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    May's Seafood Restaurant

    3.3 (472 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, American
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    May's Seafood Restaurant Photos

    MAY'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - May's Seafood Restaurant

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    Oysters topped with bleu cheese
    Annette D.

    I really wanted to like this place but the food was disappointing. I had a crabcake since we're visiting Maryland. The crabcake was mushy and lacked flavor. We were a large party and the consensus for all the dishes was edible, but not good.

    Crabs, fries
    Ky

    Had a great time, my mom will not stop talking about how good the creamy crab soup is so I had to go myself. It was pretty good. I got the soup, crabs and raw oysters. Service was good, friendly quick. It's a nice classic seafood place inside, like the brown paper on the table so you can crack crabs. I maybe liked the oysters the best, I always love crabs though. Good place if you want to experience classic Maryland crabs.

    Front of menu
    Sarah O.

    I love Mays- it is probably my favorite seafood joint in Frederick and so we tend to go pretty regularly (at least once a month or so). Staff is always very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful with recommendations. Food is always delicious- we have tried to make our way through the menu and still working on it. Recommend: steamed royal red, oysters raw or fried, seafood sample, and seafood feast Must try: Lava cake!!! No matter what you order it's going to be great! It's a very relaxed ambiance, can be noisy outside sometimes but everyone is just having fun and enjoying the food!

    Fish & Chips
    Cassandra W.

    Looks good outside, very inviting decor & smells so good. Greeted upon entering. appears well organized and tidy Option to be seated inside or out...we choose outside. Covered, well ventilated huge fans on either side and comfortable. Our server was Dougie & he was very good and attentive! Thank you!! The food...it was ok. Seasoning is your friend especially with seafood The bang bang shrimp looked delicious, but the were over cooked, the seafood sampler was a good option to try several items: fried shrimp 9, baked loaded potato 9, crab balls ‍ I would give them a 3, steamed shrimp 7, the fish and chips, good size but not seasoned, hush puppies ok. The foods presentation is good, but we found the food did not live up to the photos. Sorry not a fan favorite for us

    Crab Dip Appetizer
    Jennifer C.

    Last day in town and hadn't had any seafood yet. Luckily,this spot was open on a Monday! Party of 6 and arrival around 2p, we were seated promptly. Friendly service in a very laid back environment. Started with the Crab Dip, nice consistency and ample amount, plenty to share. Could have used a tad more seasoning. Crab Legs, very tasty, $5X for the 1lb at market value. Single Crab Cake, $23.99 at market value, but definitely majority Crab, no filler on this one and great size to it. Shrimp, also very tasty. I'd say the lowest star at the party was the fried flounder, needed more seasoning for sure. Overall, a nice experience and one to try. Many of the patrons were in for the crabs, but alas, I can't speak on that. Enjoy!

    Jacqueline R.

    Might be bias because of it being my first time but i LOVED my experience at Mays! I decided to take my dad out for Father's Day without a reservation and think goodness the inside was not as full as the outside seating. I went right when they opened and the hostesses were super sweet and accommodated my dad and i. Our server was just as sweet and welcoming. she explained what would possibly suit the most of us without being too full and explain a little bit more of the backside of the menu. We decided to go with the platter for two and crab for an extra $20 which I found to be extremely reasonable. The shrimp and crawfish that came seasoned already were out of this world! Definitely did some damage with that butter and needless to say my dad and I had a blast crushing all of that. I would definitely go again to try some other items on the menu and maybe try out the outdoor seating!

    My Card Sir!

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    13 days ago

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    1 month ago

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    9 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Service was very friendly and the food was tasty. The house sauce was excellent . I would come again.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    5 months ago

    The steam shrimp was so chewy and tasted funny couldn't eat it the service was very subpar also. Would not ever go back

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The service was good, but the snow crab clusters were frozen and flavorless. Definitely not worth it even at half price.

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - May's Seafood Restaurant

    Do you take reservations?

    Not for parties less than 10

    How are the oysters?

    Oysters are fabulous....moist and never over cooked when fried

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    Hootch and Banter - Wellington Minis

    Hootch and Banter

    4.3(797 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    I love this place! We came here on a lazy snowy Saturday right as it opened, and we got a great…read moretable right by the window. It filled up fast, and there was a lively bar crowd, and also an engagement party celebration upstairs. All of the servers were so friendly, and happy to share their favorite dishes and beers, etc. We started with the wings, which were great, and then we had the house salad with salmon and the burger and fries. OK, I did not order the burger and fries, but my boyfriend did, and I ate half the fries on his plate, they were that good! Great, friendly, with generous pours for wine, and just a really friendly, great place with perfect food for a winter day. I wish I could find a place like this in Washington, DC.

