookersbbq.com
  • Email: info@bookersbbq.com
  • Phone: (403) 264-6419
  • Hours of Operation: Mon – Thurs open from 11:30 am to 11:00 pm
    Fri open from 11:30 am to 1:00 am (food served until 10:30 pm)
    Sat open from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am (food served until 10:30 pm)
    Sun open from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Barbecue, Seafood, Southern
  • Executive Chef: Myles Learning
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Bar/Lounge, Beer, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room
  • Catering: Please contact the restaurant directly for more details.
  • Private Party Contact: Katherine Miranda (403) 264-6419
  • Entertainment: Live local bands Friday and Saturday nights starting at 9pm. No cover charge.
  • Special Events & Promotions: Live Music Saturday nights. All-You-Can-Eat Crab on Sunday and Monday evenings. All-you-can-eat ribs Monday evenings.

Getting there

  • Cross Street: 3rd Street SE
  • Parking: Street Parking
A word from Bookers BBQ + Crab Shack
Established in 1998 in a century-old brick warehouse, Bookers is a hidden gem at the gateway to Calgary's East Village. Our seasoned BBQ chefs slow-smoke over 200 lbs of Alberta chicken, beef, and pork every day and serve it up along with fresh seafood, local produce, and original rubs and sauces.… With daily features, weekly specials, and live music on weekends, we offer authentic Southern hospitality and a comfortable, upbeat dining and drinking experience.


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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerGood for Groups
Diner Reviews
  • "The crab was delicious like always. took a little while to get service but after that everything was great."
    Dined on 4/20/2014
  • "Food took forever to come out as they had one large group but the place was literally empty. Didn't really compensate in any way for the food coming out late and the food was just so and so."
    Dined on 4/16/2014
  • "Nothing to complain about. I'll be back. Large portions of food....brisket was amazing (not too fatty either). Jambalaya was fantastic too."
    Dined on 4/12/2014
  • "Booked thru Open Table (explained 50th b-day)...not recognized at this restaurant. Although pork ribs seemed kinda fatty they were very very tuff and brisket was very dry (ended up using 1/2 out of each of the 3 bottles of bbq sauce they gave us). Crab & crab cakes were good...a little pricey for what you get. Service was really fast - however we were there at 6:00 on a Sat night."
    Dined on 4/12/2014
  • "No fall off the bone here. Absolute poor service....no offer for second helping for all you can eat ribs....server was lost in action upstairs ...? Also baked beans were crunchy, corn bread burnt."
    Dined on 4/6/2014
  • "Service was good! I don't know his name but he was the best server ever."
    Dined on 4/6/2014
  • "Anybody who has ever smelled smoked meat before is going to love this place. The atmosphere is saturated with that scent and it's magnificent. As this was my first time there, I found it somewhat difficult to choose something on the menu, considering I wanted to try it all. Bring your vegetarian friends to irritate them and show them why their lifestyle choices are wrong."
    Dined on 4/5/2014
  • "Good Food, Great Atmosphere and I will continue to return for their brisket :)"
    Dined on 4/5/2014
  • "Went for all you can eat crab and ribs on a Monday night. The staff did well at ensuring we were not waiting for refills of food, and did well as the place started to fill up with larger groups. The ribs come with three different sauces that all do quite well. The crab always comes out hot and your butter is refilled regularly. Ask for cajun spice and you can mix up some cajun butter! Sometimes the ribs are a little dry, perhaps because they may need to pre make some before hand, but as the night wore on, the ribs seemed to get better and better. The cocktails we had (Bourbon Lemonade and Cajun Caesar) were both very good. We will be back for sure, thank you for a wonderful meal!"
    Dined on 3/31/2014
  • "We have come to Booker's before when we felt the need for a crab feast. Our family went through quite a few buckets of crab and were impressed with how fast and how hot each additional bucket was. The server was friendly and attentive and we left content. With the exception of the guest at the next table who became louder and bolder with each drink he had the atmosphere was great. This is one of our family's favorite places to go for crab."
