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    Federal House

    3.6 (572 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Seafood
    Open 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Federal House Photos

    Business Info

    FEDERAL HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Federal House

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    The Cowboy

    Great place for outdoor dining. Located in Historic downtown Annapolis, Maryland. The service was good. If you're looking for Oysters, this is a great place to grab a bite. Great place for a cold craft beer and cocktails.

    Tuna tower was exquisite. The different sauces worked so good for differing flavors each bite.
    Kim B.

    A hidden gem right on the water of Annapolis. I am glad I found this place. The Crushes are 11/10 and the food was just as delicious. The Kay Lime Crush was phenomenal and I came back since the first time I tried just for that drink!

    Kevin S.

    We stopped by for a drink and maybe some apps. Not sure if they were short staffed inside but we never saw a server. We ordered a round of drinks from the bar and moved on. The wait time outside was over an hour. Perfect weather so that makes sense. Disappointing visit. Usually better.

    Jessica L.

    Husband and I Went out to Annapolis for the day . It was too beautiful outside, haven't been here in years !!!! Enjoyed an amazing lunch outside near the water at Federal House , they had these cute miniature fire pits on each table that were optional to turn on and off. Our server was Jennifer, who was amazing , service was spectacular and food came out pretty fast a delicious.

    Rachel S.

    Love this bar- come here often! Love their crab dip and crabcake sandwich, they also have really good soup. Mostly come here to drink at the bar and dance late night!

    Oysters
    Natalia K.

    About what you'd expect for a mainstreet brewpub. Plenty of seating and a standard on draft menu. The food was on the pricier side, but I'd say the portions were quite good. A good place to catch the game and just chill after a night out shopping. Service was decent, we got our drinks and food in a reasonable amount of time.

    Entrance
    Elizabeth K.

    Everything we got was amazing! The service was quick and our waiter was nice. The restaurant was not super busy but honestly after we ate we were so surprised! Will be back!

    Crab dip
    Young K.

    We just stopped by here for appetizers and I thought the price for the crab dip was a bit overpriced than the portion that was provided to us. It was very salty and greasy. The drinks are fairly expensive as well. They have outdoor seating as well. I recommend street parking outside of downtown Annapolis (DTA), and then walk to any of the restaurants in DTA.

    Lobster Grilled Cheese
    Anna F.

    Been to Federal House before and went again this past weekend. It was a busy night since the weather was nice. We sat outside and they had tabletop fire to warm up. Our server was Carly and she was lovely. The menu is pretty extensive and overpriced for bar food A bowl of crab soup is $9.99 and salads were $19.99 and up and that is without the protein. The chicken wings were also in the $19.99 range. Carly recommended the I lobster grilled cheese and she was right! The lobster grilled cheese was delicious. Everyone at our table enjoyed their meals. I won't say I will be back. There are other food choices in downtown Annapolis have good food too.

    Cowboy Double burger
    Carrie K.

    Wow! My friend and I stopped here for lunch while visiting Annapolis. It was a beautiful day, so we ate outside. The server was friendly and attentive. I ordered the Cowboy Double hamburger. It was DELICIOUS!! Wow! Great burger with unique taste. I would definitely come here again.

    Salmon BLT Sandwich
    Amanda S.

    It's a touristy area. Service is okay. Beers are cold. Oyster poboy is okay. The salmon salad with the green goddess dressing is great. The kids cheeseburger is dismal with cold fries ($$extra). Good place to chill outside and people watch.

    Wings (Jamaican jerk)
    Shawn H.

    I go to Annapolis on day trips from time to time so I've been to Federal House a couple times. Nothing to sing home about. The inside has a raging chemical smell- definitely a bad sign but we sit outside every time. I just can't forget the smell though- every time I need to go to the restroom, I'm reminded of it. The food itself is just fine. Overpriced as is all places around the area but I go for being near the water and being dog friendly. The oysters were fine. Chicken wings could use some work- tasted stale. What's AWESOME is the free doggy treats bag we got!

    Mahi Mahi Sammie.
    Melissa M.

    Great location on the square with lots of tables outside. Very good service. Delicious lunches.

    That's where my fish and chips use to be

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    16 days ago

    the staff here goes above and beyond to help serve their customers! Would recommend this place to anyone in the area.

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    3 months ago

    Jason our waiter was fantastic and made our delicious lunch even better. Fish and chips were fantastic and cocktails top notch.

