Blue Dog Saloon

Great service and even greater food. Ordered the crab cake and it was one of the best crab cakes I have ever had!

Well almost 5 stars but I ordered Crab soup it was so salty and no veggies and had no crab meat or old Bay! I guess just not my taste! But the Garden Veggie Pizza was the bomb! Really nice crust and LOTS of VEGGIES! But the price was not on menu but I got anyway and it was huge pizza and so was the price! $ 16.00 but well with it! I took most of it home and it heated up great the next day in toaster oven! Really Delish! Also had a great side salad very fresh! Had 2 wines and also top notch! Service was excellent! You will for sure see me again!!!

Excellent food, had rockfish with lumps of crab no fillings, came with fresh kale spiced just right and great onion rings, wife, son and daughter-​in-​law said their scallops, fish and steak was great. Owner stopped by to check on us. Recommend the warm cobbler with ice cream. Little bit noisy but felt like a big families gathering.

Very good food/​not your usual fare/​Good service/​Great wine and beer selection. Worth the trip

Went there for the third time with a friend on Saturday night. I thought that I would give it one more try… it was a mistake. While the service is friendly enough, the food is below sub-​par. Had their Prime Rib selection. The meat was tough, sinewy and flavorless. It came only with a baked potato and no horseradish or any other condiments were offered. Had to ask for it along with bread and butter. Previous visit meals of steak and crabcakes were equally as bad.
If you want a good meal in this area… stay away from this place. There are better choices a little farther up the road. Maybe beers, a burger and watching the game would be more their forte.

Awesome place. love the food and friendly atmosphere. Chef Gary IS THE BEST! And the menu offers a nice variety of choices. Love the salmon and the Black and Blue Beef Tips are my favorite, but you will certainly want to try the Specials. The Entertainment is always great. All in all you will be glad you made the trip. try it out, you won’t be sorry.

This is one of the local places I’ve been wanting to try for a while. We walked in and was greeted by a waitress she asked if we would like the bar area or dining room we chose the dining room. It’s decorated really neat with old pictures from the area. We had a nice little candle on our table, it’s a elegant but comfortable atmosphere. We ordered 2 appetizers the pork belly and the fish bites. Both were great I would like the pork belly to be thicker cut but still delicious the Chipotle mashed potatoes the pork belly is on is genius. We ordered the prime rib medium rare it was perfect. Our sides were kale and a baked potato. The kale is so good, it’s seasoned perfect. We ended this great meal and night out with coffee and crème brûlée. The coffee was very good and the dessert was perfect. The bar area in this restaurant stays nice and calm and doesn’t interfere with your quiet dining if that’s what your in the mood for. Our waitress was great, the perfect amount of friendly but not staying at our table to long. I would definitely recommend stopping by and trying this place out.

Friendly down home feeling. Good food. Pineapple express is a good drink. Had the vision burger. Good have had a sauce on top but the fries were very tasty. Quick service. Friendly staff

We were in the Port Tobacco area this evening and had heard that the food was pretty good at the Blue Dog Saloon, so my boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. Well, as it turned out, we never did have dinner here. This was my first time here… my boyfriend has been here dozens of times, all prior to the current ownership.
We went through the door and were greeted by a young woman, the hostess, who asked if we would like to sit in the dining area, to the right, or the bar area, to the left. We noticed about 4 empty tables in the bar area, and expressed that the bar area was our preference. We helped ourselves back to one of the empty tables against the wall, directly across from the TV at the bar.
A very young boy, who looked to be about 12, came charging over that he did not know if this table was reserved. The next thing we knew, the hostess seated a table right behind us, then said to us that she would bring our menus.
Literally seconds after being told that she would bring our menus, the young boy appeared and the hostess then tried shuffling us to another table, the furthest back, in the bar area. She did not ask nicely, or explain whether a table was reserved… rather abruptly, at the insistence of this young boy, told us that we had to move.
Well, move we did… right out the door, right after expressing to the owner or manager our disapproval of the the poor customer service skills that we experienced by the staff. It is beyond me why any restaurant would allow a young boy, a child really, to control the front of a restaurant business.
We eat out a lot… at least 3 times/​week for dinner, not to mention daily lunches. When we like a restaurant, we frequent it. Blue Dog Saloon missed out on the opportunity to serve us… We will not step through their doors again.

Service was good, Cheryl always remembered our name. Seafood Pasta was better than average, we added much parmesan and pepper and to make it very good. 2 drinks each and dinner $ 80.00,may sound a little stiff but, hamburger is $ 5 a lb… crabmeat $ 30 a lb. Could have offered bread. had to ask/​/​Atmosphere good semi local so from home had dinner and back in 1hour 45 minutes… I would do it again…

Well, food was Ok. Pricey… (180 for 4 people). Service was very nice but slow. But the REAL reason I’m posting is because after we finished dinner, a mouse ran across my wife’s foot. When we told the staff, they dismissed it and said that it’s normal because they are close to a wooden area. The owner was there and never left the bar to at least apologize for the event. I should’ve called the health department… Won’t be back and will be telling everyone I come in contact with about the blue mouse saloon.

