Overall a good restaurant with reasonably priced fare. They do have a children's menu too. The beer they brew is fairly good, recommend the $5 sampler of 6 of their beers. Portions tend to be a bit small, especially the appetizers. The atmosphere has potential but right now it feels too "bland" and they could really decorate the place better to embrace their southern Maryland waterman motive to make it much more interesting.
(3)
J M.
Could have been great. I had the mushroom and goat cheese omlette. You could tell the goat cheese was not the greatest. It lacked that punch of flavor. Also the duck pot stickers were not so good. You couldn't even tell whether it was actually duck. Beer is good there.
(3)
Glenda C.
Our family recently dined at the Ruddy Duck and everyone really enjoyed their meal. We started with appetizers, the pretzels, which were great, the duck spring rolls also great and the calamari same thing, great starters. For dinner two had oven fired pizzas and they were perfect. The crust was just as flavorful as the toppings, we all loved the pizzas. What a find, great food, reasonably priced and the atmosphere was pleasant as was our server! Perfect end to a great weekend!
(5)
Erin R.
Husband and I waddled into to Ruddy Duck for a Saturday lunch. The ambiance had a bit of identity crisis - the space is beautiful but whoever was in charge of the play list kept selecting 80s/90s pop - think Fiona Apple and I kid you not the grammy winning 'A Whole New World' from Aladdin. Anywho. Beer: Heff: Smooth and served close to room temp (at least mine was). I enjoyed it and would have liked it a bit colder - hubby thought the banana undertones were too strong. Food: Crab cakes: Mostly lump crab and very nicely broiled. I thought they were overpriced though at $28 for 2 (each about the size of a lacrosse ball) served with tasteless fries and standard slaw Fish tacos: A wonderful amount of fish came on them but they were pretty flavorless. Hubby ended up taking the tartar sauce from my crab cakes to make them more interesting. $65 for lunch is pretty steep, especially considering we only had 1 beer a person, so you likely won't see my return.
(3)
Raymond W.
Huge ruddy duck fan. Been a loyal customer since they opened. Their beers or are great. The pizza is the best bet, super tasty. The apps overall are very good. The main courses are solid. Good service, very nice staff. The owners are attentive and helpful when needed. Great place to eat and relax. Check out the daily specials. Some great deals to be had.
(5)
Amy R.
The only thing preventing me from giving this place negative stars is the fact that the owner comped our entire check. We stopped in here on a Saturday for a quick bite to eat before we visited some of the area's wineries. We started with the Jalapeno Onion Rings which were very good. Our experience headed south after that. 5 out of the six of us ordered salads. We waited for almost an hour for those salads. What made the wait even more horrible was that we watched the salads being made and sitting on the counter for at least 20 of those minutes! Once they got to us, they were soggy messes. To add insult to injury, our spinach dip appetizer came with the meals and the server forgot one of the salads. When the steak salad finally appeared, the steak was nothing but grizzle. We asked to speak to the manager, but the owner came. He had a seriously bad attitude and told us that the type of issues we had with our meal "rarely happened." Hmmmm.
(1)
Renee S.
It's decent but a bit on the pricy side. I ordered the crab cakes with jalapeño onion rings. The crab cakes were delicious with lumps of sweet crab in every bite. The highly recommend jalapeño onion rings however we're just okay.
(3)
Michelle W.
The food here is delicious we came here after searching yelp for yet another yummy place to visit and this place hits the spot I definitely recommend the crabcakes they were so good but all of the food is fresh the service is great I have the nicest waitresses around and I definitely would come back again
(5)
Peter M.
Best food on Solomon's. Never had a bad meal here. Crab cakes are great, the ribeye is also. The beers change a lot, they have a chocolate porter I really like. This place is not cheap though, worth it imo. Go-to restaurant for when friends visit and you want to go someplace nice.
(5)
Ching C.
Ok food. Spinach and artichoke dip was ok - they should give more bread or chips or something. Calamari was ok. I got the Irish lamb stew (on the St. Patrick's special menu) - Ok - I liked the chunks of lamb, and I like that they gave a decent amount of lamb. Wish my dish was hot/warm though. they gave two pieces of bread with it, but I kind of wish there was either more bread or that it came with rice or something. I had a taste of my friend's Irish Shepard's Pie and it was REALLY good. Highly recommend it if it's available. I liked the flavor better than my lamb stew and it came out hot. There was also vegetables on the side. My friend said it was super salty on the bottom though. Had a piece of my friend's fish and chips (which he really liked), and I'll agree the skin on the fish was one of the crispiest I've had. Fish also seemed pretty moist and flakey. I just thought that the fish was kind of small - you get two kind of small pieces of fish in my opinion, but it was decent. It was my friend's birthday and we already bought cake and pie (because it was pie day), so he didn't want more dessert, but the waiters came over and use the kazoo to play happy birthday for him.
(3)
Matthew J.
Aggregate rating from a party of 6 was 4.6. Great beer (the Vienna lager and Kolsch in particular), and the food was just about flawless. Crab cakes, fish and chips, and the French onion (served up in Philly cheesesteak style) were all just fantastic. The only negative aspect was slightly slow service. With small kids this may be a problem for some families. Highly recommended! We will be back if we are in this area again.
(5)
Tim W.
Went in on a Friday at 5pm with a group of 5. Got sat right away. The service was good and the food was really good. We all had something different and everyone was happy. I tried a couple of their beers, however I was very underwhelmed. I'm a craft beer fan and was hoping for something that excited me.....Over all a good experience. Defiantly will put it on the list for next time we are in town.
(3)
Rebecca C.
We loved the place. Will definitely go again! Great service and great food. The aroma hits you as soon as you walk in, the smell of deliciousness. Nom nom.
(5)
Lorraine S.
Local brew pub. The desserts were the standout. We had a gluten free brownie sundae and Bailey,s ice cream pie. As for the main dishes, the pastrami was ok, but don't order the "Duckadillas". Menu says barbecued duck, but it's drowned in sickly sweet BBQ sauce.
(3)
Sarah C.
Was really impressed w/ the Ruddy Duck. I've heard some good things...but also some bad things. So was really hesitant to try them out, I'm glad I decided to give it a shot. We went for drinks & appetizers before the fight @ Buffalo Wild Wings (Cause lets face it their food sucks LOL) We started w/ a beer flight which catered to my craft beer drinking partner. I was pleasently surprised to find out that RD serves non craft beer (not a fan) Most of the time when I go to a brewery restaurant I'm not able to find a beer that I like. For the appetizers we got the empanadas (pretty good 6/10) seared ahi (delicious 9/10) flash fried calamari (fantastic 9/10) and the duck spring rolls (OMG AHHHMAZING 10/10) We will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Gail R.
This place is located across the lot from the Hilton Hotel near Solomons Island, so there are more than enough parking spots available. As you walk in, you will see a bar area to your left. We went on a Friday night and so I saw some artists performing within that area as well. Beyond the bar area it looks to be partitioned off from the dining area. Once we were seated in the dining area, the first thing I did was to check Yelp to glance at the pictures posted to see if there was anything that caught my attention. There was one pic I saw that had crab cakes in the picture (posted by Oscar A) and so I wanted a replica of that. However, as I tried to describe it to the waiter, I discovered I was not going to get the exact replica of what I saw, then when I heard the Market Price cost ($28), I opted to just get an appetizer instead as this was more of an after dinner visit for me. I decided to get their Trio of Beef Empanadas ($7.50), Argentine-style meat turnovers with a chipotle roasted bell pepper coulis and pico de gallo. My choice of having them oven baked or fried - I opted for oven baked, however they arrived looking burned. Glad they did not taste burned, but I have had better empanadas. What my friends got looked more tasty - Fish 'N Chips ($14.99) and Tuscan Grilled Chicken ($11.25). I may come back to this area again and if I do, I will check this place out again...try something different.
(3)
Mrs. B.
I was staying at the Hilton Garden Inn and decided to walk over for lunch. I sat at the bar and received good service. The sandwich, with chicken and bacon, was very good. The beer however didn't impress, especially for a place that is supposedly known for the beer. If any of you have made your own Mr Beer at home, that's exactly what this tastes like. Not that it's terrible, but I can make beer just as good and very easily at home.
(3)
Shane M.
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Great gluten free pizza, crab cakes, decor, and service. Only Recommendation: Offer duck dishes besides BBQ duck. Took my wife's family here when they came down to visit around Christmas. To our surprise, on a Monday night around 6pm, the place was booming. Still, they were able to accommodate all 8 of us fairly quickly. The server was pleasant, took down all our orders, and had drinks out within 5 minutes. The food also was delivered rather quickly - within 30 minutes or so. I ordered the Beer Brats, thought it tasted great. My wife ordered gluten free pizza...that's when I realized I ordered the wrong thing. That pizza was amazing. Long story short - we had a great time and we'll be returning customers. My only recommendation is to have more of a seafood selection and offer duck tacos. With a name like "Ruddy Duck", you'd expect the restaurant to offer ample duck dishes. Maybe my expectations are too high; all I know is, I want duck.
(4)
Courtney M.
What didn't we try? We ate everything and everything was good. Bloody mary's, Dark and Dirties, Martini's, Duck eggrolls, Calamari, Crab cake sandwich, pasta, Crab dip, pizza, Beer flights, fish and chips, fish tacos, and i know other stuff that I am missing. Service was great as well, we had a very large group in a private room
(5)
Jason F.
When in Lusby, your choices are limited. Across the parking lot from our hotel was the Ruddy Duck and due to the convenience I came here on multiple occasions. I describe this place as mediocre food and mediocre beer. Tried the fish/chips, Hawaiian pizza, and the duckadilla. All 3 dishes were edible, but nothing noteworthy. The fish/chips was the best of the bunch. 2 people I was with got the french dip and found it deplorable. 1 person said the fish tacos (mahi) were good. The beer is better than average, but not great. I appreciate that they make their own beer. I found myself drinking the festbier the most. Atmosphere is good and the servers were friendly. I doubt I will be back in Lusby again, but if an occasion arises, I won't avoid this place.
(3)
Alysha A.
Started with the duck a dilla appetizer. It was good but sweet. Had the crab cake dinner, and it was absolutely wonderful. My husband had the steak and cake and the steak was cooked perfectly to order, juicy, and flavorful. We found out after that the waiter charged my friends card twice instead of splitting the bill between the two couples. They were able to get it corrected over the phone. But what a terrible mistake to find out afterwards.
(4)
Jose F.
So this place has potential for some great beer but they are lacking. This is a review of the beers and the ok service that was received. Lots of beers to choose from but none are really a standout. Out of 8 beers only one was anything close to the the description. I mean maybe I've had so much beer now and I'm spoiled so I have a high bar when I see lots of medals in the window. If your in the area stop in and give them a try as when it comes to beer everyone should try and find what they like. The service was ok as there was no host and we had to guess on seating. The fries came out and they needed more cooking as some where still frozen. I may still come back and try some of the food but it was the beer that drew us in.
(3)
JR M.
We eat here about once per quarter and also attend the Monday trivia night from time to time. No problems, but also nothing to rave about. The RD has decent, dependable food and usually good service, which can be problematic when the place is crowded. The small pizzas are good, and most of the appetizers. Soups can sometimes be hit or miss (I once had a tomato basil that tasted like watered down spaghetti sauce from a jar). Best entree ever was a special, the London Broil.
(3)
Rommel A.
I was in the area for business. I sat at the bar area. I received excellent service from the greeter, server and rest of the staff. Food was great. I have nothing bad to say. I would definitely go back to this place.
(5)
Jeff L.
Only had beers. I had the Kolsch, the Dusselduck, and the blueberry wheat. Prices are reasonable and they give you a full pint. The bartender was friendly and helpful. I gave it four points because we didn't have any food but I hear the food is very good. I recommend The Ruddy Duck.
(4)
Ingrid K.
I love their beer battered onion rings (spicy) and their hand crafted beers are pretty tasty.
(5)
Laura H.
We were visiting a friend in the area and he took us here on our last night in town. Really good beer brewed on premises- had the IPA and the blueberry wit- and split the crab cakes and BBQ duck pizza with my boyfriend. The crab cakes were very meaty and delicious as was the pizza- the BBQ sauce was particularly good. Highly recommend if you're a craft beer fan and in the area.
(3)
Amit J.
Went there for dinner last night. The flight of beer was pretty decent. You actually get to sample all 10 that are on tap. The crab cakes were ok, not worth the $30 price. My wife had the fish tacos. They were better than the crab cakes, not great either. Service was decent until we ordered dessert, cheesecake. After 15 minutes of waiting for someone to cut a slice and bring it, we gave up and paid the check and left.
(3)
Candace J.
We LOVE the new Ruddy Duck on St. George's Island. The views are fantastic and the food and service have always been great. I like that the bar is separated really well from the main dining area although it'd be nice if they had more TVs in the bar. Their craft beers are always fun to try out.
(4)
Sarah C.
Meh. Crab cakes are pretty good. Avoid "crab chowder". It is just a bowl of vegetable soup with a teaspoon of crab decoratively placed on top. Disappointing.
(3)
Richard F.
First time here but awesome crab cakes. I would come back just for them. Very nice IPA on tap as well. Service was great as well.
(5)
Meg N.
Been here twice while visiting family in the area. Once as a teenager and once this past week. My party of 6 arrived at 7 and the place was packed! However, only a 30 minute wait. Once we got seated I was thinking service would be slow and it was average for the crowd that was there. My only real complaint is that we were seated next to the band area and that halted conversation. This annoyed me because we were having Father's Day dinner with my dad whom I only see once a year or every few years so I would have much rather listened to him then someone sing "Let it Go" - come on people get over that song already!! The food was excellent. I had a burger and my husband had the pizza and both were very well prepared. I only wish we would have been weaned about the band upon arrival and we may have gone elsewhere
(3)
Don W.
Have only eaten in the bar area, never the dining room. That said, service was prompt, food and drinks arrived promptly, etc. Nice atmosphere, particularly if you enjoy open mike night, group trivia, and the like. Shares a parking lot with Hilton Garden Inn so walking (or stumbling) home is a breeze...
(4)
John O.
I have to say that the last three times I've come here, have been really good experiences. Today, we can in for lunch, and it was more of the same good food. Today, we ordered the nacho appetizer, the jalapeño onion rings, and a cowboy salad. The onion rings were really good. They really tasted like hand made and not store bought rings, and the little bit of jalapeño flavor made them even better.. A+ on those. The nachos were pretty good as well. The were served on home made chips piled high with what you would expect on nachos. Again, another good item. The cowboy salad was mine, and the steak on top was hooked perfectly (rare) and tasted great too. The only thing that wasn't to my liking was the very strong bleu cheese that came on it. A lot less of that strong flavor cheese would have been better. But aside from that, everything was great. My wife even mentioned to me twice how good the home brewed tea was. I hate tea, but if she said it was really good, then I'll have to believer her. She's critical of bad tea, but luckily, this was not such an occasion. I would recommend going for lunch the days they gave it, because it's pretty quiet then. We will definitely be going back!!
(5)
D R.
It's an average place. Nothing wonderful and nothing horrible.
(3)
Maria K.
Watched the 2012 Euro Cup final here and I would say it's pretty standard pub fare. I will say the Duck-A-Dillas were awesome though. Just superb. We didn't try their award winning crab cakes though, which maybe we should have tried, nor did we try any of their beers.
(3)
Keri C.
The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because I am a firm believer that there is always room for improvement. I have eaten here several times and the food has been consistently good. The salmon is quite tasty and the pizza's are yummy.The menu is versatile and there appears to be something for everyone. The in house brews are always fun to taste, and they make this easy to do by offering a "sampler" of each beers, served in mini glasses, (much like shot glasses, but slightly larger). They have family nights on Wednesdays and offer live music a couple of other nights a week, and never a cover charge. The bar area is seperate from the dining area, which makes it possible for those with little ones to go out and eat and still enjoy the live entertainment. Also a nice touch, is you can see the kitchen staff as they slave away preparing the guests food, and you can also see the brewing room as they have a huge window allowing guests the view. Prices are reasonable, fare is tasty and each time we have been the service has been good as well. It is also nice to see the owners are out socializing with the guests and helping their staff when its busy. Kudos to Ruddy Duck, I definitely recommend this place!
(4)
J D.
Waiter was great with the kids and the food was good. Would go again if we are in the area.
(4)
laurie r.
Went on a busy Saturday night, the service was terrible. If the service had been better I would give it a better rating, and hopefully this was an off night. More than 10 minutes before the waitress came to our table, once she took our order she got 2/5 orders wrong. Food - I had an American ale that was quite good. The cheese puffs (an Argentinian specialty) were good, but I suspect it was pizza dough around good cheese, not very "puffy". Calamari was cooked perfectly, but the sauce was average at best. The gazpacho was very good, and I highly recommend the sliders. Pulled pork with a sauce that wasn't too sweet, and duck with a sauce that was sweet but had a great kick. I was disappointed that the fish sandwich (or maybe it was fish & chips) was made with mahi mahi, seems like being right on the Bay they would have access to some local fish. So I didn't order that. I would try it again, in hopes that the service would be better.
