The breakfast buffet is great. The menu is overpriced for the quality of food you receive The view is nice. The best part of this place is a bartender named Nancy. She usually works nights. She does it all and makes you feel at home. I recommend sitting on the bar side seating when Nancy is working.
(3)
Belinda B.
Lots of unmet potential! Bartender makes a great drink. Chefs are not up to par...a little disappointing regarding entrees..over cooked, deep fried, under seasoned fish and shrimp. Location is worth the drive...I wanted food to match location...needed to lower my expectations!
(3)
Lou F.
We called ahead for a 6:15 Friday (6/12)/15) night table and were seated immediately. I've spent years in the food biz, so that was a pleasant surprise. The dining room view is great, a real plus. The drinks and food were a different deal. My rum and tonic with lime was not large. The tonic was flat and the glass had been filled with ice, leaving little room for booze. The lime had been put in first, under the ice, so I had to scuba dive to squeeze out its juice. My cream of crab soup was salty and was becoming oily, since it was beginning to separate. There was a marble-sized lump of roux in it along with a large portion of lump crabmeat, which unfortunately was ice cold, apparently having been tossed in the soup at the last minute. Main courses were problematic. The Rockfish special was well prepared, but was only a 4 ounce, inch wide portion. Norfolk Stew was well prepared, but also small for the price. Fish and Chips were 3 nuggets of haddock thickly battered, served with a mound of fries. Cole slaw had an odd taste, pickles? My fried oysters also came with lots of fries and had more than enough batter. The sin, in an area known for shellfish, was that they were dry and likely had been frozen. If this wasn't a family meal, they would have gone directly back to the kitchen. The highlight was Crab imperial. Rich, creamy with a good amount of crab. Vegetables and potatoes with the entrees were properly prepared.
(2)
Kathie W.
Would have given the Rod N Reel NO stars based on today's experience, but I have been there in the past when both the food and especially the service were much better. Today's service was absolutely awful Waitress' name was Patti. She ignored us every way she possibly could.
(2)
Brian T.
Not nearly as nice as you'd expect attached to a resort. Sunday brunch got rave reviews so we tried it out and it was OK, good for the price ... $16.99/adult. Normal brunch food, arrived 1015 and had to wait abt 30 minutes (they only take reservations for parties of 6+). Part of that was the pager they gave us didn't work and we noticed others being seated before us. It was crowded and loud. Occasional lines for food but not too bad. Don't worry abt attire ... My boys wore shorts and button up shirt and were overdressed for the most part. The staff was friendly and helpful, though seemed a bit frazzled. Left abt 12 and it was really crowded outside. Nice location, but if you want a nicer brunch try somewhere like Mango Mikes.
(3)
Michelle W.
This place is a hit or miss for me I celebrated my wedding here with family and friends and the food was delicious and it was a great environment over the summer I came with my husband there were flies everywhere and the service was lacking and friendliness to say the least it was not very good at all and I probably won't be coming back after that fly incident it grossed me out so much to see flies everywhere
(3)
Kim A.
My husband and I ended up at the Rod 'N' Reel while staying at the Chesapeake Beach Resort, and getting a $25 dining credit. We'd initially stopped by Smokey Joe's, but I insisted on leaving due the the crowds of people screaming at some game on TV, and the depressing nursing home decor of the dining area we were seated in. After that, the Rod 'N' Reel looked especially nice. I only wish we'd gotten there earlier to see more of the beautiful view. There was no wait, and the place was actually pretty empty. I think late November was probably the off-season. Our waitress was super friendly, and chatted with us a bit. The prices, on the other hand, were a little high, but that's expected with a nice seafood restaurant. Luckily, for us, we had our coupon. I got the the Mediterranean salad with salmon. I'm a fan of any salad with salmon, but this one was especially good. Just the right amount of dressing, and the salmon was cooked to perfection. My husband got the burger, which I didn't try, but looked awesome as well.
(5)
Shannon B.
Came here for lunch to celebrate my brother's high school graduation. It has a bright, open design with a lovely view of Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately we got off to a bad start service wise as the waitress informed us that they were short-staffed and there were several large parties that she was taking care of. We appreciated the heads up, but our food took a little over an hour to arrive. Fortunately when the food came it was delicious. I had the baked imperial crab stuffed shrimp with vegetables and orzo saffron. The shrimp was heavenly with tender juicy crabmeat and lots of buttery goodness. The veggies were nothing to comment on and the orzo saffron was slightly above average. My dad and brother both loved their baked imperial crab, my other brother said his fried shrimp were "pretty good, but a little rubbery." My stepmom loved her cheesy potatoes, but commented that her salmon was dry. Overall I'd give the restaurant 4 stars on scenery/environment and my food, but I've gotta dock points on service and my other family members' food comments.
(3)
Misty K.
"It was everything I expected, and less." ~Bernard Black It gets an extra star for the incredible view, but the food, service, decor, parking...everything...just awful. We couldn't order off the menu, because the kitchen was so far behind that the waiter said we'd never get our food. We had to eat from the buffet, which was...well, yuck. We didn't see our waiter again. It took us an hour to be seated (and we had a reservation!). I was so excited about the dessert table. I needn't have been. They were flavorless. In good news, we saw fireworks, and the beach was beautiful.
(2)
Vanisha O.
The waitress Judy was so kind and speedy. The FOOD! Omg... there's these two older ladies at the omelet station and they must have the power of God in those spatulas! Just kidding but the food is amazing. The view is spectacular - the perfect place for a Sunday morning breakfast buffet.
(5)
Melora H.
We came here late afternoon on a Sunday. Less than half of the tables were full and the majority of the empty tables were waiting to be bussed. Regardless, we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Once seated, we reviewed the menu, decided on our order and waited for our server. And waited. And waited. There seem to be an abundance of staff just milling around or taking one item at a time to tables. We couldn't even make eye contact with a waiter/waitress. When a table seated after us received both their beverages and appetizers, while we still waited to have a staff person approach our table, we called it quits. The table next to ours still needed to be cleared and the sight of the dirty plates and old uneaten food was very unappetizing. When I told the hostess why we were leaving, she was apologetic. This place may be listed as the top restaurant in Chesapeake Beach on Trip Advisor, but don't bother.
(1)
Sierra S.
Sat on the deck and half of our party got served. We were STILL waiting on our good 45 minutes later! No drink refills - this place is ridiculous! Do NOT recommend! The staff did not even know the menu!
(1)
Holly D.
Good food, but bring your checkbook. My step-dad and I had a lovely lunch here with a waterfront view but not only was it expensive (for lunch - around 40 bones) but we were there for 2 1/2 hours. It was a Wednesday afternoon. We were one of maybe 2/3 other tables filled in the joint.
(3)
Jami B.
I Visited this place with my husband and was disappointed. The food seemed frozen as opposed to fresh. I say this because the crab cakes were dry and the shrimp were tough. They has ketchup in old fashion glass bottles which has a lot of build up in them. It wasn't worth the ride. The manager stated that he would email us a refund after sending him our receipt spending over $100.00. To date we have not received a thing. We will never revisit this place again. Save your money!
(1)
Lisa E.
Went here for a later dinner after a day by the bay. For Chesapeake Beach, this is as good as you'll get for seafood. Keep in mind, there aren't many places to pick from in this town. Everything was prepared nice and the server was quite courteous and helpful. This isn't a meal to remember, but I certainly don't have any major complaints.
(3)
Nichelle K.
We went in the middle of the day for lunch and we were seated immediately. The waitress was prompt, friendly and professional. We ordered the artichoke crab dip and it was cheesy and delicious! I ordered the single crab cake meal with the red potatoes it was also good. My only complaint with the food is I wish they offered the crab cakes broiled because its a semi healthier option and I just don't like everything deep fried. The potatoes were good I just wish I had a better explanation as to how they were prepared before I ordered them. They were good I just had no idea what to expect. We were in a bit of a hurry and unfortunately the computer system went done and we waited and waiting until the payment could be processed. Things happen and technology isn't always perfect. Overall a good experience and I recommend it.
We used to frequent this place because it's a nice place to sit outside and have a drink , and they would have "free" entertainment Sunday though Thursday, now they have a ridiculous cover charge??? ($10 person) I am gonna stick to mangos from now on...
(1)
Pamela S.
Spectacular view and ambiance. Food is good but not spectacular. Rockfish s bit over cooked . Meat in my kale was unexpected as I do not eat mammals . My husband said the crab soup and shrimp were tasty. Fries okay. Off to the slot machines ,
(3)
Jennifer G.
This was a place from my childhood that had gone down hill but the prices went up. On a whim we fled Montgomery County & escaped to Breezy Point. We landed here after getting rained off the beach. 1st the view was fantastic! My kids had the grilled chicken & fries--they demolished it (they also have gluten free options labeled in their menu-thankful bc my kid has a lot of food restrictions w his autism). My hubs had the fried platter & loved it. I had the 2 crab cakes not the best I've ever had but very good. Clams casino, Maryland crab soup & cream if crab soup all excellent. Our waitress was very good, she brought the kids food out very quickly, our bar orders were very slow. Our bill was a little steep but seafood does that! Afterwards we walked out on the pier saw geese & ducks with babies & went home. This was a great day!
(4)
Lee F.
This is probably one of the nicer and better restaurants in the area. I've eaten there about three times, and I've never been disappointed by the food, the service or the view. The food is not out of this world, but it is very good. I've been able to get a window seat that looks out over the bay almost every time. It has multiple dining areas, so it's a great place to hold large-group events.
(4)
Dewayne L.
Great brunch buffet... Every breakfast food you could imagine...homemade donuts...hominy grits .... and very friendly staff...we will be back
(5)
Michael S.
Awesome - great food, great service, great value.
(5)
Mike L.
My wife and I saw the promotion for the Rock The Dock music series and decided to drive down to Chesapeake Beach from the Annapolis area for a late dinner with live music. All I can say is that the music was good. We ordered crab soup -- my wife ordered the Cream of Crab and I ordered the Maryland Crab. The Cream of Crab wasn't bad EXCEPT all you could taste was the butter. The flavor of the MD Crab was good BUT, the soup was riddled with cartilage, which made it unpleasant to eat. We also ordered Peal-And-Eat Shrimp and Steamed Mussels. Both stated they came with their "homemade" cocktail sauce. The shrimp were overcooked and it was almost impossible to peal the shells away. The mussels came "dry" in a bowl with no broth. They were tasteless and dried-out. The "homemade" cocktail sauce was jelly-like and very bland. The worst part of the evening was the service. In the middle of August in a beach town on a Saturday night you expect the best servers to be on deck. While the waiter was nice, it seemed like we might have been an inconvenience to him. It took a good 20 minutes to get two cups of iced tea. The orange crushes did come faster though. But, the waiter paid little or no attention to our food as he served it. Several key items we ordered or that were supposed to accompany each dish were left off. It's almost like the restaurant was saying, "Drink booze and don't bother us with ANYTHING else!"
(1)
Katie D.
This place has seen better days... Started with the crab balls. $12 for 3 tbsp of crab...a joke. Flavor was pretty good. It took about 10 minutes for a draft Blue Moon to be poured in a nearly empty restaurant. I had the stuffed shrimp. Edible, but barely. They were stuffed with crab and some fish and bucketload of mayo. Here's what I didn't taste: seafood. I couldn't finish it because of all the hot-baked mayo. Gross. It also came with saffron orzo which had zero flavor. The green beans were okay, but had obviously been sitting under a heat lamp for sometime. Also ordered a side of sweet potato fries for our daughter. No seasoning or creative dipping sauce. The hostess was wearing skin tight leggings. No skirt, no long sweater. Just leggings. Okay for dance class, not okay for showing people to their tables. Leggings are not a pants substitute. I wouldn't recommend this place to a soul. Overpriced, dull food. Save your $$ for elsewhere.
(1)
Sujja D.
Got the MD crab soup and it was good. Was disappointed with RnR crab cake sandwich. Crab cake itself had lot of filler in there and little lump crab meat. Size of the crab cake would have been OK if it was all lump crab meat as implied in the menu for $18.
(2)
Steph B.
The service was great but the food was unremarkable especially in light of the $77 bill without tip for two. I have had better seafood and think that outside of the nostalgic view of the gazebo and the romance between my partner and I, we could have gone to Red Lobster for the exact same or lack of "wow factor"
(2)
Robert D.
Excellent meal mahi was great, Ami was a great waitress , very professional and friendly, vegan plate was also great. We had a great time!!! What can I say good food great service and they kept my lady happy. Win win
(5)
Alicia G.
How many ways can a dinner go so wrong? Oh, let's begin... 1. Parking - it's a mess. There's this huge lot, but it was completely full. And not only was it completely full, they make it so it's difficult to get around. We ended up parking across the street by the marina. 2. Host Stand - an even bigger cluster than the parking lot! When we checked in, it seemed they were having extreme organization issues. One host was yelling at another who was yelling at another who was shaking her head / shrugging her shoulders while the rest of us stood around waiting to get a table. We were seated relatively quickly despite the impression they gave that it would be awhile. 3. Our Server - It was pretty clear that our server did not want to be our server. It was the holiday so he insisted that we get the buffet ($28) because if we ordered off the menu, the kitchen was -SO- backed up that we wouldn't get our food for hours. He seemed disappointed when we opted to order off the menu. 4. Our Server/Ordering - our drink order consisted of a pepsi and an unsweetened iced tea. When I received my iced tea, it was this funky peach color. I was scared to take a sip and rightly so because it was sickeningly sweet. When our server finally came back around, I asked for a new iced tea. He brought a new one over which was the right color and taste but then he never took away the old one. In fact, it stayed on our table until we left. As for food, we ended up ordering cream of crab soups ($5.59), crabcake sandwich ($15.99) and fried flounder sandwich ($10.99). Since I am not eating French fries for the whole year, I asked if I could substitute mashed potatoes. I was immediately shut down. Server: Our kitchen is so backed up, we can't do substitutions. Me: Okay...so then can I just get an extra side of mashed potatoes? Server: :Sigh: Yes, but I'll have to charge you extra. Me: I know; that's fine. 5. Food - The soup was good actually. Wish it had been served a little hotter though. Creamy soups shouldn't be served just warm. In between receiving our soup and our sandwiches, we were bought this funky "cheese" and crackers. I'm pretty positive that the "cheese" wasn't actually real cheese but some God-awful tasting concoction from a can. One teensy taste and I was done. Our sandwiches came out soon after and my sandwich came with mashed potatoes instead of fries. I was a little confused then as to why our server started the evening telling us our food wouldn't come for -hours- because they were soooo backed up. Weird. The sandwich was pretty good, as were the mashed potatoes...that they SUBSTITUTED FOR ME! 6. Dessert/The Check/The End - Before we got to the point of dessert (which we didn't order), the final straw was when our water was refilled. I'd say there was about half a glass of water left when it was refilled...from a sprite pitcher. Yep. Now we had glasses of sprite+water. We took that as our cue to end our evening at R'n'R because how could it possibly get worse? I couldn't tell if our server was being sarcastic or sincere when he said, "Thanks for making my life easier," after declining dessert and promptly dropping our check. What!? Yeah. Annnnd scene. This is one place you need to avoid. I sure as hell won't be back.
(1)
Wendy B.
Food okay...staff (mostly) ok...hostess trying to convince us that every table is good for a show (not) and that the umbrellas up obstructing views are ok....what???
(2)
Rene D.
My wife and I celebrated her birthday with the family, and it was everyones first time here after having moved into the neighborhood. Service was exceptional, and from the reservations desk to the hostess to the wait staff everyone was solicitous and gracious. Our orders were taken promptly, with the drinks coming cold and quick and the appetizers coming soon after. The food was quite good; not the best seafood I have ever had but it was fresh and well-prepared if a bit over-salted. One point of contention- the menu clearly states a choice of two sides with the entree, but no sides are listed. When we asked the server about the available sides to choose from, he informed us that each entree came with two specific sides (I.e rice or potato and mixed vegetables). Not really a choice... Would we go back? Certainly, if only to try the Sunday seafood buffet. But be advised the bingo hall in the next room has a standing buffet and the ladies there can be raucous.
(4)
Mehgan L.
If I could give less than 1 star I would. This place has some of the worst service and hospitality I've ever seen. Where to start...group of 9 of us came in for a quick lunch and our visit was anything but quick. We were all seated promptly but that's where the service ended. Normally I would understand the service being a little slow for a walk-in group of our size but the place was practically empty when we arrived. The waitress was anything but personable in fact I found her to be rather cold. No introduction, no "welcome to.." Just straight to the point, and made it seem like it was inconveniencing her when we told her, ahead of ordering, that we needed to split the bill. The whole time we were there it was like we were inconveniencing her. I have worked in the restaurant biz for most of my life, from serving to managing a business and this place is a text book example of what not to do. We all ordered sandwiches and salads. We waited 45 minutes for our food only for it to be sub par and for one dish not to arrive until 5-10 min later. I had a chicken salad wrap and a spinach salad. The wrap was ok but the salad was awful, wilted spinach, old strawberries and fermenting oranges. Everyone else's meals were ok but not something that would make them come back or recommend to the rest of the 25-30 family members that are staying at the hotel next door. When it came time for the check we had to ask twice and then wait 15 min to get them. She hand delivered paper receipts with no books, very unprofessional. We couldn't get out of there fast enough. The management at this restaurant needs to clearly reexamine their efforts because if the place was decent and the servers were friendly they could prob make a lot of money. Def won't be going back and will tell everyone to steer clear.
(1)
Sheila S.
Fresh Maryland seafood, friendly service, great view. We dined there in late July after visiting a local winery. We had a bucket of clams, steamed to perfection, a crab cake platter for me and my husband had the seafood platter. All dishes were skillfully executed and served up hot. We will definitely return.
(4)
Heather G.
Went here for the Thanksgiving buffet because I wasn't cooking this year. My dad was treating (holla!) and I was too drugged up post-op to have any sort of input on making dinner reservations so this is what my fiance picked. There were copious quantities of food. The place was super full at 4 PM. For the most part, the food was meh. However, the squash bisque was DY-NO-MITE. And they gave us each $10 gift cards to come back and use before New Year's. I'm regifting my gift cards to a friend who bought Caps tix from me and lives about a mile from there. None of us were that excited that we're going to go rushing back. It's a pay it forward sort of thing and takes some stain off my cosmic karma.
(2)
Richard S.
Went for Brunch with a large party.. Everything was really nice and the food was delicious and plentiful.. small wait for the omelet station but everyone was courteous and friendly! I'd certainly go again!
(4)
Angela U.
On a rare day out without the kids, we took a drive down to Chesapeake Beach. My husband had been to the area before, and thought it would be fun to walk around and look at the boats and such. We really wanted a brunch since it was early Sunday afternoon, and the valets at the spa suggested this place. I checked the Yelp reviews but we decided to go ahead with it anyway. I'm SO glad we did. Maybe the other meals aren't great, but the all you can eat brunch buffet was fantastic. Everything we tried, we loved. They even make their own donuts and include lots of tasty options for putting on top of them! I usually judge a place by their cream chipped beef. It too, was wonderful. We'll definitely be back!
(4)
Kate F.
My table got the following -Rod 'N' Reel Crab Balls - fine, not a lot of flavor. Sad because it's crab! On the Chesapeake! -Portobello Neptune - a dish I haven't seen other places. It had a good flavor and texture. -Cream of Crab Soup - very rich but just ok flavor. Again, mediocre crab dish on the Chesapeake. What is up with that? -Grilled Salmon - fine. -Grilled Breast Chicken - very, very salty demi-glace. It seemed like somewhere under the sodium content there was a good flavor. I recommend you put some demi-glace on your potatoes. The chicken was well marinated or seasoned before grilling. -Broiled Sea Scallop - good flavor. -Chocolate Lava Cake - good, not sure what was lava about it. -Wine. We had to ask for smaller glasses as I don't need one longer than my forearm. A note about the seasonal vegetables, typical broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot mix. It seemed to be fresh vegetables, not frozen. But the kitchen seems unaware cauliflower takes longer to cook than the others. The hostess is a woman of few words, to the point that she came off as a bit unfriendly. Our server seemed a bit new, he overlooked some small things. My fork had a defect in it that cut my lip, which made the very salty demi-glace double plus not good. Bottom line - it was A-OK but I won't be back.
(3)
Ordice G.
One of my favorite places. My wife and I found our current home in Chesapeake Beach because we came to eat here.
(4)
Shar C.
I'm torn between 2 and 3 stars, but all in all the experience could have been better. Let me start by saying that the restaurant is actually beautiful and has a great view of the Chesapeake from pretty much any seat in the dining area. The downfall was the service and food. We were a party of 15, but the restaurant was pretty much empty so I didn't see why it took almost an hour to get our food. When we did get the food, there really wasn't anything special about it and it seemed pretty bland in my opinion. My sister did say she enjoyed her selection. I was enjoying my time with family and friends, so I didn't mind as much and didn't complain but I still took notice. I'd possibly try it once more for breakfast/brunch if I was in the Chesapeake area again. It seemed to be the only place nice enough in that area for our family event.
(2)
Discerning T.
The food is very good and the view is nice. It's a bit pricey, and the service is really hit-and-miss. Eat early to get a good table and better service. I do not recommend the Rod 'N' Reel during peak times, as the service really suffers.
(3)
Miss T.
Brunch is great not sure why others gave such low ratings
(3)
Jennifer F.
