Forge Southern Comfort Food is farm-to-table at its finest. According to Kimberly, our wonderful hostess, Forge sources many of its products from local farms and gives traditional Southern dishes an innovative twist. Three of us met there for lunch today, and it was delicious. Two of us had the Chicken and Waffles: thick, tender waffles topped with beautifully seasoned fried chicken thighs, then doused tableside by Kimberly with house-made maple-jalapeño syrup. Melting butter and scattered pecans added just the right crunch and richness. I also tried the blue corn grits--creamy, savory, and delicious. Our third guest had the Eggs Benedict with collard greens: perfectly poached eggs, silky hollandaise, and greens that were absolutely "grandma good." Drinks included a great sangria and spicy Bloody Marys, and dessert was carrot cake with homemade vanilla ice cream--golden yellow, egg-rich, custardy, and speckled with real vanilla. Great service, casual ambiance, and down-home, chef-cooked food with a touch of grandma's magic. Definitely recommend. read more

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What a lovely lunch on it way to Sandy Hill! We loved our server Matt and thoroughly enjoyed our Caesar, Crab Cales (yes, real Maryland style!), and BBQ ribs. We will def visit again on our next trip through North East. read more

Forge Southern Comfort - Crab Cakes platter - Seafood Near Me - North East, Maryland

On 06/14/26. I ate at the Forge Restaurant in North East MD. I left a 20% tip (which I had to write in on the receipt) and the total bill, including the $5.50 tip and tax, was $34.65. * 07/17/26, in checking my credit card statement, I noticed that I was charged $36.15. Now, it's only $1.50 overcharge but it had to be entered in that way on purpose. Most people probably wouldn't notice an extra $1.50, and most people don't have the time to dispute a $1.50 overcharge. The server's name on the receipt was Ariel T. * read more

Didn't have time to fully explore this place while in town but I managed to grab a to-go order for my drive back home and I can't wait to go back now! Mac & cheese appetizer was delicious! It had a slight smoky flavor, but it is not overpowering at all, it just compliments the flavors perfect. And the roasted red pepper cream of crab soup was to die for! Generous lump crab meat and busting with flavor. Definitely a must try and I must go back to try more. read more

Forge Southern Comfort - Baked Mac - Seafood Near Me - North East, Maryland

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I've been here many times and the food is phenomenal. The bartenders are always phenomenal. But, if I'm going to pay $48 for an entrée, I don't need to see some patron in there with a wifebeater, butt crackhanging out, underwear hanging out, and jogging shorts while talking on speakerphone on his cell phone. Why is there not a dress code? It ruined my entire evening with my date. Good food can only last so far when the ambience stinks. Speaks volumes about who they cater to. It's very loud in there. And, the ambience and decor is cafeteria like. The food is good. The service is good. But why they don't have some form code is beyond me. read more

All of the food was absolutely amazing. This farm to table restaurant is a gem! We shared the stuffed shrimp appetizer. Our entrees were the catfish and the red snapper in a tomato veggie broth. Wow! We really should not have had dessert, but couldn't help having the sweet potato pie which will be off the menu in 2 weeks as they change the menu according to the seasons. Outstanding food and service . read more

I found this awesome restaurant on Yelp and it did not disappoint... Great service... really good food! We had the steak and eggs 10/10 and the crab Benedict 10/10... I got the crepes to go 6/10 (not my favorite) but also a side of collard greens 10/10. I will def be back! read more

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The interior is nice clean and new. It almost has more of a classy bar feel. As far as being "comfort food" it is not. It is very good food it just isn't comfort food. I would call it upscale bar food as well. The crab cakes I had were AMAZING! The flavor, texture, and presentation were spot on and the sauce was even better! I am a Maryland native and this is exactly what I want in a crab cake. The service was good and the prices were fair. I would go again if I was in town. read more

Forge Southern Comfort - Crab Cakes - Seafood Near Me - North East, Maryland

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Nice little place, with lots of friendly staff. We started with roasted red pepper cream of crab and it was spectacular! We followed that up with crab cakes and jambalaya. The jambalaya was packed full of protein, lots of sausage, chicken and shrimp. The dishes were very good and had a great spice level. Definitely comfort food. The service was also very good. The ambience could be improved, the room was very open and there were a lot of TVs on the walls. There was plenty of parking and they had a nice beverage selection. I would definitely come in again. read more

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Little place everyone should try It's location isn't that noticeable or trafficked so you might miss it. The food is amazing. The best shrimp and grits I've ever had (I'm not a fan of the dish lol), it's NOTHING like traditional grits. Give this place a try. You won't regret it. read more