    Was in Frederick, Maryland for a work trip and a coworker suggested hooch and banter. It's a small…read morerestaurant, but they were able to accommodate us without a reservation. The server was great very attentive and patient as we ask lots of questions about the menu. They have a new burger item every week so we all tried that it was a Smashburger with crab on top pretty good and very big. They had an option to upgrade the truffle fries which we did and the fries were great. Would definitely come back if I was ever in town again to try something new.

    Photos
    Hootch and Banter - Lounge area.

    Lounge area.

    Hootch and Banter - Delicious dirty cheesesteak! super friendly service! quaint atmosphere!

    Delicious dirty cheesesteak! super friendly service! quaint atmosphere!

    Hootch and Banter - It's About Time (old fashioned)

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    It's About Time (old fashioned)

    Showroom - Seasonal cocktail Smoked Apple Margarita

    Showroom

    4.1(360 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Showroom is one of those rare restaurants where you can see leadership in the details. The food is…read moreexcellent, but what impressed me most was how well the whole experience comes together. Nothing feels random. A few standouts: the Shrimp and Grits were terrific, the Chicken Pot Pie Fritters were creative without trying too hard, and the Chicken & Waffles absolutely delivered. I also love that the Family Meal Fried Chicken is Bryan Voltaggio's recipe. That kind of connection to a clear point of view matters. A lot of restaurants can make a good dish. Far fewer can build a place where the food, service, atmosphere, and execution all line up. Showroom does that, and Frederick is better for it.

    I love this place! It's a cozy, rustic, farm vibe with elegance. I love the aesthetic and…read moreatmosphere of this place. The service was good. The Chicken pot pie fritters were so good, lovedddddd these! It didn't need the sauce though but it was still a pleasant addition to the fritter. The pimento cheese plate with pickles and biscuit was quite the perfect and delicious pairing. I wouldn't have never thought I'd love the combination! The reuben was absolutely deliciously perfect and the fries that came alongside were fresh and absolutely delicious. You can't go wrong with the Mac and cheese either. Very good! I truly loved every single thing we ordered. I was impressed to say the least. Everything was perfectly and thoughtfully flavored. There was nothing that was overpowering. What a delicious and wonderful meal!

    Photos
    Showroom - They have both tables and counter service.

    They have both tables and counter service.

    Showroom - Pastrami Hash

    Pastrami Hash

    Showroom - Lavender latte

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    Lavender latte

    Brewer's Alley - Ahi Tuna Power Bowl

    Brewer's Alley

    3.5(794 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Went here for lunch with the family on a Sunday. There was plenty of seating and lots of great…read moreoutdoor space. We ate inside, but on a nicer day I would have loved to sit on the rooftop. We ordered nachos and a pretzel for apps. Both were great! The nachos looked standard, but the cheese on them made it fantastic. The pretzel was also so good we had to order a second. Our actual food was also good. My Mediterranean bowl was just ok, but everyone else liked their meals. I would definitely go back. Prices were reasonable and just a cool place to hang out in downtown Frederick.

    I visited Brewer's Alley on Easter for their Easter brunch buffet. The food on the buffet was…read morepretty good. There was a good selection of breakfast and lunch/dinner items and a wide array of desserts. Since walkways are pretty tight inside the restaurant, it was cramped and I felt like it was in a constant struggle not to get in other people's way. The gentleman carving at the ham station was very kind, and our waitress was helpful. I have no complaints with the service. The issue I had was that the restaurant sat guests in an second-floor event space. That wouldn't be an issue if you didn't have to walk up and down a few flights of stairs with your food. Yes, there was an elevator, but like I said earlier, the number of people made you feel like you were in the way while waiting for it to descend. I thought it was odd that people were seated so far away from the buffet and other guests in the restaurant, especially for the elderly guests. It was raining pretty hard that day, so I'm sure Brewer Alley's plans of seating guests outside was ruined, and that's certainly not their fault. I don't know if I'll return, but I appreciated the service and enjoyed the food.

    Photos
    Brewer's Alley
    Brewer's Alley - Steak & 1.5 lb Lobster

    Steak & 1.5 lb Lobster

    Brewer's Alley - Brewers signature crush-worthy crushes - pineapple coconut

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    Brewers signature crush-worthy crushes - pineapple coconut

    Maxwell's Burgers & Shakes - Large Maxx Burger (Includes choice of side)

    Maxwell's Burgers & Shakes

    4.3(216 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    A friend and I stopped at Maxwell's on a Saturday night for a bite to eat around 7 pm. All tables…read morewere full, but we quickly got a spot once a few folks left. We ordered a beef burger with a side of sweet tots and the steakhouse burger with mac & cheese as the side. We shared all things and they were all delicious. The beet burger was suggested by a fellow customer and I'm so glad I listened to her. I was different and the texture was minced and not sliced. The flavor combo was awesome and out of the ordinary. The steakhouse burger was also fantastic. It was a great burger, but still a burger. So I was definitely a 5 out of 5, but the beet burger won the trip for me. The sweet tots and mac & cheese were equally delicious. I don't think you can go wrong. I really liked this place if you couldn't tell.

