I wish I had the confidence of the terrible people in politics and workplaces who either lie about their skills or are too ignorant to even be aware of their many flaws. Maybe I take Yelp too seriously. But it's a bummer when I see a review that praises the food, service and decor then rates 3 stars. (To re-use my joke, "3 out of 5 on Yelp isn't good, it isn't a work performance review). I have struggled with my Duda's review since August since I would strongly recommend it but I'm also price-cautious. To make matters worse I don't remember the exact crab market price but it was possibly $31 or $32 for one and low $50s for two (fact-checkers welcome). The crab cake was superb. All killer, no filler. The potato salad was very good. While I didn't love the price/volume I can't claim expertise on market prices and If you look at the drink prices this is clearly not a ripoff place. Possibly it's a better deal if you're with a group and can split some apps. In line with my slow education that Baltimore has more than the Inner Harbor, Duda's had a spectacular sense of place. It was a rare experience in feeling like a true locals place that is friendly to tourists. There's no record scratch and "you ain't from around here." The waiter was excellent and was impressively emphatic about the crab cakes. read more

Duda's Tavern - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Corner tavern with a few outdoor and indoor tables. Opted to sit outside as it was nice out and you can see the river. Service was very friendly and attentive. I'm not much of a drinker, so I just got an Unsweetened Iced Tea, which came with a lemon wedge and different sugar packets. They do have a large variety of drinks and seasonal specialties. The Chili Bake was piping hot! A couple croutons were a bit stale, but good overall. I love the textures and flavor. The Crab Cake (MP of the day was $30.99) with Potato Salad (and cocktail sauce - can also get tartar sauce) is a big ball of lump crab. It's a bit too crispy for me, but would definitely be good for most people. The potato salad had great texture. A chill spot to hit for good food (and drinks!) read more

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Your average hole in the wall with beer, good service, and some delicious fried clam strips.come in, grab a seat, grab a drink, and even some food. You're on and out, or you can stay a while. Whatever you do the staff is friendly. I enjoyed coming here and wasn't bothered by anyone sitting solo enjoying lunch. All kinds come in, business lunch if they're on the area, or vacationers. read more

Duda's Tavern - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The food was delicious! We had a blt sandwhich and a Cesar salad with a big bowl of broccoli cheddar soup. And each had a Bloody Mary. Delish! The server was attentive but a little snooty maybe but overall no issues. The outside dining chairs were nice but in weird spots and no separation between the guests and just people walking on the sidewalks but not anything that would be too disruptive. Overall, I think I would go back for the food. read more

Duda's Tavern - The front sign of the restaurant - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Recently stopped by this fine establishment and we had the crab cakes & oh my goodness! They were so delicious and fresh with huge chunks of meat - blue crab was delicious & the food was delivered by our server in a very quick manner - our server had just enough balance to provide great service and provided us with some space to converse. The bar was very nice and had a variety of choices to drink and the ambience was great . I highly recommend Dudas! read more

First time to Baltimore was enjoying a walk, and this place looked interesting. So glad I stopped in for a quick drink, ended up staying longer and eating too. Food was great, bartender was friendly and shared some history about the area. read more

Dave knows his stuff. The Chili Bake is really very good. This is the chili that my mom, and now I, make. I had a crab cake earlier in the day so I didn't want another. I will come back to try theirs and review then. That being said, hang at the bar, people watch, and hope that Dave is your bartender. He gets it. Why there are more regulars than tourists, aka me, here. read more

Super crabcakes and great burgers the chili bake is also a big favorite and their wings are delicious

We got carry out, crab cakes were good, crab dip good, albeit a tad salty. Would definitely go back. Hadn't been there in years and years. Very glad it's still open :) read more

Quintessentially Bawlmer corner bar with some amazing food. The meatiest crab cake you'll ever find and chatty bartenders make for a great dinner. read more

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Rude bartender Saturday afternoon on November 1. Came in to have a couple beers and a couple of crabcakes as I've done for probably 20 years. I've always loved their crabcakes. Definitely the best crabcake in Baltimore. No question about it unfortunately this afternoon when we came in to have a few crabcakes and some beers, we decide to sit outside and I proceeded to go inside to ask for a couple beers and the menu I was prepared to wait on myself since we were sitting outside. I sat at the bar, which was not that busy for a good 10 minutes without being recognized bartender was busy closing out checks dealing with other things and I thought maybe he just simply didn't see me waiting for a beer so I asked him when you get a chance could you get me a couple beers and his reply was as soon as I grow two more hands I will help you. He proceeded to deliver the two glasses of water he had in his hand then when he returned to the bar in a really rude way, he said what is it that you are so desperate for that I can help you with when I proceeded to explain to him that I was not desperate. I have been waiting very patiently. He got upset again and just asked me what is it that I wanted a very rude tone. He went ahead and got me the beers I wanted and the menu I walked outside with the person I was with drank our beers and decided not to order food because I was so upset about the way I was treated the person I was with went inside to pay for the two beers, and she was also very rudely treated. Unfortunately, I never got to eat their delicious crabcakes from this point forward. I will peak my head in and if I see that person working behind the bar, I will not be ordering or staying if someone else is behind the bar, I certainly will order one of their delicious crab cakes not sure if your employee was having a bad day. It sounded like he mixed up people's tickets and was trying to straighten it out and was very aggravated and then got upset with me, but there was no reason to be rude. I'll leave it for you guys to figure out read more

