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Ruse

4.5 (99 reviews)
Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

Ruse Photos

RUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Ruse

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Mary L.

Wow!!! My experiences today prompted me to write this review. We are staying at Wildset for our babymoon and read about how Ruse is the best restaurant in St. Michael's. We tried the happy hour first and sat at the raw bar- the roasted oysters and spring gem salad were delicious and this was some of the the best service I have ever received from a server while sitting at the bar! We then went later that day to try dinner and we were in for a treat! The lamb ribs, wild mushrooms, and smoked trout were all so delicious. The trout in particular was cooked to perfection, crispy skin on the outside, tender meat inside, and the lemon caper sauce was delicious. I also loved the labneh ice cream, perfect amount of tangy and sweet with the rhubarb compote and crumbles. Brittany, our server, was so genuine and pleasant to be around, and enthusiastic about all of our choices. She gave us amazing service and was so sweet to even gave us complimentary non-alcoholic sparkling rose to congratulate us! My God, can't wait to come back to try the famous burger and shoestring fries!

Espresso martini
Mary K.

My second trip down to Ruse and I couldn't be happier that I decided to come back. I asked my bartender for a lot of recommendations, and ended up starting with the potstickers, which had such an amazing flavor profile I was blown away. He says the team gets them all the time and I am so jealous. I had the scallops for my main course and again, was blown away by how amazing the flavor was and how perfectly they were cooked. I will say they had tomatoes with the dish and some just didn't seem cooked all the way, so I ended up pushing all of them to the side so I didn't ruin the amazing flavor of the rest of the dish. I asked him for his recommendation on what wine to get for this dish, and he let me try a few different options before I picked his first choice. I wasn't really into their dessert this time, they were both ice cream and I really wanted something more so instead, I had an espresso martini to finish off my night. Ruse is a beautiful restaurant and is connected to a hotel so the bathrooms are very clean and has a neat space. Would highly recommend checking it out.

Local Sourdough Bread.
Russell J.

We had a GREAT evening at Ruse. Made reservations for my wife's birthday. Greeted and seated promptly. Started with 1/2 dozen oysters. Then the tuna rolls, which were so much fun to roll by hand. Cucumber Salad and Cherry Salad followed. Main was the Blue Crab Caccio y Pepe, which was fantastic! The place is small, so reservations go fast. Overall, a great seaside dining experience in St. Michaels!

Michelle C.

The food was amazing!! My favorites were the strawberry and burrata salad, the scallop crudo, and the trout piccata. The smoked trout dip and roasted oysters were also great appetizers. What I like about this place is the freshness and quality of ingredients. All the flavors accentuated the seafood but the seasonings weren't too overwhelming. The atmosphere has a cute boho vibe. Service was attentive and friendly.

Strawberry sorbet and labneh with chocolate shell and a birthday candle
Tracy W.

We were told this place was a can't miss! We found out too late that we should have come for happy hour rather than a pricier dinner but that's ok- we were celebrating! The tostada was a little salty for our tastes. We both loved the burger and fries! The pork loin was pretty good! And the dessert was out of this world! The strawberry combined with the labneh from the soft serve machine combined flavors - topped with the chocolate shell to be probably one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. The cocktails are also amazing here! And I love that they will make you mocktails upon request too! Special props for also having a gluten free menu!

malvina g.

Wow and double wow. Follow me here, farm to table fusion cuisine that could easily be in a fancy European town but it lives in St Michael's. Ruse is not one style or trend, it's a surprising mix that doesn't try too hard, while ensuring the food tastes great and surprises you. Here's what we had: aguachile tostada (took me back to our last MX trip), oysters (good), chicken (I don't like ordering chicken at a restaurant, this is a MUST. Crispy skin, delicious flavor), crab pasta (So good, very rich), dumplings ( very good). Connor was great and very friendly! Service was 5 stars! Pro tip: off season you may still need a resy. Dogs allowed on patio. Get a resy always. We can't wait to come back!

Pork chop Milanese & grilled sea scallops
Vidisha S.

