Since 1886, one Baltimore seafood counter has been shaping crab cakes by hand, and Maryland diners still line up for them. That kind of staying power runs through this list, from a riverside crab house in Annapolis to a family-run Italian dining room in the mountains of Cumberland.
Crab still gets plenty of attention, but the menus wander well beyond it. Seafood cannelloni with handmade pasta, goat curry and chole bhature, Levantine mezze, and shrimp and grits all compete for the same dinner slot.
Matching the restaurant to the evening matters more than finding the longest menu. A hands-on crab feast, a quiet marina deck, or a brick-oven pizza night each calls for a different plan, and choosing between key lime pie and cannoli should be the hardest part.
1. Faidley’s Seafood, Baltimore, MD
A crab cake the size of a softball tends to end any debate about portion sizes. Faidley’s Seafood has been part of Baltimore’s Lexington Market since 1886, making it one of the city’s longest-running food businesses.
The signature crab cake follows an all-lump recipe developed by Nancy Faidley Devine in 1987. Saltine crackers serve as a light binder, while Old Bay and dry mustard season the mix without hiding the crab.
Each cake is handled gently to keep the lumps intact, then shaped by hand, chilled, and either fried or broiled. That care explains why the crab cakes draw visitors from well beyond the city.
In 2024, Faidley’s moved into the new Lexington Market building, just steps from its original spot. The fresh space keeps the counter-service spirit while giving more room to the steady flow of crab cake fans.
The setting is casual, so expect to order at the counter rather than settle in for a long table-service dinner. A crab cake, a side, and a few minutes at the market make an easy lunch plan downtown.
Address: 400 W Lexington St, Baltimore, MD 21201
2. Cantler’s Riverside Inn, Annapolis, MD
Crab cracking turns dinner into a hands-on project, with a much better reward than most projects offer. Cantler’s Riverside Inn pairs Maryland-style seafood with a riverfront deck outside downtown Annapolis.
Blue crabs are the central reason to consider a meal here, especially when you want the crab-house experience. If you’re new to picking crabs, the staff can walk you through the technique before your first attempt.
The menu also gives you ways to enjoy seafood without working through a whole crab. Crab dip, a crab pretzel, littleneck clams, and clam strips provide different starting points for your table.
You can choose outdoor seating when the weather suits your plans and make the water part of lunch or dinner. Dogs are permitted outside, while high chairs and a children’s menu help families plan a shared outing.
Reservations aren’t accepted, so leave breathing room in your schedule rather than booking another activity immediately afterward. A possible wait matters less when you’ve planned for it instead of racing against the clock.
Curbside pickup and takeout offer alternatives when a seated seafood meal doesn’t fit the day. For the full riverfront version, give yourself time to learn the crab routine and enjoy a meal that asks you to participate.
Address: 458 Forest Beach Rd, Annapolis, MD 21409
3. Chick & Ruth’s Delly, Annapolis, MD
A jumbo crab cake sandwich at breakfast time sounds bold until you remember you’re in Maryland. Chick & Ruth’s Delly has been a Main Street fixture in downtown Annapolis since 1965.
The menu covers classic diner territory with generous portions. Chicken fried steak with sausage gravy, biscuits, and two-egg platters with sausage keep breakfast firmly in comfort-food mode.
Crab shows up here too, which makes sense in Maryland’s capital. Crab omelets bring the state’s favorite seafood to the morning table, while the jumbo crab cake sandwich works just as well at lunch.
Newer owners have taken over the business while keeping its long-standing traditions in place. That continuity is a big part of the appeal for visitors and longtime customers alike.
The casual setting suits a quick breakfast before exploring downtown Annapolis or a slower lunch after a walk around the harbor. Expect a lively room, especially on weekends.
Address: 165 Main St, Annapolis, MD 21401
4. Ampersea, Baltimore, MD
A harbor view can make choosing a table almost as interesting as choosing lunch. Ampersea combines waterfront dining on Thames Street with a New American menu that includes familiar Maryland seafood.