(2)
Ardon G.
This place looks great! But looks are sadly just not enough to get me back. Service was really bad - 1 waiter for a party of 14 celebrating a college graduation at 2 pm on a saturday. We had requested the semi private area off the bar and made the reservation weeks in advance. But upon arrival we were initially sat in the main room, eventually we were moved but it was kind of awkward. Food took forever and was so- so, crab dip - yuck - melted cheese on top that clumped the whole portion into one. 4 bread sticks - which were great but not nearly enough. But isn't it cardinal rule not to mix seafood with cheese?? We must have asked for water at least 8 times. Our waiter was not able to handle the first round of drinks let alone any reorders or waters. I tried a brick oven pizza and it looked good but tasted weird. I think this was the case with most of our orders. Most of us don't live down that way so we wouldn't return anyway but it is sad that such a nice looking, new place is so disappointing. The 2 stars were earned by the facility and location. The other 3 stars were lost by service, food and mgmt.
(2)
maneesha b.
I've only been once so far, but I'm giving it 4 stars based on potential. It has the potential to be completely awesome. Even if it was in DC where I can take my pick of breweries & good restaurants, I would be excited about this one. The menu has a lot of interesting, creative items - where else in southern maryland can you find a duck & spicy bbq pizza? Most entrees are under $17. The beers sound good and are well priced. They have at least 5, maybe 6 of their own beers now. I only had the porter so far but I very much enjoyed it. AND it was served at the correct temperature. One complaint is that they don't have a tasting flight. What brewery doesn't have a tasting flight?! Servers are eager to please & service was prompt. Decor and atmosphere were great. The wine list is pretty lame and markups are 250%. Then again, it's a brewery - anyone wanting wine here deserves to a shoddy wine list. The Spicy BBQ duck brick oven pizza was tasty & I loved the crust, but the pizza was soggy in the middle. I'll report later on the food once I've tasted more of it. So: Ruddy Duck is not quite great yet. Some kinks to work out. But the menu is unique for southern maryland, the concept is unique, the beers are pretty good with interesting variety, the prices are good, and the building is pretty. Loads of potential!
(4)
Judy G.
Very loud. Was served raw chicken and management did not care. Will never go back.
(1)
July G.
Just ok. We went here relatively early on a Sunday with our almost 3 year old daughter and the place was pretty empty. We were seated in the children't section, which was fine, and the waitress seemed friendly and brought our drinks right away. We decided to order the crab cakes entree and a pizza to share. I'm sorry, I don't know what contest these crab cakes won first place in but they were mediocre at best. The pizza was pretty good. After we placed our order though, the waitress completely disappeared and my husband had an empty glass for a very long time. When he finally flagged her down, she brought him another drink after we were already finished and ready to go. When we got the bill, I was in even bigger shock...$28 for the horrid crab cakes! Just a word of advice, if you are looking for a good wood-fired pizza in the area, go ahead and try it here. They were reasonably priced ($11-$15)...but stay away from their award-winning crab cakes!
(2)
LAURIE S.
I was thrilled to find this eatery. The Ribs had a wonderful smoky rub so that BBQ sauce wasn't even necessary. The focacia, tomato, mozerella, and pesto sandwhich was the best I've ever had. I'm sure the pesto was fresh, and it seemed like the focacia bread was freshly baked. The fresh chip nachos were amazing. All the food was plated beautifully as if the owner did it himself. I'm so tired of going in nice resteraunts and getting a plate with the food slopped carelessly on the plate. Not so at this restaurant. I will go to this eatery often!
(5)
George G.
This is a really good brewpub in southern Maryland. A flight of 6 samples costs 6$ with pints around 4.50$. We really enjoyed the Scottish Ale and Wit. The menu had lots of Argentinian influence and thus went for the Argentine Chorizo with Chimichurri sauce. This was served with an extremely good home made mustard which I requested the waitress for extra to dip my french fries into (I refuse to use red food colored corn syrup, ie ketchup). A friend of mine had the duck with BBQ sauce on a pizza which looked really good. Overall the food was very fresh and appeared to be completely made to order with local ingredients. As for atmosphere for the first hour of our meal we had live entertainment which played a Led Zeppelin cover at one point. The waitress was really friendly and had a good laugh at some of our joking around. We split the bill and it was about 35$ for a beer samples, 2 pints, and 2 entrees. Would definitely come back here again when in the area.
(4)
Kay W.
I live right down the street from The Duck, lucky me, but I'd make the drive even if I didn't. This place keeps getting better, and the folks of Southern Maryland seem to know it as well. The bar is always crowded with good clientelle, standing, sitting, slirping or munching. The owners are there every day, every meal, and do good work making sure things are operating smoothly. The pizzas are always amazing (seriously), the appetizers a bit outside the normal bar fare, and always good, fresh and fast. Service is pretty darn good, prompt and friendly, but this isn't fine dining, so don't expect a glowing description of the specials or recommendations on wine paring. Not that you should be ordering wine here anyway. Try a beer sampler and find a new favorite. Only slight complaint: beer always comes out of the tap a bit too warm for me. If they could frost some glasses and get a better kegerator system going, the beer would be A+
(5)
Nicole P.
I love this place. Plenty of variety on the menu, and I've yet to have a meal there I didn't enjoy. The owners are great too. Very friendly, and they take the time to get to know their customers.
(4)
Sarah M.
Ooooh yummy! Came here after a nice day out at Calvert Cliffs looking for shark teeth and hiking with the kids. My husband tried the beer sampler, and settled on a Scottish brew of some sort (I'm not a beer expert, sorry!) He really enjoyed it though! One of my kids ordered a kids' pizza, and honestly, it wasn't all that great; it were really bread-y, and not very pizza-y. The other ordered a cheeseburger and fries, and he scarfed the whole thing down. We ordered potato skins for an appetizer and they were fantastic! My french dip sandwich was one of the best I've had. It was cooked and assembled perfectly and was super flavorful! I ordered onion rings with it, and they were also the best I've had. Beer-battered, so they had a great flavor, but they also had a slight spicy kick. LOVED them! My husband had the crab cake sandwich, and while it was good, I don't think that it was really worth it. It was served pretty plainly, and didn't live up to the hype. He liked it well enough though, and ate it all. We ordered the mudpie (with the ice cream and moose and all that stuff) for dessert, and it was really good! I had a hard time deciding which desert to order though, so we also took a slice of the chocolate cake to go. I was really disappointed with this. It tasted stale and not fresh. The marshmallow center was a like a 6-month old marshmallow Easter candy (we've all done it, don't pretend you haven't pilfered and then re-discovered your child's stash much later) It was chewy and gummy and weird. The cake was soggy and dense, and the layer of moose was kind of rubbery. Overall it didn't taste fresh. If we hadn't ordered it to go, I'd have sent it back because it wasn't good. Maybe when it's prepared fresh, it's better. Overall it was great! And except when we were waiting at the end for the check and for the dessert to come, the service was great too. It slowed down a LOT at the end though, and kids were starting to lose patience. If we went out that way again, we might stop back by. There seemed to be several local places though, so chances are we'd look for another place to try anyway.
(4)
Tanya C.
...I got the steak & cake....steak cooked to perfection & one of the best crab cakes I've ever had....
(4)
Tiffany N.
Awesome. Best place in the area in my opinion. Me and a friend went here for a birthday dinner and we ordered drinks and dinner. Very pleased. We started the night out with a duckadilla, which is a quesadilla with tender pieces of duck, cheese, and bbq sauce. Highly recommended,as they were delicious. For my entree I had the french dip. The prime rib steak was shaved and served with provolone on a large French sub. It came with horseradish and perfect au jus. It was excellent! I would definitely order it again the next time I come. My friend had brats, which came with sauerkraut, a healthy dose of mashed potatoes, and sliced mixed squash. It looked delicious and was a huge portion. Probably enough to split. I had the porter and my friend two ales. The drinks are pretty standard for brew pub beer, nothing special. We also ordered shots. The whole tab came out to be $70, not too shabby! To top off the experience our service was great. The waiter was attentive and pretty quick to refill drinks and check up on us. Definitely check this place out if you're in Lexington park / Solomons.
(4)
Laurel C.
I have a good time every time I go here. Their in-house beer is yummy, especially the IPA. Their servers are almost always attentive and friendly, even when they are busy. Sitting in the bar area can be very loud and crowded, but the service up there is still pretty good. I recommend the Mediterranean pizza (even without chicken, this pizza has a ton of stuff on it, you won't be missing anything!). They also have an option to order 3 "side dishes" and call it a meal. My dad says their crabcakes are some of the best around. Their hummus is sometimes sketchy- I get the feeling they're tweaking the recipe. I've had it too salty, too little cumin, too much garlic, too watery, too thick. I still usually order it, but I hope they get that figured out at some point.
(4)
James M.
Beers are finished and round, fish n chips approved by my Brit girlfriend, duck BBQ pizza!
(5)
Thomas G.
If you are planning on going to experience one of the Ruddys for the first time, come to this one. The food is fantastic! Really, I can't find anything to complain about (and I'm good for that)! The house beers are delicious and creative. They played it safe with the styles, but that's fine as they do them well. The staff here has been very good to us. They are attentive and do a great job of making one feel welcome. All in all it's a great place.
(5)
Bill M.
Good food. Good beer. Family friendly. I had my two boys ages 6 and 3 with me and it was a great dinner.
(5)
Gordon F.
Came here with co-workers on a trip. Great selection of appetizers. the onions rings in particular were exceptional - we ordered a second batch. Beer selection also had great variety of delicious beers. You can always tell a good meal by how long the silence is when the food is delivered; it was clear our dishes were delicious. Highly recommended!
(4)
Stew M.
My wife and I stopped in here before the restaurant opened, in need of a place to camp out while our car's brakes were having repairs across the street. We had traveled from Maine the day before and ran into some car trouble. Matt, the brewer, offered us a spot at the bar, coffee and conversation. We relayed to him that the mechanic across the street seemed a little sketchy, and he offered us an alternative mechanic he knew of in the area. Long story short, the mechanic was awesome, and we returned to have lunch that day. Matt helped us to a couple of flights and engaged in good conversation. He went above and beyond, and we are very thankful he provided the recommendation. Oh and the beer is awesome at this place. I particularly appreciated the hazelnut porter and the uncommonly well balanced ipa. We had the jalapeno onion rings and crab cakes. We had crab cakes at four different venues while visiting, and these were the best. Thank you Matt for your hospitality.
(5)
Shannon W.
Wonderful food, they really do have the best crab cakes in southern maryland! Fun place to be and very social staff. Food took a while to come out, but it was worth it because of how good it is.
(4)
Michael S.
Great beer. Great food. Great service. Had chicken tonight. It was a rotisserie but not over cooked. Seasoning was well done. Beer was wonderful. IPA and a stout. Both memorable. Service was good. Let me finish my salad before main. So simple yet so important. Will eat here again.
(4)
Philip E.
Coffee toffee stout. Nough said. Seeded tuna wonton is fabulous. Pickled slaw has a nice bite. Very good flavor. I would love some chopsticks. Wontons are very crispy, no sog. Beer has an excellent flavor, not too heavy. I could have a couple if I wanted. Probably try the Irish stout next.
(4)
Oscar A.
Nice place, great atmosphere but the service took a little too long. Their food was pretty good. Had their crab cakes and duck spring roles which were pretty good as well. I had their Caipbeerinha to drink which I did not like. Beer and Caipirinha do not go well together. Overall if their service didn't take too long I'd give them an additional star.
(3)
Sarah B.
We were in from out of town after visiting a local winery. We wanted food before heading back home for the 2 hour drive north. We consulted yelp for a place to go... and it didn't disappoint. Two of our party got pizzas which they found fresh baked and flavorful. I had a burger and the fourth person a sandwich. I opted for salad instead of fries and the home made dressing and house made croutons was a real hit with the table. We also had a beer sampler because this place brews their own beer. Of the 8 in our rack, we really were fans of 6 of them. The only negative thing I found was that we ordered the mini crab cake appetizer which was $12. Literally $3 per cake. While filled with meat and flavorful they were obnoxiously tiny. One bite, gone. A delicious bite, but a bite none the less. If I ever find myself down in Soloman's again, I wouldn't hesitate to return to the Ruddy Duck.
(4)
Lisa C.
I go at least once a month for the gluten free pizza, the Mediterranean is my favorite, but they are all good. I've enjoyed each meal I've had, great atmosphere and owners are there everyday. They even have gluten free beer sometimes. Entertainment most nights.
(5)
Steve W.
4 stars for the fun atmosphere. We visited The Ruddy Duck while staying at the Fairfield Inn at Pax River, it's only a short 5.3m drive to it on Solomon's Island. Great beer brewing / pizza / bar concept. The night we visited was a fundraiser, so it was packed - they had at least 5 or more different bands playing, one after the other, at no charge to help raise money for a cause. The four of us ordered 5 different pizzas and sampled all of them. The Pizza Bianca was the star of the show, easily better than the others. Second best was probably the Meat Pizza, standard meat lovers type pizza. The absolute worst of the bunch, which was left mostly uneaten, was the Mediterranean. Everyone felt there were too many flavors fighting each other rather than complimenting them. One of our team felt it tasted somewhat like weird Christmas candle wax. The Mushroom and Caramelized Onion was ok. And the one I thought should have been the most interesting, the Barbecued Duck, suffered from too much barbecue sauce overpowering any experience of trying duck for the first time. One of our team also felt it had a slight anchovy flavor to it. The biggest problem with all of the pizzas was the crust. It had zero crunch to it, which is surprising, because they have a very nice looking pizza oven, flames in it can even be seen fas you walk last it to be seated in the dining area. We wondered if they just didn't get it hot enough, as the top of the crust appeared done, but the bottom of it was simply bready. Go for the beer and atmosphere, but try something other than the pizza if you're pizza standards are higher than a very average / weak pizza experience.
(4)
John Q.
Great food, great atmosphere, great micro brewery!, great service. They have live music which is usually very good (although a little loud at times). This is a great local hangout.
(5)
Ryan H.
Horrible beer. Horrible service. Ok food when you actually get it hot. For the beer, it all tastes pretty much the same. As for the service, I've been there several times and received cold fries three of the last 4 times. When my family was visiting a couple weeks ago, we were there for 2.5 hours where we spent 1.5 waiting for the food. Appetizers came out about 45mins after ordering then it was another 45 mins for our dinners. The restaurant was only half full and the server kept checking on us, so I think it's the kitchen. Not the first time I've waited a while, but definitely the longest. If your lucky enough to get your food warm, it just ok. Most other microbreweries I've been to have excellent food, but nothing unique or excellent about anything here. Best thing I've had is the cheese panini. Not hard there.
(2)
Erin K.
This place is so delicious! The food is fresh, beer is good (according to my bf, I didn't have any), and service is best I've had in a while. Definitely coming here again!
(5)
Steve S.
Food ok. Service ok. Friend ordered catfish dinner and it came out over 10min after our entrees arrived. No compensation or "sorry" or anything.
(3)
Meg O.
Yeah, I'm in love. First off, the atmosphere is gorgeous and is so in keeping with the whole "New England harbor" feel that permeates the whole area. It's warm, it's inviting, and the staff is oh-so-friendly. Both times I've been in around evening, and the wait has been quite long (30+ minutes), but it's worth it, if you're willing to sit down at the bar, grab one of their house brews (which are A-MA-ZING, by the way--I recommend trying the Blackberry Stout or the Dunkelweitzen), and chit chat with your friends while a live musician plays, until your buzzer goes off. I will say that both times they were out of the Oatmeal Stout....why have it on the menu if you're out of it? Or at least put it up on the wall by the beer list that it's no longer offered...They have an elongated table by the bar too, which is free for anyone to pop a squat at in case the bar is too crowded--and it usually is. I've seen the owners walking around and greeting people, asking how their meal was, and I always count that as a plus. You know you're at a quality joint when the owners are walking around making sure their customers are happy. The last waitress we had was a little meh...she told my friend that the bar was out of Bacardi, without even asking the bar first...and we had just come from the bar, who had served her Bacardi...maybe that waitress was new. I personally will swear up and down by their oven-baked crab cakes...I've gotten it both times and am so impressed. It comes with a delicious sauce of some sort, and a side of crispy, crunchy, perfectly-seasoned fries. One of my friends got the seared tuna steak salad, and while I'm not much of a fan of seafood (aside from crab and shrimp), I tried a piece of his, and was blown away. It was like a lighter version of steak, and almost melted in the mouth. You could tell that the seafood was very fresh. I will warn you that the price rage for some of the items reflect this, but it's well worth it. As far as dress code goes, the crowd that goes there seems to primarily dress in casual-chic/business-y, so I wouldn't recommend going in your muddy boots and a pair of jeans with a hole in the ass.
(4)
Lisa M.
It had been quite some time since I had been here. I remember the beer being great but food was not memorable. Yesterday I had a hamburger and onion rings. Good meal for standard pub fare. My hubby had the mushroom ravioli. Traditionally ordering pasta at a brew pub is not something we would do. As suspect it was a very poor choice. Tasted like sugar and flour. My husband had an extra beer to mask the taste left in his mouth. Learn from our experience and only order traditional pub food.
