No matter where you are in Maryland, a great seafood spot isn’t far away. The state is well-known for its blue crabs and other seafood goodies like oysters. Whether you’re in Easton, Maryland, or on Kent Island, there are many seafood restaurants to choose from. Let’s take a look at some top spots.
Conrad’s Crabs
You can find Conrad’s locations in four different places northeast of Baltimore City, but only two of the spots are actually restaurants and not just seafood markets. If you’re looking to have delicious local crabs, though, this is the spot. You can order small five-inch crabs or get jumbos that are around seven inches. Conrad’s uses their own seasoning on steamed crabs as well as other crab dishes.
The Point
The Point is located in Arnold, Maryland, and features views of Mill Creek, a Chesapeake Bay estuary. The restaurant is known for its rotating seafood offerings that vary depending on the fresh catch. The crab harvest mostly comes from the Wye or Chester Rivers on the state’s Eastern Shore. The Point uses Maryland’s famous J.O. seasoning in a custom blend. You can get crab in many forms here, including creative ideas like crab gazpacho.
Cantler’s Riverside Inn
Another restaurant located on Mill Creek is Cantler’s Riverside Inn. Tables are set up with rolls of paper towels and J.O.’s crab seasoning, and you might even get to see fresh batches of crabs come in early. With such fresh crabs, it’s no surprise that this is one of the spendier crab houses in the area. However, crabs aren’t the only seafood item available. You can delve into oysters, clams, shrimp, lobster, and much more.
The Kentmorr Beach Bar and Grill
Kentmorr has an excellent view of the Chesapeake and it’s famous for seafood delicacies, including items like Chesapeake pie, seasoned crab dip, and smothered crab tater tots. However, you can get just about any seafood you desire at the restaurant, including rockfish, shrimp, clams, calamari, and much more.
Tyler’s Crab House
Tyler’s is located in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, and it’s definitely a hidden gem. It doesn’t boast amazing views or fancy cocktails; instead, it goes straight to the seafood menu. It’s a small spot that offers some great deals on fresh seafood from local fishers. Come hungry and prepare to practice your crab-picking technique.
Costas Inn
It’s not easy to survive as a restaurant in Baltimore for several decades, but Costas has done just that. The inn has been open since 1971 and is one of the landmark restaurants to visit in Maryland. The steamed crabs are firm and meaty with herbal, salty seasoning. Other menu items include jalapeno crab poppers, creamy crab dip, and crab cakes. Marylanders prefer their crab cakes broiled, but Costas allows you to choose fried if you wish.
This guide only scratches the surface of Maryland’s top seafood restaurants and hidden gems for enjoying Chesapeake Bay’s famous seafood delicacies. There are many more in almost every town you visit.
