I'm going to Annapolis for the first time on business. Any recommendations on places to see/good restaurants? I have a car and am the type of person where I don't care what the restaurant looks like, as long as the food is great. Any suggestions? I'm not a shopper, but enjoy the outdoors and nice scenery.

Visit the Eastern Shore. Kent Manor Inn on Kent Island (just across the Bay Bridge) is excellent. St. Michaels, forty-five minutes away, is a bit touristy but the food is good there and so is the waterman's museum, a good place to visit. Twenty minutes down the road from St.Michaels is Tilghmans Island, one of the major genuine working waterman's venues on the Eastern Shore. If you go to Tilghmans, you should consider eating the crab cakes at Harrison's.

Why go to the Eastern Shore? There is nothing over there that the Western Shore doesn't offer. So Nancy, what kind of food? Seafood? Ribs? Italian? French/American? Do you want atmosphere? Do you want touristy or the local scene? If you can be a little more specific I can point you to the right restaurants.
As far as scenery walk through the Naval Academy, walk around Church Circle and the State House and up Main Street. Have a beer at Ram's Head Tavern. Have lunch at Buddy's Crabs and Ribs.(nice view of harbor-get a window seat). Monday night Jazz Jam Session at the Maryland Inn. Go to Edgewater to Adam's Ribs for the best ribs, steamed shrimp and onion loaf. YUM! YUM! Want some crabs? Aw Man am I hungry!
Not much scenery outside of downtown Annapolis unless you drive across the Bay Bridge. The Bridge view IS the scenery. Just turn around and drive back across it to Annapolis. There is a visitor's center 1/2 block down West Street from Church Circle. Ask most anyone without a camera downtown to tell you how to get there. I can talk all night about eating in Annapolis if given the chance. I used to be a chef in Annapolis a few years back.

Charlie,

Thanks for your reply. I LOVE ribs, so one night I can try that. But I feel compelled to have seafood...I DO like crab cakes! I'm more the type to go to places that are local favorites...not into touristy type places. Places that are local institutions that have been around for 20 or 30 years where the food is great. I appreciate all suggestions! Thanks!

YUM! REading what Charlie wrote - I want to go just to eat there!

I spent a weekend in Annapolis over the summer and really enjoyed it. One of the highlights was my trips to Aromi d'Italia for gelato. The place is on the waterfront all the way down on the left side and their gelato is the best I've had in the US.

Hi Nancy. For seafood places that the locals patronize go to Cantler's Riverside Inn, a little dive of a place a few miles across the river from the Naval Academy. (never buy the largest or smallest crabs. The mediums are always the best deal - Note: Maryland crabs are not in season now. You'll probably be served Carolina or Lousiana blue crabs but they taste the same) Also great crabcakes can be found at Davis' Pub in Eastport. Eastport also has great ribs at Adams Ribs (plus the shrimp and onion loaf I last mentioned) but the one in Edgewater (about a 15 min drive) has more character (a mix of rednecks and yuppies).
Fred's restaurant has an uninspiring location but great crabcakes. Have cocktails windowside at the Chart House but don't eat there unless their great salad bar intrigues you. McGarvey's is both touristy and full of locals. Food is OK. Great French food at Cafe Normandy on Main Street. My favorite upper class restaurant is Northwoods. Get reservations in advance though.
The Woodfire in Severna Park (15 min. drive) is a good dinner place too. If you do end up on the Eastern Shore eat seafood at Harris's crabhouse near the Kent Narrows bridge.

Charlie

Unless you're eating crabs, the food is lousy at Harris's Crabhouse at Kent Narrows. Everybody in Queen Anne's County knows that.

How about an egg cream at Chick-N-Ruth's? You shouldn't visit Annapolis without making a quick stop for a treat in this little diner. It's right downtown and an institution in its own right.