The Ampersea crab cake gives you a straightforward place to begin if crab is the goal. Raw oysters, a lobster roll with French fries, and crab dip served with a pretzel broaden the seafood choices.
Fried green tomatoes offer a vegetarian starting point, while the Ampersea burger takes the meal in another direction. Vegan and vegetarian menus help mixed groups explore their options without making seafood the price of admission.
The menu leans on fresh, local ingredients, which suits a waterfront kitchen in the middle of Maryland’s seafood country. That focus keeps even the familiar dishes tasting bright and seasonal.
Reserve for lunch, dinner, or brunch when you have a particular time in mind. Outdoor seating puts the waterfront setting to work, and dogs are allowed in that outside dining area.
A private dining room and catering make Ampersea an option for gatherings beyond a casual meal. For a smaller outing, choose a few dishes that suit your group and give the harbor its share of your attention, too.
Address: 1417 Thames St, Baltimore, MD 21231
5. Ristorante Ottaviani | Italian, Cumberland, MD
Lamb chops and cannoli make a persuasive argument for letting dinner take up the evening. Ristorante Ottaviani is a family-run Italian restaurant on North Centre Street in Cumberland.
Classic Italian fare anchors the menu, with Abruzzo chicken offering a named specialty to consider. Lamb chops and a tomahawk provide alternatives when your appetite points toward a meat-centered meal rather than another familiar order.
Beans and greens add another possibility, and the restaurant also offers a vegetarian menu, which helps when your table includes different eating preferences.
Cannoli make the dessert decision pleasantly easy, with a crisp shell and creamy filling that suit the classic Italian menu. You could plan for one ahead of time, or wait until dinner tells you how much room remains.
Reservations are recommended for dinner, and Monday is the restaurant’s closed day. Service begins in the evening, so plan this as a dinner stop rather than building a lunchtime visit around it.
Outdoor seating, takeout, and delivery give you more ways to enjoy the menu, while a private room supports group occasions. Street parking can require patience, so arrive with enough time to keep the evening relaxed before your first course reaches the table.
Address: 25 N Centre St, Cumberland, MD 21502
6. The Island Hideaway, Solomons, MD
Handmade pasta gets a seafood assignment at The Island Hideaway, and that sounds like a useful career move. Seafood cannelloni is one reason to consider this waterfront bistro in Solomons.
The New American menu also includes cream of crab and a crab cake sandwich for a more familiar coastal meal. A mahi mahi sandwich gives you another fish option without turning lunch into a lengthy production.
The fish of the day changes, so it’s worth hearing what the kitchen has before settling on your order. You can compare it with the regular offerings and decide which direction suits your appetite.
A deck overlooking the marina makes outdoor seating part of the attraction, not merely extra space. Dogs are permitted outside, which makes the deck a good choice when your plans include a canine companion.
Reserve for dinner when you want a set time, especially if another activity follows your meal. Monday service begins later than on other days, so keep that in mind before planning a midday stop.
Key lime pie offers a dessert option after the seafood, while takeout gives you an alternative to dining in. For a Southern Maryland outing, the combination of marina views and pasta provides a reason to linger over your choices.
Address: 14556 Solomons Island Rd S, Solomons, MD 20688
7. The Mint Room, Ellicott City, MD
Naan with a chilli-focused name is a useful reminder to ask before choosing your heat level. The Mint Room serves creative Indian fare in a stylish, comfortable Ellicott City dining room.
Butter chicken, goat curry, and lamb vindaloo offer several routes through the main dishes. The staff can help match your spice preference to the right dish if you’re unsure where to start.
Gobi lahsooni, chole bhature, and Mint Raj Kachori add choices beyond those meat-centered dishes. Vegetarian and vegan menus are available for diners who want to stay plant-based.
