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    Dessert First

    4.5 (84 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Dessert First Photos

    DESSERT FIRST ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for working
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Reviews With Photos

    Becca S.

    This coffee/dessert shop was a perfect coffee fix when staying at the hotels across the way. It is right on the water and a great place to just sit and relax. Honestly, I'd go back for ambiance most of all. The coffee is rise up coffee which is an eastern shore staple. I got the Madagascar latte which was a vanilla latte with coconut. I didn't care for the flavor I got, but it was still good coffee. As for the desserts, with the name desserts first I was expecting a lot. The desserts did not blow me away. I tried the peach bread pudding and I was hard pressed to find the peach even though I saw chunks of peach. The cinnamon bun also was weirdly fluff. The best dessert was actually the dirt cup! I got it for my kids and just stole a bite and it was really delicious! The biggest drawback for me was that I went for breakfast and there was very slim breakfast options. The warm food was like at Starbucks with just a microwave to heat up maybe 3 egg dishes that were tiny. Even though it is a dessert place, I would think there are plenty of breakfast pastries they could have served, but didn't. It was mostly just muffin options and 3 hot egg dishes.

    Alexis A.

    If you're ever crossing the Bay Bridge or spending a day on Kent Narrows, do yourself a favor and stop here. Dessert First is exactly what the name promises -- a cozy, waterfront spot that makes you feel like skipping lunch or dinner. The desserts? Absolutely top-tier. The coffee is from Rise Up Coffee Roasters, and you can really taste the difference.Prices are fair for the quality, and the atmosphere makes it worth every penny.

    Crabby cake americano chai with maple and hot chocolate
    Karlee H.

    The place is the cutest coffee shop I've ever been in, the glass windows make it like a greenhouse with twinkle lights right on the water. You can sit inside or outside. The drinks were delicious but the baked good were good but not as good as the drinks. The crabby cake, peanut butter mousse, and cinnamon rolls were our favorite. I personally liked the fresh berries and Chantilly cream the best. It was super busy inside but they were fast to get everything out.

    Christina M.

    Loved this place so much went back twice in one weekend! I was on my way from PA to Annapolis for a friend's bachelorette weekend and really needed a coffee fix. My only problem is I did not want to stop at a rest stop or somewhere too soon on the start of my trip or I would have to go to the bathroom! As I searched for coffee on the way I saw this came up. First the name of the place intrigued me because who doesn't love dessert then I saw it was near the water so I thought it would be a nice place with a view. There definitely is a slight following as the place had a line and seemed like people regularly stopped here. The cool thing about this location is you can come here by boat (I think), by car or by bike as I saw a trail nearby. The place is sort of open air with all outdoor seating. Some tables are covered near the counter with overhead doors they probably close in the winter. So if you are thinking you may be cold maybe don't go here on a chilly day or bring a sweatshirt. There was a nice selection of drinks on the menu along with amazing looking desserts! I did not get any dessert but will need to next time. The staff were friendly and the views were great. The cool thing I found on the way back was there is a place along the dock with oyster farming to help out with the ecosystem. There is a whole little educational display along with the systems they are using. Definitely worth checking out.

    This was a pleasant surprise! We were staying at a nearby hotel and had a late lunch. In a search for a restaurant we came across this cute place. The setting was wonderful and the desserts were delicious! When traveling back through here we will definitely look them up again!

    The admiral was happy it was dog friendly.
    Captain Fred H.

    I'm a captain staying at the local marina and went here for breakfast. I got the breakfast sandwich with coffee. The staff was friendly and efficient. They have a nice inside and outside dining area. Oh, dog friendly also.

    I absolutely love this place! The desserts are high quality with so many different options! We got the pineapple upside down cake, a cannoli and a chocolate chip cookie. All three were absolutely phenomenal. We got to sit at the tables on the pier and watch the sunset. We will be back next time we are on vacation in the area!

    Raspberry custard tart
    Abby W.

    This is a cute place! It was clean, the menu was interesting, and it was super busy. I do have to say that the lighting was pretty low. It felt more like a bar than a coffee shop. The raspberry custard tart had great flavor, but the pastry was too thick and undercooked. The iced chai tea was super delicious. Ask for cinnamon on top for an extra boost of flavor I'm going to get a napoleon the next time I visit

    Outside views
    Robbie R.

