[Baltimore Sun] Winners in Best Restaurants of Anne Arundel County Contest 2024
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Fans of Lures Bar & Grille and JesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen overwhelmingly voted their support in the readers’ poll this year.
More than 7,500 ballots were cast in 46 categories during this year’s contest — demonstrating that eateries are dishing it out like never before in 2024. There’s something for everyone, from fine to casual dining, food trucks to sit-downs, and familiar favorites to new on the block.
Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from May to June. The results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.
Executive Chef, Ken Zellers at Lures Bar & Grill in Crownsville, holding Crab Cake Southern Fancy. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Ambience: Lures Bar & Grille
1397 Generals Hwy., Crownsville, 410-923-1606, luresbarandgrille.com
For nearly a decade-and-a-half, Lures Bar & Grille has operated on Generals Highway. Located across the street from the historic Crownsville Hospital, it’s one of the few restaurants cars pass by before the Westfield Annapolis Mall.
Tristan Soja, part owner of the restaurant, says that the coastal-themed establishment has no special secret. Other than “keeping things new and fresh” with its food and cocktails, the service it provides is habitual quality checking, he said.
The ambience is not just defined by the light blue color theme and fish that decorate the walls. “Ambience starts as soon as you walk in the door,” he said.
It’s carried from the host, to and from the table by the servers and with little goldfish garnishes that decorate each plate. Their cocktails may be seasonal, but outdoor dining is a year-round affair in a pavilion with heaters. Soja describes it as a “casual vibe with kind of upscale food and cocktails.”
— Megan Loock
Honorable mentions:
JesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenGameOn bar+arcadeVin 909 Winecafe’
Bakery: Black Market Bakers
Honorable mentions:
Carlson’s Donuts & Thai KitchenInGrano Bistro BakeryBlondie’s Doughnuts
Bar food: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
JesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenGameOn bar+arcadeDavis’ Pub
Pit Beef sandwich at Pit Boys restaurant, located on Forest Drive in Annapolis. (Courtesy Pit Boys)
Barbecue: Pit Boys
1515 Forest Drive, Annapolis. 410-263-2333. pitboys.com
Don’t let the name fool you. Yes, Pit Boys can pile up a mean pit beef sandwich. But there are mallets for crabs, crackers for lobster claws and plenty of napkins for baby back ribs.
Located in Annapolis, the family business — operated by Marla and David George, and their kids Ellie, Jaime and Charlie — offers dine-in, carryout and catering for its ranging menu.
Picnic tables sprawled across the dining floor invite parties to enjoy whatever they’re in the mood for, from land or sea. Daily specials offer much of the menu at a discount and for most of the year, all-you-can-eat options can satisfy even the most ambitious stomachs.
What keeps people coming back? It’s the staff, the environment and the family feeling that comes from both.
“Everyone kind of knows each other,” Ellie George said. “It feels like you’re eating at your grandmother’s house.”
— Luke Parker
Honorable mentions:
Adam’s Taphouse and GrilleThe HideawayMission BBQ
Bartender: Jamey Staley, JesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen
Honorable mentions:
Jessica Cummings, Lures Bar & GrilleAmity Fernandez, GameOn bar+arcadeMeaghan Frisina, Lures Bar & Grille
Beer list: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
GameOn bar+arcadeHeroes PubFox’s Den
Best overall: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
Leo AnnapolisJesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenGameOn bar+arcade
Black-owned restaurant: Chick and Ruth’s
Honorable mentions:
Davis’ PubBlondie’s Doughnuts
Breakfast/brunch: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
Iron RoosterMiss Shirley’s CafeGrump’s Cafe
Burger: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
Leo AnnapolisFive GuysJesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen
Chef: Ken Zellers, Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
Matthew Lego, Leo AnnapolisJesse Ramirez, JesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenScotty Szekretar, VIN 909 Winecafe
Chinese: Jack’s Fortune
Honorable mention:
Golden Dragon
Cocktail: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
JesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenGameOn bar+arcadeParley Room
Coffee: Rise Up
Honorable mentions:
Bean Rush CrownsvilleInGrano Bistro BakeryCeremony Coffee Roasters
Crabcake: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
Boatyard Bar & GrillEdgewater RestaurantG & M Restaurant
Deli: Giolitti Delicatessen
Honorable mentions:
Chick and Ruth’sThe Italian MarketPark Deli
Dessert: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
Always Ice Cream Co.Black Market BakersJesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen
Fine dining: Lewnes’ Steakhouse
Honorable mentions:
Leo AnnapolisJesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenOsteria 177
Food truck: Smash Up Burgers
Honorable mentions:
DMV and BeyondJesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenGreek on the Street
Frozen treats: Always Ice Cream Co.
