Western Shore..best of?

[pups224]

We are going down to Tilghman Island in mid June from NYC and are looking for restaurant recommendations.

Besides The Inn at Easton (been there) and 206 Talbot (been there too, changed hands, awful meal), does anyone have any recommendations within a 30 mile radius of St. Michaels? We do not really want 'family style dining', but do not mind a place that looks like a dive but serves excellent seafood.

[chappie]

206 Talbot, eh? I think that might be a tackle shop. I think you meant 208. Just ribbing you.

Hmmm... In Tilghman I've heard good things about the Tilghman Island Inn for brunch, and Bay Hundred (which used to be phenomenal, has changed hands countless times and is doing well in its latest incarnation).

In Easton I recommend Out of the Fire. I know the chefs, owner and much of the staff and it's great food made with impeccable ingredients. A chunk less expensive than the two places you've mentioned, and a modern, busy atmosphere you should enjoy.

If you're up for late nights I sincerely recommend a weekend night of drinking in St. Michaels at Carpenter Street Saloon. One-of-a-kind place.

[SugarJ]

Hey all - we're going to Leonardtown for the day and then heading back north in the afternoon. We're hoping to find a nice town (with accomodations) that offers a fantastic crab shack (with beer and good times) and maybe a neghborhood to walk around and window shop.

Someone mentioned to me that Chesapeake Beach and North Beach were nice places.

And then another board recommended, highly, that we keep on going up towards Annapolis and go to Mike's in Riva (the website is drawing me in already...crabs...a tiki bar....but where to stay that is very nearby - oh - and that doesn't have , this time of year, a 2 nite minimum as we just want Saturday night)

I didn't really want to stay in Annapolis , but would if that is was my search leads me to.

I am grateful for your recommendations.

Thx

Philly Gulletter...SugarJ

[Busboy]

Best of luck to you. My wife and I get down that way every now and again and the restaurant pickins are few. A couple of decent barbecue shacks, and there's the bar where we had Budweiser and the bartender's crabs and gravy for breakfast one day (in downtown Leonardtown) but beyond that, it's hard to get a decent meal.

You could check out Captain John's crab house over on Cobb Island, along the Potomac, or Captain Billy's, but they haven't really blown me a way in the past.

[DTBarton]

We like Mike's a lot for crabs. Good food if you stick with the simple stuff, don't go for anything fancy. Crabs, steamed shrimp, and onion rings are our standbys. Beware it does get REALLY busy on the weekends. Probably too late for your trip, but if you decide to go again,, there are some hotels just north of Mike's on Riva road about 3 minutes away. The closest is the Mariott courtyard

at 2559 Riva Road. There are others on Admiral Cochrane Blvd just around the corner from the Courtyard. Mike's is at the south end of the Riva Road bridge over the South River.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searc...ate=MD&zipcode=

[SugarJ]

thanks folks.

The Courtyard still has some rooms open.

We recently also heard of Harris' over the Kent Narrows - pros? Cons? better or worse than Mike's?

[DTBarton]

I've only been to Harris's a couple times and I like Mike's better. But, Mike's is also local to us and doesn't require crossing the Bay Bridge and all the traffic nightmares that can happen on weekends (and weekdays sometimes). Some folks swear by Harris's, some by Cantlers http://www.cantlers.com/ , others by Mike's. I think the bottom line is you can get good crabs at any of them. We went to Mike's for wife's birthday last week and had a nice time. Crabs were good, but a little light, not unexpected for this time of year. September/October is my favorite time to pick crabs, they're heavier and it's not so hot outside.

Keep in mind they are expensive at the crab houses ($65/dozen for large at Mike's last week) so it's definitely more economical to buy them by the bushel (or catch 'em yourself) and do them at home.

[SugarJ]

eh, its a splurge weekend ( my birthday) so the price per dozen is do-able (plus, since were vacationing, we have no bushel buying option and cooking them at home).

it now looks like leonardtown may slip out of the equation so we're going straight to annapolis. Mikes for lunch, then in town for nighttime eating and drinking. A 2 hr boat trip on Sunday, then maybe a stop @ Harris' ...and then home to Philly. if you have anything to say about Annapolis, by all means, don't hold your peace!

What is the Kent Narrows like on Sunday's ? (is that the same as the Bay bridge?)

[DTBarton]

The Bay bridge lands on the west side of Kent island, Kent narrows is the east side.

Annapolis has lots of good restaurants to offer. Anything in particular you're looking for?

Here are two good ones very near to the Marriott courtyard:

http://www.jalapenosonline.com/

http://www.lesfoliesbrasserie.com/

[SugarJ]

The Bay bridge lands on the west side of Kent island, Kent narrows is the east side.

Annapolis has lots of good restaurants to offer.  Anything in particular you're looking for?

Here are two good ones very near to the Marriott courtyard:

http://www.jalapenosonline.com/

http://www.lesfoliesbrasserie.com/

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probably looking for things downtown Annapolis, not too touristy, and probably seafood. i guess anything that is on or near the water is a no-no?

[bavila]

My votes for downtown seafood not-touristy would be (in order of proximity to City Dock):

Yin Yankee

Tsunami

Metropolitan

Metropolitan is my personal favorite, though some are turned off by the NY-sophisticate feel. If you're really up for a splurge, the $75 tasting menu and $35 (I think) accompanying wines are an experience worth the money.

[SugarJ]

thanks bavila! and the Boatyard in Eastport came recommended by a pal too...thoughts? (we're pretty big fans of bars...dives....rum...beer...sailors.)

Yin Yankee looks awesome! ::tucking notes into my notebook of all 3 places:":

[bavila]

I'm a regular at Boatyard too, mainly for Sunday brunch/lunch. In my opinion, it is one of the best values in town comparing price to quality of food and overall experience. It's been voted a top bar for sailors at least twice, yet is clean and bright and a great place to bring kids. They've recently added some seating and a market and new menu items. There were some glitches in timing a few months ago, but everything seems to be smooth sailing now. Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.

And if you're in Eastport, Rockfish has great happy hour specials M-F. We also like them for Sunday brunch (seafood cobb salad my fave -- ask for it if it's not on the brunch menu). There's a jazz ensemble who plays then, but it's definitely pricier than Boatyard.

[SugarJ]

thanks for the all the help. here are the results:

drive to Annapolis from Philly: fine. nothing eventful, Bay bridge traffic going North/East was murder but we were going in the opp direction

Mike's : glad we got there at Noon! it filled up quickly. Service was so friendly, crabs (large or medium, we went for large) were meaty and delicious. We sat for about 2 +hrs picking them, looking at the duckings near the dock, and some carp, i think.. Clams casino - too much breading but clams were whole and a bit too much garlic. NIce big piece of bacon. Frozen drinks , eh, not so good. Tiki bar, not really a Tiki but nice enough.

Courtyard Marriott. friendly, but small rooms.

Annapolis: we walked around and around, window shopped and stopped into Pusser's for a painkiller. Very delicious, very friendly staff and friendly locals and tourists alike.

Water taxi to Eastport where we fell in total love with the Boatyard. Getting there at 6 on a Saturday helped us secure a spot at the bar where we ejoyed smoke mahi-mahi (capers, red onion, sourdough bread) and it was delightful as were the rum and cokes. we didn't have much of an appetite for their glorious menu and its worth a trip back!

thanks all for the recommendations; we did have every intention in fact to make it back to Annapolis after the Boatyard to go to Yin yankee for dinner.....but alas, we were waylayed by rum!