171350 Tue Jul 27 14:24:59 -0700 2004 16 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 919542 Boston hound NEEDs good crabcakes. Found an earlier thread that talke about Narrows on Kent Island. Today someone said Carrol's Creek is better. I am in Washington at a conference, and will travel 1-1.5 hours for great cakes. Tue Jul 27 14:24:59 -0700 2004 0 1K Diner 1 919545 If you're willing to travel that far, and if you have a car, then may I make two other suggestions: 1) Faidley Seafood in the Lexington Market in Baltimore. They're crabcakes are reasonable and, according to the New York Times, the best in the Western Hemisphere; or 2) (A personal favorite) G&M seafood in Linthicum, right outside of Baltimore. If you don't want to wait inside the restaurant for a table, you can step next door to the deli, order the same crabcakes there, and eat them at the formica tables in the deli. Truly great crabcakes. But if you're hell-bent on coming out to the Eastern Shore/Kent Island (which is where I live now), then I suggest the Narrows. Though I haven't been there yet, folks on this board consistently recommend their crabcakes as being on par with Faidley's and G&M. - Andrew Langer Link: http://www.gandmcrabcakes.com/ Tue Jul 27 14:34:59 -0700 2004 919542 0 Andrew Langer 2 919551 Neither G & M nor Faidley's crab cakes are as good as the crab cakes at the Narrows in my opinion. They are both excellent but my wife and still prefer the Kent Island restaurant feeling that they have the bet Maryland style crab cakes we have ever had. Over the years I think we've eaten crab cakes at just about every place anywhere that claims to have the best. I have never been to Carroll Creek but to the best of my knowledge it does not have a reputation for exemplery crab cakes. (Although it my still be excellent.) All three of the above do, along with Angelina's (retired to the Baltimore magazine hall of fame after winning the title "best crab cake in Baltimore" for five years in a row over Faidley's and G & M), Captain's Galley in Crisfield, MD which the New York Times called America's best crab cake, Stoney's on Broome Island, MD which typically is superb and certainly on par with most if not all of the others, Jerry's Seafood in Lanham, MD ($32 crab bomb along with lump crab cakes and excellent cream of crab soup). As for the best overall crab cake anywhere on earth I honestly believe that is also in Baltimore but it is NOT a Maryland style crab cake. It is at Charleston, generally considered Baltimore's best restaurant, and a variation on all of the others which incorporates some unusual (for MD) seasonings. It ain't cheap, either-not that any of these are! If you're really serious about this and have the time and a rental car you could do a trip where you start at G & M, continue to downtown Baltimore and the Lexington Market then back in your car and out Harford Road to Angelina's (also get their crab imperial which is even better) and then hit I 695 and follow it around to route 2 to route 50, across the Bay Bridge for another 7 or 8 miles to the Narrows. Returning to Baltimore have dinner at Charleston. If you do this please post your thoughts on here. Tue Jul 27 15:10:53 -0700 2004 919545 0 Joe H. 3 919553 As an addendum the Prime Rib on K Street has excellent lump Maryland crab cakes if you do not want to leave the city. If you had to choose only one place and wanted ambience and hard shell crabs and a water setting along with great crab cakes, cream of crab soup, etc. I would suggest Stoney's on Broome Island where you sit on a floating barge on a river inlet. Tue Jul 27 15:13:53 -0700 2004 919551 0 Joe H. 1 919557 One nice thing about crossing the Annapolis Bay Bridge to get to crabs and crabcakes is that under good circumstances crossing the Bay is very scenic (unless you are afraid of heights.) Under bad conditions the traffic is bumper-to-bumper and it's hell on earth. I don't know enough about the area to know when these things happen but my impression is that Fridays and Sundays tend to be high traffic days. Faidley's is in downtown Baltimore, in a neighborhood I would call "gritty and blue collar", and would not walk around flashing big diamonds or furs. There's no seating, you stand at the tables, the floor is concrete, it's really a combination fish market and eatery. I agree that the crabcakes at Faidley's are extremely excellent, but wear comfy shoes and dress casual. Cantler's in Annapolis is off the beaten track, not IN Annapolis proper, it's even hard to find following directions from Mapquest. But it's right on the water, and it's in a pretty area, it seems to me that it's on smallish river, lots of trees and nice houses in the distance. Across the Bay Bridge the scenery is more coastal, sort of marshy. Just mentioning this because the ambiance might make a difference to you. Allow yourself plenty of time, what you think would be an hour each way can expand exponentially depending on the time of day. Tue Jul 27 15:47:47 -0700 2004 919542 0 Ilaine 2 919572 Despite being one of Maryland's best crabhouses with idyllic atmosphere have you ever had their crab cakes? Ilaine, they are remarkably mediocre-almost shocking that such a landmark crab house couldn't do better. Cantler's is fantastic for beer, crabs and ambience. Beyond this I've found real disappointment. Tue Jul 27 16:54:06 -0700 2004 919557 0 Joe H. 3 919577 My late grandmother used to own a restaurant, and her crabcakes are what I judge others by. They were mostly filler, and fried to the consistency of a rubber ball. Compared to that, Cantler's are ambrosia. ;^) Her fried chicken and her red beans and rice, on the other hand, were excellent. At any rate, next to my personal favorite, Faidley's, and personal second favorite, Bethesda Crab House, Cantler's crabcakes are not as good, but I think the ambiance makes up for it, if you are in the mood for