Bridges has gone way down hill rapidly. It is now casual (trending toward redneck) dining, not โfine diningโ anymore. The tables were repainted with a paint that has deteriorated into a sticky gunk layer. I actually noticed this on nearly every table nearby. It left one to wonder what unsanitary creatures may linger in the sticky, goo-topped tables after being wiped down. Another noticeable downgrade were the salt and pepper shakers which are more fitting for a picnic than a restaurant dining room. The bathrooms also had stained deteriorating counters. Often it is said that you can guess the cleanliness of a restaurant kitchen by the appearance of its bathrooms. The sangria is now served in a less than classy redneck-style โdrinking jarโ which made the fruit additions seem scant. The range of wines trends pricey with an absence of the quality classic wines that were previously offered as moderately priced options. The menu definitely has more junky (cheap ingredient) Asian/Korean dishes added which detract from the classy American/Seafood dishes once offered at this beautifully placed waterfront setting. One odd money-grab special of our dining occasion was a cacio e pepe with cheap vegetables tossed in for $32. The specialty was in the pricing of a dish laden with low-cost and unimaginative ingredients I guess. Another tawdry offering was a smash burger with 2 vastly different sauces. In culinary school this is normatively taught as a big no no (sweet and smokey bacon jam does not pair well, if at all, with horseradish sauce). Another offering were the bang bang shrimp which ended up as an odd flavored bomb, not bang. The wasabi aioli drizzled artfully on the shrimp is actually a horseradish sauce (white and not tinged green: my palate says horseradish) and the Thai chili sauce was undetectable. Disappointingly the Thai chili sauce served with the calimari was definitely thinned with vinegar to an acidic slurry with no sweet chili influence. The vinegar slurry was a disaster which was served in cheap plastic cups that should be relegated to take out orders NOT the dining room. The Carribean Salmon was passable, however, somewhat dull. The highlight of the meal, seemingly is the one thing that seems unchanged: the cream of crab soup. Kudos to the prep chef who prepared the soup...
ย ย ย Read moreOff season review: Bridges restaurant located across the Kent Island Bridges is perfectly situated along the waterways and inlets of the Chesapeake Bay. There is ample free parking with seasonal outdoor seating that can accommodate moderate to large size crowds in the summertime they also have the ability to have an outdoor bar Adirondack chairs that can be placed around the cobblestone patio and that face the Chesapeake Bay and the available docks if you are boating. We visited this restaurant off season after a snowstorm so the lunch crowd was minimal the staff was helpful though there is a slight need for a little bit more personality and want especially since the place is empty and they don't have a lot to do I suspect that towards the dinner hour and the crowds will get a little busier and I'm sure the staff will see some of the regulars there.
We enjoy the light Fair which included there wings with Old Bay seasoning on the side we also had a spring salad with grilled rockfish and a cup of the cream of Maryland crab soup a drink from the bar and we sat by the windows overlooking the outdoor sitting area as well as the bay.
I would recommend reservations as the season continues to develop and sometimes evening hours can get a little busy they have a very nice fireplace area that can be a good place on a cool afternoon evening and the music provided is reminiscing of the sounds enjoyed buy an adult crowd. This restaurant is suited both for families as well as Gatherings for adults and their friends.
There is a much more seasonal and activity driven venue during the Spring and Summer seasons and a great place to meet in the early fall sit outside and enjoy a hot drink
I give this restaurant four out of five stars I recommended ask questions of your staff push them to be a little bit more than standard and you will have a...
ย ย ย Read moreI'd like to preface this review by saying we have been customers at Bridges for a LONNNNNGGG time. I'd classify us as "regulars" - wait staff typically remember us when we sit down for a meal. We know we can expect a quality meal when we're there. Typically ... Our last visit to Bridges was so disappointing. We were able to sit outside and enjoy the nice weather - the location and the view can't be beat. The menu has changed slightly - lots of the old favorites updated (or with just new names/descriptions). Our son (whose birthday we were celebrating) always loves to get the calamari appetizer, which came out cold and tough and a much smaller serving size than what we had normally received. We also ordered the crab dip, which was respectable. Then we ordered our meals: shrimp and grits; scallops and risotto; ribeye steak (medium); and the smash burger. I know prices have increased across the country, but I was not expecting to pay $25 for a smash burger. TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS!! For a smash burger? We knew when we chose Bridges it wasn't going to be a low-cost meal, and I wouldn't mind the price if it were worth it, but it definitely was not. I ordered the ribeye. It came out cooked unevenly (one end was well done while the other end was rare); 1/3 of the steak was a big glob of fat that hadn't been trimmed off (and I know that ribeyes are fatty pieces of meat - but in this instance, you trim the fat off that pricey piece of meat). My husband had the scallops and reported they were chewy and a bit fishy. It's unfortunate because we truly love going to Bridges for the atmosphere and, until now, the food. I can't justify spending that much money for a mediocre plate of food. Until I hear otherwise, our status as "regulars" at Bridges has, sadly,...
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