02/20/26 5 Stars ** Wife and I were in Annapolis for a doctor's appointment, and afterwards she asked, "Where are you taking me for lunch?" I jumped on Yelp and started searching. I had heard about a seafood place in Severna Park, but I wasn't in the mood for seafood. That's when I came across Betty Lou's. As soon as I looked at the food photos, I knew that's where we were headed. It was about a 20 minute ride from Annapolis not bad at all. Betty Lou's is located in a shopping center. There were a few cars in the lot when we pulled up, but I wasn't sure if they were there for the restaurant or other businesses nearby. When we walked in, there was one person sitting at the bar. We asked if we could sit there, and the bartender (don't remember her name) was very pleasant and welcoming. She thanked us for coming in, and when I mentioned I found the place on Yelp, she explained that everything is made fresh to order. They have an excellent selection of craft drinks on the menu, the assortment of cocktails and wines that look very good. My wife ordered an iced tea, and I had the Jimmy Red Old Fashioned. The drink looked fantastic, and she took her time carefully measuring each ingredient. That's how cocktails are supposed to be made balanced and flavorful, not just tasting like straight liquor. If I wanted that, I'd just order bourbon neat. For lunch, my wife ordered the meatloaf with collard greens and roasted potatoes. I had already decided on the chicken pot pie after seeing it online. I did find it a little strange they don't offer mashed potatoes as a side with meatloaf, that would've made it a home run in my opinion. When the food arrived, everything looked excellent. The pot pie was larger than I expected compared to the pictures, and the meatloaf was a generous portion as well. After the first bite, I can honestly say it was one of the best chicken pot pies I've had loaded with tender chicken, carrots, onions, celery, and a rich, flavorful gravy. And the pastry crust? The BEST I've ever had. It was big enough that I had leftovers for dinner. My wife's meatloaf was tender and flavorful, and the collard greens were packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. The roasted potatoes were just okay again, mashed would've put it over the top but that's just personal preference. She also had plenty leftovers for dinner. The food was great, the décor was nicely done, and the service was excellent. If this place were closer to home, it would definitely be a regular spot for us. We need something like this down in Calvert County. Overall, if you're looking for a great meal and well-crafted drinks, Betty Lou's is absolutely worth the drive even if you live a little ways away. read more

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We visited for the first time last night, Friday June 12,2026 @ 8pm. Based on all of the great reviews I thought we were in for a treat. We were sat pretty quickly & our waitress was great. But half way through she handed us over to the bartender, who just seemed inconvenienced that we were there. My husband had just finished a beer when she took over (which was in a can, not a tap beer), she asked if he wanted another, he said yes, and brought some draught beer that definitely wasn't what he was drinking. We are very easy going, so that wasn't even the end of the world. But she wasn't very friendly so we just went with it. The food. We ordered rockfish bites for an app, chicken pot pie, bacon wrapped shrimp & Mac & cheese. I will say, everything came out quickly. Rockfish bites: Not only were they bland & salt-less, but not all of them were cooked all the way through. The bacon-wrapped shrimp were ok, but cold in spots. The chicken pot pie: This is the reason I came. Certainly you can't mess this up, seeing how my favorite pot pie is from KFC. My standards aren't that high. I wish I could add a photo to a low review. I've never seen the inside of a pot pie that was dark gray. It didn't look appetizing at all, but it's a pot pie so I'm not basing anything on appearance. Once I took a bite I realized that it was gray because there was SO MUCH ground thyme in it. Like they dumped a whole jar in there. It wasn't even edible. The Mac & cheese was really good, I wish I had just ordered that. Before you reply that we should have said something, we already felt like we were an inconvenience to the bartender & she didn't even care enough to serve the same beer that was originally ordered. We didn't even want to deal with her. So we chalked it up as a loss. Of over $100. This place is so cute, we really loved the ambiance & wanted to love the food. We definitely won't be back, but I don't think it's going to be around much longer anyway. read more

If you haven't tried Betty Lou's why not? It has changed hands several times in the past few years and prior to being Betty Lou's was Pirate's Mutiny Bar. The food is some down home southern cooking. The fried green tomatoes are delicious. The restaurant is very homey and quaint. The service is on point and very friendly. We've ordered several to-gos since going in person. Definitely recommend! read more

