Where to Find Baltimore’s Best Seafood
Dig into classic cuisine from the Chesapeake Bay at some of the best seafood restaurants in Baltimore.
Baltimore seafood restaurants take their craft very seriously. There are endless ways to savor Maryland blue crabs, fresh local oysters and other bounties of the Chesapeake Bay. Read on to find out where you can enjoy the best seafood in Baltimore.
Bertha’s Restaurant & Bar
If you’ve spent any time eating seafood in Baltimore, you probably already know Bertha’s for its iconic green bumper stickers encouraging you to “Eat Bertha’s Mussels.” In Fell’s Point, Bertha’s serves mussels with a variety of flavors, from classic garlic butter to white wine to spring ale and even spicy coconut milk.
After one bite, you’ll want to keep eating Bertha’s delicious mussels. Photo by Justin Tsucalas.
The Choptank
The Choptank is an upscale Baltimore seafood restaurant located in Broadway Market’s 200-year-old south shed. This classic Maryland fish and crab house focuses on steamed crabs, oysters and rockfish, with indoor and outdoor seating in the heart of Baltimore’s historic Fell’s Point neighborhood.
The Choptank is located in the heart of Fell’s Point, just a short drive away from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
Faidley’s Seafood
Founded in 1886, Faidley’s is famous for its jumbo lump crab cakes. Located in the historic Lexington Market, this Baltimore seafood restaurant also sells oysters, fried fish, coddies (a fried mixture of salt cod and potato served between saltines with mustard), classic Maryland crab soup and more.
Kooper’s Tavern
Like its namesake Kooper, the owners’ yellow Labrador who passed in 2007, this Fell’s Point eatery wants all its guests to leave with a smile on their face after enjoying delicious food and strong drinks. They’re famous for their burgers, but their seafood is just as savory. Get your crab fix in the form of a classic crab cake or in the crab dip topped with pico de gallo, melted cheeses and Old Bay. Other options include the seafood gumbo, which has been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, or the ahi tuna wrap with wasabi aioli. Kooper’s also has ample outdoor seating, so you can enjoy scenic views of the Patapsco River while you eat.
The Local Oyster
The Local Oyster started as a one-man traveling oyster bar that popped up all over Baltimore and eventually settled in a stall in Mount Vernon Marketplace, a busy food hall near The Walters Art Museum. The Local Oyster has also expanded to a standalone restaurant in Locust Point where you can enjoy a cold beer or oysters on the half shell, such as the house oyster known as the Skinny Dipper.
Crab cake sandwiches from The Local Oyster are best enjoyed with a side of coleslaw and a nice, cold local beer.
Mama’s on the Half Shell
Mama’s on the Half Shell quickly became a Baltimore seafood institution after opening in 2003. For more than 15 years, the Canton gastropub has served Charm City classics like crab cakes, coddies, rockfish and, of course, oysters on the half shell. Wash it down with a crush, a classic Baltimore summer drink featuring fresh-squeezed juices, vodka and crushed ice.
Nick’s Fish House
With its open air wood deck and docks overlooking the water, Nick’s will make you feel like you’ve been transported to a beach town. This Port Covington seafood restaurant is the perfect spot to dig into a pile of freshly steamed crabs, but save some room for the crab cake or fresh catch of the day.
Thames Street Oyster House
This Fell’s Point mainstay is always packed—it’s nearly impossible to get a seat without a reservation—and rightfully so. Besides the long list of raw bar offerings, Thames Street has garnered fame for a lobster roll that gives seafood shacks in New England a run for their money.
True Chesapeake Oyster Co.
True Chesapeake Oyster Co. serves fresh oysters from its own farm in southern Maryland. Chef Zack Mills serves the shellfish raw, steamed and in signature dishes like classic Rockefeller and semolina fried oysters, complemented by varied seasonal entrees, ranging from yellow perch with caramelized peaches to grilled pork loin with ramp spaghetti.
The Urban Oyster
The Urban Oyster can be found at farmers markets and pop-ups around the city. The menu includes plenty of oyster dishes—think char-grilled, cheese-topped oysters and zesty oyster tacos—as well as non-seafood classics like burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Chef Jasmine Norton wants to share oysters in more relaxed and nontraditional settings, such as pop-up events around the city.
