Hampstead, MD, is a quaint farming community of no more than 7,000 people. But don’t let its small size fool you. This Baltimore suburb boasts an impressive food scene—if you know where to look.
Below, we have curated a list of the 12 best restaurants in Hampstead, MD. These eateries were selected for their five-star reviews, unique cuisines, and inviting vibe. So, next time you’re in town, give them a try. Just don’t fill up in one place!
12 Best Restaurants in Hampstead:
- Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood
- LunaZul
- Greenmount Station
- Illiano’s J&P Restaurant
- China Manor
- Genova’s To Go
- Outlaw BBQ Smokehouse
- Steamin’ Mad Crabs
- A-Town Bar & Grille
- C&R Pub Hampstead
- Bella Pizza
- Beijing Palace
1. Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood
$$ | 410-374-0909 | WEBSITE
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If you’re only in Hampstead for a weekend, you must try Fratelli’s Italian and Seafood Restaurant.
A family-owned restaurant, Fratelli’s dishes up classic Italian meals like veal parm and seafood pasta. However, this eatery is best known for its crab cakes.
From 2012 to 2020, Fratelli’s was voted “Best Crab Cakes” in Carroll County, and with good reason. Perfectly seasoned and broiled to perfection, this dish is a true delicacy.
2. LunaZul
$$ | 443-639-2975 | WEBSITE
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LunaZul isn’t your average Mexican restaurant. Though this joint offers all the classic mainstays—from chimichangas to fajitas—it’s best known for its fun and contemporary tapas.
These small plates range from nopalitos (a mix of cactus, chorizo, and avocado on a tortilla) to carnitas a la Mexicana (slow-cooked pork with vegetables).
For a truly fun night, pair a table full of tapas with a margarita or an imported guava soda.
3. Greenmount Station
$$ | 410-239-0063 | WEBSITE
At Greenmount Station, you can make history. How? By drinking at least 75 of the different beers on tap. If you accomplish this feat (not all in one night, of course), your name goes on the International Beer Club Wall of Fame.
This challenge is a doozy. But luckily, Greenmount Station serves up plenty of delicious pub fare to soak up the brews. Perhaps the most famous dish is the restaurant’s jumbo lump crab cakes.
Made using a 20-year-old recipe, these crispy delicacies are so delicious that the restaurant can—and often does—overnight them to out-of-town customers.
4. Illiano’s J&P Restaurant
$$ | 410-239-2515 | WEBSITE
With roots in Naples, Italy, Illiano’s is dedicated to preserving traditional Italian cuisine.
If you stop by for dinner, be sure to try the gnocchi sorrentina. This dish features potato dumplings covered in a light and zesty sauce. For good measure, order a side of bruschetta di casa: three slices of house bread covered with garlic, chopped tomatoes, and onions.
5. China Manor
$$ | 410-374-2300 | WEBSITE
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Ask any Hampstead resident and they’ll tell you: China Manor is the best Asian restaurant in town. However, with literally hundreds of dishes on the menu, it can be hard to decide what to eat.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, begin with a bowl of miso soup and maybe a sushi roll or two. Then order the “Dragon and Phoenix.” This dish features a 10-ounce lobster tail sauteed with vegetables in a white sauce. On the side, the lobster is accompanied by chicken in a spicy sauce.
6. Genova’s To Go
$$ | 410-239-4100 | WEBSITE
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If you’re feeding your son’s soccer team or your daughter’s Key Club, Genova’s is definitely the place to go.
This family-friendly restaurant serves all the Italian classics, from nonna’s lasagna to chicken parmigiana. However, the most popular item on the eatery’s sprawling menu is the build-your-own pizza.
For just $17.99, you can order a 20-inch pizza loaded up with all your favorite toppings. For another $3.99, you can tack on some buttery garlic bread too.
To end your meal on a sweet note, order some cannolis, a slice of cake, or even a few pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Even better, Genova’s delivers right to your front door!
7. Outlaw BBQ Smokehouse
$$ | 443-507-5995 | WEBSITE
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Do you want a taste of traditional Kansas City BBQ? If so, head on over to Outlaw BBQ Smokehouse.
