An irresistible Talbot County food crawl
By WP Creative Group
In only 90 minutes, D.C.-area travelers can reach the heart of Maryland’s Eastern Shore and feast on fresh Chesapeake Bay seafood.
For fresh seafood and authentic coastal culture, there’s no place quite like Talbot County, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Fishing remains a way of life for many locals, and talented chefs at restaurants throughout the area have immediate access to the day’s catch, pulled straight from the Chesapeake Bay.
Hungry visitors from Washington, D.C., need only drive 90 minutes to experience Talbot County’s bounty. They’ll find a vibrant dining scene, where classic dishes and creative spins on local ingredients are equally easy to find, and settings range from refined small-town restaurants to bustling markets teeming with the day’s catch. Though the area is especially renowned for crab, rockfish and oysters, diners who visit during the spring and summer can sample numerous seafood options.
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest freshwater estuary in the U.S. and is home to nearly 300 different fish species — and Talbot County truly reaps the benefits, with miles of tidal shoreline and numerous waterfront towns to explore. The Chesapeake Country All-American Road runs through the heart of Talbot County, leading to destinations such as Easton, Oxford, St. Michaels and Tilghman Island, where visitors can taste a range of seafood dishes and rub elbows with locals who make their living on the Bay.
“The products that people sit down to enjoy are [sourced directly] from the region,” said Joe Spurry Jr., whose family has owned and operated both Chesapeake Landing Restaurant and Bay Hundred Seafood near St. Michaels for more than three decades. “You can’t get crab meat any fresher.”
Talbot County offers a wealth of options for hungry visitors in search of a relaxing getaway that also offers some of the freshest seafood in the country. Here’s where to stop on an unforgettable food crawl through the treasure of Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Easton
No matter what type of cuisine visitors prefer, the mini metropolis of Easton, located just off U.S. Route 50, has it all — including both casual and upscale restaurants, ice cream shops, museums, a historic theater, bookstores, and more. For those who bring a cooler, local seafood markets offer both shellfish and fish straight from the Chesapeake Bay.
In the evening, visitors can sip vintage champagne or whiskey at a local bar and then amble through downtown Easton for a dinner of any cuisine, ranging from elegant fine dining to burgers and barbecue. Outdoor dining abounds, and the town boasts a collection of intimate gourmet sandwich shops for mid-day diners. Locally owned Rise Up Coffee, where the company’s organic fair-trade beans are roasted, is a must-stop for java lovers.
“There’s something for everyone,” said Bluepoint Hospitality Group Executive Chef Harley Peet. But according to Peet, the local crab cakes in particular are not to be missed. From April through October, soft shell crabs (blue crabs that have molted their shells) are a Talbot County treat, served in restaurants or sold individually at seafood markets. Succulent crab meat augments many classic dishes, from eggs Benedict to stir fry, especially when crabs are in season and plentiful.
St. Michaels
Visitors can head 10 miles west on U.S. Route 33 to the charming town of St. Michaels, where classic seafood dishes, grilled steaks and bistro fare are served with a side of maritime history and heritage. Long-running establishments hug the shoreline, offering outdoor seating only steps away from the Miles River.
Diners can feast al fresco at restaurants like The Crab Claw, which features an open-air deck with ample room to enjoy steamed blue crabs and fresh raw oysters, while watching the parade of boats in the St. Michaels harbor. You’ve not visited the Eastern Shore until you try your hand at “picking” steamed crabs — separating fresh crab meat from the shell — at The Crab Claw or one of the other local crab houses. Belly up to a brown paper-lined table, grab a knife and enjoy one of the most authentic Maryland experiences.
Enterprising visitors won’t leave hungry — or thirsty. The harbor is ringed with restaurants, while the main street into and out of town offers everything from gourmet pizza to classic Italian to oysters on the half shell. The finest of fine dining can be found at STARS, the luxurious Inn at Perry Cabin’s waterfront restaurant, which features the region’s best farm-to-fork ingredients. St. Michaels is also home to a brewery, a winery and a distillery, located near one another on the east end of town.
Tilghman Island
The perfect complement to a foodie adventure, the waterman’s village of Tilghman Island sits at the end of Route 33 on the western edge of Talbot County. Flanked by the Chesapeake Bay and the Choptank River, this historic maritime community features activities like fishing, crabbing and boating, as well as some of the finest Eastern Shore seafood.
A trip to Tilghman Island wouldn’t be complete without a scenic boat, kayak or paddleboard ride, all of which can be rented or chartered. For the ultimate Tilghman Island experience, take a front-row seat to the activities of the community’s working watermen. Visitors can dine by the water and watch the workboats come in with their daily catch.
“Everyone should come down and get a chance to meet these guys, watch what they do, see their products and definitely enjoy them,” said Nick Hargrove, owner of nearby Wittman Wharf Seafood, a waterman himself who also buys directly from those who work the water for his retail and wholesale seafood businesses.
Oxford
Founded in 1683, Oxford is one of the oldest towns in America and was one of the first ports in the state of Maryland. This sleepy hamlet offers the appeal of a quaint, historic town with superb restaurants and plenty of room for a stroll.
Seafood is undeniably fresh here, thanks to Oxford’s location on the bustling Tred Avon River. Visitors can watch the morning crab boats from the grassy expanse of Town Park and then taste their treasures later.
Four of Oxford’s five restaurants have spectacular waterside views — including the famed Robert Morris Inn, the oldest full-service inn in America, and its historic tavern that serves Eastern Shore favorites with a British flair. It’s here that James Michener planned his famous book Chesapeake.
End your meal with a scoop of homemade ice cream from the Scottish Highland Creamery, rated by TripAdvisor as one of the best in the country. Or take a relaxing ride on the town’s own Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, which transports passengers and cars across the river until dusk each day during the season.
Trappe
When back on U.S. Route 50, hungry visitors headed south will want to stop at the tiny town of Trappe, which offers a caffeine jolt at The Coffee Trappe and big flavor at Momma Maria’s Mediterranean Bistro & Bar. Locals swear by the carry-out steamed crabs from T.L. Morris Seafood, south of town on the Choptank River.
From expansive fish and shellfish markets to high-end fine dining, Talbot County is open for foodies and has culinary pleasures to please every palate. Sample world-class seafood straight from the Chesapeake Bay — and leave your busy life behind.
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