The Wharf

Awesome selection and great pricing– a total pain to park though. The seafood selection is pretty epic, fresh everything — huge shrimp like you’ve never seen before, good prices on crabs and oysters. A very cool find, HOWEVER I will say I would not want to come here without my husband. The crowd was VERY rough, lots of yelling and it seems like a lot of gang activity in the areas immediately around the market.

My absolute favorite place in DC! The seafood is reasonably priced and they sell a variety of seafood. You can buy it live or get it steamed. It’s always super crowded there. A great place to get fresh seafood all year around.

Cant decide 3 or 4 stars because its so small here! But the food and the vendors are nice.
Basically come here for the blue crabs, pig out, and be on your merry way!

If you want a quick escape from the yuppie, bourgeois, pretentiously sophisticated DC scene then come down to the Wharf. This fish market would fit right in with any working dock on Maryland’s eastern shore. Here you’ll find fresh fish being sold off floating barges that rise and fall in height with the tides. The concrete is broken up, trash is strewn liberally about, the paint is peeling, but the garish signs above the boats are cheery, and the crowds of Africans, Latinos, Asians, are reminiscent of some other, warmer place where markets are also social centers.
Far from the imposing, soulless architecture of D. C’s gray streets, where Calvinistic, quietly corrupt bureaucrats are scurrying about, this small strip of waterfront under the 14^th Street Bridge is a relic of the cultural connection that D. C has to its context in the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay. The fish sold here can be both from the Bay and other remaining productive fisheries such as Louisiana’s Gulf coast. The fish is displayed fresh, either whole or filleted, on ice trays. You can point to your picks and buy them from characterful, cackling sellers by weight.
What’s wrong with this place is the scant seating to enjoy your sandwiches, crabcakes, soup, and shrimp so you can sit and enjoy your food while looking out over the water. Customer experience is an afterthought. The whole set up is geared for people to make purchases and then scoot off. As a result, customers are often standing around blue bins (trash receptacles that overflow pretty soon) holding their styrofoam packaging in their hands and flinging shrimp shells after sucking their juices off. Near the fried fish seller on the outside wing (outside the main courtyard, there’s an entire left wing) there’s a very old, decrepit structure with wooden platforms for people to stand and place their styrofoam food containers on. The structure faces the water but it’s half-​open construction leaves it open to infestation with gulls and pigeons who are aggressive and are ready to pick at your food or your waste.
For not even attempting to give grace to the customers who trek down here, I give this place bottom billing. Frankly it embodies the neglect and denial with which the American political class treats lower income people’s neighborhoods. «Just make do» and «stay out of sight» is the theme here.
But I’ve already referred to the pluses. There is a rustic charm to this place. The economic diversity of the people who come here make this place fun to escape the bland, gentrified yuppie-​ville of Capitol Hill and 14^th Street. I especially like when pods of suburban Ducati riders come roaring down here on weekends, purportedly for some kind of ‘expedition’ to see how the other half lives, and eat their rustic food.
The food is basic, not impressive, and expensive. Crab cake platter for $ 12 is a desultory patty –certainly not some haute preparation with herbs and chunks of real crab meat falling out– on a plain Safeway-​caliber, white-​bread bun, sold with chunky fries and soggy corn or rice. If you’re coming out for a no-​frills, roadside barbeque-​style, plain fried meal, you’ll be satisfied. If you are expecting some kind of gentrified ‘Chesapeake Bay’ experience you’ll be disappointed.
Note the massive construction site adjacent… soon this place will be absorbed into the rapidly gentrifying waterfront for a truly commercial, bourgouis, pretentious experience of chain restaurants like TGIFs and Clydes, so enjoy this ‘salty’ atmosphere while it lasts.

We did not go for the seagood market, but the location and view. The Wharf is a great place to enjoy the outdoors! There are several areas of tables and chairs throughout the area where you can sit and enjoy a little peace and quiet. Some are covered and some aren’t.
We brought our own food and enjoyed watching the water and planes landing at Reagan Airport. There is a quaint BBQ place where you can grab a bite to enjoy at a picnic table.
The only cons are the availability of restrooms and lawn maintenance. I couldn’t find a restroom, so I had to purchase something at a nearby restaurant so I could use theirs. The propery was very well kept, but the grass all around the property was very overgrown and took away from the ambiance.

Unilocal this is my go to place for all my seafood needs! its a little place that sell these strawberry drinks, Yummy!!! they crab balls and devil eggs is also good1 they usually have ok deals, we all know seafood is not cheap. some place will work with you and offer deals!
This place can be packed especially in summer, making it hard to find parking! if you can go earlier in the day!

Was there today to get a Shrimp Sandwich and a Salmon Sandwich. I waited 45 minutes after I placed my order but I thought it would be worth the wait after I had read the Unilocal reviews. I expected a great fish/​seafood sandwich with a some lettuce and tomato, some sauce and a great bun. However, when I opened the boxes after my 45 minutes wait, I was close to getting a heart attack. What they call «sandwich» is two pieces of untoasted white toast bread plus whatever you ordered… That’s it! The shrimp and salmon where good, but not better than anyplace else. I spent $ 25 for both sandwiches and expected more. Not acceptable, especially not the wait time.

This place was awesome, not as good as the Pikes Place market in Seattle but if you want fresh fish and even get it cook hot on the spot it is the place to go. The buzz was great and the prices as well. So if you live here and never been or a visitor like me it is a must see.

