USNA VISIT

Thanks all.
I have a cheap rental, but is it easier to uber from hotel (4-5 miles away) or park nearby? the website shows Noah Hillman garage? Any idea the all-day cost on a Friday? Or the football stadium, which looking at sat might be free due to non-use but not much closer than walking from hotel...

Also, if there was one local establishment to take him for crabcakes (assuming that is a must in MD?) which local place would be good to get the non-touristy feel?

The Hillman garage is the closest city garage, easy walk over to visitor entrance at Gate 1 - $20 max for the day. See rates below.

There are metered spots that are closer, but I don’t know the max time window. The free street parking is definitely time limited, and closely watched by Annapolis parking enforcement.

Annapolis at this time of year is relatively easy to navigate - no boat show, no football, no Commissioning, no other large USNA events.

Crab cakes. A restaurant can’t stay open long in Maryland, especially Annapolis or Baltimore, without offering quality crab cakes,crab dip, crab chowder. The crab cakes have to be generous in size, with minimal filler and bursting with lump crab, served either broiled or fried in butter, with the proper amount of Old Bay. Soft shell crabs in season served by the bucket, to your table covered with newspaper, oh my.

There are many local favorites. In DTA, Downtown Annapolis, McGarvey’s (also has a raw bar with all kinds of shellfish), Buddy’s, and many long-established places offer a respectable crab cake. See Trip Advisor list below.

If you want the full old-school crab deck on the water restaurant type of experience, Cantler’s is a place that people return to again and again over the years. It’s set right on the water, a little bit hard to find, beloved by locals and USNA Alumni. There are other “hidden gem” crab deck type places around Annapolis, over on the Eastern shore and up near Baltimore, but I and other locals will dole those out periodically. The crab deck houses offer the full Maryland seafood experience. The restaurants will usually offer the chowder, the crab dip and a crab cake sandwich or platter.

 
I have never liked crab, lobster, crayfish, shrimp, or other bottom-feeders.
Sorry East-Coasters! I know that's Wicked Haaaad Coaaar, but I think they're disgusting. :(
 
There are many local favorites. In DTA, Downtown Annapolis, McGarvey’s (also has a raw bar with all kinds of shellfish), Buddy’s, and many long-established places offer a respectable crab cake. See Trip Advisor list below.

If you want the full old-school crab deck on the water restaurant type of experience, Cantler’s is a place that people return to again and again over the years. It’s set right on the water, a little bit hard to find, beloved by locals and USNA Alumni. There are other “hidden gem” crab deck type places around Annapolis, over on the Eastern shore and up near Baltimore, but I and other locals will dole those out periodically. The crab deck houses offer the full Maryland seafood experience. The restaurants will usually offer the chowder, the crab dip and a crab cake sandwich or platter.


Awesome...
I will have to wait on the full experience until I am up (hopefully) with wife. For just DS and I, the Buddys menu sounds good. I just dont want to go to a chain I could go in any town.

Thanks
 
We had a McCormick and Schmick’s in town for a few years. Perfectly fine upscale chain for seafood. No one went. If you were a visitor, you wanted waterfront Annapolis flavor. If you were local, why go to the Mall?
 
A restaurant can’t stay open long in Maryland, especially Annapolis or Baltimore, without offering quality crab cakes,crab dip, crab chowder. [/URL]
No love for the She-Crab Soup?
 
We had a McCormick and Schmick’s in town for a few years. Perfectly fine upscale chain for seafood. No one went. If you were a visitor, you wanted waterfront Annapolis flavor. If you were local, why go to the Mall?
Yeah, Legal Seafood on the City Dock was another chain that didn't last in Naptown
 
No love for the She-Crab Soup?

For whatever reason, not an item I go for, but definitely in the crab pantheon. Thank you for bringing it in. [emoji886]
 
Yeah, Legal Seafood on the City Dock was another chain that didn't last in Naptown

Legal Seafood - great everywhere else except head to head in a waterfront town.
 
although another chain, Chart House, is doing just fine on the water in Eastport. for a fancy, jr prom sort of dinner, it's my go to place in Annap

my favorite tavern type spot was always Riordan's, but sadly gone now - home of the best crab dip. Site of the current Federal House
 
For whatever reason, not an item I go for, but definitely in the crab pantheon. Thank you for bringing it in. [emoji886]
I actually prefer crab chowder when I can find it to the she-crab soup. Of course crab cakes and crab dip are even better.
I actually didn't learn the full crab experience while a mid. . . travels with my Ensign roommate/best friend/team capt/etc exposed me
to more of the crabby side of life.
 
although another chain, Chart House, is doing just fine on the water in Eastport. for a fancy, jr prom sort of dinner, it's my go to place in Annap

my favorite tavern type spot was always Riordan's, but sadly gone now - home of the best crab dip. Site of the current Federal House
Mike Riordan was one hell of a basketball player and used to welcome folks to his place back in the day.
 
Annapolis is great for crab, but you need to wait till you get to Pensacola for the full crawdad experience - Saturday afternoons at the FloraBama are epic
 
Annapolis is great for crab, but you need to wait till you get to Pensacola for the full crawdad experience - Saturday afternoons at the FloraBama are epic

Gonna hit Pensacola for Navy National JROTC meet in April. I will check it out
 
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You guys are stir’n up some serious hunger .... I think it’s gonna be a Pork butt for the crock pot tomorrow night, or a half brisket outside on the grill Saturday morning.
.
 
Speaking of crab, I find it amusing that there’s a place called Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls right in the center of Naptown — smack in the middle of crab country. I adore lobster rolls, but fully associate them with New England, particularly Maine. So it’s odd to expect seafood lovers to opt for lobster rolls along the Chesapeake, knowing that’s not the freshest, most indigenous stuff you can buy. I’m guessing the people who go in are out-of-towners, or just don’t know better.
 
Speaking of crab, I find it amusing that there’s a place called Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls right in the center of Naptown — smack in the middle of crab country. I adore lobster rolls, but fully associate them with New England, particularly Maine. So it’s odd to expect seafood lovers to opt for lobster rolls along the Chesapeake, knowing that’s not the freshest, most indigenous stuff you can buy. I’m guessing the people who go in are out-of-towners, or just don’t know better.

[emoji137]‍♀️guilty! But still delish. And stuff you cannot even get *good or bad* where I live.

Side note: we ordered soft shell crabs for the first time at Buddy’s and no one liked them. What’s the deal with those? We are all seafood lovers but didn’t eat it and ordered something different.
 
Chick and Ruth’s
We loved that place. DS really wanted to try the 6lb shake challenge. Sometimes parents do need to intervene in Annapolis.

The school was amazing to see. The more he sees the more he really wants to go...
 
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