    Very hip little gem nestled between Higgins Crab House and an oyster shelling company. Beautiful water views, relaxing music, and just an all around good ambiance to get work done when not in the office. Coffee is delicious, food is great (I highly recommend the crab frittata), and the desserts look superb even though I don't have a sweet tooth. People behind the counter we're a little monotone and trite, but that could just be the morning haze wearing off. One word of warning. Bathrooms...They use Higgins next door, which don't open their own bathrooms until like 9:20AM. Tough for a coffee house to not be able to have restrooms until about 9:30 in the morning. Also not a real fan of disposable plastic cutlery as the only option to eat food here, and no wifi are why it gets 4 stars. No wifi and no bathrooms? For a coffee house? Really?!

    a restaurant with tables and chairs
    Brian B.

    Great looking spot, on the water and it just gives you a comfy feeling inside. The service was polite and helpful, but it didn't stand out. When I think desserts (and coffee and tea) I think happy and welcoming, a "glad you're here" approach. They were just there taking orders and doing there job well but it stood out that they just seemed tired and maybe that was the case. Now to the desserts, Good presentation (not top notch) but they had personality...more than the service. I give them a three because I think it was good but not great. And YES I would visit again to try something different and to see if the service gets a little more welcoming.

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Dessert First

    Dunkin' - Traffic delays on the bay bridge = doughnuts for the wait!

    Dunkin'

    2.5(39 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $

    Pretty standard Dunkin location. Full service drive-through, in-store ordering, and mobile app…read moreoptions. Seems pretty busy on the weekends. Small tables but decent number of tables on the inside. Parking lot is oddly designed and a bit small given how busy they are. If you park in the parking lot, there's a decent chance that the drive-through lane will block you in when it is busy. People seem to park across the street to avoid this. Obviously, they follow the national chain menu. One comment: check your munchkins before you leave if you do mobile pick up. I don't know if they have a problem with the mobile receipt/ticket print out but recently my munchkins were not the correct type as ordered on the app.

    No glazed doughnuts... again. ‍…read more I stopped by today before noon just to grab my mom a glazed doughnut, and somehow they were already completely out. This is honestly becoming a pattern every single time I come here. How does a doughnut shop consistently run out of the most basic and popular item -- glazed doughnuts -- before lunchtime? It's frustrating because the doughnuts they DO have are usually good, but product availability is terrible. You would think management would notice this keeps happening and simply make more. Running out once is understandable. Running out constantly feels like poor planning and lack of attention to what customers actually come in for. At this point, I almost expect them to be out every time I visit, which is sad for a place that literally sells doughnuts.

    Photos
    Dunkin' - This is my bacon and cheese bagel from Dunkin Donuts in Stevensville, MD.  Two bites and not one piece of bacon and only a sliver of cheese.

    This is my bacon and cheese bagel from Dunkin Donuts in Stevensville, MD. Two bites and not one piece of bacon and only a sliver of cheese.

    Dunkin'
    Dunkin' - Lg hot chocolate

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    Lg hot chocolate

    The Market

    The Market

    3.7(6 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    I'll be honest I'm still conflicted about this location…read more The good: The food is pretty decent and well prepared. Not amazing, but solid. Decent set of breakfast and lunch options for a counter café. Love the curry chicken salad. The dressing for the southwest chicken salad is not great - I would ask for a different dressing or mix it with some ranch at home. The bad: this place is very Variable in turnaround time and wait time. I've gone when they've been empty and had my food prepared rapidly, but l've also gone when they've been pretty empty and waited what seemed like a long time for a simple order. When they're busy and get in the weeds, the line can stretch out the door. All of this seems odd for a location inside of a hotel/event venue like this. Does the management team not coordinate with the hotel staff to know which weekends are hosting weddings, etc.? They should be prepared for a breakfast rush the Saturday after Friday wedding. And regardless, why are they not adequately staffed on weekends in general? I have been here several times on a weekend and it's always understaffed compared to the number of people waiting for food. Recently I walked in and looked at the line, looked at the staffing, and I just walked out. Today (Friday) I came and was the first person in line, although I think one or two people were waiting on active orders. The only dish I ordered was a Caesar salad with blackened salmon. It took 25 minutes for them to cook a single piece of salmon. People who came and got in line after me and ordered after me had their food made and delivered before I got my food. This was despite having tons of people working every station. This was not a staffing issue, but an inefficiency and poor workflow issue. I don't know exactly what the issue is back there but it's clear they have some significant problems with getting orders out on time - and that is not related to the amount of staff they have. Bottom line: if you come on a weekday or in the off hours for lunch, you're probably going to do fine. I would not recommend coming here for breakfast unless you are staying in the hotel and even then I would make sure you leave plenty of time to wait.

    Good food. Nice staff. Comfortable enough seating. Nice hotel lobby and Knoxies restaurant is good…read moretoo.

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    The Market
    The Market
    The Market

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    Dessert First - desserts - Updated May 2026

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