Duda's Tavern has great service. It was a busy night, but the bartender kept checking on us dutifully... see what I did there? The drinks were strong, I might add. They do have a full menu, but the dishes took longer to prepare than we had time. If you are desperate (as I was), they've got a big bucket of peanuts at the end of the bar. Just ask for a cup for the shells :) The bathrooms are clean, and that's a huge plus. read more

Duda's Tavern - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This place seems very promising when we first arrived, we were quick to get our service and were hassled about our ID's even being 25-27 years old. After putting in our drink order and getting them somewhat quick we were told about their great burgers and crab cakes. After putting in our food order and all of us getting burgers and our one friend got a crab cake. Everything came out wrong and they didnt seem to remember most of what we asked for on our burgers. My medium rare burger came out raw and after asking to have it cooked slightly more they just said they microwaved it and gave it back. My friend said his crab cake was good though and he got a free doughnut for his birthday. Everyone working seemed overworked and slightly hammered. Steer clear. read more

Over 2 hours to have lunch for only two of us. The crab cake was delicious, but waaaay overpriced. $31 for a crab cake, bag of chips and a shot glass size of coleslaw. Bartender was not very friendly and they were way understaffed. The men's bathroom was disgusting. read more

Started off promising, server gave us shit in a way that made me think we were going to get the best dinner ever. They end up getting every single meal wrong in one way or another, pretty sure everyone on staff was hammered. Server gave my burger to my friend, which my friend proceeded to eat because he thought it was his. The server then admitted it and thought we would be cool just eating what the other ordered. Never offered to redo either of our burgers. All burgers were undercooked, and when asked to put one of the burgers back on the stove, another staff member who was not the server proudly brought it back saying he threw it in the microwave. The burger was raw. It was honestly impressive how many things were messed up, so much so that I would have to write an essay on everything that was wrong and/or appalling. read more

Recommended by a local and he was spot on. This is a relaxed, neighborhood bar and restaurant known for their crab cakes. They prepare your meal when you order it, so it takes time to arrive and worth the wait. Located in the historic Fells Point section of town, the building has been here for centuries. The Duda family took it over in the 40's, first as a bar, later adding the kitchen. The great-grandson of the original owners man's the kitchen, so this truly is a family business. When his wife and son arrived we got talking about travels and had a very enjoyable conversation. Very nice people. The barman (Dave) is also the waiter. He's very friendly, comfortable and capable. We learned a lot about local business and the neighborhood during our interactions with him. He really made our visit a pleasure. Our salads were fresh and lightly dressed which I appreciate. When we mentioned my appreciation to Dave we were assured if anyone wants more dressing they are happy to provide more. It's just easier to add dressing than it is to remove it! ;D. The crab dip is smooth and creamy and I just love the fried pita triangles. Firm enough to scoop up all that crabby deliciousness. And the melted cheese on top is a good compliment to the dish. This would make a wonderful app for four. For us two, it was too much, but we are light eaters in the evenings. I saved room for one of their walnut brownies. Served warm, this thing is big. Definitely enough for us to share. Loaded with walnuts on top it's a fudgy, cake like brownie that isn't too dense or over sweet. It really hit the spot. My dear husband informed Dave after our meal that it was my birthday without my knowing. Oblivious me didn't see this, but apparently Dave went round to all the guests letting them know and on our way out the door the entire restaurant sang Happy Birthday to me. Wow! That was so amazing. Especially because I am away from family, it means very much to me that a room full of strangers would go out of their way to make my birthday feel special. Again I say Thank You to everyone at Duda's for a wonderful (birthday) visit! read more

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Great old school bar with great food in Fells Point. This was a great stop; the crabcake I had was amazing, almost no filler and big chunks of backfin crabmeat, delicious. My friend really enjoyed his ruben as well. It was a friendly little bar with a good selection of drafts, we enjoyed hanging out for a while, they have a really cool amount of Baltimore sports memorbilia on the walls read more

Duda's Tavern - Crabcake - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

OMG!!! the tequila shrimp...off the hook! Great hospitality...the atmosphere is so inviting and the hospitality is amazing. My wife had the famous crab cake and it was to die for! Highly recommended! read more

