In Paris, you know the tables where they place candles, flowers, sometimes even neon lights. But one address chose another accessory, much more radical: a wooden hammer. Here, we really ask you to knock on your plate. And you come out with your hands full of mayo, a little splashed, but with a smile.
This spot is Le Crabe Marteau, in the 17th, presented as the only unusual restaurant in Paris where you eat your crab with a hammer. A stone’s throw from the Arc de Triomphe, this small marine canteen plays the Breton release card: we break, we peel, we nibble, all in a joyful din.
Le Crab Marteau Paris 17, a real piece of Brittany
Born in Brest in 2004 under the leadership of Pierre Cosmao, the concept arrived in Paris in 2010, at 16 rue des Acacias. The room is reminiscent of a port in Finistère: tables covered with old issues of the Courier de Brest, weathered wood, the smell of iodine, conversations that escalate very quickly.
On the plate, Brittany arrives every day live from the Finistère auctions. The shellfish are delivered live, there is no freezer and the map follows the tides. Very full crabs, spider crab around 40 euros, langoustines, sole meunière at 39 euros, all accompanied by potatoes and three homemade mayonnaises.
Wooden hammer, apron and bucket: the ritual of iodized release
As soon as you sit down, we equip you: large apron, wooden hammer, cutting board and bucket in the middle of the table for the shells. The crabs arrive whole, steaming. You tap, you open the tongs, you collect each filament of flesh with your fingers, while the sound of hammer blows punctuates the service.
The atmosphere is frankly noisy, more like a Breton banquet than an intimate dinner. Ideal as a group, for a birthday, an afterwork or a weekend with friends. You have to be willing to get a little dirty, avoid wearing a white shirt and like to dissect things. For those who are more relaxed, the fish of the day offer a wiser option, without having to wield the hammer.
Prices, reservations and good deals to try Le Crabe Marteau
The emblematic formula, called “hammer crab”, costs around 40 euros for a beautiful crab of around 800 g to 1 kg, served with potatoes and mayonnaise. Varied formulas such as Captain, Commander or Admiral combine half crab, oysters and langoustines to taste everything. Generally costs 40 to 50 euros per person excluding drinks, with the possibility of finishing with a kouign-amann, a far or a Paris-Brest.
The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday, lunch and dinner, closed on Sunday, with reservation highly recommended. To find your way easily:
- Address: 16 rue des Acacias, 75017 Paris, Argentine metro station.
- Public: perfect with friends or family, less so for a discreet date.
- Please note: it hits the tables hard, it’s better to come with the desire to let off some steam.
If you dream of cracking a crab with a hammer without leaving Paris, this is clearly the address to keep in mind.
Where exactly is the Hammer Crab in Paris?
Le Crabe Marteau is located at 16 rue des Acacias, in the 17th arrondissement, a few minutes’ walk from the Arc de Triomphe and the Argentine metro station.
What budget should you plan for a meal at Crab Marteau?
Expect around 40 to 50 euros per person excluding drinks, depending on whether you choose a whole crab, a mixed formula or a fish of the day.
Do you have to like shelling to enjoy Hammerhead Crab?
Yes, the experience revolves around the hammer and the shellfish to crack. If you don’t like that, go for fish or Breton desserts.
Is the Hammerhead Crab suitable for children?
Children can love the fun side of the hammer, as long as they are old enough and remain supervised, because it hits the tables hard.
Sources
- Grazia
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