Honorable mentions:
Rita’s Italian IceBruster’s Real Ice Cream
Greek: Chris’s Charcoal Pit
Honorable mention:
Paul’s Homewood Café
Happy hour: JesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen
Honorable mentions:
The Point Crab House & GrillJalapeñosStan and Joe’s Saloon
Healthful menu: True Kitchen
Honorable mentions:
CAVAFirst WatchPreserve
Indian: Basmati Indian Restaurant
Honorable mention:
Namaste Fine Indian Cuisine
Italian: Osteria 177
Honorable mentions:
Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen & Wine BarLuna BluMezzanotte
Japanese: Joss Café & Sushi Bar
Honorable mentions:
Fuji Hibachi Sushi & Lava BarNova Sushi Bar & Asian FusionNagoya Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar
Late-night dining: GameOn bar+arcade
Honorable mentions:
Fox’s DenChick and Ruth’sStan and Joe’s Saloon
Owners Jesse Ramirez and Jayleen Fonseca. JesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen in Churchton. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
Latin: JesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen
5471 Muddy Creek Road, Churchton. 240-903-8100. jessejays.com
JesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen offers an authentic fusion of Mexican and Puerto Rican cuisine, combining the owners’ backgrounds and love for hospitality.
Jesse Ramirez grew up cooking with his grandmother, went to culinary school, and worked at restaurants in Baltimore for 15 years. Jayleen Fonseca worked in corporate food production for 17 years and dreamed of owning a restaurant. The couple opened JesseJay’s in 2019, innovating with a food truck and outdoor seating to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s fresh, delicious Latin food, just like our abuelitas — our grandmas — taught us, with good service the way it should be,” said Fonseca.
The restaurant features ample parking, a bar, and outdoor seating options, including a large cabana and a grassy space for kids to play. The menu ranges from typical Latin dishes, like eight varieties of tacos and nachos, to authentic dishes such as the Fried Red Snapper, served whole on a platter.
— Bridget Byrne
Honorable mentions:
JalapeñosCaliente GrillSeñor Chile
Live entertainment: Ram’s Head On Stage
Honorable mentions:
Stan and Joe’s SaloonThe Point Crab House & GrillStan and Joe’s Riverside
Lunch menu: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
JesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenBoatyard Bar & GrillHarvest Thyme Tavern
New restaurant: Blondie’s Doughnuts (tie) and RAR/Chessie’s Wharf (tie)
Michelle and Hasson Diggs, owners of Blondie’s Doughnuts in Edgewater pictured with some of the breakfast and lunch hot sandwich offerings. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Blondie’s Doughnuts
8 Mayo Road, Edgewater. 443-961-6089. blondiesdoughnuts.com
Six years ago, Blondie’s Doughnuts owner Michelle Diggs had a doughnut that changed her life.
That chocolate and sea salt doughnut, made by a shop in Portland, Maine, prompted Diggs to switch from a career in clinical research to a pursuit of making delectable doughnuts for customers in Baltimore and Annapolis.
From its humble start at farmers’ markets to the grand opening of its first storefront in Edgewater last fall, Blondie’s has wowed with a variety of fluffy, fried doughnuts, made with its signature brioche dough. An array of hearty breakfast sandwiches, made with handmade bread and smoked meats, offer a more savory morning option.
“When you appreciate the feedback from your customers, the hard work that the team puts in, and, again, the love that you put into what you make, it’s like soul food to me,” Diggs said. “It comes from my soul literally every single day.”
— Natalie Jones
Honorable mentions:
100 LotsAdam’s on FourthThe Goat
Outdoor dining: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
The Point Crab House & GrillGameOn bar+arcadeJesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen
Pizza: Vin 909 Winecafe
Honorable mentions:
GameOn bar+arcadeFox’s DenLedo Pizza
Place to take out-of-towners: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
Leo AnnapolisJesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenGameOn bar+arcade
Place to take the kids: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
GameOn bar+arcadeCoconut Joe’s Bar & GrillAlways Ice Cream Co.
Seafood: Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
Edgewater RestaurantO’Leary’s Seafood RestaurantBoatyard Bar & Grill
Server: Jackson Warriner, Lures Bar & Grille
Honorable mentions:
Erica Taylor, JesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenJennifer Yitts, JesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenAmanda Shelton, Petie Greens
Sports bar: Heroes Pub
Honorable mentions:
All American SteakhouseStan and Joe’s SaloonJB’s Severna Park
Steak: Lewnes’ Steakhouse
Honorable mentions:
Ruth’s Chris Steak HouseJesseJay’s Latin Inspired KitchenTuscan Prime
Sushi: Joss Cafe & Sushi Bar
Honorable mentions:
TsunamiYama Sushi barNova Sushi
Takeout: JesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen
Honorable mentions:
GameOn bar+arcadeLemongrassMaggiano’s Little Italy
Thai: Lemongrass
Honorable mentions:
Carlson’s Donuts & Thai KitchenM Thai KitchenThai at Waugh Chapel
Value: JesseJay’s Latin Inspired Kitchen
Honorable mentions:
GameOn bar+arcadeGrump’s CafeDavis’ Pub
Vegetarian options: True Food
Honorable mentions:
PreserveBasmati Indian Restaurant
View: Choptank (tie) and Severn Inn (tie)
Honorable mentions:
Carrol’s Creek CafeThe Point Crab House and Grill
Wine list: Leo Annapolis
Honorable mentions:
Vin 909 WinecafeCooper’s Hawk Winery & RestaurantGrapes Wine Bar
Honorable mentions
Korean: Jongro KBBQ
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