For the best al fresco dining in Anne Arundel County, off the beaten path, Baltimore Banner’s insider Robin Daumit is going to tell you all about them.
Freelance Writer For The Baltimore Banner
If you subscribe to The Baltimore Banner, the full story can be found here. If you do not live in and around the Baltimore area, I store my freelance stories here for you to catch up on.
Having lived in and around the Annapolis area for many decades, I’ve watched a small town of multicultural families and immigrants grow this town into the chic east coast hub that it is now.
Imagine my enthusiasm when I was asked, by The Baltimore Banner, if I would contribute food and drink related stories from around Anne Arundel County as a freelance writer.
And so it is with great pleasure for me to tell you about al fresco dining, the time of year when outdoor cafes are vibrant, boaters are docking for some great food, and hidden gems you can only know about if you are a true Annapolitan, can tell you about.
When The Urge For Al Fresco Dining Kicks In
When the urge to dine al fresco in Anne Arundel County kicks in, it is easy to gravitate to the obvious places – many of them along the Annapolis waterfront, including Pusser’s Caribbean Grille, Blackwall Hitch and Carrol’s Creek Cafe.
This is a pity because the county has so many other places to enjoy a leisurely outdoor meal that are off the beaten path and just as good.
Here are two waterfront dining experiences away from the crowds of downtown Annapolis, and two gems tucked within bustling neighborhoods most tourists won’t know about.
Pirates Cove – 4817 Riverside Dr. Galesville
Head south of Annapolis about 14 miles to the historic village of Galesville, a village that dates back to the mid-17th century, to find a gem on the West River.
While Pirates Cove Restaurant was first established in 1960 in what was already a vibrant yacht and sailing hub on the West River, it was Bob Platt, former owner of Mums Restaurant at the city dock of Annapolis, who in 1984 created the Pirates Cove we know today.
He no longer owns the restaurant, having sold it in 2015, but it still has his influence, having received its first remake as a fine dining restaurant, from the boaters pub it was most known for.
Slip away for a couples dinner in the Dock Bar and dining area while listening to live music or halyards smacking against yacht masts in the evening breeze.
Or nestle into their large dining pier with friends and family for a seafood dinner, or simply to watch the sunset.
They also serve traditional land fare such as liver and onions and several chicken options. I also suggest the Irish-bred Dexter cattle burger or the traditional fish and chips platter.
There is plenty of parking and boaters can call ahead for a nightly dock rental.
Harper’s Waterfront – 1107 Turkey Point Road, Edgewater
New on the scene to the historic area of Turkey Point, a small island 12 miles south of Annapolis, Harpers Waterfront is an eatery with a wow-factor. It is every bit as chic and modern as a big city restaurant.
Owner Todd Harper has been around in the food industry for many years with a casual dining nightclub, living all the while with big dreams of opening a more upscale casual dining restaurant on the water. Friend and chef, Brian Thornton, helped him bring this dream to life.
Come to Turkey Point for dining on the deck, where you’ll often feel a summer breeze. Try a sharable platter of drunken mussels and pickled deviled eggs paired with a refreshing Sonoma chardonnay. Or try a Wagyu burger piled high and perfectly seared with an appropriate bottle of red.
With plenty of parking and endless inspirational views of tranquil marina life from the second story deck, it is easy to imagine the days when steamboats once plied these waters to escape the bustle of city life. The modern design and stylishly furnished ambiance of Harper’s has convenient elevator access directly from the parking area to the restaurant and free first-come dockage for restaurant patrons.
Chessie’s Wharf – 609 Melvin Avenue Annapolis
The newly-opened Chessie’s Wharf in West Annapolis, just two blocks from the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, is no stranger to the craft beer movement, as its Cambridge brewery has been around since 2013.
With over 38 impressive draft beers to choose from in its Annapolis tap room, the place to be March through October is outside on their beautifully designed, covered, fresh air dining deck with solid wood picnic-style tables. The outdoor heating system means cozy outside dining even in cool March temperatures.
Dishes to try include the lobster, the Chessie Chop – a shaved ribeye with peppers and onions – and the scrumptious beer cheese on a sub roll, served with a richly flavored India pale ale and a Bucktown brown ale. The food and drink were so good here that I came back for a second time and tried the restaurant’s award-winning crab cake, along with an American blonde ale and a double IPA. It was a delightful experience.
The al fresco dining experience here is spacious with a setting sure to make you feel as though you are relaxing on your own deck in your own backyard. And if you aren’t a beer drinker, no worries, Chessie’s Wharf has several fun mocktails to choose from.
Forward Brewing – 418 Fourth Street, Annapolis
Forward Brewing and Restaurant is the only on-premise brewery in Annapolis, tucked into the neighborhood streets of historic Eastport, in what was once a family home for 30 years. Claire and Cam Bowdren, who met up at another iconic Eastport restaurant, Vin 909, own the property and converted it.
The brewery has become a place where locals and visitors can gather for the perfect brew and a casual meal outdoors on the front porch or a second outdoor seating area that seats 50.
Forward’s approach is to serve ethical and local ingredients throughout their seasonally changing menu. They are also one of the few restaurants in Annapolis certified by the Maryland Department of Agriculture to serve only freshly harvested crabs.
For beer connoisseurs, there’s an impressive collection. A specially created brew designed earlier in the spring, Oak and Stone, is a light German style lager conditioned while fermenting on toasted French oak staves. It boasts vanilla oaky qualities. There are also kettle sours for the summer, a honey brown ale, dark beers with dark chocolate and Maryland-grown hops.
The food isn’t bad either: homemade pretzels, pretzel pizza, rockfish ceviche, smoked fish spread, and tacos of many varieties.
If a “real” experience of dining outdoors is what you’re after, Forward Brewing has a 1.5-hour excursion on their 30-foot, six-passenger crab boat that comes with a pack of Forward beer and a Snackle box of snacks.
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.