Hemingway’s

The view is spectacular…5 stars. We watched the sunset from the bar and the restaurant has a direct western view of the bay… gorgeous. The food is horrible; I would give it 1 star. Is there a chef here??? My mahi mahi was so fishy I know it was frozen or old. The blackening didn’t even mask the taste. I’m not opposed to a strong fish; I am one of the few that likes anchovies and mackerel but not when the fish isn’t suppose to taste that way! Husband had the steak salad. The filet was good however they covered it with an overpowering thick mustard dressing… why would they do that???
I will be back to order a few drinks and watch the sunset… SANS food unless they revamp the menu and/​or get a new executive chef

Great ambience with tastefully decorated sailing/​fishing theme making it an ideal romantic spot for dinner! My fiancé and I have come here twice and enjoyed it both the times. We even went out to the deck to dance and enjoy the spectacular views. We order the crab cake and crab bisque soup and they were both fresh. We seasoned it with extra old bay and that kicked our taste buds! For main entrée we ordered the 14 oz ribeye and it was heavenly and generously portioned that we shared the plate. The haricot verts that came with it was great!

After revisiting Hemingway’s after a long hiatus, it appears that they’ve finally made an effort to shed some of the dusty old yacht club atmosphere that they ran with for so many years. So I thought it was time for an upgrade to my review too.
Hemingway’s still has one of the most amazing views on the bay. Where they’ve improved dramatically is on their menu selection and the preparation of their dishes, (although some of the prices are still a little on the steep side for a dock bar). They’ve also employed a younger, cooler, wait and bartender staff, which gives the place a little more hip vibe to it. And during the summer months they’ve even added some occasional live music, (solo guitarists mostly, nothing too loud or raucous).
Hemmingway’s still isn’t the party destination of the Eastern Shore, for that you’ll have to go elsewhere. It’s apparent that the owners of Hemmingway’s would still prefer to attract more the wedding reception type of crowd rather than a bunch of people downing drinks and dancing to a live band into the wee hours on a Saturday night. But if you want a great view of the water, great food, and great drinks in a laid back Key West kinda atmosphere, Hemingway’s might just be your kinda place.

We ate here on our way home from Ocean City. It was a sunny afternoon so we ate outdoors which was very nice. Service was just OK. We had sandwiches and burgers so I can’t comment on their entrees. The burgers were large and cooked to our request. The food was good and we would definitely return.

Make the first right after after the bay bridge and first right after turn and you will snake back around to Hemmingways. What a amazing restaurant. Great crab bisque soup and the double crab cake dinner. Definitely best crab cakes on the eastern shore. I will definitely be back.

View at sunset and of the bridge is spectacular. I realize we dined on a Saturday night, perfect weather, I the summer but that does not excuse the length of time it took for our meals to arrive… and not all at the same time. I will say the food was very good (crab cakes.). I will absolutely give this establishment a second chance — just not durning peak season.

I used to stop here en route to OCMD every summer for years. It had been a couple years since I had been back, and, unfortunately, I will not be going back. The food was nothing like it used to be. The service was awful, however I completely discounted the quality of service in order to objectively judge the food.
I brought a friend to this restaurant on a Friday evening at 7 PM, and I should have taken the emptiness of the restaurant as a hint as to what product & service I’d be receiving. I raved about the cream of crab soup, because it had previously been the best I’d ever come across. The cream of crab soup was absolutely terrible. No lump crab or old bay added on top. We ordered calamari which was served with an aioli chipotle sauce… this WAS a seafood restaurant, apparently not anymore. The crab cakes were okay, however they were formed as saucers, not the Maryland «cake».
I don’t know if ownership has changed, or it is just terribly managed. The only thing good about Hemingway’s is the view. Go for the bar on the bay. Don’t go to eat.

The food is nothing special — nothing disappointing, but nothing that stands out from hundreds of other casual American-​style restaurants in the region. And the prices are a little bit higher than average. But the view is amazing, especially off of the upper deck patio; and there’s ample, easy docking for one’s boat.
I guess the best way to put it, is that Hemmingway’s is a wonderful place to spend a few lazy hours with friends enjoying a fine outdoor day, especially as a lunch break from cruising the bay, and the food is decent enough that it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment.