We visited on a Friday evening. The restaurant is cozy, but welcoming. We were greeted immediately upon entering and we decided to grab seats at the bar. The soup of the day was salmon and corn chowder and I couldn't resist ordering it although I'd never been here before Everything sounded so appetizing on the menu. While the menu is simple and straight forward, every single item we ordered was delicious and far exceeded my expectations. I will say there's really nothing jerked about the cauliflower, it is quite tasty just not jerked by definition. Can we please discuss the smoke trout dip? This is the best smoked fish dip, I've EVER had I will order it every single time and make special trips here just for it! We also had the catfish that was fried to perfection..... YUM! The cocktails won't disappoint either. I can't believe it has taken me this long to find this gem. read more

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This was a solid 5 star experience for us! Elevated comfort food at its finest! My Pasadena friend wanted to take my hubby and I out for dinner and suggested this place. She had been there for lunch and was quite impressed with it. We are always looking for new, small business type places to dine, so we certainly were game to try it. It's a normal store front in a strip mall, but upon entering, you are transported to a shabby chic sort of country vibe restaurant. My friend had made a reservation, however on a Wednesday night, I am sure we probably could have walked right in. There is a bar with drinks and the vibe is just really warm and cozy. Our waitress came over with water and specials on the menu. Definitely were not rushed in any way. We ordered a pork belly appetizer which was splendid! Really enjoyed it! Very flavorful and cooked correctly, something that a lot of places we go for pork belly seem to not be able to accomplish. All of us ordered something different. One of the other reasons my friend selected this restaurant is that my husband is a recently diagnosed no gluten kind of guy and Betty Lou's has a number of selections that are gluten free. He selected shrimp and grits, my friend got meatloaf and I had a gluten fried chicken. All of them along with the sides were magnificent! I had to have a to go box and I had the rest for lunch the next day. Hubby cleaned his plate and my friend has a very small appetite these days, so I am sure she is still eating on hers. The pricing for the quality and quantity of food I thought was fair. The ambience was really stellar and we were never rushed out. Our server was fantastic! Desserts sounded fantastic, but there was no room. I am really looking forward to going back down to try some other foods soon! Give this a try....it's a Pasadena gem! read more

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We took a chance because we are not from the area, and we were not disappointed. Decor fun. Service excellent. Food delicious. Chef came to our table to chat which added a nice touch. read more

Braised Short Ribs were da bomb! Great flavor and the meat just falls apart. Interior decor is old school with a southern/country flair. The plates are not standard white restaurant ware but something you or I use in our own homes... gives the service a homely feel. read more

We had wonderful experience this evening. The food was delicious and service was on point, very friendly. The environment/decor was very nice, loved it. Oh and the Strawberry Basil drink was amazing! We will be returning! read more

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I love everything about this restaurant. I keep going back. Such a nice place to go if you want a great food and a home feel. All the waitresses are so nice and the food is always GREAT! read more

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Really loved the service and the food at this great, local spot! The chicken pot pie and friend chicken were great, also loved the sides (Mac, dirty rice) and the cocktails! Can't wait to head back for the lovely service and try more tasty items! read more

This is by far my favorite home cooking restaurant! Everything is delicious, my favorite is the pot pie! Super cute inside and the staff and owner are the best!!! read more

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I love the drink names! Clever and cute. The ingredients on all of them sounded really intriguing. I settled on the.... Strawberry Rhubarb Negroni Strong and tasty. I liked the smoky flavor to it. The artesian ice cube was also a nice touch. Pork Belly Rillions Nice chunks of pork belly, the sauce was a little to runny. Having the sauce as a thicker glaze would've set it off. Still good. Braised Short Ribs Very tender and fell off the bone. I loved the wine reduction gravy on top. The greens were tender and clean, I would've loved a tad more vinegar to be a bit more acid forward. Still delicious as they were. The grits were cooked too fast and were uncooked being a bit grainy and crunchy, they also needed more heavy cream and butter or cream period (seemed water based). Betty's Biscuit w/ Bourbon Peaches Biscuits were homemade. The peach preserves were delicious! I wish they gave more of it. Bigger biscuits and more peaches for the price would've been better. It appeared that the biscuits were microwaved to warm them since one of the biscuits was really hard to cut with the spoon like bread gets rock hard after microwaving. The decor is awesome! I loved that they served all the items on fine china. Service was super friendly and welcoming. Betty and her daughter are there working. I would totally recommend them. read more