We phoned in our orders for pickup. We spoke with Kim ( outstanding) who was very polite even when we changed our order. Our order was ready when we arrived at the restaurant. We actually had a special treat the co-owners came out and greeted us. The smell of the food on the ride home gave us a can't wait to eat attitude. We were not disappointed, we will definitely return read more

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This was my third visit to Forge. Each visit was excellent. The food was superb. The service was great. Nice atmosphere. I absolutely enjoyed the food. read more

Weird experience here. We found this on Yelp so decided to give it a try as we were passing through. Walk in, only two other patrons. The guy asks for our first name, pause, then our last name. That is weird as this not a fancy place, it is a clean sports bar with a lot of tables so they probably handle large sports groups. The menu is better than typical bar menu food. The food was ok, a bit salty for my taste. I get they are trying to treat patrons like they are in a higher fare place, but the bar and at least 6-8 big screen TVs playing sports tells a different story. read more

Visiting this area, Forge stood out with most consistent high reviews so I recommended a lunch outing for our small party. Darrell was our server (? He could also be the owner / chef) and we ordered based on his recommendations. He was engaging in explaining some of the items on the menu and there was no pressure in any way. My husband ordered shrimp & grits, which he's had plenty when he was in the south, and he was impressed. I had the chicken and waffles and it was crunch and flavorful, quite satisfying. Dining here was the highlight of our day!! read more

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The staff was very friendly, and we received excellent service. The food was tasty and fresh. I had the crab cakes, and ribeye and finished with apple pie à la mode for dessert. I will definitely come back. read more

This is a really tough review to write - I can see what this restaurant is trying to deliver, a more upscale southern comfort dining experience. But our dining experience here was just not what we hoped for. Atmosphere - trying to be upscale, yet giant TV screens with sports on it. Staff - Hot and cold - overly attentive and friendly one minute, then you'd have to wait and wait until just when you are about to flag them down to remind them to bring you XXX, they'd finally rush it over. I'm guessing they were short staffed, so we tried to be patient. Food - I ordered the crab soup. It was OK, not horrible, but reallllllly salty. I try to watch my sodium intake, so when I do eat something really salty, my body tells me almost immediately with a reaction. Split the pork belly BLT with someone in our group. On paper, it sounded delicious. In actuality, there was very little meat, and the beet jam overwhelmed the toast. When we cut into the sandwich, the bread was dry and fell apart. Two in our group ordered the chicken and waffles. Without asking permission, the server, probably in an act of what he considered to be helpful, POURED maple syrup over their dishes. Now, both of the people who ordered the food are a little shy, and were a little too shell-shocked when this happened to say anything right at that moment, but that ruined two $23 meals. There goes about $45 worth of food. Why? Because one person only likes just a little bit of maple syrup. If she had poured it herself, she would've only put a little dollop of the syrup on her waffles and certainly not on her chicken. And what the server didn't know was that the other person was a type 1 diabetic, who had just calculated his food metrics and did not account for a huge amount of maple syrup to be dumped onto his food. They were both so bummed about it, but because they are nice, polite young people, they did not say anything to the server. Sorry, but I had to speak up. I tried to be polite about it when I brought it up to the waiter, but inside, I really was pretty upset about it considering that $45 worth of the $95 tab was basically considered inedible to the diners. Well, enough said about the disappointment of the meal. Hope the staff learned a lesson. I'm not so sure other diners would have been so forgiving. read more

This was great. My wife and I pulled off the highway from the rain, and that was a great decision. Everything is good, but remember the chicken and waffles with pecans. Also the music isn't to loud, it's nice and relaxing. read more

Well, the address given and the location doesn't necessarily match GPS... if coming from Delaware using the 472 Mauldin Ave, keep going over the bridge, and stay to the right. Now that you've arrived, wait to be seated and be delighted. It's oxtails special tonight. Yassss!!! My bff ordered the salmon and raved about it. Great portions and attentive waitstaff. Colby did not disappoint. Darrell the manager also welcomed us. We had appetizer scallops with lentils. Miss me with those lentils which were undercooked but the scallops were 5 ! Looking forward to returning with hubby. Highly recommended-1 lentils and I ordered takeout for hubby. The portion looks a little small. I'll let you see a . Definitely 4.5 overall. Loved the atmosphere for conversation. Great meeting and date spot. read more

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The forge has a very fresh and light atmosphere, the staff was super welcoming. I found the service a little lacking, drinks were never refilled without chasing someone down and asking for more water, tea, etc. My chicken and waffle was very enjoyable. It had a little heat which I found pleasant. The waffle was different in a good way. It was either made with a different kind of flour (wheat or something) or had some kind of savory flavor added to it, I couldn't quite pin it down, but it balanced the sweet syrup nicely. My date's French toast was weird. It was half a loaf of banana bread (waaay too much), I guess with the outside "French toasted." I didn't really get any of the vanilla/egg/cinnamon from this prep. I think it would be more Enjoyable If they skipped the crème filling and simply sliced the banana bread and toasted it. Interesting concept, very creative, but imo execution isn't quite there. Hopefully next time the service is better. The team was super friendly, it was just annoying I never had a full drink or had to ask for refills or butter or whatever/e. read more

