I have been here twice. The ambience and decor are exceptional. The first time we came in August, it was really loud. In February, the noise level was much lower even though they had a good size crowd. The service is also exceptional, knowledgeable and attentive. The burgers are worth 6 stars! They are huge, juicy and come with homemade chips. The oysters are great albeit a bit pricy for being on the bay. We also ordered the chickory salad which another reviewer ordered and hated. I too, would recommend avoiding it. The fried calamari is also very good. read more

A welcome addition to fine dining on the Eastern Shore. Kudos to the chef for bringing ingenious cooking coupled with farm/Bay fresh ingredients to create a masterpiece in St.Michael's. The menu had a variety of offerings with creative pairings. Having dinner felt like attending a symphony, with all the notes in glorious harmony. Highly recommend the raw bar and rockfish, cooked to perfection with a crispy crust and atop a delicious broth. Save room for dessert! Our chocolate tart was topped with vanilla whip cream and glazed orange rind. Marvelous. Not overly sweet but the perfect combination of flavors. The wine list is interesting (in a good way!) and allow your server to guide you through their unique selections. And speaking of the service, above par! They are really doing a phenomenal job for just having opened. On Saturday night both indoor and outdoor dining were full and most of the bar area was as well. Highly advised to make a reservation. This is more than just the best restaurant in town, it's a destination if you are in DC or B'more. And stay at the Wildset while you are at it! read more

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

Great restaurant. Just did the happy hour menu but really enjoyed the service and ambiance. Burger had a horseradish sauce that I liked but isn't for everyone. read more

Amazing!! Amazing dishes and oysters. Everything you'd want in a menu, purely delicious ingredients, passionate and attentive service. Wish we had a restaurant like this in Old Town, Alexandria! read more

What a fantastic establishment, from the food, oysters, and drinks to the servers and kitchen staff. Also the decore, lighting and ambiance are calming and relaxing. Living in nearby Easton I have plenty of great options, but I often find myself back here again. Their Happy Hour from 4-6 is a great treat as well. read more

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

Fabulous Friday afternoon, service food and drinks were top notch!!! Avery our mixologist and server at the bar was brilliant Thank you for a lovely evening... read more

Ok tried it once not memorable. Creative ideas but not great flavors. Interesting bar menu. No cabs , Malbec, pinot ? Bourbon...bullett makers mark ? Really ? Just not what i am think is a winning deal for me Just not memorable food ! Sorry i love creative menus, but it needs to taste good ! Heck you have to try something new ...just not for me read more

Ruse was disappointing. I had dinner with two guests. We all had different entrees, and shared one appetizer. The scallop ceviche was so so. The sauce was better than the scallops. The wine menu was sorely lacking in basic favorites. The iced tea was very odd in its flavor and being yellow in color reminded me of another fluid. The scallop main course rated 8/10. My guests had duck and swordfish. The duck was "OK" which is not a good review. It was paired with olives, a very strange combination. My other guest enjoyed her swordfish. For the prices charged Ruse was anything but a great restaurant. read more

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

Just excellent. Second time coming here now, once in the winter and last night (summer) and both were delightful and delicious. Even the most simple of dishes bursted with flavor- the eggplant and shrimp tagliatelle, so good. The Roasted Oysters might have been the best version of oysters I've ever had. The cheesecake soft serve- don't pass it up. Everything was spectacular and I think this is my favorite place to eat in this area. read more

Given the buildup in the DC press, we were very excited to try this beautiful new restaurant in Saint Michael's. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. It took 30 minutes to get a cocktail. The restaurant was so loud that we had to shout across our table of four. After having been greeted by the manager who promised a great dining experience, the service was spotty, and the manager never came back to ask about our experience (never a good sign). The banquet seat was hard and uncomfortable. The food was tasty but salty. The $19 lobster roll, was delicious but contained maybe 1-1/2 ounces of lobster. Overall, we rate this place a 3 out of 5 and hope that they get it figured out, because it could be a great addition to the Saint Michaels dining scene. read more

Second time we tried this place for brunch. Please work out your issues with getting espresso drinks! First time There the server said I could only get it in a paper cup, this time I couldn't get one because he didn't know how to charge me for one since the coffee bar is part of the hotel and not the restaurant? Figure it out! Then I tried to order a BLT on a biscuit and the server came back from the kitchen and said I could not have my BLT on a biscuit because the chef said no. WTF?! The biscuits are huge and square and wouldn't have been an issue to simply swap out for the bread. Among our party, the burger was good as was the peach/tomato/ burrata appetizer and the bloody Mary's. However due to the attitude of the chef and lack of creative problem solving by the server, we won't be back. Also, a 20% tip was automatically added which the server didn't tell us about and didn't deserve. Our party was 6 people so I guess that's their policy. read more

Excellent service and creative, tasty cocktails. Best food we had in St. Michaels. Good oyster selection and the staff was very warm.

