Crab Shack Snapshot
Crab Shack at Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll was inspired by the desire to offer guests an authentic, toes-in-the-sand dining experience that immerses them in the natural beauty of the Maldives. Located on a secluded stretch of beach, the restaurant provides a rustic, barefoot-chic atmosphere where diners can enjoy fresh seafood while gazing out over the lagoon’s azure waters. Its rustic, open-air design reflects traditional Maldivian beachside huts, often used by locals for fishing or relaxation. The use of natural materials like wood and sand aligns with the Maldives’ respect for nature and sustainability.
The menu focuses on fresh seafood, particularly crab, paired with simple, flavourful accompaniments. The dishes are also crafted to evoke the casual, carefree ambiance of the Crab Shack, emphasising sharable plates and bold flavours that enhance the experience of dining with toes in the sand and an ocean breeze. This fusion of local and international elements mirrors Finolhu’s overall ethos of blending luxury with playful, laid-back charm.
Notes from the Chef
Our Sales Director, Tomas Cochrane and our Commercial Director, Iva Acrabova, having worked together for the past 14 years, were able to visit Finolhu together. On this visit they interviewed the executive chef, Bernard Prim, who is behind the culinary operation at Crab Shack delivering exceptional quality and unforgettable experiences.
Professional Background
I come from a rich background with both German and Mexican heritage, which has deeply influenced my passion for food and my culinary journey. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working across multiple continents, immersing myself in diverse culinary traditions and cultures. Having worked in so many different environments, I have developed a deep appreciation for farm-to-table and ocean-to-table concepts, which are particularly meaningful here in the Maldives. The local fishermen supply us with the freshest catches, and I’m passionate about bringing that into the kitchen. It’s incredibly rewarding to blend the global flavours I’ve encountered throughout my travels with the local, sustainable ingredients available here.
Ingredient Sourcing
I firmly believe in keeping things grounded and authentic, which is why most of our ingredients are sourced locally. It’s important to me that we stay connected to the land and sea that surrounds us, especially here in the Maldives. Seafood is predominantly sourced locally, and I’ve always been an advocate of the sea-to-table concept, ensuring that we bring the freshest catches directly from the ocean to our guests' plates. We also rely heavily on locally sourced ingredients for many of our proteins and work closely with local fishermen.
Preparation Process
At Crab Shack, we’re committed to sustainability, ensuring that all our seafood is locally caught and harvested in a way that minimises environmental impact. For our crab dishes, we focus on using local varieties that are freshly caught, ensuring they’re just right for the menu. When the crabs arrive, we carefully clean and prepare them, cracking the shells to make it easier for our guests to enjoy the rich, tender meat inside. We use a variety of cooking methods like steaming, grilling, or boiling—depending on the dish, to bring out the best flavours in each type of seafood. When it comes to seasoning, we love to showcase the vibrant, aromatic flavours of the Maldives. We use a combination of local herbs and spices like chili, garlic, lemongrass, and coconut milk to enhance the natural sweetness of the seafood. Each dish is designed to highlight the freshness and quality of the ingredients, giving our guests an unforgettable, flavourful experience right by the beach.
Favourite Dish
If you ask me about my personal favourite, it would have to be the Tuna Tartare. What makes it so special to me is the fact that we receive fresh fish deliveries every week, allowing us to serve the tuna at its absolute peak of freshness. The quality and flavour are unparalleled, and there’s something about the simplicity of the dish that really lets the fish shine.
However, I can’t overlook one of our true signature dishes: the Sri Lankan Mud Crab. It’s a standout not only because of its exceptional taste but also because of the care and attention we put into preparing it. The way we season and cook them truly brings out the natural sweetness and richness of the meat. It’s a dish that represents the heart of what we do here—authentic, flavorful, and deeply connected to the region.
Drink Pairing
I would say my personal pick would be the Rosé wine, its versatility makes it a fantastic choice for seafood, especially when paired with the light, fresh, and flavourful dishes typically. It adds a refreshing and balanced note to your seafood experience. However, depending on the guest preference we offer a good variety of wines and tropical cocktails and mocktails.
Best Memory
Every moment I spend here is memorable, but I would say that the festive season stands out as one of the highlights for me. There’s something truly special about the energy and excitement that fills the air during that time, especially when we are preparing dishes that bring people together to celebrate. It’s a time when we go above and beyond to create unforgettable experiences for our guests, and seeing their joy and satisfaction makes it all worthwhile. Another moment I cherish is when we receive the fresh fish delivery. There’s something incredibly rewarding about watching the local fishermen bring in their fresh catch. It’s a reminder of the deep connection we have to the sea and the importance of using only the freshest, sustainably sourced ingredients in our kitchen. The fish arrives still glistening, and I know that the dishes we will create from that catch will bring a taste of the ocean directly to our guests’ tables.
Tommy & Iva at Seaside Finolhu Maldives
I’ve always wanted to go to Finolhu and been quite envious of the various members of the Hummingbird team who have visited and come back with stories of white night parties on the 1km long sandbank, baked crab and rose lunches at the Crab shack and stargazing from the bubble the lodge. So I was delighted to get the opportunity to finally visit and what made the experience even better is that I would be joining longtime colleague and commercial director Iva Acrabova on the resort.
Finolhu is a “cool resort” with bags of style, The Beach Club for instance, has to be one of the best pool bars / DJ hang out spots in the Maldives. There is an impressive Oceaneer’s’ Kids club with a kids pool, sand pits and climbing frames and now a proper teens club as well as an Art Studio with painting and pottery workshops.
We joined for a special Maldivian night and the food was authentic with a wide choice of dishes and some Maldivian tastes I had not enjoyed before like the breadfruit curry and breadfruit. To accompany the food we had some traditional Bodu Beru music followed by some extremely well-toned fire dancers who put on quite the display on the beach just in front of the restaurant.
We were lucky enough to interview Chef Bernard Prim as well as join Island Chief, Steven Phillips for dinner at the fine dining Kanusan restaurant, specialising in modern Japanese food and we feasted on sushi, sashimi and black cod. We watched a glorious red moon rise in the sky as the tide went out revealing the coral below us to complete an atmospheric night.
"Finolhu is one of my all time faves. I have visited the island 5 times...even when it was a picnic island and the resort was not yet built. The resort with its style, colours and vibes always brings so much joy and a feeling of freedom to the soul. The champagne helps too :) For me the heart of the island is the Crab shack - unique happy spot at the end of a mile long sand bank with a cool DJ and yummy food" - Iva Acrabova, Commercial Director
Overall, I was really impressed with Finolhu, it lived up to my expectations as a lively buzzing island that has a cool edge to it. It’s in a great location in the Baa Atoll too, with a huge Lagoon to explore and the Hannifaru bay not far away for swimming with Manta rays. I think it’s a superb 5 star option, especially for the hip younger crowd and for young families like ourselves. The rooms are spacious and stylish, the food was excellent and it was nice to see the other guests enjoying themselves and interacting with each other and with the staff.