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Blue Ruin

4.2 (55 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

Blue Ruin Photos

BLUE RUIN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Live music
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!

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.

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!

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
Rebecca I.

We wandered into Blue Ruin when our original brunch plans fell apart, and we are so glad they did! Between the excellent brunch options and extensive (14 pages!!!) of exquisite cocktails, we struggled to narrow down our order. We started with the steak tartare (amazing - topped with caviar and a little sweet pickle mixed in to kick it up a notch) and shared the chicken biscuits (pairs perfectly with the Peach Amaretto Sour) and scrapple sandwich. We finally decided on the Herbal Elixir and Bird of Paradise cocktails - who does like tiki-inspired drinks for brunch?! Luxurious atmosphere. We sat in a cozy booth with buttery soft leather seats, but the fireside armchairs were pretty tempting, too. Attentive staff. Highly recommend Blue Ruin to anyone venturing into Cambridge!

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the friendly, attentive staff, creative, flavorful food, and an extensive drink menu. The atmosphere is also inviting.

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5 years ago

Excellent food, creative and extensive cocktail list, friendly and prompt service and a cool vibe, plus a great name!

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Christopher's Corner - Boar sausage, potatoes, and peas

Christopher's Corner

4.7(20 reviews)
0.1 mi

Amazing dinner tonight! The ambiance was warm and inviting, the food was absolutely incredible, and…read morethe service was spectacular. We enjoyed the venison sandwich with Brussels sprouts and the chilled crab served with a light arugula salad--every bite was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. To top it all off, the chef came out to greet us personally and make sure we were enjoying our meal, which made the experience even more special. What a delicious way to spend our first night in Cambridge. We can't wait to come back!

We decided to check out Christopher's corner on a Saturday night. Although we didn't have…read morereservations, they were able to see us right away. The decor got the theme of Edgar Allan Poe very well. Even our server as well as the rest of the employees were suitably dressed to fit the surroundings. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and attentive. We ordered the Embered Heart, Crustacean's Temptation, and the Special Chesapeake Chicken Cheesesteak which came with fries. Based on the name, it's difficult to figure out what you were actually ordering so you have to read a description. The embered heart was essentially a Caesar Salad. The dressing was especially good ! The crustaceans temptation was a flatbread with crab dip on it. I honestly couldn't taste any crab in this dish. It tasted more like a cheesy flatbread minus the crab. That was a miss for me. Finally, the Chesapeake cheese steak was on an old Bay seasoned bread. My boyfriend ordered this one, but I had a bite for my review. He and I both agreed that we could not pick up any more seasoning on the bread which was disappointing because we both love being from Maryland. The chicken came off a little bit dry, and it was topped with crab dip, which is a cool concept, but, again neither of us could actually taste any crab meat. The fries were fine and it was nice that our server brought both vinegar and ketchup to dip them in. The cheese steak came out room temperature and our server was super apologetic. The dessert menu looked phenomenal. It featured a flight of six different cheesecakes because there was a cheesecake and cocktail crawl going on in downtown Cambridge that night. I would've loved to have tried that, but was just too by that time. The pumpkin cupcake also looked like a good choice. Overall, I would absolutely try this restaurant again. Everything was great but the food missed the mark a little bit which is why I only gave four stars. The next time I'm in Cambridge, I will definitely give this place another chance.

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Christopher's Corner - Chandler

Chandler

Christopher's Corner - Black Cocoa & Pumpkin Layer Cake (desserts change often)

Black Cocoa & Pumpkin Layer Cake (desserts change often)

Christopher's Corner - Glass of Cabernet

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Glass of Cabernet

Blue Ruin - cocktailbars - Updated November 2026

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