    Dined on 3/30/2014
  • "Food was above average and great portions, but what stuck out for me was service. Great host who accommodated our requests and great service staff. Really liked the St .Louis ribs."
    Dined on 3/29/2014
  • "Food was great, service was boring. Thought there would be more meat on the combo platter but nevertheless everyone left full. Will defiantly go back."
    Dined on 3/26/2014
  • "I went to the restaurant on a Tuesday and it wasn't as busy as it might be later on in the week. The Crab and Shrimp Boil was on par with Joe's Crab Shack at Fisherman's Wharf in San Fran. Excellent food and friendly staff."
    Dined on 3/25/2014
  • "Everything was excellent but service was a big slow due to the high volume of customers."
    Dined on 3/24/2014
  • "Saturday night usually means waiting in a line up for 40 + minutes waiting for a table...especially for a group of 6. Having the option to book this table on line was awesome. Super easy & effortless. Much thanks."
    Dined on 3/22/2014
  • "this was the first time to Bookers and I was very impressed. I had heard a lot about it and was looking forward to going. the food was great and the service was friendly, and professional. I would like to see the noise level lowered a bit but that's a problem in all bars. I enjoy live music and since stage was set up it would have been nice to hear some nice smooth jazz or light background type music. similar to the Bears Den, they sometimes have 1-2 people playing some light background music during dinner. The best places I've been too provide an experience not just food and wine."
    Dined on 3/21/2014
  • "A couple girlfriends and I went to Bookers on a Friday night for drinks and a late dinner. I had never been before and cannot believe that it took me this long to discover this fantastic joint! From the moment we arrived the service was stellar and our waiter gave us honest and fantastic recommendations on the dishes. The drinks were delicious, the appetizers were amazing and the main entrees satisfied our craving for some delectable down home southern style cuisine. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun evening out with friends. I will be back in the very near future!"
    Dined on 3/21/2014
  • "Super accomodating for the kids that were with us. Everyone enjoyed the food and had a great time."
    Dined on 3/8/2014
  • "The waitress and the other staff were wonderful and prompt with the food. It looks great in there."
    Dined on 3/17/2014
  • "Great food. Hadn't been there in a while and I'm glad we went. All you can eat Crab is the best! Definitely going again soon! I'd recommend it for people with a good appetite!"
    Dined on 3/17/2014
  • "We went to Booker's for their Sunday night all you can eat crab and ribs. The ambience and energy level of this place was fantastic. Great vibe! The food was excellent, and service was decent. Great with a group of friends, great place to hang out."
    Dined on 3/16/2014
  • "We went to Booker's to partake in their offering for the Big Taste Calgary March promotion. The food was very good and the service was very friendly and efficient. Thanks, Booker's for a wonderful meal!"
    Dined on 3/16/2014
  • "Our group of 6 came down to check out a band on Friday. Arrived at 8:00 and our table wasn't ready, but it was a few minutes later, no biggie. Everyone ordered different items but nobody particularly liked any of it. I couldn't even cut the ribs with a steak knife, they were so tough. My soup spoon had a big chunk of gawd knows what on it, which they promptly replaced, but the brownie I had for dessert was almost inedible, it was so hard. Everything seemed overcooked. The seafood lovers weren't impressed with the crab either. The drinks were good but I had to chase the waitress down a few times. I would go back for the drinks and music, but not the food. Too bad because they have a unique corner on the market which could really be amazing."
    Dined on 3/15/2014
  • "This was our first visit to Bookers, and we were pleasantly surprised. We really liked the atmosphere. While our waitress was pretty average, we appreciated the manager coming by to check on us a couple of times during our meal. The crab chowder was delicious, would definitely order it again. We decided to try the bbq pork sandwiches...the pork was nice, but the buns were very disappointing. They were completely soggy and fell apart. We will definitely go back to try some other things on their menu."
