Sipping on the Severn

Fourth of July weekend is a time to be proud we live in a colonial city that was paramount in the American Revolution. Local crabs and beer are plentiful. The meaty and woodsy scent of barbeque wafts over both land and sea. Sailboats and powerboats alike dot the horizon, filling up rivers, channels, and Chesapeake Bay. Tourists fill up the city dock while the locals scatter to waterfront dining that is off the beaten path.

Severn Inn is located aside the Route 2 bridge

Yes, we locals know the best place to survey the panoramic view of Historic Annapolis in all its glory is relaxing on the deck at Severn Inn. And smart locals sometimes get lucky enough to beat the crowds by going the day before a holiday.

Locals fishing under the bridge

The Inn's over-water deck offers lite fare that is just as delicious as the full menu indoors, yet for many dishes, more affordable. The sunshine and bay breeze are added bonuses. Today, the wind was perfect for sailing... and sail-watching.

Schooner Woodwind in full sail on the bay

The bar boasts micro-brews on tap, some local to Maryland and some to other coastal states. I had trouble deciding between the Blue Point Toasted Lager and the Victory Prima Pils, so our nice waiter offered me samples of both.

Toasted Lager (left) and Victory Pilsner (right)

The pilsner was light and refreshing, but with the bitter aftertaste of hops that my Dad loves so much (but I don't particularly care for). In the end, I chose the Toasted Lager. This golden brown lager did have a nutty, toasted flavor to the body but with a very smooth finish. What can I say? I like my beer smooth.

My husband and I ordered burgers. I mean, can it get more American than burgers and beer this Fourth of July? Not much. Waiting for our meal was the best part. The breeze blew strong and cool, clouds parted, the sun came out to shine, and some beautiful sails glided past us on the Severn River.

8 ounces of meaty Angus beef

On so many menus, the words "Grilled Angus Beef Burger" - along with the price tag - promise a level of flavor that just isn't fulfilled. That is not the case at Severn Inn. Every bite of their Angus burger lives up to the name and the price. In fact, being a pretty picky eater, it's not often that I leave a completely clean plate at restaurants, but this afternoon there was not a crumb to be seen. Our waterfront lunch was worth every penny.

Beautiful sailboat crosses the view of Annapolis

The food at Severn Inn is top notch, but the best part is location(x3). Even on a cloudy, muggy, rainy day, the view just can't be beat.

Close-up sailboat

We beat the crowd and the storm today, as the strong winds have now brought thunderclouds over Annapolis. A free show is the best ending to a beautiful, lazy Sunday afternoon.

Really enjoyed the Toasted Lager, anyone know where I can find it around here to take home?
Update: Found Blue Point Toasted Lager at Dawson's Liquors in Severna Park, MD thanks to a hot tip from senior blogger AnnapolisDrinks Dave over at The Noble Experiment. Thanks all!

Cinco de Mayo Hopscotch

When making plans with my friend J for Cinco de Mayo, we knew that the popular favorites in Annapolis would be packed. So right from the start, we decided to get creative and find Mexican flavors at non-Mexican restaurants around town.

Then, we learned that Mexican Café was re-opening on May 5th. You see, J is a Texan, so the allure of true Mexican food was strong for her. We had to try. What food lover could resist a restaurant opening on a major food holiday? When we arrived, however, a long line and an hour wait turned us away and sent us right back to Plan A: avoid the obvious destinations.

We arrived at Gordon Biersch right around dinnertime and were seating right away. In no time, our food was ordered and there was a margarita in my hand.

The Patrón margarita comes 'up' in a martini glass, which looks a little funny at first. But the presentation has nothing to do with the taste. The drink was well-mixed and balanced, without the strong, sour bite of tequila that is sometimes glaring in margaritas. J said the same of her mojito, a good balance of flavors that was neither too sweet nor too strong.

We split an order of the Southwest Egg Rolls, a fusion dish that is much more Southwest than Asian. The fried wonton shell is filled with pulled chicken, pepper jack cheese, black beans, corn, and roasted red peppers and served with a fiery roasted jalapeño ranch dipping sauce on the side. At a little over ten bucks, this appetizer might seem steep, but the taste is worth shelling out a little extra. Said J: "I thought it would be dry, but it wasn't." The filling is moist and cheesy. "And it was surprisingly spicy." Even without the dipping sauce, the rolls pack a punch.

After spicing things up with the Southwestern appetizer, we were looking for something sweet to soothe our taste buds, so we hopped over to Lures Bar & Grille in Crownsville.

Lure's latin-inspired dessert is called a XanGo, flaky pastry tortilla filled with cheesecake and real banana, topped with buttery caramel and whipped cream. A banana sweet may sound light, but the sweet and creamy cheesecake filling makes this dessert rich. J and I split the order and were still satisfied.

I still can't wait to experience the re-launch of the Mexican Café right in our backyard, but I'm glad we didn't spend Cinco de Mayo in line. While we got creative with the restaurants and did a little traveling to complete our fiesta mexicana, it was worth the distance to avoid the wait. Tex-Mex inspired dishes appear where you least expect, so pay attention the next time you visit your favorite Naptown restaurant and you might be surprised. Fusion is in.

Next time, maybe we'll look for Asian-inspired surprises, too! :)