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Best of Eastern Shore 2009

Photos By Tony Lewis Jr.

...We're tipping our hats to the best

It was through gut-wrenching research, tireless taste testing, and incessant price shopping that we composed this list of the very best in dining, retail, fitness, and beauty establishments on the Eastern Shore. We pored over ingredient lists, inspected price tags, and tested the limits of employee patience and attentiveness, sacrificing our mental sanity in the process, to be sure you, our loyal readers, would know which dining, retail, and other service-oriented businesses on our side of the Bay Bridge are “the bee’s knees.”

It’s time for us to come clean. These are your selections. You patronized the coffee shops and wine bars from Dorchester to Kent counties. You alerted us to chefs who pushed the limits of flavor combinations and waterfront views that made for a perfect Sunday brunch. We, however, tallied nearly 2,000 of your votes (no repeats allowed) before treating ourselves to a trip to each location, just to see what all the fuss was about—and the winners, as selected by you, did not disappoint!

And so, with the help of our informed readership, we tip our hats to the Best of Eastern Shore 2009.

Food & Dining

Best Sushi. Tucked in the quiet surroundings of the Blue Harbor Marina in Chester, Café Sado (205 Tackle Cir., Chester, 410-604-1688, Cafesado.com) proves the urban sophisticate stereotypes surrounding sushi lovers are things of the past. Owner Tony Wong and his team of accomplished sushi chefs serve fresh and expertly executed specialty rolls, maki rolls, and nigiri pieces in over 46 varieties. The marina below kindly reminds that you haven’t left the Shore.

Best Pizza
Ledo Pizza
110 Kent Landing, Stevensville, 410-643-7979

Best Ice Cream
Scottish Highland Creamery
314 Tilghman St., Oxford, 410-924-6298

Best Local Coffee Shop
Rise Up Coffee
1216 S. Talbot St., St. Michaels, 410-490-8115


Best Pub for a Pint. Known locally as “The Pub,” Washington Street Pub (20 N. Washington St., Easton, 410-822-9011, Wstpub.com) features more than 21 taps with an ever-changing roster of microbrews, imports, and old favorites to satisfy your desire for a barley soda. On a recent visit, the list featured three local breweries: Eastern Shore Brewing (St. Michaels), Fordham (Annapolis), and Oliver’s (Baltimore). Other options ran the beer gamut—from Sierra Nevada and Yeungling to Stella Artois and Bud Light.

Best Sandwiches
Love Point Deli
110 Main St., Stevensville, 410-604-2447

Best Steamed Crabs
Harris Crab House & Seafood Restaurant
425/433 Kent Narrows Way N., Grasonville, 410-827-9500

Best Crab Cake
The Narrows
3023 Kent Narrows Way S., Grasonville, 410-827-8113

Best Crab Soup
The Narrows
3023 Kent Narrows Way S., Grasonville, 410-827-8113

Best Raw Bar (tie)
Jimmie & Sook’s Raw Bar and Grill
421 Race St., Cambridge, 443-225-4115
Harris Crab House & Seafood Restaurant
425/433 Kent Narrows Way N., Grasonville, 410-827-9500

Best Burger
Luke’s Grille
388 Thompson Creek Rd., Stevensville, 410-643-9435

Best Fries
Fisherman’s Inn
3116 Main St., Grasonville, 410-827-8807

Best Cheesesteak
Squisito
2126 DiDonato Dr., Chester, 410-604-2123

Best BBQ
It’s the Pits BBQ & Seafood
226 Shopping Center Rd., Stevensville, 410-604-1991

Best Italian
Rustico Restaurant & Wine Bar
401 Love Point Rd., Stevensville, 410-643-9444

Best French
Bistro Poplar
535 Poplar St., Cambridge, 410-228-4884

Best Mexican/Southwestern
R’s Americantina
410 Thompson Creek Mall, Stevensville, 410-643-7700


Best Outdoor Dining ∙ Best Caterer. A property that’s grace is rivaled only by its history, the Kent Manor Inn (500 Kent Manor Dr., Stevensville, 410-643-7716, kentmanor.com) looks like something out of The Bridges of Madison County. Executive chef William Lackey’s Eastern Shore-influenced take on new American cuisine produces subtle tweaks to longtime favorites, like lump crab-stuffed blue prawns with risotto and prosciutto, or crispy-skinned Chesapeake rockfish served with lobster chorizo bread pudding—just the kind of dishes that seem a perfect experiment when taking on the restaurant’s stunning views of Thompson Creek.