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First time here today. Super clean with friendly, efficient service. The grilled pork chop with fresh asparagus and hand cut fries was awesome. The beef pot pie was huge and some had to be taken home. Dessert was carrot cake and Betty's Biscuit with strawberries and whipped cream. Both were delicious. No doubt we'll be back very soon. Thanks to Jenny for the great service and conversation! Bon apetit! read more

I think we are now officially addicted to Betty Lou's delicious chicken pot pie.........................now that they have added carrots, celery and onion. Added their A+++ Kale salad to our order and it was again worth the drive! Brussels sprouts though scrumptious could have done with more of their stem being cut off..................very hard/tough! Separated leaves were divine! read more

First, I just want to say my husband and I are huge foodies and tend to go to DC to have dinner on the weekends because of the quality. We found this little gem in Pasadena, which was so close to our home. Just wanna start off by saying we've tried multiple items on the menu and everything has been excellent. Secondly, I want to say they generally have a Brie appetizer on the menu and it is no longer there. This last time we visited, we were pretty disappointed to hear that it wasn't on the menu and that it wasn't a seasonal item anymore. One of the most delicious appetizers him and I have had so flaky and homemade. Starting off with appetizers, the cauliflower is amazingly delicious but the portion is very small, the catfish bites were very fresh and very good tasting, the kale Caesar salad salad is a great portion and is everything I was expecting! For main dishes, the chicken pot pie is outstanding and tastes exactly how my great grandmother used to make it flaky and the inside has the most amazing taste. There is a short rib on the menu that is also very well created and the fried chicken biscuit is also another outstanding option. Onto drinks I had the apple orchard sour which is just a whiskey sour with a twist fall and wow, it was amazing. My husband had the old-fashioned that is highlighted on their menu. I believe it has lavender in it and he also believed it was very well created. We tend to be very particular about the food and drinks that we eat and everything is very well created and so close to home. We have now been here two times and will continue to come back. Also want to mention the service of the waiter and waitresses has been amazing both times cute and cozy with a great ambience Especially if they bring back the Brie appetizer ;) read more

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From start to finish our meal and our experience was fabulous. The restaurant is very clean, quaint, wonderful feel of the south, and the decor is lovely. Our server asked if this was our first time in which it was. She walked us through the menu and the specials and she was welcoming, friendly, and talkative which we really liked. We highly recommend this restaurant. The food was delicious and very fresh the meal was truly perfect. We will be back. read more

Betty Lou's - Chicken Pot Pie - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

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Went to Betty Lou's for the first time tonight and as soon as I walked in, It was giving a southern cottage vibe which was nice. I ended up getting the Pork Belly and the Gumbo! The pork belly has a sweet glaze and was tender, delicious. I also got the Gumbo which was flavorful and savory, the shrimp was cooked well! Overall food was great, can't wait to try more things on the menu in the future! The service was nice, well attended and checked on our group to make sure we were satisfied. I highly recommend this spot! read more

Betty Lou's - Gumbo - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

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This place is a hidden gem! We stopped in on a Sunday after church. They opened at 10:30am. The server was friendly, attentive, and very welcoming. This place is a whole vibe! The music was great chill vibes, TVs were on sports and another on game show network. The decor is eclectic and yet well put together. I LOVE the benches around the perimeter to maximize seating and space. The mimosas were really good at $6/glass. The food was something you would expect of a southern grandma! The catfish was seasoned so well, the grits were hot and creamy, the eggs were cooked to perfection (that is lot easy considering everyone eats eggs differently) and all food, including the side of ranch and tarter sauce, was made from scratch!!!!! I even wonder if they churned the butter in the back. Everything was really great and we will definitely return very soon. read more

