When you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat, Maryland has thousands of restaurants to choose from. Sometimes though, we crave a different experience. No chains, no ho-hum, but an experience that cannot be replicated. These nine unique restaurants in Maryland are worth a trip because they’re unlike any other.

  1. Papermoon Diner, Baltimore

Chuck / Flickr As if the outside of this Baltimore restaurant wasn’t quirky enough, wait til you go inside and eat alongside mannequins, doll parts, and action figures - oh my! For more information, check out the Papermoon website. 227 W 29th St, Baltimore, MD 21211, USA

  1. Bert’s 50s Diner, Mechanicsville

Bert’s 50’s Diner / Facebook Next up on our list of unique restaurants in Maryland is Bert’s 50s Diner. Dine back in time with Bert’s 50s Diner. If the jukebox and checkered floor weren’t enough, there are also almost always a few vintage cars parked out front. EDITOR’S NOTE: Unfortunately, Bert’s 50s Diner has permanently closed. 28760 Three Notch Rd, Mechanicsville, MD 20659, USA

  1. Mutiny Pirate Bar & Island Grille, Glen Burnie

Mutiny Scratch Kitchen & Fresh Bar - Pasadena / Facebook Argh! This restaurant is the perfect place to bring your mateys and devour a burger with rum. Find out more about the booty at the website for MutinyScratch Kitchen and Fresh Bar. 33 Magothy Beach Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122, USA

  1. Founders Tavern & Grille, Pasadena

Founders Tavern & Grille / Facebook This restaurant gives a nod to America’s founding fathers while still remaining modern and fun. Such a unique concept. For more information, head on over to the Founder’s website. Pasadena Plaza Shopping Center, 8125 Ritchie Hwy, Pasadena, MD 21122, USA

  1. Nacho Mama’s, Canton

Nacho Mama’s (Canton, MD) / Facebook From the outside, Nacho Mama’s may not appear special. Take a step inside however and try their famous margarita straight out of a hub cap! Yes. Really. If you’re curious to learn more, be sure to check out the Nacho Mama’s website. 2907 O’Donnell St, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA

  1. Crabtowne USA, Glen Burnie

Crabtowne USA Inc. / Facebook Crabtowne has a regular restaurant situated inside, and a whole other room full of vintage arcade games. Steamed crabs and Pac-Man? Yes, please! Find all the details on the Crabtowne USA website. 1500 Crain Hwy S, Glen Burnie, MD 21061, USA

  1. Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Columbia

Toby’s Dinner Theatre / Facebook Is there anything better than dinner and a show? In our humble opinion, nobody does it better than Toby’s. To learn more about making your reservation, be sure to check out the Toby’s website. 5900 Symphony Woods Rd, Columbia, MD 21044, USA

  1. Cafe Hon, Baltimore

Ali Eminov / Flickr Kitschy, nostalgic, and oh so Baltimore. EDITOR’S NOTE: Unfortunately, Cafe Hon has permanently closed. 1002 W 36th St, Baltimore, MD 21211, USA

  1. Seacrets, Ocean City

Ryan Crierie / Flickr No list of unique restaurants in Maryland is complete without Seacrets. A lot of places have waterfront dining but only Seacrets has in-water dining. Just make sure to order those fries with a side of sunscreen. Be sure to check out the Seacrets website. 117 49th St, Ocean City, MD 21842, USA

Have you dined at any of these places? Are there any other unique restaurants in Maryland you’d add to the list? Feel free to share in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you! Do you know of any other one-of-a-kind eateries that belong on our radar? You can tell us all about them by filling out a nomination form.

Chuck / Flickr

As if the outside of this Baltimore restaurant wasn’t quirky enough, wait til you go inside and eat alongside mannequins, doll parts, and action figures - oh my! For more information, check out the Papermoon website.

227 W 29th St, Baltimore, MD 21211, USA

Bert’s 50’s Diner / Facebook

Next up on our list of unique restaurants in Maryland is Bert’s 50s Diner. Dine back in time with Bert’s 50s Diner. If the jukebox and checkered floor weren’t enough, there are also almost always a few vintage cars parked out front. EDITOR’S NOTE: Unfortunately, Bert’s 50s Diner has permanently closed.

28760 Three Notch Rd, Mechanicsville, MD 20659, USA

Mutiny Scratch Kitchen & Fresh Bar - Pasadena / Facebook

Argh! This restaurant is the perfect place to bring your mateys and devour a burger with rum. Find out more about the booty at the website for MutinyScratch Kitchen and Fresh Bar.

33 Magothy Beach Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122, USA

Founders Tavern & Grille / Facebook

This restaurant gives a nod to America’s founding fathers while still remaining modern and fun. Such a unique concept. For more information, head on over to the Founder’s website.

Pasadena Plaza Shopping Center, 8125 Ritchie Hwy, Pasadena, MD 21122, USA

Nacho Mama’s (Canton, MD) / Facebook

From the outside, Nacho Mama’s may not appear special. Take a step inside however and try their famous margarita straight out of a hub cap! Yes. Really. If you’re curious to learn more, be sure to check out the Nacho Mama’s website.

2907 O’Donnell St, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA

Crabtowne USA Inc. / Facebook

Crabtowne has a regular restaurant situated inside, and a whole other room full of vintage arcade games. Steamed crabs and Pac-Man? Yes, please! Find all the details on the Crabtowne USA website.