Great place ,nice local joint small but has great bones,great service Matt the bartender/ waiter was great all our food was on point , and the onion rings may just be the best I have ever eaten , the cocktail's were also on point my old fashion was perfect ... going back next time I'm in fells point. ... Duda's is the place read more

Loved this place while we were in town. Saw a picture of the Crab Cakes on this app and it came out just like it when we ordered it. It was amazing. Good beer selections. The perfect type of family restaurant, meets awesome neighborhood dive. Staff was awesome and fun to talk to. read more

Duda's Tavern - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Is this my favorite bar in Baltimore? Yes, and it might be my favorite anywhere in the World (At least the 28 countries I've visited, so far). They have a good selection of beer and enough whiskey to satisfy most folks. The staff is fun and friendly, without being fake. It is the only family owned, historic tavern left in Fells Point. The food is good. They have chili, a rarity in Baltimore and a plethora of East Coast appropriate bar fare. They have a steak night, very reasonable. And they have the best crab cake in town, you can find a more expensive version but it won't be better. This is a small place that feels cozy, perfect for watching an O's game, without being overwhelmed. I bring all my out of town friends here, to start their "Welcome to Baltimore, Hon" experience. This is what visiting a tavern was like "back in the day", while maintaining a lively atmosphere and in an age where authenticity is in short supply, Duda's is perfection. It is also actively haunted. Not even a joke, ask the owner. read more

I love the crab cakes here. Large chunks of crab are barely held together in a large clump. So good! During our Baltimore Crab Cake Weekends, I've consistently rated this as my favorite. The side of potato salad and bag of Utz Chips are fine. They are not the reason you're here. It's all about the cakes! read more

Duda's Tavern - Duda's Tavern - Crab Cake - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Great local Tavern atmosphere (esp Ravens) and great food. We had open Roast Beef sandwich with fries and gravy that was outstanding and the burger too. If you like Taverns/ local bars, this is a great choice. read more

Food and staff was great. I would come back, actually I did come back, lol! Location was great! read more

I think I've passed by Duda's 500 times on my ventures to Baltimore, and just recently decided to go inside. I had two hours to kill before my train back to New York, and their "$3.00 Natty Bohs" sign lured me in. Nice corner spot, with good outdoor seating. $3 Natty Boh seems to be their daily special, but they offer a fully stocked bar with over 100 beers on tap, can or bottle. It's divey, but not too divey. The food menu looked great, but I had unfortunately already eaten. I'll put it on my to do list next time. The bartender Matty was a very nice guy. I'll be sure to keep Duda's in my rotation of Baltimore bars I go back to. read more

Really really great crab cake (with ranch). A lot of amazing flavors and richness of the batter getting cut through by the freshness of the ranch, rounded out with the umami of fresh crab. Fries and sweet potato fries were crisp and fluffy, little underseasoned on the fries, but salt/pepper/Old Bay provided. Lovely service. read more

Duda's Tavern - Seafood Platter/Medley! - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

You can truly come as you are to Duda's tavern. Solid food, cheap drinks, and pure Baltimore vibes.

After standing in line at Thames Oyster House waiting for a table, I finally caved and went to ask the bartender what her recommendation would be for the next best thing. Her response was Duda's Tavern and that is where we found ourselves. Duda's is a divey, neighborhood-feeling bar that meets that extra need for good food and strong drinks. I was profoundly happy to try their oysters and crab cake. The crab cake did not have any fillers and was well prepared. The price point was suited for the amount of food that you received as well. We had quite a bit of food in addition to the crab cake and oysters. We also shared crab dip, shrimp, and drinks. The shrimp was divine with taste and flavor. All of which we were very satisfying and fresh. It has been ages since I have had a good crab cake since moving to Tennessee in the summer of 2018 from living in DC for 6 years where this was something I received regularly. I love seafood and good Maryland crab. This really hit the spot. I feel this is the type of place you want to visit when you want to just enjoy something low key without the pretentiousness of somewhere such as Thames Oyster House. The vibe is completely different. It is meant for good company and the ability to walk in with sweats on just as easily if you were to walk in with a suit on. No judgment is cast. Just bring yourself and enjoy it. Service was decent considering this was 2 days after Christmas and there was only one guy serving the whole bar. He did just fine attending to his guests and ensuring we got what we needed. I enjoyed visiting here and feel this is a solid staple in Fells Point. read more