ambiance. Both Faidley's and Bethesda are in commercial areas, difficult to park, and not much of interest to look at while you eat. Across the Annapolis Bridge is nice, too, but every time I drive across the Bay Bridge in the summer, I get caught in awful traffic, so I avoid it until after Labor Day. Someone who knows their way around Annapolis and the Eastern Shore better than me can explain the vagaries of traffic. Tue Jul 27 17:33:40 -0700 2004 919572 0 Ilaine 4 919624 I feel the need to step in and defend the “ambiance” of Faidley’s. To me, it is far from zero ambiance. It ain’t even close to fine dining but it is choc full o character. To say that there is “not much of interest look at"--nothing personal intended here-- but that is nuts…there are tons of fascinating eccentricities going on. In the old days, seafood was, as my Baltimorean father likes to say, “poor people food.” It wasn’t fancy and it wasn’t expensive. Faidley’s exemplifies this Baltimore, blue collar seafood tradition quite nicely, although, the price of a jumbo lump crab cake ain’t what it used to be. You can hang out, eat one of the best crab cakes on earth, drink a beer and ponder the fact that Faidley’s also sells muskrat. There are worse ways to kill an afternoon as far as I’m concerned. But, if you want to look at something purdy, then it won’t be your cup of tea. If you want to experience something not so typical in an increasingly generic world and mix with people of many classes and colors, you may enjoy it. And, just for the record, there is a parking lot and Faidley’s validates. Wed Jul 28 11:11:27 -0700 2004 919577 0 ck 5 919638 Best. Post. Ever. Faidley's makes a great crabcake, and I've been known to take out of town guests there just for the ambiance. Wed Jul 28 12:26:39 -0700 2004 919624 0 Jon Parker 6 919688 I agree...........going to Faidley's for a crabcake is a great experience. It is the first place that our out of town guests want to go to when they arrive in town. Thu Jul 29 08:11:55 -0700 2004 919638 0 K 6 919696 I think that Faidley's is a terrific place to take someone for crabcakes and the atmosphere. The minute our out of town guests hit our doorstep, they ask "When are we going to Faidley'?" They love the wonderful crabcake, the fresh oysters, and then afterwards, walking through the market itself. Thu Jul 29 09:25:13 -0700 2004 919638 0 K 3 919578 PS Will try Jerry's soon. Tue Jul 27 17:34:21 -0700 2004 919572 0 Ilaine 1 919584 Mike, while we Marylanders enjoy the eternal "greatest crabcake debate," it is wrong of us to have you running around the state looking for THE BEST crabcake. Faidley's is great, but is in negative figures for ambiance. Jerry's is great, but 0 ambiance. The Narrows is great, and a pleasant drive, if it is not Friday, but IMO, not great enough to justify the drive just for the sake of the crabcake. G&M is mediocre to great, depending on what you get, but at its worst is still better than most. I have been to Carrolls Creek a number of times, so I have probably had their crabcakes, and so I would classify them as forgettable. So for me, my recommendation comes down to the sure bet of Faidley's, second would be Jerry's, and third would be G&M. Tue Jul 27 19:41:48 -0700 2004 919542 0 Denise M. 1 919607 Henninger's Tavern: Baltimore/ Fells Point (www.henningerstavern) Captain Larry's: Baltimore/ Federal Hill Coco's Pub: Baltimore/ Harford Road, Gardenville? Wed Jul 28 10:10:58 -0700 2004 919542 0 Hon 1 919630 The common theme in everyone's reply was the Narrows, and that is where we went. For those who posted traffic concerns, left DC at 6:15, arrived 7:30. Rained like all heck on the way back, yet it was worth it. The four of us started with the Calamari,and the Ahi tuna. The calamari was fried very lightly, however they were a bit dry. Great diablo sauce. I had an inkling the calamari could have used some malt vinegar to balance the diablo sauce. yummm Ahi was seared to perfection. Two large pieces, encrusted perfectly. Cleaned that plate rather efficiently. Worth the trip for just that. On to the crabcakes... OK, I live in Boston, and crabs have a whole other meaning (not an expert on either), however, these crabcakes let me know in no uncertain terms that I have never eaten a crabcake before. They were GREAT. Large enough to notice on the plate. Round, rather than flat like a croquette (what I am used to), delicately browned on the outside, almost creamy on the inside. It melted in the mouth! It was good. It was great. Didn't want it to end. The fried green tomatoes aren't worth mention. And i didn't care. Desert was Bread Pudding and NY style cheesecake. The cheese cake was smooth and yummy, served on an overly large plate (stylized) out character for the Narrows. Bread Pudding was more like a rice crispie treat. Bottom line... I would go back to and would recommend the Narrows. The bridge traffic was fine at that hour. My only disapointment was the seating. Reserved the outside porch. When we arrived we were told they do not use the porch when it is hot outside because of the airconditioning going out of balance inside. Yet, if it's NOT hot outside, when would one use a porch? Wed Jul 28 11:44:49 -0700 2004 919542 0 1K Diner 2 919681 Thank you for trying the Narrows. Unfortunately, it's all downhill from here. Wed Jul 28 20:29:17 -0700 2004 919630 0 Joe H. 1 920370 A block down the street from Carols Creek is O'Learys. The crabcake there is INCREDIBLE and is full of lump meat. Carol's Creak is a great place for brunch, but I think if you want the charm of Annapolis (Eastport, sorry), than you should go to O'Learys. A group of us sat for over 3 hours and were not rushed to leave. Great wine list. Another rec if you want a great steak is Lewnes' Steakhouse at 401 4th St across the street. Both are not chains- which is a personal preference. Fri Aug 06 12:09:55 -0700 2004 919542 0 Debbie