5 editor picks across United States.
5 chesapeake restaurants worth the trip across United States, editor-ranked. All cuisines in United States.
Gertrude's sits inside the Baltimore Museum of Art, where founder John Shields cooks the Chesapeake canon of crab cake and Maryland crab soup.
OrderThe crab cake, plus a cup of the Maryland crab soup loaded with vegetables.
TipLunch on the terrace overlooking the BMA sculpture garden is the quietest, prettiest seat in the house.
Rappahannock on Grace pours oysters from the Croxton family farm in Topping, Virginia. The Richmond outpost of the Virginia oyster-farming revival.
OrderOlde Salt oysters, Rappahannock oysters, Crab cake
Brittanny Anderson's Scott's Addition seafood room, opened September 2025 in the former Brenner Pass space. Casual Chesapeake fish-shack menu.
OrderCrab cakes, Oyster stew, Fried fish plate
Dale Reitzer's third Acacia location, at Libbie Mill. Multi-time James Beard nominee and a 1999 Food and Wine Best New Chef; modern coastal Virginia cooking.
True Chesapeake Oyster Co. in Whitehall Mill is chef Zack Mills's bay-to-table room, serving its own Jerome Creek oysters and a jumbo lump crab cake.
OrderA dozen Jerome Creek oysters and the jumbo lump crab cake.
TipThe oysters come from the restaurant's own farm; ask the bar which harvest is freshest that day.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Taste the best of Richmond’s oldest neighborhood with a walking food tour, visiting 5 local tasty establishments.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Taste your way through 6+ dishes in Shockoe Bottom, from Southern she-crab soup to Thai-style duck bao and artisan cookies. Discover Richmond’s modern Southern soul an...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Taste the best of Richmond’s most diverse neighborhood with the city’s top-rated, most delicious walking food tour! Sample food from 5-6 restaurants and explore the hi...
