Chick & Ruth's Delly — Restaurant in Annapolis

This is my entire family's favorite place in the world. I've lived all over Europe and the U.S., eaten at many Michelin-starred restaurants, but nothing can beat Chick & Ruth's. When I was a teen, it was always fun to come late at night. The waitresses had all been working there since time began and were real characters. It was fun to watch the Mids wonder what the heck was going on. The booths are so close together, that you always end up making friends with whoever is sitting next to you. There's the Governor's booth, which is roped off for him, and this is where all the legislators have always come for breakfast. They've always said the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. The sandwiches have always been named after local politicians (and national ones), and every time I go back, I look to see who's still around (I miss Virginia Claggett and John Astle).

They fixed up the bathroom some years ago, so it isn't the scary proposition it once was. Since COVID, you have to ask for the dish of pickles, instead of them staying on the table. Don't miss out on those.

This is where we always come when the kids are in town, we have a birthday to celebrate, one of us is feeling blue and needs cheering up, or where I sneak to when my mom's had surgery in recent years. I just told her the other week that that's where I've been going to, and she got so upset I went without her.

The food's incomparable and so reasonably priced. No sneaky tips or fees like in DC. I used to always get the Main Street (a reuben with coleslaw) and a vanilla egg cream, which is like an ice cream soda. When Ted was still around, they'd serve it with a giant scoop of the best vanilla ice cream ever, whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry, and they'll still make it that way if you ask. The crab cake Benedict is unbelievable. Nothing but pure jumbo lump - no filler, no backfin - and at a crazy-reasonable price. I sent a photo of it to a high school friend in Denver, and it got sent all over Maryland to all of the crab cake connoisseurs, and now it's legend. My niece loves to try to finish the giant milkshakes. I think she did one time. Now that she's all grown up, when she and her boyfriend come to town, they stay at the inn above the restaurant. The cookies and pastries are amazing, too.

When Ted sold the place, we were all worried, but then we met Keith Jones, and he was such a nice man and loved the place as much as we did, and we were relieved. He made some improvements, but kept all the best parts the same. We were so sorry to hear of his passing. It makes us so happy that his son, who is also a lovely person, is keeping it just as special.

I guess this is a bit more than a review, but if you're coming from out of town, you really can't miss this magical place. It truly is a part...

Went here to celebrate my brother's birthday. The place came highly rated by one of my brother's friends. Sadly the day we went I can't give it the recommendation my brother was given. This place seems to be quite popular with people as all kinds of famous people have gone her as is evident by the pictures on the wall. I ordered the Crab Cake dinner platter with one crab cake. We were told it was better than the 2 crab cake platter as the one crab cake platter comes with 2 sides and the 2 crab cake platter comes with 3 sides The ambiance of the place is more of a diner so keep that in mind if you choose to come here. The waitress was nice, pleasant and helpful. We had a party of 6 people and our food didn't all come out at the same time. My wife's food came at least 5-7 minutes after the rest of us got our food and this was not good as I didn't want to start eating my food until my wife's food came out. This caused the rest of our food to become some what cold. My daughter complained to me her sweet potato fries were cold. We didn't want to complain about our food so we really just left it and did not eat but a few fries. The other issue we ran into was with my brother's food order. He ordered the 8 oz Flat iron steak and when the steak came out it looked more like a 4 oz steak. My brother ended up swapping it out for a crab cake. The crab cake was good don't get my wrong but I feel like it could have had more meat and less filler for the quality of crab cake they market as being one of the best in Maryland. The other thing I noticed was after eating the crab cake platter my mouth and teeth had a funky after taste and a film I felt on my lower teeth. I just couldn't get rid of until I brushed my teeth later that evening. I am not sure if the after taste/film came from the crab cakes or whether it came from one of the sides I ordered. I had ordered the fresh sautéed spinach and onion rings. I can tell your their onion rings were really good though so I don't think the onion rings were the culprit. I would guess it was the crab cake or the spinach. Anyhow, this was or experience. Not sure I will go back. It did seem their all day Breakfast food looked good as some of the other customers in the restaurant had ordered some items from their all day breakfast and it did look yummy. Made me think I should have just ordered some food from their breakfast menu. So my rating of average comes from quality of food, temperature of food and waiting for all of food to come out at once not as good as could have been hoped for...

Located on the bustling main strip of downtown Annapolis, Chick & Ruth's Deli is a beloved institution that exudes the charm of a classic American diner. The cozy, no-frills atmosphere immediately transports you to a simpler time, with much of its decor unchanged since it first opened. If you're in town and craving a comforting, home-cooked meal, this is one stop you can't miss.

Despite its small size, the restaurant offers a variety of seating options, including booth seating, two- and four-top tables, and space at the bar. The seating is first-come, first-serve, so if you're visiting with a larger group, be prepared to wait a bit for a table, especially on weekends.

The menu is nothing short of impressive, offering a vast selection of breakfast items served all day, along with an array of sandwiches and dinner entrees. Portion sizes are generous, so come hungry! On a busy Saturday, my party of two was lucky enough to be seated immediately as a couple of diners were finishing up just as we walked in. We decided to dive into their breakfast offerings.

I opted for the corned beef hash, served with eggs over easy, toast, and home fries. The corned beef, made in-house at the deli, was tender and flavorful, pairing perfectly with the crispy, golden home fries. My dining companion went with the biscuits and gravy, which came with eggs and home fries as well. The biscuits were delightfully fluffy and buttery, and the rich, creamy sausage gravy was the perfect complement.

Service at Chick & Ruth's was excellent. Our food arrived quickly, and our drinks were kept full throughout the meal—definitely an attentive staff. A pleasant surprise came at the end of the meal when we discovered that we could pay the bill directly at the table using a QR code, making the checkout process seamless and efficient. No need to wait in line at the counter!

Overall, if you’re looking for a hearty and satisfying meal to fuel your day of exploring Annapolis, I highly recommend Chick & Ruth’s Deli. Whether you're a local or just visiting, this spot delivers comfort food at its finest, all with the kind of friendly service that makes you feel...