SailNet Community banner
  • SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!

Chesapeake Bay Eats

94K views 573 replies 62 participants last post by  travlin-easy 
#1 ·
Now that my sailing season has concluded, I'm looking forward to eating season!!

Let's just say my preference is for Old School simplicity, well executed, good value with decent ambiance.

Some of my favorites:

Edgewater Inn, Edgewater, MD. Wed. and Sunday specials. Nice crab cakes and fried oysters. The paneled back room looks just like our finished basement. Can't get more homey than that!!

Pirate's Cove, Galesville, MD. Lunch or dinner, it boarders on waterside elegance. Has more creative menu selections without going too far.

Fisherman's Inn, Grasonville, MD. It's got everything I want and nothing I don't need. Yes, I need a gigantic oysterplate collection to admire while my entre arrives!!

Crab Claw, St Micheals, MD. I normally go there for lunch. Oyster stew and fried oyster sandwhich on white bread. Bloody Mary's real good also!!

The problem is when we travel, I always compare with my favorites and am usually left disappointed.

Have I missed anything??

I hadn't been to Cantler's yet in Annapolis but I'm more of a crab imperial man than a crab picker!!
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Kantler's in Annapolis (not Cantler's).

Prop's on Bodkin Creek, good fish selection.

Deep Creek Restaurant on Deep Creek off the Magothy (more than one Deep Creek on the Ches. Bay) comes complete with a few of my Gemini just upstream.
Magothy Seafood Restaurant and Tiki Bar, Mills Creek (Ferry Point Marina) - one of the few places you can still watch the fish boat deliver the fish to the resturant, pick one and eat it.
 
#29 ·
Hey, Mr. Pollard. I forgot to mention The Main Ingredient as an excellent breakfast joint in Annapolis. They're on Forest Drive between Bay Ridge and the Giant near Edgewood Rd.

They have some pretty fancy stuff there. I like to get their french toast topped with cinnamon apples and vanilla custard (I like to avoid the scale for a few days afterward). Deeeelicious.
 
#6 ·
For breakfast, I like Carpenter Street in St. Michael's.

One thing they seem to do on the Eastern Shore that I wish they did on the west side is to give you a small shot of sherry on the side when you order cream of crab soup. I love that. There's a place in Chestertown that gives you a little creamer full of sherry on its own plate next to your cream of crab soup. I wish I could remember the name, but it's right on the water.
 
#11 ·
I'll sneak into Sam's at lunch for the lobster roll too!!

Provided it isn't $20!!

Last fall the boat was in Baltimore and we would stop at the G & M off 695.

The jumbo lump is un-natural and foreign but it's still good.

Must come from radiated Japanese crabs like Godzilla!!
 
#13 ·
Last fall the boat was in Baltimore and we would stop at the G & M off 695.

The jumbo lump is un-natural and foreign but it's still good.

Must come from radiated Japanese crabs like Godzilla!!
I worked for a little while out that way on a consulting gig. I went to G&M for lunch one Friday with my co-workers. One of them bought an extra crabcake to take home and put it in the fridge back at the client's office. He didn't know the cleaning people came early on Friday nights. Around 6:30 we hear a loud slam and lots of loud, angry cursing. Yup. Expensive monster crab cake tossed out. The rest of us thought it was pretty funny.

Good food at G&M and the crab cakes are some of the best around.
 
#15 ·
Painkiller, the place in Chestertown is the "Fish Whistle" (formerly The Warf) and they do serve sherry with the chowder...located on the Chester River.
Chick N Ruth Delee in Annapolis is an experience and great food too. So you have to wait, if you aren't out on the Bay sailing you have the time to spare.

MGMhead
Sabre 34 MkI
 
#16 ·
Saturday after checking on the boat (It got hauled last week) we made it back to the Pirate's Cove for something they call an oyster pan roast (stew) and oyster sandwhich. They don't serve it on plain white bread there but they did have it on a simple dinner roll type bread so as to not overpower them.

Yummy!!

Now I'm thinking about one of my best breakfasts ever at the Chesapeake Inn on the C&D canal.

We were at an event and the featured item was crab meat and egg white omelets.

They also serve a fantastic Bloody Mary in a 16oz beer glass and a jumbo spiced shrimp on top.
 
#17 ·
Two pages and no one has mentioned Davis' Pub in Eastport? Best pub food in Annapolis.

If you don't mind a bit of a walk, Lemongrass on West Street in Annapolis is quite good (Thai).

Osteria 177 on Main St in Annapolis is the best Italian in town.

Snapper's in Cambridge is pretty good. Zanhiser's Dry Dock in Solomons is good. Robert Morris Inn in Oxford is quite good. The Rusty Scupper Sunday brunch (Baltimore) is very nice.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Eastport Yacht Club (must be a member or guest) that has a very good kitchen.

Sam's is nice, but overpriced.

Cantler's is a pit, and Chick & Ruth's is a greasy spoon. Neither is worth a visit.
 
#18 ·
Two pages and no one has mentioned Davis' Pub in Eastport? Best pub food in Annapolis.

Robert Morris Inn in Oxford is quite good.
1. That's why I started this!! Davis' looks like a regular joint. The Boatyard is a little too new and shiny for me even if I do like their Ale!!

2. I've been meaning to go there. Last time we visited, we just picked up sandwhiches at the Oxford market and ate them in the park.
 
#22 ·
As long as you are going further afield, there is Carlson's (IIRC) Thai Kitchen and Donut Shop with stores in Annapolis and Edgewater. <grin> I kid you not. Pretty far if one is arriving by boat however.