We had both dinner and brunch here during our girls weekend! We had a groupon and stayed at the Chesapeake Beach Resort so the deal was amazing and worth it but I would never come out here for this restaurant. Dinner - first and foremost, the hostess was terrible! She moved us from a bad table to a terrible table! We were literally in the bus station! It was awful but my girlfriends decided not to make a fuss. The waiter, I am thinking it was his first night! He was slow and just sad. The menu was nothing to write home about. The price of the wine was decent but everything else was pretty blah. I swear they had my shrimp do the back stroke in chlorine! It was awful. My girlfriend had the crab chowder which was amazing and she did enjoy the crab cake! Everything else was just not great! So the highlight of the brunch was the omelet! Really good and worth waiting for. The donut with topping was also pretty yummy! Other than that, the waitress was awful, never checked on us and then was rude when we needed change. I know they were busy but it was inexcusable! The rest of the food on the line was bleh. They never bussed the tables, so we had to take care of it ourselves and that is just sad. I so wanted to have a terrific experience and they just didn't even really try to deliver!
(2)
Pat G.
Not a very exciting menu. Boring, in fact. Pricey, given that nothing seemed really fresh. Fried shimp, quite tasty; french fries were pretty good; cole slaw was excellent! My date had the spinach salad, which he loved; flounder sandwich (looked good); and fries. We left there no longer hungry, but not exceptionally happy to have eaten either. Service was interesting. We sat at the bar to watch my 'Skins (who lost to Carolina). No one offered a menu. Finally I asked for one. From then on, the bartender was attentive. Twas okay.
(3)
Brandi Z.
Beautiful day so we sat outside. Very good service. Was told to "stay away" from ordering the crab balls so we did. Fried asparagus was fantastic. Salmon salad was awesome and my wife loved the portabella Neptune. We'll be back.
(4)
Joe G.
Fine dining prices for below average food in a questionable environment. The food is boring, predictable, and it leaves you wanting more (small portions and unsatisfying taste) - and it will break the bank in the process. The Sunday brunch is the only reason I give this place two stars instead of one. It's a great selection of brunch food, but it's also very disorganized and disjointed. You tend to miss certain food items because things are all over the place. Not a problem if you have done their brunch a couple of times, but not good for first-timers. My advice is to stay away from the Rod N Reel. If you are so inclined to try this restaurant, go to the Sunday brunch, but don't do it on Easter Sunday or any other religious holiday (the line will be out the door). I wish I could offer a better alternative for the area, but the area lacks a quality sit-down restaurant.
(2)
E C.
Don't bother. My husband & I went for our 2nd anniversary dinner. Oysters Rockefeller had way too much spinach... I mean, I could hardly find the actual oyster. The salad didn't have enough dressing. The entrees were barely edible. My husband, who will eat almost anything was disappointed after his first bite. He had to make his own cocktail sauce just to get through the meal. The service was awful. There were flys literally flying around us as we ate. The only thing good, honestly was the view.
(1)
Pat K.
The Rod 'N' Reel has a wonderful location right on the water. That is probably the only good thing I can say about this place. The food here is overpriced and no where near as good as it should be. I would say this place has the same food quality as an everyday chain restaurant. The service is slow and sometimes even nonexistent. If you are in the area, there are a lot better places to go, including Smokey Joe's which is located right next to (basically same building) the Rod 'N' Reel.
(2)
Judy E.
The food was under mediocre it made me so sick the spinach Alfredo dip was te worst ever nothing was cut up. The bread that came with it was stale. The cream of crab soup had frozen crab in it. Health code issues there. It was not busy and our waitress's service abilities were bad. I am a professional bartender and would never give a one star if it waS not necessary please don't go!!!!
(1)
Patricia H.
My cousin was in town and we made reservation for 15. All the appetizers we order were very good, we pretty much ordered one of each. The service was good. We all ordered different dinner dishes from ahi tuna to rock fish all was great
(4)
Sarah D.
We had a terrible experience here. Ate on the deck, and we liked the live music and ambiance...hated everything else. We got the mini mariner platter that had a whole list of fried foods. When it came out, it was ONE scallop, one, shrimp, etc. the piece of flounder that was tiny and tasteless. None of the food was done well, the shrimp was stringy and tough, the scallop was soggy, the crab cake was the size of a quarter. Our friend ordered the club sandwich. It was ok, but she ordered fries and it came out with chips- only after she was almost done eating the sandwich did the fries she ordered (and still had to pay for) come out. We called the manager over to discuss the food and he jokingly insulted us- 'there are two kinds of seafood eaters, those who like it fried, and those who eat it baked or broiled." Next time, not that there will be a next time there, if we wanted the seafood to be flavorful and have a good texture, we need to order it baked...we were insulted and angry. With a name like Rod n Reel, you'd think they could fry seafood as well as bake it. Rather than take off the $20 meal that was not good, he gave us %15 off- a whopping $5 off the bill.
(1)
Eileen D.
The food is NOT worth the overpricing. For example, $12.99 for a crab ball appetizer which turns out to be 3 crab balls smaller than golf balls. Food was unoriginal and boring, same as the atmosphere. The server was nice, but not attentive. Hostess and valet parking were in la-la land. I guess they don't have to be good...outrageously, for just a two-person table, an 18% gratuity was added to the bill and the server DID NOT ADVISE US of this. (The menu states for parties of 6 or more it is automatic.) We ALMOST tipped on top of the gratuity, but because of the mediocre food and high prices, this time did a double-take (which we will be sure to do at all restaurants from now on). One star because I had to.
(1)
Dean S.
Got long neck steamer soft shell clams, they were a bit over cooked, but still okay. A member of my party also received a bad mussel. Service was polite, cordial, and good. They claim things are made on site, yet there are some things served that you can tell are frozen then heated up. The cheesecake is alright, apple crisp is fine, but the blueberry cobbler is too watery, maybe over cooked, or frozen. Wouldn't come again.
(2)
Daphne F.
The views are wonderful and the food ranges from decent to very good, but you'd better have some time to kill and a sense of humor about service. I've been here several times, all for lunch, and at first I thought maybe it was just the off-season, or just a new waiter(ess), or we'd arrived early in the shift but I've come to the conclusion that this restaurant is just not very well managed. The Maryland crab soup is an excellent spiced vegetable soup with lumps of crab meat added in on top. The crab grilled cheese is a fun lunch item. I like the crab cakes as well but I like any crab cakes. The service borders on comical. The waitresses seem unclear on what the soup of the day is, whether sides can be substituted (no, after a scolding by the hostess, who the waitress consulted with, it's clear they definitely can't be), whether the lunch menu is in effect, and generally anything that you might want to know about the menu. The service is always slow. Sometimes it's a reasonably slow service, but sometimes it's an extremely slow service and you start running out of conversation with your lunch partners. Awkward. I would also suggest that you not expect them to be ready to serve you or take orders for take-out when they first open. They will helpfully tell you on the phone that they just opened only a little while ago so can you please call back in a bit, after they finish setting up. I did - after all, the crab soup is pretty good and my alternative was Subway or McDonald's.
(2)
Kelly G.
Hey! Me & Mara G. went for the casual dining option here tonight. We bellied up to the bar, ordered drinks, then the fun began. It was a simple, overcast, Labor Day afternoon and there was a live band pumpin' the ol' school and the dancefloor was packed. Wow! I had a great time! The crabcake sandwich was hot and juicy. The cocktail was cold and bottomless. The staff was cordial and thorough. What more could I ask for? Yay, I'm a fan. p.s. - Oh, yeah, they have slot machines too! Plus Bingo!
(4)
Linda L.
The plus....4 regular adult entrees, 5 kids meals, 8 desserts, 1 appetizer, 1 soup, 1 cocktail....no complaints about the food except that the breaded asparagus app came with just 8 pieces and blah dip. Really, the food was pretty good. The negatives....SERVICE was EXTREMELY slow. The restaurant was not even 1/2 full and it took at least 45 mins for our entrees to arrive (even the kids pastas), no bread to munch on, tables were not bussed (even when our desserts came, even when the waiter commented that there wasn't any room to put the desserts) and 1/2 an hr for our bill to be figured out. Getting our bill--we had 2 vouchers from the hotel ($25 each) that the restaurant is attached to & we wanted to pay the rest w/2 credit cards split 50/50. They could NOT figure it out!! 1st, they couldn't apply the vouchers before splitting the bill, then they couldn't correctly split the bill w/the vouchers, then they couldn't figure out how to apply the automatic tip for grps more than 6. After having spent 2.5 hrs at this restaurant, we had to pay w/1 credit card and the manager wrote in the "automatic" 20% tip, which they definitely did not deserve. I may have gone back for the food, but the service trumpted the overall experience & we won't be returning.
(2)
Joseph C.
A big stink over nothing is the best way to describe the Rod 'N' Reel. Hyped up considerably thanks to the presence of bingo machines, the restaurant serves up diner quality food at restaurant prices. Unlike most mediocre restaurants, the Rod 'N' Reel doesn't even offer appetizing appetizers or a pleasing dessert. The presence of gambling adds a tacky crowd at times around the restaurant, which is never a plus. The only thing saving the Rod 'N' Reel from a single star is the presence of scenic Chesapeake Bay views, and that still may be too generous.
(2)
Erin K.
I wasn't impressed with the food. Although they have a great location. I would have expected more. They look out dated and need to remodel the front area. I'm not rushing back anytime soon..
(2)
Scotto B.
Filthy joint - The nickname "Rotten Eel" is well deserved.
(1)
Ken B.
This review is for the outdoor (enclosed) bar: My sister lives within walking distance, and we came several times (ok--nightly) when I visited recently. The outdoor bar area is cozy, comfortable, casual, and above all fun! Friendly and fast service compliment the great water views, and there was good live music playing on the weekday nights we stopped by. Definitely would recommend for drinks, wings, and apps. The inside full-service restaurant looked really nice, and there are several really spacious outdoor seating areas. Worth a trip in your car or on foot!
(5)
Amber S.
My family and I went here for my great grandmother's birthday (her choice, not ours). We were a rather large party, maybe 15-20 people. My sister and I already checked out the reviews and we weren't super stoked about going here, but tried it anyway. Verdict: never again. I'm a total sucker for carbs, so the starter bread basket was cool if it weren't for the fact that we didn't get it until maybe an hour into our reservation. The food itself was a total miss. My sister had the caprese salad; she said the tomatoes were disgusting and the salad -- mostly arugula sans much basil or mozzarella -- was SOAKED in balsamic vinegar. My brother had a burger and fries, and had no complaints. My parents and I had various seafood platters and have had MUCH better. The only part of my entree I could stomach were the basic French fries. My least favorite interaction was when I ordered the side of macaroni and cheese. The menu only describes the dish as, simply and plain as day, macaroni and cheese. What showed up to my table was ditalini (imagine penne chopped into small pieces) with some sort of white sauce and a million other ingredients, from CORN to mysterious meats. Maybe prosciutto? Maybe lobster? Maybe crabmeat? I asked our server what exactly was in the dish and his response, verbatim: "Um, I don't actually know; I've never had it." He said he was going to check but never came back. Ever. I sent it back with our other server and had fries instead. Lackluster food, lackluster service. I don't know what my grandmother sees in this place but I'll never return.
(1)
Brittany H.
I'm not crazy about their plated dinners but the Saturday and Sunday all you can eat breakfast buffet is totally worth the money! Cook to order omelettes, French toast, pancakes and waffles! The Saturday brunch has less of a selection then on Sunday's so I would definitely recommend coming on a Sunday morning. It's always super busy but I recommend coming in between 1030-1130!
(3)
Tim T.
I haven't been here to eat in over three year, my wife and I decided to give it a try. I ordered the veal shank with mashed potatoes and asparagus my wife had the stuffed rockfish. The fish was not fresh had a very fishy smell and taste, my veal chop looked good until I cut it open and it was super well done. I waited a few min. To eat it so I could tell the waitress, well she never came so I just eat it, and t was very dry and chewy. The waitress finally came after I was half done and my wife was done, she had no remorse. It will be a while before we return
(2)
Freckles M.
We came for Mother's Day dinner (bad idea). The reservations were for 6 people and we were immediately seated upon arrival. They sat our group in the back of the restaurant at a table dressed for 10. When we explained that it was only 6 of us, we were told this was one of the best tables to have so we stayed at the table originally seated. Our server "Nicole" took quite some time to come to our table and greet us (after I requested our waitress). At this time, they weren't slammed with guests just yet. Rod n Reel offered a buffet as a meal option in which all of us decided against and wanted to order from the main menu. The waitress attempted to strongly recommend the buffet since the kitchen's first priority would be the buffet, but we explained that none of us likes buffets and prefer ordering from the menu. Nicole returned with menus and sat them down in the middle of the table for us to distribute to each other ourselves. We finally ordered food after a 20 min wait for the waitress to return to our table after she delivered drinks. When I inquired of the kitchen could blacken my chicken, she replied "probably not, but I'll check" and walked off. I wasn't immediately impressed with the service as I feel the waitresses could be much more attentive. We totally understand that Mother's Day is a busy day/evening for them, but I'd expect them to be fully staffed and ready for busy occasions such as this one. We are still waiting on our food....40 min later. I wouldn't recommend this place for any special occasions. In fact, I'm not sure if return at this point.
(2)
Brad W.
I live nearby, so I may be a little biased. I've been here several times and they never disappoint. I'm racking my brain trying to think of a negative experience. but cannot think of one. There brunch on Sunday's is THE BEST. Those two ladies making omelets make them perfect every time. The prices are not too bad, food is good. The only reasons I did not go five stars is because sometimes the service falls a little under par; my last waitress seemed very preoccupied with everything other than what was going on at my table. And second. the crowd can be a little overbearing sometimes; especially during the Sunday buffet. Other than that, it has always been a good experience for me.
(4)
Kimberly L.
I ordered a Caesar salad with salmon, what I got was a disgusting plate of wilted greens with a bland white dressing. I complained to the server, but he didn't do anything. At the end of the meal when he saw how much was left, he took it back to the kitchen and they offered to take a whopping $5.99 off the bill. No apologies. I would definitely warn people to stay away from this place!
(1)
Jenifer L.
Best french toast in town during their breakfast buffet. Beautiful view of the Chesapeake Bay from the restaurant. The staff at the omelette station were very hosposbitable. $17.99 is a steal for all the food they serve. Definitely will come back!
(4)
Jane D.
This was some of the worst food we've ever eaten at a restaurant! Especially one that's in a resort! The only explanation we can think of is that the chef is lazy and the management is cheap and banking on the fact that they're the only restaurant in town that's not a pizza joint. How do you ruin French fries?! The lack of a decent menu was the first disappointment. The fried shrimp was terrible. There was actually lump crab meat and large jumbo shrimp on the salad but not one decent dressing. How hard is it to have a selection of decent salad dressings l? And if you only serve fried foods can't you make them edible? So over priced for the lousy quality. Without some major changes we won't be back. Note to the owner: make this a place worth going!
(1)
Trey D.
Though it was not a bad restaurant! Great great view . I took my wife and 3 yr old son there after a fun day at the water park. We got a window right next to the water and ordered the crab dip. I am usually not impressesed with crab dip because most people mask the true flavers of artichokes and crab with mouth savory cream cheese to charge more for the dollar, and still have people that don't know much about food to leave happily saying it was great crab dip. Rod and Reel actually had a true flavor of artichoke and loads of crab meat ( loads). I was impressed. The only thing I would change is instead of kettle chips I would put crostini. Thin slices of white banquet mixed with olive oil powdered garlic and onion seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and parsley flakes with obviously salt and cracked pepper. I ordered the Atlantic Salmon wrap, it was suppose to come with julienned cucumbers, carrots , avocado and the salmon, wrapped in a flour tortilla. Wrapped in a flour tortilla it was. I think that is all it was is flour tortilla. They also forgot to add the avocado, which was one of the main ingredients I was looking forward to enhancing the pleasure of my pallet. There was no type of vinagerett or even a sprinkle of lemon. I had the manager come over and he was very sincere and took my two beers of the tab. I was happy that he seemed to accommodate my situation. I then ordered the turkey BLT. Instead of cranberry aioli I asked just ask for mayo. We waited about 15 minutes for this sandwich even when the manager said it would be on the fly. All you have to do is toast the bread then build the sandwich. When it finally came it had no mayo at all. This was the last draw, I did not even mention my son ordered the Mac and cheese with broccoli and they gave them fries. My wife's Mahi Mahi taste like it was 3 days old. Not horrible but you know when fish taste little fisher then it should. Its probably was not caught that day. Don't really see myself or family ever going back to Rod and Reel. This is a shame it is a nice looking place with a great water view. My family came to Chesapeake beach last year and came this year. With the young family that myself and my wife are starting. We are going to make coming down here once a weekend every year a tradition. Hopefully somehow someway my mind can change about this place, but doubtful.
(2)
Shari L.
Ate here for breakfast once. Not good. It was more of a complimentary breakfast u get from a comfort Inn than a resort. Would not return.
(2)
R. G.
Let me cut to the chase. The food is slop. I went there with a friend and we both ordered burgers. It was one of the worse dining experiences I've ever had. I don't know who the cook is, but it was a sloppy mess. The lettuce was old, tomatoes were not ripe and the fries overcooked. In case you haven't figure it out, they suck. Do not waste your time, you will be sorry.
(1)
Derrick C.
The stuffed Rockfish is fabulous but the crab cakes, which are a staple of Maryland seafood restaurants, were horrible. The oysters were small, the clam soup taste like Campbells, and the side items were bland. The best thing about the dinning experience was the view. Bottom line...steer clear of Rod and Reel!!
(1)
Dana M.
Went for the brunch buffet and while neither of us are big on buffets, it was as fresh as a buffet could get I suppose. Some things were dry but that's what happens on a buffet. My bf enjoyed his omlette and pancakes.
(3)
Ryamie B.
Service is alright. My steak was good. Wife loved the crab cakes. Lovely scenery. Menu could use a little more.
(4)
Patrick H.
We've been making day trips to Chesapeake/ North Beach for years now, and in all that time, I've never eaten at the Rod N Reel. They've gone through a lot of transformation through the years and I have to say the place looks good. They've added a nice outdoors marina side dining area in addition to the main restaurant. We decided to try our luck after doing some sight seeing with an out of town guest, and we are glad we did. We arrived just at the tail end of the lunch rush, which was lucky, because clearly they were not ready for a lunch rush. With that said, for starters we shared a platter of blue point oysters. Meaty and salty with a tasty homemade cocktail sauce. I had the Maryland Crab soup which was good. Full of crab and fresh veggies in a snappy tomato broth. For my entree I had the Crab Cake sandwich. I opted for the mashed potatoes instead of fries (Trying to watch my figure). My dining partners had the Shrimp Poor Boy and the Cajun Chicken Sandwich, respectively. The crab cake was stellar. One big healthy cake full of jumbo lump. I usually ask for my crab cakes to be broiled, but this one was fried. It looked like a great big fried baseball, full of rich crabby goodness. Mashers were good, as was the housemade tartar sauce and fresh cole slaw. The Cajun chicken sandwich was huge and tasty. It came with nice long thick fries, as did the Shrimp Poor boy. Also a huge portion and worth every bit of the $12.99 we paid for it. The place is casual, service was decent and while I wouldn't say it's the finest restaurant I've ever been to, it's definitely above average, and on a sunny day, the view of the bay can't be beat.
(4)
K A.
7-2-09- New Happy Hour @ the R&R Thursday night about 5:30. The bartender was the wonderful Niki. My hubby and I had Ice cold beer. . We also ordered the Seafood Quesadilia which was ($8). It was excellent -crisp -fresh with large shrimp. We also ordered clams casino which were hot. they had nice spices but the baby clams were a little tough. $6). Shift change and then we had Brandi who was also a friendly bar tender. Place was not crowded most people were on the machines or outside at the Tiki Bar.
(3)
Adam G.
I love the area, but this place is horrible and over priced. Entrees are around $20, which I'm find with if the food is decent quality. Some examples of the quality here: the strawberrys on my cheesecake had been cut with a knife that must have been used for also cutting onions because the onion taste still lingered; the french fries had the distinct taste of coming from the freezer, the pot stickers were so over fried that my friend thought he chipped his tooth, everything else was just a greasy mess. The service matched the quality of food. The staff was curt and attentive.
(1)
Dewayne L.
Great brunch buffet... Every breakfast food you could imagine...homemade donuts...hominy grits .... and very friendly staff...we will be back
(5)
Michael S.
Awesome - great food, great service, great value.
(5)
Mike L.
My wife and I saw the promotion for the Rock The Dock music series and decided to drive down to Chesapeake Beach from the Annapolis area for a late dinner with live music. All I can say is that the music was good. We ordered crab soup -- my wife ordered the Cream of Crab and I ordered the Maryland Crab. The Cream of Crab wasn't bad EXCEPT all you could taste was the butter. The flavor of the MD Crab was good BUT, the soup was riddled with cartilage, which made it unpleasant to eat. We also ordered Peal-And-Eat Shrimp and Steamed Mussels. Both stated they came with their "homemade" cocktail sauce. The shrimp were overcooked and it was almost impossible to peal the shells away. The mussels came "dry" in a bowl with no broth. They were tasteless and dried-out. The "homemade" cocktail sauce was jelly-like and very bland. The worst part of the evening was the service. In the middle of August in a beach town on a Saturday night you expect the best servers to be on deck. While the waiter was nice, it seemed like we might have been an inconvenience to him. It took a good 20 minutes to get two cups of iced tea. The orange crushes did come faster though. But, the waiter paid little or no attention to our food as he served it. Several key items we ordered or that were supposed to accompany each dish were left off. It's almost like the restaurant was saying, "Drink booze and don't bother us with ANYTHING else!"
