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    Blue Ruin

    4.2 (55 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Blue Ruin Photos

    BLUE RUIN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Blue Ruin

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    Best selection of cocktails on the Eastern Shore.
    Carlos E.

    Start with a great selection of Liquors and cocktails ( my favorite the Old Fashioned) then stay for the wonderful fusion tasty food. Friendly and attentive service all in a beautiful setting reminiscent of an old speakeasy atmosphere.

    Maria L.

    Loved the feel of this bar from the wood to the exposed brick. Our bar man Jack made wonderful cocktails: French 75 and Purple rain. My favorite table has a sign: Mobsters only Would definitely come back to try more booze and foods!

    Our 44th anniversary dinner at Blue Ruin in Cambridge, Maryland, was nothing short of magical! From the moment we stepped into this charming pre-Civil War building--steeped in local history and lovingly restored--it felt like we had traveled back in time while still enjoying every modern comfort and touch of class. The name Blue Ruin itself nods to the colorful history of gin in the 18th and 19th centuries, when "blue ruin" was a nickname for the spirit that became both a social staple and a symbol of good times. Before we even arrived, the staff had thoughtfully lit the fireplace, filling the room with a soft glow that set the perfect romantic tone. The atmosphere was warm, elegant, and intimate--ideal for celebrating such a special milestone. Ruth and Heather went above and beyond to make us feel like royalty. Their attentiveness, kindness, and genuine care added such a personal touch that we felt celebrated the entire evening. Chef Travis truly outdid himself--every dish was absolutely delectable and beautifully plated, a feast for both the eyes and the palate. We had the butternut squash soup which was very hearty and creatively done,yummy shrimp and the my husband had one of the best filet mignons ever and my crab cake was over the top best crab cake I've ever eaten on a bed of creamy street corn and baby limas cooked and seasoned to perfection. I don't even love Lima beans but Travis changed my mind. We finished off with a complimentary flourless dark chocolate torte with raspberry drizzle and fresh strawberries and blueberries... so good. And just when we thought the evening couldn't get any better, the smooth sounds of live jazz filled the room, adding to the enchanting ambiance and making it especially meaningful for us. It was truly one of our most wonderful anniversary dinner memories to date. Blue Ruin is an absolute gem--rich in history, heart, and culinary excellence. We can't wait to return!!! I highly recommend this restaurant!

    Christine B.

    We visited based on reviews for a dinner spot while staying at the nearby resort. The ambiance is quaint and cozy. They have a tasting room which highlights the 150 cocktails and varieties of beer and wine. If you are in the area, I certainly would schedule one. As far as food, the menu is rather limited, and eclectic. We ordered the french fries and Brussel sprouts, which were delicious. Out of the menu selections, we ordered the grill cheese, beef sliders and the Japanese sando. The food was good, but nothing spectacular. I would for certain recommend visiting if you just want appetizers and drinks to take advantage of the tasting room.

    Duck with lentils
    Vickie S.

    Meal was great. And my server was amazing. The only thing I could say was the lentils could have stood a little more cooking but otherwise lovely

    Mihir P.

    Best cocktail bar and restaurant in the local area! Firstly, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort which you think would have great cocktails - this place is hands down a hundred times better. Make sure to try the Rose Manhattan and Floating in Space, great cocktails. Also, we brought our little kids (5 and 3), the staff was super accommodating. They indulged in some of the best cooked salmon and vanilla ice cream they've ever had. BTW, you wouldn't think this but they had the BEST homemade thai dumplings with Thai basil, pork, and shrimp. We can't recommend this place more, it's up there with some of the best Washington DC restaurants and bars.

    The purple rain! Definitely recommend, sadly no doves but still very good
    Sara H.

    Highly recommend when you visit Cambridge MD. The Blue Ruin offers a quaint atmosphere with a wide range of drinks to choose from, both with alcohol and mocktails alike, with good food and wonderful service, cheers to Jack a wonderful bar tender!

    Grapefruit Crush!
    Patricia D.

    What a great spot, we stumbled in on a Tuesday night and although busy we found comfortable seating. Service was great our waiter was so happy to explain the menus and specials. I had a great drink - grapefruit crush, the arugula and sweet pea salad and the falafel - yum. My husband had The Big Blue Sliders and fries - both amazing! Everything was delicious! Highly recommend this speak-easy restaurant.

    Best breakfast potatoes ever!
    Chastain S.