Other places that occur to me near boating centers include:

Woodburn's Market in Solomons (deli inside grocery is very good)
Chesapeake Wine Company on Boston St in Baltimore (great small plates)
Dockside Restaurant in Colonial Beach, VA (basic American food)
Kingsmill Restaurant in Williamsburg, VA (choice of nice restaurant on grounds and pub overlooking marina)
 
#23 · (Edited)
Baltimore Area
Roys near the Marriot in Inner harbor for the best in Pacific Rim. Met Roy Yamaguchi in his first restaurant in Kanapali Maui.
La Scala is superb in Little Italy

In Annapolis area
Carols Creek in Eastport for a hideaway from the tourist crowds
Joss for the best sushi or tappan

In Cape May...my favorite town for restauarants
Ebbit Room in the Virginian Hotel
410 Bank Street
Mad Batter for strawberry banana stuffed French toast on the Porch for breakfast

In Atlantic City-Having worked in Atlantic City for 18 years as an executive chef of one of the casinos the 3 best restaurants are not in them
Docks Oyster House- AC tradition
White House Subs- best anywhere and I mean anywhere.. chack out the celebrity pictures and
take a camera
Fairmount Tavern- where the mafia takes their own for their "last supper"

Dave
 
#24 ·
In Atlantic City-Having worked in Atlantic City for 18 years as an executive chef of one of the casinos the 3 best restaurants are not in them
Docks Oyster House- AC tradition
White House Subs- best anywhere and I mean anywhere.. chack out the celebrity pictures and
take a camera
Fairmount Tavern- where the mafia takes their own for their "last supper"

Dave
I've been to each of those several times and must agree!!

I was in Chesapeake City over Thanksgiving.

The Bloody Mary at the Chesapeake Inn is still tops!!

The Chicken Chesapeake at The Yacht Club was too salty. However, I am inspired to make my own version to treat my hosts at the beach this year!!
 
#25 ·
Some of my favorites:

Edgewater Inn, Edgewater, MD. Wed. and Sunday specials. Nice crab cakes and fried oysters. The paneled back room looks just like our finished basement. Can't get more homey than that!!
Hey WouldaShoulda, are you referring to Edgewater Restaurant on Mayo? Or is there another place I'm not aware of? I'm asking because I haven't been there and would love to check it out.
Thanks!
-J
 
#30 ·
WOW, how could I have possibly missed this thread? I love Chesapeake Bay Sailing and Eating...

My all time favorite is so very close to where I keep my boat, Pirates Cove in Galesville (I keep the boat just across the river). The Crab Cakes are among the Best and the Maryland Crab Soup is also pretty good too. I know they make other things but why bother...

And about this "Sam's" where is it and how do I find it. My wife loves Lobster Rolls (we just returned yesterday from 2 weeks with the Grandkids in Boston Area...boy am I glad to be out of the snow belt).
 
#33 ·
My all time favorite is so very close to where I keep my boat, Pirates Cove in Galesville (I keep the boat just across the river). The Crab Cakes are among the Best and the Maryland Crab Soup is also pretty good too. I know they make other things but why bother...
I agree, however...

Have you had the Oyster Pan Roast or the Shrimp or Crab Salad on Croissant??

It's the spice of life!!
 
#31 · (Edited)
Hey, Joe.

Sam's is in Chesapeake Harbour Marina. Chesapeake Harbour Marina. Just tell the guard at the gate that you're going to the restaurant and they'll give you a parking pass.

Good stuff. A little pricey, but the food is good. In fine weather, you can sit outside at their tiki bar and ogle the megayachts tied up to the bulkhead.

Here's a direct link: Welcome to Sam's on the Waterfront
 
#36 ·
Try Roy's on Fleeton Point, Reedville, VA. Basic, cheap, but great food and cold beer. Roy Headly is a commercial fisherman and friend of my wife's "people," as she calls her family :) He still crabs commercially (when there are crabs, that is). Great guy and a great place to get a home-cooked meal.

Of course, if you want GREAT Chesapeake Bay seafood delivered right to your door, you could always call my brother-in-law's seafood company and he'll come set up a "crab feed" wherever you want it. Much more fun that way :).

Ron
 
#37 ·
Sam's tried

My birthday was the 1st and I decided to take some family members out to dinner (well, that was morphed to lunch because of the Super Bowl). I took us to Sam's and it was GREAT! Thanks for the referral. I just bet it is VERY crowded in the summer.
 
#38 ·
Actually, Joe, the restaurant isn't usually too crowded even in the summers. The outside area will fill up, but then again it only has a handful of tables. Call ahead for a reservation, but I don't recall ever seeing people waiting outside for their table to be called.
 
#40 · (Edited)
IMO, there is a dire need of some great restaurants that serve something other than crab cakes & crab soup on the bay. Also, most places are serving crap they buy from the big purveyors, its really sad!!!

We don't eat out much when sailing the bay, I usually leave disappointed and often disgusted.

That said, I do enjoy Waterman's in Rockhall for crabs, Chef Rorks Town Dock in St Michaels, Joss Sushi in Annapolis, all with-in walking distance from a dock.

I forgot to mention, if we're talking about including the Potomac/Georgetown/Washington DC, well then I could go on and on about some fine places to eat from the 5-star Citronelle to the typical French Bistro Francaise, still with in walking distance from Georgetown harbor ;)

BTW...I heard Bob Kincaid of DC's acclaimed Kincaid's & Colvin Run Tavern just bought the Phillips restaurant in Annapolis, that could be fun?
 
#41 ·
Shaun,

I second your opinions. We love Joss in Annpolis. We also would rather not waste our money. Still love Roys in Inner Harbor,,,just like his original one in Kannapali, Maui

Weve been working on our boat most Sundays and Mondays...only 5 weeks more..**:**)


Dave
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top