(1)
Jennifer G.
This was a place from my childhood that had gone down hill but the prices went up. On a whim we fled Montgomery County & escaped to Breezy Point. We landed here after getting rained off the beach. 1st the view was fantastic! My kids had the grilled chicken & fries--they demolished it (they also have gluten free options labeled in their menu-thankful bc my kid has a lot of food restrictions w his autism). My hubs had the fried platter & loved it. I had the 2 crab cakes not the best I've ever had but very good. Clams casino, Maryland crab soup & cream if crab soup all excellent. Our waitress was very good, she brought the kids food out very quickly, our bar orders were very slow. Our bill was a little steep but seafood does that! Afterwards we walked out on the pier saw geese & ducks with babies & went home. This was a great day!
(4)
Lee F.
This is probably one of the nicer and better restaurants in the area. I've eaten there about three times, and I've never been disappointed by the food, the service or the view. The food is not out of this world, but it is very good. I've been able to get a window seat that looks out over the bay almost every time. It has multiple dining areas, so it's a great place to hold large-group events.
(4)
Cj m.
We used to frequent this place because it's a nice place to sit outside and have a drink , and they would have "free" entertainment Sunday though Thursday, now they have a ridiculous cover charge??? ($10 person) I am gonna stick to mangos from now on...
(1)
Pamela S.
Spectacular view and ambiance. Food is good but not spectacular. Rockfish s bit over cooked . Meat in my kale was unexpected as I do not eat mammals . My husband said the crab soup and shrimp were tasty. Fries okay. Off to the slot machines ,
(3)
Amber S.
My family and I went here for my great grandmother's birthday (her choice, not ours). We were a rather large party, maybe 15-20 people. My sister and I already checked out the reviews and we weren't super stoked about going here, but tried it anyway. Verdict: never again. I'm a total sucker for carbs, so the starter bread basket was cool if it weren't for the fact that we didn't get it until maybe an hour into our reservation. The food itself was a total miss. My sister had the caprese salad; she said the tomatoes were disgusting and the salad -- mostly arugula sans much basil or mozzarella -- was SOAKED in balsamic vinegar. My brother had a burger and fries, and had no complaints. My parents and I had various seafood platters and have had MUCH better. The only part of my entree I could stomach were the basic French fries. My least favorite interaction was when I ordered the side of macaroni and cheese. The menu only describes the dish as, simply and plain as day, macaroni and cheese. What showed up to my table was ditalini (imagine penne chopped into small pieces) with some sort of white sauce and a million other ingredients, from CORN to mysterious meats. Maybe prosciutto? Maybe lobster? Maybe crabmeat? I asked our server what exactly was in the dish and his response, verbatim: "Um, I don't actually know; I've never had it." He said he was going to check but never came back. Ever. I sent it back with our other server and had fries instead. Lackluster food, lackluster service. I don't know what my grandmother sees in this place but I'll never return.
(1)
Ken B.
This review is for the outdoor (enclosed) bar: My sister lives within walking distance, and we came several times (ok--nightly) when I visited recently. The outdoor bar area is cozy, comfortable, casual, and above all fun! Friendly and fast service compliment the great water views, and there was good live music playing on the weekday nights we stopped by. Definitely would recommend for drinks, wings, and apps. The inside full-service restaurant looked really nice, and there are several really spacious outdoor seating areas. Worth a trip in your car or on foot!
(5)
Freckles M.
We came for Mother's Day dinner (bad idea). The reservations were for 6 people and we were immediately seated upon arrival. They sat our group in the back of the restaurant at a table dressed for 10. When we explained that it was only 6 of us, we were told this was one of the best tables to have so we stayed at the table originally seated. Our server "Nicole" took quite some time to come to our table and greet us (after I requested our waitress). At this time, they weren't slammed with guests just yet. Rod n Reel offered a buffet as a meal option in which all of us decided against and wanted to order from the main menu. The waitress attempted to strongly recommend the buffet since the kitchen's first priority would be the buffet, but we explained that none of us likes buffets and prefer ordering from the menu. Nicole returned with menus and sat them down in the middle of the table for us to distribute to each other ourselves. We finally ordered food after a 20 min wait for the waitress to return to our table after she delivered drinks. When I inquired of the kitchen could blacken my chicken, she replied "probably not, but I'll check" and walked off. I wasn't immediately impressed with the service as I feel the waitresses could be much more attentive. We totally understand that Mother's Day is a busy day/evening for them, but I'd expect them to be fully staffed and ready for busy occasions such as this one. We are still waiting on our food....40 min later. I wouldn't recommend this place for any special occasions. In fact, I'm not sure if return at this point.
(2)
Brad W.
I live nearby, so I may be a little biased. I've been here several times and they never disappoint. I'm racking my brain trying to think of a negative experience. but cannot think of one. There brunch on Sunday's is THE BEST. Those two ladies making omelets make them perfect every time. The prices are not too bad, food is good. The only reasons I did not go five stars is because sometimes the service falls a little under par; my last waitress seemed very preoccupied with everything other than what was going on at my table. And second. the crowd can be a little overbearing sometimes; especially during the Sunday buffet. Other than that, it has always been a good experience for me.
(4)
Kimberly L.
I ordered a Caesar salad with salmon, what I got was a disgusting plate of wilted greens with a bland white dressing. I complained to the server, but he didn't do anything. At the end of the meal when he saw how much was left, he took it back to the kitchen and they offered to take a whopping $5.99 off the bill. No apologies. I would definitely warn people to stay away from this place!
(1)
Jenifer L.
Best french toast in town during their breakfast buffet. Beautiful view of the Chesapeake Bay from the restaurant. The staff at the omelette station were very hosposbitable. $17.99 is a steal for all the food they serve. Definitely will come back!
(4)
Rene D.
My wife and I celebrated her birthday with the family, and it was everyones first time here after having moved into the neighborhood. Service was exceptional, and from the reservations desk to the hostess to the wait staff everyone was solicitous and gracious. Our orders were taken promptly, with the drinks coming cold and quick and the appetizers coming soon after. The food was quite good; not the best seafood I have ever had but it was fresh and well-prepared if a bit over-salted. One point of contention- the menu clearly states a choice of two sides with the entree, but no sides are listed. When we asked the server about the available sides to choose from, he informed us that each entree came with two specific sides (I.e rice or potato and mixed vegetables). Not really a choice... Would we go back? Certainly, if only to try the Sunday seafood buffet. But be advised the bingo hall in the next room has a standing buffet and the ladies there can be raucous.
(4)
Trey D.
Though it was not a bad restaurant! Great great view . I took my wife and 3 yr old son there after a fun day at the water park. We got a window right next to the water and ordered the crab dip. I am usually not impressesed with crab dip because most people mask the true flavers of artichokes and crab with mouth savory cream cheese to charge more for the dollar, and still have people that don't know much about food to leave happily saying it was great crab dip. Rod and Reel actually had a true flavor of artichoke and loads of crab meat ( loads). I was impressed. The only thing I would change is instead of kettle chips I would put crostini. Thin slices of white banquet mixed with olive oil powdered garlic and onion seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and parsley flakes with obviously salt and cracked pepper. I ordered the Atlantic Salmon wrap, it was suppose to come with julienned cucumbers, carrots , avocado and the salmon, wrapped in a flour tortilla. Wrapped in a flour tortilla it was. I think that is all it was is flour tortilla. They also forgot to add the avocado, which was one of the main ingredients I was looking forward to enhancing the pleasure of my pallet. There was no type of vinagerett or even a sprinkle of lemon. I had the manager come over and he was very sincere and took my two beers of the tab. I was happy that he seemed to accommodate my situation. I then ordered the turkey BLT. Instead of cranberry aioli I asked just ask for mayo. We waited about 15 minutes for this sandwich even when the manager said it would be on the fly. All you have to do is toast the bread then build the sandwich. When it finally came it had no mayo at all. This was the last draw, I did not even mention my son ordered the Mac and cheese with broccoli and they gave them fries. My wife's Mahi Mahi taste like it was 3 days old. Not horrible but you know when fish taste little fisher then it should. Its probably was not caught that day. Don't really see myself or family ever going back to Rod and Reel. This is a shame it is a nice looking place with a great water view. My family came to Chesapeake beach last year and came this year. With the young family that myself and my wife are starting. We are going to make coming down here once a weekend every year a tradition. Hopefully somehow someway my mind can change about this place, but doubtful.
(2)
Shari L.
Ate here for breakfast once. Not good. It was more of a complimentary breakfast u get from a comfort Inn than a resort. Would not return.
(2)
Wendy B.
Food okay...staff (mostly) ok...hostess trying to convince us that every table is good for a show (not) and that the umbrellas up obstructing views are ok....what???
(2)
Consuelo M.
First time going and it will be the last. It's too many flies in the restaurant, a customer had their little dog with them, it had on a service tag, however one of the waitresses (not mine), was talking to the couple with the dog rubbing on his back...I was watching her thinking she was gonna wash her hand before going to the next table, she sure didn't. I talked to the manager and he said that wasn't allowed there - but I'm thinking who cares since she isn't my waitress. Nonetheless, the food wasn't that great...I won't be coming back. I had to return the fish on my Mariners platter - it didn't taste right. Also my fried scallops look like little popcorn fried shrimp.
(1)
Melora H.
We came here late afternoon on a Sunday. Less than half of the tables were full and the majority of the empty tables were waiting to be bussed. Regardless, we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Once seated, we reviewed the menu, decided on our order and waited for our server. And waited. And waited. There seem to be an abundance of staff just milling around or taking one item at a time to tables. We couldn't even make eye contact with a waiter/waitress. When a table seated after us received both their beverages and appetizers, while we still waited to have a staff person approach our table, we called it quits. The table next to ours still needed to be cleared and the sight of the dirty plates and old uneaten food was very unappetizing. When I told the hostess why we were leaving, she was apologetic. This place may be listed as the top restaurant in Chesapeake Beach on Trip Advisor, but don't bother.
(1)
Sierra S.
Sat on the deck and half of our party got served. We were STILL waiting on our good 45 minutes later! No drink refills - this place is ridiculous! Do NOT recommend! The staff did not even know the menu!
(1)
Holly D.
Good food, but bring your checkbook. My step-dad and I had a lovely lunch here with a waterfront view but not only was it expensive (for lunch - around 40 bones) but we were there for 2 1/2 hours. It was a Wednesday afternoon. We were one of maybe 2/3 other tables filled in the joint.
(3)
Jami B.
I Visited this place with my husband and was disappointed. The food seemed frozen as opposed to fresh. I say this because the crab cakes were dry and the shrimp were tough. They has ketchup in old fashion glass bottles which has a lot of build up in them. It wasn't worth the ride. The manager stated that he would email us a refund after sending him our receipt spending over $100.00. To date we have not received a thing. We will never revisit this place again. Save your money!
(1)
Lisa E.
Went here for a later dinner after a day by the bay. For Chesapeake Beach, this is as good as you'll get for seafood. Keep in mind, there aren't many places to pick from in this town. Everything was prepared nice and the server was quite courteous and helpful. This isn't a meal to remember, but I certainly don't have any major complaints.
(3)
Nichelle K.
We went in the middle of the day for lunch and we were seated immediately. The waitress was prompt, friendly and professional. We ordered the artichoke crab dip and it was cheesy and delicious! I ordered the single crab cake meal with the red potatoes it was also good. My only complaint with the food is I wish they offered the crab cakes broiled because its a semi healthier option and I just don't like everything deep fried. The potatoes were good I just wish I had a better explanation as to how they were prepared before I ordered them. They were good I just had no idea what to expect. We were in a bit of a hurry and unfortunately the computer system went done and we waited and waiting until the payment could be processed. Things happen and technology isn't always perfect. Overall a good experience and I recommend it.
(4)
Belinda B.
Lots of unmet potential! Bartender makes a great drink. Chefs are not up to par...a little disappointing regarding entrees..over cooked, deep fried, under seasoned fish and shrimp. Location is worth the drive...I wanted food to match location...needed to lower my expectations!
If I could give less than 1 star I would. This place has some of the worst service and hospitality I've ever seen. Where to start...group of 9 of us came in for a quick lunch and our visit was anything but quick. We were all seated promptly but that's where the service ended. Normally I would understand the service being a little slow for a walk-in group of our size but the place was practically empty when we arrived. The waitress was anything but personable in fact I found her to be rather cold. No introduction, no "welcome to.." Just straight to the point, and made it seem like it was inconveniencing her when we told her, ahead of ordering, that we needed to split the bill. The whole time we were there it was like we were inconveniencing her. I have worked in the restaurant biz for most of my life, from serving to managing a business and this place is a text book example of what not to do. We all ordered sandwiches and salads. We waited 45 minutes for our food only for it to be sub par and for one dish not to arrive until 5-10 min later. I had a chicken salad wrap and a spinach salad. The wrap was ok but the salad was awful, wilted spinach, old strawberries and fermenting oranges. Everyone else's meals were ok but not something that would make them come back or recommend to the rest of the 25-30 family members that are staying at the hotel next door. When it came time for the check we had to ask twice and then wait 15 min to get them. She hand delivered paper receipts with no books, very unprofessional. We couldn't get out of there fast enough. The management at this restaurant needs to clearly reexamine their efforts because if the place was decent and the servers were friendly they could prob make a lot of money. Def won't be going back and will tell everyone to steer clear.
(1)
Sheila S.
Fresh Maryland seafood, friendly service, great view. We dined there in late July after visiting a local winery. We had a bucket of clams, steamed to perfection, a crab cake platter for me and my husband had the seafood platter. All dishes were skillfully executed and served up hot. We will definitely return.
(4)
Crystal A.
The breakfast buffet is great. The menu is overpriced for the quality of food you receive The view is nice. The best part of this place is a bartender named Nancy. She usually works nights. She does it all and makes you feel at home. I recommend sitting on the bar side seating when Nancy is working.
(3)
Kathie W.
Would have given the Rod N Reel NO stars based on today's experience, but I have been there in the past when both the food and especially the service were much better. Today's service was absolutely awful Waitress' name was Patti. She ignored us every way she possibly could.
(2)
Lou F.
We called ahead for a 6:15 Friday (6/12)/15) night table and were seated immediately. I've spent years in the food biz, so that was a pleasant surprise. The dining room view is great, a real plus. The drinks and food were a different deal. My rum and tonic with lime was not large. The tonic was flat and the glass had been filled with ice, leaving little room for booze. The lime had been put in first, under the ice, so I had to scuba dive to squeeze out its juice. My cream of crab soup was salty and was becoming oily, since it was beginning to separate. There was a marble-sized lump of roux in it along with a large portion of lump crabmeat, which unfortunately was ice cold, apparently having been tossed in the soup at the last minute. Main courses were problematic. The Rockfish special was well prepared, but was only a 4 ounce, inch wide portion. Norfolk Stew was well prepared, but also small for the price. Fish and Chips were 3 nuggets of haddock thickly battered, served with a mound of fries. Cole slaw had an odd taste, pickles? My fried oysters also came with lots of fries and had more than enough batter. The sin, in an area known for shellfish, was that they were dry and likely had been frozen. If this wasn't a family meal, they would have gone directly back to the kitchen. The highlight was Crab imperial. Rich, creamy with a good amount of crab. Vegetables and potatoes with the entrees were properly prepared.
(2)
Brian T.
Not nearly as nice as you'd expect attached to a resort. Sunday brunch got rave reviews so we tried it out and it was OK, good for the price ... $16.99/adult. Normal brunch food, arrived 1015 and had to wait abt 30 minutes (they only take reservations for parties of 6+). Part of that was the pager they gave us didn't work and we noticed others being seated before us. It was crowded and loud. Occasional lines for food but not too bad. Don't worry abt attire ... My boys wore shorts and button up shirt and were overdressed for the most part. The staff was friendly and helpful, though seemed a bit frazzled. Left abt 12 and it was really crowded outside. Nice location, but if you want a nicer brunch try somewhere like Mango Mikes.
(3)
Michelle W.
This place is a hit or miss for me I celebrated my wedding here with family and friends and the food was delicious and it was a great environment over the summer I came with my husband there were flies everywhere and the service was lacking and friendliness to say the least it was not very good at all and I probably won't be coming back after that fly incident it grossed me out so much to see flies everywhere
(3)
Kim A.
My husband and I ended up at the Rod 'N' Reel while staying at the Chesapeake Beach Resort, and getting a $25 dining credit. We'd initially stopped by Smokey Joe's, but I insisted on leaving due the the crowds of people screaming at some game on TV, and the depressing nursing home decor of the dining area we were seated in. After that, the Rod 'N' Reel looked especially nice. I only wish we'd gotten there earlier to see more of the beautiful view. There was no wait, and the place was actually pretty empty. I think late November was probably the off-season. Our waitress was super friendly, and chatted with us a bit. The prices, on the other hand, were a little high, but that's expected with a nice seafood restaurant. Luckily, for us, we had our coupon. I got the the Mediterranean salad with salmon. I'm a fan of any salad with salmon, but this one was especially good. Just the right amount of dressing, and the salmon was cooked to perfection. My husband got the burger, which I didn't try, but looked awesome as well.
(5)
Shannon B.
Came here for lunch to celebrate my brother's high school graduation. It has a bright, open design with a lovely view of Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately we got off to a bad start service wise as the waitress informed us that they were short-staffed and there were several large parties that she was taking care of. We appreciated the heads up, but our food took a little over an hour to arrive. Fortunately when the food came it was delicious. I had the baked imperial crab stuffed shrimp with vegetables and orzo saffron. The shrimp was heavenly with tender juicy crabmeat and lots of buttery goodness. The veggies were nothing to comment on and the orzo saffron was slightly above average. My dad and brother both loved their baked imperial crab, my other brother said his fried shrimp were "pretty good, but a little rubbery." My stepmom loved her cheesy potatoes, but commented that her salmon was dry. Overall I'd give the restaurant 4 stars on scenery/environment and my food, but I've gotta dock points on service and my other family members' food comments.
(3)
Misty K.
"It was everything I expected, and less." ~Bernard Black It gets an extra star for the incredible view, but the food, service, decor, parking...everything...just awful. We couldn't order off the menu, because the kitchen was so far behind that the waiter said we'd never get our food. We had to eat from the buffet, which was...well, yuck. We didn't see our waiter again. It took us an hour to be seated (and we had a reservation!). I was so excited about the dessert table. I needn't have been. They were flavorless. In good news, we saw fireworks, and the beach was beautiful.
(2)
Vanisha O.
The waitress Judy was so kind and speedy. The FOOD! Omg... there's these two older ladies at the omelet station and they must have the power of God in those spatulas! Just kidding but the food is amazing. The view is spectacular - the perfect place for a Sunday morning breakfast buffet.
(5)
Katie D.
This place has seen better days... Started with the crab balls. $12 for 3 tbsp of crab...a joke. Flavor was pretty good. It took about 10 minutes for a draft Blue Moon to be poured in a nearly empty restaurant. I had the stuffed shrimp. Edible, but barely. They were stuffed with crab and some fish and bucketload of mayo. Here's what I didn't taste: seafood. I couldn't finish it because of all the hot-baked mayo. Gross. It also came with saffron orzo which had zero flavor. The green beans were okay, but had obviously been sitting under a heat lamp for sometime. Also ordered a side of sweet potato fries for our daughter. No seasoning or creative dipping sauce. The hostess was wearing skin tight leggings. No skirt, no long sweater. Just leggings. Okay for dance class, not okay for showing people to their tables. Leggings are not a pants substitute. I wouldn't recommend this place to a soul. Overpriced, dull food. Save your $$ for elsewhere.
(1)
Sujja D.
Got the MD crab soup and it was good. Was disappointed with RnR crab cake sandwich. Crab cake itself had lot of filler in there and little lump crab meat. Size of the crab cake would have been OK if it was all lump crab meat as implied in the menu for $18.
(2)
Steph B.
The service was great but the food was unremarkable especially in light of the $77 bill without tip for two. I have had better seafood and think that outside of the nostalgic view of the gazebo and the romance between my partner and I, we could have gone to Red Lobster for the exact same or lack of "wow factor"
(2)
Robert D.
Excellent meal mahi was great, Ami was a great waitress , very professional and friendly, vegan plate was also great. We had a great time!!! What can I say good food great service and they kept my lady happy. Win win
(5)
Heather G.
Went here for the Thanksgiving buffet because I wasn't cooking this year. My dad was treating (holla!) and I was too drugged up post-op to have any sort of input on making dinner reservations so this is what my fiance picked. There were copious quantities of food. The place was super full at 4 PM. For the most part, the food was meh. However, the squash bisque was DY-NO-MITE. And they gave us each $10 gift cards to come back and use before New Year's. I'm regifting my gift cards to a friend who bought Caps tix from me and lives about a mile from there. None of us were that excited that we're going to go rushing back. It's a pay it forward sort of thing and takes some stain off my cosmic karma.
(2)
Miss T.
Brunch is great not sure why others gave such low ratings
(3)
Angela U.