(3)
Dee N.
Excellent service, delicious cuisine, and great ambience. Highly recommend for family dinners and special date nights.
(4)
Daniel C.
I was really looking forward to coming here after driving by several times while headed to and from Calvert cliffs and the local wineries. It's a very nicely decorated restaurant and bar. The bar staff was awesome, really friendly, very helpful with picking beers, and did I say friendly... Yeah. The beers were ok, not my favorite from a brewpub but also not terrible. My a big fan of wheats and Belgians so I tried the Belgian wit. It was ok but had a flavor that I'm not use to in traditional wits. The fest amber was also ok. Wish I could have tried the apricot wheat but they were out. I had the French dip which was very good and exactly what I expect out of that kind of sandwich: meaty, cheesy, with a good jus.
(3)
Michael E.
Decent food but the waiter added a "1" to the tip line of my coworkers receipt. Adding $10 dollars to his tip and robbing my coworker. Manager was informed of what happened and money was refunded. Went in there a few days ago and the guy still works there. Shady.
(1)
Vinn C.
Last night four adults and a toddler had dinner at the Ruddy Duck Brewery. We ordered appetizers, potato skins and crab cakes. The crab cakes were the best we had anywhere on Solomon Island by far and no comparison. Our dinner was excellent and our waiter was the best yet. Great service, and all the beer and cocktails were fantasic. I strongly recommend this restaurant at very reasonable prices.
(5)
Debbie D.
I want to like this place so i went back again last night. I had a single hop pale that tasted like it was brewed in a closet with a Mr Beer kit - - just gross. I am embarrassed for whatever brewer is pushing this garbage. I chugged it down and tried to revive my spirit with the IPA. Again, it's just bad beer. With all the quality beer brewed in MD, save your money. We also ordered a cheeseburger and it came out raw. Waiter did not even apologize. Never again.
(1)
Laura D.
Our family really loves the food at this place. No one in the family is a huge beer drinker, except for my DH. He always manages to find something that he likes, beer-wise, on the menu. Try their beer martinis - certainly interesting, though they may not appeal to everyone. This restaurant appeals to a wide range of people. We've seen everyone from bikers to baseball teams in there. The owner is almost always around and is very hands-on. I've seen him at the hostess stand, walking around and checking on tables and just... actively managing his staff. That's nice to see. Wait staff is friendly and will happily help you pick a beer that you will like. They really know their products well. Someone in our party recently had a detailed question about the food and the server was knowledgeable enough about the menu to be able to answer his questions and help him find something to eat. Our favorite part here is the food. We've never found anything that we don't like. A particular favorite is the wings - we usually get multiple orders. They have just the right balance of kick and flavor. DH recently had the beer brats and raved about it and I usually get the Bruised Cowboy Salad. I LOVE their homemade dressings - they have a ton of flavor without being excessively heavy. My one (tiny) complaint is that the call ahead seating really isn't. Every time I've called ahead, we get there and still have a wait that's approximately the same as everyone else who walks in the door without calling. Oh well... the food is worth it.
(5)
Art C.
Any place with crab cakes, fish and chips, and IPA is a 5 star restaurant to me! Service is great and friendly. Heaven :)
(5)
Mike R.
Good food. Maybe a bit overpriced. Not a huge menu but a fun atmosphere and good beer selection.
(4)
Darryn W.
Excellent food and home brews. Service is also very friendly. Love their pub trivia on Monday nights.
(5)
David F.
The pizza is good here, but the duck roll appetizers aren't. The sausages in the three sausage and sauerkraut meal were very dry. Service was quite slow and during the meal, two things were brought to our table that we didn't order. When we told the waitress, she complained about her coworkers who incorrectly told her to bring it to our table. Well.... Good thing we're honest!
Absolutely Love this place! Great service, food, beer and the best staff at any restaurant I've been too!! Carlos is awesome!
(5)
K O.
I wanted to love this place but I got incredibly sick after eating there. Will definitely not return.
(1)
Jess B.
I was here for an organization's cocktail party/meet'n'greet and was pleased. The waitstaff was pleasant, efficient, and quick, and the food was great. I had the duck spring roll appetizer, and the flavor was amazing. One of the best things I've ever eaten, hands down. The music was good--no Top 40s loop of Taylor Swift and Justin Beiber, but GunsnRoses, CCR, etc-if a little loud, especially since there weren't any speakers in the little area we were in. It made conversation a little difficult to hear. I was a little surprised that the waitress didn't talk up their beers, since it is also a brewery, and that very little info was available on the cocktail menu. But overall it was a great experience, and I would definitely go back if I'm in the area or there's another event.
(5)
Catrina G.
A good experience every time we go. It is usually packed, so it might take a while to get food, but the bartenders are attentive, so you won't have an empty glass while you wait. The food is good, we have enjoyed crab cakes, pizza, and fish tacos, and a beer cheese that was great! The atmosphere is rustic brew-house, casual and clean.
(4)
Renee D.
Was with my husband on a business trip and instead of eating over the bridge in California which is chain soaked, we dined on Solomon's Island where our hotel was. We went on a Tuesday evening around 6. It was quiet, patrons were scattered about comfortably. The bar was full. Things I liked: server was very sweet, knowledgeable and friendly. Nice costal atmosphere. They brew their own beer. The kitchen is in plain view and clean. The short ribs were tasty and tender. The crab cake sandwich was good and it was all lump but it also falls on the things I didn't like: I thought it was over priced and a tad small. I only say this because I thought the closer you are to the bay, the cheaper your seafood should be. I mean you just pulled it out the water no?? The only other dislike was the booth we were seated at was adjacent to the kitchen and at one point two servers who were waiting on line for a pick up ( I guess ) leaned over on top of the banquet to talk and stare into the dining room. I really don't like being observed while I'm enjoying my dinner. I would definitely go back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Nick P.
Went back a second time. Waited a couple minutes for the hostess to finish her personal phone conversation at the hostess stand so she could seat us. I thought that was quite rude of her. This time I had the grilled Tuscan chicken sandwich and avoided the greasy mess that is their burgers. Food is quite pricey. Sandwich was very tasty, though. Had their Big Skeeter beer, tasted exactly like their IPA. Again, several of their beers are pretty much the same thing. They were not busy, but again, lunch took about an hour. I'd hate to be here when they're slammed! We paid in cash and the waitress short changed us. Rather then be there an extra hour trying to straighten it out with her, we just took it out of her tip and left. Will not be back, it's just not worth bothering.
(2)
Lauren O.
I will have to agree with the average 4 stars that the prior 72 reviewers have given the Ruddy Duck. Family friendly, check. Prices reasonable, check. Nice varied menu with a reasonable number of meat free options, check. Service was reasonably quick (we went at 4 pm on Saturday for an early dinner with the kids). I got ravioli and I have to disagree with previous reviewer who stated the portion size was too small...I'm stuffed! Homemade hummus was tasty, the house focaccia bread quite delicious and they have kids' specials as well as adult! My husband's salmon over rice pilaf with vegetable side was solid. We finished the meal off with Bailey's Irish Cream pie, which was really like ice cream cake flavored like Bailey's. Hefeweisen beer was tasty and served with an orange slice. I'm somewhat disappointed that nobody in my group decided to try the pizza.
(4)
Chris C.
This was our first time there, and from entering into the ruddy duck, we were greeted by the owner, who not only took the time to help seat us, but also find a high chair for my 9 month old daughter. As soon as we sat down, the waitress 'Kaitlyn' gave us great recommendations for the beer and food. She has a very friendly attitude and that drive to make you smile while enjoying your time. She even took the time to make a plate of lemons for my daughter since she was still teething. The food was wonderful! I had the bruised cowboy salad and my wife had the mini crab cakes and caeser salad. Of course the beer was exceptional! After the 'flight' of beer, I went with the blueberry wheat, which was amazing for a summer brew. But what is really good is the Radler, which is lemonade and the blueberry wheat. Let's say you will be an addict. Good thing too, the price was great! For happy hour, beer, wine, and food we hit around 50 bucks. We both had such a great experience that we decided to only go there for the remainder of our vacation. I highly recommend the Ruddy Duck, and we will be back!
(5)
Lorrie L.
Cool place. Service was ok. Had meatloaf because it sounded so good, but it wasn't.
(3)
Jonathan G.
I thought about the rating for a while, but 3 stars seems apt. My parents took me out to dinner at Ruddy Duck, a restaurant none of us had been to. It's in Solomons, Maryland, an area notable for its boardwalk, RV camps, and DUIs. Ruddy Duck is a bar and grill restaurant with high ceilings, an enormous bar area, with dark wood and dark-colored blinds and curtains. They were listed as opening at 4pm, but we walked in a few minutes early, and there were already a handful of people at the bar (likely the patrons of the hotel next door). The atmosphere is definitely a mix of casual and tourist, what with the hotel next door. Just about everyone was in a polo shirt or t-shirt, and one in a flight suit. Right off the bat, I tried their in-house porter, which wasn't especially unique, but it was pretty smooth. I ended up getting a Heavy Seas Loose Cannon after that, not wanting to take a risk on their other beers. The waitress seemed to be in a bit of a rush, perhaps because she just came on shift, but was otherwise pretty polite. The appetizer (potato poppers) came in a bunch of 5, and were warm, but not hot. They came with a generous amount of sour cream, which was solid, not blobby. The menu struck me as Cheesecake Factory-ish, because it offered so many different types of things. When you offer foods across so many genres, it makes me think you do them all just fine, but none of them are great. I finally settled on their special of the day, the prime rib. It was a good cut, with the trim having all of the seasoning, but not hot enough for my taste. The mashed potatoes were good and garlicky (which I can still taste 7 hours later), and the vegetable medley was just for show. My dad got their ravioli, which he liked, but admitted it was super heavy, and loaded with cheese. We ordered a plate of focaccia with parmesan, which was soft, but was likely something that wasn't fresh made, but frozen. My mom got crab cakes, at market price ($28), and thought they seemed lukewarm in the center. She sends her meals back pretty often when she goes out, but the waitress actually suggested that for the price, she get something she be happy with - and brought her brand *new* crab cakes, not heating up the ones she had. The meal was decent, and it's still better than the sea of chain restaurants that plagues the area, but I think it's a bit overpriced, and tries to do too much with its menu, while not having anything stand out.
(3)
Rebecca W.
I have been to Ruddy Duck on several occasions and usually with a group (6-8 people) of friends. The service is always good and the staff is always friendly. The food is good, not great, and beer/mixed drinks are tasty. Why only three stars? It is always very loud! You can usually catch a live band playing which is awesome, but do they really need to be the ONLY thing you can hear while trying to hang out with your friends? So, overall... this is a great place to hang out. The food is good and you will be taken care of, but don't expect to carry on a conversation without having to yell.
(3)
Lauren G.
The Duck Revisited Now that I have been down here for a little while and my standards have shall we say adjusted, maybe the Duck is not so bad. They do have really good nachos and wings and if you stick to the specials and order the IPA or Fest, it is a pretty good deal. The service can be spotty when they get busy, but I have had some really great service there as well. The Goddess sauce, think ranch made with dill, served with wings is good on everything and the pizzas are pretty good.
(3)
Nicole B.
My family and I dined here on a Saturday night when all the big chain restaurants across the bridge would have had at least a 45 minute wait. When we walked into Ruddy Duck we were greeted by two friendly hostesses and seated immediately. The tables are kinda packed in there, but this didn't bother us. Our server was Brooke and she was friendly, attentive and seemed to anticipate our needs and take care of them without us having to ask. I ordered a sweet tea and it was like hummingbird nectar - sugary sweet and just the way I like it! It was being brewed when I ordered, so Brooke brought me a glass of water while I waited the few minutes for it to be finished. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip for our appetizer and it was the best we've ever tasted. It was creamy and cheesy and sinful and my husband and I remarked on quite a few occasions that we could easily just eat a big bowl of this as a meal. Absolutely delicious. The focaccia that it's served with is warm, garlicy and fresh out of the oven. For our entrees, my husband ordered the fish tacos, my 10 year old son chose the cheese pizza and I had the crab cakes. My husband said his fish tacos were "what fish tacos should be" - light, flavorful and fresh tasting. Cheese pizza isn't exactly special but my son loved it and devoured it in no time. My crab cakes didn't disappoint and are on par with the best I've ever had (if not THE best). They were served with a delicious pineapple slaw and fries. The fries were just meh, but fries are fries. For dessert Brooke recommended the brownie sundae, which the 3 of us split. This could have easily been a throwaway, generic dessert but Ruddy Duck once again brought their A game. It was the perfect ending to a great meal and we will definitely be returning.
(5)
Mary H.
Love this place! The onion rings are OUT OF THIS WORLD! Also love the pork chops! Great beer and service is always great. Hard to get seating on weekend nights...would recommend reservations. =)
(5)
Anthony K.
Beer is one star. Food is three stars. I tried four different kinds of their house brews and they were all aweful. Stick with the Clipper City IPA they sell on the side. The trio of chorizo was good as were their crab cakes. It was nice to see a salsa night (Mondays) in SOMD.
(2)
David G.
Maybe it was an off night due to the Labor Day holiday, but everything except the beer had something wrong with it. I ordered the pork loin, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. The pork was covered with a reduction that didn't taste like anything except slightly burned gravy. The potatoes were the best part, though the garlic was harsh for a few bites. The vegetables were terrible, soaked in grease and salt. For desert, almond cheesecake sounded great, but the almond flavoring was overdone. No complaints about the beer. I had a good Schwarzbier and on another trip had an OK Blueberry Wheat.
(2)
Charles S.
Thanks to the ladies at CD cafe for recommending the Ruddy Duck. "That's where we hang," they assured us. I can see why, Brew pub. Loads of big screen, HD tvs, excellent service (thank you again, Sarah), and surprisingly good food. This is comfort food. My wife had a crab cake sandwich which was excellent. I had the short ribs with chimichurri, garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed veggies. Giant servings. Oh, we had their Octoberfest lager. Very good. While the Rud somehow avoided the ubiquitous Calvert County nautical theme, the food, beer and service were excellent.
(4)
Deryk L.
I thought this joint was clean and the staff were very friendly. The drinks were great! I ordred a sandwich at the bar and was very pleased. Another good sign--the bathrooms were clean! I recommend this place!
(4)
Sarah M.
We took a group to the Ruddy Duck a few weekends back. In a sea of chains and very high end seafood restaurants, the Duck stands out for its diverse menu, microbrew setting and great seating for groups. The menu was a little overwhelming, but we decided to share the nachos - on potato chips with their spicy chili - they were so delicious - I could not stop eating them! I loved the asian seared tuna with won tons and asian slaw; the steak and cake made the boys happy but my boyfriend's cut of ribeye didn't have great marbling and was a tad dry and overcooked. Others enjoyed the duck spring rolls and the fish and chips. Live music during dinner made it a bit tough for conversation but I appreciated the atmosphere. A definite winner for the Pax River area --- I wish there were more restaurants like this!
(4)
Steve G.
An unexpected delight as we road tripped through southern Maryland. We each had a beer brewed on site, an IPAD and a brown beer. Both excellent. and then we had Mediterranean pizza and their house salad, sort of like a chop salad with hot chicken , veggies etc. Thepizza was out of this world and cooked to perfection, great crust. Salad also excellent. Very good service, nice atmosphere. We will return.
(5)
Jessica C.
Good music , beer, and food. The bartender called me by name and introduced herself. All around A + pub and restaurant !
(5)
Chris M.
Great atmosphere, consistently great food, awesome brews. What more do you need?
(5)
Jack P.
We were in town for a sporting event and looking for a good bite to eat before heading home. Seeing this place offered their own beer we thought to give it a chance. As mentioned in some of the other reviews, it is loud and difficult to hold a conversation. I have to note, one owner greeted us as we walked in - classy. And the other owner cleared our table when we were done. Hands on - I like that. The food was good, the atmosphere was pleasant (but the live band was too loud) and the beer sampler was nice. Their beer is okay, although I found some of them to be weak. When in town again, we will defiantly be back.
(4)
Winslow T.
I've frequented this place for the past few years and have to say that it is one of the best eateries in the area. The beers are definitely a must taste and agree that the best way to get a piece of them all is to order the sampler. The pizzas are great and the daily specials are eclectic. The menu does have some Chilean influences since the owner is ever-present and offers his Argentinean flair. If you're looking for a local hangout with some good live music then you have to check this place out. It's one of the best in southern Maryland.
(5)
Dave M.
Food was nothing to brag about if going for the beer I guess it's a place to go because they brew their own beer.
(2)
John T.
Excellent Crab Cakes! Had a big family dinner and everyone loved their food. Very good service top. We will be back.
(5)
Jason D.