    Dined on 3/13/2014
  • "We went for the BIg Taste event. We had to ask for Big Taste menu. The chowder tasted burnt, the brisket was fatty and the ribs were dry and tough. The food left a bad taste in my mouth. My friend warned me that I would be disappointed and she was right. The server warmed up to us so that was a postive part. The brownie at the end was delicious, though some ice cream would have made it yummier yet. My husband and I were seated side by side facing the TV screens so conversation was difficult. When we pointed to another open table, we were told that it was reserved. We had also made reservations for the night. The restaurant itself is loud and sound carries."
    Dined on 3/14/2014
  • "Great Big Taste menu and food! Was especially kind of them to make a substitution due to an allergy. LOVED the deep fried pickle and the brisket!"
    Dined on 3/12/2014
  • "Food was very tasty and service was great! Will definitely go back to try other things on the menu :)"
    Dined on 3/11/2014
  • "We went there for the Big Taste YYC menu and overall it was good. The brisket was alright but the sides were bland."
    Dined on 3/9/2014
  • "Excellent food, that is why we went based on an old memory from years before. It was extremely busy and a bit loud, but we didn't have to shout too loud. We ordered garbage can lid platters which were very good. Overall good time, but could have been better. Being a business owner I feel the responsibility to help that business owner. The tables were too small to fit our platters and the one person that ordered individually and the corn bread sides which included the butter for the crab and such. Service was okay, but they seemed to be short handed. I know it can be hard to find enough people to work a sunday, no less a sunday night. Service was okay, but should have been better."
    Dined on 3/9/2014
  • "Service and food were above average! Thanks for a great date night spot that caters to gluten free and doesn't break the bank. We'll be back!"
    Dined on 3/5/2014
  • "First time at Bookers and was looking forward to give it a try. I ordered the fixed menu with the brisket... Beans were way too sweet Got the end of the brisket which was charred and dry. The thing that saved it was the maple sauce Tried some of the pulled pork that someone at the table ordered and it was bland. I wil come back but only for drinks as I was not impressed by the food."
    Dined on 3/8/2014
  • "Waitress was very good. Nice and friendly and efficient. Will go again."
    Dined on 3/7/2014
  • "Delicious smoked BBQ chicken and ribs! Everything was delicious, including the roasted corn and the baked beans. Good variety of beers and wines."
    Dined on 3/7/2014
  • "Not bad although food was unspectacular. We expected more."
    Dined on 3/5/2014
  • "Unexpectedly ended up at Bookers on Mardi Gras night. Service was great. our server was charming! Food, especially the appies was very good. Very busy, very noisey bit lots of fun regardless. Prices are decent, portions are generous, not heavy on the atmospere but not a big deal."
    Dined on 3/1/2014
  • "First time to Booker's my parents joined us and also had a great time. Amazing " southern feel" food, layed back and staff was dressed up for Mardi Gras having a lot of fun. Can't wait to go back with friends"
    Dined on 3/1/2014
  • "This is the best place for all you can eat crab. Go with a hearty appetite or not but you will be sure to enjoy every morsel."
    Dined on 2/23/2014
  • "Went to Bookers for the first time and we will definitely be back. The food was Southern style and very delicious. The servers were awesome and the ambiance was very energetic. The kids loved it too ~"
    Dined on 2/22/2014
  • "We really enjoyed our evening at Bookers and have raved about it all wknd. Food was delish! Ambiance, music, service were all top notch and perfect for what we're were hoping for. Even enjoyed the colorful characters that came out that night and tore up the dance floor with us. We stayed for almost 5 hrs until they closed. Left when the band closed up. Great night. No complaints."
    Dined on 2/22/2014
  • "Good was great. Atmosphere was great. Service started very good but server disappeared when it was time to get the bill. Other than a long wait for a bill it was a great experience. Loved the all you can eat crab. I would highly recommend bookers to all my friends. I also think the smell inside of the smoked meats is to die for :)"
    Dined on 2/17/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • Calgary / Southern Alberta Winners
  • Good for Groups
  • Calgary Winners
  • Good for Groups
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