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First time here and we stopped in and boy are we glad we did! We were staying the night for an Orioles game and decided to try this place out. The atmosphere was so cozy and warm and the service was awesome. We really felt at home and comfortable! Not to mention ruin the food and drinks were amazing we will definitely be back! read more

Betty Lou's - Spa Water - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

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Great "newish" spot in Pasadena. Great Louisiana-inspired menu. Wonderful chef/owner shared her story with us. Cute decor, but on the smaller side, so make a reservation. read more

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So I tried at the new restaurant Pasadena for lunch, Betty Lou's. I got the catfish with collard greens and dirty rice. The dirty rice was good, a little undercooked but flavorful. The collard greens did not have a lot of flavor. They need to find a ham hock and throw in the next batch. The catfish (blue) was good, big, fried properly, but honestly, minimum seasoned. They're tartar sauce was really good, and I am rather picky about tartar sauce. My bill is wrong as I was taxed incorrectly, I brought this to their attention, and I think they have fixed the problem. This is hopefully just a new restaurant having some opening issues. And I'm willing to bet it is, at least one more time. read more

Betty Lou's - Tax??? - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

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Great food, comfortable atmosphere, and attentive staff. Danielle was on the spot. Definitely be returning to this place. Already looking for an excuse. read more

What a hidden gem! Food was delicious creative southern comfort food. Cocktails were also creative and delicious. Staff were very friendly and service was quick and prompt. This place has a lot of unique charm, and will definitely be going back for the great food and cocktails! Highly recommend! read more

Small, cozy setting with a intimate vibe. Look out for nights with music too if that's your thing. The food is amazing and service is great. Small place so call ahead to make sure you can get a seat. read more

What a hidden gem this spot is! Open 7 months, behind tinted windows (to keep the vibe in), Betty Lou's is making everyone feel welcome. It is so aesthetically pleasing and comforting, for just a drink and snack or a group evening dinner. I had the strawberry rhubarb negroni (great balance and intrigue) and the jerk cauliflower. The appetizer was served with west African peanut sauce, though it did not have the depth or peanuttiness flavor of the traditional stew. The staff were delightful and happy to be there, which is always a green flag. Looking forward to returning to try more foods and drinks. read more

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First of all, just like the friendly hellos and smiles from the fantastic staff, the decor at Betty Lou's is so beautiful and welcoming- it gives the ambiance it should for upscale southern home cooking. Bringing us to the food... everything I have had has been wonderful! Fresh, from scratch, and obviously made with care. The only thing I can recommend is to try everything before the chicken pot pie because it is REALLY hard to order anything else after you've had it. SO GOOD! (The events such as the book fair brunch and wine dinners are also so well done and not to be missed) read more

We came to watch a show nearby and stopped to have a very early dinner and WOW!!!!!! We were blown away by the fabulous service, coziness and last but not least THE FOOD!!!!! I am not one to mess with my beloved risotto but went ahead and ordered the corn risotto with flank and would have bought one to go if we could. Flank was perfect, corn risotto was sublime, shared fried tomatoes delicious!!!! Jess, our exceptional server, was fantabulous! I often order coconut cake ever since I had one in WDC years ago that imprinted on me. They were "out" but had other desserts worth having. Well, Jess did her magic and ACTUALLY HAD THE KITCHEN MAKE ME A PORTION!!!!! Just for me! It was not pretty but my goodness, this one imprinted on me too! Coconut in the sparse icing AND in every bite of the moist, sweet, dash of salt deliciousness. Everyone that tended our table was respectful, flashed smiles & went beyond their kindness to answer our questions. The place was pristine and filled with regulars making a stop for yummys! Very pretty decor and welcoming ambiance that showed the respect for ingredients, locality and outstanding kitchen. So good we might have to make Betty Lou's our destination for down home cooking hours away from our Arlington home. That coconut cake was only a small piece of their wonderfulness. Thank you to everyone that made our trek worth the crazy traffic... read more

We had an outstanding dinner at the bar with superb service by the bartender and owner Meredith. I could not say enough about the cocktails, boudin, catfish, collards and the pot pie crust was outstanding! It's a place for elevated southern comfort food in an environment where you could have a nice date night. A new must try in Pasadena! We will be back read more

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Thanks for the response. I will definitely be returning since I do love your place. Rating changed!!

