130 Best Restaurants in Maryland, USA

Part brewpub, part restaurant, and part lounge, this old brownstone has a young, urbane following, who appreciate the ambitious menu, select wine list, and the home-brewed Belgian-style beers. Try the potent, delicious Resurrection ale. The upstairs dining room serves seasonal dishes with high-quality, locally available ingredients to create European-style country fare that is both hearty and sophisticated. In the dungeonlike downstairs bar, the menu and decor are more casual. Made with rosemary and garlic, the classic steak frites are a best bet.

This little counter-service café, named in honor of Kensington's christening, is also a full-service 70-seat restaurant with a charming courtyard linking the two. The egg soufflés, quiches, and pancakes are popular for breakfast, while a variety of wraps and salads are on the lunch menu. Café 1894's signature dish is turkey meat loaf with homemade mashed potatoes and fresh steamed vegetables. An ice-cream counter offers fresh berry toppings, homemade whipped topping, and specialty cones. The chef's emphasis is on organic and fair-trade products.

The painted retro facade invites visitors to this casual family-owned cafe in the middle of Little Italy, and the simple, well-prepared cuisine only adds to the experience. Downtown professionals and savvy tourists fill the place for lunch entrées, all under $10, including hearty pastas like rigatoni bolognese or sandwiches like La Spiaggia (eggplant parmigiana) and La Adriatica (chicken parmigiana), served on perfectly toasted bread. Delicate dinner entrées like penne Gorgonzola and Shrimp & Scallop Alberto (named after the father of owner Giovanna Aquia) are only a bit more pricey but significantly larger.

Friendly, quick service helps make this counter-service restaurant—which describes itself as "darned spunky"—a local favorite. The blackened chicken Caesar burrito is one of the top three sellers in the joint. Add spice to your meal with a dash or two from 75 hot sauces lined up on the wall, and grab a seat inside or out. On Monday nights, spin the Mystery Prize Burrito Wheel for discounts and freebies. Patrons can also subscribe to the restaurant's "Taco Talk" newsletter, which is read worldwide.

Deep Creek's best spot for sophisticated café food serves breakfast burritos and homemade granola and scones in the morning. Lunch brings on an assortment of appetizers and sandwiches, including chicken breast with basil mayo, and fresh mozzarella on ciabatta bread and quesadillas with smoked Gouda, portobello mushrooms, and caramelized onions. Salads feature crisp vegetables and grilled meats. Beer and wine are available when a cappuccino just won't cut it. Best of all, the eatery is just a short walk uphill from the lake, near the public park access, and opens bright and early at 8 am.

You can walk, catch a water taxi from City Dock, or drive over the Spa Creek drawbridge to this local favorite in Eastport. Whether you dine indoors or out, the view of historic Annapolis and its harbor is spectacular. Any of the entrées, including the herb-encrusted rockfish or grilled filet mignon, can be turned into a four-course meal with the addition of soup, salad, and dessert.

At this neighborhood favorite, families come to celebrate milestones—baptisms, communions, graduations, and such. Pictures of the Baltimore landscape adorn the redbrick walls, and some white-cloth tables overlook one of Little Italy's main streets. The reasonably priced pasta selections rely on standards, but there's also more upscale fare such as chicken Giuseppe: breaded chicken breast with spinach, crabmeat, and provolone in a lemon wine sauce.

Deli sandwiches (many named after local politicians), burgers, subs, crab cakes, and milkshakes are the fare at this very busy counter-and-booth institution. Baltimoreans Ruth and Chick Levitt purchased the building, built in 1899, in 1965. Their son Ted and his wife, Beth, continue the business today. Don't plan on placing an order at 8:30 am on a weekday or 9:30 am on a weekend—that's when the place stops to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

The owners of Baltimore Little Italy mainstay Chipparelli's recently opened up a second outlet in the Old Chesapeake Hotel, an elegant historic building in the heart of Havre de Grace that dates back to the 1890s. In addition to serving up old-school favorites like Homemade Gnocchi and Spaghetti Toscanini, the location offers guest accommodations—not a bad ideal after all that pasta.