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Talk about a hidden gem!!! In a quiet part of Fells Point you will find this quaint tavern. But don't let the location or quaintness fool you! This is an awesome tavern with a great pour and some fantastic food to boot! We sat on the patio set up for covid conditions. Sanitation stations were available and servers were taking all necessary precautions. In fact, servers were great! Very attentive and able to make great recommendations. My husband and I got drinks, clams for an app, mussels, and a crab cake to true. It was Tuesday so they have a special on crab cakes. Let me tell you!!! Don't waste your time with those pricey places around the block. This place has awesome drinks and awesome food with reasonable prices. The clams were amazing and the remoulade was fantastic and complimentary. The mussels were cooked perfectly and we got a big ol' plate for only $10.99. The crab cake was on special for $15, which is HALF of what you'd find at other places and I'd never had a crab cake like that. None of the useless breading, just giant chunks of delicious crab meat with seasoning and deep fried and a little crispy on the outside. I have no idea where they got their tartar sauce but I usually had the stuff and I LOVED theirs. My husband doesn't like tartar or crab cakes much but loved them here as well! Come here for some friendly service, great deals, awesome drinks, and to die for food. I am a super happy clam! read more

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It was a unique place to visit. Great beer and wonderful staff. Food was just okay with the exception of the crab cake. Outstanding!

Can I just say best service and food! First time here and I was so happy I chose this place. Crab cake was on point. Full of crab meat and flavor. read more

Duda's Tavern - Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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So I don't really consider this place a dive bar as it is listed as one. It's a tavern. A tavern that's been here over 65 years. It has a lot of charm, and I'm sure a lot of history. It serves many craft beers, European ales, and yes, Natty Boh. But what really brought me here, other than having my nephew in town for a few days was the photos of their drool worthy crab cakes posted on this page. Just look at them! How can you resist. We didn't. And they were beyond incredible. Almost completely made of jumbo lump. Enough said. The best I have ever had. I'm spoiled for crab cakes now. I may never make another crab cake again (at least until I take some crab to Michigan for my mom). We also had the $5 mussels appetizer. They were plump and delicious. Not served in a broth, but with a side of butter which was fine. You get a whole pound which is a great deal. Service was great. Great atmosphere; not at all divey, and the best crab cakes in town. read more

I read up on new places to try when we come to Baltimore. Duda's had good reviews and was praised for their crab cakes and good drinks . The advance reviews were on the mark. This is an unassuming place when you walk in but once you get your food and drinks it's a real winner. My girlfriend ordered a watermelon crush cocktail and she loved it. I had a good local IPA which also was quite good. The food was ordered so we could share everything. We had a crab cake platter, a fried shrimp basket with fries and roast beef sliders. The crab cakes are special and all lump crabmeat. The fried shrimp wowed us and the roast beef sliders were good but took a back seat to the other two. We had enough room to share a warm chocolate walnut brownie for dessert that was good. Prices are really moderate on everything and the crab cake is priced based on getting really quality crab. This is a hidden gem and should not be missed. read more

Such a great find! Easy going and low key vibe. Server and chef were great...even came out with a bacon treat for our dogs. Top it off with the best crab cake I've ever had. It was not inexpensive so my wife and I split it -- was well worth the price. And simply garnished with a tad cup of potato salad, orange slice and a bag of Utz...perfect. Oh and glasses of National Bohemian (Natty Boh). The beer not only was a perfect complement to the crab cakes but also to the hot, heavy and humid weather. Will go back again to load the time and enjoy great food and heat service in a quiet corner of Fells Point. read more

Crab cake was excellent. I am from Delaware and this was as good or better than Woodies.

Excellent shrimp scampi! Great atmosphere! New in town and highly recommend! Friendly staff will definitely visit again!

This was hands down one of the best crab cakes I've ever eaten. At first I thought the cake looked pretty small, but it was stuffed with so much meat that I was very full by the end of the meal. The crab cakes are served with chips by default, but we upgraded to a salad and fries. They are on special on Tuesdays, which was a nice surprise! Additionally, the service was great. Great spot in the heart of Fells Point with a super local feel! read more

Duda's Tavern - Crab cakes; 5/5 stars; ~$16 on special - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

So going to be honest, I really didn't have much of an expectation when I first walked into this place for a bite to eat. But good lord do they have amazing burgers! I asked for medium rare (and kind of second guessed myself if I should be asking for that at a dive bar), but the burger I got was so on point- soft, a perfect pink, and full of savory flavor! I wasn't so impressed with the obvious grocery-store bun and bag of Lays just thrown on the side (though truthfully that's more of what I'd expect from a dive bar), but I'd go back for that burger! Staff was also amazing and super accommodating during these odd times. Great respect for every essential service worker out there. read more

Alcohol is alcohol. The Kettle tastes like Kettle. The bar is old. 1949 or so the door said. It feels like a 1949 bar. I like that. The crab cakes taste like LEGIT crab with HUGE flakes of REAL crab. Real deal and worth the trip. I'll be back. read more

Duda's Tavern - The best D'amn crab cake you've ever eaten. - Dive Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Good service, but entire place smells worse than a fish market. Would not return. Would not advise.