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St. Mary's Landing

29935 Three Notch Rd., Charlotte Hall, MD - (301) 884-6124
Posted By Michael Stern on 9/5/2010 4:31:00 PM
“How are the crab cakes?” we asked Lynda the waitress one evening at St. Mary’s Landing.

“They’re huge!” she replied. “Softballs! And very, very crabby.”

We love the enthusiasm with which food is served in this comfy St. Mary’s Country Roadhouse along Route 5 on the Western Shore. When we enquired about the local specialty, stuffed ham, we were treated to a veritable homily on the subject, including how to cook it (boil, then quickly refrigerate) and how to serve it (preferably, cool). It is a corned ham prepared with heaps of kale, cabbage, onions, and spice, served here for breakfast on a plate with delicious potato cakes or for supper as a main course.

Other than ham, the menu here includes all kinds of the seafood that makes Chesapeake Bay dining such a pleasure. In addition to those crabby crabcakes, we enjoyed a big, snapping-firm spiced boiled shrimp on a half-and-half plate with barbecued ribs. The ribs were terrific, with a delicate crunch to their outermost edges and meat that slid right off the bone.

Like so many of the worthwhile restaurants in this part of the world, St. Mary’s Landing is a tavern as well as eatery. There’s a bar room in back; and the booths and tables out front all provide views of ceiling-mounted television sets that offer a continuous, minute-by-second countdown to the next keno game.

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Scorecard

5 - Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace
Overall: Legendary - Worth driving from anyplace
Stuffed Ham
Crab Cakes
Spiced Boiled Shrimp
Liver & Onions
Potato Cakes
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Reviewers Photos [Upload Your Photos]

Here's a plate of stuffed ham for breakfast. It is heaped with peppery spiced greens and sided by an excellent mashed potato cake.
"Here's a plate of stuffed ham for breakfast. It is heaped with peppery spiced greens and sided by an excellent mashed potato cake."
Michael Stern





In this part of the world, boiling shellfish with a hail of spice is an art. That's a cup of drawn butter to the left of the shrimp.
"In this part of the world, boiling shellfish with a hail of spice is an art. That's a cup of drawn butter to the left of the shrimp."
Michael Stern


Crab is the best-known specialty in this area, and these crab cakes are superb. That big globe on the right is mashed potatoes and gravy.
"Crab is the best-known specialty in this area, and these crab cakes are superb. That big globe on the right is mashed potatoes and gravy."
Michael Stern


If stuffed ham isn't exotic enough for you, St. Mary's Landing also offers that Mid-Atlantic pig meat scrapple for breakfast.
"If stuffed ham isn't exotic enough for you, St. Mary's Landing also offers that Mid-Atlantic pig meat scrapple for breakfast."
Cliff Strutz


Half-and-half: shrimp and ribs
"Half-and-half: shrimp and ribs"
Michael Stern


Seemingly every inch of wall space is covered with photos of the owner's family and friends, favorite customers and employees.
"Seemingly every inch of wall space is covered with photos of the owner's family and friends, favorite customers and employees."
Cliff Strutz


Many of the most interesting restaurants in this part of Maryland are also drinking places.
"Many of the most interesting restaurants in this part of Maryland are also drinking places."
Michael Stern


A friendly roadhouse along Route 5 ... where regional specialties define the menu.
"A friendly roadhouse along Route 5 ... where regional specialties define the menu."
Michael Stern



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