Went to the Blue Dog Saloon for the first time. Great menu and everything we ordered was delicious! Had the Filet Mignon Sandwich which was smothered with melted blue cheese, grilled onions, and mushrooms on a tasty toasted bun. It was excellent! You can definitely tell that the chef does not cut corners! Atmosphere was pretty cool too. Moved back to the area recently and am excited to find a quality restaurant to go to.

I really want to like this place more but, the food is so-​so and overpriced for what it is. I have been dying out here in Southern Maryland since I moved here a year ago. All the restaurants here are chains and the ones that aren’t all seem to have the same menu. I do like the bartenders at Blue Dog and their cream of crab soup is awesome, but other than that I’m pretty underwhelmed by their menu.

Now keep in mind I’m giving this a 4 on the Southern Maryland scale… there simply isn’t anything to do here but Blue Dog is a great alternative to the chain restaurants in La Plata and Waldorf.
I went there at about 7:30 on a Saturday night. It was somewhat busy but there was no wait for a table for two. The service was a bit slow but the waitress (a middle aged woman with very short hair) was very friendly and genuine. They have a decent drink selection and very reasonable prices. Two beers, stuffed mushrooms, two burgers and a salad came to about $ 45. The mushrooms were delicious but a bit overpriced ($ 11 for only 4). Burgers were great and not too greasy. I recommend the asparagus as a side (not on the menu!) as it is super crunchy and awesome. It wasn’t too noisy considering the size. I noticed a little stage where I assume they have live music at night. It would be cool if they added outdoor seating although I suppose the surrounding area isn’t much to look at. Décor is kind of cheesy but again this isn’t DC– its Port Tobacco. Nice local place. Would definitely go back.

We’ve visited here before and left disappointed. Disappointed in the food, disappointed in the service.
But that was more than 18 months ago, and I’m pleased to report things have improved quite a bit. I think the inside has had quite a bit done to it, and it really does offer a nice environment — but please keep an eye out for the cobwebs in the high corners :-| The wait staff is attentive and professional, clearly happy to be working there.
I had heard through the grapevine that snakehead fish was on the menu, but was disappointed that it wasn’t there. Perhaps it’s seasonal — I don’t know; I should have asked.
On to the food.
We were most impressed by the specials menu, though we looked over the regular menu as well. I went right for the mussels in red pepper cream sauce for an appetizer, while my companion went for the deconstructed gazpacho.
The mussels were perfectly cooked, and the red pepper cream sauce was indeed delicious, though I thought the sauce might have been a bit heavy for the application. I wonder if a splash or two of white wine might have made it a perfect match.
The deconstructed gazpacho was impressively creative, but lacked that distinctive gazpacho flavor and bite. It was nonetheless quite refreshing and very nicely presented. The crab on top was a very nice bonus.
I ordered my entrée off of the specials menu, and I went right for the soft crabs served with poached eggs on the top. This was super creative and inventive — I never thought to dress up soft crabs that way before. The eggs were cooked to absolute perfection (though lacking salt, unfortunately), and the yolks were so rich, it really transformed this dish into a decadent treat. However, I was a bit disappointed the soft crabs were deep-​fried rather than pan-​fried. Call me a purist (or a snob), but in my opinion, delicious soft crabs deserve a gentle and proper sauté, not a plunge in 350+ degree oil. I complain about this constantly; there are seemingly fewer and fewer places that pan sauté soft crabs. The soft crabs were absolutely fresh, as they had that nice briny, just-​from-​the-​river taste. My final complaint about this dish would be serving asparagus as a green. Asparagus in August in Charles County? I’d be much happier if Chef Gary were to avail himself of the local abundance of seasonal vegetables. It would be a perfect way to up the game and set The Blue Dog apart from other restaurants in Charles. Few if any places are taking advantage of the growing locavore movement. Embrace it now and ascend as far as you want to go.
My companion had the fillet mignon off the regular menu. She asked for it cooked medium and it came out slightly over cooked, but was a very flavorful cut just the same. The mushroom sauce accompanying it (Bearnaise I think??) was absolutely perfect, and made the steak a real savory treat. My same complaint about asparagus applies here as well.
I’d like to see the wine list expand a bit, but overall we had a fine meal and a fine experience. We’ll definitely be back, especially as I see signs of improvement.