I can't stop talking about our night at Betty Lou's !! Meredeth, the owner found us a comfy table for two and told us about its beginnings . We read through the delightful menu and with the help of our server ordered their fried chicken deviled eggs for an appetizer , they were amazing !! My husband had their most popular chicken pot pie. Now we know why it's a favorite. I had a scrumptious pork chop topped with a sweet potato/ apple chutney with perfect brussels and roasted potatoes . We enjoyed a relaxing meal and even though we were full with the generous portions we squeezed in a shared piece of German Chocolate Cake; a rich delicious ending to a wonderful meal ! I want to bring all my friends and work my way through their menu . ( We live in Rockville , but Betty Lou's is definitely worth the drive ... make a reservation and be prepared for a delightful evening.) read more

Betty Lou's - Amazing Fried Chicken Deviled Eggs with bacon jelly on a bed of homemade coleslaw. - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

I stopped reviewing on Yelp a long time ago. I'm only writing this because I LOVE this place! There's absolutely nothing you could legitimately complain about. It's small and intimate and the staff is 10/10. We used to go to Mutiny and while it's the same place it, Mutiny never felt cozy. I've never had a bad dish or a drink, the portion sizes are generous; that's why I can't say anything about dessert...I never have room. I can say the desserts look delicious and the descriptions of them sound great, but I've never tried them. read more

By far the best chicken pot pie I have ever eaten. You can tell they really care about their food and their service is above and beyond! read more

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Last night was my first visit to Betty Lou's. And what a treat! It was pretty crowded so I was very glad we had made reservations. The first thing that struck me was the decor! I loved every square inch of the dining room.... The pastel magnolias, the delicate overhead arrangements and even the stylish Maryland crab wallpaper in the ladies room! But the best part was our dinner. Service was superb. Our waiter had answers for every question we had. Our group of 4 ordered jambalaya, shrimp, ribs and of course her famous Chicken Pot Pie. Kudos to the chef as well as the owner. Everything was spot on! read more

Loved everything about this restaurant. The welcoming atmosphere, the fantastic staff, the absolutely scrumptious food. Only problem: too far from home but we will be back. More than worth the ride. read more

What's better than a place that has GREAT food? A place with an AMAZING staff. What's even better than that? A place that also has a COOL ambiance. Could such a place exist? Why yes...yes it does, it's called Betty Lou's!!! Not only is the food EXCELLENT, it's cooked to PERFECTION! And the staff makes it feel like home!!! Go on, go out and get yourself Betty Lou'd!!! Oh, and it's little girl in unicorn horn approved!!! read more

New & innovative. The food is fresh & thoughtful. The drinks were well curated. Featured is Brian a staff member full of charm. Jenny was an amazing bartender and server. While Meredith was a thoughtful and attentive owner. read more

Betty Lou's - Brian and charming staff members sharing in our moment with us. - Southern Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

Tried Betty Lou's in Pasadena for the first time, from all of the reviews I was expecting more. The best part of The Chicken Pot Pie was the crust which could of been baked longer, the filling tasted like a stew, too much meat, not enough vegetables The fried green tomatoes were not very good, I make better at home I was not impressed with the desserts either We will not be going back $24.00 for a Chicken Pot Pie is way over priced read more

The food and atmosphere was excellent and so was the service. This is a new gem in Pasadena . I will be going back soon read more

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This place is a Gem!! The minute you walk in, it's just so inviting. The decor is beautiful. A true scratch kitchen, with amazing entree's, desserts, as well as excellent one of a kind upscale cocktails. Everyone is outgoing and friendly! If you decide to go, make a reservation! They fill up quick. read more

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First trip to Betty Lou's. I didn't really know what to expect but I was certainly not disappointed. The restaurant was spotless and had a very comfortable ambiance and friendly staff. I had braised sort ribs with roasted potatoes and creamed corn. The short ribs were fall off the bone tender with a delicious flavor and great complimentary sauce. Creamed corn is not normally a side I would get excited over but this tasted like the corn was just shaved off the cob. Fantastic! Cornbread was just sweet and moist enough. I couldn't have been more satisfied! I will definitely be back next time I'm in town. read more