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    1 year ago

    Great food, service and the ambiance was very warm, friendly and Cheryl was an amazing waitress. Love the place.

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    Page 1 of 15

    Ask the Community - Federal House

    Do you allow pets on the patio?

    Well behaved dogs are allowed

    Mac and cheese?

    On the kids menu

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    Seasalt

    Seasalt

    4.5
    (66 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    We had a largely positive dinner at Seasalt on April 27. Reservations went smoothly and the…read morerestaurant was not crowded on a Monday evening. We settled into our table and were welcomed by Shannon, our server. (There was a little confusion about this, but it straightened out.) The restaurant is bright and separated from the well-stocked bar. I had a Sagamore rye neat, and B ordered a glass of the Rioja. If there are oysters on the menu, you know I'll order them. There was a pretty good selection, and I opted for a half dozen Rappahanock oysters. They were excellent, sweet and briny. We each ordered a Caesar salad, but Shannon advised us that it was large enough to be shareable. More than enough. B ordered the pasta with clams, and I choose the Seafood chowder. The chowder was delicious, but B found the pasta to be too peppery for her tastes. Worse, three of the clams were unopened. We brought this to Shannon's attention, and she offered to put in a new order, but B demured, as she was full. At this point, Owner John Hogan came over to the table to chat. He told us the clams would be taken off the bill, and gave us a gift card, hoping we'd return. He stayed at our table for nearly 30 minutes, and we had a wonderfully engaging conversation with him. We will definitely be going back.

    This review is only for the sampler dessert. So when you see the three stars it is not a reflection…read moreof their service or main dishes. The service was good, the ambiance is nice they have indoor and outdoor seating. The dessert trio was mediocre at best. The cheesecake was where we mostly lived the others...should have been saved to never been served again. Nothing more, nothing less. Would I go back, yes I would to try the main dishes. Today we just made a mistake by chosen this for dessert stop.

    Photos
    Seasalt
    Bluefin tuna tartare
    Bluefin tuna tartare
    Manhattan classic

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    Manhattan classic
    Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls - Annapolis

    Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls - Annapolis

    4.2
    (522 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I have a serious love for lobster meat. Today I wanted a lobster grilled cheese. The sandwich was…read moregood. I also purchased a shrimp Salad Sandwich. That was pretty disappointing. Lot's of mayo with very little celery. It was also lacking flavor. I wouldn't order that again. I was satisfied with the lobster grilled cheese on texas toast. Very good with the right amount of lobster. This was all ordered online and pre-paid. Parking could be a challenge. Luckily we came on a Sunday so it was less of a crowd. Found a spot to quickly pull behind just to pick up the food. Annapolis is a busy area. Especially on a Friday or Saturday. Just make sure if you order to go. That you pre-check your order. They were missing my chips but corrected the order immediately. So 3.5 for this visit and definitely would return for my lobster grilled cheese or the Connecticut Lobster Roll.

    Mason's is a casual and comfortable eatery with both table seating and a bar by the window…read more You order at the counter and can request either dine-in or take-out. Counter service was fine. In addition to the lobster rolls there's several sides available. Complementary self-serve water is available. I like that the restaurant staff carefully prepares your order, not just slapping things together, even though that takes a bit of time. I ordered the Classical Lobster Roll. It was perfection and so delish. Served in a tasty lightly toasted and buttered bun. The hefty lobster serving comes with a dash of mayo. I'll be back again and again for Mason's lobster rolls. Love 'em!

    Photos
    Menu inside
    Menu inside
    *Classic Roll
    *Classic Roll
    *Classic Roll

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    *Classic Roll
    Preserve

    Preserve

    4.3
    (504 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    At Preserve, consistency is not the point, evolution is. Each visit feels slightly different,…read moreshaped by a menu that shifts with the seasons and refuses to coast on familiarity. That restlessness works in its favor. The space is compact, almost disarming at first. Then it settles around you. There is a quiet intimacy to the room, the kind that feels less designed and more lived in. It leans closer to a welcoming home than a polished dining room, without losing its sense of purpose. The food carries that same balance. Thoughtful, seasonal, and just unpredictable enough to keep you paying attention. Cocktails follow suit, measured and deliberate, never an afterthought. For Annapolis, where good options are not exactly rare, this place still manages to separate itself. It belongs firmly in the top tier of the city's dining scene, and it earns that position every time it changes the menu and starts over again.