On a rare day out without the kids, we took a drive down to Chesapeake Beach. My husband had been to the area before, and thought it would be fun to walk around and look at the boats and such. We really wanted a brunch since it was early Sunday afternoon, and the valets at the spa suggested this place. I checked the Yelp reviews but we decided to go ahead with it anyway. I'm SO glad we did. Maybe the other meals aren't great, but the all you can eat brunch buffet was fantastic. Everything we tried, we loved. They even make their own donuts and include lots of tasty options for putting on top of them! I usually judge a place by their cream chipped beef. It too, was wonderful. We'll definitely be back!
(4)
Kate F.
My table got the following -Rod 'N' Reel Crab Balls - fine, not a lot of flavor. Sad because it's crab! On the Chesapeake! -Portobello Neptune - a dish I haven't seen other places. It had a good flavor and texture. -Cream of Crab Soup - very rich but just ok flavor. Again, mediocre crab dish on the Chesapeake. What is up with that? -Grilled Salmon - fine. -Grilled Breast Chicken - very, very salty demi-glace. It seemed like somewhere under the sodium content there was a good flavor. I recommend you put some demi-glace on your potatoes. The chicken was well marinated or seasoned before grilling. -Broiled Sea Scallop - good flavor. -Chocolate Lava Cake - good, not sure what was lava about it. -Wine. We had to ask for smaller glasses as I don't need one longer than my forearm. A note about the seasonal vegetables, typical broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot mix. It seemed to be fresh vegetables, not frozen. But the kitchen seems unaware cauliflower takes longer to cook than the others. The hostess is a woman of few words, to the point that she came off as a bit unfriendly. Our server seemed a bit new, he overlooked some small things. My fork had a defect in it that cut my lip, which made the very salty demi-glace double plus not good. Bottom line - it was A-OK but I won't be back.
(3)
Ordice G.
One of my favorite places. My wife and I found our current home in Chesapeake Beach because we came to eat here.
(4)
Alicia G.
How many ways can a dinner go so wrong? Oh, let's begin... 1. Parking - it's a mess. There's this huge lot, but it was completely full. And not only was it completely full, they make it so it's difficult to get around. We ended up parking across the street by the marina. 2. Host Stand - an even bigger cluster than the parking lot! When we checked in, it seemed they were having extreme organization issues. One host was yelling at another who was yelling at another who was shaking her head / shrugging her shoulders while the rest of us stood around waiting to get a table. We were seated relatively quickly despite the impression they gave that it would be awhile. 3. Our Server - It was pretty clear that our server did not want to be our server. It was the holiday so he insisted that we get the buffet ($28) because if we ordered off the menu, the kitchen was -SO- backed up that we wouldn't get our food for hours. He seemed disappointed when we opted to order off the menu. 4. Our Server/Ordering - our drink order consisted of a pepsi and an unsweetened iced tea. When I received my iced tea, it was this funky peach color. I was scared to take a sip and rightly so because it was sickeningly sweet. When our server finally came back around, I asked for a new iced tea. He brought a new one over which was the right color and taste but then he never took away the old one. In fact, it stayed on our table until we left. As for food, we ended up ordering cream of crab soups ($5.59), crabcake sandwich ($15.99) and fried flounder sandwich ($10.99). Since I am not eating French fries for the whole year, I asked if I could substitute mashed potatoes. I was immediately shut down. Server: Our kitchen is so backed up, we can't do substitutions. Me: Okay...so then can I just get an extra side of mashed potatoes? Server: :Sigh: Yes, but I'll have to charge you extra. Me: I know; that's fine. 5. Food - The soup was good actually. Wish it had been served a little hotter though. Creamy soups shouldn't be served just warm. In between receiving our soup and our sandwiches, we were bought this funky "cheese" and crackers. I'm pretty positive that the "cheese" wasn't actually real cheese but some God-awful tasting concoction from a can. One teensy taste and I was done. Our sandwiches came out soon after and my sandwich came with mashed potatoes instead of fries. I was a little confused then as to why our server started the evening telling us our food wouldn't come for -hours- because they were soooo backed up. Weird. The sandwich was pretty good, as were the mashed potatoes...that they SUBSTITUTED FOR ME! 6. Dessert/The Check/The End - Before we got to the point of dessert (which we didn't order), the final straw was when our water was refilled. I'd say there was about half a glass of water left when it was refilled...from a sprite pitcher. Yep. Now we had glasses of sprite+water. We took that as our cue to end our evening at R'n'R because how could it possibly get worse? I couldn't tell if our server was being sarcastic or sincere when he said, "Thanks for making my life easier," after declining dessert and promptly dropping our check. What!? Yeah. Annnnd scene. This is one place you need to avoid. I sure as hell won't be back.
(1)
Richard S.
Went for Brunch with a large party.. Everything was really nice and the food was delicious and plentiful.. small wait for the omelet station but everyone was courteous and friendly! I'd certainly go again!
(4)
Shar C.
I'm torn between 2 and 3 stars, but all in all the experience could have been better. Let me start by saying that the restaurant is actually beautiful and has a great view of the Chesapeake from pretty much any seat in the dining area. The downfall was the service and food. We were a party of 15, but the restaurant was pretty much empty so I didn't see why it took almost an hour to get our food. When we did get the food, there really wasn't anything special about it and it seemed pretty bland in my opinion. My sister did say she enjoyed her selection. I was enjoying my time with family and friends, so I didn't mind as much and didn't complain but I still took notice. I'd possibly try it once more for breakfast/brunch if I was in the Chesapeake area again. It seemed to be the only place nice enough in that area for our family event.
(2)
Discerning T.
The food is very good and the view is nice. It's a bit pricey, and the service is really hit-and-miss. Eat early to get a good table and better service. I do not recommend the Rod 'N' Reel during peak times, as the service really suffers.
(3)
Jennifer F.
We had both dinner and brunch here during our girls weekend! We had a groupon and stayed at the Chesapeake Beach Resort so the deal was amazing and worth it but I would never come out here for this restaurant. Dinner - first and foremost, the hostess was terrible! She moved us from a bad table to a terrible table! We were literally in the bus station! It was awful but my girlfriends decided not to make a fuss. The waiter, I am thinking it was his first night! He was slow and just sad. The menu was nothing to write home about. The price of the wine was decent but everything else was pretty blah. I swear they had my shrimp do the back stroke in chlorine! It was awful. My girlfriend had the crab chowder which was amazing and she did enjoy the crab cake! Everything else was just not great! So the highlight of the brunch was the omelet! Really good and worth waiting for. The donut with topping was also pretty yummy! Other than that, the waitress was awful, never checked on us and then was rude when we needed change. I know they were busy but it was inexcusable! The rest of the food on the line was bleh. They never bussed the tables, so we had to take care of it ourselves and that is just sad. I so wanted to have a terrific experience and they just didn't even really try to deliver!
(2)
Pat G.
Not a very exciting menu. Boring, in fact. Pricey, given that nothing seemed really fresh. Fried shimp, quite tasty; french fries were pretty good; cole slaw was excellent! My date had the spinach salad, which he loved; flounder sandwich (looked good); and fries. We left there no longer hungry, but not exceptionally happy to have eaten either. Service was interesting. We sat at the bar to watch my 'Skins (who lost to Carolina). No one offered a menu. Finally I asked for one. From then on, the bartender was attentive. Twas okay.
(3)
Brandi Z.
Beautiful day so we sat outside. Very good service. Was told to "stay away" from ordering the crab balls so we did. Fried asparagus was fantastic. Salmon salad was awesome and my wife loved the portabella Neptune. We'll be back.
(4)
K A.
7-2-09- New Happy Hour @ the R&R Thursday night about 5:30. The bartender was the wonderful Niki. My hubby and I had Ice cold beer. . We also ordered the Seafood Quesadilia which was ($8). It was excellent -crisp -fresh with large shrimp. We also ordered clams casino which were hot. they had nice spices but the baby clams were a little tough. $6). Shift change and then we had Brandi who was also a friendly bar tender. Place was not crowded most people were on the machines or outside at the Tiki Bar.
(3)
Joseph C.
A big stink over nothing is the best way to describe the Rod 'N' Reel. Hyped up considerably thanks to the presence of bingo machines, the restaurant serves up diner quality food at restaurant prices. Unlike most mediocre restaurants, the Rod 'N' Reel doesn't even offer appetizing appetizers or a pleasing dessert. The presence of gambling adds a tacky crowd at times around the restaurant, which is never a plus. The only thing saving the Rod 'N' Reel from a single star is the presence of scenic Chesapeake Bay views, and that still may be too generous.
(2)
Sarah D.
We had a terrible experience here. Ate on the deck, and we liked the live music and ambiance...hated everything else. We got the mini mariner platter that had a whole list of fried foods. When it came out, it was ONE scallop, one, shrimp, etc. the piece of flounder that was tiny and tasteless. None of the food was done well, the shrimp was stringy and tough, the scallop was soggy, the crab cake was the size of a quarter. Our friend ordered the club sandwich. It was ok, but she ordered fries and it came out with chips- only after she was almost done eating the sandwich did the fries she ordered (and still had to pay for) come out. We called the manager over to discuss the food and he jokingly insulted us- 'there are two kinds of seafood eaters, those who like it fried, and those who eat it baked or broiled." Next time, not that there will be a next time there, if we wanted the seafood to be flavorful and have a good texture, we need to order it baked...we were insulted and angry. With a name like Rod n Reel, you'd think they could fry seafood as well as bake it. Rather than take off the $20 meal that was not good, he gave us %15 off- a whopping $5 off the bill.
(1)
Eileen D.
The food is NOT worth the overpricing. For example, $12.99 for a crab ball appetizer which turns out to be 3 crab balls smaller than golf balls. Food was unoriginal and boring, same as the atmosphere. The server was nice, but not attentive. Hostess and valet parking were in la-la land. I guess they don't have to be good...outrageously, for just a two-person table, an 18% gratuity was added to the bill and the server DID NOT ADVISE US of this. (The menu states for parties of 6 or more it is automatic.) We ALMOST tipped on top of the gratuity, but because of the mediocre food and high prices, this time did a double-take (which we will be sure to do at all restaurants from now on). One star because I had to.
(1)
Dean S.
Got long neck steamer soft shell clams, they were a bit over cooked, but still okay. A member of my party also received a bad mussel. Service was polite, cordial, and good. They claim things are made on site, yet there are some things served that you can tell are frozen then heated up. The cheesecake is alright, apple crisp is fine, but the blueberry cobbler is too watery, maybe over cooked, or frozen. Wouldn't come again.
(2)
Daphne F.
The views are wonderful and the food ranges from decent to very good, but you'd better have some time to kill and a sense of humor about service. I've been here several times, all for lunch, and at first I thought maybe it was just the off-season, or just a new waiter(ess), or we'd arrived early in the shift but I've come to the conclusion that this restaurant is just not very well managed. The Maryland crab soup is an excellent spiced vegetable soup with lumps of crab meat added in on top. The crab grilled cheese is a fun lunch item. I like the crab cakes as well but I like any crab cakes. The service borders on comical. The waitresses seem unclear on what the soup of the day is, whether sides can be substituted (no, after a scolding by the hostess, who the waitress consulted with, it's clear they definitely can't be), whether the lunch menu is in effect, and generally anything that you might want to know about the menu. The service is always slow. Sometimes it's a reasonably slow service, but sometimes it's an extremely slow service and you start running out of conversation with your lunch partners. Awkward. I would also suggest that you not expect them to be ready to serve you or take orders for take-out when they first open. They will helpfully tell you on the phone that they just opened only a little while ago so can you please call back in a bit, after they finish setting up. I did - after all, the crab soup is pretty good and my alternative was Subway or McDonald's.
(2)
Kelly G.
Hey! Me & Mara G. went for the casual dining option here tonight. We bellied up to the bar, ordered drinks, then the fun began. It was a simple, overcast, Labor Day afternoon and there was a live band pumpin' the ol' school and the dancefloor was packed. Wow! I had a great time! The crabcake sandwich was hot and juicy. The cocktail was cold and bottomless. The staff was cordial and thorough. What more could I ask for? Yay, I'm a fan. p.s. - Oh, yeah, they have slot machines too! Plus Bingo!
(4)
R. G.
Let me cut to the chase. The food is slop. I went there with a friend and we both ordered burgers. It was one of the worse dining experiences I've ever had. I don't know who the cook is, but it was a sloppy mess. The lettuce was old, tomatoes were not ripe and the fries overcooked. In case you haven't figure it out, they suck. Do not waste your time, you will be sorry.
(1)
Erin K.
I wasn't impressed with the food. Although they have a great location. I would have expected more. They look out dated and need to remodel the front area. I'm not rushing back anytime soon..
(2)
Scotto B.
Filthy joint - The nickname "Rotten Eel" is well deserved.
(1)
Patrick H.
We've been making day trips to Chesapeake/ North Beach for years now, and in all that time, I've never eaten at the Rod N Reel. They've gone through a lot of transformation through the years and I have to say the place looks good. They've added a nice outdoors marina side dining area in addition to the main restaurant. We decided to try our luck after doing some sight seeing with an out of town guest, and we are glad we did. We arrived just at the tail end of the lunch rush, which was lucky, because clearly they were not ready for a lunch rush. With that said, for starters we shared a platter of blue point oysters. Meaty and salty with a tasty homemade cocktail sauce. I had the Maryland Crab soup which was good. Full of crab and fresh veggies in a snappy tomato broth. For my entree I had the Crab Cake sandwich. I opted for the mashed potatoes instead of fries (Trying to watch my figure). My dining partners had the Shrimp Poor Boy and the Cajun Chicken Sandwich, respectively. The crab cake was stellar. One big healthy cake full of jumbo lump. I usually ask for my crab cakes to be broiled, but this one was fried. It looked like a great big fried baseball, full of rich crabby goodness. Mashers were good, as was the housemade tartar sauce and fresh cole slaw. The Cajun chicken sandwich was huge and tasty. It came with nice long thick fries, as did the Shrimp Poor boy. Also a huge portion and worth every bit of the $12.99 we paid for it. The place is casual, service was decent and while I wouldn't say it's the finest restaurant I've ever been to, it's definitely above average, and on a sunny day, the view of the bay can't be beat.
(4)
Adam G.
I love the area, but this place is horrible and over priced. Entrees are around $20, which I'm find with if the food is decent quality. Some examples of the quality here: the strawberrys on my cheesecake had been cut with a knife that must have been used for also cutting onions because the onion taste still lingered; the french fries had the distinct taste of coming from the freezer, the pot stickers were so over fried that my friend thought he chipped his tooth, everything else was just a greasy mess. The service matched the quality of food. The staff was curt and attentive.
(1)
Derrick C.
The stuffed Rockfish is fabulous but the crab cakes, which are a staple of Maryland seafood restaurants, were horrible. The oysters were small, the clam soup taste like Campbells, and the side items were bland. The best thing about the dinning experience was the view. Bottom line...steer clear of Rod and Reel!!
(1)
Dana M.
Went for the brunch buffet and while neither of us are big on buffets, it was as fresh as a buffet could get I suppose. Some things were dry but that's what happens on a buffet. My bf enjoyed his omlette and pancakes.
(3)
Ryamie B.
Service is alright. My steak was good. Wife loved the crab cakes. Lovely scenery. Menu could use a little more.
(4)
Jane D.
This was some of the worst food we've ever eaten at a restaurant! Especially one that's in a resort! The only explanation we can think of is that the chef is lazy and the management is cheap and banking on the fact that they're the only restaurant in town that's not a pizza joint. How do you ruin French fries?! The lack of a decent menu was the first disappointment. The fried shrimp was terrible. There was actually lump crab meat and large jumbo shrimp on the salad but not one decent dressing. How hard is it to have a selection of decent salad dressings l? And if you only serve fried foods can't you make them edible? So over priced for the lousy quality. Without some major changes we won't be back. Note to the owner: make this a place worth going!
(1)
Brittany H.
I'm not crazy about their plated dinners but the Saturday and Sunday all you can eat breakfast buffet is totally worth the money! Cook to order omelettes, French toast, pancakes and waffles! The Saturday brunch has less of a selection then on Sunday's so I would definitely recommend coming on a Sunday morning. It's always super busy but I recommend coming in between 1030-1130!
(3)
Tim T.
I haven't been here to eat in over three year, my wife and I decided to give it a try. I ordered the veal shank with mashed potatoes and asparagus my wife had the stuffed rockfish. The fish was not fresh had a very fishy smell and taste, my veal chop looked good until I cut it open and it was super well done. I waited a few min. To eat it so I could tell the waitress, well she never came so I just eat it, and t was very dry and chewy. The waitress finally came after I was half done and my wife was done, she had no remorse. It will be a while before we return
(2)
Joe G.
Fine dining prices for below average food in a questionable environment. The food is boring, predictable, and it leaves you wanting more (small portions and unsatisfying taste) - and it will break the bank in the process. The Sunday brunch is the only reason I give this place two stars instead of one. It's a great selection of brunch food, but it's also very disorganized and disjointed. You tend to miss certain food items because things are all over the place. Not a problem if you have done their brunch a couple of times, but not good for first-timers. My advice is to stay away from the Rod N Reel. If you are so inclined to try this restaurant, go to the Sunday brunch, but don't do it on Easter Sunday or any other religious holiday (the line will be out the door). I wish I could offer a better alternative for the area, but the area lacks a quality sit-down restaurant.
(2)
E C.
Don't bother. My husband & I went for our 2nd anniversary dinner. Oysters Rockefeller had way too much spinach... I mean, I could hardly find the actual oyster. The salad didn't have enough dressing. The entrees were barely edible. My husband, who will eat almost anything was disappointed after his first bite. He had to make his own cocktail sauce just to get through the meal. The service was awful. There were flys literally flying around us as we ate. The only thing good, honestly was the view.
(1)
Pat K.
The Rod 'N' Reel has a wonderful location right on the water. That is probably the only good thing I can say about this place. The food here is overpriced and no where near as good as it should be. I would say this place has the same food quality as an everyday chain restaurant. The service is slow and sometimes even nonexistent. If you are in the area, there are a lot better places to go, including Smokey Joe's which is located right next to (basically same building) the Rod 'N' Reel.
(2)
Judy E.
The food was under mediocre it made me so sick the spinach Alfredo dip was te worst ever nothing was cut up. The bread that came with it was stale. The cream of crab soup had frozen crab in it. Health code issues there. It was not busy and our waitress's service abilities were bad. I am a professional bartender and would never give a one star if it waS not necessary please don't go!!!!
(1)
Patricia H.
My cousin was in town and we made reservation for 15. All the appetizers we order were very good, we pretty much ordered one of each. The service was good. We all ordered different dinner dishes from ahi tuna to rock fish all was great
(4)
Linda L.
The plus....4 regular adult entrees, 5 kids meals, 8 desserts, 1 appetizer, 1 soup, 1 cocktail....no complaints about the food except that the breaded asparagus app came with just 8 pieces and blah dip. Really, the food was pretty good. The negatives....SERVICE was EXTREMELY slow. The restaurant was not even 1/2 full and it took at least 45 mins for our entrees to arrive (even the kids pastas), no bread to munch on, tables were not bussed (even when our desserts came, even when the waiter commented that there wasn't any room to put the desserts) and 1/2 an hr for our bill to be figured out. Getting our bill--we had 2 vouchers from the hotel ($25 each) that the restaurant is attached to & we wanted to pay the rest w/2 credit cards split 50/50. They could NOT figure it out!! 1st, they couldn't apply the vouchers before splitting the bill, then they couldn't correctly split the bill w/the vouchers, then they couldn't figure out how to apply the automatic tip for grps more than 6. After having spent 2.5 hrs at this restaurant, we had to pay w/1 credit card and the manager wrote in the "automatic" 20% tip, which they definitely did not deserve. I may have gone back for the food, but the service trumpted the overall experience & we won't be returning.
(2)
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Address :4165 Mears Ave
Chesapeake Beach, MD, 20732
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Crystal A.
The breakfast buffet is great. The menu is overpriced for the quality of food you receive The view is nice. The best part of this place is a bartender named Nancy. She usually works nights. She does it all and makes you feel at home. I recommend sitting on the bar side seating when Nancy is working.
(3)Belinda B.
Lots of unmet potential! Bartender makes a great drink. Chefs are not up to par...a little disappointing regarding entrees..over cooked, deep fried, under seasoned fish and shrimp. Location is worth the drive...I wanted food to match location...needed to lower my expectations!
(3)Lou F.
We called ahead for a 6:15 Friday (6/12)/15) night table and were seated immediately. I've spent years in the food biz, so that was a pleasant surprise. The dining room view is great, a real plus. The drinks and food were a different deal. My rum and tonic with lime was not large. The tonic was flat and the glass had been filled with ice, leaving little room for booze. The lime had been put in first, under the ice, so I had to scuba dive to squeeze out its juice. My cream of crab soup was salty and was becoming oily, since it was beginning to separate. There was a marble-sized lump of roux in it along with a large portion of lump crabmeat, which unfortunately was ice cold, apparently having been tossed in the soup at the last minute. Main courses were problematic. The Rockfish special was well prepared, but was only a 4 ounce, inch wide portion. Norfolk Stew was well prepared, but also small for the price. Fish and Chips were 3 nuggets of haddock thickly battered, served with a mound of fries. Cole slaw had an odd taste, pickles? My fried oysters also came with lots of fries and had more than enough batter. The sin, in an area known for shellfish, was that they were dry and likely had been frozen. If this wasn't a family meal, they would have gone directly back to the kitchen. The highlight was Crab imperial. Rich, creamy with a good amount of crab. Vegetables and potatoes with the entrees were properly prepared.