We came here for our anniversary dinner, as we were staying at The Wildset. Service - AMAZING. We were stuck in traffic on the way from Baltimore, so we called ahead and they were able to accommodate us a little later than evening and we really appreciated it. They also gave us complimentary champagne since we were celebrating. It was a really nice touch and made our evening extra special. Ambiance - We loved the casual nautical vibe, without everything being the typical blue & white color. It was definitely an intimate space however, so I would strongly recommend making a reservation well in advance. Food - also amazing! Our waitress gave us amazing recommendations. We started with the oysters and cocktails, following by prawns, and ending with the pork chop and scallops. The only thing we didn't love was the pork chop - it was cooked well but it was sweeter than we expected and I wish it had a sauce (felt a little dry bc it was breaded). Would strongly recommend any seafood dishes. Didn't have any room for dessert, but I'm sure it would be great as well. Our bill overall was about $250 - on the more expensive end, but worth it for a special occasion. Would highly recommend this restaurant.

Sara S.

We walked in for a quick drink and ended up getting a few apps, and regretted not eating dinner here too. The tuna and oysters were unbelievable and fresh. The bartender was impeccable and gave us the best service. We will 100% be back here to have a full dinner experience.

Aphrodite Oyster & Eld Inlet Oyster
William A.

Haven't had a meal this good in a long time! The Aphrodite oyster was so delicious I could have had 30 more. The whipped ricotta toast is A MUST! I gasped at first bite and have been daydreaming of it ever since. The cucumber salad is truly special and any fan of chili crisp and tahini will adore it. And OMG THE CHICKEN! Simple but perfectly executed. It burst with juice when I cut into it, and the Alabama white sauce was a perfect pairing. The service was also at the level of a Michelin star restaurant. When placing down cutlery, all staff aligned them (it's the little things that make you say "huh" that set them apart). Our waiter was helpful and very friendly as well, but honestly all of the staff were just so kind. No doubt we'll be back. St Michael's is an absolute joy and it's holding an absolute gem of a restaurant. Can't wait till Ruse hold its rightful place on the Michelin guide!

tater tots + caviar duh!
Ruby G.

We loved Ruse!! The ambiance is more of a casual, rustic farm/coastal vibe. I love the long wooden table in the kitchen which gives the feeling you are hanging out, having dinner at a friend's house. We loved all of the super fresh seafood. Some highlights of the meal were the interactive make your own spicy tuna rolls, fresh sourdough bread with salty butter and fresh briney oysters. The caviar with the tater tots and creme fraise was actually the most perfect bite and I could've eaten a million of those. The burger was perfect with light shoe string fries! Overall Ruse was a perfect hit to kick off our stay-cation!

Hannah H.

A new favorite, Ruse in Maryland. We had a great meal with the trout and the burger paired with dirty martinis. The trout was well-prepared, with a fresh and flavorful profile, while the burger was juicy and satisfying, cooked to perfection. The dirty martinis complemented both dishes well, enhancing the overall experience. The service was attentive, and the ambiance added to a relaxing dining experience. A fantastic spot for a quality meal!

Jessica R.

Everything was absolutely perfect. Food, service, and ambiance. Couldn't have asked for a better time and meal. Everything was delicious.

Trout special

Food, service, and ambiance was amazing. The best trout dish I have ever eaten, bread service was delicious, the wait staff was pleasant, informative, and attentive. I can't say enough wonderful things!

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2 years ago

Best food in the state of Maryland. Worth the drive from anywhere in the DMV. You will not be disappointed.

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2 years ago

Great food. Great drinks. Great service. Probably my favorite restaurant in town. Don't miss the smash burger.

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3 years ago

Just had brunch. Wow! Best BLT ever! My wife had the asparagus and crab omelet. She raved about it. Super friendly and attentive service.

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Bistro St. Michaels - Pork tenderloin entree

Bistro St. Michaels

4.5(221 reviews)
0.3 mi
$$

The atmosphere is great and on the night we dined it was bustling. I ordered the cream of crab soup…read morewhich I thought would be a safe selection as it's billed as one of their signature dishes. Unfortunately, it was lack luster; more shell than crab and mostly devoid of flavor. I'll admit that being from the lowcountry I have a high bar for crab soup and this didn't come close to meeting it. The truffle fries were delicious and it was fun to sit at the bar and watch the kitchen action. Our waiter was attentive but when the bill arrived we had been charged for drinks we didn't order. This is not as uncommon in tourist towns as one would hope. I lived in Nantucket long enough to always go over the bill with a careful eye.