Ok I'm giving it a solid three stars, could have been a four but a couple of things distracted from the experience. Flew in with a couple of my coworkers for a week long training a Pax Naval Station, and decided to get a bite to eat before we went to bed. I ordered a Duck Pizza no kidding Duck Pizza how cool is that. One of my coworkers ordered the stufed Pork Chop, and the other ordered a chicken breast sandwich. The first thing that kind of turned me off is that we had to wait approximately 30 minutes for our food to get to us, and there was hardly anyone else in the dining room strike one. Bothe of my coworkers were very impressed with food when it did arrive, I on the other hand was not. The main problem was that my Pizza was burnt! I was looking at it and the waitress just said "Is there a problem?" I replied no problem, I was scared to send it back for fear that I'd have to wait another thirty minutes and it was getting late and I just wanted to get to my Hotel room. I mean really the Pizza was burnt, I just can't believe they even brought it out. Wheres Chef Ramsey when you need him. I"m not proud to say I ate the Pizza and didn't complain, it didn't taste too bad but it was hard to separate the delicate taste of the Duck because it was at times overpowered by the taste of carbon. Look if it was just me reviewing the place I would have to give it a two, but since by coworkers liked it soo much I'm bumping it up a star. Maybe they just missed it with My Duck Pizza, and hopefully you'll have a satisfactory experience like my coworkers did. If on the other hand they burn your order, don't say you havent been warned. So I'm giving this place a very generous three stars.
(3)
Matt T.
The food is good, the beer is good and the prices are on the high side of reasonable. There is nothing bad to be said about this straightforward neighborhood restaurant except that it is usually very loud. Monday night offers a pizza and pint in the bar for $10, which is a great deal for a pretty good pizza (I would give Monday nights 4 stars).
(3)
Tom M.
This is our favorite restaurant in SoMd. We live 1 mile away :D I have never had a bad meal here. Food is awesome, Beer is awesome, staff is awesome! Wednesday nights are great for families with Family Night. The Magician is great! RD is not cheap, but it is worth it! Can't wait to try new restaurant when it open later this month at St. George's!
(5)
Anna B.
The Ruddy Duck is the only brew pub in the Southern Maryland region. And they have already won numerous awards for their beers. Personally, I like the IPAs. It was the only bar in St. Mary's and Calvert that I could find that was open for the Sunday UK vs. Germany World Cup match last year. Other "sports bars" were closed because it was Sunday morning. I was so happy to find the Ruddy Duck open and full of a friendly crowd, including the owner, watching the game on the big tvs and drinking fantastic beer. That said, I wouldn't advertise this as a sports bar. There are tvs in the bar area, but the rest of the restaurant could be a family and fine dining experience. I even sat out on a table this summer, the last time I visited. So, it doesn't have the constant television in the background of your meal quality that sports bars do. The inside is beautiful, and on weekend evenings there's often live music. The menu is a combination of Chesapeake (lots of seafood, and acclaimed crab cakes), Argentinean (empanadas) and grill (steaks, salmon, etc). The pizzas are also excellent and a little different to your boring old toppings you find on standard pizzas. The homemade hummus is also a must. The only improvement that could be made, for me, is a better vegetarian selection. As someone who likes to go back to this place whenever I'm nearby, I'd love to see a few more veggie specials. The kitchen is also very very accommodating. I have a friend whose toddler has a number of allergies and she's able to eat at the Ruddy Duck because they will made items specially, put together a dish a la carte if you have restrictions, and can guarantee which oil they fry with, etc. I should also say, it's family friendly. They even have a "Little Ducklings" menu. Check out their menu and events, etc: ruddyduckbrewery.com/ind… If you appreciate good beer and you're in Southern Maryland you have to go to The Ruddy Duck.
(5)
Joshua S.
Great crab cakes! Decent size dining room, great service, and did I mention the crab cakes rock. They do a broiled crab cake that is almost no filler, just crab. I tried the almond cheesecake for dessert and it was awesome as well. If the crab cakes weren't so good, I'd be tempted to try the pizza which looks amazing. Skip Stoney's, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Cathryn B.
Good-quality, crowd-pleasing food, comfortable seating, good service. Yes, it can be a little loud at times which is why I suggest not going at prime times.
(4)
Alina S.
Amazing restaurant! Wonderful ambiance, terrific food, and our server, Brooke, was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and a lovely gal. 5/5 would eat here again and again!
(5)
Cheryl S.
I really wanted to like this place, because brewery and brick oven pizzas are my favorite, usually because they always get it right. This place is just ok, not amazing. We went on a Sunday night and it didn't seem busy but the service still wasn't great. The beer selection was ok, not super- they only (only!) had six brews but it was four pale ales and two stouts I think, but no brown ale or reds. But the ale I had was ok, not bad. I had one of the pizzas and the crust was not special, it was very bready not the thinner type you expect from a wood-oven. Plus they dumped too many toppings more American style rather than the lighter Italian way, so it was a bit goopy. But its big place, lots of seating and easy to accommodate groups and families, and with the limited amount of restaurants like that in the area it still is a great option for that.
(3)
Tim G.
Always like dining at the Ruddy Duck, once we actually get seated. I called during the afternoon to make a reservation for 5 at 7pm but was told they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. But they did put my name on a call ahead list. When I got there they told me to expect a half hour wait so calling ahead didn't really help much. The wait however turned out to be only about 15 minutes. As usual their beers were very good and the food was above average. I had fish tacos which were very good. Price was as expected. I recommend Ruddy Duck but don't show up hungry because it may be a long wait.
(4)
David E.
The duck spring rolls and the pizza are very good. This seems to be a typical micro-brew restaurant that serves very good pizza and some other dishes. I tried a couple of the brews, nothing to write home about but not bad at all. If the service was a little better, I would give this 4 stars.
(3)
Nikki P.
Food is great and the service is always consistently good. The specials are actually special, not just recycled food from the menu. Had Moroccan Meatballs as the special they were insanely delicious !
(5)
Michael M.
Hey, for what it's worth it's not bad. We only tried the beer sampler; and maybe as a New Englander who moved to MD, I'm a bit spoiled by brewery's...but this was was just OK. Deffinitely worth a stop if your in town.
(3)
Christa H.
I visited here with two friends for the first time on a Friday evening for dinner. They told us that the wait would be 10-15 minutes (it was probably closer to 25) and the waiting area felt cramped and crowded -- way too small of a space for the 10-15 people that were waiting for tables. When we were seated, I was impressed with the decor of the place. Our booth had high backs, giving us complete privacy from other dining parties and drowning out a lot of the noise of the crowded dining room, making conversation pretty easy. Our waitress was efficient and friendly, and our drinks came out quickly. I had the 3-beer taster, and finished all the shot-glass-sized tastes by the end of the meal (impressive as I'm not a huge beer fan). My friends both ordered the 6-beer tasters and didn't finish them. As appetizers, we ordered the potato skins (on recommendation from our waitress) and the calamari. The calamari was tender but crispy and the dipping sauces were good. The potato skins were also good but could've used some salt or other flavoring. Our meals came out fairly quickly, and were presented on our plates very well. I had the Rudy's Margarita pizza, which was good if a little wet (I'm not sure if it was from the sauce or the extra tomatoes, but there was definitely some excess water on it that made for a soggy crust). My friends had the Crab Cake and Monterrey and enjoyed both dishes, though their fries were extremely salty. It was an affordable meal, with good service in a great environment. I'll definitely be back in the future!
(4)
Andy J.
Almost a 2 star. I tried 2 different beers and neither was very good. Pizza is cooked in a wood fire oven so the outside of the crust was crunchy chewy perfect. However the center was soggy due to the toppings. If you do go get the cheese balls app, very rich, very good.
(3)
Mark G.
We have been to the Ruddy Duck a few times, Ruddy Good would be a better name for it. The worst you will get is "good".... Now, some things are a tad disappointing, such as the duck spring rolls....not that they are bad, they are good...but not "wow!" Why is very good a tad disappointing... once you've had "wow!" here, you'll know. Wow! items include their wings, onion rings and their pizzas (the Argentina is my current "WOW!!!"). They have live music on Fridays, so it can be a bit loud and crowded, but very worth the visit. It is the kind of local place every place should have.
(4)
Scott M.
Ribeye was cooked perfectly and was tasty! Comfortable bar, craft beer was unique and worth trying multiple selections.
(4)
Chris B.
We ate here on a Friday night and were told it would be a 30 minute wait. We got seated in 25 minutes. The service on this busy Friday night was nothing short of excellent. Our waitress greeted us quickly and drinks and appetizers were delivered within 10-15 minutes. Our entrees arrived very soon after we finished our appetizer. I had the trio of chorizo which was outstanding. My daughter had the crab cakes which were equally delicious. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Shannon S.
Came here while I was in town. Decided to get the crab cakes since I was in Maryland and it stated that they were the best in Southern Maryland. Said "Market Price". Here I thought crabs were in season so they wouldn't have been that much, unfortunately I spent $28 for two crab cakes, a small amount of fries, and some veggies. I personally like remoulade sauce with my crab cakes. They gave a mayo type mustard thing, which was fine. They weren't the best crab cakes I've had in Southern Maryland. That made me sad. On the plus side, they make their own beers, which is pretty awesome. I didn't have any though. I settled for a Snake Bite. Can't go wrong with those. Their dessert menu was small because they were out of one of the desserts. We orders a cheesecake and an apple crisp. Both were pretty mediocre. On another note, Ruddy Ducks are pretty badass.
(3)
Laura M.
Ruddy Duck is delicious! Probably some of the best food in Southern Maryland. Ruddy Duck brews their own beer, and usually has specials throughout the week. I suggest trying the Spinach Artichoke Dip- it is delicious!
(5)
Bobby B.
I go here frequently for an array of reasons. This place is dynamic; with a great selection of beer, occasional live music, a unique atmosphere, and trivia nights on Mondays. A legit spot indeed but you might want to get there early because it's definitely gets packed!
(4)
Ann T.
Food was so-so for me. I had the ahi tuna for an appetizer. Fish didn't taste too fresh. Beer was pretty good. Definitely recommend the pumpkin ale during the holidays. Service was also really nice.
(3)
Philip L.
Everytime we go the the duck we have great service. The staff is friendly and prompt. I recommend the meatloaf and all of the pizzas have been on point so far. They must be doing something right, because every evening we have been there, the place is packed!! I am not a huge beer drinker, but I hear they put out some good beers from their brewery. Highly recommend this place if you are in the area and looking for some good eats!
(4)
VA E.
Wish I ate here both night I was in Solomons. Beer is very good, but food is amazing. Best brew pub food I have ever had, and I've tried a lot (I like beer)
(5)
Joseph A.
My wife and I are from out of town. We just came back from dinner and I could not wait to review the RD. First, our waitress, Jackie was excellent. Very friendly, accommodating, informative, and very good service. She was very enthusiastic about about the food and it didn't disappoint. My wife had the crab cakes, and although they were not very big, they made up for it in quality. I had the baked rock fish with putenesca sauce and it was outstanding. The fish was crisp on the outside and tender and moist on the inside. The sauce was delicious. I'm looking forward to our next visit.
(5)
Kelly K.
I checked out Rudy Duck Brewery & Grill without any expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. I was warmly greeting by one of the hostess, seated in a comfortable booth in the middle of the dining room that was full and very lively but in a good way. I ordered one of their home brews, the pilsner, and it was pretty good cost $4.50 for a pint. I noticed birds painted on the walls near the bar and a kayak or canoe hanging from the ceiling. There is a open kitchen on one side and a open oven and you can see where the brew the beer. Service was super friendly although a little slow to bring out the food. No bread was offered. Not sure they have bread. The only thing that bothered me was the waitress spraying cleaner on the booth next to me. The spray made it to my eyes and burnt for a moment. Waitstaff should never spray cleanser on tables next to people like that, however, it seems to happen a lot these days. Really they should spray a towel and then wipe to avoid the spray from spread and smelling up the place. Oh well! If management takes action to ensure waitstaff do not do this-I have no other complaints. My entree was delicious...I had braised short ribs that were obviously very fresh meat...the fat was delicious. It came with tasty potatoes and side of veggies...I got the waitress to substitute slaw for the veggie side-and was happy with their yummy slaw with pineapple. My entree was a steal at 16 dollars. Also, if you happen to be handicapped there are parking spaces right in front of the door steps away. See the photo I posted!
(4)
Natalie O.
My husband and I came here a couple times and loved the beer, food, and atmosphere so much, that when our family members came to visit we immediately brought them here. With 3 kids under the age of 5 the staff was incredibly accommodating and our server, Ryan, was the best we have ever had. The food was great and the manager and Ryan went above and beyond to make sure our entire party was highly satisfied. I recommend this establishment to anyone in the area and they definitely have our repeat business. Please give them a try and you will fall in love with their craft beers, delicious food, and nights with live music.
(5)
Joanna S.
Had the beer that was supposedly an oktoberfest beer... Sure was when it hits your tongue but then you get this ugly taste with it. We ordered the calamari and my first bite took me 10 minutes to chew. I tried to send it back but my waiter took another 15 minutes to come by and only after I called him over. I had the porkchops and they were pretty good except the waiter asked how we wanted it to be cooked... Ok never in my life have I been asked that... So we said well done even tho we are medium rare steak people but it's pork... It needs to be cooked... The middle did look a little pink inside but regardless they were good. I probably wouldn't come back here tho.
(2)
David H.
Food's generally quite good, their beers are excellent. The ambiance is the standard formula you expect for brew pubs, but the staff is very friendly. Quality of live music is a bit sketchy sometimes.
(4)
Robert S.
We've been here a few times so far--the first time on their grand opening and a few days later. The atmosphere is nice, the wait, kitchen, and bar staff all seem to be nice and competent at what they do, however I'm certain this place will change considerably in its 1st year. They only had 2 of their own beers on tap (a kölsch and a wheat beer), both of which were drinkable, but hopefully not the pinnacle of what they're capable of brewing. On the first night, I had their mussels appetizer which was a little bland and thin tasting, primarily because of the sauce; I had a similar experience with their half rack of ribs--too bland--but I was fortunate enough for the chef to come over and ask how they were. I simply stated that they were bland and he told me to wait a few minutes and he came back out with a whole new order with a spicier dry rub, some BBQ sauce on the side, and a side of grits (the first order came with pineapple cole slaw--which was interesting). On the 2nd visit, we had the chipas a la Carlos on a friend's recommendation. I've never had anything quite like them, but they are delicious, however they only give you 3 of them which may be for the best if you're watching your calories. For dinner, I had the ravioli marinara and the portion was a tad smaller than I would have liked; it was delicious and could very well be, in my opinion, the best pasta dish in the area (that is a normal menu item). All-in-all, a great experience and we'll definitely be going back. One detractor that we found was that Jay, who I assume is the bar manager, said that they would not fill other people's growlers which is a real buzzkill if you are like me and have amassed a collection of various brewery's growlers over the years. Hopefully this policy will change.
(4)
Bill M.
My favorite hangout. In house beer that's true to it's particular style, high quality & full of flavor. Atmosphere is great, though it can get noisy at times. Wait staff is top notch (not steady turnover of staff like many places). And the food is terrific (try anything Argentine or any of their pizzas). Great. Now it going to be even harder to find a seat at the bar......
(5)
Pamela D.
Gave the "Duck" 5 Stars because it gets better every time I go. If you go for the craft beer, you can't go wrong. If you go for the pizza from wood fired ovens, you won't be disappointed. If you go for the crabcakes, yes they are pricey, but they are all backfin. Seriously, to get a comparable dining experience, you would have to travel to Annapolis. There is nothing like the "Duck" anywhere close when you consider the people, the food, the drink or the music.
(5)
Greg S.
Come early with the kids or later with a date. Large bar area with great inhouse beers. We've been at least half a dozen times and the food has always been fabulous and plentiful. On our last visit we were told we'd have a 25 minute wait but we got seated in about 10 minutes. Good size bar area with ample seating is tastefully sectioned off from the dining area. Pretty good service most of the time. What's up the the lack of busboys in the Solomons, MD. The wait staff always appears to be doing their best to serve the customers while also clearing and resetting tables. At times they seem a little frantic. Hire a busboy and I'll give you five stars.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Mike P.
Overall a good restaurant with reasonably priced fare. They do have a children's menu too. The beer they brew is fairly good, recommend the $5 sampler of 6 of their beers. Portions tend to be a bit small, especially the appetizers. The atmosphere has potential but right now it feels too "bland" and they could really decorate the place better to embrace their southern Maryland waterman motive to make it much more interesting.
(3)J M.
Could have been great. I had the mushroom and goat cheese omlette. You could tell the goat cheese was not the greatest. It lacked that punch of flavor. Also the duck pot stickers were not so good. You couldn't even tell whether it was actually duck. Beer is good there.
(3)Glenda C.
Our family recently dined at the Ruddy Duck and everyone really enjoyed their meal. We started with appetizers, the pretzels, which were great, the duck spring rolls also great and the calamari same thing, great starters. For dinner two had oven fired pizzas and they were perfect. The crust was just as flavorful as the toppings, we all loved the pizzas. What a find, great food, reasonably priced and the atmosphere was pleasant as was our server! Perfect end to a great weekend!
(5)Erin R.