Best Thai
Thai Ki
28 N. Dover St., Easton, 410-822-4910

Best Chinese
Hong Kong Restaurant
148 Kent Landing, Stevensville, 410-643-9337

Best Sushi
Café Sado
205 Tackle Cir., Chester, 410-604-1688

Best Steak House
Annie’s Paramount Steak & Seafood House
500 Kent Narrows Way N., Grasonville, 410-827-7103

Best Seafood
Fisherman’s Inn
3116 Main St., Grasonville, 410-827-8807

Best Scrumptious Desserts
Peace of Cake
314 Love Point Rd., Stevensville, 410-604-0355

Best Cupcake
Peace of Cake
314 Love Point Rd., Stevensville, 410-604-0355

Best Wedding Cake
Peace of Cake
314 Love Point Rd., Stevensville, 410-604-0355

Best Breakfast
Cracker Barrel
115 Blue Jay Ct., Stevensville, 410-643-3841


Best Local Coffee Shop. You’ve undoubtedly driven past it, and if you still haven’t stopped at Rise Up Coffee (1216 S. Talbot St., St. Michaels, 410-430-8144, riseupcoffee.com), you’re doing yourself a real disservice. Owner/operator Tim Cureton opened the drive-thru operation in St. Michaels (and a subsequent location in Salisbury) after returning to the States from a tour of duty in the Peace Corps to sell the highest-quality organic, fair-trade, and shade-grown coffees through environmentally and socially conscious business practices. The folks at Rise Up claim to sell some of the best coffee in the world, and they won’t get any arguments from us.

Best Sunday Brunch
Annie’s Paramount Steak & Seafood House
500 Kent Narrows Way N., Grasonville, 410-827-7103

Best Early Bird Specials
Michael Rork’s Town Dock Restaurant
125 Mulberry St., St. Michaels, 410-745-5577

Best New Restaurant
Ava’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar
409 S. Talbot St., St. Michaels. 410-745-3081


Best French. A sign of the changing face of Cambridge, Bistro Poplar (535 Poplar St., Cambridge, 410-228-4884, bistropoplar.com) changes its traditional French bistro menu seasonally, with chef/owner Ian Campbell focusing on the culinary traditions of Picardy, a coastal region in northern France that, like Dorchester County, is steeped in agriculture and seafood traditions.

Best Outdoor Dining
Kent Manor Inn
500 Kent Manor Dr., Stevensville. 410-643-7716

Best Place to Take the Family
Doc’s Riverside Grille
511 Chesterfield Ave., Centreville, 410-758-1707

Best Place to Take In-Laws
Restaurant Local
101 E. Dover St., Easton, 410-819-8088

Best Romantic Restaurant
Scossa Restaurant & Lounge
8 N. Washington St., Easton, 410-822-2202

Best Dock & Dine
Fisherman’s Crab Deck
3116 Main St., Grasonville, 410-827-6666

Best Hidden Gem
Mitchum’s Steakhouse
4021 Main St., Trappe, 410-476-3902


Best Chef∙ Best Dream Meal ∙ Best Creative Menu. Whether enjoying the elegant atmosphere of the dining room, the comfortably classy confines of the wine bar, or the convenience of the newly unveiled short-order food cart out front, patrons of 208 Talbot Restaurant & Wine Bar (208 N. Talbot St., St. Michaels, 410-745-3838, 208talbot.com) can expect consistently inspired cuisine made with exceptional ingredients from executive chef Brendan Keegan. He and brother-in-law/business partner Brian Fox have reinvigorated this historic location into a fine dining spot, popular with locals and curious destination diners alike.

