Irish pubs aren't what you usually think of when it comes to searching for delicious crab cakes.  Cold, tasty Guinness?  Yes.  Corned beef and cabbage?  You betcha.  But crab cakes?  Color me skeptical.  However, there is a simple explanation for it.  You see, there used to be this restaurant in Annapolis called Little Campus.  Little Campus was one of those colorful local Annapolis haunts that served good food at an affordable price in an environment that is distinctively Annapolis.  But that all changed when Little Campus closed and an Irish bar by the name of Galway Bay took its place.

You see, legend has it that Little Campus employed a lady who was known as Miss Peggy.  And Miss Peggy was known for her crab cakes.  People would flock from far and wide for Miss Peggy's crab cakes.  So when Little Campus closed, the owners of Galway Bay carried on the tradition.  And the crab cakes are so good that the restaurant group that owns Galway Bay also carries her secret recipe at their other locations, the Killarney House and Brian Boru.

We all know what happens when someone buys the rights to something.  Typically it's just a cash grab at making a quick profit on a known, trusted name.  People still go out of their way to try the "brand", but because of the need to maximize profits, the quality suffers and isn't the same as it used to be, what made that name so famous in the first place.  So how has Miss Peggy's secret recipe fared since being taken over by an Irish restaurant group?  Follow along and find out!

Cantlers Riverside Inn has been serving fine seafood to the Annapolis area since 1974.  Watermen, boaters, and tourists alike can agree that this establishment is the embodiment of a Maryland seafood house -- no frills, just good food.  A little bit hard to find, this place has a perfect perch on the waters of Edgewater, not far from Annapolis harbor.  They have a solid steamed crab, but what we really want to know about are their crab cakes.  Well let's find out!

You can't get any more 'local landmark' than Chick and Ruth's Delly.  Politicians, dignitaries, celebrities, locals, and tourists agree that your local Ma and Pa sandwich shop is certainly still worth visiting.  Where else can you order a sandwich named after a local politician, recite the Pledge of Allegiance each morning, and take on one of the the Colossal Challenges?  And now they have crab cakes available at the shop as well as mail order.  Are they really Crab Cake Central, as the sign outside indicates?  Read along and find out!

Christopher's bills itself as serving contemporary American cuisine, where personal touches and quality cuisine are the cornerstones of their restaurant. When you first enter, you'll walk through the bar, and come out the other side in a cozy dining room. The atmosphere fits any mood, whether you're feeling social, entertaining friends/family, or bringing a date. But we're not here to bring a date.  We're here to sample their crab cakes.  How did they fare?  Continue on and see for yourself!

The Crab Cake Cafe brings a new twist to a Maryland favorite.  Located across from Annapolis High School, this establishment combines the tradition of Maryland crab with different flavors found around the country.  Everything is made fresh on the premise from scratch, ensuring the best flavor and highest quality.  Their slogan says it all "Local flavors....twisted".  Crab cake flavor inspirations come from places such as Texas, Hawaii, and New Orleans.  But fret not, the Maryland classic is still available, which is where we decided to start.  Do they truly capture the flavor of the Chesapeake?  Let's read on and find out!