Husband and I waddled into to Ruddy Duck for a Saturday lunch. The ambiance had a bit of identity crisis - the space is beautiful but whoever was in charge of the play list kept selecting 80s/90s pop - think Fiona Apple and I kid you not the grammy winning 'A Whole New World' from Aladdin. Anywho. Beer: Heff: Smooth and served close to room temp (at least mine was). I enjoyed it and would have liked it a bit colder - hubby thought the banana undertones were too strong. Food: Crab cakes: Mostly lump crab and very nicely broiled. I thought they were overpriced though at $28 for 2 (each about the size of a lacrosse ball) served with tasteless fries and standard slaw Fish tacos: A wonderful amount of fish came on them but they were pretty flavorless. Hubby ended up taking the tartar sauce from my crab cakes to make them more interesting. $65 for lunch is pretty steep, especially considering we only had 1 beer a person, so you likely won't see my return.
(3)Raymond W.
Huge ruddy duck fan. Been a loyal customer since they opened. Their beers or are great. The pizza is the best bet, super tasty. The apps overall are very good. The main courses are solid. Good service, very nice staff. The owners are attentive and helpful when needed. Great place to eat and relax. Check out the daily specials. Some great deals to be had.
(5)Amy R.
The only thing preventing me from giving this place negative stars is the fact that the owner comped our entire check. We stopped in here on a Saturday for a quick bite to eat before we visited some of the area's wineries. We started with the Jalapeno Onion Rings which were very good. Our experience headed south after that. 5 out of the six of us ordered salads. We waited for almost an hour for those salads. What made the wait even more horrible was that we watched the salads being made and sitting on the counter for at least 20 of those minutes! Once they got to us, they were soggy messes. To add insult to injury, our spinach dip appetizer came with the meals and the server forgot one of the salads. When the steak salad finally appeared, the steak was nothing but grizzle. We asked to speak to the manager, but the owner came. He had a seriously bad attitude and told us that the type of issues we had with our meal "rarely happened." Hmmmm.
(1)Renee S.
It's decent but a bit on the pricy side. I ordered the crab cakes with jalapeño onion rings. The crab cakes were delicious with lumps of sweet crab in every bite. The highly recommend jalapeño onion rings however we're just okay.
(3)Michelle W.
The food here is delicious we came here after searching yelp for yet another yummy place to visit and this place hits the spot I definitely recommend the crabcakes they were so good but all of the food is fresh the service is great I have the nicest waitresses around and I definitely would come back again
(5)Peter M.
Best food on Solomon's. Never had a bad meal here. Crab cakes are great, the ribeye is also. The beers change a lot, they have a chocolate porter I really like. This place is not cheap though, worth it imo. Go-to restaurant for when friends visit and you want to go someplace nice.
(5)Ching C.
Ok food. Spinach and artichoke dip was ok - they should give more bread or chips or something. Calamari was ok. I got the Irish lamb stew (on the St. Patrick's special menu) - Ok - I liked the chunks of lamb, and I like that they gave a decent amount of lamb. Wish my dish was hot/warm though. they gave two pieces of bread with it, but I kind of wish there was either more bread or that it came with rice or something. I had a taste of my friend's Irish Shepard's Pie and it was REALLY good. Highly recommend it if it's available. I liked the flavor better than my lamb stew and it came out hot. There was also vegetables on the side. My friend said it was super salty on the bottom though. Had a piece of my friend's fish and chips (which he really liked), and I'll agree the skin on the fish was one of the crispiest I've had. Fish also seemed pretty moist and flakey. I just thought that the fish was kind of small - you get two kind of small pieces of fish in my opinion, but it was decent. It was my friend's birthday and we already bought cake and pie (because it was pie day), so he didn't want more dessert, but the waiters came over and use the kazoo to play happy birthday for him.
(3)Matthew J.
Aggregate rating from a party of 6 was 4.6. Great beer (the Vienna lager and Kolsch in particular), and the food was just about flawless. Crab cakes, fish and chips, and the French onion (served up in Philly cheesesteak style) were all just fantastic. The only negative aspect was slightly slow service. With small kids this may be a problem for some families. Highly recommended! We will be back if we are in this area again.
(5)Tim W.
Went in on a Friday at 5pm with a group of 5. Got sat right away. The service was good and the food was really good. We all had something different and everyone was happy. I tried a couple of their beers, however I was very underwhelmed. I'm a craft beer fan and was hoping for something that excited me.....Over all a good experience. Defiantly will put it on the list for next time we are in town.
(3)Rebecca C.
We loved the place. Will definitely go again! Great service and great food. The aroma hits you as soon as you walk in, the smell of deliciousness. Nom nom.
(5)Lorraine S.
Local brew pub. The desserts were the standout. We had a gluten free brownie sundae and Bailey,s ice cream pie. As for the main dishes, the pastrami was ok, but don't order the "Duckadillas". Menu says barbecued duck, but it's drowned in sickly sweet BBQ sauce.
(3)Sarah C.
Was really impressed w/ the Ruddy Duck. I've heard some good things...but also some bad things. So was really hesitant to try them out, I'm glad I decided to give it a shot. We went for drinks & appetizers before the fight @ Buffalo Wild Wings (Cause lets face it their food sucks LOL) We started w/ a beer flight which catered to my craft beer drinking partner. I was pleasently surprised to find out that RD serves non craft beer (not a fan) Most of the time when I go to a brewery restaurant I'm not able to find a beer that I like. For the appetizers we got the empanadas (pretty good 6/10) seared ahi (delicious 9/10) flash fried calamari (fantastic 9/10) and the duck spring rolls (OMG AHHHMAZING 10/10) We will definitely be coming back!
(4)Gail R.
This place is located across the lot from the Hilton Hotel near Solomons Island, so there are more than enough parking spots available. As you walk in, you will see a bar area to your left. We went on a Friday night and so I saw some artists performing within that area as well. Beyond the bar area it looks to be partitioned off from the dining area. Once we were seated in the dining area, the first thing I did was to check Yelp to glance at the pictures posted to see if there was anything that caught my attention. There was one pic I saw that had crab cakes in the picture (posted by Oscar A) and so I wanted a replica of that. However, as I tried to describe it to the waiter, I discovered I was not going to get the exact replica of what I saw, then when I heard the Market Price cost ($28), I opted to just get an appetizer instead as this was more of an after dinner visit for me. I decided to get their Trio of Beef Empanadas ($7.50), Argentine-style meat turnovers with a chipotle roasted bell pepper coulis and pico de gallo. My choice of having them oven baked or fried - I opted for oven baked, however they arrived looking burned. Glad they did not taste burned, but I have had better empanadas. What my friends got looked more tasty - Fish 'N Chips ($14.99) and Tuscan Grilled Chicken ($11.25). I may come back to this area again and if I do, I will check this place out again...try something different.
(3)Mrs. B.
I was staying at the Hilton Garden Inn and decided to walk over for lunch. I sat at the bar and received good service. The sandwich, with chicken and bacon, was very good. The beer however didn't impress, especially for a place that is supposedly known for the beer. If any of you have made your own Mr Beer at home, that's exactly what this tastes like. Not that it's terrible, but I can make beer just as good and very easily at home.
(3)Shane M.
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Great gluten free pizza, crab cakes, decor, and service. Only Recommendation: Offer duck dishes besides BBQ duck. Took my wife's family here when they came down to visit around Christmas. To our surprise, on a Monday night around 6pm, the place was booming. Still, they were able to accommodate all 8 of us fairly quickly. The server was pleasant, took down all our orders, and had drinks out within 5 minutes. The food also was delivered rather quickly - within 30 minutes or so. I ordered the Beer Brats, thought it tasted great. My wife ordered gluten free pizza...that's when I realized I ordered the wrong thing. That pizza was amazing. Long story short - we had a great time and we'll be returning customers. My only recommendation is to have more of a seafood selection and offer duck tacos. With a name like "Ruddy Duck", you'd expect the restaurant to offer ample duck dishes. Maybe my expectations are too high; all I know is, I want duck.
(4)Courtney M.
What didn't we try? We ate everything and everything was good. Bloody mary's, Dark and Dirties, Martini's, Duck eggrolls, Calamari, Crab cake sandwich, pasta, Crab dip, pizza, Beer flights, fish and chips, fish tacos, and i know other stuff that I am missing. Service was great as well, we had a very large group in a private room
(5)Jason F.
When in Lusby, your choices are limited. Across the parking lot from our hotel was the Ruddy Duck and due to the convenience I came here on multiple occasions. I describe this place as mediocre food and mediocre beer. Tried the fish/chips, Hawaiian pizza, and the duckadilla. All 3 dishes were edible, but nothing noteworthy. The fish/chips was the best of the bunch. 2 people I was with got the french dip and found it deplorable. 1 person said the fish tacos (mahi) were good. The beer is better than average, but not great. I appreciate that they make their own beer. I found myself drinking the festbier the most. Atmosphere is good and the servers were friendly. I doubt I will be back in Lusby again, but if an occasion arises, I won't avoid this place.
(3)Alysha A.
Started with the duck a dilla appetizer. It was good but sweet. Had the crab cake dinner, and it was absolutely wonderful. My husband had the steak and cake and the steak was cooked perfectly to order, juicy, and flavorful. We found out after that the waiter charged my friends card twice instead of splitting the bill between the two couples. They were able to get it corrected over the phone. But what a terrible mistake to find out afterwards.
(4)Jose F.
So this place has potential for some great beer but they are lacking. This is a review of the beers and the ok service that was received. Lots of beers to choose from but none are really a standout. Out of 8 beers only one was anything close to the the description. I mean maybe I've had so much beer now and I'm spoiled so I have a high bar when I see lots of medals in the window. If your in the area stop in and give them a try as when it comes to beer everyone should try and find what they like. The service was ok as there was no host and we had to guess on seating. The fries came out and they needed more cooking as some where still frozen. I may still come back and try some of the food but it was the beer that drew us in.
(3)JR M.
We eat here about once per quarter and also attend the Monday trivia night from time to time. No problems, but also nothing to rave about. The RD has decent, dependable food and usually good service, which can be problematic when the place is crowded. The small pizzas are good, and most of the appetizers. Soups can sometimes be hit or miss (I once had a tomato basil that tasted like watered down spaghetti sauce from a jar). Best entree ever was a special, the London Broil.
(3)Rommel A.
I was in the area for business. I sat at the bar area. I received excellent service from the greeter, server and rest of the staff. Food was great. I have nothing bad to say. I would definitely go back to this place.
(5)Jeff L.
Only had beers. I had the Kolsch, the Dusselduck, and the blueberry wheat. Prices are reasonable and they give you a full pint. The bartender was friendly and helpful. I gave it four points because we didn't have any food but I hear the food is very good. I recommend The Ruddy Duck.
(4)Ingrid K.
I love their beer battered onion rings (spicy) and their hand crafted beers are pretty tasty.
(5)Laura H.
We were visiting a friend in the area and he took us here on our last night in town. Really good beer brewed on premises- had the IPA and the blueberry wit- and split the crab cakes and BBQ duck pizza with my boyfriend. The crab cakes were very meaty and delicious as was the pizza- the BBQ sauce was particularly good. Highly recommend if you're a craft beer fan and in the area.
(3)Amit J.
Went there for dinner last night. The flight of beer was pretty decent. You actually get to sample all 10 that are on tap. The crab cakes were ok, not worth the $30 price. My wife had the fish tacos. They were better than the crab cakes, not great either. Service was decent until we ordered dessert, cheesecake. After 15 minutes of waiting for someone to cut a slice and bring it, we gave up and paid the check and left.
(3)Candace J.
We LOVE the new Ruddy Duck on St. George's Island. The views are fantastic and the food and service have always been great. I like that the bar is separated really well from the main dining area although it'd be nice if they had more TVs in the bar. Their craft beers are always fun to try out.
(4)Sarah C.
Meh. Crab cakes are pretty good. Avoid "crab chowder". It is just a bowl of vegetable soup with a teaspoon of crab decoratively placed on top. Disappointing.
(3)Richard F.
First time here but awesome crab cakes. I would come back just for them. Very nice IPA on tap as well. Service was great as well.
(5)Meg N.
Been here twice while visiting family in the area. Once as a teenager and once this past week. My party of 6 arrived at 7 and the place was packed! However, only a 30 minute wait. Once we got seated I was thinking service would be slow and it was average for the crowd that was there. My only real complaint is that we were seated next to the band area and that halted conversation. This annoyed me because we were having Father's Day dinner with my dad whom I only see once a year or every few years so I would have much rather listened to him then someone sing "Let it Go" - come on people get over that song already!! The food was excellent. I had a burger and my husband had the pizza and both were very well prepared. I only wish we would have been weaned about the band upon arrival and we may have gone elsewhere
(3)Don W.
Have only eaten in the bar area, never the dining room. That said, service was prompt, food and drinks arrived promptly, etc. Nice atmosphere, particularly if you enjoy open mike night, group trivia, and the like. Shares a parking lot with Hilton Garden Inn so walking (or stumbling) home is a breeze...
(4)John O.
I have to say that the last three times I've come here, have been really good experiences. Today, we can in for lunch, and it was more of the same good food. Today, we ordered the nacho appetizer, the jalapeño onion rings, and a cowboy salad. The onion rings were really good. They really tasted like hand made and not store bought rings, and the little bit of jalapeño flavor made them even better.. A+ on those. The nachos were pretty good as well. The were served on home made chips piled high with what you would expect on nachos. Again, another good item. The cowboy salad was mine, and the steak on top was hooked perfectly (rare) and tasted great too. The only thing that wasn't to my liking was the very strong bleu cheese that came on it. A lot less of that strong flavor cheese would have been better. But aside from that, everything was great. My wife even mentioned to me twice how good the home brewed tea was. I hate tea, but if she said it was really good, then I'll have to believer her. She's critical of bad tea, but luckily, this was not such an occasion. I would recommend going for lunch the days they gave it, because it's pretty quiet then. We will definitely be going back!!
(5)D R.
It's an average place. Nothing wonderful and nothing horrible.
(3)Maria K.
Watched the 2012 Euro Cup final here and I would say it's pretty standard pub fare. I will say the Duck-A-Dillas were awesome though. Just superb. We didn't try their award winning crab cakes though, which maybe we should have tried, nor did we try any of their beers.
(3)Keri C.
The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because I am a firm believer that there is always room for improvement. I have eaten here several times and the food has been consistently good. The salmon is quite tasty and the pizza's are yummy.The menu is versatile and there appears to be something for everyone. The in house brews are always fun to taste, and they make this easy to do by offering a "sampler" of each beers, served in mini glasses, (much like shot glasses, but slightly larger). They have family nights on Wednesdays and offer live music a couple of other nights a week, and never a cover charge. The bar area is seperate from the dining area, which makes it possible for those with little ones to go out and eat and still enjoy the live entertainment. Also a nice touch, is you can see the kitchen staff as they slave away preparing the guests food, and you can also see the brewing room as they have a huge window allowing guests the view. Prices are reasonable, fare is tasty and each time we have been the service has been good as well. It is also nice to see the owners are out socializing with the guests and helping their staff when its busy. Kudos to Ruddy Duck, I definitely recommend this place!
(4)J D.
Waiter was great with the kids and the food was good. Would go again if we are in the area.
(4)laurie r.
Went on a busy Saturday night, the service was terrible. If the service had been better I would give it a better rating, and hopefully this was an off night. More than 10 minutes before the waitress came to our table, once she took our order she got 2/5 orders wrong. Food - I had an American ale that was quite good. The cheese puffs (an Argentinian specialty) were good, but I suspect it was pizza dough around good cheese, not very "puffy". Calamari was cooked perfectly, but the sauce was average at best. The gazpacho was very good, and I highly recommend the sliders. Pulled pork with a sauce that wasn't too sweet, and duck with a sauce that was sweet but had a great kick. I was disappointed that the fish sandwich (or maybe it was fish & chips) was made with mahi mahi, seems like being right on the Bay they would have access to some local fish. So I didn't order that. I would try it again, in hopes that the service would be better.
(2)Ardon G.
This place looks great! But looks are sadly just not enough to get me back. Service was really bad - 1 waiter for a party of 14 celebrating a college graduation at 2 pm on a saturday. We had requested the semi private area off the bar and made the reservation weeks in advance. But upon arrival we were initially sat in the main room, eventually we were moved but it was kind of awkward. Food took forever and was so- so, crab dip - yuck - melted cheese on top that clumped the whole portion into one. 4 bread sticks - which were great but not nearly enough. But isn't it cardinal rule not to mix seafood with cheese?? We must have asked for water at least 8 times. Our waiter was not able to handle the first round of drinks let alone any reorders or waters. I tried a brick oven pizza and it looked good but tasted weird. I think this was the case with most of our orders. Most of us don't live down that way so we wouldn't return anyway but it is sad that such a nice looking, new place is so disappointing. The 2 stars were earned by the facility and location. The other 3 stars were lost by service, food and mgmt.
(2)maneesha b.