I had the most bizarre «dining» experience at Hemingway’s this Saturday. I got there a little bit ahead of my friends so I asked the hostess what was good on the menu. The ribs, the burger, the pretzels… I thought that was a bit strange since it is billed as a seafood place on the water… but I didn’t think anything of it. We were seated and our waitress said that their kitchen was a little backlogged so we immediately put in an order for crab dip and drinks. We got those in a decent amount of time, but our server came back and told us that the kitchen wouldn’t be able to accept our food order! Huh?! We said we would eat our dip and then check in again about getting a food order placed. No dice. It wasn’t even like they were crowded. So bizarre!

2 stars for the nice view of the bay bridge! Figure there’s a huge fish on the side of the buiding, so I ordered the fish and chips. The french fries were warm and limp, the fish was bland and mushy. I got a piece and a ½. Figure for 18.95 I would get some descent fish, after all there is a huge bay outside of the restaurant.

You’re here for the view, not the food. We stopped by for lunch on our way home to DC and the setting really is picturesque. The service is fine and laid back (some may call it slow, but the place is meant to relax in, not get fast food). We sat out at the bar around 1pm and were the only ones there. Several tables on the patio were taken though so it wasn’t empty. Would be really great at sunset but I imagine the boat people show up and it gets crowded.
For a peaceful stop to stretch from the drive, it was a fine spot. The food is standard fare — nothing memorable, but if you keep your expectations low and recognize you’re there for the prettiness, you’ll be good. For the non drivers, the drink pours are quite generous which was unexpected for a touristy spot.

Arrived to find a nearly empty restaurant, and seated at a nice window seat. We were excited for a nice lunch with such a lovely view. The view is all they have that will satisfy you. We sat for 20 min with not a single server to check on us. I had to ask the hostess if anyone was going to wait on us. Servers seemed to be standing around doing nothing. Unreal. Then we still waited another 5 min for a server. She was pleasant, but seemed distracted or upset. She was prompt with our drinks, then our food arrived not too long after ordering. My Anjou Pear Gorgonzola Salad had no pears nor gorgonzola… not kidding… just spinach, drowned in dressing and candied walnuts. $ 14.00 for spinach, dressing and walnuts? Okaaayyy… server asked if everything was okay, but I was in no mood to send my food back. I just ate so we could leave. Then my boyfriend’s fish tacos… some of the fish apeared to not be cooked through. We separated the uncooked fish and then he ate the rest… thankfully he was not sick from it.
Go here if you’re in the mood for a view with slow service and overpriced, incorrect menu items.

We had strong recommendations from a friend who stops here frequently on his way back from the beach.
The setting on the waterfront is lovely. As we walked around to the patio, I was nearly paralyzed by the overamplified truly awful calypso. Look, I love calypso and reggae. But don’t shriek it over recorded tracks at 80 dB. This wasn’t Jamaica. The closest this came to The Islands was a bar mitzvah in The Hamptons where no person darker than a tennis tan would be let in.
Wandering around the maze up the restaurant, we were greeted by a nearly empty restaurant. Our server, Nick, did a surprisingly good job despite it being only his third day.
I asked for gluten-​free options, and both Nick and his co-​worker made good suggestions. I’d recommend they steer carefully around the salads, though. The dressings can be a minefield depending on the source of the vinegar, bleu cheese and whether soy sauce is an ingredient.
The Ahi Tuna appetizer was a recommendation, but it shouldn’t have been because of the soy sauce.
We ordered two burgers, mine medium with no bun and slaw. His medium rare and slaw. Our orders were reversed and both came with fries. While the restaurant was empty, the patio was jumping so confusion in the orders occurred in the kitchen. Based on other reviews, this is a common theme. Your kitchen is out of control.
I’d request you switch to a more upscale condiment brand like Boar’s Head (which is also gluten free) and tastes way better than the horrible Heinz crap presented like this was a cheap diner.
Nick and his co-​workers played the best they could with the hand they were dealt. Our drinks were refilled without asking and their manners were excellent. Whoever’s hiring and training the staff knows their business.
I apologize to anyone may have seen us rinsing out with Listerine in the parking lot: new braces & they get really icky. That’s no reflection on the food, but it was gauche.