A spot like this really makes me wish Yelp had a 6 star option. It's truly just that great…read more We came to Saint Michael's for my birthday weekend and while Saint Michael's is already so special to us (we got engaged here :) ) this time, our dining experience left NO NOTES!!! We heard rave reviews on this spot and I'm so glad we booked it. The host Jen (and I believe part-owner) was splendid and hospitable. She even gave us a champagne toast for my birthday! Our server was lovely and was very attentive and prompt. Even the water they serve here is too notch (Filete frizzante water from Italy btw- never had it before and it knocked my socks off!!!) I ordered the peartini and it was perfect just marvelous with real pear juice and a tart note. I also had the Frenchtini and that was delicious with chambord (raspberry liqueur). My husband enjoyed a French cab sav that was oaky and paired lovely with our meal. We ordered the bone marrow appetizer. Very popular because right after our order it sold out at 7pm! Very yummy and the only negative I could think of is that I needed MORE of it with the charred baguette. So yummy I was dipping bread into the bone to soak up all the goodness. We split a cup of the cream of crab and it was a flavor unlike I've ever had- just the right notches of sweet and full of crab lumps. VERY VERY good, I'd bathe in it tbh. We both othered the steak frites with a crab cake. The crab cake was full of lump crab and seasoned perfectly. Melt in your mouth delicious. The steak was seared to a light crunch carmelized perfection and very juicy and medium rare inside. The butter on top was a total hit and tied it together in the most luxurious mouth feel possible. I upgraded to the truffle fries for my entree and the fries were so beautifully crunchy and thin!!! Absolutely awesome meal. We were so full we couldn't fathom dessert. I can't wait to return. The ambiance was so cozy but fully reserved so please book ahead!

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Bistro St. Michaels - Sign

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Bistro St. Michaels - Crispy oyster mushrooms

Crispy oyster mushrooms

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Limoncello Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar - Parpadelle w/Wild Boar Ragu

Limoncello Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

4.1(345 reviews)
0.1 mi
$$$

Nice and comfortable atmosphere. Service was blazing fast! The food was amazing. Beware the…read morelimoncello martini!, not for the faint of heart The portions were good, all gas fresh and homemade! Wine pours were generous

3.5 stars. This fell a little flat for us. We came in for a day trip to St. Michaels. It was our…read morefirst time in town so I can't say how it would stack up against other restaurants in the town. The restaurant itself was beautifully decorated and had a nice atmosphere. The service in general just didn't seem great despite it not being very busy. After we were sat, it took about 5 minutes before our server even came to talk to us and about 10 minutes before we got bread and water. I think had we had a better server, it would have increased our overall experience but he was not personable at all (he was not rude but just skipped all niceties), was slow to check in on us, and he never filled our empty water glasses. The cocktails were good. The seafood seemed fresh and the pasta itself was good but the saffron sauce on my dish was flavorless and separated. My shrimp was severely overcooked. The lump crab meat was good and they were generous with that portion. The bolognese sauce was better flavor but kind of greasy. We were initially excited when we sat down in this place because the menu did look really good but the service brought it down for sure. With better service, I think it would have been 4 stars.

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Limoncello Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar - Window seating

Window seating

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Caprese Salad

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Ambiance

The Galley - Pannini

The Galley

3.5(171 reviews)
0.3 mi
$$

My wife and I stopped by during Chocolate Fest and had a really nice time. They were actually…read moresampling some chocolate drinks they were preparing for the festival, which was a fun touch and made the visit feel festive. The atmosphere was great and the drinks were excellent. They make a really good Bloody Mary, and overall the bar side of things was a highlight. For food, we split a sandwich, an appetizer, and a salad. The sandwich was very good, but the rest of the food was just okay. The Caesar salad didn't seem fully tossed, and the pretzel with crab felt like it may have been microwaved. It wasn't bad, just not on the same level as the drinks and atmosphere. Overall it was a nice stop and we enjoyed ourselves. We'd definitely go back for drinks and the atmosphere.

My husband and I went here for Valentine's Day dinner. We started out with the fried burrata. I'm…read morenot sure what else I was expecting but for $26 I felt a little jipped. It was quite literally just a panko crusted burrata that was fried. And that was it. I guess for the price I was expecting like a side baguette or more tomatoes. It was good but not worth it to us. For our meal we got the lobster pot pie ($42) and the short rib ($42). The pot pie had a great flavor and had some good chunks of lobster. Although I did find it a little more on the soupy side and thought it could've been a bit thicker. The short rib in puff pastry had a good flavor but was dry. The mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts were good but nothing memorable. Overall this place provided a good meal but for the prices, I would expect out of this world memorable flavors and perfection, which it was not.

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The Galley - Private party

Private party

The Galley - Patio seating

Patio seating

The Galley - Buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy

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Buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy

Ruse - salad - Updated May 2026

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