Earlier this summer, the CCR stopped by Phillips Harborplace in Baltimore to review their famous crab cakes.  Needless to say, we weren't that impressed.  But while grocery shopping one day, it occurred to us that because Phillips is such a large franchise in the area, that maybe, just maybe, overall consistency between retail and restauraunt products is what they're after.  

Phillips has a few retail offerings relating to crab cakes:  the Maryland Style Crab Cakes (being reviewed), the Maryland Style Crab Cake Minis, and the Coastal Crab Cake.  The picture on the box looks fairly similar to the crab cakes at their restaurants.  So how do they compare?  Read on to find out!

So you are staying in Annapolis, perhaps for a meeting or a conference.  There are lots of places to stay in this area.  But you, lucky traveler, got to stay in the Doubletree Annapolis.  Ah, yes.  Comfy bedding.  Attentive service.  Everything that you've come to expect from the Doubletree.  So, now, your thoughts turn to dinner.  Maybe you have a rental car, maybe you took a cab.  Annapolis Town Center is right across the street.  Maybe you could walk.  Or, maybe, just maybe, you could hit up the hotel restaurant.  Maybe, perhaps, Ports of Call.  But every other time you have patronized the hotel restaurant, you always wondered "Why?" afterwards.

Well, let me tell you about Ports of Call. The chefs there are well versed in local cuisine.  Unbeknownst to you, the Executive Chef has won many honorable achievements, such as 1st place for his Vegetable Crab Soup at the MD Seafood Festival 3 times.  Or that he has taken 1st place for his Cream of Crab soup in the very same festival 4 different times.  And his Executive Sous Chef?  A food champion himself with the American Culinary Federation.  So they have the staff all set to prepare you a gourmet meal without leaving the premise.  With this culinary dynamic duo at the helm, one would think crab cakes should be a slam dunk.  'Nuff said (as they say in the old Adam West 'Batman' series).  So did they?  Read on and find out!

Pratt Street Ale House is home to Oliver Breweries, Baltimore's longest-running brew pub. The original building was built back in 1888, having housed the Pratt Furniture Company until 1980, when a bar by the name of P.J. Circketts was established. In 1992, P.J.'s turned into the Wharf Rat. A year later, the brewery was created, and life has been good ever since! While their beers may be delicious, we really wanted to see if their food was equally as tasty. Read on to see how this story ferments!

Price's Seafood has been serving Havre de Grace in its original location since 1944. They consider themselves to be one of the few original "Maryland" crab houses still in operation. You know you're in a legit crab house when all of the tables are lined with brown paper by default, the air smells of seafood seasoning, two different kinds of crab soup are always on the menu, and crackin' crab is the main attraction. Price's is certainly one of those locations. And a great crab house should have a great crab cake as well, right? Well, you'll have to click the link to find out!

The Red Brick Station is a restaurant and brewpub located in The Avenue at White Marsh. Independently owned and operated, they strive to provide their guests with creative, English style dishes and English style beers. While the inside is large and accommodating, the outside covered deck is where you want to be in the warmer months. But we're not here just for the beer. We're also looking to see how an English style pub fares with their crab cakes! Read on to see how they did!