Riddhika J.

BEAUTIFUL VIEW, WARM SERVICE & GOOD FOOD! We were looking for having lunch with beautiful ocean views and this place didn't disappoint. We arrived there and the the restaurant was spic and clean and had this breeze feel from inside. The deck was full but the waitress told us to wait for 15 mins and I am glad we did. The views from the outside were amazing. The sun was blazing, there was little breeze and the shade due to umbrella, there were kayaks in the water and you can hear the water gushing on the pier. The server was pretty friendly and started us with a carafe of sangria (which was okay-ish) and pina colada which was amazing. For entrees we ordered: - Maryland crab soup which was creamy and delicious - Soft crab sandwich which lacked some seasoning but otherwise okay -Steamed Mussels which were fresh and delicious -Mrs Frans Crab cakes which were perfectly cooked and delicious - Veggie burger which well seasoned and delicious! - We ordered Baltimore pie (way too sweet) and Key lime pie (perfectly sweet and tart and creamy) for desserts! Overall, we enjoyed our extravagant food with the breath taking views. I would highly recommend checking this place out during lazy summer weekends !

Scott C.

Island View Waterfront Cafe The weather was perfect, sunny, cloud-free, and an ideal day to have lunch at a waterfront restaurant after a fast, cathartic, ride in my BMW Z4 3.0i convertible. My friend, Jackie, and I decided to take the twisting and tree-covered backroads to go to Island View Waterfront Cafe for lunch. The cafe is located at the tip of the peninsula in Browns Creek with a deck that overlooks a beautiful scenic view of the water, kayakers, canoers, boaters, fisherman, and water wildlife. Granted, it was a Tuesday, but, the cafe was practically empty of patrons. We noticed a few cars in the parking lot and finally determined that the cars probably belonged to the employees. When I checked-in on Yelp, I received a message indicating that I was entitled to a FREE DESSERT. We asked the hostess for a table on the deck. Amanda served us by bringing me a cup of water and Jackie a cup of iced tea. I ordered a cup of the Maryland Crab Soup as an appetizer. As an entree, I ordered the ISLAND VIEW WINGS (sauce: Caribbean Jerk). Jackie ordered the CHICKEN'DILLA (grilled chicken, cheddar & tomato) as her entree. Jackie asked for the chicken blackened. The Maryland Crab Soup arrived at the table. Upon first view, giant lumps of crabmeat were visible with the standard fare of vegetables. The chunks of crabmeat were sweet and delicious. However, as for the broth and vegetables, it was flavorless. The soup definitely needed a kick of McCormick Old Bay Seasoning, perhaps some coarse ground pepper, and sea salt. Each spoonful included crabmeat and veggies, although, most likely frozen. I'm not going to ding the cafe for using frozen vegetables in the soup, although, they might try the "frozen soup vegetables." The frozen soup vegetables include okra and some other vegetables not added to the standard frozen vegetables. Our entrees arrived at the table. I'm going to venture off the territory slightly here by saying that Ohioans absolutely "LOVE" their wings. There are wing joints on practically every corner. If any of those restaurants or wing stops attempted to serve anything less than a dozen wings, in an order, there would be absolute chaos. In Maryland, I've found that an order of wings constitutes eight to ten wings, at most. My ten Caribbean Wings with creamy, not chunky, blue cheese and celery stalks, were a dry-rub Caribbean spice mix. I've eaten a lot of wings in my time. Island View Waterfront Cafe's ISLAND VIEW WINGS (Caribbean Jerk) were dry, unimpressive, and bland. The celery and blue cheese had more flavor than the wings. Jackie's CHICKEN'DILLA came with sweet potato fries and coleslaw. We both looked at the shredded coleslaw and almost simultaneously said, "I don't like that type of coleslaw." We both happen to like the creamy, sweet, grated coleslaw more. A small plastic cup of mango chutney, sour cream, and ketchup accompanied the entree. The four large slices of the CHICKEN'DILLA with the side dishes was a big meal for a lunch entree. After Jackie put sour cream and mango chutney inside the CHICKEN'DILLA, she said, "Nope," then got up from the table and walked inside the cafe. She returned with a bottle of Tabasco sauce. Jackie doused the inside of the CHICKEN'DILLA with the Tabasco sauce and said, "Better, but not great." She ate two and boxed the rest for her daughter. I happened to notice that the Tabasco sauce was expired by two years. When Amanda returned to our table and asked if we wanted anything else, I reminded her of my free dessert. She told me that they were out of ice cream but had three different pies that were catered from an outside vendor. She described the first as the "Baltimore Bomb," (a chopped Berger Cookie pie), a Key Lime Pie, and a Chocolate Pie. Being a homegrown Baltimorean, I went with the Baltimore Bomb, since Berger Cookies is featured in my soon-to-be-released book "Baltimore Memorabilia." Unfortunately, the Baltimore Bomb was a bomb; a complete disaster. I know Berger Cookies; raised on them, understand the importance of putting the package in the freezer, and then eating the cookies with ice-cold milk. This pie tasted nothing like Berger Cookies. I can assure you. I'm a Berger Cookie fanatic. I'm rating the cafe as two stars; one for atmosphere and ambiance, the other for service. I suggest going there to rent a kayak or canoe, but, take your own food and beverages.

