910 Kentmorr Rd.
Stevensville, MD 21666
410-643-2263
kentmorr.com
Daily: 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
Appetizers: $4.99–11.99
Soup & Salad: $3.99–7.99
Sandwiches: $5.99–13.99
Beef, Chicken, & Ribs: $12.99–21.99
Seafood Entrées: $12.99–26.99
Crab Corner: $6.50–24.99
Summer is about eating outdoors, and Kentmorr Restaurant and Crab House is made for summer dining. Located in Stevensville, it is happily situated near the water, with a sleek exterior that is inviting to the eye. Inside are multiple seating areas offering great waterfront views, thanks to a series of large windows that are opened, allowing a cool Bay breeze to sweep through the dining room.
Kentmorr’s waterfront location provides easy dock-and-dine opportunities.
I arrived on a warm, sunny, and particularly busy Saturday afternoon, along with my dining partner, Fred. The parking lot was packed—and, as my mother always said, if a place is full it’s got to be good. People were coming and going, some dressed to the nines. Suffice it to say, I felt underdressed but soon noticed people in swimsuits and swim gear headed into the restaurant, obviously destined for its small, private beach. We then learned that the establishment was also hosting and catering a large, outdoor wedding. With all the movement going on outside, I was prepared to find an equally active interior. My expectations proved to be accurate, as once inside the restaurant was full of both locals and visitors sitting in groups. Many, if not all, of their tables were covered with fresh crabs, Old Bay Seasoning, and pitchers of cold beer. The air was filled with the din of wooden mallets being tapped against crab shells as hungry diners worked their way towards the crab meat.
Taking in the scene, I was more than ready for some seafood. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait long. Despite being crowded, Kentmorr’s staff quickly acknowledged us and led us to a table. Shortly, our waiter arrived and affably greeted us. We first ordered drinks—beer and mojitos— and then shifted our focus to the menu.
The restaurant’s private beach is an ideal spot to relax after a good meal.
To start with, our waiter recommended a number of dishes and flavors, one being the homemade crab dip. Working off of his recommendations, we chose a crab pretzel—a warm, soft, Philly-style pretzel covered with the restaurant’s homemade crab dip (flavorful and without the pasty texture that sometimes plagues crab dip), and a hearty dose of cheddar cheese. Crab pretzels are one of my favorite comfort foods, and I definitely recommend the ones here.
Our second appetizer, the wakame scallops, proved that Kentmorr is adventurous with its seafood. The fresh scallops are dipped in panko and sesame seeds, crisp-fried, and served with a sesame oil-infused wakame seaweed salad that reinforces the dish’s Asian flavors. With my first bite, I happily discovered that not only were the scallops fresh, but also tender and buttery on the tongue. An accompanying hoisin and wasabi cream sauce only complemented the natural sweetness of the scallops. This speaks well of the hands at work in the kitchen. (For those who may not like scallops, the menu offers the same appetizer with tuna instead.)
Few guilty pleasures measure up to a perfectly cooked cheeseburger.
In selecting my main course, I knew I wanted to indulge in some deep-fried seafood, a definitive guilty pleasure. Sometimes you just can’t help but want what is so deliciously not good for you, and the Kentmorr did an excellent job at satisfying my craving with its fried seafood combo. The combo consisted of a large serving of flounder, fried shrimp, soft-shell crab, crab cake, and a choice of two sides. I chose corn on the cob and the house potato salad as my sides. Fred went for the Kentmorr burger with Swiss cheese, bacon, and a side of fries.
Our entrées arrived promptly. All in all, mine was certainly a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. Everything on the plate was delicious, from the fried flouder to the tartar sauce. (I can’t say I normally enjoy tartar sauce; in fact, this might be the first time.) Each piece of seafood was lightly breaded and fried quickly—in my opinion, the primary components of good fried food. And, of course, the ingredients were fresh, which is essential for any dish, especially seafood. For those who love crab cakes, it was easy to see why Kentmorr’s are award-winning. They’re lightly breaded, with an impressive ratio of lump crab meat to filling. The corn and potato salad were not only good companions to the seafood combo but also great on their own. The potato salad was creamy and fresh, while the corn was tender and sweet. Fred enjoyed his juicy cheese burger while unabashedly stealing several bites from my plate, as well.
Be sure to visit Kentmorr Restaurant and Crab House for the relaxed atmosphere and views of the Bay. Also, give yourself the opportunity to try something new, like the wakame scallops, or revisit traditional Bay favorites. It’s summertime, so treat yourself to a night of eating and drinking at this popular dining spot.
Monserrat Urena works as an Editorial Assistant for the What’s Up? Publishing Group and is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, California.
Annapolis Restaurant Guide 