1500 Crain Hwy S, Glen Burnie, MD 21061, USA

Toby’s Dinner Theatre / Facebook

Is there anything better than dinner and a show? In our humble opinion, nobody does it better than Toby’s. To learn more about making your reservation, be sure to check out the Toby’s website.

5900 Symphony Woods Rd, Columbia, MD 21044, USA

Ali Eminov / Flickr

Kitschy, nostalgic, and oh so Baltimore. EDITOR’S NOTE: Unfortunately, Cafe Hon has permanently closed.

1002 W 36th St, Baltimore, MD 21211, USA

Ryan Crierie / Flickr

No list of unique restaurants in Maryland is complete without Seacrets. A lot of places have waterfront dining but only Seacrets has in-water dining. Just make sure to order those fries with a side of sunscreen. Be sure to check out the Seacrets website.

117 49th St, Ocean City, MD 21842, USA

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

unique restaurants in Maryland October 06, 2021 Beth C. What are some of the most famous restaurants in Maryland? Here in Maryland, people take dining pretty seriously. As you probably gathered from reading the list of the most unique restaurants in Maryland, there’s no shortage of one-of-a-kind places to dine around here. If you’re looking to experience some of the state’s most famous restaurants, we have a few more places to add to your dining itinerary. You’ll probably want to make a reservation when you plan to dine at any of the following establishments:

Charleston Mama’s On The Half Shell Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls Nick’s Fish House The Capital Grille Boatyard Bar & Grill Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que Gertrude’s Koco’s Pub Magdalena Restaurant Royal Taj Restaurant La Tavola Ristorante Italiano

  Where can I find the best crabcakes in Maryland? If there’s one food that Maryland is famous for, it’s crabcakes. Fortunately, that means you don’t need to travel far to find yourself near a delicious seafood restaurant. If you’re on the hunt for the best crabcakes in Maryland, take a look at the following recommendations and check out any of the following restaurants:

G&M Restaurant & Lounge in Linthicum Heights Timbuktu Restaurant in Hanover Faidley’s Seafood in Baltimore Jerry’s Place in Prince Frederick The Narrows Restaurant in Grasonville Crabcake Factory USA in Ocean City Crab Cake Cafe on the National Harbor The Corner Stable in Columbia Pappas Restaurant with multiple locations throughout the state Edgewater Restaurant Box Hill Pizzeria in Abingdon

Learn more about how you can find the best crabcakes in Maryland.

The OIYS Visitor Center

unique restaurants in Maryland

October 06, 2021

Beth C.

What are some of the most famous restaurants in Maryland? Here in Maryland, people take dining pretty seriously. As you probably gathered from reading the list of the most unique restaurants in Maryland, there’s no shortage of one-of-a-kind places to dine around here. If you’re looking to experience some of the state’s most famous restaurants, we have a few more places to add to your dining itinerary. You’ll probably want to make a reservation when you plan to dine at any of the following establishments:

Charleston Mama’s On The Half Shell Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls Nick’s Fish House The Capital Grille Boatyard Bar & Grill Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que Gertrude’s Koco’s Pub Magdalena Restaurant Royal Taj Restaurant La Tavola Ristorante Italiano

  Where can I find the best crabcakes in Maryland? If there’s one food that Maryland is famous for, it’s crabcakes. Fortunately, that means you don’t need to travel far to find yourself near a delicious seafood restaurant. If you’re on the hunt for the best crabcakes in Maryland, take a look at the following recommendations and check out any of the following restaurants:

G&M Restaurant & Lounge in Linthicum Heights Timbuktu Restaurant in Hanover Faidley’s Seafood in Baltimore Jerry’s Place in Prince Frederick The Narrows Restaurant in Grasonville Crabcake Factory USA in Ocean City Crab Cake Cafe on the National Harbor The Corner Stable in Columbia Pappas Restaurant with multiple locations throughout the state Edgewater Restaurant Box Hill Pizzeria in Abingdon

Learn more about how you can find the best crabcakes in Maryland.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Here in Maryland, people take dining pretty seriously. As you probably gathered from reading the list of the most unique restaurants in Maryland, there’s no shortage of one-of-a-kind places to dine around here. If you’re looking to experience some of the state’s most famous restaurants, we have a few more places to add to your dining itinerary. You’ll probably want to make a reservation when you plan to dine at any of the following establishments:

  • Charleston
  • Mama’s On The Half Shell
  • Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls
  • Nick’s Fish House
  • The Capital Grille
  • Boatyard Bar & Grill
  • Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que
  • Gertrude’s
  • Koco’s Pub
  • Magdalena Restaurant
  • Royal Taj Restaurant
  • La Tavola Ristorante Italiano

 

Where can I find the best crabcakes in Maryland?

If there’s one food that Maryland is famous for, it’s crabcakes. Fortunately, that means you don’t need to travel far to find yourself near a delicious seafood restaurant. If you’re on the hunt for the best crabcakes in Maryland, take a look at the following recommendations and check out any of the following restaurants:

  • G&M Restaurant & Lounge in Linthicum Heights
  • Timbuktu Restaurant in Hanover
  • Faidley’s Seafood in Baltimore
  • Jerry’s Place in Prince Frederick
  • The Narrows Restaurant in Grasonville
  • Crabcake Factory USA in Ocean City
  • Crab Cake Cafe on the National Harbor
  • The Corner Stable in Columbia
  • Pappas Restaurant with multiple locations throughout the state
  • Edgewater Restaurant
  • Box Hill Pizzeria in Abingdon

Learn more about how you can find the best crabcakes in Maryland.