We were driving through St. Michaels and decided to stop at Harrison's because of the beautiful waterfront view. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a disappointing experience. The view is definitely the best thing about this restaurant, but that's where the positives end. I ordered the seafood stew, and it was unbelievably oily--so much so that I couldn't finish it. The seafood soup tasted like something that came straight out of a can. Ironically, the Philly cheesesteak sandwich was the cheapest item we ordered, yet it ended up being the best dish on the table. The service was also very disappointing. There were hardly any other customers around, yet our server was extremely slow and rarely checked on us. Even when we were clearly trying to get the check, we waited forever. Meanwhile, we could hear staff laughing and chatting in the kitchen, but no one seemed interested in helping customers. To make matters worse, there were flies everywhere throughout the restaurant, and no one appeared to be doing anything about it. It made the dining experience even less enjoyable. Overall, the waterfront setting is beautiful, but the food quality, service, and cleanliness issues outweighed the view. We won't be returning and would not recommend it based on our experience. read more

Harrison's Harbour Lights - Menu - New American Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

Some of the best views in St. Michael's and completely dog friendly (indoor and out!). They have 2 patios (one covered) and second story is open air. Inside is air conditioned and also dog friendly. Poop bags and small milkbones also available. The staff was super personable and friendly. Came in a Sunday evening and there was a crowd but not overly busy. We ordered an orange vanilla crush, per waiter reco, and it was amazingg. It tasted just like an orange creamsicle. Also tried the famous crab dip and it was SO good. Maybe it was all the butter but it was my favorite by far. I also tried their fish tacos which were citrusy and fresh. The views were amazing and you can watch the yachts pull up and boats go by. read more

Harrison's Harbour Lights - Famous crab dip - New American Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

Our family loved our meal here. We sat outside on the covered deck. We went on a Thursday night and it was pretty empty, but a wonderful spot if you want to have waterside dining. It was my partner's birthday and I loved that they offered the option of either getting a free slice of cake or a free glass of wine. My partner of course went with the free wine! They also have some great cocktails (which my partner also enjoyed...clearly a fun birthday!). We came here with kids and they were so accommodating. All of the dishes were delicious but the biggest hit was the soft pretzel, topped with fresh crab meat and cheese. We weren't sure what to expect, but it was everyone's favorite dish of the night. For the main dinner, there was a lot of variety. The kids both ordered the mac and cheese and my partner ordered the salmon BLT. He wasn't sure what to expect but he said it was one of the best BLTs he's ever had. I'm allergic to salmon so I didn't get to taste it but it looked very good. read more

I came here for breakfast. The sandwich I had was pretty good and filling. The restaurant had a nice ambiance and I enjoyed having a view of the water while having breakfast. read more

Harrison's Harbour Lights - Breakfast sandwich - New American Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

Enter from the first level host stand and walked up a stair to the main restaurant and lounge room. Crabcake and fried chicken with a side of potato salad and stewed tomatoes for dinner.The crabcake was very good, the fried chicken was crispy but not marinated so lacked a bit of flavor. The stewed tomatoes were very sweet. Hubby had Delmonico steak with mashed potato and cole slaw. The steak was juicy and tender. The manager came over to greet us and told us about the history of this family restaurant. The waitress was attentive and an overall nice experience. read more

Harrison's Harbour Lights - Crabcake and fried chicken - New American Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

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We were so excited for the outdoor seating and the views but the food and service were so lacking! Our waitress was nice but she was gone half the time. (Was it busy somewhere else in the hotel?) Drinks took a long time to get to us. It was the same with appetizers and entrees. The fried calamari was lukewarm; it was the same with all our entrees except the Brooks burger. The calamari's batter was crispy and had potential but the calamari itself was chewy. Our mussels dish had 6 unopened mussels and the bread was not a baguette. It was a small brioche loaf. The chicken tenders tasted fine but it was also lukewarm. The fish tacos were disappointing. The pico de gallo was not fresh and the sauce tasted like a bottled nam pla. It was viscose like corn syrup. The kids liked the pretzel bites but it does look oddly like ones you can find frozen, doesn't it? I wouldn't recommend this place for food but maybe the drinks are fine? read more