(2)Kathie W.
Would have given the Rod N Reel NO stars based on today's experience, but I have been there in the past when both the food and especially the service were much better. Today's service was absolutely awful Waitress' name was Patti. She ignored us every way she possibly could.
(2)Brian T.
Not nearly as nice as you'd expect attached to a resort. Sunday brunch got rave reviews so we tried it out and it was OK, good for the price ... $16.99/adult. Normal brunch food, arrived 1015 and had to wait abt 30 minutes (they only take reservations for parties of 6+). Part of that was the pager they gave us didn't work and we noticed others being seated before us. It was crowded and loud. Occasional lines for food but not too bad. Don't worry abt attire ... My boys wore shorts and button up shirt and were overdressed for the most part. The staff was friendly and helpful, though seemed a bit frazzled. Left abt 12 and it was really crowded outside. Nice location, but if you want a nicer brunch try somewhere like Mango Mikes.
(3)Michelle W.
This place is a hit or miss for me I celebrated my wedding here with family and friends and the food was delicious and it was a great environment over the summer I came with my husband there were flies everywhere and the service was lacking and friendliness to say the least it was not very good at all and I probably won't be coming back after that fly incident it grossed me out so much to see flies everywhere
(3)Kim A.
My husband and I ended up at the Rod 'N' Reel while staying at the Chesapeake Beach Resort, and getting a $25 dining credit. We'd initially stopped by Smokey Joe's, but I insisted on leaving due the the crowds of people screaming at some game on TV, and the depressing nursing home decor of the dining area we were seated in. After that, the Rod 'N' Reel looked especially nice. I only wish we'd gotten there earlier to see more of the beautiful view. There was no wait, and the place was actually pretty empty. I think late November was probably the off-season. Our waitress was super friendly, and chatted with us a bit. The prices, on the other hand, were a little high, but that's expected with a nice seafood restaurant. Luckily, for us, we had our coupon. I got the the Mediterranean salad with salmon. I'm a fan of any salad with salmon, but this one was especially good. Just the right amount of dressing, and the salmon was cooked to perfection. My husband got the burger, which I didn't try, but looked awesome as well.
(5)Shannon B.
Came here for lunch to celebrate my brother's high school graduation. It has a bright, open design with a lovely view of Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately we got off to a bad start service wise as the waitress informed us that they were short-staffed and there were several large parties that she was taking care of. We appreciated the heads up, but our food took a little over an hour to arrive. Fortunately when the food came it was delicious. I had the baked imperial crab stuffed shrimp with vegetables and orzo saffron. The shrimp was heavenly with tender juicy crabmeat and lots of buttery goodness. The veggies were nothing to comment on and the orzo saffron was slightly above average. My dad and brother both loved their baked imperial crab, my other brother said his fried shrimp were "pretty good, but a little rubbery." My stepmom loved her cheesy potatoes, but commented that her salmon was dry. Overall I'd give the restaurant 4 stars on scenery/environment and my food, but I've gotta dock points on service and my other family members' food comments.
(3)Misty K.
"It was everything I expected, and less." ~Bernard Black It gets an extra star for the incredible view, but the food, service, decor, parking...everything...just awful. We couldn't order off the menu, because the kitchen was so far behind that the waiter said we'd never get our food. We had to eat from the buffet, which was...well, yuck. We didn't see our waiter again. It took us an hour to be seated (and we had a reservation!). I was so excited about the dessert table. I needn't have been. They were flavorless. In good news, we saw fireworks, and the beach was beautiful.
(2)Vanisha O.
The waitress Judy was so kind and speedy. The FOOD! Omg... there's these two older ladies at the omelet station and they must have the power of God in those spatulas! Just kidding but the food is amazing. The view is spectacular - the perfect place for a Sunday morning breakfast buffet.
(5)Melora H.
We came here late afternoon on a Sunday. Less than half of the tables were full and the majority of the empty tables were waiting to be bussed. Regardless, we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Once seated, we reviewed the menu, decided on our order and waited for our server. And waited. And waited. There seem to be an abundance of staff just milling around or taking one item at a time to tables. We couldn't even make eye contact with a waiter/waitress. When a table seated after us received both their beverages and appetizers, while we still waited to have a staff person approach our table, we called it quits. The table next to ours still needed to be cleared and the sight of the dirty plates and old uneaten food was very unappetizing. When I told the hostess why we were leaving, she was apologetic. This place may be listed as the top restaurant in Chesapeake Beach on Trip Advisor, but don't bother.
(1)Sierra S.
Sat on the deck and half of our party got served. We were STILL waiting on our good 45 minutes later! No drink refills - this place is ridiculous! Do NOT recommend! The staff did not even know the menu!
(1)Holly D.
Good food, but bring your checkbook. My step-dad and I had a lovely lunch here with a waterfront view but not only was it expensive (for lunch - around 40 bones) but we were there for 2 1/2 hours. It was a Wednesday afternoon. We were one of maybe 2/3 other tables filled in the joint.
(3)Jami B.
I Visited this place with my husband and was disappointed. The food seemed frozen as opposed to fresh. I say this because the crab cakes were dry and the shrimp were tough. They has ketchup in old fashion glass bottles which has a lot of build up in them. It wasn't worth the ride. The manager stated that he would email us a refund after sending him our receipt spending over $100.00. To date we have not received a thing. We will never revisit this place again. Save your money!
(1)Lisa E.
Went here for a later dinner after a day by the bay. For Chesapeake Beach, this is as good as you'll get for seafood. Keep in mind, there aren't many places to pick from in this town. Everything was prepared nice and the server was quite courteous and helpful. This isn't a meal to remember, but I certainly don't have any major complaints.
(3)Nichelle K.
We went in the middle of the day for lunch and we were seated immediately. The waitress was prompt, friendly and professional. We ordered the artichoke crab dip and it was cheesy and delicious! I ordered the single crab cake meal with the red potatoes it was also good. My only complaint with the food is I wish they offered the crab cakes broiled because its a semi healthier option and I just don't like everything deep fried. The potatoes were good I just wish I had a better explanation as to how they were prepared before I ordered them. They were good I just had no idea what to expect. We were in a bit of a hurry and unfortunately the computer system went done and we waited and waiting until the payment could be processed. Things happen and technology isn't always perfect. Overall a good experience and I recommend it.
(4)Cynthia G.
If I could give this restaurant zero stars I would. I recently visited Rod and Reel for fathers day with my fiancé and his family. I had heard good things about and was willing to give it a try. When I arrived I went into the restaurant to put my name on the list. It was very busy so I expected a wait. I told the hostess that there were six people and she said about 25 minutes. After waiting about 25 minutes my beeper went off and I walked up to the hostess station so we could be seated. I told the hostess my name and she just starred at me blankly. She said I hadn't made it up to the front in time, which was weird because my beeper was still going off. Was I supposed to run up to the hostess station? She then informed me that my table had been given away and that she would have to put us at two separate table instead of a big table that could fit 6 people. I agree because I was so hungry and didn't care at this point. The lady that lead us over to the table was an older white lady, and had the worse attitude possible. Not only did she not greet us but looked as if she hated working and was disgusted that we wanted to have breakfast. She brought us to two tables next to each and we started to sit down. Before she could sit us down another hostess ran over and screamed "that table is reserved you can't sit there" The older lady just looked at us, didn't say anything and pointed to another set of tables. One of the tables was clean and the other had dirty dishes all over it. She directed 4 people in our party to sit down while my fiancé and I just stood there waiting for someone to clean the table. After the other people in the my party sat down a lady that had just gone to the buffet arrived at our table. This table was not a free table, apparently she had been sitting at this table and had gotten up to eat at the buffet. At this point I was so frustrated that I demanded to speak to a manager. If you can believe this the old lady that had brought us to the wrong table in the first place was actually the owner. She did not apologize and did not seem to care if we ever sat down or ate breakfast at all. She just shrugged her shoulders and went on with her day. Needless to say I never even had a chance to try to the food so I can't comment on that. This place is by far the WORST place to eat and the service is pathetic. NEVER GO HERE!!!!!!!
(1)Cj m.
We used to frequent this place because it's a nice place to sit outside and have a drink , and they would have "free" entertainment Sunday though Thursday, now they have a ridiculous cover charge??? ($10 person) I am gonna stick to mangos from now on...
(1)Pamela S.
Spectacular view and ambiance. Food is good but not spectacular. Rockfish s bit over cooked . Meat in my kale was unexpected as I do not eat mammals . My husband said the crab soup and shrimp were tasty. Fries okay. Off to the slot machines ,
(3)Jennifer G.
This was a place from my childhood that had gone down hill but the prices went up. On a whim we fled Montgomery County & escaped to Breezy Point. We landed here after getting rained off the beach. 1st the view was fantastic! My kids had the grilled chicken & fries--they demolished it (they also have gluten free options labeled in their menu-thankful bc my kid has a lot of food restrictions w his autism). My hubs had the fried platter & loved it. I had the 2 crab cakes not the best I've ever had but very good. Clams casino, Maryland crab soup & cream if crab soup all excellent. Our waitress was very good, she brought the kids food out very quickly, our bar orders were very slow. Our bill was a little steep but seafood does that! Afterwards we walked out on the pier saw geese & ducks with babies & went home. This was a great day!
(4)Lee F.
This is probably one of the nicer and better restaurants in the area. I've eaten there about three times, and I've never been disappointed by the food, the service or the view. The food is not out of this world, but it is very good. I've been able to get a window seat that looks out over the bay almost every time. It has multiple dining areas, so it's a great place to hold large-group events.
(4)Dewayne L.
Great brunch buffet... Every breakfast food you could imagine...homemade donuts...hominy grits .... and very friendly staff...we will be back
(5)Michael S.
Awesome - great food, great service, great value.
(5)Mike L.
My wife and I saw the promotion for the Rock The Dock music series and decided to drive down to Chesapeake Beach from the Annapolis area for a late dinner with live music. All I can say is that the music was good. We ordered crab soup -- my wife ordered the Cream of Crab and I ordered the Maryland Crab. The Cream of Crab wasn't bad EXCEPT all you could taste was the butter. The flavor of the MD Crab was good BUT, the soup was riddled with cartilage, which made it unpleasant to eat. We also ordered Peal-And-Eat Shrimp and Steamed Mussels. Both stated they came with their "homemade" cocktail sauce. The shrimp were overcooked and it was almost impossible to peal the shells away. The mussels came "dry" in a bowl with no broth. They were tasteless and dried-out. The "homemade" cocktail sauce was jelly-like and very bland. The worst part of the evening was the service. In the middle of August in a beach town on a Saturday night you expect the best servers to be on deck. While the waiter was nice, it seemed like we might have been an inconvenience to him. It took a good 20 minutes to get two cups of iced tea. The orange crushes did come faster though. But, the waiter paid little or no attention to our food as he served it. Several key items we ordered or that were supposed to accompany each dish were left off. It's almost like the restaurant was saying, "Drink booze and don't bother us with ANYTHING else!"
(1)Katie D.
This place has seen better days... Started with the crab balls. $12 for 3 tbsp of crab...a joke. Flavor was pretty good. It took about 10 minutes for a draft Blue Moon to be poured in a nearly empty restaurant. I had the stuffed shrimp. Edible, but barely. They were stuffed with crab and some fish and bucketload of mayo. Here's what I didn't taste: seafood. I couldn't finish it because of all the hot-baked mayo. Gross. It also came with saffron orzo which had zero flavor. The green beans were okay, but had obviously been sitting under a heat lamp for sometime. Also ordered a side of sweet potato fries for our daughter. No seasoning or creative dipping sauce. The hostess was wearing skin tight leggings. No skirt, no long sweater. Just leggings. Okay for dance class, not okay for showing people to their tables. Leggings are not a pants substitute. I wouldn't recommend this place to a soul. Overpriced, dull food. Save your $$ for elsewhere.
(1)Sujja D.
Got the MD crab soup and it was good. Was disappointed with RnR crab cake sandwich. Crab cake itself had lot of filler in there and little lump crab meat. Size of the crab cake would have been OK if it was all lump crab meat as implied in the menu for $18.
(2)Steph B.
The service was great but the food was unremarkable especially in light of the $77 bill without tip for two. I have had better seafood and think that outside of the nostalgic view of the gazebo and the romance between my partner and I, we could have gone to Red Lobster for the exact same or lack of "wow factor"
(2)Robert D.
Excellent meal mahi was great, Ami was a great waitress , very professional and friendly, vegan plate was also great. We had a great time!!! What can I say good food great service and they kept my lady happy. Win win
(5)Alicia G.
How many ways can a dinner go so wrong? Oh, let's begin... 1. Parking - it's a mess. There's this huge lot, but it was completely full. And not only was it completely full, they make it so it's difficult to get around. We ended up parking across the street by the marina. 2. Host Stand - an even bigger cluster than the parking lot! When we checked in, it seemed they were having extreme organization issues. One host was yelling at another who was yelling at another who was shaking her head / shrugging her shoulders while the rest of us stood around waiting to get a table. We were seated relatively quickly despite the impression they gave that it would be awhile. 3. Our Server - It was pretty clear that our server did not want to be our server. It was the holiday so he insisted that we get the buffet ($28) because if we ordered off the menu, the kitchen was -SO- backed up that we wouldn't get our food for hours. He seemed disappointed when we opted to order off the menu. 4. Our Server/Ordering - our drink order consisted of a pepsi and an unsweetened iced tea. When I received my iced tea, it was this funky peach color. I was scared to take a sip and rightly so because it was sickeningly sweet. When our server finally came back around, I asked for a new iced tea. He brought a new one over which was the right color and taste but then he never took away the old one. In fact, it stayed on our table until we left. As for food, we ended up ordering cream of crab soups ($5.59), crabcake sandwich ($15.99) and fried flounder sandwich ($10.99). Since I am not eating French fries for the whole year, I asked if I could substitute mashed potatoes. I was immediately shut down. Server: Our kitchen is so backed up, we can't do substitutions. Me: Okay...so then can I just get an extra side of mashed potatoes? Server: :Sigh: Yes, but I'll have to charge you extra. Me: I know; that's fine. 5. Food - The soup was good actually. Wish it had been served a little hotter though. Creamy soups shouldn't be served just warm. In between receiving our soup and our sandwiches, we were bought this funky "cheese" and crackers. I'm pretty positive that the "cheese" wasn't actually real cheese but some God-awful tasting concoction from a can. One teensy taste and I was done. Our sandwiches came out soon after and my sandwich came with mashed potatoes instead of fries. I was a little confused then as to why our server started the evening telling us our food wouldn't come for -hours- because they were soooo backed up. Weird. The sandwich was pretty good, as were the mashed potatoes...that they SUBSTITUTED FOR ME! 6. Dessert/The Check/The End - Before we got to the point of dessert (which we didn't order), the final straw was when our water was refilled. I'd say there was about half a glass of water left when it was refilled...from a sprite pitcher. Yep. Now we had glasses of sprite+water. We took that as our cue to end our evening at R'n'R because how could it possibly get worse? I couldn't tell if our server was being sarcastic or sincere when he said, "Thanks for making my life easier," after declining dessert and promptly dropping our check. What!? Yeah. Annnnd scene. This is one place you need to avoid. I sure as hell won't be back.
(1)Wendy B.
Food okay...staff (mostly) ok...hostess trying to convince us that every table is good for a show (not) and that the umbrellas up obstructing views are ok....what???
(2)Rene D.
My wife and I celebrated her birthday with the family, and it was everyones first time here after having moved into the neighborhood. Service was exceptional, and from the reservations desk to the hostess to the wait staff everyone was solicitous and gracious. Our orders were taken promptly, with the drinks coming cold and quick and the appetizers coming soon after. The food was quite good; not the best seafood I have ever had but it was fresh and well-prepared if a bit over-salted. One point of contention- the menu clearly states a choice of two sides with the entree, but no sides are listed. When we asked the server about the available sides to choose from, he informed us that each entree came with two specific sides (I.e rice or potato and mixed vegetables). Not really a choice... Would we go back? Certainly, if only to try the Sunday seafood buffet. But be advised the bingo hall in the next room has a standing buffet and the ladies there can be raucous.
(4)Mehgan L.
If I could give less than 1 star I would. This place has some of the worst service and hospitality I've ever seen. Where to start...group of 9 of us came in for a quick lunch and our visit was anything but quick. We were all seated promptly but that's where the service ended. Normally I would understand the service being a little slow for a walk-in group of our size but the place was practically empty when we arrived. The waitress was anything but personable in fact I found her to be rather cold. No introduction, no "welcome to.." Just straight to the point, and made it seem like it was inconveniencing her when we told her, ahead of ordering, that we needed to split the bill. The whole time we were there it was like we were inconveniencing her. I have worked in the restaurant biz for most of my life, from serving to managing a business and this place is a text book example of what not to do. We all ordered sandwiches and salads. We waited 45 minutes for our food only for it to be sub par and for one dish not to arrive until 5-10 min later. I had a chicken salad wrap and a spinach salad. The wrap was ok but the salad was awful, wilted spinach, old strawberries and fermenting oranges. Everyone else's meals were ok but not something that would make them come back or recommend to the rest of the 25-30 family members that are staying at the hotel next door. When it came time for the check we had to ask twice and then wait 15 min to get them. She hand delivered paper receipts with no books, very unprofessional. We couldn't get out of there fast enough. The management at this restaurant needs to clearly reexamine their efforts because if the place was decent and the servers were friendly they could prob make a lot of money. Def won't be going back and will tell everyone to steer clear.
(1)Sheila S.
Fresh Maryland seafood, friendly service, great view. We dined there in late July after visiting a local winery. We had a bucket of clams, steamed to perfection, a crab cake platter for me and my husband had the seafood platter. All dishes were skillfully executed and served up hot. We will definitely return.
(4)Heather G.
Went here for the Thanksgiving buffet because I wasn't cooking this year. My dad was treating (holla!) and I was too drugged up post-op to have any sort of input on making dinner reservations so this is what my fiance picked. There were copious quantities of food. The place was super full at 4 PM. For the most part, the food was meh. However, the squash bisque was DY-NO-MITE. And they gave us each $10 gift cards to come back and use before New Year's. I'm regifting my gift cards to a friend who bought Caps tix from me and lives about a mile from there. None of us were that excited that we're going to go rushing back. It's a pay it forward sort of thing and takes some stain off my cosmic karma.
(2)Richard S.
Went for Brunch with a large party.. Everything was really nice and the food was delicious and plentiful.. small wait for the omelet station but everyone was courteous and friendly! I'd certainly go again!
(4)Angela U.
On a rare day out without the kids, we took a drive down to Chesapeake Beach. My husband had been to the area before, and thought it would be fun to walk around and look at the boats and such. We really wanted a brunch since it was early Sunday afternoon, and the valets at the spa suggested this place. I checked the Yelp reviews but we decided to go ahead with it anyway. I'm SO glad we did. Maybe the other meals aren't great, but the all you can eat brunch buffet was fantastic. Everything we tried, we loved. They even make their own donuts and include lots of tasty options for putting on top of them! I usually judge a place by their cream chipped beef. It too, was wonderful. We'll definitely be back!
(4)Kate F.
My table got the following -Rod 'N' Reel Crab Balls - fine, not a lot of flavor. Sad because it's crab! On the Chesapeake! -Portobello Neptune - a dish I haven't seen other places. It had a good flavor and texture. -Cream of Crab Soup - very rich but just ok flavor. Again, mediocre crab dish on the Chesapeake. What is up with that? -Grilled Salmon - fine. -Grilled Breast Chicken - very, very salty demi-glace. It seemed like somewhere under the sodium content there was a good flavor. I recommend you put some demi-glace on your potatoes. The chicken was well marinated or seasoned before grilling. -Broiled Sea Scallop - good flavor. -Chocolate Lava Cake - good, not sure what was lava about it. -Wine. We had to ask for smaller glasses as I don't need one longer than my forearm. A note about the seasonal vegetables, typical broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot mix. It seemed to be fresh vegetables, not frozen. But the kitchen seems unaware cauliflower takes longer to cook than the others. The hostess is a woman of few words, to the point that she came off as a bit unfriendly. Our server seemed a bit new, he overlooked some small things. My fork had a defect in it that cut my lip, which made the very salty demi-glace double plus not good. Bottom line - it was A-OK but I won't be back.
(3)Ordice G.
One of my favorite places. My wife and I found our current home in Chesapeake Beach because we came to eat here.
(4)Shar C.
I'm torn between 2 and 3 stars, but all in all the experience could have been better. Let me start by saying that the restaurant is actually beautiful and has a great view of the Chesapeake from pretty much any seat in the dining area. The downfall was the service and food. We were a party of 15, but the restaurant was pretty much empty so I didn't see why it took almost an hour to get our food. When we did get the food, there really wasn't anything special about it and it seemed pretty bland in my opinion. My sister did say she enjoyed her selection. I was enjoying my time with family and friends, so I didn't mind as much and didn't complain but I still took notice. I'd possibly try it once more for breakfast/brunch if I was in the Chesapeake area again. It seemed to be the only place nice enough in that area for our family event.
(2)Discerning T.
The food is very good and the view is nice. It's a bit pricey, and the service is really hit-and-miss. Eat early to get a good table and better service. I do not recommend the Rod 'N' Reel during peak times, as the service really suffers.
