Savor the Chesapeake

Restaurant news and culinary trends throughout the Chesapeake Bay region

By Megan Kotelchuck

The weather is beautiful and there are so many great ways to get out and enjoy it, and many involve food and drink! Naptown Tiki Club has a new tiki boat bar in Ego Alley, new grab-and-gos are opening, as well as perfect date night spots, like Leo for romance, and Game On for a game play fun! There are even culinary events like Pint 4 Paws for the SPCA and St. Michaels BrewFest! What will you be enjoying this month?

On the Dining Scene...

 After much anticipation, L’Antico Gusto Italiano has opened in the Annapolis Mall. This new eatery offers sandwiches, salads, and pizza. The grab-and-go shop has had a positive showing in its first few months (it opened March 3rd). Try baked eggplant on your favorite salad, the meatball sub, or a salame sandwich with a pistachio spread, stracciatella cheese, and chopped hazelnuts. Find the full menu at lanticogi.com.

Another new restaurant opened in March, Leo Annapolis. Leo is a beautiful restaurant and bar located on West Street in Annapolis. The restaurant was opened by husband-and-wife team Brian and Hilarey Leonard who feature local product in their delicate and refined menu. Enjoy a charcuterie board and wine or a romaine heart cobb salad with spring pea risotto at Leo. Find a full menu and list of local producers they support at leoannapolis.com.

You will see a new vessel cruising Annapolis this summer, and it’s much more than a boat. Naptown Tiki Club is the first and only tiki boat bar in town. You and 15 of your best friends can enjoy this floating, private BYOB tiki bar in Maryland’s capital city. The boat embarks and disembarks from Nautilus Point Marina, and cruises for about an hour and a half for a private boat tour. You will glide through Back Creek and into the Annapolis Harbor and Naval Academy. This is hyper-local way to celebrate birthdays, bachelorettes, Navy sports pregame, or a pleasant day on the water! Find more information at seasuitecruises.com.

Just last year, GameOn, a bar and arcade for adults, opened on West Street in Annapolis. Now, GameOn Bar + Arcade is opening their third location, in downtown Columbia. GameOn, as well as The Angry Jerk, a Caribbean-Southern fusion restaurant, will open later this year across from Color Burst Park. The 4,000-squarefoot space will include retro and new arcade games, graffiti wall art, craft cocktails and beers, and special menu items. Check out the Annapolis or Fed Hill locations of GameOn while we anxiously await Columbia’s location! Visit gameonbararcade.com.

The fifth Maryland location of bb.q Chicken eatery has opened in Ellicott City. At 8801 Baltimore National Pike Suite K, bb.q Chicken offers specially seasoned wings, boneless bites, and more, with an Asian American twist and Korean flavors. Also, try the kimchi fried rice, spicy bowls, fried dumplings, pickled radishes, and more. So, so good. Be sure to stop in to enjoy the taste of Korean chicken! Check them out at bbqchicken.com.

Longtime crab picking paradise, Kentmorr Restaurant, closed for the season in early October. Then longtime owners Dave and Tammy Harper decided to retire. But this May, Kentmorr Restaurant reopened as Kentmorr Restaurant, an Atlas Brew Works Outpost. The new brewery/restaurant spot is at Kentmorr Restaurant’s original location at the marina. Find more information about the updated concept at atlaskentmorr.com.

Drink Up...

June calls for a light, crisp, and delicious cocktail! P.S. Something fruity always tastes better in the sunshine!