Nestled in the heart of downtown Hampstead, this restaurant is all about authentic flavors. Each day, owner Steve Rogers mixes up his own blend of dry rubs and sauces. Then, he cooks pork ribs, beef brisket, pork shoulder, and other meats low and slow using oak and cherry wood. The result is tender and toothsome.
If you haven’t been to Outlaw BBQ before, make sure you start your meal with the crab pretzel: a honking soft pretzel smothered in house-made crab dip. From there, order the pit beef sandwich with a side of baked peach slices with brown sugar and cinnamon. If you have any extra room, bookend the meal with some sweet potato casserole made using a family recipe.
8. Steamin’ Mad Crabs
$$ | 410-374-2722 | WEBSITE
Steamin’ Mad Crabs is an unpretentious hole-in-the-wall. Here, you won’t find white tablecloths or flickering candles. Heck, you won’t even find real silverware. But you will find fresh, high-quality seafood.
The eatery’s specialty is, of course, crabs. You can order a dozen steamed in the shop’s secret blend of seasoning for $35 to $132, depending on the size of the crab. To accompany your shellfish, the kitchen whips up a long list of side dishes like Italian pasta salad and coleslaw.
For dessert, Steamin’ Mad Crabs serves cakes by the slice. Flavors rotate daily but include mainstays like chocolate, strawberry, mandarin orange, almond, and rum.
9. A-Town Bar & Grille
$ | 410-374-3439 | WEBSITE
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A-Town Bar & Grille is a hidden gem. Tucked into a white clapboard building on a quiet country road, this place looks unassuming from the outside. But when you take your first bite, you’ll see why it’s a Hampstead favorite.
After ordering a cold one, take some time to peruse the sprawling menu. From quesadillas to pizzas to sandwiches, A-Town has it all. However, restaurant regulars always order fried chicken.
You can choose from breasts, thighs, wings, and legs. You can also pair the meat with a savory side dish like potato wedges, corn, or mac-and-cheese.
If you’re still hungry after dinner, you can either head back for seconds or try an order of the tavern’s famous fried pickles.
10. C&R Pub Hampstead
$$ | 443-639-5812 | WEBSITE
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With outdoor seating galore, C&R Pub Hampstead is one of the best places to unwind after a long workweek.
Start your dinner with a hoppy porter and an order of the uber-decadent Thanksgiving fries. Loaded with mashed potatoes, turkey, and cranberry sauce, this appetizer is sure to tide you over while the chefs whip up dinner.
Speaking of which, Hampstead locals recommend the meatloaf sandwich. Super filling and comforting, this meal tastes like something grandma would serve.
11. Bella Pizza
$ | 410-374-2600 | WEBSITE
Do you need wings for Sunday night football? If so, look no further than Bella Pizza.
At this neighborhood pizzeria, you can order a platter of wings just in time for the big game. Pick from an assortment of flavors like jerk, buffalo, BBQ, honey mustard, and Old Bay. For good measure, tack on a stromboli and a slice of chocolate overload cake.
Bella Pizza is also one of the only places in Hampstead offering vegan fare. If you’re a plant-based eater, opt for their meat-free burger and a side of crispy fries.
12. Beijing Palace
$$ | 410-374-2328 | WEBSITE
If you’re hankering for sushi, look no further than Beijing Palace.
Located on South Main Street, this Asian fusion restaurant dishes up a sprawling list of sushi rolls. The menu includes mainstays like cucumber and tuna rolls as well as wild cards like the volcano roll.
Beijing Palace also offers sushi burritos: mixtures of fresh rice, vegetables, and fish rolled in nori. Next time you stop by, be sure to try the “Honey Honey” with steamed shrimp, roe, and special sauce.
Summary
Hampstead, MD, is a tiny agrarian community. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a good meal here. As you can see from this list of the 12 best restaurants in Hampstead, there’s plenty of delicious food to go around.
Hayden has been a digital director for years. He has five years of experience editing and writing about food, restaurant, and recipe review content. At Birch Restaurant, he’s in charge of scouting, showing up unannounced in different restaurants, and writing a thorough food guide!