Three and a half stars is about right for this place. I was home visiting my parents and my mom said we were going to go to a really nice place. I looked down at my jeans and sneakers, and asked if I was dressed alright. Her response: «Yea — it’s still Southern Maryland».
We went when a small group — 5 people. I wasn’t super hungry and had trouble deciding on a whole meal so I got the crab soup and shared off everyone else’s plates. I loved the soup. I had to ask for crackers though. My dad got some kind of hearty meat dish, which was yummy. My mom and aunt got a burger. My grandma got the chicken fingers.
Since I didn’t eat much, I had room for dessert. I was torn between the flourless chocolate cake and the crème brûlée. I got the cake, the rest of the table got either the crème brûlée or the bread pudding. I liked the cake but should have gone with the crème brûlée, it was delish.
The service was fine, a little slow. The bathrooms are so silly here. It is a one person, with a step.Yeah. So you walk in the sink is on the left, then there is a step up to the toliet. I’m kind of tall, and wasn’t really sure where to put my feet. I wasn’t comfortable with them on the step and I wasn’t tall enough to keep them on the main floor. It was just so odd.
I gave it four stars, but rounded up from three and a half. It’s a nice place for Southern Maryland.

Fun place, full of locals! I personally treasure when I can find a place that no one else finds, and being a short drive from Dahlgren (where I had been for work) this one’s a diamond in the rough.
There’s no logical reason for this place to be where it is, but that’s certainly part of the charm. About six miles west of La Plata in Port Tobacco, MD, Blue Dog is just suddenly *there* as you come over the top of a hill, surrounded by farms and trees.
I ate there twice and can vouch for the chicken breast sandwich, homemade waffle potato chips with blue cheese and bacon, french onion soup, and bison burger. All delish, those waffle chips were unique and fantastic.

After hearing rave reviews about Blue Dog, my friend and I decided to check it out. Wednesday night is $ 14.95 Lobster Night. Upon arrival I ordered a Margarita on the rocks. not a good idea. It tasted like it was poured from a pre mixed bottle and added to low quality tequilla. Ick. Next my salad came.Ceasar.Very bland and uninteresting nothing to talk about for sure. I was hopeful that when the Lobster came I would be pleasantly suprised, but to no avail. the Lobster was very small… the claws were good, but the tail was very tough and almost impossible to chew. It came with a teeny tiny baked potato. Quite disappointed. I felt the need to leave and go straight to McDonalds. I was starving! Not sure if I would even give the place a second try…

A true culinary gem in the midst of farm land off the beaten path in Southern Maryland. Our party of eight all had great experiences here with the food (waitress was not good at all but the table next to ours had a wonderful server so it’s hit or miss depending on the staff).
Appetizers/​Sides We Tried:
Waffle Fries with Blue Cheese and Bacon — two words: flavor explosion. These were really wonderfully done. Gourmet waffle chips with sour cream and blue cheese sauce and bacon pieces. Can’t really go wrong but if there was a way to, they didnt find it. This was done very well. DELICIOUS!
Chipotle Nachos — came out on a giant platter. Harder to eat and less delicious than the waffle fries but beautiful and yummy.
Crab Soup — This was my absolute favorite. Creamy. Sherry. TONS OF LUMP CRAB. Great price. Hot. Gorgeous and velvety. Totally recommend.
Caesar Salad — Too much dressing but flavor was great. Not for someone looking for a light salad option at all. Great croutons.
Entrees We Tried:
Black and Blue Filet Mignon Sandwich — Holy cow. So good! Tender beef, decadent blue cheese, perfectly cooked mushrooms all on a heavenly brioche roll. Think of this as a fancy, non-​hoagie length steak and cheese. Onion rings came with it and rocked. Three large rings with breading that was fantastic. Great dish.
Crab Cake Sandwich — Can hardly call this a crab cake — there’s hardly any filling and thats the beauty of it. Tons of lump crab meat on the same buttery brioche roll. This was a huge winner.
Bison Burger — Came out undercooked for medium. Good size but not overwhelming. Cheese and brioche bun were yummy. Good but not knock your socks off good.
Chocolate cake was underwhelming — wish we’d tried the bread pudding!
Bathrooms leave something to be desired — small, one-​stall for each gender. Men’s sink is on the outside (next to the bar… pretty odd).
Really cool stage and bar area — surprisingly country-​chic for the area! Very well done.
Prices were great if you stick to sandwiches but jump about $ 10 when you go to entrees (fish, steaks, etc.)
Would be great to have a signature/​specialty cocktail list. A «blue dog sour» or a «port tobacco and tonic» might be fun and draw in ladies for girls nights out :)
Overall — SUCH a great place. Food quality is outstanding. Chef/​owner comes around to greet everyone. Son of owner (we think) opens doors for you and reads the specials — it’s a family country restaurant with food that could compete with some amazing DC restaurants. Another reason to put Charles County on the culinary map.
Only things keeping it from a 5:
— bathrooms
— waitress
— dining room was a little small
— need more healthy options

Homemade Potato Waffle Chips topped with blue cheese & bacon were fab. Hamburger was particularly flavorful. Only thing keeping this from 5 stars is that the pours were pretty meager… stick to beer.