Seafood Restaurants in Baltimore, MD

1. Rusty Scupper, Inner Harbor

Rusty Scupper, Inner Harbor is an upscale landmark seafood restaurant that has been serving regional Maryland-style seafood for more than 30 years at their convenient Inner Harbor location. The restaurant serves mostly seafood dishes that have been enhanced by the spices and seasonings of the Chesapeake region.

Some of the most praise-worthy items on the menu include the warm ciabatta bread, the crab bisque, and the Maryland crab cakes. The Sunday brunch features live jazz or piano music and reservations are recommended, especially during the popular brunch service. Diners can take in fantastic panoramic views of the Baltimore waterfront while indulging in seafood favorites. The restaurant offers a convenient shuttle service to many hotels in the Inner Harbor.

402 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230, Phone: 410-727-3678

2. Faidley's, West Side

Faidley's, West Side is one of the best-known and oldest seafood restaurants in Baltimore and in fact the entire Chesapeake area. Famous for crab cakes, the restaurant makes gigantic hand-formed lump crab cakes.

Located in the world-famous Lexington Market, Faidley’s has received many awards and accolades and has appeared on a number of media outlets such as the Travel Channel, Smithsonian Magazine, the Food Network, and more. In addition to the iconic crab cakes, the restaurant serves a selection of seafood, soups, and entrees.

They offer the interesting experience of ordering fresh fish from their fish counter and having it cooked to order. Faidley’s also offers a next-day air delivery service of their crab cakes, so fans can partake in them anywhere in the United States.

203 North Paca Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, Phone: 410-727-4898

3. LP Steamers, Locust Point

Located in a corner row house in Locust Point, the family-run LP Steamers, Locust Point is a laid-back Maryland-style crab house.

The crabs are definitely the focus of LP’s simple menu. The popular steamed crabs can be ordered in several sizes and are brought to you at the table to crack and pick yourself.

Other steamed seafood is also done quite well and includes shrimp, mussels, scallops, and clams. A few standard crab-shack appetizers are available to get you started and there is a small menu of spirits to wash it all down.

1100 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230, Phone: 410-576-9294

4. Mama's on the Half Shell, Canton

Mama's on the Half Shell, Canton is a popular Baltimore tavern which offers up large portions of rich, hearty seafood dishes and also features a large oyster selection.

This reasonably priced restaurant has attempted to recreate the seafood restaurants of the past. Fitting with this theme, the decorations feature photographs and cultural artifacts from Baltimore’s past.

There is a bustling bar downstairs that can be a bit noisy and crowded at times, although the upstairs dining room is cozy and much quieter.

In the summer, you can also dine on the sidewalk outside. The menu features a wide range of seafood dishes, including fried, steamed, or raw seafood as well as a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, soups, and salads. You would be missing out if you didn’t accompany your meal with one of the restaurant’s famous orange crushes.

2901 O’Donnell Street, Baltimore, MD 21224, Phone: 410-276-3160

5. Nick's Fish House, Port Covington

Nick's Fish House, Port Covington is a casual seafood restaurant modeled after a beach bar. The restaurant serves a variety of seafood classics, including their popular steamed crab and crab cakes.

The menu offers a selection of appetizers that leans heavily toward fried foods and is reminiscent of a beach-front dive; it includes fried calamari, fried green tomatoes, and chicken wings.

The rest of the menu includes a large variety of drool-worthy seafood of the raw, steamed, and fried varieties.

The outdoor dining on the waterfront deck is a great way to partake in happy hour, a delicious seafood dinner, or an orange crush while overlooking the picturesque Patapsco River. Nick’s frequently hosts events, including live music and entertainment, nearly every weekend.

2600 Insulator Drive, Baltimore, MD 21230, Phone: 410-347-4123

6. Ouzo Bay, East Harbor

Ouzo Bay, East Harbor is a swanky East Harbor restaurant serving Greek seafood and creative cocktails. Visitors will find traditional Greek and Mediterranean dishes such as spanakopita and dolmades.

However, there are several more exotic dishes on offer as well such as ortyki, which is a grilled quail served atop a pancake made from zucchini.

The seafood menu is diverse and includes fresh-caught fish from around the world prepared with fresh herbs and spices to give it a distinct Mediterranean flavor. Ouzo Bay also offers one of the largest selections of Ouzo in the Eastern United States. Reservations are accepted.

1000 Lancaster Street, Baltimore, MD 21224, Phone: 443-708-5818

7. Phillips Seafood, Inner Harbor

Phillips Seafood, Inner Harbor is a Baltimore icon serving fresh, Maryland-style seafood and American favorites.

The menu features all the traditional seafood dishes that you would expect, with a special emphasis on their famous jumbo lump crab cakes, which are served with a zesty chipotle sauce.

Other non-seafood items on the menu include a roasted breast of chicken and a grilled ribeye. Over the past few years, the menu has placed more emphasis on local seafood and farm products from the Baltimore area. The restaurant features nightly live piano music and is only steps away from the attractions in the Inner Harbor as well as many popular downtown hotels. Phillips also has a branch at the Baltimore-Washington Airport.

601 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, Phone: 410-685-6600