8 Maryland Seafood Spots Locals Would Never Choose & 8 Visitors Rave About
Maryland is practically synonymous with blue crabs, but let’s be real – not every spot serving them lives up to the hype.
Ask a local, and they’ll tell you exactly which crab houses capture the true Chesapeake taste and which ones are just cashing in on unsuspecting visitors.
This guide pulls back the curtain, spotlighting the overrated joints to skip and the authentic treasures worth cracking shells for.
1. Phillips Seafood – Inner Harbor Tourist Trap
Located in Baltimore’s bustling Inner Harbor, Phillips Seafood attracts camera-wielding tourists by the busload. The massive dining room serves predictable crab cakes at premium prices that make locals roll their eyes.
Marylanders know better than to pay double for seafood just because it comes with a harbor view. The convenient location at 601 E Pratt Street might validate your parking, but it won’t validate your quest for authentic Maryland flavors.
2. Rusty Scupper – View-Obsessed Visitor Favorite
Perched perfectly for postcard-worthy harbor views, Rusty Scupper charges accordingly for its panoramic setting. The restaurant attracts tourists with its jazz brunches and fancy atmosphere.
A true Baltimorean would rather eat crabs in a paper-covered table joint than shell out for this scenic splurge.
While the 402 Key Highway location offers validated parking, locals know their money goes toward the Instagram moment, not the meal itself.
3. Chart House Prime – Annapolis Chain Disappointment
Chart House wraps corporate predictability in a gorgeous Spa Creek setting. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning water views while serving standardized seafood you could find in any coastal city.
My Annapolis-born cousin refuses to set foot here, claiming “it’s where you take out-of-town relatives who don’t know better.”
The 300 Second Street location might impress your Facebook friends with its backdrop, but locals seek authentic Chesapeake flavors elsewhere.
4. The Oceanaire Seafood Room – Harbor East Showoff
Nestled among luxury boutiques in Harbor East, The Oceanaire screams “expense account dinner” rather than an authentic Maryland experience. The upscale chain’s impressive raw bar towers and daily-changing menu can’t hide its corporate roots.
Locals whisper that the seafood travels further than the diners do. Found at 801 Aliceanna Street, this dinner-only establishment caters to convention-goers and shoppers seeking predictable luxury rather than memorable local flavor.
5. McCormick & Schmick’s – Corporate Seafood Factory
This national chain near Baltimore’s attractions offers reliable if uninspired seafood. The happy hour draws office workers and tourists alike to its 711 Eastern Avenue location.
I once brought my seafood-loving uncle here, and he hasn’t let me choose a restaurant since. “That’s not Maryland,” he grumbled, “that’s McCorporate.”
While the lighthouse views might charm visitors, locals know this standardized experience lacks the personality found at family-owned crab houses.
6. Harrison’s Harbor Watch – Ocean City Inlet Illusion
Commanding prime real estate at Ocean City’s inlet, Harrison’s Harbor Watch capitalizes on its location rather than its cuisine. Summer tourists line up for mediocre seafood served with spectacular views.
The massive raw bar at 806 S Atlantic Avenue seems impressive until you taste what locals consider overpriced and underwhelming offerings.
Seasonal hours focus on peak tourist times when visitors are too distracted by the ocean-and-inlet panoramas to notice the ordinary food.
7. Higgins Crab House – All-You-Can-Eat Tourist Magnet
With two locations catering to Ocean City’s vacation crowds, Higgins Crab House specializes in all-you-can-eat crab feasts that prioritize quantity over quality. The paper-covered tables fill with sunburned tourists eager for the “Maryland experience.”
Marylanders know better than to waste time with timed AYCE seatings. The Philadelphia Avenue and Coastal Highway locations serve adequate but unremarkable crabs to visitors who don’t realize better options exist just a short drive away.
8. BLU Crabhouse & Raw Bar – Midtown Tourist Trap
BLU Crabhouse attracts Ocean City visitors with its trendy atmosphere and family-friendly approach. The 2305 Philadelphia Avenue spot features a large patio where tourists happily overpay for decent but unremarkable seafood.
Seasonal hours cater specifically to beach traffic peaks. Locals drive right past this reservation-recommended establishment, knowing the colorful drinks and vacation vibes come at the expense of authentic Eastern Shore flavors that can be found at less flashy establishments.
