2012 Free State’s Finest

From the tastiest family restaurant to the most happening happy hour, our readers weighed in via snail mail and online to tell us what’s truly superlative across the state. Read on for a snapshot of your fellow Free-Staters’ favorite places to dine, shop, relax, and escape.

Congratulations to this year’s winners, and thanks to everyone who participated. We can’t wait to see who makes next year’s best-of-the-best list!

*****

FINEST RESTAURANT

Dutch’s at Silver Tree - Garrett

VOLT - Frederick

Laurrapin Grille - Harford

Café des Artistes - St. Mary’s

Carrol’s Creek Café - Anne Arundel

Scossa - Talbot

Shark on the Harbor - Worcester

Editors’ Pick:  Chazz: A Bronx Original - Baltimore

FINEST RESTAURANT - FAMILY

Wendy’s Towne Restaurant - Garrett

Baugher’s Family Restaurant - Carroll

Friendly Farm - Baltimore County

Rustic River Bar & Grill - St. Mary’s

Freddy’s Lobster - Montgomery

Fisherman’s Inn - Queen Anne’s

Jimmie & Sook’s - Dorchester

Editors’ Pick:  Franklins - Prince George’s

FINEST RESTAURANT - FINE DINING

Savage River Lodge - Garrett

VOLT - Frederick

Morton’s - Baltimore

Café des Artistes - St. Mary’s

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse - Montgomery

Osprey Point Inn - Kent

Bistro Poplar - Dorchester

Editors’ Pick:  Robert Morris Inn - Talbot

FINEST COFFEEHOUSE

Trader’s Coffee House - Garrett

Birdie’s Café - Carroll

Filling Station - Baltimore County

Brewing Grounds - St. Mary’s

City Dock Coffee - Anne Arundel

Java Rock - Kent

Berlin Coffee House - Worcester

Editors’ Pick: Main Cup - Frederick

FINEST CRABS

Hen House - Garrett

Crab Shanty (Shanty Grille) - Howard

Cravin’ Crabs - Baltimore

Captain Leonard’s Seafood  - St. Mary’s

Cantler’s - Anne Arundel

Fisherman’s Crab Deck - Queen Anne’s

Hooper’s Crab House - Worcester

Editors’ Pick: Linton’s Seafood - Somerset

FINEST CRABCAKE

Dutch’s at Silver Tree - Garrett

Dutch’s Daughter - Frederick

Cravin’ Crabs  - Baltimore

Stoney’s - Calvert

G&M Restaurant & Lounge - Anne Arundel

Fisherman’s Inn - Queen Anne’s

Captain’s Galley II - Worcester

FINEST DESSERT

Savage River Lodge - Garrett

Baugher’s Family Restaurant - Carroll

Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop - Baltimore

Café des Artistes - St. Mary’s

Jimmie Cone - Montgomery

Mason’s - Talbot

Smith Island Cake Co. - Worcester

Editors’ Pick: Wine Kitchen - Frederick

FINEST HAPPY HOUR

Santa Fe Grille - Garrett

Bare Bones Grill & Brewery - Howard

Morton’s - Baltimore

Rustic River Bar & Grill - St. Mary’s

Level - Anne Arundel

Tidewater Inn - Talbot

Globe - Worcester

Editors’ Pick: Wit & Wisdom - Baltimore

FINEST ICE CREAM

Queen City Creamery - Allegany

Hoffman’s - Carroll

Broom’s Bloom - Harford

Bruster’s - St. Mary’s

Jimmie Cone - Montgomery

Kilby Cream - Cecil

Dumser’s Dairyland - Worcester

Editors’ Pick: Gifford’s - Montgomery

FINEST MUSEUM

Washington County Musem of Fine Arts - Washington

National Museum of Civil War Medicine - Frederick

Baltimore Museum of Art - Baltimore

Calvert Marine Museum - Calvert

College Park Aviation Museum - Prince George’s

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum - Talbot

OC Life-Saving Station Museum - Worcester

Editors’ Pick: American Visionary Art Museum - Baltimore

FINEST GALLERY

Saville Gallery - Allegany

Carroll Arts Center - Carroll

Walters - Baltimore

North End Gallery - St. Mary’s

Whitehall Gallery - Anne Arundel

Troika Gallery - Talbot

Bishop’s Stock - Worcester

FINEST THEATER

Maryland Theatre - Washington

Weinberg Center - Frederick

Hippodrome - Baltimore

Port Tobacco Players - Charles

AFI Silver Theatre - Montgomery

Avalon - Talbot

Mar-Va Theater - Worcester  

FINEST CONCERT VENUE

Maryland Theatre - Washington

Merriweather Post Pavilion - Howard

Meyerhoff - Baltimore