Forge Southern Comfort - French toast - Seafood Near Me - North East, Maryland

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Friendly staff and terrific food. The Crab Soup is amazing and my husband said his Crab Cake is in his all time top two favorites! We will be going back when passing through this area again. read more

Can't say enough good things about a brunch experience at Forge. I've hesitated previously based solely on location, when we're in the area I like to take advantage of water views.... it's in a small strip off the highway but clean and modern once inside with a large bar and seating area. Durrell- server and manager was friendly and helpful with the generous menu. Our food was served quickly and presented nicely, all very tasty. The blue corn grits were done right and the gravy had a nice flavor profile. Drinks weren't a priority to refill, but otherwise a great experience and we'll go again as the entire menu was tempting. read more

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The Sunday brunch was INCREDIBLE. I had banana bread French toast (strawberry cream cheese in the middle) and it was perfection. Crunchy and soft and delightful. We started with the baked Mac and cheese appetizer which is a must if you're a Mac and cheese person. It's the kind of food that had us all eating in silence because it was so good. The brunch drinks were also great- I got a Mrs. Collins which was tropical and delicious. Shoutout to our server, Charley (not sure of the spelling!) but she was so lovely and helpful. The whole staff was awesome! read more

Food very good. The service was attentive and timely. Ambiance is a little lacking, but not enough so that it should keep you from enjoying great food. read more

I wanted to love this place based off of all of the amazing looking items on the menu. We had the hardest time deciding. The person who took care of us was so friendly and it showed how much she cared and prided herself in the restaurant, which I loved. The inside was really big and overall very nice. We ordered the roasted red pepper cream of crab, shrimp po boy sandwich with fries, and the baked mac n cheese. The soup was honestly so salty by my second bite I couldn't eat anymore. The Mac n cheese was good but also tasted quite salty to me (not sure if this is from just having the soup or not). The po boy was good but without the aioli (my bf could not eat because of allergies) it is quite dry. I'd love to see a vegan option aioli for this situation. The fries, while I don't usually love homemade fries, were pretty good! Honestly overall with as friendly as the server was, I'd try it again! read more

Forge Southern Comfort - Seafood Near Me - North East, Maryland

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I found this place by accident as I was pulling off the highway to get out of a storm. What a find! It was Saturday brunch time and I sat at the bar and was greeted with a big smile and hello. I proceeded to check out the ample menu that you wouldn't expect from such an unassuming place and I settled on the chicken and waffles. I was coming back from a trip to the southeast and had this same dish in SC and Alabama, and this one was the best by far! All the other food I saw come out of the kitchen looked equally amazing as well as all the cocktails I witnessed being prepared. Do yourself a favor and check this place out. You will not be disappointed. read more

Why are you looking at this still and not here eating?!? Some of the best food in the area, and best southern in the state! The crab soup is insanely good but so is everything. The chicken and waffles are amazing, and I don't typically like that dish. I have nothing bad to say about the place, from service to drinks they are amazing! read more

Forge Southern Comfort - Seafood Near Me - North East, Maryland

Kimberly was our waitress, and she was phenomenal! You can tell she's passionate about the restaurant and providing top notch customer service. On top of great service the food was delicious! read more

Forge Southern Comfort - Chicken & Waffles - Seafood Near Me - North East, Maryland

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The service was great we were sat right away and our server was attentive and super friendly. The food was AMAZING - Mac and Cheese flavorful; my spouse got the Pesto dish and I got the BLACKENED CATFISH that was DELICIOUS!! The first bite made me wanna go and kiss the chef! This is probably one of the best meals that I've had in years. I will be back over and over again! Thank you for providing stellar service and food!! read more

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Stopped by mid October to treat my step dad and sister to a birthday brunch. Clean dining area with little candles on the center of the table were really cute. Our server was really friendly he made suggestions and had thorough knowledge of the menu. I order the roasted pepper soup it had crab in it which was really good. It had a nice spice to it. The only negative to the soup was that the salt content was very heavy. For my entree I went with the shrimp and grits the blue corn grits were perfectly cooked. The shrimp were good however it was overly salted which nearly overpowered the entire dish. I'll be back soon to try other items. Thanks FSC read more

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Delicious brunch with great service. I visited with my husband and two children. Three of us got the chicken and waffles and one got the French toast. The chicken and waffle were as delicious as they look. They used checking thighs so the meat was juicy and flavorful. read more