Best Place to Meet Singles
The Jetty Restaurant & Dock Bar
201 Wells Cove Rd., Grasonville, 410-827-4959

Best Creative Menu
208 Talbot Restaurant & Wine Bar
208 N. Talbot St., St. Michaels, 410-745-3838

Best Use of Local Ingredients
Two Tree Restaurant
401 Cypress St., Millington, 410-928-5887

Best Chef
Brendan Keegan – 208 Talbot Restaurant & Wine Bar
208 N. Talbot St., St. Michaels, 410-745-3838

Best Wait Staff ∙ Best Dock & Dine ∙ Best Seafood ∙ Best Fries. As you likely already know, Eastern Shore institution Fisherman’s Inn & Crab Deck (3116 Main St., Grasonville, 410-827-8807 [Inn] and 410-827-6666 [Crab Deck], Fishermansinn.com) is two must-visit restaurants wrapped into one seafood-loving “village.” The Crab Deck brings boaters from up and down both shores of the Bay to its festive waterfront dining area, with heaping piles of steamed crabs and ice-cold beers and specialty drinks. The Inn is an expansive dining area with wraparound windows that allow full views of the water from every table and serving honestly crafted Chesapeake favorites. The smiling wait staff upholds this family affair’s stellar reputation, which reaches back more than 70 years.

Best Caterer
Kent Manor Inn
500 Kent Manor Dr., Stevensville, 410-643-7716

Best Happy Hour
Rams Head Shore House
800 Main St., Stevensville, 410-643-2466

Best Wine List
Lisa’s Small Plates & Wine Bar
1235 Shopping Center Rd., Stevensville, 410-604-2550

Best Pub for a Pint
Washington Street Pub
20 N. Washington St., Easton, 410-822-9011


Best Hidden Gem. Away from vacationers in St. Michaels, the bridge traffic on Kent Island, and relatively sizable populations of Easton, Cambridge, and Chestertown, the quiet Eastern Shore enclave of Trappe is home to one of the region’s finest restaurants. Mitchum’s Steakhouse (4021 Main St., Trappe, 410-476-3902, Mitchumssteakhouse.com), so named after Hollywood star Robert Mitchum, who owned a farm in Trappe, couldn’t be a more authentic New York steak house if it was located on the Upper East Side. Flawless cuts of meat are precisely cooked to temperature and served in a swank dining area. No matter how you take your steak, this place is well-done.

Best Draught Selection
Rams Head Shore House
800 Main St., Stevensville, 410-643-2466

Best Martini
Martinis
14 N. Washington St., Easton, 410-820-4100

Best Place to Hear Local Music
The Jetty Restaurant & Dock Bar
201 Wells Cove Rd., Grasonville, 410-827-4959

Best Specialty Grocer
Railway Market
108 Marlboro Ave., Easton, 410-822-4852

Health & Beauty

Best Gym
Island Athletic Club
448 Kent Narrows Way N., Grasonville, 410-827-5527

Best Place for a Makeover
Swan Cove Day Spa & Salon
102 E. Main St., Stevensville, 410-604-1500

Best Massage
Balance Therapeutics
102 St. Claire Pl., Stevensville, 443-249-3319

Best Manicure/Pedicure
Swan Cove Day Spa & Salon
102 E. Main St., Stevensville, 410-604-1500

Best Day Spa
Swan Cove Day Spa & Salon
102 E. Main St., Stevensville, 410-604-1500

Best Eyebrows
Swan Cove Day Spa & Salon
102 E. Main St., Stevensville, 410-604-1500

Retail & Shopping

Best Fine Jewelry
Paula’s Fine Jewelry
1607 Postal Rd., Chester, 410-643-8040

Best Boutique
An Optical Galleria
111 W. Water St., Centreville, 443-262-9415


Best Unique Gifts. Self-billed as the “Museum of Waterfowling Artifacts,” Chesapeake Classics (317 High St., Cambridge, 410-228-6509, Chesapeake-classics.com) is a combination retail store and museum featuring decoys from artists of Maryland, Virginia, Canada, and New Jersey in a collection of waterfowling art that is said to be one of the nation’s largest. The 2,500-square-foot store also features collections of fishing lures, duck calls, and other forms of hunting and fishing collectibles. It’s a treat for the curious shopper, outdoor enthusiast, or patron of the arts.

Best Customer Service
Swan Cove Day Spa & Salon
102 E. Main St., Stevensville, 410-604-1500

Tip your hat to our winners on June 23 at the Best of Annapolis & Eastern Shore Party at Loews Annapolis Hotel. Click the banner below!

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