Maryland is famous for crabs, but ask around in the little waterfront towns and you will hear folks brag about their catfish instead. Fried crispy, blackened, tucked into a po-boy, or piled onto a platter with hush puppies, catfish is the quiet star at plenty of small-town spots across the state.
The nine places on this list sit in old schoolhouses, dockside shacks, and downtown taverns, and each one has earned a loyal following that keeps the tables full. If you are planning a road trip or just want somewhere different for dinner, these joints are worth the map pin.
Here is where to find some of the best catfish in Maryland’s small towns.
1. Old Salty’s Restaurant, LLC., Fishing Creek, MD
A restaurant inside a converted historic schoolhouse is already a good story before you even see the menu. Old Salty’s sits way out on Hoopers Island at 2560 Hoopers Island Rd, deep in Dorchester County where the road runs right along the Chesapeake Bay.
Fishing Creek is a tiny waterman village, so getting here is part of the fun. The reward is old-school Maryland seafood done the way it has been done for years, including fish bites that regulars go out of their way for.
The catfish bites are a standout, and the kitchen keeps company classics like cream of crab soup, crab dip, and crab balls in steady rotation. Portions run generous, and there is indoor and outdoor seating plus live music some nights.
Hours are Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 8, Friday and Saturday from noon to 9, and Sunday 11 to 6, with Monday and Tuesday closed. Parking is easy and free, so plan the drive out to the island and give yourself time.
2. Captain Pat’s Seafood, Drayden, MD
Tucked into a quiet waterfront corner of St. Mary’s County, Captain Pat’s is the kind of true southern Maryland seafood joint that feels increasingly rare. You will find it at 46555 Dennis Point Way in Drayden, with a deck that looks out over the water.
The menu leans into the classics done right. Crab cakes come fried or broiled, and the scallops, hush puppies, catfish, and fish bites round out a lineup that keeps things simple and satisfying.
Prices sit in the friendly $20 to $30 range per person, and the sweet tea and homemade tartar sauce get plenty of love. Sitting out on the deck on a nice day is the move here.
Doors are open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 to 8, Friday and Saturday from 11 to 9, and Sunday 11 to 8, closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations are accepted, and parking is free and plentiful.
3. The Narrows Restaurant, Grasonville, MD
Boats gliding in along Kent Narrows make the view here as much a draw as the food. The Narrows sits at 3023 Kent Narrow Way S in Grasonville, a small Eastern Shore town in Queen Anne’s County with deep waterman roots.
The signature dishes are crab cakes and cream of crab soup, but the pecan crusted catfish has become a longtime favorite for folks who come back again and again. The Cajun version gives it a little extra kick.
This one runs a touch more upscale-casual than the others on the list, with a menu that stretches from cioppino and calamari to fried green tomato sandwiches. Prices swing from $20 all the way up to $60 depending on what you order.
Open daily, with hours running to 9 or later on weekends. Dinner reservations are recommended, and there is a mix of free and paid parking nearby.
4. Ocean Odyssey Crab House & Seafood Restaurant, Cambridge, MD
Coming back from Assateague or exploring the historic port town of Cambridge, this is an easy stop that has been feeding the community for generations. Ocean Odyssey sits at 316 Sunburst Hwy and has long been a go-to for local crabs and fresh seafood.
The fried catfish here earns its spot with a light, crispy batter, and it shows up both as a platter and tucked into sandwiches. Fried oysters and crab make appearances on the sandwich lineup too.
Beyond the catch of the day, you will find large steamed crabs, fish tacos, soft crab sandwiches, fish and chips, and snow crab legs. There is a seasonal beer garden and a laid-back setting that works for groups.
Note the schedule carefully. It is open Monday and Tuesday 11 to 8, closed Wednesday and Thursday, then Friday and Saturday 11 to 9 and Sunday 11 to 8.
5. Forge Southern Comfort, North East, MD
If catfish two ways sounds like a plan, this is your spot. Forge Southern Comfort sits at 472 Mauldin Ave in North East, a small Cecil County town with a classic main-street feel.
Southern staples are the whole point here. Fried catfish and perfectly blackened catfish share the menu with a catfish po-boy, and the kitchen sends out scratch-made comfort food at prices that stay in the $20 to $30 range.
The rest of the lineup is a comfort-food greatest hits list: chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, collard greens, cornbread, and desserts like key lime pie and creme brulee. Staff have a reputation for making guests feel like family.
They also serve breakfast and brunch, which sets this one apart from the seafood-focused spots. Hours run Wednesday through Sunday, with reservations recommended for dinner and free parking on hand.
6. MacGregor’s Restaurant, Havre De Grace, MD
River views come standard at this Havre de Grace fixture. MacGregor’s sits at 331 St John St in Harford County, right where the Susquehanna River spills into the Chesapeake Bay.
Catfish shows up in a couple of ways worth knowing about. There is a fried catfish sub that runs bigger than you might expect, plus a blackened catfish option for folks who like it with more seasoning.
The broader menu is fish-focused American fare, with stuffed flounder, a crab cake platter, hot crab dip, French onion soup, and the Ramblin’ Burger. Prices sit comfortably in the $20 to $30 range.
The historic tavern side hosts happy hour and weekend live music, and dogs are welcome inside and out. It is open daily, later on weekends, with parking free and easy to find.
7. Broad Axe, Hagerstown, MD
Head all the way west to the Cumberland Valley and the catfish story changes shape. Broad Axe at 28 W Franklin St in downtown Hagerstown turns catfish into pub food, and it works beautifully.
The catfish bites and fried catfish nuggets are the headliners here, breaded light and never greasy, served with a house sauce that gets talked about a lot. There are also catfish fish tacos with a choice of sauces for something a little different.
The rest of the menu leans into modern pub fare, from crab dip and crab nachos to a lineup of burgers and Old Bay kettle chips. With most plates in the $10 to $20 range, it is the most wallet-friendly stop on the list.
Being a downtown hangout, it keeps late hours, open until midnight most nights and 1 AM on weekends. There is live music, a big beer selection, and plenty of parking options nearby.
8. M&D Chicken and Fish, Bryans Road, MD
For a soul-food take on catfish, this Charles County spot delivers. M&D Chicken and Fish sits at 3091 Marshall Hall Rd in Bryans Road, a quiet rural community in Southern Maryland.
The catfish here comes out seasoned and moist, and you can order it fried the way you like it. It shares the fryer with croaker, whiting, shrimp, chicken, and turkey wings, so seafood platters are easy to build.
The sides are where the soul-food heart shows: mac and cheese, cabbage, collard greens, yellow rice, potato salad, sweet potato casserole, and honey butter hush puppies. There is a kids’ menu too, and pork chop meals are a favorite alongside the fish.
This is a casual eat-in and takeout joint, so it is great for grabbing platters and family meals. Hours run Tuesday through Saturday noon to 9 and Sunday noon to 7, closed Monday, with curbside pickup available.
9. Big Mack’s Kitchen & Dock Bar, Tilghman, MD
Out on secluded Tilghman Island, a dockside meal caps off a great drive. Big Mack’s Kitchen & Dock Bar sits at 6178 Tilghman Island Rd in Talbot County, right on the water in a tiny waterman village.
The catfish comes out cooked just right, paired with seasoned potatoes and green beans that hold their own. Fish here is prized for its freshness, and the kitchen also turns out comfort food like smoked wings, pulled pork, and fish and chips.
The waterfront view is a big part of the draw, and the setting works well for groups and families with a kids’ menu on hand. Prices land in the $20 to $30 range per person.
Hours are Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 9, closed Monday and Tuesday. Parking is free, so make the island run and settle in dockside.
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