    Maxwell's serves really good burgers that rivals Five Guys, especially with their rosemary fries…read morethat are much lighter than the burger chain's. I ordered the monthly special milkshake which was the chocolate fang-cake shake. The pieces of chocolate cake in the shake provided a bit of texture and the chocolate was nice and velvety. The fries had a great flavor and were crispy. I saved them for later and they were still edible - not like typically fries that become soggy with no taste. The burger was thick and very juicy. I gave four stars instead of five because my order didn't come out exactly right. The burger was cooked medium well instead of medium temperature and I didn't get any raw onions on my burger as requested. Also, there was whip cream on my shake when I asked for it to be removed. Otherwise, I would certainly order again the next time I'm in Frederick.

    Photos
    Maxwell's Burgers & Shakes - Long view of restaurant

    Long view of restaurant

    Maxwell's Burgers & Shakes
    Maxwell's Burgers & Shakes - Restaurant seating

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    Restaurant seating

    Backslash Burger - Peter Piper

    Backslash Burger

    4.5(84 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    I saw this burger spot on my feed over a year ago!! I took note of it because they have some…read moredifferent kind of burgers there. Well...today was the day I finally pulled up!! LET'S GO!! (Pardon the pics, it's difficult to take nice pics of Smash Burgers). . Where I am: @backslashburger . Location Reviewed: 526 N Market St., Fredrick M.D. inside of @oldemotherbrewing . Items Reviewed: STAMP!! Their Peter Piper Burger ($13.21 for 2 smash beef patties with roasted poblano cream cheese, hot pickled cherry peppers, & bourbon molasses in a potato roll). Crisp edges on these burgers, nice & meaty, juicy on the inside, sweet, smoky, & cheesy!! STAMP!! Their Backslash Burger ($13.21 for 2 onion infused, mustard seared smash patties with house made pickles, & Backslash sauce). Believe it or not, this burger wasn't too oniony!! The Backslash sauce is tangy, & creamy, & the burgers were tasty!! DELICIOUS. Their She's My Cherry Burger ($13.21 for 2 smashed beef patties, herb goat cheese, & a sour cherry jam). This was different, sweet, but savory, & you HAVE to like goat cheese with this one!! NAH! There I Can't Feel My Face Burger ($13.21 for 2 smashed beef patties, ghost pepper sauce, & candied jalapenos). Now for ME...one bite, & my face literally felt like it was ON FIRE!! But if you like that kind of heat then STAMP this burger...it's made for YOU! STAMP!! Their Old Bay Fries ($4.72 with Backslash sauce, & house made ranch). Their Ranch sauce is house made (STAMP...they are now selling bottles of it), & the fries stayed crispy!! STAMP!! Their Beer Battered Onion Rings (house cut, & battered $5.66). Nicely battered, crispy, & tasty!! STAMP!! Their Sweet Potato Fries ($5.66 dusted in cinnamon sugar with blueberry ketchup). The blueberry ketchup stole the show here!! Finally...SWEET, sweet potato fries!! . Customer Service: On Point!! . Parking: Decent. . Recommendations: Get the burger that suits YOU!! . Accessibility: It's wheelchair friendly (depending upon where you are), & it's differently abled persons friendly. 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews

    I genuinely don't know what happened here. Although it's been a while since I last paid this burger…read morespot a visit, I now really can't claim I'll be back. They appear to still be using their 50/50 beef and bacon blend, and they were grinding/blending more meat when I arrived. The finished product itself makes me seriously question their palette. While smash style burgers aren't my favorite, I have enjoyed some good ones. The one I was served today was so smashed that any residual flavor from the meat blend was virtually eliminated. This was then overwhelmed by the sheer smack-your-face acid from the pickles and mustard. Further cementing my poor experience, the server acted as though my order was an afterthought. Probably not the attitude one should express towards any patron, much less to start the business day. There are LOTS of outstanding burger options in and surrounding Frederick. Given that, this genuinely poor experience, and the premium charge for their products; I am fairly certain I won't be back.

    Photos
    Backslash Burger - Order at the front

    Order at the front

    Backslash Burger - Fifty Fifty Burgers

    Fifty Fifty Burgers

    Backslash Burger - Old Bay Fries

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    Old Bay Fries

    May's Seafood Restaurant - seafood - Updated May 2026

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