50 reviews for a local staple… What can I say that hasn’t already been said?
The seafood is fresh, beautiful & plentiful. The vendors have hired some very knowledgeable & nice employees. Parking isn’t so bad, if you get there early.
I guess the only advice I have is to bring cash. There is a separate vendor to clean the fish, but they accept cash only. Also, the cooked seafood in the back (behind Jessie Taylor’s, with the dock seating) is the business! Those fried oysters and lobster bisque were right up my alley. You can smell the batter before you even turn the corner. The gumbo is a ‘womp, womp’… it’s seasoned, but missing the roux. Crawfish are fresh, but I’m used to the more seasoned versionwe have in TX & LA. Overall, they have a nice selection of seafood & sides. Even the chicken is fresh, hot & tasty!
I’d make a trek here any time, to relax & take in the view.

I love the food it’s the place that makes me don’t want to come back. I hope they make the place cleaner.

Parking is scared plus frustration during busy hours.
Fresh fish, blue crabs, shrimps all size, and other seasonal seafoods.
This is one of the oldest fist market and worth to pay a visit.
Blue crabs are cooked/​steamed onsite although it’s a mess to extract minimal meats from these blue crabs.

I came here with Peruvian relatives (locals) who refuse to buy their ceviche ingredients anywhere else. It’s supposed to have the freshest seafood around. There are vendors here who also speak Spanish, which was a very cool surprise. I was also told, by a friend, that they will boil and spice their blue crabs (which are alive) for you.

Perfect Place for Summer time crabs!

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! I’ve been going here since I was a little girl. There are some vendors who have been there for as long as I can remember! When I’m home (Alexandria, VA) and I’m missing fresh fish, crabs or shrimp I still find myself going to the same stand I’ve been going to for over 20 years. LOL, I remember telling them when I was still learning how to pick fresh fish, «If you give me bad seafood, I’ll tell everyone I know and I’ll never return. However, if you take care of me and don’t do me wrong, I’ll tell everyone I know and you’ll always have my business.» They’ve been taken great care of my family, friends and me every since!
This review makes me miss home! :(

If you are taking time to visit the waterfront, the Wharf is part of that tradition. If you enjoy seafood, this is a great place for one-​stop-​shopping. Parking is really difficult but I don’t know that I would want to carry seafood on metro (especially when it is crowded).
Pack a large cooler that you can put all of your purchases in. That will keep your items fresh and decrease that yukky seafood odor. The best way to purchase anything on the waterfront is to have someone wait in the car while everyone else gets your grub. The view on the waterfront is increasing while the parking issues are only getting worse.

So much seafood. I love it. The wharf is DC’s traditional connection to its waterfront. Since as long as I can remember it’s been there. Like our Maryland neighbors we love our crabs! This is where we go to get them! Amongst other things they have almost every type of fish you can think of and every crawling thing under the sea.
The prices are great not your fancy type of crowd though. so don’t dress to impress. In fact wear something you won’t mind getting messy is a great idea for here.
Def try the strawberry lemonade at the place with the green awning it’s the perfect combination of sweet and tart!
At the front part there’s a section of cooked seafood. It’s just to the left of the place with the place with the green awning. That’s where the cooked seafood is. They have everything from seafood, to chicken, and even things like mac n cheese. The line gets long so plan to wait. And if the service isn’t good just remember you are working with fisherman. They curse like sailors and serve customers like it too. But a few of them are really great. Like the guy who was happy to walk across the entire wharf to show me where the good cooked seafood gumbo is! It’s pretty good too chocked with shrimp. I really recommend you try it. If you are not in the mood for a fish platter, or some cooked shrimp. I just enjoy being around all the seafood. What a place.

Under the sea… Under the sea!
A seafood lover’s oasis.
As many times as I’ve visited DC, I nearly put my cousin in a headlock for not telling me about this place before, which he decided to take me on a nice afternoon walk to Saturday.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen such stunningly fresh fish of so many varieties, neatly and beautifully displayed. It’s like a little seafood island destination of it’s own in DC. *Great, another reason to envy DC residents.*
All the vendors are independent, so this review is of the entire location. Terrific. It feels like what heading to the ocean to purchase your evening fish from fishermen in Thailand or Maine would feel like. Living off the sea man!
Tried a raw oyster. Dreadful. Tried a steamed colossal shrimp dipped in old bay. Hot damn!

If only I had the ability to teleport… this area is so hard to find parking… And Something smells fishy…
The wharf is basically a pier… It’s a place where ships and boats can dock and there usually fisherman selling fresh seafoods… Last time I was here I got a few large prawns… one thing that sucks about the wharf might the how hard it is to find parking… It will literally take you an hour just driving in circles around the wharf to find one spot just to shop for some fish… crowed!

If you are looking for fresh fish, seafood — the works — then do not hesitate to visit The Wharf. It’s awesome to walk in, browse, and of course, shop. Although I was doing reconnaissance, my ‘impulsive’ shopping alter ego was constantly being tempted. Since I was only visiting, there was nothing to buy for me at this time. I do wish we had a place similar in Miami because I WOULD LIVE THERE.
Some day, DC. Some day you and I will be together, again. Then I’ll be able to source my meals from this fantastic gem. Until then, pictures will
Pics and visits will have to do, you can be sure I’ll find you…
You know I want you… but I can’t have you… YET.

The Wharf itself is definitely a sight to see and, in the summertime, smell. They have different «floating vendors» selling freshly caught seafood, many of which can cook your seafood right there. In the summertime, you can definitely smell the «great essence» of the Marina. Depending on what time of the day you visit, parking can be scarce as the surrounding area is home to restaurants and nightlife venues. I recommend going on a weekday morning. I gave the wharf four stars just because the vendors seem to have similar rates and haggling prices isn’t really my thing.