Where to Eat and Drink in Dorchester County, Maryland

About an hour and 40 minutes from both Baltimore and Washington D.C., Dorchester County is located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It’s Maryland’s second largest county by land but second smallest by population. While it tends to be overshadowed by its louder and more popular Eastern Shore neighbor, Ocean City in Worcester County, Dorchester County shouldn’t be overlooked.

My mother and I recently spent a weekend there and we both fell in love with its quaint neighborhoods, rich history and relaxing feel.  However, Dorchester’s food and drink scene alone makes it worth checking out for a night’s stay on your way to or from other Eastern Shore locales, or a weekend getaway all on its own.  I can personally attest that you’ll enjoy every bite or sip at the places listed below.

Where to Eat

BREAKFAST

The High Spot

The High Spot (305 High St, Cambridge, MD 21613) is a popular gastropub, located right in the heart of downtown Cambridge.  Owned and operated by Chef Patrick Fanning, brunch here is an absolute must as they serve fresh, local foods.  For starters, I tried their amazing pumpkin, chocolate, and streusel pastries.  All of the breads and pastries served are made fresh daily at their sister restaurant, Black Water.

Next I sampled their chocolate french toast made using Israeli Babka bread and battered in cinnamon whiskey.  It was so delicious and fresh! And for an added pop, I tried the french toast with a little goat cheese.  I was happily stuffed by the time we finished.

LUNCH

The Wine Bar

Located in downtown Cambridge, The Wine Bar (414 Race St, Cambridge, MD 21613) opened its doors about 13 years ago.  They offer a vast selection of domestic and international wines, cheeses, charcuterie and sushi that you can either sit and enjoy or take home.

The Wine Bar also sells an array of chocolate treats from Asher’s Chocolate in Pennsylvania, as this is the owner’s hometown. The staff at The Wine Bar provided excellent guidance and recommendations about what to sample.  I am still obsessing over the Cotswold cheese that I tried and fell in love with here.

DINNER

Jimmie & Sook’s Raw Bar & Grill

In the mood for seafood? Jimmie and Sook’s (527 Poplar St, Cambridge, MD 21613) is the place to go! Named for male crabs (Jimmies) and female crabs (Sooks), this was some of the freshest seafood I’ve ever had.  I am still licking my fingers over their delicious crab soup, rockfish and desserts (and so is my mom!).

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Cream of Crab Soup
Walnut encrusted rockfish, cheddar grits and baked sweet potato
Crab stuffed rockfish with cheddar grits and steamed broccoli
Dessert Tray

I loved the atmosphere here.  Jimmie & Sook’s is a place to go for a nice, casual dinner with friends, family or significant other.  They also have a live band on Saturday nights starting at 10 p.m. if you want to keep the party going. And if you’re ever in Belize, visit the their sister restaurant, Wet Willie’s Dock.

Where to Drink

BEER

RAR Brewery

Started by two friends and Dorchester County natives in 2013, RAR Brewery (504 Poplar St, Cambridge, MD 21613) brews its own beers in house.  They converted an 80-year-old former pool hall and bowling alley into a brewery where they brew 10 barrels at a time.  While they’ve been on tap at some of your favorite Baltimore and D.C. restaurants for some time, RAR has recently began a canning operation so they’re now distributed at retail stores throughout Maryland and D.C.

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I sampled each of the beers they currently offer and there’s something for both dark and light beer drinkers.  My favorite was ‘Big Lizz,’ the butternut squash seasonal ale, but each of the beers offered was distinctly different. RAR describes each of their beers perfectly, so it’ll be easy for you to decide what you want…that’s if you decide not to try them all, which I highly recommend!

This is by far one of the coolest places in Dorchester County.  RAR also serves finger foods (because you can’t drink on an empty stomach…duh) if you want to sit and watch a game or hang out with friends. On most Saturday nights, they have a live band for entertainment.  I can see RAR serving as the center of nightlife as Dorchester County continues expanding its tourism offerings.

WINE

Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery

Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery (4225 New Bridge Rd, Vienna, MD 21869) is a family owned and operated winery in Vienna, MD, about a 20 minute drive from Cambridge.  Their motto is “We work like crazy, so our guests can be lazy.”

During my visit, Layton’s Chance was hosting their annual Harvest Festival with many activities for the entire family.  There was wine tasting, pumpkin picking, grape stomping, a live DJ for dancing and vendors where you could buy various items such as jewelry and handmade soaps.

Before planting grapes in 2005, the family used the farm to run a successful grain operation.  In order to expand their business, the Layton family decided to start a vineyard and haven’t looked back since.  Layton’s Chance wines are currently sold in 150 retail outlets in Maryland and shipped to over 13 states.  Offering white, red and fruit wines in sixteen varieties, ‘Turbo Charged Joe’s Cool Red’ is their most popular and happened to be my favorite, at 18% alcohol.