(3)Miss T.
Brunch is great not sure why others gave such low ratings
(3)Jennifer F.
We had both dinner and brunch here during our girls weekend! We had a groupon and stayed at the Chesapeake Beach Resort so the deal was amazing and worth it but I would never come out here for this restaurant. Dinner - first and foremost, the hostess was terrible! She moved us from a bad table to a terrible table! We were literally in the bus station! It was awful but my girlfriends decided not to make a fuss. The waiter, I am thinking it was his first night! He was slow and just sad. The menu was nothing to write home about. The price of the wine was decent but everything else was pretty blah. I swear they had my shrimp do the back stroke in chlorine! It was awful. My girlfriend had the crab chowder which was amazing and she did enjoy the crab cake! Everything else was just not great! So the highlight of the brunch was the omelet! Really good and worth waiting for. The donut with topping was also pretty yummy! Other than that, the waitress was awful, never checked on us and then was rude when we needed change. I know they were busy but it was inexcusable! The rest of the food on the line was bleh. They never bussed the tables, so we had to take care of it ourselves and that is just sad. I so wanted to have a terrific experience and they just didn't even really try to deliver!
(2)Pat G.
Not a very exciting menu. Boring, in fact. Pricey, given that nothing seemed really fresh. Fried shimp, quite tasty; french fries were pretty good; cole slaw was excellent! My date had the spinach salad, which he loved; flounder sandwich (looked good); and fries. We left there no longer hungry, but not exceptionally happy to have eaten either. Service was interesting. We sat at the bar to watch my 'Skins (who lost to Carolina). No one offered a menu. Finally I asked for one. From then on, the bartender was attentive. Twas okay.
(3)Brandi Z.
Beautiful day so we sat outside. Very good service. Was told to "stay away" from ordering the crab balls so we did. Fried asparagus was fantastic. Salmon salad was awesome and my wife loved the portabella Neptune. We'll be back.
(4)Joe G.
Fine dining prices for below average food in a questionable environment. The food is boring, predictable, and it leaves you wanting more (small portions and unsatisfying taste) - and it will break the bank in the process. The Sunday brunch is the only reason I give this place two stars instead of one. It's a great selection of brunch food, but it's also very disorganized and disjointed. You tend to miss certain food items because things are all over the place. Not a problem if you have done their brunch a couple of times, but not good for first-timers. My advice is to stay away from the Rod N Reel. If you are so inclined to try this restaurant, go to the Sunday brunch, but don't do it on Easter Sunday or any other religious holiday (the line will be out the door). I wish I could offer a better alternative for the area, but the area lacks a quality sit-down restaurant.
(2)E C.
Don't bother. My husband & I went for our 2nd anniversary dinner. Oysters Rockefeller had way too much spinach... I mean, I could hardly find the actual oyster. The salad didn't have enough dressing. The entrees were barely edible. My husband, who will eat almost anything was disappointed after his first bite. He had to make his own cocktail sauce just to get through the meal. The service was awful. There were flys literally flying around us as we ate. The only thing good, honestly was the view.
(1)Pat K.
The Rod 'N' Reel has a wonderful location right on the water. That is probably the only good thing I can say about this place. The food here is overpriced and no where near as good as it should be. I would say this place has the same food quality as an everyday chain restaurant. The service is slow and sometimes even nonexistent. If you are in the area, there are a lot better places to go, including Smokey Joe's which is located right next to (basically same building) the Rod 'N' Reel.
(2)Judy E.
The food was under mediocre it made me so sick the spinach Alfredo dip was te worst ever nothing was cut up. The bread that came with it was stale. The cream of crab soup had frozen crab in it. Health code issues there. It was not busy and our waitress's service abilities were bad. I am a professional bartender and would never give a one star if it waS not necessary please don't go!!!!
(1)Patricia H.
My cousin was in town and we made reservation for 15. All the appetizers we order were very good, we pretty much ordered one of each. The service was good. We all ordered different dinner dishes from ahi tuna to rock fish all was great
(4)Sarah D.
We had a terrible experience here. Ate on the deck, and we liked the live music and ambiance...hated everything else. We got the mini mariner platter that had a whole list of fried foods. When it came out, it was ONE scallop, one, shrimp, etc. the piece of flounder that was tiny and tasteless. None of the food was done well, the shrimp was stringy and tough, the scallop was soggy, the crab cake was the size of a quarter. Our friend ordered the club sandwich. It was ok, but she ordered fries and it came out with chips- only after she was almost done eating the sandwich did the fries she ordered (and still had to pay for) come out. We called the manager over to discuss the food and he jokingly insulted us- 'there are two kinds of seafood eaters, those who like it fried, and those who eat it baked or broiled." Next time, not that there will be a next time there, if we wanted the seafood to be flavorful and have a good texture, we need to order it baked...we were insulted and angry. With a name like Rod n Reel, you'd think they could fry seafood as well as bake it. Rather than take off the $20 meal that was not good, he gave us %15 off- a whopping $5 off the bill.
(1)Eileen D.
The food is NOT worth the overpricing. For example, $12.99 for a crab ball appetizer which turns out to be 3 crab balls smaller than golf balls. Food was unoriginal and boring, same as the atmosphere. The server was nice, but not attentive. Hostess and valet parking were in la-la land. I guess they don't have to be good...outrageously, for just a two-person table, an 18% gratuity was added to the bill and the server DID NOT ADVISE US of this. (The menu states for parties of 6 or more it is automatic.) We ALMOST tipped on top of the gratuity, but because of the mediocre food and high prices, this time did a double-take (which we will be sure to do at all restaurants from now on). One star because I had to.
(1)Dean S.
Got long neck steamer soft shell clams, they were a bit over cooked, but still okay. A member of my party also received a bad mussel. Service was polite, cordial, and good. They claim things are made on site, yet there are some things served that you can tell are frozen then heated up. The cheesecake is alright, apple crisp is fine, but the blueberry cobbler is too watery, maybe over cooked, or frozen. Wouldn't come again.
(2)Daphne F.
The views are wonderful and the food ranges from decent to very good, but you'd better have some time to kill and a sense of humor about service. I've been here several times, all for lunch, and at first I thought maybe it was just the off-season, or just a new waiter(ess), or we'd arrived early in the shift but I've come to the conclusion that this restaurant is just not very well managed. The Maryland crab soup is an excellent spiced vegetable soup with lumps of crab meat added in on top. The crab grilled cheese is a fun lunch item. I like the crab cakes as well but I like any crab cakes. The service borders on comical. The waitresses seem unclear on what the soup of the day is, whether sides can be substituted (no, after a scolding by the hostess, who the waitress consulted with, it's clear they definitely can't be), whether the lunch menu is in effect, and generally anything that you might want to know about the menu. The service is always slow. Sometimes it's a reasonably slow service, but sometimes it's an extremely slow service and you start running out of conversation with your lunch partners. Awkward. I would also suggest that you not expect them to be ready to serve you or take orders for take-out when they first open. They will helpfully tell you on the phone that they just opened only a little while ago so can you please call back in a bit, after they finish setting up. I did - after all, the crab soup is pretty good and my alternative was Subway or McDonald's.
(2)Kelly G.
Hey! Me & Mara G. went for the casual dining option here tonight. We bellied up to the bar, ordered drinks, then the fun began. It was a simple, overcast, Labor Day afternoon and there was a live band pumpin' the ol' school and the dancefloor was packed. Wow! I had a great time! The crabcake sandwich was hot and juicy. The cocktail was cold and bottomless. The staff was cordial and thorough. What more could I ask for? Yay, I'm a fan. p.s. - Oh, yeah, they have slot machines too! Plus Bingo!
(4)Linda L.
The plus....4 regular adult entrees, 5 kids meals, 8 desserts, 1 appetizer, 1 soup, 1 cocktail....no complaints about the food except that the breaded asparagus app came with just 8 pieces and blah dip. Really, the food was pretty good. The negatives....SERVICE was EXTREMELY slow. The restaurant was not even 1/2 full and it took at least 45 mins for our entrees to arrive (even the kids pastas), no bread to munch on, tables were not bussed (even when our desserts came, even when the waiter commented that there wasn't any room to put the desserts) and 1/2 an hr for our bill to be figured out. Getting our bill--we had 2 vouchers from the hotel ($25 each) that the restaurant is attached to & we wanted to pay the rest w/2 credit cards split 50/50. They could NOT figure it out!! 1st, they couldn't apply the vouchers before splitting the bill, then they couldn't correctly split the bill w/the vouchers, then they couldn't figure out how to apply the automatic tip for grps more than 6. After having spent 2.5 hrs at this restaurant, we had to pay w/1 credit card and the manager wrote in the "automatic" 20% tip, which they definitely did not deserve. I may have gone back for the food, but the service trumpted the overall experience & we won't be returning.
(2)Joseph C.
A big stink over nothing is the best way to describe the Rod 'N' Reel. Hyped up considerably thanks to the presence of bingo machines, the restaurant serves up diner quality food at restaurant prices. Unlike most mediocre restaurants, the Rod 'N' Reel doesn't even offer appetizing appetizers or a pleasing dessert. The presence of gambling adds a tacky crowd at times around the restaurant, which is never a plus. The only thing saving the Rod 'N' Reel from a single star is the presence of scenic Chesapeake Bay views, and that still may be too generous.
(2)Erin K.
I wasn't impressed with the food. Although they have a great location. I would have expected more. They look out dated and need to remodel the front area. I'm not rushing back anytime soon..
(2)Scotto B.
Filthy joint - The nickname "Rotten Eel" is well deserved.
(1)Ken B.
This review is for the outdoor (enclosed) bar: My sister lives within walking distance, and we came several times (ok--nightly) when I visited recently. The outdoor bar area is cozy, comfortable, casual, and above all fun! Friendly and fast service compliment the great water views, and there was good live music playing on the weekday nights we stopped by. Definitely would recommend for drinks, wings, and apps. The inside full-service restaurant looked really nice, and there are several really spacious outdoor seating areas. Worth a trip in your car or on foot!
(5)Amber S.
My family and I went here for my great grandmother's birthday (her choice, not ours). We were a rather large party, maybe 15-20 people. My sister and I already checked out the reviews and we weren't super stoked about going here, but tried it anyway. Verdict: never again. I'm a total sucker for carbs, so the starter bread basket was cool if it weren't for the fact that we didn't get it until maybe an hour into our reservation. The food itself was a total miss. My sister had the caprese salad; she said the tomatoes were disgusting and the salad -- mostly arugula sans much basil or mozzarella -- was SOAKED in balsamic vinegar. My brother had a burger and fries, and had no complaints. My parents and I had various seafood platters and have had MUCH better. The only part of my entree I could stomach were the basic French fries. My least favorite interaction was when I ordered the side of macaroni and cheese. The menu only describes the dish as, simply and plain as day, macaroni and cheese. What showed up to my table was ditalini (imagine penne chopped into small pieces) with some sort of white sauce and a million other ingredients, from CORN to mysterious meats. Maybe prosciutto? Maybe lobster? Maybe crabmeat? I asked our server what exactly was in the dish and his response, verbatim: "Um, I don't actually know; I've never had it." He said he was going to check but never came back. Ever. I sent it back with our other server and had fries instead. Lackluster food, lackluster service. I don't know what my grandmother sees in this place but I'll never return.
(1)Brittany H.
I'm not crazy about their plated dinners but the Saturday and Sunday all you can eat breakfast buffet is totally worth the money! Cook to order omelettes, French toast, pancakes and waffles! The Saturday brunch has less of a selection then on Sunday's so I would definitely recommend coming on a Sunday morning. It's always super busy but I recommend coming in between 1030-1130!
(3)Tim T.
I haven't been here to eat in over three year, my wife and I decided to give it a try. I ordered the veal shank with mashed potatoes and asparagus my wife had the stuffed rockfish. The fish was not fresh had a very fishy smell and taste, my veal chop looked good until I cut it open and it was super well done. I waited a few min. To eat it so I could tell the waitress, well she never came so I just eat it, and t was very dry and chewy. The waitress finally came after I was half done and my wife was done, she had no remorse. It will be a while before we return
(2)Freckles M.
We came for Mother's Day dinner (bad idea). The reservations were for 6 people and we were immediately seated upon arrival. They sat our group in the back of the restaurant at a table dressed for 10. When we explained that it was only 6 of us, we were told this was one of the best tables to have so we stayed at the table originally seated. Our server "Nicole" took quite some time to come to our table and greet us (after I requested our waitress). At this time, they weren't slammed with guests just yet. Rod n Reel offered a buffet as a meal option in which all of us decided against and wanted to order from the main menu. The waitress attempted to strongly recommend the buffet since the kitchen's first priority would be the buffet, but we explained that none of us likes buffets and prefer ordering from the menu. Nicole returned with menus and sat them down in the middle of the table for us to distribute to each other ourselves. We finally ordered food after a 20 min wait for the waitress to return to our table after she delivered drinks. When I inquired of the kitchen could blacken my chicken, she replied "probably not, but I'll check" and walked off. I wasn't immediately impressed with the service as I feel the waitresses could be much more attentive. We totally understand that Mother's Day is a busy day/evening for them, but I'd expect them to be fully staffed and ready for busy occasions such as this one. We are still waiting on our food....40 min later. I wouldn't recommend this place for any special occasions. In fact, I'm not sure if return at this point.
(2)Brad W.
I live nearby, so I may be a little biased. I've been here several times and they never disappoint. I'm racking my brain trying to think of a negative experience. but cannot think of one. There brunch on Sunday's is THE BEST. Those two ladies making omelets make them perfect every time. The prices are not too bad, food is good. The only reasons I did not go five stars is because sometimes the service falls a little under par; my last waitress seemed very preoccupied with everything other than what was going on at my table. And second. the crowd can be a little overbearing sometimes; especially during the Sunday buffet. Other than that, it has always been a good experience for me.
(4)Kimberly L.
I ordered a Caesar salad with salmon, what I got was a disgusting plate of wilted greens with a bland white dressing. I complained to the server, but he didn't do anything. At the end of the meal when he saw how much was left, he took it back to the kitchen and they offered to take a whopping $5.99 off the bill. No apologies. I would definitely warn people to stay away from this place!
(1)Jenifer L.
Best french toast in town during their breakfast buffet. Beautiful view of the Chesapeake Bay from the restaurant. The staff at the omelette station were very hosposbitable. $17.99 is a steal for all the food they serve. Definitely will come back!
(4)Jane D.
This was some of the worst food we've ever eaten at a restaurant! Especially one that's in a resort! The only explanation we can think of is that the chef is lazy and the management is cheap and banking on the fact that they're the only restaurant in town that's not a pizza joint. How do you ruin French fries?! The lack of a decent menu was the first disappointment. The fried shrimp was terrible. There was actually lump crab meat and large jumbo shrimp on the salad but not one decent dressing. How hard is it to have a selection of decent salad dressings l? And if you only serve fried foods can't you make them edible? So over priced for the lousy quality. Without some major changes we won't be back. Note to the owner: make this a place worth going!
(1)Trey D.
Though it was not a bad restaurant! Great great view . I took my wife and 3 yr old son there after a fun day at the water park. We got a window right next to the water and ordered the crab dip. I am usually not impressesed with crab dip because most people mask the true flavers of artichokes and crab with mouth savory cream cheese to charge more for the dollar, and still have people that don't know much about food to leave happily saying it was great crab dip. Rod and Reel actually had a true flavor of artichoke and loads of crab meat ( loads). I was impressed. The only thing I would change is instead of kettle chips I would put crostini. Thin slices of white banquet mixed with olive oil powdered garlic and onion seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and parsley flakes with obviously salt and cracked pepper. I ordered the Atlantic Salmon wrap, it was suppose to come with julienned cucumbers, carrots , avocado and the salmon, wrapped in a flour tortilla. Wrapped in a flour tortilla it was. I think that is all it was is flour tortilla. They also forgot to add the avocado, which was one of the main ingredients I was looking forward to enhancing the pleasure of my pallet. There was no type of vinagerett or even a sprinkle of lemon. I had the manager come over and he was very sincere and took my two beers of the tab. I was happy that he seemed to accommodate my situation. I then ordered the turkey BLT. Instead of cranberry aioli I asked just ask for mayo. We waited about 15 minutes for this sandwich even when the manager said it would be on the fly. All you have to do is toast the bread then build the sandwich. When it finally came it had no mayo at all. This was the last draw, I did not even mention my son ordered the Mac and cheese with broccoli and they gave them fries. My wife's Mahi Mahi taste like it was 3 days old. Not horrible but you know when fish taste little fisher then it should. Its probably was not caught that day. Don't really see myself or family ever going back to Rod and Reel. This is a shame it is a nice looking place with a great water view. My family came to Chesapeake beach last year and came this year. With the young family that myself and my wife are starting. We are going to make coming down here once a weekend every year a tradition. Hopefully somehow someway my mind can change about this place, but doubtful.
(2)Shari L.
Ate here for breakfast once. Not good. It was more of a complimentary breakfast u get from a comfort Inn than a resort. Would not return.
(2)R. G.
Let me cut to the chase. The food is slop. I went there with a friend and we both ordered burgers. It was one of the worse dining experiences I've ever had. I don't know who the cook is, but it was a sloppy mess. The lettuce was old, tomatoes were not ripe and the fries overcooked. In case you haven't figure it out, they suck. Do not waste your time, you will be sorry.
(1)Derrick C.
The stuffed Rockfish is fabulous but the crab cakes, which are a staple of Maryland seafood restaurants, were horrible. The oysters were small, the clam soup taste like Campbells, and the side items were bland. The best thing about the dinning experience was the view. Bottom line...steer clear of Rod and Reel!!
(1)Dana M.
Went for the brunch buffet and while neither of us are big on buffets, it was as fresh as a buffet could get I suppose. Some things were dry but that's what happens on a buffet. My bf enjoyed his omlette and pancakes.
(3)Ryamie B.
Service is alright. My steak was good. Wife loved the crab cakes. Lovely scenery. Menu could use a little more.
(4)Patrick H.
We've been making day trips to Chesapeake/ North Beach for years now, and in all that time, I've never eaten at the Rod N Reel. They've gone through a lot of transformation through the years and I have to say the place looks good. They've added a nice outdoors marina side dining area in addition to the main restaurant. We decided to try our luck after doing some sight seeing with an out of town guest, and we are glad we did. We arrived just at the tail end of the lunch rush, which was lucky, because clearly they were not ready for a lunch rush. With that said, for starters we shared a platter of blue point oysters. Meaty and salty with a tasty homemade cocktail sauce. I had the Maryland Crab soup which was good. Full of crab and fresh veggies in a snappy tomato broth. For my entree I had the Crab Cake sandwich. I opted for the mashed potatoes instead of fries (Trying to watch my figure). My dining partners had the Shrimp Poor Boy and the Cajun Chicken Sandwich, respectively. The crab cake was stellar. One big healthy cake full of jumbo lump. I usually ask for my crab cakes to be broiled, but this one was fried. It looked like a great big fried baseball, full of rich crabby goodness. Mashers were good, as was the housemade tartar sauce and fresh cole slaw. The Cajun chicken sandwich was huge and tasty. It came with nice long thick fries, as did the Shrimp Poor boy. Also a huge portion and worth every bit of the $12.99 we paid for it. The place is casual, service was decent and while I wouldn't say it's the finest restaurant I've ever been to, it's definitely above average, and on a sunny day, the view of the bay can't be beat.
(4)K A.
7-2-09- New Happy Hour @ the R&R Thursday night about 5:30. The bartender was the wonderful Niki. My hubby and I had Ice cold beer. . We also ordered the Seafood Quesadilia which was ($8). It was excellent -crisp -fresh with large shrimp. We also ordered clams casino which were hot. they had nice spices but the baby clams were a little tough. $6). Shift change and then we had Brandi who was also a friendly bar tender. Place was not crowded most people were on the machines or outside at the Tiki Bar.
(3)Adam G.
I love the area, but this place is horrible and over priced. Entrees are around $20, which I'm find with if the food is decent quality. Some examples of the quality here: the strawberrys on my cheesecake had been cut with a knife that must have been used for also cutting onions because the onion taste still lingered; the french fries had the distinct taste of coming from the freezer, the pot stickers were so over fried that my friend thought he chipped his tooth, everything else was just a greasy mess. The service matched the quality of food. The staff was curt and attentive.
(1)Dewayne L.
Great brunch buffet... Every breakfast food you could imagine...homemade donuts...hominy grits .... and very friendly staff...we will be back
(5)Michael S.
Awesome - great food, great service, great value.
(5)Mike L.
My wife and I saw the promotion for the Rock The Dock music series and decided to drive down to Chesapeake Beach from the Annapolis area for a late dinner with live music. All I can say is that the music was good. We ordered crab soup -- my wife ordered the Cream of Crab and I ordered the Maryland Crab. The Cream of Crab wasn't bad EXCEPT all you could taste was the butter. The flavor of the MD Crab was good BUT, the soup was riddled with cartilage, which made it unpleasant to eat. We also ordered Peal-And-Eat Shrimp and Steamed Mussels. Both stated they came with their "homemade" cocktail sauce. The shrimp were overcooked and it was almost impossible to peal the shells away. The mussels came "dry" in a bowl with no broth. They were tasteless and dried-out. The "homemade" cocktail sauce was jelly-like and very bland. The worst part of the evening was the service. In the middle of August in a beach town on a Saturday night you expect the best servers to be on deck. While the waiter was nice, it seemed like we might have been an inconvenience to him. It took a good 20 minutes to get two cups of iced tea. The orange crushes did come faster though. But, the waiter paid little or no attention to our food as he served it. Several key items we ordered or that were supposed to accompany each dish were left off. It's almost like the restaurant was saying, "Drink booze and don't bother us with ANYTHING else!"