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Six of us came in for breakfast. They served one person decaf that was obviously not decaf as it was the same pot (all coffee was cold). One meal came out twice with hair in it. No apologies. Just attitude and saying "this is BS" from the worker. Catchup could only come out in small containers. Checks were split between three couples and wrong people were charged for incorrect items. Gravy for the biscuits was cold. read more

Come bask in the light of... well... Harrison's Harbour Lights. Notice how fancy they are, spelling "harbor" like that. There's a grand entrance as you roll up to this place. Reminds me of that staircase in Titanic that Leo comes down. You walk in, traverse the staircase, then are greeted by a - what I'm presuming to be - professional. After being escorted to the table, you sit down and notice the premium nature of the cloth that adorns it. Real heavy, commercial grade fabric. Three minutes into our visit, I'm already impressed. It's vacation time in Maryland. No matter how classy a joint looks, if there's a bar, Orange Crushes are on the menu. What was also on the menu was assorted broiled seafood. The platter was good, except for some weird fried mystery meat. Yes, fried food on the broiled seafood platter. Maybe it was mistake. Or some cruel joke. On the fried side of things, the fries were good. Real crisp, just how dad used to fry 'em up. Let's talk ambiance. It's romantic at night. Probably super casual during the day. But nothing beats looking over the water under a starry sky. Too bad on our trip it was cold and raining. Service here was a great team-oriented system. Good communication and unselfish behavior was seamless and efficient. You know who I bet would absolutely LOVE this place? Older folks who have a lot of money. They can dress up and come out and have an old timey date. Harbour Lights screams romance, almost to clichéd extremes. read more

Harrison's Harbour Lights - Some unexpected visitors in the broiled seafood platter - New American Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

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Beautiful views and amazing food! The seafood was so fresh. Complimentary cornbread was the best we've ever had. Hidden gem! read more

Harrison's Harbour Lights - Ahi tuna appetizer - New American Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

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This place is awesome! Friendly staff, including Brayden who made my night letting me call ahead and order their amazing crab dip before the kitchen closed. Great drinks. Great prices. Happy this place stays open late in the off season. Often has live music. And in the summertime, you can enjoy your orange crushes or mudslides outside by the pool. read more

Harrison's Harbour Lights - New American Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

The Best Oyster Buffet. Great variety of traditional eastern shore oysters. Wonderful homemade oyster stew. Nicely decorated for Christmas.

View was stunning. Crab cakes were overpriced for the size but delicious! Our poor server was also the bartender and had tables upstairs and downstairs so she was always running. She was incredibly sweet though and it was also Mothers Day so we understood. read more

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Great food and beautiful setting (top deck outside at sunset). What made the dinner spectacular was the host - Billy Forte. He was charming and very helpful steering or party to just what they wanted. My Fisherman's Stew was prefect combination of seafood and tomato broth. Clam cakes were large and succulent. Billy consulted on the oyster selection and satisfied the pickest eater in our group. And the kids (11 & 8) pronounced their pasta w/salmon & a burger to be good (high praise indeed). But the highlight was Billy and his stories. We would come back to see him even if the food was mediocre, which it decidedly was not. read more

Located on the 2nd floor with a great water view. We were told to pick a table and someone would waite on us. Around 10 minutes later a gal stops and asks who sat us, then she states I will need to find a server. About 10 minutes later we get a server and order drinks. It seems like it took 15 to 20 minutes for the server to come back to the table. Our food was average, service was about the slowest I had in the last 5 years as it took 2 hours to get drinks, soup and a meal. I eat in restaurants at least 10 times a week and this was the slowest service in years. If you want a Nice view, average and over priced food, friendly server, and super slow service and have a few hours to waste, this is the place read more

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Had a luncheon for 20 ladies. The food was excellent and plentiful. We couldn't have asked for better service!! Thank you for giving us a private room. Everything was perfect! read more

Excellent service plus location. Amanda is a multitasker who can handle whatever you ask. Awesome experience in paradise. ~ Written by Tamara & Mike read more