The spotlight is on wine at Cinghiale (pronounced ching-GYAH-lay), an open, inviting space with tall, wide windows. Enjoy hand-cut pastas such as tagliatelle with tender chicken, greens, and walnuts or lasagna with veal ragù. Cinghiale is split into two sections: the elegant osteria and the less-formal enoteca.

The lofty space and black-and-white tile floors give this casual spot a feeling of classic grandeur. Come here for American fare with a creative twist—shrimp and grits carbonara or juicy lamb burgers. Another standout is the grilled Atlantic salmon with cannellini beans. Service is warm and efficient. For dessert, order the affogato: it's made with salted caramel Taharka Bros. ice cream and served over a steaming cup of espresso. Weekend brunch is very popular.

Set near a fountain on the brick pedestrian walkway, City Lights brings urbane charm to downtown Cumberland. The menu of upscale American classics features seafood with a distinctively Chesapeake touch, hand-cut steaks, freshly made pies, and espresso drinks. Lunch includes an assortment of salads and sandwiches—the portobello Reuben on rye is an unexpected twist on an old standby.

Family-owned and -operated since 1929, this legendary establishment boasts a bustling restaurant and pub with 11 dining rooms, an adjacent inn, shops, and a museum—reportedly the only one in the nation—that pays homage to nearby presidential retreat Camp David. The spot is well patronized by members of the media, and posted newspaper clippings and photographs recall the 1979 Camp David accords and other major news stories. Cozy has home-baked treats and several all-you-can-eat buffet nights to refuel after a long day of hiking. On Wednesday and Thursday it's steak and shrimp; Friday and Saturday feature a gut-busting land-and-sea spread that includes steamed oysters, clams casino, shrimp, scallops, barbecued ribs, steaks, and fried chicken. You can ratchet up the heat with one of the 200 hot sauces from the restaurant's "Wall of Fire."

Owned and operated by the same family since 1965, this St. Michaels landmark started as a clam- and oyster-shucking house for watermen long before that. Diners at both indoor and outdoor tables have panoramic views over the harbor to the river beyond, but dockside tables are the best. As the name suggests, this is the down-home place for fresh steamed and seasoned blue crabs. But the extensive menu also includes sandwiches and other light fare as well as other seafood and meat dishes. Children's platters are available, too.

The Daily Grind is the neighborhood spot for coffee and Wi-Fi.

From the elegant black-and-red dining room to the lush plants and trickling waterfall in the bricked courtyard, you'll want to dress snazzily for this upscale American and Italian restaurant. Signature dishes like the decadent "exploding" shrimp appetizer and the baked radiatore—lobster, scallops, and shrimp in a creamy sherry tomato sauce—are a hit. End your meal with bananas Foster, prepared tableside with flaming liqueur. The cheerful high-ceiling bar area offers a menu of updated pub favorites like sliders as well as excellent happy-hour specials. Musicians play in the garden on Thursday and Friday during warm weather.

Named after the nearby spring that was the original source of the bottled water brand, the inn is both a B&B and fine French restaurant. The three rooms are cozy and appointed with interesting but never with fussy antique furnishings. The restored Victorian mansion lies off Route 135 between Deep Creek Lake and Oakland. During the area's off-season months, the inn may be closed Monday–Wednesday, so call ahead.

Within the Deer Park Inn B&B, the proprietor prepares an exceptional French menu with ingredients procured from local Amish farms. Duck confit is marinated overnight and served with savory braised red cabbage. Beef tenderloins are served with a tantalizing sun-dried cherry sauce. Desserts—such as a tart of local strawberries and rhubarb with whipped cream, or local organic blueberries with crème fraiche—are simple and elegant. During the area's off-season months, the inn and restaurant may be closed Monday–Wednesday, so call ahead.

A comfortable spot for a chai latte or espresso creation, Dooby's serves artisanal sandwiches, pastries, and they offer a full dinner menu as well.