    Checked out Blue Ruin for their brunch (Sundays only) on my birthday and it didn't disappoint. It was kind of hard to tell if they were even open but they were so don't let that deter you, you won't be disappointed. The place has a very rustic feel with old world charm and several different dining areas to choose from. We started with guava mimosas which were delicious. Then I ordered a breakfast sandwich on sourdough with egg, Gruyère cheese (I think) and scrapple with a side of breakfast potatoes. Wholly smokes everything was delicious. The sandwich comes with a sauce but I couldn't eat it due to an allergy but the server was able to recommend another option which was a remoulade and it paired great with the sandwich and the potatoes. Now let's talk about these potatoes...they were TO DIE FOR!! Perfectly seasoned and a nice crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. I wanted more and the portion they gave was a decent size. My boyfriend ordered the egg breakfast with two meats, it was huge. It was more than enough to feed his huge Samoan appetite. This man can eat. The service was great as well. Our server regularly checked on us as did the bartender. I highly recommend. We will definitely come back to check out their dinner as well.

    Cocktail menu

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    10 days ago

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    2 years ago

    Great service and awesome meal! First timers - we'll be back? How is this restaurant in Cambridge (no offense)?

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    3 years ago

    Great food, fantastic cocktails and great service! Ambiance is chic and cozy with a hint of sophistication!

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    4 years ago

    Food was very good and with amazing flavor. Drinks were very nice. Atmosphere and staff are great.

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    Ask the Community - Blue Ruin

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    Burnish Beer Company - Pearella pizza... I think that's the name!!  [no pears and added bacon jam]  refreshing IPA!!

    Burnish Beer Company

    4.3(72 reviews)
    29.4 mi
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    We don't get down to this part of Maryland much in our personal vehicles or in the truck but this…read moreweek we went where the money reside. And because we are a Responsible Professional Company we were on-site 15 hours early. Imagine my delight when I saw that the receiving building shared a lot with a brewery teehee. Truck stop tacos for dinner? - I think not. Now in other reviews you know how I feel about breweries without food. Not the case here - pizzas, sandos, pretzels, salads, wings. And the beer list?? Multiple sours for me, hazy IPAs for he, and pumpkin flavored beer to usher in autumn. After that huge setup all we got were fries and beer lmao. The point is we COULD HAVE gotten more if we wanted it. Fries were hot and crispy. The pumpkin beer was incredible. And of note, the actual restaurant space was huge. With Rona numbers on the rise, we opted to sit outside on the huge patio. All in all, def worth a visit especially if you're in nearby Assateague or similar attractions and are tired of crabs lol.

    Fun atmosphere and good food. We visited on a Saturday…read moreearly evening and even though it was crowded we had a short wait. They have a good selection of beer and I tried the Grapefruit Shine which I really enjoyed. I had the Ultimate Chicken Sandwich. It was a fried chicken breast on a roll with bacon, cheese and Old Bay aioli. Three of us ordered this and we all thought it was really tasty and my husband enjoyed his Hot Honey Chicken sandwich. But be warned it is messy. So yes food was good so why the four stars instead of five unfortunately it was our service. Even though we ordered our appetizer, a Bavarian pretzel ahead of time it did not come out until our meal. And yes this can be timing from the kitchen. But we hardly saw our server, her section for the evening was so spread out that she was not attentive to us. We will still go back just hoping our service will be better.

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    Burnish Beer Company
    Burnish Beer Company - Twice fried and delicious

    Twice fried and delicious

    Burnish Beer Company

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    Parley Room - Main bar area

    Parley Room

    4.4(50 reviews)
    36.0 mi

    We were here for the 4th of July cookout on the patio. It was Awesome! They had a really nice…read moresetup. This was a buffet which included desserts as well as a nice selection of food. Everything tasted great for the most part. Service was great as well. The outdoor buffet cookout was $20 tickets were purchased on eventbrite. They also had holiday drink specials at $2.49 which was a good deal. They also sold smoked oysters at $1.00 each & the server and bartender was very helpful and friendly. We really enjoyed this event. We would like to go back and check out the other drinks on the menu as well as the food. Definitely bookmarked this spot for a return visit. There is a parking garage about three blocks away. We paid $12.00 for about three hours. Not bad at all.

    Modern, dark, speakeasy vibes on the inside with windows overlooking the Main Street, and a…read morespacious outdoor deck quite literally in the shadow of the gorgeous Maryland State House. All housed in the historic Capital Hotel, newly renovated in November of 2022. The atmosphere here is immaculate. It is a must see when enjoying the sights of Annapolis. My girlfriend and I stopped in on a Thursday afternoon after touring the State House. We each ordered the Monkey Smoke (Penicillin), and she ordered a small plate with avocado and lump crabmeat, which we ordered just in time as the kitchen closed between 3 and 4. The standout of the day for me was the old fashioned, made with plum bitters. One of the best old fashioneds I've ever had. The servers were all very friendly and quick. We will definitely come back the next time we're in town, and definitely recommend this to others.

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    Parley Room
    Parley Room
    Parley Room - Fig Old Fashioned and The O.G. original gimlet.

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    Fig Old Fashioned and The O.G. original gimlet.

    Blue Ruin - cocktailbars - Updated August 2026

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