I've only been once so far, but I'm giving it 4 stars based on potential. It has the potential to be completely awesome. Even if it was in DC where I can take my pick of breweries & good restaurants, I would be excited about this one. The menu has a lot of interesting, creative items - where else in southern maryland can you find a duck & spicy bbq pizza? Most entrees are under $17. The beers sound good and are well priced. They have at least 5, maybe 6 of their own beers now. I only had the porter so far but I very much enjoyed it. AND it was served at the correct temperature. One complaint is that they don't have a tasting flight. What brewery doesn't have a tasting flight?! Servers are eager to please & service was prompt. Decor and atmosphere were great. The wine list is pretty lame and markups are 250%. Then again, it's a brewery - anyone wanting wine here deserves to a shoddy wine list. The Spicy BBQ duck brick oven pizza was tasty & I loved the crust, but the pizza was soggy in the middle. I'll report later on the food once I've tasted more of it. So: Ruddy Duck is not quite great yet. Some kinks to work out. But the menu is unique for southern maryland, the concept is unique, the beers are pretty good with interesting variety, the prices are good, and the building is pretty. Loads of potential!
(4)Judy G.
Very loud. Was served raw chicken and management did not care. Will never go back.
(1)July G.
Just ok. We went here relatively early on a Sunday with our almost 3 year old daughter and the place was pretty empty. We were seated in the children't section, which was fine, and the waitress seemed friendly and brought our drinks right away. We decided to order the crab cakes entree and a pizza to share. I'm sorry, I don't know what contest these crab cakes won first place in but they were mediocre at best. The pizza was pretty good. After we placed our order though, the waitress completely disappeared and my husband had an empty glass for a very long time. When he finally flagged her down, she brought him another drink after we were already finished and ready to go. When we got the bill, I was in even bigger shock...$28 for the horrid crab cakes! Just a word of advice, if you are looking for a good wood-fired pizza in the area, go ahead and try it here. They were reasonably priced ($11-$15)...but stay away from their award-winning crab cakes!
(2)LAURIE S.
I was thrilled to find this eatery. The Ribs had a wonderful smoky rub so that BBQ sauce wasn't even necessary. The focacia, tomato, mozerella, and pesto sandwhich was the best I've ever had. I'm sure the pesto was fresh, and it seemed like the focacia bread was freshly baked. The fresh chip nachos were amazing. All the food was plated beautifully as if the owner did it himself. I'm so tired of going in nice resteraunts and getting a plate with the food slopped carelessly on the plate. Not so at this restaurant. I will go to this eatery often!
(5)George G.
This is a really good brewpub in southern Maryland. A flight of 6 samples costs 6$ with pints around 4.50$. We really enjoyed the Scottish Ale and Wit. The menu had lots of Argentinian influence and thus went for the Argentine Chorizo with Chimichurri sauce. This was served with an extremely good home made mustard which I requested the waitress for extra to dip my french fries into (I refuse to use red food colored corn syrup, ie ketchup). A friend of mine had the duck with BBQ sauce on a pizza which looked really good. Overall the food was very fresh and appeared to be completely made to order with local ingredients. As for atmosphere for the first hour of our meal we had live entertainment which played a Led Zeppelin cover at one point. The waitress was really friendly and had a good laugh at some of our joking around. We split the bill and it was about 35$ for a beer samples, 2 pints, and 2 entrees. Would definitely come back here again when in the area.
(4)Kay W.
I live right down the street from The Duck, lucky me, but I'd make the drive even if I didn't. This place keeps getting better, and the folks of Southern Maryland seem to know it as well. The bar is always crowded with good clientelle, standing, sitting, slirping or munching. The owners are there every day, every meal, and do good work making sure things are operating smoothly. The pizzas are always amazing (seriously), the appetizers a bit outside the normal bar fare, and always good, fresh and fast. Service is pretty darn good, prompt and friendly, but this isn't fine dining, so don't expect a glowing description of the specials or recommendations on wine paring. Not that you should be ordering wine here anyway. Try a beer sampler and find a new favorite. Only slight complaint: beer always comes out of the tap a bit too warm for me. If they could frost some glasses and get a better kegerator system going, the beer would be A+
(5)Nicole P.
I love this place. Plenty of variety on the menu, and I've yet to have a meal there I didn't enjoy. The owners are great too. Very friendly, and they take the time to get to know their customers.
(4)Sarah M.
Ooooh yummy! Came here after a nice day out at Calvert Cliffs looking for shark teeth and hiking with the kids. My husband tried the beer sampler, and settled on a Scottish brew of some sort (I'm not a beer expert, sorry!) He really enjoyed it though! One of my kids ordered a kids' pizza, and honestly, it wasn't all that great; it were really bread-y, and not very pizza-y. The other ordered a cheeseburger and fries, and he scarfed the whole thing down. We ordered potato skins for an appetizer and they were fantastic! My french dip sandwich was one of the best I've had. It was cooked and assembled perfectly and was super flavorful! I ordered onion rings with it, and they were also the best I've had. Beer-battered, so they had a great flavor, but they also had a slight spicy kick. LOVED them! My husband had the crab cake sandwich, and while it was good, I don't think that it was really worth it. It was served pretty plainly, and didn't live up to the hype. He liked it well enough though, and ate it all. We ordered the mudpie (with the ice cream and moose and all that stuff) for dessert, and it was really good! I had a hard time deciding which desert to order though, so we also took a slice of the chocolate cake to go. I was really disappointed with this. It tasted stale and not fresh. The marshmallow center was a like a 6-month old marshmallow Easter candy (we've all done it, don't pretend you haven't pilfered and then re-discovered your child's stash much later) It was chewy and gummy and weird. The cake was soggy and dense, and the layer of moose was kind of rubbery. Overall it didn't taste fresh. If we hadn't ordered it to go, I'd have sent it back because it wasn't good. Maybe when it's prepared fresh, it's better. Overall it was great! And except when we were waiting at the end for the check and for the dessert to come, the service was great too. It slowed down a LOT at the end though, and kids were starting to lose patience. If we went out that way again, we might stop back by. There seemed to be several local places though, so chances are we'd look for another place to try anyway.
(4)Tanya C.
...I got the steak & cake....steak cooked to perfection & one of the best crab cakes I've ever had....
(4)Tiffany N.
Awesome. Best place in the area in my opinion. Me and a friend went here for a birthday dinner and we ordered drinks and dinner. Very pleased. We started the night out with a duckadilla, which is a quesadilla with tender pieces of duck, cheese, and bbq sauce. Highly recommended,as they were delicious. For my entree I had the french dip. The prime rib steak was shaved and served with provolone on a large French sub. It came with horseradish and perfect au jus. It was excellent! I would definitely order it again the next time I come. My friend had brats, which came with sauerkraut, a healthy dose of mashed potatoes, and sliced mixed squash. It looked delicious and was a huge portion. Probably enough to split. I had the porter and my friend two ales. The drinks are pretty standard for brew pub beer, nothing special. We also ordered shots. The whole tab came out to be $70, not too shabby! To top off the experience our service was great. The waiter was attentive and pretty quick to refill drinks and check up on us. Definitely check this place out if you're in Lexington park / Solomons.
(4)Laurel C.
I have a good time every time I go here. Their in-house beer is yummy, especially the IPA. Their servers are almost always attentive and friendly, even when they are busy. Sitting in the bar area can be very loud and crowded, but the service up there is still pretty good. I recommend the Mediterranean pizza (even without chicken, this pizza has a ton of stuff on it, you won't be missing anything!). They also have an option to order 3 "side dishes" and call it a meal. My dad says their crabcakes are some of the best around. Their hummus is sometimes sketchy- I get the feeling they're tweaking the recipe. I've had it too salty, too little cumin, too much garlic, too watery, too thick. I still usually order it, but I hope they get that figured out at some point.
(4)James M.
Beers are finished and round, fish n chips approved by my Brit girlfriend, duck BBQ pizza!
(5)Thomas G.
If you are planning on going to experience one of the Ruddys for the first time, come to this one. The food is fantastic! Really, I can't find anything to complain about (and I'm good for that)! The house beers are delicious and creative. They played it safe with the styles, but that's fine as they do them well. The staff here has been very good to us. They are attentive and do a great job of making one feel welcome. All in all it's a great place.
(5)Bill M.
Good food. Good beer. Family friendly. I had my two boys ages 6 and 3 with me and it was a great dinner.
(5)Gordon F.
Came here with co-workers on a trip. Great selection of appetizers. the onions rings in particular were exceptional - we ordered a second batch. Beer selection also had great variety of delicious beers. You can always tell a good meal by how long the silence is when the food is delivered; it was clear our dishes were delicious. Highly recommended!
(4)Stew M.
My wife and I stopped in here before the restaurant opened, in need of a place to camp out while our car's brakes were having repairs across the street. We had traveled from Maine the day before and ran into some car trouble. Matt, the brewer, offered us a spot at the bar, coffee and conversation. We relayed to him that the mechanic across the street seemed a little sketchy, and he offered us an alternative mechanic he knew of in the area. Long story short, the mechanic was awesome, and we returned to have lunch that day. Matt helped us to a couple of flights and engaged in good conversation. He went above and beyond, and we are very thankful he provided the recommendation. Oh and the beer is awesome at this place. I particularly appreciated the hazelnut porter and the uncommonly well balanced ipa. We had the jalapeno onion rings and crab cakes. We had crab cakes at four different venues while visiting, and these were the best. Thank you Matt for your hospitality.
(5)Shannon W.
Wonderful food, they really do have the best crab cakes in southern maryland! Fun place to be and very social staff. Food took a while to come out, but it was worth it because of how good it is.
(4)Michael S.
Great beer. Great food. Great service. Had chicken tonight. It was a rotisserie but not over cooked. Seasoning was well done. Beer was wonderful. IPA and a stout. Both memorable. Service was good. Let me finish my salad before main. So simple yet so important. Will eat here again.
(4)Philip E.
Coffee toffee stout. Nough said. Seeded tuna wonton is fabulous. Pickled slaw has a nice bite. Very good flavor. I would love some chopsticks. Wontons are very crispy, no sog. Beer has an excellent flavor, not too heavy. I could have a couple if I wanted. Probably try the Irish stout next.
(4)Oscar A.
Nice place, great atmosphere but the service took a little too long. Their food was pretty good. Had their crab cakes and duck spring roles which were pretty good as well. I had their Caipbeerinha to drink which I did not like. Beer and Caipirinha do not go well together. Overall if their service didn't take too long I'd give them an additional star.
(3)Sarah B.
We were in from out of town after visiting a local winery. We wanted food before heading back home for the 2 hour drive north. We consulted yelp for a place to go... and it didn't disappoint. Two of our party got pizzas which they found fresh baked and flavorful. I had a burger and the fourth person a sandwich. I opted for salad instead of fries and the home made dressing and house made croutons was a real hit with the table. We also had a beer sampler because this place brews their own beer. Of the 8 in our rack, we really were fans of 6 of them. The only negative thing I found was that we ordered the mini crab cake appetizer which was $12. Literally $3 per cake. While filled with meat and flavorful they were obnoxiously tiny. One bite, gone. A delicious bite, but a bite none the less. If I ever find myself down in Soloman's again, I wouldn't hesitate to return to the Ruddy Duck.
(4)Lisa C.
I go at least once a month for the gluten free pizza, the Mediterranean is my favorite, but they are all good. I've enjoyed each meal I've had, great atmosphere and owners are there everyday. They even have gluten free beer sometimes. Entertainment most nights.
(5)Steve W.
4 stars for the fun atmosphere. We visited The Ruddy Duck while staying at the Fairfield Inn at Pax River, it's only a short 5.3m drive to it on Solomon's Island. Great beer brewing / pizza / bar concept. The night we visited was a fundraiser, so it was packed - they had at least 5 or more different bands playing, one after the other, at no charge to help raise money for a cause. The four of us ordered 5 different pizzas and sampled all of them. The Pizza Bianca was the star of the show, easily better than the others. Second best was probably the Meat Pizza, standard meat lovers type pizza. The absolute worst of the bunch, which was left mostly uneaten, was the Mediterranean. Everyone felt there were too many flavors fighting each other rather than complimenting them. One of our team felt it tasted somewhat like weird Christmas candle wax. The Mushroom and Caramelized Onion was ok. And the one I thought should have been the most interesting, the Barbecued Duck, suffered from too much barbecue sauce overpowering any experience of trying duck for the first time. One of our team also felt it had a slight anchovy flavor to it. The biggest problem with all of the pizzas was the crust. It had zero crunch to it, which is surprising, because they have a very nice looking pizza oven, flames in it can even be seen fas you walk last it to be seated in the dining area. We wondered if they just didn't get it hot enough, as the top of the crust appeared done, but the bottom of it was simply bready. Go for the beer and atmosphere, but try something other than the pizza if you're pizza standards are higher than a very average / weak pizza experience.
(4)John Q.
Great food, great atmosphere, great micro brewery!, great service. They have live music which is usually very good (although a little loud at times). This is a great local hangout.
(5)Ryan H.
Horrible beer. Horrible service. Ok food when you actually get it hot. For the beer, it all tastes pretty much the same. As for the service, I've been there several times and received cold fries three of the last 4 times. When my family was visiting a couple weeks ago, we were there for 2.5 hours where we spent 1.5 waiting for the food. Appetizers came out about 45mins after ordering then it was another 45 mins for our dinners. The restaurant was only half full and the server kept checking on us, so I think it's the kitchen. Not the first time I've waited a while, but definitely the longest. If your lucky enough to get your food warm, it just ok. Most other microbreweries I've been to have excellent food, but nothing unique or excellent about anything here. Best thing I've had is the cheese panini. Not hard there.
(2)Erin K.
This place is so delicious! The food is fresh, beer is good (according to my bf, I didn't have any), and service is best I've had in a while. Definitely coming here again!
(5)Steve S.
Food ok. Service ok. Friend ordered catfish dinner and it came out over 10min after our entrees arrived. No compensation or "sorry" or anything.
(3)Meg O.
Yeah, I'm in love. First off, the atmosphere is gorgeous and is so in keeping with the whole "New England harbor" feel that permeates the whole area. It's warm, it's inviting, and the staff is oh-so-friendly. Both times I've been in around evening, and the wait has been quite long (30+ minutes), but it's worth it, if you're willing to sit down at the bar, grab one of their house brews (which are A-MA-ZING, by the way--I recommend trying the Blackberry Stout or the Dunkelweitzen), and chit chat with your friends while a live musician plays, until your buzzer goes off. I will say that both times they were out of the Oatmeal Stout....why have it on the menu if you're out of it? Or at least put it up on the wall by the beer list that it's no longer offered...They have an elongated table by the bar too, which is free for anyone to pop a squat at in case the bar is too crowded--and it usually is. I've seen the owners walking around and greeting people, asking how their meal was, and I always count that as a plus. You know you're at a quality joint when the owners are walking around making sure their customers are happy. The last waitress we had was a little meh...she told my friend that the bar was out of Bacardi, without even asking the bar first...and we had just come from the bar, who had served her Bacardi...maybe that waitress was new. I personally will swear up and down by their oven-baked crab cakes...I've gotten it both times and am so impressed. It comes with a delicious sauce of some sort, and a side of crispy, crunchy, perfectly-seasoned fries. One of my friends got the seared tuna steak salad, and while I'm not much of a fan of seafood (aside from crab and shrimp), I tried a piece of his, and was blown away. It was like a lighter version of steak, and almost melted in the mouth. You could tell that the seafood was very fresh. I will warn you that the price rage for some of the items reflect this, but it's well worth it. As far as dress code goes, the crowd that goes there seems to primarily dress in casual-chic/business-y, so I wouldn't recommend going in your muddy boots and a pair of jeans with a hole in the ass.
(4)Lisa M.
It had been quite some time since I had been here. I remember the beer being great but food was not memorable. Yesterday I had a hamburger and onion rings. Good meal for standard pub fare. My hubby had the mushroom ravioli. Traditionally ordering pasta at a brew pub is not something we would do. As suspect it was a very poor choice. Tasted like sugar and flour. My husband had an extra beer to mask the taste left in his mouth. Learn from our experience and only order traditional pub food.
(3)Dee N.
Excellent service, delicious cuisine, and great ambience. Highly recommend for family dinners and special date nights.
(4)Daniel C.
I was really looking forward to coming here after driving by several times while headed to and from Calvert cliffs and the local wineries. It's a very nicely decorated restaurant and bar. The bar staff was awesome, really friendly, very helpful with picking beers, and did I say friendly... Yeah. The beers were ok, not my favorite from a brewpub but also not terrible. My a big fan of wheats and Belgians so I tried the Belgian wit. It was ok but had a flavor that I'm not use to in traditional wits. The fest amber was also ok. Wish I could have tried the apricot wheat but they were out. I had the French dip which was very good and exactly what I expect out of that kind of sandwich: meaty, cheesy, with a good jus.
(3)Michael E.
Decent food but the waiter added a "1" to the tip line of my coworkers receipt. Adding $10 dollars to his tip and robbing my coworker. Manager was informed of what happened and money was refunded. Went in there a few days ago and the guy still works there. Shady.
(1)Vinn C.
