Dock of the Bay: Waterside Dining on Miller’s Island
Is there a more delightful way to have lunch or dinner in the summer than to have it waterside?
When that water is the Chesapeake Bay, it makes the experience even more of a delight. Such was my luck recently as I had dinner at the Dock of the Bay, 9025 Cuckold Road on Miller’s Island in Sparrows Point.
This wasn’t my first visit, that was two years ago. As I was enjoying the food and view I thought two years is too long. From the Timonium area it took me about 25 minutes. Well worth the drive. A cold beer, a crab cake and the bay. I’ll take it.
The restaurant re-opened in October 2014. I’m not sure what was done inside or outside but everything was just fine. This visit I discovered an outside patio area which I missed last time. They even have a small pirate boat for kids to enjoy.
One of the joys of this restaurant, if you’re lucky enough to have a boat, or better yet, know someone who does (a lot cheaper that way) is you can motor up to the adjoining marina. I was told many people do. I arrived the old fashioned way: by car. Plenty of free parking by the way.
As you would expect the specialties here are seafood. I’ll begin with the crab cakes, then proceed to include the crab soup, crab imperial, crab dip and yes the seared tuna. Baltimore Magazine wrote this is among the top 25 crab houses in Baltimore.
Monday through Friday Dock of the Bay is open for lunch and dinner but Saturday and Sunday for all three meals. This is of course very casual, but reservations might be a good idea on weekends. Also, I would think you might want to pre-order your steamed crab.
Daily specials are offered but they change seasonally. There’s a happy hour weekdays from 4 to 7 and a bar inside for those cold beers. Admittedly, this is a bit off the well traveled path, but as I mentioned, it is worth the trip-especially for those views. Straight across the bay you can see the Eastern Shore and to the left is Hart Miller Island.
Reach them at 410-477-8100 or go to dockofthebay.com.
Photo Courtesy of Dock of the Bay’s Facebook Page
Eddie Applefeld is a Baltimore native and a graduate of Towson University. He has been in the broadcasting profession for over 30 years. Currently he is the Promotions Director of WCBM radio. Before that, he was part of the Rouse & Company show on WQSR, host of a cable TV show called Dining Out and adjunct instructor at Towson.
His past accomplishments include being named a finalist in Baltimore Tourism’s Employee of the Year Program and winner of Toastmaster’s Speaker of the Year contest. He was also twice a heartthrob for the American Heart Association’s gala fund raiser.