This fine-dining restaurant, adjacent to and operated by the same owners as the Lighthouse Club and the Edge hotels, gives you white-linen treatment and views of soothing wetlands and the Bay, and stunning sunsets through its large windows. In addition to ubiquitous fresh-catch seafood, Fager's is renowned for its prime rib. There's an outside deck for more informal dining and a raw bar with lighter fare. Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture is played every evening, with the tumultuous finale timed to coincide with the setting of the sun.

With its embossed tin ceiling, dark-wood bar, and cheerful service, Firestone's serves up old-fashioned elegance with a nouvelle menu and a telephone book of a wine list. Locals rave about the food. Start with the lobster, mango, and avocado salad tossed with ginger-shallot vinaigrette and move on to the veal strip steak with tangy goat cheese gnocchi and oyster mushrooms, or the "shank of swine" braised in hard cider and served with sautéed bacon and bok choy. An easy, but sophisticated Sunday brunch can be kicked off with a bottomless mimosa.

When the children need a break from the standard boardwalk fare, take 'em to this incredibly family-friendly restaurant, where children are part of the action. Youngsters can play on an awesome pirate ship or on the soft beach with the Frisbee that comes with their meals. The food is as easygoing as the atmosphere, from a fried chicken and barbecued ribs combo to skewered surf and turf. There's also a slew of economical offerings "From the Dock" and "From the Farm," as well as an extensive menu for "L'il Skippers," like pizza and mac and cheese. At night, a bit of a rowdy (yet civilized) older bar crowd likes to congregate on the waterfront benches.

You can choose the atmosphere you want at Fleet Street Kitchen, which is housed in a former furniture factory. The downstairs is a casual Tavern Room; while upstairs, there's an elegant dining room. Chef Nate Magat creates beautiful New American dishes that speak to the season, such as hand-cut linguine with a garlic cream sauce and tomatoes from the restaurant’s Cunningham Farm. The popular slow-roasted pork is a winning bet. For dessert, the dark chocolate semi-freddo is as intense as it gets.

This unusual watering hole is a welcome breeze of creative cuisine. Appetizers are light and delicate, like seared foie gras and asparagus shrimp risotto. Equally innovative mains include homemade manchego cheese gnocchi, seared duck with sun-dried cherries, and a pistachio-encrusted rockfish. The second and third floors open up to outdoor seating and views of the Bay. The cosmic Star Bar is a hot spot for local celebs and those looking for creative cocktails in a dark hideaway—and it serves tapas until midnight.

A most unusual and exciting blend of Pacific Rim, California surf, and grandma's kitchen await adventurous taste buds in this intimate venue. A tanuki is akin to a Japanese leprechaun, and the creative flavors here play tricks on traditional dishes. Imagine a restaurant serving buttery sushi and sashimi, lamb lettuce wraps, thai mussels simmered in Woodpecker cider, and a classic Hawaiian pizza under one roof. Run, don't walk, to this place, and make sure to check out happy hour (4 pm–6 pm) at the U-shaped bar.

In the Baltimore Museum of Art, this casual yet classy spot cooks up creative Maryland specialties. Crab cakes, served with a variety of tasty sauces, are one option, Parmesan-crusted salmon is another. Finish with a decadent dessert.

Housed inside a brilliantly converted theater, with its stage area is retained and periodically used for a variety of presentations, this eclectic eatery is well worth a meal, from vegetable risotto and jerk pork plate to, of course, crab cakes. Allow some extra time to wander the upper-level art gallery, its works all for sale. And you might luck into one of the periodic screenings of Runaway Bride. Sunday brunch and weekend dinners are popular with locals. On the weekends the stage has live entertainment.

On "The Avenue," funky Hampden's main commercial street, Golden West is the go-to spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The place is colorful and eclectic, and so is the menu of diner fare with a Tex-Mex twist. Try the the hefty huevos montuleños—fried eggs with yellow corn cakes covered in beans, feta, salsa, and a fried banana, or the tater tots with a chili-mayo dipping sauce. Large tables make it a good spot for groups, and the bar makes it good for pre- or post-dinner drinks. Occasionally, the café hosts local folk and indie rock bands.