Last night four adults and a toddler had dinner at the Ruddy Duck Brewery. We ordered appetizers, potato skins and crab cakes. The crab cakes were the best we had anywhere on Solomon Island by far and no comparison. Our dinner was excellent and our waiter was the best yet. Great service, and all the beer and cocktails were fantasic. I strongly recommend this restaurant at very reasonable prices.
(5)Debbie D.
I want to like this place so i went back again last night. I had a single hop pale that tasted like it was brewed in a closet with a Mr Beer kit - - just gross. I am embarrassed for whatever brewer is pushing this garbage. I chugged it down and tried to revive my spirit with the IPA. Again, it's just bad beer. With all the quality beer brewed in MD, save your money. We also ordered a cheeseburger and it came out raw. Waiter did not even apologize. Never again.
(1)Laura D.
Our family really loves the food at this place. No one in the family is a huge beer drinker, except for my DH. He always manages to find something that he likes, beer-wise, on the menu. Try their beer martinis - certainly interesting, though they may not appeal to everyone. This restaurant appeals to a wide range of people. We've seen everyone from bikers to baseball teams in there. The owner is almost always around and is very hands-on. I've seen him at the hostess stand, walking around and checking on tables and just... actively managing his staff. That's nice to see. Wait staff is friendly and will happily help you pick a beer that you will like. They really know their products well. Someone in our party recently had a detailed question about the food and the server was knowledgeable enough about the menu to be able to answer his questions and help him find something to eat. Our favorite part here is the food. We've never found anything that we don't like. A particular favorite is the wings - we usually get multiple orders. They have just the right balance of kick and flavor. DH recently had the beer brats and raved about it and I usually get the Bruised Cowboy Salad. I LOVE their homemade dressings - they have a ton of flavor without being excessively heavy. My one (tiny) complaint is that the call ahead seating really isn't. Every time I've called ahead, we get there and still have a wait that's approximately the same as everyone else who walks in the door without calling. Oh well... the food is worth it.
(5)Art C.
Any place with crab cakes, fish and chips, and IPA is a 5 star restaurant to me! Service is great and friendly. Heaven :)
(5)Mike R.
Good food. Maybe a bit overpriced. Not a huge menu but a fun atmosphere and good beer selection.
(4)Darryn W.
Excellent food and home brews. Service is also very friendly. Love their pub trivia on Monday nights.
(5)David F.
The pizza is good here, but the duck roll appetizers aren't. The sausages in the three sausage and sauerkraut meal were very dry. Service was quite slow and during the meal, two things were brought to our table that we didn't order. When we told the waitress, she complained about her coworkers who incorrectly told her to bring it to our table. Well.... Good thing we're honest!
(2)J R.
I wanted to give this place 4 stars, I really did. Maybe if I ever get the chance to go back, I'll bump it up another star. Ambience: Came in on a Friday night, and they were busy but not overcrowded. I was easily able to find one of the multiple open seats at the bar. There was a live band playing and since the band plays in the bar area and the bar stool in front of the TV showing the basketball game was also right next to the band, it was extremely loud and at times difficult to hear/communicate with the bartender. Service: I initially thought it would be a bad experience because the service didn't seem all that great at first, but I would attribute that to how busy it was when I first got there as the bartender's service and friendliness improved rather quickly after I got there. Kitchen closes at 11pm on a Friday night so at 10:50 I placed an order for a crab cake sandwich with onion rings and the kitchen missed the ticket. Not the bartenders fault, and she did a good job explaining what happened with a pleasant attitude. She provided good conversation during her down time as well regarding her beloved Canadian hockey team. Selection: They were out of most beers as other yelpers had indicated. They only had 4 - their "Rud Light", a peach flavored beer (yuck - tried a sample), an IPA, and a single malt something or other (which I didn't care for either). The Rud Light was ok, not great. For a brewery, I would have expected more and better. The menu has a wide range of items from burgers to salads to pizzas to seafood. You'll probably find something you'll want to try. Taste - I tried the duck spring rolls based upon another yelpers review as one of the best things they ever ate. Not sure if they've been out anywhere other than the Ruddy Duck, but they were faaaaaar from the best thing I ever ate. They were edible but lacked taste. Maybe marinating the meat or adding more onions and hoisin sauce to the inside would be better. Almost make it like a peking duck roll from a Chinese place, cause as it stands it was bland and lacking flavor. If not for the sauce, I wouldn't have been able to eat them. For my entrée, I got the crab cake sandwich and substituted onion rings for the fries. A previous yelper had raved about the onion rings and they were right. The onion rings are banging. Ask for a side of Goddess sauce to dip them in and you got a solid fatty side dish that tastes good. The crab cake was good, very good. I'd have to go back and get it by itself before I can put it up against the elite but it was great on the sandwich last night. Price - Kind of pricey. For 3 beers, the appetizer, and my crab cake sandwich with onion rings, it was about $50. Would I go back and recommend to others? Sure. I'd do both. Although I wouldn't necessarily call it a place you would have to make a special trip out of your way to, it's definitely better than most of the other restaurants in the area.
(3)Michelle H.
Absolutely Love this place! Great service, food, beer and the best staff at any restaurant I've been too!! Carlos is awesome!
(5)K O.
I wanted to love this place but I got incredibly sick after eating there. Will definitely not return.
(1)Jess B.
I was here for an organization's cocktail party/meet'n'greet and was pleased. The waitstaff was pleasant, efficient, and quick, and the food was great. I had the duck spring roll appetizer, and the flavor was amazing. One of the best things I've ever eaten, hands down. The music was good--no Top 40s loop of Taylor Swift and Justin Beiber, but GunsnRoses, CCR, etc-if a little loud, especially since there weren't any speakers in the little area we were in. It made conversation a little difficult to hear. I was a little surprised that the waitress didn't talk up their beers, since it is also a brewery, and that very little info was available on the cocktail menu. But overall it was a great experience, and I would definitely go back if I'm in the area or there's another event.
(5)Catrina G.
A good experience every time we go. It is usually packed, so it might take a while to get food, but the bartenders are attentive, so you won't have an empty glass while you wait. The food is good, we have enjoyed crab cakes, pizza, and fish tacos, and a beer cheese that was great! The atmosphere is rustic brew-house, casual and clean.
(4)Renee D.
Was with my husband on a business trip and instead of eating over the bridge in California which is chain soaked, we dined on Solomon's Island where our hotel was. We went on a Tuesday evening around 6. It was quiet, patrons were scattered about comfortably. The bar was full. Things I liked: server was very sweet, knowledgeable and friendly. Nice costal atmosphere. They brew their own beer. The kitchen is in plain view and clean. The short ribs were tasty and tender. The crab cake sandwich was good and it was all lump but it also falls on the things I didn't like: I thought it was over priced and a tad small. I only say this because I thought the closer you are to the bay, the cheaper your seafood should be. I mean you just pulled it out the water no?? The only other dislike was the booth we were seated at was adjacent to the kitchen and at one point two servers who were waiting on line for a pick up ( I guess ) leaned over on top of the banquet to talk and stare into the dining room. I really don't like being observed while I'm enjoying my dinner. I would definitely go back next time I'm in town.
(4)Nick P.
Went back a second time. Waited a couple minutes for the hostess to finish her personal phone conversation at the hostess stand so she could seat us. I thought that was quite rude of her. This time I had the grilled Tuscan chicken sandwich and avoided the greasy mess that is their burgers. Food is quite pricey. Sandwich was very tasty, though. Had their Big Skeeter beer, tasted exactly like their IPA. Again, several of their beers are pretty much the same thing. They were not busy, but again, lunch took about an hour. I'd hate to be here when they're slammed! We paid in cash and the waitress short changed us. Rather then be there an extra hour trying to straighten it out with her, we just took it out of her tip and left. Will not be back, it's just not worth bothering.
(2)Lauren O.
I will have to agree with the average 4 stars that the prior 72 reviewers have given the Ruddy Duck. Family friendly, check. Prices reasonable, check. Nice varied menu with a reasonable number of meat free options, check. Service was reasonably quick (we went at 4 pm on Saturday for an early dinner with the kids). I got ravioli and I have to disagree with previous reviewer who stated the portion size was too small...I'm stuffed! Homemade hummus was tasty, the house focaccia bread quite delicious and they have kids' specials as well as adult! My husband's salmon over rice pilaf with vegetable side was solid. We finished the meal off with Bailey's Irish Cream pie, which was really like ice cream cake flavored like Bailey's. Hefeweisen beer was tasty and served with an orange slice. I'm somewhat disappointed that nobody in my group decided to try the pizza.
(4)Chris C.
This was our first time there, and from entering into the ruddy duck, we were greeted by the owner, who not only took the time to help seat us, but also find a high chair for my 9 month old daughter. As soon as we sat down, the waitress 'Kaitlyn' gave us great recommendations for the beer and food. She has a very friendly attitude and that drive to make you smile while enjoying your time. She even took the time to make a plate of lemons for my daughter since she was still teething. The food was wonderful! I had the bruised cowboy salad and my wife had the mini crab cakes and caeser salad. Of course the beer was exceptional! After the 'flight' of beer, I went with the blueberry wheat, which was amazing for a summer brew. But what is really good is the Radler, which is lemonade and the blueberry wheat. Let's say you will be an addict. Good thing too, the price was great! For happy hour, beer, wine, and food we hit around 50 bucks. We both had such a great experience that we decided to only go there for the remainder of our vacation. I highly recommend the Ruddy Duck, and we will be back!
(5)Lorrie L.
Cool place. Service was ok. Had meatloaf because it sounded so good, but it wasn't.
(3)Jonathan G.
I thought about the rating for a while, but 3 stars seems apt. My parents took me out to dinner at Ruddy Duck, a restaurant none of us had been to. It's in Solomons, Maryland, an area notable for its boardwalk, RV camps, and DUIs. Ruddy Duck is a bar and grill restaurant with high ceilings, an enormous bar area, with dark wood and dark-colored blinds and curtains. They were listed as opening at 4pm, but we walked in a few minutes early, and there were already a handful of people at the bar (likely the patrons of the hotel next door). The atmosphere is definitely a mix of casual and tourist, what with the hotel next door. Just about everyone was in a polo shirt or t-shirt, and one in a flight suit. Right off the bat, I tried their in-house porter, which wasn't especially unique, but it was pretty smooth. I ended up getting a Heavy Seas Loose Cannon after that, not wanting to take a risk on their other beers. The waitress seemed to be in a bit of a rush, perhaps because she just came on shift, but was otherwise pretty polite. The appetizer (potato poppers) came in a bunch of 5, and were warm, but not hot. They came with a generous amount of sour cream, which was solid, not blobby. The menu struck me as Cheesecake Factory-ish, because it offered so many different types of things. When you offer foods across so many genres, it makes me think you do them all just fine, but none of them are great. I finally settled on their special of the day, the prime rib. It was a good cut, with the trim having all of the seasoning, but not hot enough for my taste. The mashed potatoes were good and garlicky (which I can still taste 7 hours later), and the vegetable medley was just for show. My dad got their ravioli, which he liked, but admitted it was super heavy, and loaded with cheese. We ordered a plate of focaccia with parmesan, which was soft, but was likely something that wasn't fresh made, but frozen. My mom got crab cakes, at market price ($28), and thought they seemed lukewarm in the center. She sends her meals back pretty often when she goes out, but the waitress actually suggested that for the price, she get something she be happy with - and brought her brand *new* crab cakes, not heating up the ones she had. The meal was decent, and it's still better than the sea of chain restaurants that plagues the area, but I think it's a bit overpriced, and tries to do too much with its menu, while not having anything stand out.
(3)Rebecca W.
I have been to Ruddy Duck on several occasions and usually with a group (6-8 people) of friends. The service is always good and the staff is always friendly. The food is good, not great, and beer/mixed drinks are tasty. Why only three stars? It is always very loud! You can usually catch a live band playing which is awesome, but do they really need to be the ONLY thing you can hear while trying to hang out with your friends? So, overall... this is a great place to hang out. The food is good and you will be taken care of, but don't expect to carry on a conversation without having to yell.
(3)Lauren G.
The Duck Revisited Now that I have been down here for a little while and my standards have shall we say adjusted, maybe the Duck is not so bad. They do have really good nachos and wings and if you stick to the specials and order the IPA or Fest, it is a pretty good deal. The service can be spotty when they get busy, but I have had some really great service there as well. The Goddess sauce, think ranch made with dill, served with wings is good on everything and the pizzas are pretty good.
(3)Nicole B.
My family and I dined here on a Saturday night when all the big chain restaurants across the bridge would have had at least a 45 minute wait. When we walked into Ruddy Duck we were greeted by two friendly hostesses and seated immediately. The tables are kinda packed in there, but this didn't bother us. Our server was Brooke and she was friendly, attentive and seemed to anticipate our needs and take care of them without us having to ask. I ordered a sweet tea and it was like hummingbird nectar - sugary sweet and just the way I like it! It was being brewed when I ordered, so Brooke brought me a glass of water while I waited the few minutes for it to be finished. We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip for our appetizer and it was the best we've ever tasted. It was creamy and cheesy and sinful and my husband and I remarked on quite a few occasions that we could easily just eat a big bowl of this as a meal. Absolutely delicious. The focaccia that it's served with is warm, garlicy and fresh out of the oven. For our entrees, my husband ordered the fish tacos, my 10 year old son chose the cheese pizza and I had the crab cakes. My husband said his fish tacos were "what fish tacos should be" - light, flavorful and fresh tasting. Cheese pizza isn't exactly special but my son loved it and devoured it in no time. My crab cakes didn't disappoint and are on par with the best I've ever had (if not THE best). They were served with a delicious pineapple slaw and fries. The fries were just meh, but fries are fries. For dessert Brooke recommended the brownie sundae, which the 3 of us split. This could have easily been a throwaway, generic dessert but Ruddy Duck once again brought their A game. It was the perfect ending to a great meal and we will definitely be returning.
(5)Mary H.
Love this place! The onion rings are OUT OF THIS WORLD! Also love the pork chops! Great beer and service is always great. Hard to get seating on weekend nights...would recommend reservations. =)
(5)Anthony K.
Beer is one star. Food is three stars. I tried four different kinds of their house brews and they were all aweful. Stick with the Clipper City IPA they sell on the side. The trio of chorizo was good as were their crab cakes. It was nice to see a salsa night (Mondays) in SOMD.
(2)David G.
Maybe it was an off night due to the Labor Day holiday, but everything except the beer had something wrong with it. I ordered the pork loin, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. The pork was covered with a reduction that didn't taste like anything except slightly burned gravy. The potatoes were the best part, though the garlic was harsh for a few bites. The vegetables were terrible, soaked in grease and salt. For desert, almond cheesecake sounded great, but the almond flavoring was overdone. No complaints about the beer. I had a good Schwarzbier and on another trip had an OK Blueberry Wheat.
(2)Charles S.
Thanks to the ladies at CD cafe for recommending the Ruddy Duck. "That's where we hang," they assured us. I can see why, Brew pub. Loads of big screen, HD tvs, excellent service (thank you again, Sarah), and surprisingly good food. This is comfort food. My wife had a crab cake sandwich which was excellent. I had the short ribs with chimichurri, garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed veggies. Giant servings. Oh, we had their Octoberfest lager. Very good. While the Rud somehow avoided the ubiquitous Calvert County nautical theme, the food, beer and service were excellent.
(4)Deryk L.
I thought this joint was clean and the staff were very friendly. The drinks were great! I ordred a sandwich at the bar and was very pleased. Another good sign--the bathrooms were clean! I recommend this place!
(4)Sarah M.
We took a group to the Ruddy Duck a few weekends back. In a sea of chains and very high end seafood restaurants, the Duck stands out for its diverse menu, microbrew setting and great seating for groups. The menu was a little overwhelming, but we decided to share the nachos - on potato chips with their spicy chili - they were so delicious - I could not stop eating them! I loved the asian seared tuna with won tons and asian slaw; the steak and cake made the boys happy but my boyfriend's cut of ribeye didn't have great marbling and was a tad dry and overcooked. Others enjoyed the duck spring rolls and the fish and chips. Live music during dinner made it a bit tough for conversation but I appreciated the atmosphere. A definite winner for the Pax River area --- I wish there were more restaurants like this!
(4)Steve G.
An unexpected delight as we road tripped through southern Maryland. We each had a beer brewed on site, an IPAD and a brown beer. Both excellent. and then we had Mediterranean pizza and their house salad, sort of like a chop salad with hot chicken , veggies etc. Thepizza was out of this world and cooked to perfection, great crust. Salad also excellent. Very good service, nice atmosphere. We will return.
(5)Jessica C.
Good music , beer, and food. The bartender called me by name and introduced herself. All around A + pub and restaurant !
(5)Chris M.
Great atmosphere, consistently great food, awesome brews. What more do you need?
(5)Jack P.
