2 Best Restaurants in Maryland, USA

The area's German roots may have you hankering for schnitzel, knockwurst, or a cold Oktoberfest beer. If so, head to Schmarkerl Stube. Waitresses dressed in traditional dirndls (recall those St. Pauli Girl beer commercials?) carry heaping plates of homemade sausages, veal and noodles, and sweet and sour beef with dumplings. The house favorite Knusperige Schweinshaxe (marinated pork shank with sauerkraut, apple-flavored red cabbage, and homemade Bavarian bread dumplings) must be ordered 24 hours in advance so that the pork has ample time to marinate. Intricate wood carvings and red-and-white checked tablecloths complete the theme.

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.