Honorable Mentions

I didn’t get a chance to try these places, but I’ve only heard good things. Give them a try if you have time:

• Stoked Wood Fired Eatery (Pizza)
• Bistro Poplar (French Fine Dining)
• Snappers Waterfront Cafe (Seafood)
• Portside Seafood Restaurant (Seafood)
• Surfside Sally’s (Seafood)
• Old Salty’s Restaurant (Seafood)

I was pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed exploring Dorchester County through their local foods and spirits.  I highly recommend spending a night or making a weekend out of seeing all that Dorchester County has to offer.

While this trip was hosted by Dorchester County Tourism, all opinions are my own. 

6 Reasons Annapolis is a Great Getaway

I recently went on a day trip to Annapolis with the #DCTravelBlogger crew. While I’m from Baltimore and have been to Annapolis before, I must admit, I have never really explored the whole city.  However, after my day trip, I have a new appreciation for what Annapolis offers.

I know what you’re thinking.  Annapolis is sort of out of the way from Baltimore and D.C.  It’s not a major city.  There’s nothing to do or worth seeing. Guess what? You’re wrong!

I enjoyed my day trip to Annapolis so much that by the end of this post, you’ll want to go visit for yourself.  For real!  Here’s why:

1. You’ll learn lots about American History.

Upon arrival, we took a trolley tour around the city and learned so much about the history of both Annapolis and Maryland.  Here are some fun facts I learned:

• The Naval Academy has its own zip code and Jimmy Carter is the only President who has graduated from there.
• 4 signers of the Declaration of Independence were from Maryland.
• Maryland has the only state flag with a coat of arms on it.
• Annapolis is in its 366th year of recorded history.
• The Banneker-Douglass Museum is located here and it’s Maryland’s official museum of African American heritage.
• Annapolis was used as a stop during the slave trade. There’s a statue of Alex Haley reading to children to commemorate his book Roots. The book tells the story of his lineage, which began with his ancestor, Kunta Kinte, being brought from Africa to Annapolis (I knew this but I’m glad it was mentioned on the tour, so I’m making sure you know now too!).

Pretty cool, right?  I highly suggest the trolley tour not only for history nerds (like me), but for people who want to see the city in its entirety. Pick up the trolley right at the Visitors Center and you can map out your day once you get the lay of the land.

2. The neighborhoods are charming.

The neighborhoods are so quaint and charming.  Because I live in D.C., Annapolis was a nice change of pace from the every day hustle and bustle. I was able to stroll at my leisure and enjoy the scenery.  Main Street is filled with various shops and restaurants to explore.  And while Annapolis is filled with tons of history, you aren’t overwhelmed with feeling like you’re back in 1776.

3. There are plenty of amazing places to eat…

For lunch, we ate at Galway Bay Irish Pub, famous for their egg nog imported straight from Ireland. We sampled it and honestly, it’s probably the best egg nog I’ve ever had.  And I am an egg nog connoisseur.  Their food menu offers not only traditional Irish foods but plenty of seafood dishes. After all, you are in Annapolis.

Between lunch and dinner, I stopped by Annapolis Ice Cream Company. When I spotted it on Main Street, I couldn’t believe there was a line outside the door!  My friend has raved to me about it before so I knew I had to try it for myself.  Fortunately, the line moved quickly. And their homemade chocolate-chocolate chip ice cream was worth the wait.

I highly recommend Carrol’s Creek Cafe for dinner.  It offers an amazing view of the harbor, the food was delicious and the service was impeccable, even with our large group.

4. …and plenty of places to drink, too!

If you want to sample the local wines, Great Frogs Winery is a great place to do it.  We tried their estate and dessert wines that were perfectly paired with cheese (one even from a local producer), dried fruit and almonds.

How beautiful is the property?  We took a tour of the vineyards as well as their storage areas.  I love a good winery tour!

A friend told me to also stop by Red Red Wine Bar.  I didn’t get a chance to go during this trip, but there’s always next time.

5. There’s water, water everywhere.

Water is the city’s best backdrop.  It’s everywhere and you can’t help but to feel relaxed near it.

I suggest taking a water cruise, which gives you more city history (and there’s full bar service!).  But if you don’t have an hour for that, make sure you at least take a water taxi.  The taxi doesn’t have a set route, so it will take you wherever you want to go – everywhere that’s water accessible, of course, which is pretty much everywhere.

6. It’s family-friendly…or not.

I saw plenty of families spending the day in Annapolis.  But I also saw lots of singles and couples. Spending the day in Annapolis makes a great day date with friends or overnight stay for significant others.

Whether you want to make it a day trip or an overnight stay, Annapolis is a great way to learn more American history and to get a reprieve from city life. If you’re visiting Baltimore or D.C., make time for Annapolis only 45 minutes away.  I thoroughly enjoyed my day trip and plan on spending more time there in the very near future.

Now, don’t you wanna go?!  Told ya!  Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

By the way, I took the picture above with my new Pocket Click Stick.  I finally gave in to the selfie stick craze and it definitely comes in handy! It extended up to 26 inches so I could get the perfect picture, but fit right back into my bag when I was finished.  You know you want one.  You’ll need it during your visit to Annapolis!  Get yours here.

Photo Credit: Ashlee Tuck, Susan Steckman