130 Best Restaurants in Maryland, USA

Candles light up the whitewashed walls of these cellar dining rooms, where the menu covers all regions of Spain. The staple is paella à la Valenciana (chicken, sausage, shrimp, clams, and mussels with saffron rice); a less-well-known Basque preparation is red snapper with clams, mussels, asparagus, and boiled egg. Make dinner reservations in advance; walk-in weekday lunch seating is usually available.

The Latino enclave just north of Fells Point, called Upper Fells Point, is fast becoming a foodie destination with many low-cost, authentic variations on Mexican and South American cuisine. This tiny but charming hole in the wall—mostly a take-out operation, although the counter space and in-house food presentations are lovely—is the best of the bunch. The homemade corn tortillas are the perfect platform for delectable tacos with fresh fish, pork, chorizo, or tongue. This is also the city's best place for tamales.

Trinacria Foods is an authentic Italian grocery store a few blocks from Lexington Market that sells meat, cheese, fresh-baked bread, pastries, and wine. There's no better sandwich in the area.

Espresso, gelato, cannolis, and other delicious Italian pastries can be found at Vaccaro's, as well as sandwiches and light fare.

Inspired by the Lewis Carroll poem, "The Walrus and the Carpenter," this restaurant is a gem for excellent seafood and views. Come here for a crab cake sandwich or select from the list of fresh, briny Chesapeake oysters in a casual, modern pub setting. Then wash it down with a local craft brew. The Walrus proudly partners with Maryland's Oyster Recovery Partnership, which recycles shells and builds reefs for the area's once-declining bivalve population.

This historic establishment was founded in 1928 (as Warner's German Restaurant), closed in 2003, and re-opened by two new owners—one the grandson of the late proprietor—in 2010. Judging from the local buzz and busy servers, the restaurateurs are already reminding customers of tasty meals from decades past. Besides German cuisine (one specialty pizza features knockwurst and sauerkraut), the restaurant boasts a book-sized international menu, fresh baked breads, an extensive wine list, imported beers, and sophisticated cocktails. Ask about the famous Bee Sting, a rum flavored dessert so beloved in these parts that in his day, President John F. Kennedy bought dozens from the original restaurant to serve to members of Congress.

DPRICE This casual dockside restaurant looking southward toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the distance has lots of local color. The menu includes ribs, steaks, and fried oysters, but its crab dishes are legendary, as are its homemade cheesecake and key lime pie. Warm summer weekends mean live entertainment and seating on the 40-foot deck. There's a deep-draft dock for diners arriving by boat. Waterman's gets very busy on the weekends, so be prepared to wait.

Whole Foods has tables and chairs inside and out for eating sandwiches, sushi, and salads.

You can buy crabs here, of course, and have them served any number of imaginative ways. But slurp one of the thick homemade soups, or down the famous Carolina shrimp burger, to understand why this funky little eatery is so popular. The children's menu is a thoughtful extra. But go easy on the real food: Woody's ice-cream parlor, next door, includes seasonal favorite flavors such as apple, pumpkin, and Fourth of July (a celebration of red, white, and blue ice creams). Call ahead if you want traditional crabs. Woody's is quite hopping, so they occasionally run out.