When entering the restaurant it had a very nice view. Unfortunately service was not as nice. The food was amazing, but a lot of our groups food was wrong and it took over an hour to come out. The service was not attentive. read more

Harrison's is teetering on the precipice of disaster. The captain needs to right the ship soon or it will take down the Inn too. On my most recent stay at the Harbour Inn, I patronized Harrison's twice. Actually, it is more accurate to say that I patronized Harrison's once for dinner, and I attempted to patronize Harrison's on my checkout day for breakfast. I abandoned breakfast because the food preparation took more than forty-five minutes, and I needed to pack. In spite of the well-documented problems enumerated in other patrons' Yelp reviews, it is still possible to get a decent seafood dinner at Harrison's. However, I advise fellow Yelpers to avoid dessert as Harrison's freezes their cakes (and, obviously, do not go here for breakfast). read more

My wife and I celebrated our 42nd Wedding Anniversary at Harrison's Harbour Lights Restaurant this week. I will admit that after reading some of the reviews on this site, I was nervous about trying them out. However, the restaurant is located at the St. Michael's Harbour Inn and the view of the Marina was stunning. Additionally in the reviews, I gathered from all the reviews, that their specialty was their Crab cakes. Not sure what the folks who gave negative reviews were expecting, but I found food and service excellent. At the time, restaurant was hosting not one, but two large affairs. That being said, we were promptly seated and our server, Hannah, took excellent care of us and provided top notch and prompt service. We had the broiled crab cakes and both my wife and I thought that they were the best crab cakes we ever had. Thank you Hannah and Harrison's Harbour Lights Restaurant for an excellent dinner. We definitely will be back. read more

I don't like posting negative reviews as I understand the last couple years have been very tough for restaurants . We dined here during the week . The service was acceptable however the food was not . My crab soup was cold , my wife's Caesar salad had tomatoes and a vinaigrette dressing . My wife's fish taco was refried frozen fish that was oily and tasteless. My delmonico steak was cooked well but my side order of onion rings were inedible , they were so oily that as I took a bite it tasted like I took a sip of dirty oil Definitely not returning to this restaurant unless the food improves!! read more

Had high hopes for this place but unfortunately it turned out to be pretty average. I ordered the cheesesteak and my hubby had the rockfish entree. My cheesesteak was alright nothing too special. I did enjoy the fries and the cornbread. The rockfish was bland but after adding a bit of salt it was ok. The waitress was really nice but the food did take a very long time to come out. The restaurant was a bit dirty and run down. The napkins had stains and so did the table cloth. I did enjoy the pretty view of the harbor and there is seating outside as well. read more

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We wanted this place to be great for our visitors who came for the holiday weekend and looked forward to showing them St. Michael's as well as to enjoy great local seafood. The review for Harrison's Harbour Lights is sadly not very good. The server was very nice and attentive. The water view was beautiful. The food was expensive, but totally disappointing and there were lots of flies that were landing on our food and drinks. We were inside, but the door to the outdoor deck was left open most of the evening. Crab imperial was subpar, same for crab cakes and fish. The best thing we had was the bread and corn bread muffins. Sorry to say that we won't be going back. read more

What is better than fantastic food and stunning views? The new menu and ownership is well welcomed. The view can not be beat either inside upstairs or on their raised outside patio deck! Sunset was beautiful and what better way to enjoy it than a relaxed dinner with yummy drinks. They're still getting used to the new location so we tried to be generous while waiting for food and drinks. Sadly they were out of some menu items but the items we ordered were yummy! Try the crab dip and do not skip the broiled crab cakes! read more

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We've eaten at Harrison's 4 times in the last month. Every menu item we tried was delicious. The crab cakes are second to none. Beautiful views, outstanding service and delicious meals. Win, win, win!! read more

Very good service. Crab cakes are on the smaller side. Oysters were spot on! Cold and fresh.

We were here in the off season so it wasn't busy. Our server was nice and competent. The food was good especially the corn bread and burgers. I had the salmon over pasta with vegetables. The pasta, vegetables and sauce were excellent but the salmon was pretty small for the price. I was too full to eat it all anyway. The fried calamari was good and there was a different flavor I wasn't expecting but really liked. Overall we were happy with eating here. read more

Excellent food & service. Had a fantastic cocktail too- Ginger Rogers- delish! Lovely view of the water as well.