Really wanted to like this. Our hosts were very keen on it. And the view is amazing at sunset.
But it went downhill.
They couldn’t get drinks right. They were out of Yuengling Beer which is supposed to be on draft. If took more than 30 minutes for them to bring us Martinis and margaritas… hardly rocket science for a bartender. Finally got a draft beer made for them by Samuel Adamd
It took 45 minutes for us to get napkins and silverware… after the appetizers were delivered. The server was pleasant… just dazed and confused. Mandatory 20% tip for a party of 6!
Food…
Oh yes this is a restaurant.
Most everyone had the crab cake and liked it. I had ahi tuna and it was good. Potatoes and veggies good too… Not special but good
The calamari appetizer was good fish prepared not so well. Undercooked and coating didn’t adhere to the fish. Crab was fried and soggy.
Such a great location deserves great food and great service.
To put it kindly, not quite.

We have been to Hemingway’s for their Sunday Brunch before and that is the only reason I’ll not give it a 1 Star !
The experience today was awful ! The bright Sunday morning was all but ruined because of a terribly backed-​up kitchen. We waited, waited and waited — 45 mins for the Crispy Oysters we had ordered as appetizers. The entrees took another hour to arrive ! And when they did, the burger was overcooked, the bread soggy and the crab cakes miniscule — I have never seen such over-​priced low quality food on the shore before ! The hostess and servers were apologetic and did their best to save the ruined brunch but SORRY, I am not going back to this restaurant again !

Quite expensive for what you get. See picture of unclean flatware. In what world does a burger with Swiss cheese and cole slaw become one with cheddar and fries. Oh Heinz yellow mustard on a $ 12 burger is not mustard. Fail.

Great view. Terrible food. Overpriced.
The fried oysters were frozen and bland. Crab mac and cheese looked like cat food had been added to Kraft. My wife’s review of the fish tacos, «the worst fish tacos I have eaten in my life.»

Food was horrible. Horrible. Horrible. Tasteless. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible.
Crab cake was $ 16 and super super small. Crab wasn’t even fresh.
Wings… not good.
Crab bisque… horrible and not fresh.
I was sooooo disappointed. I wanted to try this place out for years… and finally came here… so disappointed!!!

How I heard of this place: Our good friends and travel companions recommended a lunchtime pit-​stop at Hemingway’s on our drive to St. Michaels. We came to enjoy the renovations and partake of the esteemed clam chowder.
Type of cuisine: A cornucopia of seafood eats, including a raw bar for fresh Chesapeake Bay oysters, calamari, crabs, fresh and farm-​raised fish, not to mention burgers, steak and baby back ribs.
Ambiance: Fresh and vibrant, the openness of the exposed, high, A-​frame ceilings and floor-​to-​ceiling windows looking out onto the Chesapeake Bay create a lively yet calming, serene escape from the world outside. A variety of kitsch, yet delicately placed paraphernalia give a warm, homey feel to this hardwood floor setting.
What I ordered: I was saving my appetite for dinner and opted out of appetizers, yet my dining companions were adequately tempted by the scrumptious menu. To start, Creamy Crab Bisque ($ 8.95) mixed with the soup of the day ($ 7.95) to create a vegetable-​rich, creamy delicacy, and Fried Oysters ($ 11.95) — a half-​dozen Select Oysters, hand breaded, flash fried and served on horseradish cream with chopped salsa. Of course, my temptation was easily swayed when one dining companion asked if I would share the Seafood Skins ($ 11.95): potato skins loaded with shrimp, jumbo crab meat, topped with cheese and broiled to order. For our main entrees, my husband gratuitously jumped at the Farm Raised Atlantic Salmon ($ 25.95), roasted on white cedar with brown sugar BBQ sauce and served with a pickled cucumber salad and roasted red potatoes. I shared the Salmon B.L.T. ($ 12.95) with the other of our dining companions, enjoying the thick layer of Atlantic salmon, bacon, arugula, and roasted tomatoes with an herb mayo served on multi-​grain toast with fries.
What I loved: The flaky, tender salmon of my B.L.T. accompanied by the lemon-​peppery fresh arugula.
Why I loved it: A warm, inviting establishment shared with close friends over a fresh and hearty meal.
Cost: Average to high ($ 10.95 to $ 29.95 per sandwich and entrée)

Best fish and chips I have ever had. Great service. Nice décor. Great view of the bay.
We had four kids with us. They all are fine. Chicken, grilled cheese, buttered noodles.
Seven people in total with a bill at eighty dollars. A little pricey for lunch… So only four stars.