A mango lassi gives you another menu item to consider alongside the food. If you’re ordering for a group, sharing a few different dishes is the easiest way to explore the menu.
Reservations are accepted, and both lunch and dinner fit the restaurant’s schedule. Its Baltimore National Pike address makes it a different kind of outing from a meal centered on a waterfront view.
Delivery and takeout let you choose the same restaurant when staying home makes more sense. For dining in, give yourself time to explore unfamiliar names, because finding your next favorite dish is more enjoyable than automatically repeating your usual order.
Address: 9469 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042
8. ala | Bethesda, Bethesda, MD
Falafel and tuna tartare dolmades make an interesting pair of neighbors on a menu. At ala in Bethesda, Levantine cooking and Mediterranean-inspired small plates encourage a meal built around several choices.
Golden cauliflower, batata hara, and fattoush give you plant-focused dishes to consider before selecting a main course. Halloumi wraps add a vegetarian option, while ras-el hanout short ribs take the meal in a meat-centered direction.
Mezze makes sharing a natural possibility, and a few contrasting dishes can make the meal more interesting without turning your table into a balancing exercise.
Antep baklava supplies a named dessert choice for anyone planning a sweet finish. Vegan and vegetarian menus also help you narrow the food options when your group has different preferences.
Reserve ahead for lunch, dinner, or brunch rather than leaving a specific occasion to chance. Weekend hours include a break between daytime and evening service, so time your arrival accordingly.
Outdoor seating permits dogs, and a private dining room gives larger gatherings another possibility. Paid garages, lots, and street parking serve the area, leaving you free to choose the meal around your tastes instead of making one dish carry the whole evening.
Address: 4948 Fairmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
9. Forge Southern Comfort, North East, MD
Cornbread and crab cakes can share the same dinner plan without either giving up the spotlight. Forge Southern Comfort brings Southern dishes and regional seafood to North East.
Shrimp and grits and chicken with waffles give you two clear starting points for exploring the menu. Blackened catfish, salmon, and signature crab cakes broaden the choices when you want to compare seafood options.
Fried green tomatoes, macaroni and cheese, and collard greens make side dishes worth considering before you finalize the order, especially when several comfort-food favorites compete for space.
The restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients and offers a vegetarian menu alongside its meat and seafood dishes. That range helps a mixed group choose dinner without requiring everyone to follow the same Southern-food script.
Monday and Tuesday are closed days, and Sunday begins earlier than the remaining service days. Dinner reservations are recommended, particularly when your outing depends on a specific time.
Key lime pie, creme brulee, and flourless chocolate cake provide different ways to finish. Families also have a children’s menu and changing tables available, so the practical planning can stay simple while you tackle the much better problem of choosing dessert.
Address: 472 Mauldin Ave, North East, MD 21901
10. Salt & Vine, Olney, MD
Brick-oven pizza and crab-stuffed trout give you two very different answers to the same dinner question. Salt & Vine serves Italian food in Olney, with seasonal small and large plates alongside its pizzas.
The house pizza offers a straightforward starting point when you want a familiar favorite. Lobster bisque and crab-stuffed trout provide seafood choices for a meal that takes another route through the menu.
You can consider Caesar salad before the main dish and Cannoli Classico for dessert afterward. Seasonal offerings rotate through the menu, which rewards anyone hoping to try something beyond a familiar order.
A fireplace and outdoor seating give the restaurant different setting options throughout the year. Its casual yet polished character makes it worth considering for a date without requiring a grand celebration.
Book ahead for brunch or dinner when you have a particular occasion in mind. Weekend opening times begin earlier, and the Salt & Vine Breakfast gives you another reason to consider a daytime visit.
A private dining room accommodates separate gatherings, while curbside pickup, takeout, and delivery offer alternatives to a seated meal. Choose the version that suits your day, then leave the hardest decision to your appetite: pizza, trout, or a plan for returning.
Address: 3308 Olney Sandy Spring Rd, Olney, MD 20832