Baby cakes were outstanding! Delicious crab meat and cooked to perfection. The crab imperial in the stuffed shrimp was also delicious. Sierra was the perfect server. We sat down before 6 pm which is highly recommended. read more

Outstanding! Love stopping here on the way to and from the eastern shore. Excellent crab cakes (minimal filler) and the Maryland crab soup is amazing. Highly recommend. read more

Not even close to good. Was in town overnight was hoping for a nice meal overlooking the water. I ordered the scallops supposedly fresh caught everyday according to the menu and for $29 that's what I expected. Now I don't eat veggies so I ordered a side of french fries which were fine. Had a cup of the cream of crab soup not awful not amazing. Dinner comes, (5) scallops approx. 1/2" thick and approx. the size of a nickel. I am far from a snob but I don't expect to be eating off a plastic plate for $29 bucks. When the bills comes I notice a $3 charge for my french fries. Bringing my under par meal to $32 dollars. The waitress told me that's the way they have to put it in the system. Making no sense to me when my meal came with 2 sides and I only ordered 1. She did remove it after a bit of a discussion. Very disappointing. read more

I'll start off by saying my review is strictly based on the drinks and no food. My husband I spent the day in St. Michaels to celebrate our anniversary. It was a beautiful day in February so we decided to sit on the rooftop of Harrison's for drinks. Upon entering the building, there was a lot of renovation construction happening to the hotel portion downstairs. Harrison's has a downstairs bar area that looked very outdated. At the time, renovations were not happening in that area. We went upstairs and walked through a beautifully decorated bar and dining area before reaching the rooftop deck. The deck has enough room for probably 6 two-top tables. We were lucky to pick a day and time where only 2 other tables were present. Oddly enough, another couple was there for their anniversary as well. We all shared the same waitress who was extremely attentive and friendly. Being that I was 8.5 months pregnant, she helped me pick a few mocktails (virgin pina colada picture included). Everything really was fantastic. The reason I didn't give 5-stars is because if you want to sit rooftop, you can expect to go to the bathroom back on the first floor. We took the stairs to get to the second level restaurant - I'm not sure if there wasn't an elevator or if it was being serviced. And while the view is absolutely incredible, the height of the tables and chairs puts the railing directly at eye-level. I'm not sure if it's a safety restriction, but I'd much rather sit at a high-top table out there for the view. I'd also recommend some patio heaters just to knock the chill out of the air. Otherwise, we had a wonderful time and do plan to return to try the food. read more

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We have been here for their Oyster Buffet and enjoyed it, so we thought it would be equally good for Mother's Day buffet. What an expensive mistake! This may have been one of the worst meals I have ever had the displeasure of eating! Golden Corral would have been better. Where do I start?? -The fried oysters were cooked in the same OLD oil as the friend chicken and were just gross, like old dirty French fries. -The menu promised "prime rib" but it was just a well done roast before that cut like shoe leather and was difficult to chew. -Mashed potatoes were bland and gummy. The gravy was gelatinous with weird lumps in it...inedible -Seafood salad was the fake crab roll stuff, drowning in mayonnaise. Yuck. -The asparagus was just bleh. Steamed without any seasoning and put in the warming tray. There was hollandaise to go on it, but it was too congealed to scoop out. -Shrimp and grits should've been just called "thick cold grits." -Desserts: Strawberry shortcake-half biscuit with strawberries and just about a tablespoon of whipped cream. Too dry! I didn't try the chocolate cake, but my daughter did and spit it into her napkin. Cheesecake-the crust had an horrific metal taste that left a bitter after taste. I had to eat something else to get the taste out of my mouth. The worst dessert in my life. -The service was non-existent. Our server sat us down and we never saw her again. No drink refills and had to go to the bar to pay our tab. -The crab imperial and stewed tomatoes were okay. Harrison's Harbor Lights is just a cash cow for Buddy Harrison. I will never return and recommend you enjoy your meal in one of St. Michaels many delicious cafes or restaurants. read more