(1)Jennifer G.
This was a place from my childhood that had gone down hill but the prices went up. On a whim we fled Montgomery County & escaped to Breezy Point. We landed here after getting rained off the beach. 1st the view was fantastic! My kids had the grilled chicken & fries--they demolished it (they also have gluten free options labeled in their menu-thankful bc my kid has a lot of food restrictions w his autism). My hubs had the fried platter & loved it. I had the 2 crab cakes not the best I've ever had but very good. Clams casino, Maryland crab soup & cream if crab soup all excellent. Our waitress was very good, she brought the kids food out very quickly, our bar orders were very slow. Our bill was a little steep but seafood does that! Afterwards we walked out on the pier saw geese & ducks with babies & went home. This was a great day!
(4)Lee F.
This is probably one of the nicer and better restaurants in the area. I've eaten there about three times, and I've never been disappointed by the food, the service or the view. The food is not out of this world, but it is very good. I've been able to get a window seat that looks out over the bay almost every time. It has multiple dining areas, so it's a great place to hold large-group events.
(4)Cj m.
We used to frequent this place because it's a nice place to sit outside and have a drink , and they would have "free" entertainment Sunday though Thursday, now they have a ridiculous cover charge??? ($10 person) I am gonna stick to mangos from now on...
(1)Pamela S.
Spectacular view and ambiance. Food is good but not spectacular. Rockfish s bit over cooked . Meat in my kale was unexpected as I do not eat mammals . My husband said the crab soup and shrimp were tasty. Fries okay. Off to the slot machines ,
(3)Amber S.
My family and I went here for my great grandmother's birthday (her choice, not ours). We were a rather large party, maybe 15-20 people. My sister and I already checked out the reviews and we weren't super stoked about going here, but tried it anyway. Verdict: never again. I'm a total sucker for carbs, so the starter bread basket was cool if it weren't for the fact that we didn't get it until maybe an hour into our reservation. The food itself was a total miss. My sister had the caprese salad; she said the tomatoes were disgusting and the salad -- mostly arugula sans much basil or mozzarella -- was SOAKED in balsamic vinegar. My brother had a burger and fries, and had no complaints. My parents and I had various seafood platters and have had MUCH better. The only part of my entree I could stomach were the basic French fries. My least favorite interaction was when I ordered the side of macaroni and cheese. The menu only describes the dish as, simply and plain as day, macaroni and cheese. What showed up to my table was ditalini (imagine penne chopped into small pieces) with some sort of white sauce and a million other ingredients, from CORN to mysterious meats. Maybe prosciutto? Maybe lobster? Maybe crabmeat? I asked our server what exactly was in the dish and his response, verbatim: "Um, I don't actually know; I've never had it." He said he was going to check but never came back. Ever. I sent it back with our other server and had fries instead. Lackluster food, lackluster service. I don't know what my grandmother sees in this place but I'll never return.
(1)Ken B.
This review is for the outdoor (enclosed) bar: My sister lives within walking distance, and we came several times (ok--nightly) when I visited recently. The outdoor bar area is cozy, comfortable, casual, and above all fun! Friendly and fast service compliment the great water views, and there was good live music playing on the weekday nights we stopped by. Definitely would recommend for drinks, wings, and apps. The inside full-service restaurant looked really nice, and there are several really spacious outdoor seating areas. Worth a trip in your car or on foot!
(5)Freckles M.
We came for Mother's Day dinner (bad idea). The reservations were for 6 people and we were immediately seated upon arrival. They sat our group in the back of the restaurant at a table dressed for 10. When we explained that it was only 6 of us, we were told this was one of the best tables to have so we stayed at the table originally seated. Our server "Nicole" took quite some time to come to our table and greet us (after I requested our waitress). At this time, they weren't slammed with guests just yet. Rod n Reel offered a buffet as a meal option in which all of us decided against and wanted to order from the main menu. The waitress attempted to strongly recommend the buffet since the kitchen's first priority would be the buffet, but we explained that none of us likes buffets and prefer ordering from the menu. Nicole returned with menus and sat them down in the middle of the table for us to distribute to each other ourselves. We finally ordered food after a 20 min wait for the waitress to return to our table after she delivered drinks. When I inquired of the kitchen could blacken my chicken, she replied "probably not, but I'll check" and walked off. I wasn't immediately impressed with the service as I feel the waitresses could be much more attentive. We totally understand that Mother's Day is a busy day/evening for them, but I'd expect them to be fully staffed and ready for busy occasions such as this one. We are still waiting on our food....40 min later. I wouldn't recommend this place for any special occasions. In fact, I'm not sure if return at this point.
(2)Brad W.
I live nearby, so I may be a little biased. I've been here several times and they never disappoint. I'm racking my brain trying to think of a negative experience. but cannot think of one. There brunch on Sunday's is THE BEST. Those two ladies making omelets make them perfect every time. The prices are not too bad, food is good. The only reasons I did not go five stars is because sometimes the service falls a little under par; my last waitress seemed very preoccupied with everything other than what was going on at my table. And second. the crowd can be a little overbearing sometimes; especially during the Sunday buffet. Other than that, it has always been a good experience for me.
(4)Kimberly L.
I ordered a Caesar salad with salmon, what I got was a disgusting plate of wilted greens with a bland white dressing. I complained to the server, but he didn't do anything. At the end of the meal when he saw how much was left, he took it back to the kitchen and they offered to take a whopping $5.99 off the bill. No apologies. I would definitely warn people to stay away from this place!
(1)Jenifer L.
Best french toast in town during their breakfast buffet. Beautiful view of the Chesapeake Bay from the restaurant. The staff at the omelette station were very hosposbitable. $17.99 is a steal for all the food they serve. Definitely will come back!
(4)Rene D.
My wife and I celebrated her birthday with the family, and it was everyones first time here after having moved into the neighborhood. Service was exceptional, and from the reservations desk to the hostess to the wait staff everyone was solicitous and gracious. Our orders were taken promptly, with the drinks coming cold and quick and the appetizers coming soon after. The food was quite good; not the best seafood I have ever had but it was fresh and well-prepared if a bit over-salted. One point of contention- the menu clearly states a choice of two sides with the entree, but no sides are listed. When we asked the server about the available sides to choose from, he informed us that each entree came with two specific sides (I.e rice or potato and mixed vegetables). Not really a choice... Would we go back? Certainly, if only to try the Sunday seafood buffet. But be advised the bingo hall in the next room has a standing buffet and the ladies there can be raucous.
(4)Trey D.
Though it was not a bad restaurant! Great great view . I took my wife and 3 yr old son there after a fun day at the water park. We got a window right next to the water and ordered the crab dip. I am usually not impressesed with crab dip because most people mask the true flavers of artichokes and crab with mouth savory cream cheese to charge more for the dollar, and still have people that don't know much about food to leave happily saying it was great crab dip. Rod and Reel actually had a true flavor of artichoke and loads of crab meat ( loads). I was impressed. The only thing I would change is instead of kettle chips I would put crostini. Thin slices of white banquet mixed with olive oil powdered garlic and onion seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and parsley flakes with obviously salt and cracked pepper. I ordered the Atlantic Salmon wrap, it was suppose to come with julienned cucumbers, carrots , avocado and the salmon, wrapped in a flour tortilla. Wrapped in a flour tortilla it was. I think that is all it was is flour tortilla. They also forgot to add the avocado, which was one of the main ingredients I was looking forward to enhancing the pleasure of my pallet. There was no type of vinagerett or even a sprinkle of lemon. I had the manager come over and he was very sincere and took my two beers of the tab. I was happy that he seemed to accommodate my situation. I then ordered the turkey BLT. Instead of cranberry aioli I asked just ask for mayo. We waited about 15 minutes for this sandwich even when the manager said it would be on the fly. All you have to do is toast the bread then build the sandwich. When it finally came it had no mayo at all. This was the last draw, I did not even mention my son ordered the Mac and cheese with broccoli and they gave them fries. My wife's Mahi Mahi taste like it was 3 days old. Not horrible but you know when fish taste little fisher then it should. Its probably was not caught that day. Don't really see myself or family ever going back to Rod and Reel. This is a shame it is a nice looking place with a great water view. My family came to Chesapeake beach last year and came this year. With the young family that myself and my wife are starting. We are going to make coming down here once a weekend every year a tradition. Hopefully somehow someway my mind can change about this place, but doubtful.
(2)Shari L.
Ate here for breakfast once. Not good. It was more of a complimentary breakfast u get from a comfort Inn than a resort. Would not return.
(2)Wendy B.
Food okay...staff (mostly) ok...hostess trying to convince us that every table is good for a show (not) and that the umbrellas up obstructing views are ok....what???
(2)Consuelo M.
First time going and it will be the last. It's too many flies in the restaurant, a customer had their little dog with them, it had on a service tag, however one of the waitresses (not mine), was talking to the couple with the dog rubbing on his back...I was watching her thinking she was gonna wash her hand before going to the next table, she sure didn't. I talked to the manager and he said that wasn't allowed there - but I'm thinking who cares since she isn't my waitress. Nonetheless, the food wasn't that great...I won't be coming back. I had to return the fish on my Mariners platter - it didn't taste right. Also my fried scallops look like little popcorn fried shrimp.
(1)Melora H.
We came here late afternoon on a Sunday. Less than half of the tables were full and the majority of the empty tables were waiting to be bussed. Regardless, we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Once seated, we reviewed the menu, decided on our order and waited for our server. And waited. And waited. There seem to be an abundance of staff just milling around or taking one item at a time to tables. We couldn't even make eye contact with a waiter/waitress. When a table seated after us received both their beverages and appetizers, while we still waited to have a staff person approach our table, we called it quits. The table next to ours still needed to be cleared and the sight of the dirty plates and old uneaten food was very unappetizing. When I told the hostess why we were leaving, she was apologetic. This place may be listed as the top restaurant in Chesapeake Beach on Trip Advisor, but don't bother.
(1)Sierra S.
Sat on the deck and half of our party got served. We were STILL waiting on our good 45 minutes later! No drink refills - this place is ridiculous! Do NOT recommend! The staff did not even know the menu!
(1)Holly D.
Good food, but bring your checkbook. My step-dad and I had a lovely lunch here with a waterfront view but not only was it expensive (for lunch - around 40 bones) but we were there for 2 1/2 hours. It was a Wednesday afternoon. We were one of maybe 2/3 other tables filled in the joint.
(3)Jami B.
I Visited this place with my husband and was disappointed. The food seemed frozen as opposed to fresh. I say this because the crab cakes were dry and the shrimp were tough. They has ketchup in old fashion glass bottles which has a lot of build up in them. It wasn't worth the ride. The manager stated that he would email us a refund after sending him our receipt spending over $100.00. To date we have not received a thing. We will never revisit this place again. Save your money!
(1)Lisa E.
Went here for a later dinner after a day by the bay. For Chesapeake Beach, this is as good as you'll get for seafood. Keep in mind, there aren't many places to pick from in this town. Everything was prepared nice and the server was quite courteous and helpful. This isn't a meal to remember, but I certainly don't have any major complaints.
(3)Nichelle K.
We went in the middle of the day for lunch and we were seated immediately. The waitress was prompt, friendly and professional. We ordered the artichoke crab dip and it was cheesy and delicious! I ordered the single crab cake meal with the red potatoes it was also good. My only complaint with the food is I wish they offered the crab cakes broiled because its a semi healthier option and I just don't like everything deep fried. The potatoes were good I just wish I had a better explanation as to how they were prepared before I ordered them. They were good I just had no idea what to expect. We were in a bit of a hurry and unfortunately the computer system went done and we waited and waiting until the payment could be processed. Things happen and technology isn't always perfect. Overall a good experience and I recommend it.
(4)Belinda B.
Lots of unmet potential! Bartender makes a great drink. Chefs are not up to par...a little disappointing regarding entrees..over cooked, deep fried, under seasoned fish and shrimp. Location is worth the drive...I wanted food to match location...needed to lower my expectations!
(3)Cynthia G.
If I could give this restaurant zero stars I would. I recently visited Rod and Reel for fathers day with my fiancé and his family. I had heard good things about and was willing to give it a try. When I arrived I went into the restaurant to put my name on the list. It was very busy so I expected a wait. I told the hostess that there were six people and she said about 25 minutes. After waiting about 25 minutes my beeper went off and I walked up to the hostess station so we could be seated. I told the hostess my name and she just starred at me blankly. She said I hadn't made it up to the front in time, which was weird because my beeper was still going off. Was I supposed to run up to the hostess station? She then informed me that my table had been given away and that she would have to put us at two separate table instead of a big table that could fit 6 people. I agree because I was so hungry and didn't care at this point. The lady that lead us over to the table was an older white lady, and had the worse attitude possible. Not only did she not greet us but looked as if she hated working and was disgusted that we wanted to have breakfast. She brought us to two tables next to each and we started to sit down. Before she could sit us down another hostess ran over and screamed "that table is reserved you can't sit there" The older lady just looked at us, didn't say anything and pointed to another set of tables. One of the tables was clean and the other had dirty dishes all over it. She directed 4 people in our party to sit down while my fiancé and I just stood there waiting for someone to clean the table. After the other people in the my party sat down a lady that had just gone to the buffet arrived at our table. This table was not a free table, apparently she had been sitting at this table and had gotten up to eat at the buffet. At this point I was so frustrated that I demanded to speak to a manager. If you can believe this the old lady that had brought us to the wrong table in the first place was actually the owner. She did not apologize and did not seem to care if we ever sat down or ate breakfast at all. She just shrugged her shoulders and went on with her day. Needless to say I never even had a chance to try to the food so I can't comment on that. This place is by far the WORST place to eat and the service is pathetic. NEVER GO HERE!!!!!!!
(1)Mehgan L.
If I could give less than 1 star I would. This place has some of the worst service and hospitality I've ever seen. Where to start...group of 9 of us came in for a quick lunch and our visit was anything but quick. We were all seated promptly but that's where the service ended. Normally I would understand the service being a little slow for a walk-in group of our size but the place was practically empty when we arrived. The waitress was anything but personable in fact I found her to be rather cold. No introduction, no "welcome to.." Just straight to the point, and made it seem like it was inconveniencing her when we told her, ahead of ordering, that we needed to split the bill. The whole time we were there it was like we were inconveniencing her. I have worked in the restaurant biz for most of my life, from serving to managing a business and this place is a text book example of what not to do. We all ordered sandwiches and salads. We waited 45 minutes for our food only for it to be sub par and for one dish not to arrive until 5-10 min later. I had a chicken salad wrap and a spinach salad. The wrap was ok but the salad was awful, wilted spinach, old strawberries and fermenting oranges. Everyone else's meals were ok but not something that would make them come back or recommend to the rest of the 25-30 family members that are staying at the hotel next door. When it came time for the check we had to ask twice and then wait 15 min to get them. She hand delivered paper receipts with no books, very unprofessional. We couldn't get out of there fast enough. The management at this restaurant needs to clearly reexamine their efforts because if the place was decent and the servers were friendly they could prob make a lot of money. Def won't be going back and will tell everyone to steer clear.
(1)Sheila S.
Fresh Maryland seafood, friendly service, great view. We dined there in late July after visiting a local winery. We had a bucket of clams, steamed to perfection, a crab cake platter for me and my husband had the seafood platter. All dishes were skillfully executed and served up hot. We will definitely return.
(4)Crystal A.
The breakfast buffet is great. The menu is overpriced for the quality of food you receive The view is nice. The best part of this place is a bartender named Nancy. She usually works nights. She does it all and makes you feel at home. I recommend sitting on the bar side seating when Nancy is working.
(3)Kathie W.
Would have given the Rod N Reel NO stars based on today's experience, but I have been there in the past when both the food and especially the service were much better. Today's service was absolutely awful Waitress' name was Patti. She ignored us every way she possibly could.
(2)Lou F.
We called ahead for a 6:15 Friday (6/12)/15) night table and were seated immediately. I've spent years in the food biz, so that was a pleasant surprise. The dining room view is great, a real plus. The drinks and food were a different deal. My rum and tonic with lime was not large. The tonic was flat and the glass had been filled with ice, leaving little room for booze. The lime had been put in first, under the ice, so I had to scuba dive to squeeze out its juice. My cream of crab soup was salty and was becoming oily, since it was beginning to separate. There was a marble-sized lump of roux in it along with a large portion of lump crabmeat, which unfortunately was ice cold, apparently having been tossed in the soup at the last minute. Main courses were problematic. The Rockfish special was well prepared, but was only a 4 ounce, inch wide portion. Norfolk Stew was well prepared, but also small for the price. Fish and Chips were 3 nuggets of haddock thickly battered, served with a mound of fries. Cole slaw had an odd taste, pickles? My fried oysters also came with lots of fries and had more than enough batter. The sin, in an area known for shellfish, was that they were dry and likely had been frozen. If this wasn't a family meal, they would have gone directly back to the kitchen. The highlight was Crab imperial. Rich, creamy with a good amount of crab. Vegetables and potatoes with the entrees were properly prepared.
(2)Brian T.
Not nearly as nice as you'd expect attached to a resort. Sunday brunch got rave reviews so we tried it out and it was OK, good for the price ... $16.99/adult. Normal brunch food, arrived 1015 and had to wait abt 30 minutes (they only take reservations for parties of 6+). Part of that was the pager they gave us didn't work and we noticed others being seated before us. It was crowded and loud. Occasional lines for food but not too bad. Don't worry abt attire ... My boys wore shorts and button up shirt and were overdressed for the most part. The staff was friendly and helpful, though seemed a bit frazzled. Left abt 12 and it was really crowded outside. Nice location, but if you want a nicer brunch try somewhere like Mango Mikes.
(3)Michelle W.
This place is a hit or miss for me I celebrated my wedding here with family and friends and the food was delicious and it was a great environment over the summer I came with my husband there were flies everywhere and the service was lacking and friendliness to say the least it was not very good at all and I probably won't be coming back after that fly incident it grossed me out so much to see flies everywhere
(3)Kim A.
My husband and I ended up at the Rod 'N' Reel while staying at the Chesapeake Beach Resort, and getting a $25 dining credit. We'd initially stopped by Smokey Joe's, but I insisted on leaving due the the crowds of people screaming at some game on TV, and the depressing nursing home decor of the dining area we were seated in. After that, the Rod 'N' Reel looked especially nice. I only wish we'd gotten there earlier to see more of the beautiful view. There was no wait, and the place was actually pretty empty. I think late November was probably the off-season. Our waitress was super friendly, and chatted with us a bit. The prices, on the other hand, were a little high, but that's expected with a nice seafood restaurant. Luckily, for us, we had our coupon. I got the the Mediterranean salad with salmon. I'm a fan of any salad with salmon, but this one was especially good. Just the right amount of dressing, and the salmon was cooked to perfection. My husband got the burger, which I didn't try, but looked awesome as well.
(5)Shannon B.
Came here for lunch to celebrate my brother's high school graduation. It has a bright, open design with a lovely view of Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately we got off to a bad start service wise as the waitress informed us that they were short-staffed and there were several large parties that she was taking care of. We appreciated the heads up, but our food took a little over an hour to arrive. Fortunately when the food came it was delicious. I had the baked imperial crab stuffed shrimp with vegetables and orzo saffron. The shrimp was heavenly with tender juicy crabmeat and lots of buttery goodness. The veggies were nothing to comment on and the orzo saffron was slightly above average. My dad and brother both loved their baked imperial crab, my other brother said his fried shrimp were "pretty good, but a little rubbery." My stepmom loved her cheesy potatoes, but commented that her salmon was dry. Overall I'd give the restaurant 4 stars on scenery/environment and my food, but I've gotta dock points on service and my other family members' food comments.
(3)Misty K.
"It was everything I expected, and less." ~Bernard Black It gets an extra star for the incredible view, but the food, service, decor, parking...everything...just awful. We couldn't order off the menu, because the kitchen was so far behind that the waiter said we'd never get our food. We had to eat from the buffet, which was...well, yuck. We didn't see our waiter again. It took us an hour to be seated (and we had a reservation!). I was so excited about the dessert table. I needn't have been. They were flavorless. In good news, we saw fireworks, and the beach was beautiful.
(2)Vanisha O.
The waitress Judy was so kind and speedy. The FOOD! Omg... there's these two older ladies at the omelet station and they must have the power of God in those spatulas! Just kidding but the food is amazing. The view is spectacular - the perfect place for a Sunday morning breakfast buffet.
(5)Katie D.
This place has seen better days... Started with the crab balls. $12 for 3 tbsp of crab...a joke. Flavor was pretty good. It took about 10 minutes for a draft Blue Moon to be poured in a nearly empty restaurant. I had the stuffed shrimp. Edible, but barely. They were stuffed with crab and some fish and bucketload of mayo. Here's what I didn't taste: seafood. I couldn't finish it because of all the hot-baked mayo. Gross. It also came with saffron orzo which had zero flavor. The green beans were okay, but had obviously been sitting under a heat lamp for sometime. Also ordered a side of sweet potato fries for our daughter. No seasoning or creative dipping sauce. The hostess was wearing skin tight leggings. No skirt, no long sweater. Just leggings. Okay for dance class, not okay for showing people to their tables. Leggings are not a pants substitute. I wouldn't recommend this place to a soul. Overpriced, dull food. Save your $$ for elsewhere.
