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15 Best Restaurants in St. Michaels, MD

Rina Bernardo

Oct 30, 2022 • 10 min read

MeanderingMoments / shutterstock.com

St. Michaels is a quaint town in Talbot County, Maryland, known for its oyster and fishing industry.

It owes its thriving shipbuilding and seafood trade to its ideal location surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay and other bodies of water.

As such, you can find fresh and abundant seafood here, including the best seafood restaurants.

But aside from its seafood joints, you can find other international cuisines and must-try eats on your visit to this town.

Here are the 15 best restaurants in St. Michaels, MD:

Awful Arthur's Seafood Company

Located in the heart of downtown St. Michaels, Awful Arthur's Seafood Company is a crowd favorite for its fresh seafood and lobster roll.

The restaurant is also along the Maryland Crab & Oyster Trail, a culinary trail that takes you through the best seafood restaurants and markets across five regions.

Whether you prefer seafood steamed or raw, you can find plenty of options here.

Try their fresh raw oysters, lobster roll, ahi tuna tacos, lobster bisque, or crab cake sandwiches.

If you want to try different kinds of seafood in one serving, go for their combo sampler, which includes oysters, clams, shrimp, mussels, snow crab legs, and crawfish served with various side dishes.

After having your fill of seafood at Awful Arthur's Seafood Company, stop by the small gift shop for local souvenirs and items.

Limoncello Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

For a taste of Italian food, head to Limoncello Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar, located along the town center.

The restaurant, housed in a cozy trattoria, brings the flavors of Southern Italy to the street of St. Michaels.

Don't miss the Pappardelle allo Zafferano, a pasta dish made with scallops and Gulf head-on shrimp, or their handmade lobster ravioli.

You can also add grilled salmon and other seafood to your salad, creating a unique and memorable dish.

Aside from their dishes with a Maryland twist, Limoncello Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar also has a variety of wines and Italian-inspired cocktails you can pair with your meal.

Bistro St. Michaels

Bistro St. Michaels at S. Talbot Street opened in 1995 and offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere complete with delicious food and drinks.

Every nook and corner of this restaurant is romantic and picturesque, featuring antique furniture, crystal lighting fixtures, and dark-colored walls.

The outdoor seating area allows you to “see and be seen,” as you enjoy the sight of people passing by while having your meals.

As for their food, Bistro St. Michaels uses locally grown and sustainable produce, meat, and other ingredients to support local farmers.

Menus are seasonal, but some of the meals you can try include crab cakes, seafood gumbo, braised short ribs, tuna niçoise salad, and pan-seared sea scallops.

Some dishes also come with gluten-free options or are gluten-free for customers with special dietary needs.

Carpenter Street Saloon

Carpenter Street Saloon is the heartbeat of St. Michaels—it's a favorite hangout and gathering spot for residents, workers, and tourists.

Its building has been around since 1885 and was a former pharmacy and bank, and the old vault functions as an office and walk-in cooler.

With its strategic location, Carpenter Street Saloon is an ideal place to unwind and relax after a day of exploring St. Michaels.

From breakfast to dinner, and whether you’re craving a breakfast burrito, grilled chicken sandwich, or chicken wings, the restaurant has you covered.

In the evening, drop by the restaurant for snacks and drinks, and get a chance to interact with the friendly locals.

Justine's Ice Cream Parlour

For those with a sweet tooth, Justine's Ice Cream Parlour is a must-try at St. Michael's, as it offers a wide array of ice cream flavors, shakes, and old-fashioned parlor snacks.

The shop offers 24 premium flavors of ice cream, ranging from typical ones like chocolate, cookies and cream, and strawberry to unique flavors like spumoni, pumpkin, and bourbon on the rocks.

Justine's Ice Cream Parlour also has more than 70 classic and signature milkshake flavors.

Aside from ice cream and shakes, you can also get other parlor food like ice cream sodas, floats, and New York egg cream.

Halfway through your town tour, stop by the ice cream parlor at N Talbot, buy a scoop or two of ice cream, and relax at the benches in front as you watch locals go about their day.

Café 401

Located within the historic Old Brick Inn, Café 401 combines fine dining with a picturesque and old-school style setting.

The cafe offers an intimate indoor dining space and a tended outdoor space that reflects St. Michaels’ historic ambiance.

At Café 401, begin your meal with appetizers and soup like chilled gazpacho, fried green tomatoes, house, salad, and coriander-encrusted ahi tuna.

For your entrees, choose between a lemon and garlic-seared local rockfish, pan-seared summer scallops, gourmet meatloaf, or stuffed airline chicken breast.

All entrees are available in half or full portions, so nothing goes to waste.

Wrap up your fine dining experience with desserts such as limoncello cheesecake, flourless chocolate torte, or an Italian-style panna cotta.

Ava's Pizzeria and Wine Bar

Ava's Pizzeria and Wine Bar on South Talbot Street in St. Michaels is the first and original branch of the Italian chain and has since expanded to two other branches in Maryland and Delaware.

The Italian restaurant takes pride in using the best and finest ingredients, taking the extra effort to make their olive oil, dough, and mozzarella.

In addition, its charming space, featuring a retractable roof, dog-friendly patio, and brick wall interiors draws plenty of crowds wanting to try their food.

For starters, try Ava's Pizzeria and Wine Bar’s house-made potato chips, fresh mozzarella plate, wasabi oysters, or their gluten-free tomato bisque.

Then, take a bite of their brick-oven pizza or Detroit-style pizza, with some options available for vegetarians.

The Crab Claw

If you're looking for a restaurant with good views, The Crab Claw is your best choice with its seaside location.