Harrison's Harbour Lights - Mother's Day buffet menu - New American Near Me - Saint Michaels, Maryland

Went there last night, Sunday, for dinner. I ordered the broiled shrimp with crab imperial. The crab was excellent but the shrimp, only 4, were very small, about one bite each , and overcooked. Service was worst I've seen anywhere. place was virtually empty so there was no excuse for the terrible service. Took about 10 minutes after being seated before a waiter appeared to take our drink orders. I ordered a Heineken. 10 minutes later I got a bottle of beer but no glass or frosted mug. Requested a glass. Cheerful waiter said sure, but never came back. After what seemed a considerable wait, he shows up to take ask if we wanted appetizers. I ordered a warmed Brie wheel with bread ($19). The others ordered the Rockfish bites. The bites came, they were excellent, but no Brie. And no beer glass. He took our orders for entrees and I asked about the Brie again. Still no beer glass so I asked again. He disappeared, not to be seen again until the food showed up. Still no Brie and by this time the beer bottle is close to empty, but still no glass. I asked again about the Brie and the beer glass. Cancelled the Brie order. Never did get a beer glass. So my review...food was good, except for my tiny overcooked shrimp. Things are greatly overpriced and the portions are small. Service is terrible. We live in the area but wont be going back. read more

Phenomenal food and great service on an extremely busy holiday weekend. The staff works well together and obviously has respect and care for each other. Buddy runs a first class Eastern shore operation at the St. Michaels Harbour Inn and Marina. The live weekend music on the pool deck is an enjoyable addition! read more

It's the best view in St Michaels. Ask to be seated upstairs on the deck. The view of St Michaels & the bay is fantastic. Oh by the way the food is wonderful. The crab cakes are the best. I was told it's a long time family recipe. Enjoy ! read more

Amazing from start to finish. I brought in a group of 30 people for a long weekend and we stayed at the adjoining hotel. The first night I prearranged with Connie a reception. She is just so nice, suggested different menu items and areas of the restaurant that we could hold the reception. Not being able to go in person she was just wonderful to work with. We held the reception in the upstairs dining area with access to the deck. The food was out of this world, the staff were friendly and accommodating. From start to finish it was just easy! On a whim we inquired about how to get crabs. Well guess what? The owner of the establishment Buddy arranged for us to get crabs and utilize his staff and facility. Who does that? Buddy does!!! And guess who ran the show, got the dinner setup, staged and served us? Connie!!! If you are coming in as a couple and want a great meal, check it out. If you are having an event, CALL! Connie will have you set up in a minute. I hope the Connie and Buddy see this review. I cannot say thank you enough to both of them and all the staff. We had a great trip and they were definitely a big part of why. P.S. I was having such a great time I forgot to take pics!!!! read more

Highly rated online but incredibly disappointing in person. Located in the dark and dingy Harbor Inn; our high expectations were quickly extinguished once we were seated in the noisy, cramped, gnat-filled bar area. The food was terrible, not worth mentioning and the waitress was vapidly sweet but laughed off the swarm of gnats inside as it 'being the season'. Finally the heavily marketed and oft-promised 'spectacular view' of the harbor was a view of boat after boat docked in the marina amongst diesel fumes. Terrible. read more

We stayed in the hotel one night that was very nice, staff was friendly and helpful. Then we tried Harrison's for dinner which is on the second floor. Beautiful views, good service but the food is terrible. Ordered the broiled Rock fish fillet and they should be ashamed to serve it. 29$ for a piece of fish a quarter inch thick and fried to a crisp. I should have sent it back but I didn't want the hassle. From a family that celebrates the Eastern shore they should know better. Never again. read more

I had a wonderful meal at this beautiful marina restaurant. We stayed in the marina and didn't want to go far. I was not disappointed! We had great service. What a great spot to relax, see the sunset and have a drink. Thank you Stacy for great service. Loved this place. Love the marina!! We are having the time of our life!! read more

We spent a long weekend at the hotel and ate most of our meals here. Food was awesome and the staff was even better! Connie was great. I am looking forward to going back for another visit! read more