Teri B.

Wonderful! Sat on deck gorgeous day, sailboats and kayaks on the water, blue heron in the piling next door, Amanda was wonderful. The food OMG mixed crab soup (Maryland style with a ladle of cream of crab in the middle, lots of chunks of backfin & prime rib! Very picture worthy, but I ate it too fast!). Lots of choices, we settled on coddie platter & shrimp tacos, good choices. The music was perfect mix of classic rock Elvis, Chuck Berry, Marvin Gay, Neil Young, & Beatles. Our new favorite place, hHghly recommend.

Shannon A.

Brought a large group of friends here for dinner. The view is absolutely amazing, especially at sunset. I also appreciated the small, cozy feel. Their menu has a wide variety and they are willing to change things to meet dietary needs (i.e.; grilled shrimp instead of fried). I had the shrimp tacos and they were the bomb! The crabcakes, pot roast, and chicken got good reviews at our table... the prime rib not so much. The reasons I didn't give 5 stars were that it took an hour to get food on a night that wasn't busy, the waitress seemed overwhelmed/overworked and therefore wasn't super kind (I did feel bad for her), and they were out of sweet tea (which is pretty basic). I will be back!

Sooo disappointed with the food! Angus burger... Really? Is this the burger that the previous reviewer raved about? Took half hour to get this frozen burger that didnt include the fried onions or bacon. Cream of crab was thin with very little crab. View was beautiful though. Was looking forward to a new place to enjoy... but this ain't it!

Larry H.

Tucked away in the very back of a residential area, Island View Waterfront Cafe looks more like a quaint little old waterfront home than a restaurant. Once inside it still has a very homey feel like you'd expect someone's grandmother to come walking out of the kitchen at any minute to greet you. They have a small full-bar area and tables inside. But if the weather permits, I'd highly suggest taking advantage of one of the tables on the small outdoor deck. The expansive view across Brown's Creek and out into the Chesapeake Bay is pretty spectacular, especially at sunset. They have two piers for arrival by water. But according to the bartender, the low tide water depth is only around 3' deep and you have to stay in the relatively narrow marked channel to get in. So if you're planning on arriving in anything over 30', make sure you check the tide tables and arrive on the high tide unless you want to be guests of Island View Waterfront Cafe until the next high tide comes back. They've got a good selection of apps, sandwiches, and even taco's on the menu. We opted for the soft shell crab entree, which was very good. For an appetizer we did the traditional Baltimore style "Coddies" on saltines with a dab of yellow mustard. They hit the spot when combined with an ice cold beer. It's a little out of the way, but if you're looking for someplace casual, with reasonably priced, good food, and a spectacular view, the Island View Waterfront Cafe is definitely worth seeking out.

Heather D.

Went to the cafe last night to use my groupon for the kayak rental and dinner for two. No complaints about kayaking. