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Ok, I am starting to see the annual rounds of where-to-eat-Annapolis-during-CVW/visit/I-Day etc., so I am creating a fresh thread with an easily searchable title. There are dozens of posts stashed in various threads, but not necessarily obvious. There was recently a great string of posts about breakfast places, in a Patriot League Swimming thread. Since sometimes I am great at remembering where these posts are, or search well, and sometimes not, I will just go for the pile into the bus approach.
I started a "Hotels Annapolis" and "USNA Parents Club" threads with the same approach, so with any luck they will pop up with logical search terms.
Some of these are on Open Table. Given the reverence paid to crab in this area, whether crab cake or crab bisque or whatever stuffed with crab, assume the crab items are good. A restaurant quickly fails if it doesn't do crab well. Most will have websites for further research. There are A LOT of choices. I have used a rough geographical approach. I look forward to all the posts. I live here, and always enjoy trying a place I have overlooked.
To seed the thread with a few choices in each area:
ON THE YARD.
Drydock, in Dahlgren Hall.
Grill and snack bar open to public. Good basics much cheaper than outside the gates.
Club.
Lunch and brunch, some dinners. Not sure what rules are for using. I am usually there for wedding/funeral receptions.
DTA (DOWNTOWN ANNAPOLIS):
Iron Rooster.
Universal favorite, just a few years in DTA, beloved by locals, visitors and mids. American comfort food done with style and quality. All-day breakfast. House-made pop tarts. Don't ask. Just go.
Buddy's Crabs and Ribs.
Perennial brunch favorite for lots of food and cheaper end of the spectrum.
Federal House.
Good all-around restaurant.
McGarvey's.
Raw bar for those who like it. Long-time Annapolis watering hole for boat people. Good all-around menu.
Middleton's.
Colonial tavern, more upscale menu.
Chick 'N' Ruth's Delly. (they spell it that way)
Annapolis institution. An experience.
Potato Valley.
On State Circle. Hole in the wall for lunch, serving huge baked potatoes with a wide range of toppings that make it a meal.
Pusser's Tavern.
Marriott Hotel restaurant on the water. Typical pricey hotel food, but for a drink on the water and an appetizer, a block to check. There's just something about having a Dark and Stormy on the deck on a summer evening looking out at the boats at anchor that I have to do every so often with DH.
Galway Bay
Castle Bay
the Irish pubs.
Reynolds Tavern.
Another Colonial setting, on Church Circle. Known for afternoon tea and nice dinners.
The Big Cheese.
Well-known for great take-out sandwiches, "Best in Annapolis" for years running. A bit expensive but worth it. Take-out only. You can set up a charge account for your mids. You pay. They eat. "The Annapolitan" - crusty roll from Baltimore's Little Italy, melted Brie, sliced Granny Smith apples. Mmmm
UPTOWN ANNAPOLIS. Along West St. from State Circle to the Spa Road Circle near the Westin.
Ram's Head Tavern.
Micro-brewery gastro pub. A local favorite. Good all-round menu.
Level.
Small plates, very good food.
Red, Red Wine Bar.
Good food too.
Lemongrass.
Thai. Very popular.
Fadò.
Irish pub chain.
Miss Shirley's.
A breakfast/lunch favorite to rival Iron Rooster. Started in Baltimore.
MALL AREA. Includes Westfield Shoppingtown Annapolis ("Annapolis Mall") , the Festival at Riva and The Shops at Parole.
Most of the major chains at every price point.
GREATER ANNAPOLIS AND SURROUNDS.
Cantler's.
Perennial favorite of generations of locals, mids, alumni. Classic crab deck on the water. No reservations. Tuck your napkin around your neck, spread out the butcher paper, grab your crab mallet, and get cracking. All crab decks have burgers, sandwiches, seafood in season, other stuff.
Deep Creek Cafe.
Similar to Cantler's, crab deck on the water. In Arnold.
Mike's on the South River.
Technically in Riva. Another classic old-school crab deck.
Severn Inn.
Upscale place across the water on the Severn River, great view of USNA. Seafood.
Pa Dutch Market, or Amish Market, as most locals call it.
A market co-op only open Thurs, Fri, Sat, run by Amish families from PA. Everything homemade. Eat breakfast, lunch or dinner in the small cafe. Get a just made pretzel wrapped around a sausage or hot dog to eat while wandering around looking at the baked goods (made on premises in an open bakery), produce, pickles and jams, and the meat counters. Always jammed on Sat AM. We love it. Our visitors love it.
Chris' Charcoal Pit.
Hole-in-the-wall in strip mall with Greek food. Many Greek families in Annapolis from the fishing and boating industries going back to the 1800's. West St.
Paul's Homewood Cafe.
Nice Greek restaurant, local favorite. West St.
Giolitti's Deli.
Near Shops at Parole, off West St. My favorite Italian deli for subs on homemade rolls, and hand made pasta. Take out or eat there. Been there for 20+ years.
Mission BBQ.
Local chain spreading rapidly. BBQ is always a source of controversy, as it should be. Dedicated to armed forces and first responders.
Double T Diner.
West St. Starving? Weird time of day? Want breakfast food? Everybody wants something different? Classic diner with massive menu. Open 24 hours.
EASTPORT.
Across the tiny bridge near the Marriott.
Chart House.
A personal favorite. Located in an historic boathouse that built PT boats during WW II. Upscale steak and seafood chain with killer views across the Annapolis Harbor to USNA.
Carrol's Creek Cafe.
Views. Upscale. Seafood.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. The chain.
Lewnes' Steakhouse.
An Annapolis original, same scale as Ruth's, but with been-there-forever charm. Go at least once, to celebrate something.
Over to you!
I started a "Hotels Annapolis" and "USNA Parents Club" threads with the same approach, so with any luck they will pop up with logical search terms.
Some of these are on Open Table. Given the reverence paid to crab in this area, whether crab cake or crab bisque or whatever stuffed with crab, assume the crab items are good. A restaurant quickly fails if it doesn't do crab well. Most will have websites for further research. There are A LOT of choices. I have used a rough geographical approach. I look forward to all the posts. I live here, and always enjoy trying a place I have overlooked.
To seed the thread with a few choices in each area:
ON THE YARD.
Drydock, in Dahlgren Hall.
Grill and snack bar open to public. Good basics much cheaper than outside the gates.
Club.
Lunch and brunch, some dinners. Not sure what rules are for using. I am usually there for wedding/funeral receptions.
DTA (DOWNTOWN ANNAPOLIS):
Iron Rooster.
Universal favorite, just a few years in DTA, beloved by locals, visitors and mids. American comfort food done with style and quality. All-day breakfast. House-made pop tarts. Don't ask. Just go.
Buddy's Crabs and Ribs.
Perennial brunch favorite for lots of food and cheaper end of the spectrum.
Federal House.
Good all-around restaurant.
McGarvey's.
Raw bar for those who like it. Long-time Annapolis watering hole for boat people. Good all-around menu.
Middleton's.
Colonial tavern, more upscale menu.
Chick 'N' Ruth's Delly. (they spell it that way)
Annapolis institution. An experience.
Potato Valley.
On State Circle. Hole in the wall for lunch, serving huge baked potatoes with a wide range of toppings that make it a meal.
Pusser's Tavern.
Marriott Hotel restaurant on the water. Typical pricey hotel food, but for a drink on the water and an appetizer, a block to check. There's just something about having a Dark and Stormy on the deck on a summer evening looking out at the boats at anchor that I have to do every so often with DH.
Galway Bay
Castle Bay
the Irish pubs.
Reynolds Tavern.
Another Colonial setting, on Church Circle. Known for afternoon tea and nice dinners.
The Big Cheese.
Well-known for great take-out sandwiches, "Best in Annapolis" for years running. A bit expensive but worth it. Take-out only. You can set up a charge account for your mids. You pay. They eat. "The Annapolitan" - crusty roll from Baltimore's Little Italy, melted Brie, sliced Granny Smith apples. Mmmm
UPTOWN ANNAPOLIS. Along West St. from State Circle to the Spa Road Circle near the Westin.
Ram's Head Tavern.
Micro-brewery gastro pub. A local favorite. Good all-round menu.
Level.
Small plates, very good food.
Red, Red Wine Bar.
Good food too.
Lemongrass.
Thai. Very popular.
Fadò.
Irish pub chain.
Miss Shirley's.
A breakfast/lunch favorite to rival Iron Rooster. Started in Baltimore.
MALL AREA. Includes Westfield Shoppingtown Annapolis ("Annapolis Mall") , the Festival at Riva and The Shops at Parole.
Most of the major chains at every price point.
GREATER ANNAPOLIS AND SURROUNDS.
Cantler's.
Perennial favorite of generations of locals, mids, alumni. Classic crab deck on the water. No reservations. Tuck your napkin around your neck, spread out the butcher paper, grab your crab mallet, and get cracking. All crab decks have burgers, sandwiches, seafood in season, other stuff.
Deep Creek Cafe.
Similar to Cantler's, crab deck on the water. In Arnold.
Mike's on the South River.
Technically in Riva. Another classic old-school crab deck.
Severn Inn.
Upscale place across the water on the Severn River, great view of USNA. Seafood.
Pa Dutch Market, or Amish Market, as most locals call it.
A market co-op only open Thurs, Fri, Sat, run by Amish families from PA. Everything homemade. Eat breakfast, lunch or dinner in the small cafe. Get a just made pretzel wrapped around a sausage or hot dog to eat while wandering around looking at the baked goods (made on premises in an open bakery), produce, pickles and jams, and the meat counters. Always jammed on Sat AM. We love it. Our visitors love it.
Chris' Charcoal Pit.
Hole-in-the-wall in strip mall with Greek food. Many Greek families in Annapolis from the fishing and boating industries going back to the 1800's. West St.
Paul's Homewood Cafe.
Nice Greek restaurant, local favorite. West St.
Giolitti's Deli.
Near Shops at Parole, off West St. My favorite Italian deli for subs on homemade rolls, and hand made pasta. Take out or eat there. Been there for 20+ years.
Mission BBQ.
Local chain spreading rapidly. BBQ is always a source of controversy, as it should be. Dedicated to armed forces and first responders.
Double T Diner.
West St. Starving? Weird time of day? Want breakfast food? Everybody wants something different? Classic diner with massive menu. Open 24 hours.
EASTPORT.
Across the tiny bridge near the Marriott.
Chart House.
A personal favorite. Located in an historic boathouse that built PT boats during WW II. Upscale steak and seafood chain with killer views across the Annapolis Harbor to USNA.
Carrol's Creek Cafe.
Views. Upscale. Seafood.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. The chain.
Lewnes' Steakhouse.
An Annapolis original, same scale as Ruth's, but with been-there-forever charm. Go at least once, to celebrate something.
Over to you!
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