Forge Southern Comfort - Seafood Near Me - North East, Maryland

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I absolutely loved everything about Forge including the clientele. In looking at another tables food, they not only gave excellent advice and said it was an awesome restaurant - TRUE! I had the stuffed shrimp and the deviled eggs. My friends ordered the fried okra (a unique way of being cooked) and the baked mac and cheese and both were delicious. Everyone on staff was super kind. Katy B was knowledgeable and friendly. I definitely will be back to bring other friends and family. read more

The employees were courteous, friendly and knowledgeable. The service was prompt and they checked back after bringing the meal. The food was delicious. I had the shrimp & grits and it was hands down the best I've ever had. My husband had the jalapeño hush puppies and really liked them. The complimentary cornbread with orange butter was a very tasty teaser to our meal. The menu options a varied to suit any taste. I would highly recommend trying Forge for your next night out. They also serve brunch and lunch. read more

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Wow! This is a spot for foodies. Crab stuffed shrimp appetizer, blackened catfish, and cornbread crusted salmon entrées were excellent. The cornbread with whipped butter was a great touch. Service and cocktails were also first rate. I'm giving them top scores across the board. read more

Our server was okay, but the food was excellent. The food is priced well it's not expensive

A fantastic meal and great service while spending Memorial Day Weekend at Elk Neck State Park. Encrusted salmon, ribs, shrimp and grits, and blackened filet tips salad all magnificent and presented beautifully. Great that so much is farm to table and super fresh. Appetizer jalapeño hush puppies were a great way to start. A great restaurant in all regards. read more

This is one of the most amazing, down to earth, culinary experiences we have had in a long time. The drinks were an experience all their own, well thought out, flavorful and with a bit of flair that actually adds to the taste. The oysters were fresh, flavorful and with a Maryland down home twist that made them interesting and delicious. My husband had the salmon and I had the stuffed rock fish. I promise you, you have never had these dishes so well done outside of a Michelin rated restaurant. The owner/chef came out, spoke to everyone and was part of the special touch making it worth the drive. Our server was also a special treat, recommending dishes and just overall being a treasure to experience. Please patronize this establishment, I want to be able to visit for years to come. read more

Forge Southern Comfort - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - North East, Maryland

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Fantastic service with Stellar staff. Nice restaurant bar atmosphere. The menu selection is incredible. Our group of 6 loved everything we ordered. Scallop dinner cooked to perfection. Crab cakes were some of the best I have had in the area tenderloin tip salad was great- tasty steak and not skimpy. The chicken and waffles is a game changer. The salmon is a nice portion and great flavor. Our group recommends it. read more

We've been to forge a few times and had excellent meals, but we stopped in today at about three fifteen. The place was completely dead and we were there last sunday at five p m and had an excellent burger and wanted to do the same. When we tried to order one and my son had asked for their sandwich menu, we were told that brunch ended at 3:15 and they were unable or really unwilling to make any sandwiches. I didn't understand that if they were but their lunch ended. Literally fifteen minutes earlier and nobody was in the send away three disappointed customers. Went down to steak and main and had burgers and even ordered extra dinner to go from there as well and we're so much happier read more

Great service. Good food. Would recommend for brunch. Also one of the only places nearby that does a Saturday brunch.

I am really hype Cecil County FINALLY has some diversity in the restaurant scene. Forge's menu has a southern vibe, which I appreciate. They offer everything from fried catfish to shrimp & grits but to me, it's not a "true" soul food restaurant. To be clear, they do not advertise that they are a soul food restaurant but that is the closest you'll get to soul food around this county. We came on a Monday night. We tried their Monday night football menu. We only tried just the appetizers. We ordered stuffed shrimp, pork rolls, wings and roasted red pepper cream of crab. My bf enjoyed the wings with Buffalo sauce. He still hasn't stopped talking about the damn wings! LOL The pork rolls were good, but I would've enjoyed some bbq sauce instead of peach sauce. It kinda overpowered it. Next time I'll just ask for some bbq sauce on the side. Stuffed shrimp appetizer was very good. Love the sauce that comes on the shrimp. It's perfect. I'd want more crab on it but can't complain it's an appetizer, could be the Maryland in me! LOL. The food is very good though. Only complaint was my soup was warm not hot. I could've said something but he was really, really busy from the bar to the dining area. I didn't bother. It still was good. The bartender, server, host-all in one (manager, Darnell) was very helpful, polite and welcoming. He was extremely busy but he never ignored us. He checked in on us often. His customer service is on point. Also, both the owners/chefs were present. They were very welcoming and friendly as well. The overall customer service is very good. Ambiance is nice. It's really simple. TV's everywhere. Very clean. It's decent for a SIMPLE date night or to watch some sports at the bar. Try it out!!! read more

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