(1)Sujja D.
Got the MD crab soup and it was good. Was disappointed with RnR crab cake sandwich. Crab cake itself had lot of filler in there and little lump crab meat. Size of the crab cake would have been OK if it was all lump crab meat as implied in the menu for $18.
(2)Steph B.
The service was great but the food was unremarkable especially in light of the $77 bill without tip for two. I have had better seafood and think that outside of the nostalgic view of the gazebo and the romance between my partner and I, we could have gone to Red Lobster for the exact same or lack of "wow factor"
(2)Robert D.
Excellent meal mahi was great, Ami was a great waitress , very professional and friendly, vegan plate was also great. We had a great time!!! What can I say good food great service and they kept my lady happy. Win win
(5)Heather G.
Went here for the Thanksgiving buffet because I wasn't cooking this year. My dad was treating (holla!) and I was too drugged up post-op to have any sort of input on making dinner reservations so this is what my fiance picked. There were copious quantities of food. The place was super full at 4 PM. For the most part, the food was meh. However, the squash bisque was DY-NO-MITE. And they gave us each $10 gift cards to come back and use before New Year's. I'm regifting my gift cards to a friend who bought Caps tix from me and lives about a mile from there. None of us were that excited that we're going to go rushing back. It's a pay it forward sort of thing and takes some stain off my cosmic karma.
(2)Miss T.
Brunch is great not sure why others gave such low ratings
(3)Angela U.
On a rare day out without the kids, we took a drive down to Chesapeake Beach. My husband had been to the area before, and thought it would be fun to walk around and look at the boats and such. We really wanted a brunch since it was early Sunday afternoon, and the valets at the spa suggested this place. I checked the Yelp reviews but we decided to go ahead with it anyway. I'm SO glad we did. Maybe the other meals aren't great, but the all you can eat brunch buffet was fantastic. Everything we tried, we loved. They even make their own donuts and include lots of tasty options for putting on top of them! I usually judge a place by their cream chipped beef. It too, was wonderful. We'll definitely be back!
(4)Kate F.
My table got the following -Rod 'N' Reel Crab Balls - fine, not a lot of flavor. Sad because it's crab! On the Chesapeake! -Portobello Neptune - a dish I haven't seen other places. It had a good flavor and texture. -Cream of Crab Soup - very rich but just ok flavor. Again, mediocre crab dish on the Chesapeake. What is up with that? -Grilled Salmon - fine. -Grilled Breast Chicken - very, very salty demi-glace. It seemed like somewhere under the sodium content there was a good flavor. I recommend you put some demi-glace on your potatoes. The chicken was well marinated or seasoned before grilling. -Broiled Sea Scallop - good flavor. -Chocolate Lava Cake - good, not sure what was lava about it. -Wine. We had to ask for smaller glasses as I don't need one longer than my forearm. A note about the seasonal vegetables, typical broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot mix. It seemed to be fresh vegetables, not frozen. But the kitchen seems unaware cauliflower takes longer to cook than the others. The hostess is a woman of few words, to the point that she came off as a bit unfriendly. Our server seemed a bit new, he overlooked some small things. My fork had a defect in it that cut my lip, which made the very salty demi-glace double plus not good. Bottom line - it was A-OK but I won't be back.
(3)Ordice G.
One of my favorite places. My wife and I found our current home in Chesapeake Beach because we came to eat here.
(4)Alicia G.
How many ways can a dinner go so wrong? Oh, let's begin... 1. Parking - it's a mess. There's this huge lot, but it was completely full. And not only was it completely full, they make it so it's difficult to get around. We ended up parking across the street by the marina. 2. Host Stand - an even bigger cluster than the parking lot! When we checked in, it seemed they were having extreme organization issues. One host was yelling at another who was yelling at another who was shaking her head / shrugging her shoulders while the rest of us stood around waiting to get a table. We were seated relatively quickly despite the impression they gave that it would be awhile. 3. Our Server - It was pretty clear that our server did not want to be our server. It was the holiday so he insisted that we get the buffet ($28) because if we ordered off the menu, the kitchen was -SO- backed up that we wouldn't get our food for hours. He seemed disappointed when we opted to order off the menu. 4. Our Server/Ordering - our drink order consisted of a pepsi and an unsweetened iced tea. When I received my iced tea, it was this funky peach color. I was scared to take a sip and rightly so because it was sickeningly sweet. When our server finally came back around, I asked for a new iced tea. He brought a new one over which was the right color and taste but then he never took away the old one. In fact, it stayed on our table until we left. As for food, we ended up ordering cream of crab soups ($5.59), crabcake sandwich ($15.99) and fried flounder sandwich ($10.99). Since I am not eating French fries for the whole year, I asked if I could substitute mashed potatoes. I was immediately shut down. Server: Our kitchen is so backed up, we can't do substitutions. Me: Okay...so then can I just get an extra side of mashed potatoes? Server: :Sigh: Yes, but I'll have to charge you extra. Me: I know; that's fine. 5. Food - The soup was good actually. Wish it had been served a little hotter though. Creamy soups shouldn't be served just warm. In between receiving our soup and our sandwiches, we were bought this funky "cheese" and crackers. I'm pretty positive that the "cheese" wasn't actually real cheese but some God-awful tasting concoction from a can. One teensy taste and I was done. Our sandwiches came out soon after and my sandwich came with mashed potatoes instead of fries. I was a little confused then as to why our server started the evening telling us our food wouldn't come for -hours- because they were soooo backed up. Weird. The sandwich was pretty good, as were the mashed potatoes...that they SUBSTITUTED FOR ME! 6. Dessert/The Check/The End - Before we got to the point of dessert (which we didn't order), the final straw was when our water was refilled. I'd say there was about half a glass of water left when it was refilled...from a sprite pitcher. Yep. Now we had glasses of sprite+water. We took that as our cue to end our evening at R'n'R because how could it possibly get worse? I couldn't tell if our server was being sarcastic or sincere when he said, "Thanks for making my life easier," after declining dessert and promptly dropping our check. What!? Yeah. Annnnd scene. This is one place you need to avoid. I sure as hell won't be back.
(1)Richard S.
Went for Brunch with a large party.. Everything was really nice and the food was delicious and plentiful.. small wait for the omelet station but everyone was courteous and friendly! I'd certainly go again!
(4)Shar C.
I'm torn between 2 and 3 stars, but all in all the experience could have been better. Let me start by saying that the restaurant is actually beautiful and has a great view of the Chesapeake from pretty much any seat in the dining area. The downfall was the service and food. We were a party of 15, but the restaurant was pretty much empty so I didn't see why it took almost an hour to get our food. When we did get the food, there really wasn't anything special about it and it seemed pretty bland in my opinion. My sister did say she enjoyed her selection. I was enjoying my time with family and friends, so I didn't mind as much and didn't complain but I still took notice. I'd possibly try it once more for breakfast/brunch if I was in the Chesapeake area again. It seemed to be the only place nice enough in that area for our family event.
(2)Discerning T.
The food is very good and the view is nice. It's a bit pricey, and the service is really hit-and-miss. Eat early to get a good table and better service. I do not recommend the Rod 'N' Reel during peak times, as the service really suffers.
(3)Jennifer F.
We had both dinner and brunch here during our girls weekend! We had a groupon and stayed at the Chesapeake Beach Resort so the deal was amazing and worth it but I would never come out here for this restaurant. Dinner - first and foremost, the hostess was terrible! She moved us from a bad table to a terrible table! We were literally in the bus station! It was awful but my girlfriends decided not to make a fuss. The waiter, I am thinking it was his first night! He was slow and just sad. The menu was nothing to write home about. The price of the wine was decent but everything else was pretty blah. I swear they had my shrimp do the back stroke in chlorine! It was awful. My girlfriend had the crab chowder which was amazing and she did enjoy the crab cake! Everything else was just not great! So the highlight of the brunch was the omelet! Really good and worth waiting for. The donut with topping was also pretty yummy! Other than that, the waitress was awful, never checked on us and then was rude when we needed change. I know they were busy but it was inexcusable! The rest of the food on the line was bleh. They never bussed the tables, so we had to take care of it ourselves and that is just sad. I so wanted to have a terrific experience and they just didn't even really try to deliver!
(2)Pat G.
Not a very exciting menu. Boring, in fact. Pricey, given that nothing seemed really fresh. Fried shimp, quite tasty; french fries were pretty good; cole slaw was excellent! My date had the spinach salad, which he loved; flounder sandwich (looked good); and fries. We left there no longer hungry, but not exceptionally happy to have eaten either. Service was interesting. We sat at the bar to watch my 'Skins (who lost to Carolina). No one offered a menu. Finally I asked for one. From then on, the bartender was attentive. Twas okay.
(3)Brandi Z.
Beautiful day so we sat outside. Very good service. Was told to "stay away" from ordering the crab balls so we did. Fried asparagus was fantastic. Salmon salad was awesome and my wife loved the portabella Neptune. We'll be back.
(4)K A.
7-2-09- New Happy Hour @ the R&R Thursday night about 5:30. The bartender was the wonderful Niki. My hubby and I had Ice cold beer. . We also ordered the Seafood Quesadilia which was ($8). It was excellent -crisp -fresh with large shrimp. We also ordered clams casino which were hot. they had nice spices but the baby clams were a little tough. $6). Shift change and then we had Brandi who was also a friendly bar tender. Place was not crowded most people were on the machines or outside at the Tiki Bar.
(3)Joseph C.
A big stink over nothing is the best way to describe the Rod 'N' Reel. Hyped up considerably thanks to the presence of bingo machines, the restaurant serves up diner quality food at restaurant prices. Unlike most mediocre restaurants, the Rod 'N' Reel doesn't even offer appetizing appetizers or a pleasing dessert. The presence of gambling adds a tacky crowd at times around the restaurant, which is never a plus. The only thing saving the Rod 'N' Reel from a single star is the presence of scenic Chesapeake Bay views, and that still may be too generous.
(2)Sarah D.
We had a terrible experience here. Ate on the deck, and we liked the live music and ambiance...hated everything else. We got the mini mariner platter that had a whole list of fried foods. When it came out, it was ONE scallop, one, shrimp, etc. the piece of flounder that was tiny and tasteless. None of the food was done well, the shrimp was stringy and tough, the scallop was soggy, the crab cake was the size of a quarter. Our friend ordered the club sandwich. It was ok, but she ordered fries and it came out with chips- only after she was almost done eating the sandwich did the fries she ordered (and still had to pay for) come out. We called the manager over to discuss the food and he jokingly insulted us- 'there are two kinds of seafood eaters, those who like it fried, and those who eat it baked or broiled." Next time, not that there will be a next time there, if we wanted the seafood to be flavorful and have a good texture, we need to order it baked...we were insulted and angry. With a name like Rod n Reel, you'd think they could fry seafood as well as bake it. Rather than take off the $20 meal that was not good, he gave us %15 off- a whopping $5 off the bill.
(1)Eileen D.
The food is NOT worth the overpricing. For example, $12.99 for a crab ball appetizer which turns out to be 3 crab balls smaller than golf balls. Food was unoriginal and boring, same as the atmosphere. The server was nice, but not attentive. Hostess and valet parking were in la-la land. I guess they don't have to be good...outrageously, for just a two-person table, an 18% gratuity was added to the bill and the server DID NOT ADVISE US of this. (The menu states for parties of 6 or more it is automatic.) We ALMOST tipped on top of the gratuity, but because of the mediocre food and high prices, this time did a double-take (which we will be sure to do at all restaurants from now on). One star because I had to.
(1)Dean S.
Got long neck steamer soft shell clams, they were a bit over cooked, but still okay. A member of my party also received a bad mussel. Service was polite, cordial, and good. They claim things are made on site, yet there are some things served that you can tell are frozen then heated up. The cheesecake is alright, apple crisp is fine, but the blueberry cobbler is too watery, maybe over cooked, or frozen. Wouldn't come again.
(2)Daphne F.
The views are wonderful and the food ranges from decent to very good, but you'd better have some time to kill and a sense of humor about service. I've been here several times, all for lunch, and at first I thought maybe it was just the off-season, or just a new waiter(ess), or we'd arrived early in the shift but I've come to the conclusion that this restaurant is just not very well managed. The Maryland crab soup is an excellent spiced vegetable soup with lumps of crab meat added in on top. The crab grilled cheese is a fun lunch item. I like the crab cakes as well but I like any crab cakes. The service borders on comical. The waitresses seem unclear on what the soup of the day is, whether sides can be substituted (no, after a scolding by the hostess, who the waitress consulted with, it's clear they definitely can't be), whether the lunch menu is in effect, and generally anything that you might want to know about the menu. The service is always slow. Sometimes it's a reasonably slow service, but sometimes it's an extremely slow service and you start running out of conversation with your lunch partners. Awkward. I would also suggest that you not expect them to be ready to serve you or take orders for take-out when they first open. They will helpfully tell you on the phone that they just opened only a little while ago so can you please call back in a bit, after they finish setting up. I did - after all, the crab soup is pretty good and my alternative was Subway or McDonald's.
(2)Kelly G.
Hey! Me & Mara G. went for the casual dining option here tonight. We bellied up to the bar, ordered drinks, then the fun began. It was a simple, overcast, Labor Day afternoon and there was a live band pumpin' the ol' school and the dancefloor was packed. Wow! I had a great time! The crabcake sandwich was hot and juicy. The cocktail was cold and bottomless. The staff was cordial and thorough. What more could I ask for? Yay, I'm a fan. p.s. - Oh, yeah, they have slot machines too! Plus Bingo!
(4)R. G.
Let me cut to the chase. The food is slop. I went there with a friend and we both ordered burgers. It was one of the worse dining experiences I've ever had. I don't know who the cook is, but it was a sloppy mess. The lettuce was old, tomatoes were not ripe and the fries overcooked. In case you haven't figure it out, they suck. Do not waste your time, you will be sorry.
(1)Erin K.
I wasn't impressed with the food. Although they have a great location. I would have expected more. They look out dated and need to remodel the front area. I'm not rushing back anytime soon..
(2)Scotto B.
Filthy joint - The nickname "Rotten Eel" is well deserved.
(1)Patrick H.
We've been making day trips to Chesapeake/ North Beach for years now, and in all that time, I've never eaten at the Rod N Reel. They've gone through a lot of transformation through the years and I have to say the place looks good. They've added a nice outdoors marina side dining area in addition to the main restaurant. We decided to try our luck after doing some sight seeing with an out of town guest, and we are glad we did. We arrived just at the tail end of the lunch rush, which was lucky, because clearly they were not ready for a lunch rush. With that said, for starters we shared a platter of blue point oysters. Meaty and salty with a tasty homemade cocktail sauce. I had the Maryland Crab soup which was good. Full of crab and fresh veggies in a snappy tomato broth. For my entree I had the Crab Cake sandwich. I opted for the mashed potatoes instead of fries (Trying to watch my figure). My dining partners had the Shrimp Poor Boy and the Cajun Chicken Sandwich, respectively. The crab cake was stellar. One big healthy cake full of jumbo lump. I usually ask for my crab cakes to be broiled, but this one was fried. It looked like a great big fried baseball, full of rich crabby goodness. Mashers were good, as was the housemade tartar sauce and fresh cole slaw. The Cajun chicken sandwich was huge and tasty. It came with nice long thick fries, as did the Shrimp Poor boy. Also a huge portion and worth every bit of the $12.99 we paid for it. The place is casual, service was decent and while I wouldn't say it's the finest restaurant I've ever been to, it's definitely above average, and on a sunny day, the view of the bay can't be beat.
(4)Adam G.
I love the area, but this place is horrible and over priced. Entrees are around $20, which I'm find with if the food is decent quality. Some examples of the quality here: the strawberrys on my cheesecake had been cut with a knife that must have been used for also cutting onions because the onion taste still lingered; the french fries had the distinct taste of coming from the freezer, the pot stickers were so over fried that my friend thought he chipped his tooth, everything else was just a greasy mess. The service matched the quality of food. The staff was curt and attentive.
(1)Derrick C.
The stuffed Rockfish is fabulous but the crab cakes, which are a staple of Maryland seafood restaurants, were horrible. The oysters were small, the clam soup taste like Campbells, and the side items were bland. The best thing about the dinning experience was the view. Bottom line...steer clear of Rod and Reel!!
(1)Dana M.
Went for the brunch buffet and while neither of us are big on buffets, it was as fresh as a buffet could get I suppose. Some things were dry but that's what happens on a buffet. My bf enjoyed his omlette and pancakes.
(3)Ryamie B.
Service is alright. My steak was good. Wife loved the crab cakes. Lovely scenery. Menu could use a little more.
(4)Jane D.
This was some of the worst food we've ever eaten at a restaurant! Especially one that's in a resort! The only explanation we can think of is that the chef is lazy and the management is cheap and banking on the fact that they're the only restaurant in town that's not a pizza joint. How do you ruin French fries?! The lack of a decent menu was the first disappointment. The fried shrimp was terrible. There was actually lump crab meat and large jumbo shrimp on the salad but not one decent dressing. How hard is it to have a selection of decent salad dressings l? And if you only serve fried foods can't you make them edible? So over priced for the lousy quality. Without some major changes we won't be back. Note to the owner: make this a place worth going!
(1)Brittany H.
I'm not crazy about their plated dinners but the Saturday and Sunday all you can eat breakfast buffet is totally worth the money! Cook to order omelettes, French toast, pancakes and waffles! The Saturday brunch has less of a selection then on Sunday's so I would definitely recommend coming on a Sunday morning. It's always super busy but I recommend coming in between 1030-1130!
(3)Tim T.
I haven't been here to eat in over three year, my wife and I decided to give it a try. I ordered the veal shank with mashed potatoes and asparagus my wife had the stuffed rockfish. The fish was not fresh had a very fishy smell and taste, my veal chop looked good until I cut it open and it was super well done. I waited a few min. To eat it so I could tell the waitress, well she never came so I just eat it, and t was very dry and chewy. The waitress finally came after I was half done and my wife was done, she had no remorse. It will be a while before we return
(2)Joe G.
Fine dining prices for below average food in a questionable environment. The food is boring, predictable, and it leaves you wanting more (small portions and unsatisfying taste) - and it will break the bank in the process. The Sunday brunch is the only reason I give this place two stars instead of one. It's a great selection of brunch food, but it's also very disorganized and disjointed. You tend to miss certain food items because things are all over the place. Not a problem if you have done their brunch a couple of times, but not good for first-timers. My advice is to stay away from the Rod N Reel. If you are so inclined to try this restaurant, go to the Sunday brunch, but don't do it on Easter Sunday or any other religious holiday (the line will be out the door). I wish I could offer a better alternative for the area, but the area lacks a quality sit-down restaurant.
(2)E C.
Don't bother. My husband & I went for our 2nd anniversary dinner. Oysters Rockefeller had way too much spinach... I mean, I could hardly find the actual oyster. The salad didn't have enough dressing. The entrees were barely edible. My husband, who will eat almost anything was disappointed after his first bite. He had to make his own cocktail sauce just to get through the meal. The service was awful. There were flys literally flying around us as we ate. The only thing good, honestly was the view.
(1)Pat K.
The Rod 'N' Reel has a wonderful location right on the water. That is probably the only good thing I can say about this place. The food here is overpriced and no where near as good as it should be. I would say this place has the same food quality as an everyday chain restaurant. The service is slow and sometimes even nonexistent. If you are in the area, there are a lot better places to go, including Smokey Joe's which is located right next to (basically same building) the Rod 'N' Reel.
(2)Judy E.
The food was under mediocre it made me so sick the spinach Alfredo dip was te worst ever nothing was cut up. The bread that came with it was stale. The cream of crab soup had frozen crab in it. Health code issues there. It was not busy and our waitress's service abilities were bad. I am a professional bartender and would never give a one star if it waS not necessary please don't go!!!!
(1)Patricia H.
My cousin was in town and we made reservation for 15. All the appetizers we order were very good, we pretty much ordered one of each. The service was good. We all ordered different dinner dishes from ahi tuna to rock fish all was great
(4)Linda L.
The plus....4 regular adult entrees, 5 kids meals, 8 desserts, 1 appetizer, 1 soup, 1 cocktail....no complaints about the food except that the breaded asparagus app came with just 8 pieces and blah dip. Really, the food was pretty good. The negatives....SERVICE was EXTREMELY slow. The restaurant was not even 1/2 full and it took at least 45 mins for our entrees to arrive (even the kids pastas), no bread to munch on, tables were not bussed (even when our desserts came, even when the waiter commented that there wasn't any room to put the desserts) and 1/2 an hr for our bill to be figured out. Getting our bill--we had 2 vouchers from the hotel ($25 each) that the restaurant is attached to & we wanted to pay the rest w/2 credit cards split 50/50. They could NOT figure it out!! 1st, they couldn't apply the vouchers before splitting the bill, then they couldn't correctly split the bill w/the vouchers, then they couldn't figure out how to apply the automatic tip for grps more than 6. After having spent 2.5 hrs at this restaurant, we had to pay w/1 credit card and the manager wrote in the "automatic" 20% tip, which they definitely did not deserve. I may have gone back for the food, but the service trumpted the overall experience & we won't be returning.
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