This is a lovely restaurant located just at the end of the town of St. Michaels on the right-hand side. This restaurant is very contemporary with colors of Grey, Black, White and a Splash of Wicker. Huge shout out to the employees- wait staff. They are all very knowledgeable and are very willing to share their favorite items on the menu and answer any questions you might have. Ok let's talk about the food. We did a sampling of 5 appetizers. The Baked Oysters were good but didn't rock like I was hoping they would. I'm a home cook and perhaps more critical than most people would be, but I felt they lacked in flavor but someone else might think they were terrific. Scale of 1-10 I'd rate them a 6. The Calamari was very good but slightly over cooked, I'd give these a 7. The Raw Oysters offered at $2.00 each, Happy Hour price were very good but a slight bay after taste lingered so for me, I'd give them an 8. Now the Steak Tartare was Delicious. It's served on a sliced baguette topped with a mound of shredded cheese. The presentation lacked as there is no "Pop of Color" on the plate. I would rate this a 9. Last up is the Smoked Trout. This was suggested for us to try, and it was very good. Presentation was lovely and the in-house Chips that was served with it were Wonderful, not to thick or salty. I'd rate this a 9. Overall, our dining experience was lovely and for most people they would think this place is top notch, I just happen to be a Food Snob so I'm much more opinionated. Definitely worth trying if you're in town. read more

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This was the best unexpected meal I have had in years. I thought I was just going to an average resort Restaurant for Labor Day dinner, but all the dishes, including desserts were special. The Roast Oysters, Crab Bisque, Scallops with sweet corn and polenta were exceptional, as was the Soft Serve cheesecake with cherries. Despite it being Monday of Labor Day Weekend, the service was prompt, cheerful, and helpful. Finally, the craft cocktails are not to be missed. read more

New place in town we tried and couldn't be happier !! First off service was top notch ... thank you Shane our server and Sarah the manager . You really made the night special . Food and drinks were exceptional . If you like oysters , this place is a must !! Can't wait to go back !! read more

Best duck I've had in my life, excellent service. Absolutely killer menu. 10/10 would recommend.

Really kicking myself for not taking pictures but this was one of the best dinners I've had in a long time! Service was excellent. If the peaches and burratta and the tuna tartare are the on the menu, order them! Delicious, unique and well plated! read more

Truly enjoyed an unparalleled experience at this hotel and restaurant. The food presented was a perfectly balanced collaboration of art and flavor. The colorful and creative dishes were prepared and served by a Chef and team that ensures an unforgettable experience. The ambiance was relaxed and casual and the staff delivers fine dining service. Their knowledge and passion shine throughout the entire experience. Their menu changes frequently to keep things fresh and exciting. We had the gueyumar grilled sardines and they were truly exceptional. My favorite was the sea scallops over corn polenta and the duck breast with a pistachio purée. The ragoons with crab definitely get an honorable mention too.(it's Maryland after all) When you visit, you have to try the signature cocktails. (Pretty sure they rotate these as well) Our favorite was the Down by the bay and the June bug. The wine list at this restaurant was diverse and had some A+ choices. No matter what you order here it seems, it will exceed expectations. We fell in love with this place not only for the friendly and passionate staff, but for the relaxed atmosphere that this place delivers. Whether I want to go out on a date night, have a get together with friends, enjoy a nice evening with the family, this place is perfect. The fact that it has a boutique modern hotel also made it special for us. I see why there were multiple articles raving about this hotel and restaurant. I left and went home feeling rejuvenated and pampered. read more

Very nice addition to St. Michael's! Great atmosphere and good food! Happy Hour has yummy specials!

Had a nice meal here tonight. The restaurant is basically one large, bright, open room, with a bar at one end that runs the width of the room. It's attractive, comfortable, and modern, but a bit spartan, and--with hard surfaces--all the sounds reverberate. The bartenders were great, very communicative, and delivered a couple of delicious cocktails with some flair before our table was ready (on time). While we were enjoying our cocktails, we ordered a couple of the anchovy toast slices, which were very good; really perfect for snacking with the cocktails. We had a great server at our table, too. She explained the organization of the menu (which was a little confusing and difficult to parse what was an appetizer vs. a salad vs. a main). All of her descriptions, however, were spot on. For two, we shared the shrimp tostada which was recommended, and delicious. For mains we ordered the lamb, the duck, and shared the gem lettuce salad. My wife enjoyed the duck very much; I enjoyed the lamb, which was very well prepared, but saltier than I would have liked. The salad was very good. The only disappointment of the evening was the sparse choice of desserts: a lime tart and two kinds of soft serve. Though the latter two sounded ornately prepared and flavorful, the selection was limited enough of variety that we passed (when at least one of us would have made it a whole additional course). read more