The restaurant's location on Burns Street was formerly a marsh filled with discarded oyster shells; it became a clam and oyster shucking house, and in 1965, a local couple established The Crab Claw.

To this day, the restaurant is owned and operated by the same family, with The Crab Claw becoming a household name and town landmark.

On your visit, start light with oysters, chilled shrimp, crab balls, or grilled tuna, then try the sandwiches served with fries and homemade coleslaw.

Other available seafood dishes include crab cakes, bay scallops, fresh salmon, fried oysters, or their fresh catch of the day.

Gina's Cafe

Gina’s Cafe combines eclectic Tex-Mex cuisine with Maryland’s seafood, providing a unique and fun dining experience.

Nestled in downtown St. Michaels, the restaurant and bar offers pescatarian-friendly dishes with a Tex-Mex twist, a signature from Gina’s Cantina, its sister restaurant from Millersville.

After a day out, head to Gina’s Cafe to relax and enjoy a glass of sangria or margarita with fish tacos, taco salad, and stuffed avocado boats.

You can also try their butternut squash soup, black bean soup, and a variety of tacos.

End your meal on a sweet note with their Xangos, a Mexican cheesecake burrito rolled in cinnamon sugar and topped with fresh fruits and whipped cream.

Blu Miles

For a casual lunch or dinner, try Blue Miles, located along St. Michaels Harbor.

The seafood restaurant has an excellent location with a patio and outdoor seating areas featuring unparalleled sea views.

Furthermore, the establishment uses fresh ingredients sourced and produced by local farmers and fishermen.

Appetizers at Blu Miles include coconut shrimp, calamari, crab balls, and fried oysters, while entrees comprise crab cakes, salmon, ahi tuna steak, and other seafood dishes.

They also offer sandwiches, tacos, and raw or steamed seafood.

Stars Restaurant

Stars Restaurant is one of the in-house restaurants at the Inn at Perry Cabin, a charming colonial-style hotel with waterfront views.

The restaurant’s indoor and outdoor areas allow guests to watch the sunset and marvel at the horizon while feasting on fresh seafood dishes.

For breakfast, have a plate of classic buttermilk waffles, avocado burrata toast, or a crab imperial omelet.

Meanwhile, their lunch menu includes oyster Rockefeller, Harris Creek oysters, lobster bisque, crab cake BLT, or their catch of the day sandwich.

If you want dinner with a view, Stars Restaurant on Watkins Lane has a special tasting menu featuring your choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert.

The Galley Restaurant

Have a meal at a restaurant with a historical setting at The Galley Restaurant, located at the heart of downtown Saint Michaels.

The restaurant is set in an 1800s-style building that was a former hotel, bank, residence, and a famed ghost hunting spot.

While its building is filled with intrigue, the restaurant's menu boasts fresh and delicious food passed from generation to generation.

At The Galley Restaurant, all meals are prepared with the finest ingredients—from baked goods to crab cakes, chicken pot pies, and braised beef short ribs.

If you’re looking for post-dinner drinks, choose from their selection of wines, signature cocktails, tequila, cognac, and bourbon.

Foxy's Harbor Grille

Foxy's Harbor Grille offers a relaxed dining experience with a tropical vibe and a stunning seafront location along St. Michaels Harbor.

It's a favorite among locals, tourists, boaters, and Eastern Shore visitors for its steamed seafood, homemade crab cakes, frozen drinks, and craft beers.

Hailed as one of the “Ambassadors of Fun” in St. Michaels, you can enjoy a casual yet satisfying meal on the patio or at the indoor dining area.

Some of their popular dishes include crab cakes, tuna sandwiches, fish tacos, soft shell crab, and tuna steak.

Foxy's Harbor Grille also has live music performances on select nights, perfect for chilling with a glass of their specialty cocktails, crushes, or craft beers.

Harrison's Harbour Lights

Harrison’s Harbour Lights prides itself on having the best harbor views with its open-air outdoor deck among all seafront restaurants in St. Michaels.

The family that owns the restaurant has been in the industry since 1938, proving the restaurant's top-notch quality and service.

Whether you want something light like seafood nachos and crab pretzels, or a heavy meal like a cheeseburger or prime rib, you can be assured that Harrison's Harbour Lights uses the best ingredients.

For dinner, have a hearty serving of broiled rockfish, seared or grilled ahi tuna, or their house special—a jumbo broiled or fried crab cake and fried chicken.

With its vast seating area, this restaurant on N Harbor Road can accommodate up to 200 people and is the perfect location for private or corporate events.

Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits

Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits combines all-American classics with St. Michaels’ signature seafood dishes.

The restaurant is located on South Talbot Street and offers hand-carved steaks, shrimp cocktails, burgers, sandwiches, and a variety of side dishes to pair with your steak.

Enjoy baked oysters or a tuna tartare for your appetizer, then have a burger, filet mignon, or sesame-crusted ahi tuna as your main dish.

If you want something that isn’t seafood, try their mushroom ravioli, onion rings, or bacon cheeseburger.

Aside from their steak and seafood, don’t miss their extensive wine offerings and handcrafted cocktails.

If you have special dietary needs, Theo's Steaks, Sides & Spirits has gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Final Thoughts

With Saint Michaels' fishing and boating heritage, you can expect fresh seafood in town; after all, some of its local eateries are located along the Maryland Crab & Oyster Trail.

However, the town also has plenty of restaurants offering more than just seafood.

You can have crepes, Tex-Mex favorites, classic American dishes, and delicious ice cream and frozen desserts.

For the best seafood in Talbot County, visit these best restaurants in St. Michaels, and enjoy your food with amazing views of the sea!

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