9. Thames Street Oyster House – Fells Point Seafood Paradise
Hidden in a historic Fells Point rowhouse, Thames Street Oyster House serves what many consider Baltimore’s finest seafood.
The meticulously curated raw bar features oyster varieties that change daily, each described with wine-like tasting notes.
Located at 1728 Thames Street, this local favorite often books quickly, with reservations opening one week in advance.
Maryland natives willingly wait for the perfectly executed lobster roll and the deeply flavored crab soup that puts tourist spots to shame.
10. Faidley’s Seafood – Lexington Market Institution
Standing at a tall table in the newly renovated Lexington Market, cradling Faidley’s legendary jumbo lump crab cake, is a Baltimore rite of passage.
This no-frills counter serves what many consider the city’s definitive crab cake – lightly bound, perfectly seasoned, and broiled to golden perfection.
My grandmother would send visitors here with strict instructions: “Don’t you dare put condiments on it!” The market setting might surprise tourists expecting white tablecloths, but locals know this is Maryland seafood at its purest.
11. LP Steamers – Locust Point Crab Heaven
In a modest rowhouse in working-class Locust Point, LP Steamers delivers the authentic Baltimore crab experience. Paper-covered tables quickly disappear under mountains of spice-crusted blue crabs, cold beer, and the tools needed for proper picking.
The rooftop deck at 1100 E Fort Avenue offers city views while you crack shells. Tuesday regulars know to order the specialty fried hard crabs – whole crabs stuffed with crab imperial before being breaded and fried – a Baltimore delicacy tourists rarely discover.
12. Jimmy’s Famous Seafood – Holabird Avenue Institution
Beyond the sports bar energy and Ravens memorabilia, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood has served impeccable seafood since 1974. The crab cakes contain virtually no filler, just sweet jumbo lump held together by what seems like pure willpower.
I watched my father nearly come to blows with a visitor who suggested these weren’t “the real deal.”
The 6526 Holabird Avenue location sits far from tourist paths, but locals gladly make the journey for crab cake egg rolls and the deeply flavored Maryland crab soup.
13. Cantler’s Riverside Inn – Mill Creek Crab Paradise
Tucked away on Mill Creek outside Annapolis, Cantler’s Riverside Inn feels like a delicious secret despite its national reputation.
Watermen deliver crabs directly to the docks, ensuring the steamed beauties that land on your paper-covered table couldn’t be fresher.
The 458 Forest Beach Road location requires navigating residential streets, but the reward is worth it.
Wooden mallets pound rhythmically as families pick sweet meat from spice-encrusted shells, washing it down with cold beer while watching boats drift by on the creek.
14. The Narrows Restaurant – Kent Narrows Cream of Crab Champion
Crossing the Bay Bridge to Eastern Shore flavors, The Narrows Restaurant serves what many consider Maryland’s finest cream of crab soup. Rich, velvety, and loaded with jumbo lump, this bowl of liquid gold has locals driving from miles around.
The waterfront setting enhances but doesn’t overshadow the food. Those in the know order the half-and-half – a bowl split between cream of crab and Maryland vegetable crab soups – creating the perfect balance of decadence and tradition.
15. Harris Crab House – Kent Narrows Feasting Spot
Generations of Maryland families have gathered around paper-covered tables at Harris Crab House to pick steamed crabs and slurp oysters from the restaurant’s own beds. The 433 Kent Narrows Way North location offers all-you-can-eat weekday specials that locals actually appreciate.
My family’s Eastern Shore reunions always end up here, where even the pickiest relatives agree on the perfectly seasoned steamed crabs.
The waterfront setting provides an authentic atmosphere rather than an excuse for inflated prices.
16. The Shark on the Harbor – West Ocean City Fresh Catch
While tourists crowd boardwalk eateries, locals head to West Ocean City, where The Shark on the Harbor serves truly dock-to-plate seafood. The chalkboard menu changes daily based on what local boats bring to the back door.
Chef-owner James “Jimmy” Sambataro and the team maintain relationships with area farmers and watermen, ensuring everything from the fish to the vegetables arrived hours before service.
The 12924 Sunset Avenue location rewards those willing to venture beyond the beach crowds with Maryland’s most thoughtfully prepared seafood.