Bring you Bose headphones... The amazing food produced by the chefs at Ruse is drowned out by mind-blowing noise in the restaurant. From a terrific raw bar and great variety of cocktails to delicious entrees (swordfish was fantastic), the menu was highlighted by fresh ingredients and perfect preparation. We dined on a Friday evening and service was a bit slow - 2 hours for 3 courses. While that's completely ok, not being able to have a conversation with others sitting at your table in inexcusable. The management needs to address this issue immediately. read more

We had dinner here when we stayed at the Wildset Hotel while we were in St. Michaels. it was a wonderful experience. we were greeted warmly when we checked in and were given a table outside. our Server, Patricia, was amazing. She has a wonderful personality yet professional and was avaialable but not intrusive. When asked she offered suggestions and they were welcomed. The food was equally excellent and plated accordingly. When we return to St. Michaels we will return to the Ruse and Wildset. read more

Solid food, great new-wave wine list, and friendly, welcoming service. We had a blast.

This restaurant is attached to The Wildset Hotel and will be famous in its own right for their lobster rolls alone. There are other delicious items on the menu including a variety of oysters (shucked on demand fresh from the raw bar), in addition to sumptuous seafood dishes including seared scallops, crab dip, halibut, and wild caught shrimp. But the lobster rolls alone are worth leaving your lover over. The cocktails are fabulous, the interior design is gorgeous, the servers are top notch, the entire staff is welcoming and wonderful...but their lobster rolls are so good they'll make you want to give up your vices, change into your church clothes, and start a new religion dedicated the worship of lobster fishermen. You may find yourself fawning over your server and requesting an autograph from the chef. You may come just for dinner and find yourself looking for local real estate to buy so that you can live closer to these lobster rolls. You may sell your home, put your kids up for adoption, quit your job and start your whole life over just to maintain your love affair with these lobster rolls. read more

First visit to this new restaurant in St. Michaels. Great location just outside the hustle and bustle, clean lines and uncluttered, plus a nice bar area. Everything tasted great - raw bar, eggplant, anchovy toast, gigantic pork chop and scallops left us stuffed. Nice wine list, lots of spirits. My only suggestion is add a couple of beers to the limited list, maybe the ale from nearby Eastern Shore Brewing. Friendly and experienced staff. We will be back! Bonus: we got to see one of the rooms in the adjoining Wildset Hotel - beautiful! read more

4.5 stars. We did the NYE prix fixe dinner with wine pairing. Expensive but worth it. Service was awesome. Wine pairing was great. Carrots were the best I've ever had. Duck breast was excellent, as was the truffle pasta. My only dings - snooty but real: bathroom soap was so fragrant that I could smell it over my food and wine and with a program as solid as theirs, they should definitely make a switch to a more neutral soap. Plus, you should use flutes for sparkling wine or the bubbles dissipate too soon. Coupes are great for cocktails, not for bubbles. read more

Amazing service and ambiance- top it off with exceptional quality food- outstanding! The burger is incredible and the trout dip was a delight! read more

I came here for my 20th anniversary and wasn't sure what to expect, they surpassed even my best expectations. The food was amazing! The oysters, trout dip, monk fish all too good. Normally I leave with leftovers, not tonight. Christian at the bar is a very skilled bartender, he came up with amazing creations and was so much fun! Patricia was our server and gave excellent food recommendations. We enjoyed everything. read more

This was my second go round at this restaurant. The first time our very large group had a nice meal and all vowed to come again. Went there with friends. Despite a reservation, we had over a 20 minute wait, even though, every time we asked, we were told our table was just being readied. As a vegan, I had no problem with my meal the first time around. Not quite the same experience this time. Our server spent more time telling us what we couldn't change than trying to accommodate us. No, there wasn't anything the chef could make for me. No he can't combine the available vegetables to make me a dish because they're all highly regulated. No, we can't have bread with that dish, because it comes with crackers. The first time I've gone to a restaurant in the area that couldn't accommodate my allergies (despite the notice on bottom of menu that said otherwise). Would I come again? That would be a hard no. The problem becomes that it's not just me, they're losing, it's also anyone in my social circle who will think twice about going there. read more