    We had made a reservation here for a Sunday brunch at 11. It wasn't overly busy when we came. This…read moreis in downtown Annapolis so there's some street parking around. Bright and open inside with friendly service. We ordered a handful of mimosas and got a couple of small bites to share. Sourdough Foccaccia - this was pretty good, warm and toasted. Pork Bites - I loved the flavor but thought this was pork belly and not ground pork. Overall, flavor was good but the texture wasn't great. Crispy Kale - this is very popular here and we really enjoyed it. The cumin yogurt really brought it together. Pickled Squid - Not what we expected but I actually really liked this dish. We did also order the Coconut Panna Cotta for dessert. The raspberry was pretty prominent here and wasn't as custard like as expected, just a little too soft but the flavor otherwise wasn't bad. Overall, everything was pretty good and I would visit again to try other items on their menu.

    Photos
    Seating
    Seating
    Fish Dip
    Fish Dip
    Bar area

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    Bar area
    Cantler's Riverside

    Cantler's Riverside

    3.9
    (1.6k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Can'tler's never has ever disappointed! So let's talk about it…read more.. Location: you may seem to be driving to nowhere but when you get there the views are relaxing and calming. (Tip: Go early or during the weekday to secure outdoor seating) Service: the service is above average to good. (Tip: Practice patience the servers are juggling multiple tables in a small space but overall the servers and everyone else does really well) Ambiance: Waterfront dining with an old school look for the inside dining. It's a classic look. Food; YUMMY DELICIOUS (Tip: Hushpuppies with honey butter go with everything) Yes they have crabs, shrimp, scallop and more!! Before you leave go downstairs and see the live crabs in their open water pools and take a seat and enjoy the breeze and boats sailing by. Would I go back? Do you have to ask?!?&? I would and I have!

    I checked this place out with a cousin of mine on the weekend. We were greeted with warm and…read morewelcoming service. It was jam packed on a Saturday evening! Our waitress was sweet, but seemed very much overwhelmed. I can understand, as they seemed genuinely understaffed for the quantity of patrons that they were serving. Ambiance is bustling, you have to squeeze pass people if you are navigating the restaurant or even heading to the bathroom LOL. Now, onto the food! The crab dip was juicy, succulent and delicious! Great crab ratio & also the bread was freshly baked! I ordered the seafood platter which came with coleslaw, fried fish, a crabcake, french fries & a fried lobster . Very flavorful and also everything was cooked to perfection! It was a nice medley! I enjoyed my meal and my time here. I do want to re-visit to try more items from the menu in the future. Cheers!

    Photos
    Cantler's Riverside
    Drunken Mussels
    Drunken Mussels
    Piña Colada

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    Piña Colada
    Carrol's Creek Cafe

    Carrol's Creek Cafe

    4.0
    (953 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$$

    Carroll Creek is our favorite spot for lunch and dinner whenever we're in Annapolis. The staff is…read moreconsistently attentive and always goes out of their way to make our experience enjoyable. On our latest visit, I was curious about the new crab soup but didn't want a full bowl, so they kindly brought out a small cup to sample. That's the kind of service that keeps us coming back. We've enjoyed the mussels, local oysters, rockfish, filet, and lamb lollipops over multiple visits. The rockfish is consistently outstanding, and they know how to cook a medium-rare filet perfectly. The lamb lollipops are delicious but can occasionally be a little overcooked. Drinks were solid as well. My only suggestion is the HVAC. If you're seated under a vent during the warmer months, it can get quite chilly, so bring a light jacket or shawl. Overall, we love Carroll Creek and look forward to many more visits.

    Very pleasant, if more paced than I expected, Father's Day Brunch. Our server was exceptionally…read morefriendly, but was swamped and we wound up taking an almost 2 hour lunch. He was apologetic and so nice, but I started to feel uncomfortable asking for where our order was, water, etc. When he was serving he was excellent and I give him a pass. Delicious house Margarita and blueberry fizz to start and tasty, generous bread basket to start. Real standouts were the french onion soup and amazing hush puppies. Baked oysters were also great but came out a little cold to be excellent. I think the wait was because the order got lost or interrupted. The other dishes were hot out the kitchen. One of the better crab cakes sammie I've had in a minute with nice homemade potato chips. My wife devoured the soft shell crab special and the cronut was a nice finish. All in all, with a harbor view and good weather, a most satisfying if longer than expected meal!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    5 oz Petite Filet Mignon with grilled shrimp
    5 oz Petite Filet Mignon with grilled shrimp
    The view at night

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    The view at night

    Federal House - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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