We were in town for a sporting event and looking for a good bite to eat before heading home. Seeing this place offered their own beer we thought to give it a chance. As mentioned in some of the other reviews, it is loud and difficult to hold a conversation. I have to note, one owner greeted us as we walked in - classy. And the other owner cleared our table when we were done. Hands on - I like that. The food was good, the atmosphere was pleasant (but the live band was too loud) and the beer sampler was nice. Their beer is okay, although I found some of them to be weak. When in town again, we will defiantly be back.
(4)Winslow T.
I've frequented this place for the past few years and have to say that it is one of the best eateries in the area. The beers are definitely a must taste and agree that the best way to get a piece of them all is to order the sampler. The pizzas are great and the daily specials are eclectic. The menu does have some Chilean influences since the owner is ever-present and offers his Argentinean flair. If you're looking for a local hangout with some good live music then you have to check this place out. It's one of the best in southern Maryland.
(5)Dave M.
Food was nothing to brag about if going for the beer I guess it's a place to go because they brew their own beer.
(2)John T.
Excellent Crab Cakes! Had a big family dinner and everyone loved their food. Very good service top. We will be back.
(5)Jason D.
Ok I'm giving it a solid three stars, could have been a four but a couple of things distracted from the experience. Flew in with a couple of my coworkers for a week long training a Pax Naval Station, and decided to get a bite to eat before we went to bed. I ordered a Duck Pizza no kidding Duck Pizza how cool is that. One of my coworkers ordered the stufed Pork Chop, and the other ordered a chicken breast sandwich. The first thing that kind of turned me off is that we had to wait approximately 30 minutes for our food to get to us, and there was hardly anyone else in the dining room strike one. Bothe of my coworkers were very impressed with food when it did arrive, I on the other hand was not. The main problem was that my Pizza was burnt! I was looking at it and the waitress just said "Is there a problem?" I replied no problem, I was scared to send it back for fear that I'd have to wait another thirty minutes and it was getting late and I just wanted to get to my Hotel room. I mean really the Pizza was burnt, I just can't believe they even brought it out. Wheres Chef Ramsey when you need him. I"m not proud to say I ate the Pizza and didn't complain, it didn't taste too bad but it was hard to separate the delicate taste of the Duck because it was at times overpowered by the taste of carbon. Look if it was just me reviewing the place I would have to give it a two, but since by coworkers liked it soo much I'm bumping it up a star. Maybe they just missed it with My Duck Pizza, and hopefully you'll have a satisfactory experience like my coworkers did. If on the other hand they burn your order, don't say you havent been warned. So I'm giving this place a very generous three stars.
(3)Matt T.
The food is good, the beer is good and the prices are on the high side of reasonable. There is nothing bad to be said about this straightforward neighborhood restaurant except that it is usually very loud. Monday night offers a pizza and pint in the bar for $10, which is a great deal for a pretty good pizza (I would give Monday nights 4 stars).
(3)Tom M.
This is our favorite restaurant in SoMd. We live 1 mile away :D I have never had a bad meal here. Food is awesome, Beer is awesome, staff is awesome! Wednesday nights are great for families with Family Night. The Magician is great! RD is not cheap, but it is worth it! Can't wait to try new restaurant when it open later this month at St. George's!
(5)Anna B.
The Ruddy Duck is the only brew pub in the Southern Maryland region. And they have already won numerous awards for their beers. Personally, I like the IPAs. It was the only bar in St. Mary's and Calvert that I could find that was open for the Sunday UK vs. Germany World Cup match last year. Other "sports bars" were closed because it was Sunday morning. I was so happy to find the Ruddy Duck open and full of a friendly crowd, including the owner, watching the game on the big tvs and drinking fantastic beer. That said, I wouldn't advertise this as a sports bar. There are tvs in the bar area, but the rest of the restaurant could be a family and fine dining experience. I even sat out on a table this summer, the last time I visited. So, it doesn't have the constant television in the background of your meal quality that sports bars do. The inside is beautiful, and on weekend evenings there's often live music. The menu is a combination of Chesapeake (lots of seafood, and acclaimed crab cakes), Argentinean (empanadas) and grill (steaks, salmon, etc). The pizzas are also excellent and a little different to your boring old toppings you find on standard pizzas. The homemade hummus is also a must. The only improvement that could be made, for me, is a better vegetarian selection. As someone who likes to go back to this place whenever I'm nearby, I'd love to see a few more veggie specials. The kitchen is also very very accommodating. I have a friend whose toddler has a number of allergies and she's able to eat at the Ruddy Duck because they will made items specially, put together a dish a la carte if you have restrictions, and can guarantee which oil they fry with, etc. I should also say, it's family friendly. They even have a "Little Ducklings" menu. Check out their menu and events, etc: ruddyduckbrewery.com/ind… If you appreciate good beer and you're in Southern Maryland you have to go to The Ruddy Duck.
(5)Joshua S.
Great crab cakes! Decent size dining room, great service, and did I mention the crab cakes rock. They do a broiled crab cake that is almost no filler, just crab. I tried the almond cheesecake for dessert and it was awesome as well. If the crab cakes weren't so good, I'd be tempted to try the pizza which looks amazing. Skip Stoney's, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Cathryn B.
Good-quality, crowd-pleasing food, comfortable seating, good service. Yes, it can be a little loud at times which is why I suggest not going at prime times.
(4)Alina S.
Amazing restaurant! Wonderful ambiance, terrific food, and our server, Brooke, was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and a lovely gal. 5/5 would eat here again and again!
(5)Cheryl S.
I really wanted to like this place, because brewery and brick oven pizzas are my favorite, usually because they always get it right. This place is just ok, not amazing. We went on a Sunday night and it didn't seem busy but the service still wasn't great. The beer selection was ok, not super- they only (only!) had six brews but it was four pale ales and two stouts I think, but no brown ale or reds. But the ale I had was ok, not bad. I had one of the pizzas and the crust was not special, it was very bready not the thinner type you expect from a wood-oven. Plus they dumped too many toppings more American style rather than the lighter Italian way, so it was a bit goopy. But its big place, lots of seating and easy to accommodate groups and families, and with the limited amount of restaurants like that in the area it still is a great option for that.
(3)Tim G.
Always like dining at the Ruddy Duck, once we actually get seated. I called during the afternoon to make a reservation for 5 at 7pm but was told they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. But they did put my name on a call ahead list. When I got there they told me to expect a half hour wait so calling ahead didn't really help much. The wait however turned out to be only about 15 minutes. As usual their beers were very good and the food was above average. I had fish tacos which were very good. Price was as expected. I recommend Ruddy Duck but don't show up hungry because it may be a long wait.
(4)David E.
The duck spring rolls and the pizza are very good. This seems to be a typical micro-brew restaurant that serves very good pizza and some other dishes. I tried a couple of the brews, nothing to write home about but not bad at all. If the service was a little better, I would give this 4 stars.
(3)Nikki P.
Food is great and the service is always consistently good. The specials are actually special, not just recycled food from the menu. Had Moroccan Meatballs as the special they were insanely delicious !
(5)Michael M.
Hey, for what it's worth it's not bad. We only tried the beer sampler; and maybe as a New Englander who moved to MD, I'm a bit spoiled by brewery's...but this was was just OK. Deffinitely worth a stop if your in town.
(3)Christa H.
I visited here with two friends for the first time on a Friday evening for dinner. They told us that the wait would be 10-15 minutes (it was probably closer to 25) and the waiting area felt cramped and crowded -- way too small of a space for the 10-15 people that were waiting for tables. When we were seated, I was impressed with the decor of the place. Our booth had high backs, giving us complete privacy from other dining parties and drowning out a lot of the noise of the crowded dining room, making conversation pretty easy. Our waitress was efficient and friendly, and our drinks came out quickly. I had the 3-beer taster, and finished all the shot-glass-sized tastes by the end of the meal (impressive as I'm not a huge beer fan). My friends both ordered the 6-beer tasters and didn't finish them. As appetizers, we ordered the potato skins (on recommendation from our waitress) and the calamari. The calamari was tender but crispy and the dipping sauces were good. The potato skins were also good but could've used some salt or other flavoring. Our meals came out fairly quickly, and were presented on our plates very well. I had the Rudy's Margarita pizza, which was good if a little wet (I'm not sure if it was from the sauce or the extra tomatoes, but there was definitely some excess water on it that made for a soggy crust). My friends had the Crab Cake and Monterrey and enjoyed both dishes, though their fries were extremely salty. It was an affordable meal, with good service in a great environment. I'll definitely be back in the future!
(4)Andy J.
Almost a 2 star. I tried 2 different beers and neither was very good. Pizza is cooked in a wood fire oven so the outside of the crust was crunchy chewy perfect. However the center was soggy due to the toppings. If you do go get the cheese balls app, very rich, very good.
(3)Mark G.
We have been to the Ruddy Duck a few times, Ruddy Good would be a better name for it. The worst you will get is "good".... Now, some things are a tad disappointing, such as the duck spring rolls....not that they are bad, they are good...but not "wow!" Why is very good a tad disappointing... once you've had "wow!" here, you'll know. Wow! items include their wings, onion rings and their pizzas (the Argentina is my current "WOW!!!"). They have live music on Fridays, so it can be a bit loud and crowded, but very worth the visit. It is the kind of local place every place should have.
(4)Scott M.
Ribeye was cooked perfectly and was tasty! Comfortable bar, craft beer was unique and worth trying multiple selections.
(4)Chris B.
We ate here on a Friday night and were told it would be a 30 minute wait. We got seated in 25 minutes. The service on this busy Friday night was nothing short of excellent. Our waitress greeted us quickly and drinks and appetizers were delivered within 10-15 minutes. Our entrees arrived very soon after we finished our appetizer. I had the trio of chorizo which was outstanding. My daughter had the crab cakes which were equally delicious. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Shannon S.
Came here while I was in town. Decided to get the crab cakes since I was in Maryland and it stated that they were the best in Southern Maryland. Said "Market Price". Here I thought crabs were in season so they wouldn't have been that much, unfortunately I spent $28 for two crab cakes, a small amount of fries, and some veggies. I personally like remoulade sauce with my crab cakes. They gave a mayo type mustard thing, which was fine. They weren't the best crab cakes I've had in Southern Maryland. That made me sad. On the plus side, they make their own beers, which is pretty awesome. I didn't have any though. I settled for a Snake Bite. Can't go wrong with those. Their dessert menu was small because they were out of one of the desserts. We orders a cheesecake and an apple crisp. Both were pretty mediocre. On another note, Ruddy Ducks are pretty badass.
(3)Laura M.
Ruddy Duck is delicious! Probably some of the best food in Southern Maryland. Ruddy Duck brews their own beer, and usually has specials throughout the week. I suggest trying the Spinach Artichoke Dip- it is delicious!
(5)Bobby B.
I go here frequently for an array of reasons. This place is dynamic; with a great selection of beer, occasional live music, a unique atmosphere, and trivia nights on Mondays. A legit spot indeed but you might want to get there early because it's definitely gets packed!
(4)Ann T.
Food was so-so for me. I had the ahi tuna for an appetizer. Fish didn't taste too fresh. Beer was pretty good. Definitely recommend the pumpkin ale during the holidays. Service was also really nice.
(3)Philip L.
Everytime we go the the duck we have great service. The staff is friendly and prompt. I recommend the meatloaf and all of the pizzas have been on point so far. They must be doing something right, because every evening we have been there, the place is packed!! I am not a huge beer drinker, but I hear they put out some good beers from their brewery. Highly recommend this place if you are in the area and looking for some good eats!
(4)VA E.
Wish I ate here both night I was in Solomons. Beer is very good, but food is amazing. Best brew pub food I have ever had, and I've tried a lot (I like beer)
(5)Joseph A.
My wife and I are from out of town. We just came back from dinner and I could not wait to review the RD. First, our waitress, Jackie was excellent. Very friendly, accommodating, informative, and very good service. She was very enthusiastic about about the food and it didn't disappoint. My wife had the crab cakes, and although they were not very big, they made up for it in quality. I had the baked rock fish with putenesca sauce and it was outstanding. The fish was crisp on the outside and tender and moist on the inside. The sauce was delicious. I'm looking forward to our next visit.
(5)Kelly K.
I checked out Rudy Duck Brewery & Grill without any expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. I was warmly greeting by one of the hostess, seated in a comfortable booth in the middle of the dining room that was full and very lively but in a good way. I ordered one of their home brews, the pilsner, and it was pretty good cost $4.50 for a pint. I noticed birds painted on the walls near the bar and a kayak or canoe hanging from the ceiling. There is a open kitchen on one side and a open oven and you can see where the brew the beer. Service was super friendly although a little slow to bring out the food. No bread was offered. Not sure they have bread. The only thing that bothered me was the waitress spraying cleaner on the booth next to me. The spray made it to my eyes and burnt for a moment. Waitstaff should never spray cleanser on tables next to people like that, however, it seems to happen a lot these days. Really they should spray a towel and then wipe to avoid the spray from spread and smelling up the place. Oh well! If management takes action to ensure waitstaff do not do this-I have no other complaints. My entree was delicious...I had braised short ribs that were obviously very fresh meat...the fat was delicious. It came with tasty potatoes and side of veggies...I got the waitress to substitute slaw for the veggie side-and was happy with their yummy slaw with pineapple. My entree was a steal at 16 dollars. Also, if you happen to be handicapped there are parking spaces right in front of the door steps away. See the photo I posted!
(4)Natalie O.
My husband and I came here a couple times and loved the beer, food, and atmosphere so much, that when our family members came to visit we immediately brought them here. With 3 kids under the age of 5 the staff was incredibly accommodating and our server, Ryan, was the best we have ever had. The food was great and the manager and Ryan went above and beyond to make sure our entire party was highly satisfied. I recommend this establishment to anyone in the area and they definitely have our repeat business. Please give them a try and you will fall in love with their craft beers, delicious food, and nights with live music.
(5)Joanna S.
Had the beer that was supposedly an oktoberfest beer... Sure was when it hits your tongue but then you get this ugly taste with it. We ordered the calamari and my first bite took me 10 minutes to chew. I tried to send it back but my waiter took another 15 minutes to come by and only after I called him over. I had the porkchops and they were pretty good except the waiter asked how we wanted it to be cooked... Ok never in my life have I been asked that... So we said well done even tho we are medium rare steak people but it's pork... It needs to be cooked... The middle did look a little pink inside but regardless they were good. I probably wouldn't come back here tho.
(2)David H.
Food's generally quite good, their beers are excellent. The ambiance is the standard formula you expect for brew pubs, but the staff is very friendly. Quality of live music is a bit sketchy sometimes.
(4)Robert S.
We've been here a few times so far--the first time on their grand opening and a few days later. The atmosphere is nice, the wait, kitchen, and bar staff all seem to be nice and competent at what they do, however I'm certain this place will change considerably in its 1st year. They only had 2 of their own beers on tap (a kölsch and a wheat beer), both of which were drinkable, but hopefully not the pinnacle of what they're capable of brewing. On the first night, I had their mussels appetizer which was a little bland and thin tasting, primarily because of the sauce; I had a similar experience with their half rack of ribs--too bland--but I was fortunate enough for the chef to come over and ask how they were. I simply stated that they were bland and he told me to wait a few minutes and he came back out with a whole new order with a spicier dry rub, some BBQ sauce on the side, and a side of grits (the first order came with pineapple cole slaw--which was interesting). On the 2nd visit, we had the chipas a la Carlos on a friend's recommendation. I've never had anything quite like them, but they are delicious, however they only give you 3 of them which may be for the best if you're watching your calories. For dinner, I had the ravioli marinara and the portion was a tad smaller than I would have liked; it was delicious and could very well be, in my opinion, the best pasta dish in the area (that is a normal menu item). All-in-all, a great experience and we'll definitely be going back. One detractor that we found was that Jay, who I assume is the bar manager, said that they would not fill other people's growlers which is a real buzzkill if you are like me and have amassed a collection of various brewery's growlers over the years. Hopefully this policy will change.
(4)Bill M.
My favorite hangout. In house beer that's true to it's particular style, high quality & full of flavor. Atmosphere is great, though it can get noisy at times. Wait staff is top notch (not steady turnover of staff like many places). And the food is terrific (try anything Argentine or any of their pizzas). Great. Now it going to be even harder to find a seat at the bar......
(5)Pamela D.
Gave the "Duck" 5 Stars because it gets better every time I go. If you go for the craft beer, you can't go wrong. If you go for the pizza from wood fired ovens, you won't be disappointed. If you go for the crabcakes, yes they are pricey, but they are all backfin. Seriously, to get a comparable dining experience, you would have to travel to Annapolis. There is nothing like the "Duck" anywhere close when you consider the people, the food, the drink or the music.
(5)Greg S.
Come early with the kids or later with a date. Large bar area with great inhouse beers. We've been at least half a dozen times and the food has always been fabulous and plentiful. On our last visit we were told we'd have a 25 minute wait but we got seated in about 10 minutes. Good size bar area with ample seating is tastefully sectioned off from the dining area. Pretty good service most of the time. What's up the the lack of busboys in the Solomons, MD. The wait staff always appears to be doing their best to serve the customers while also clearing and resetting tables. At times they seem a little frantic. Hire a busboy and I'll give you five stars.
(4)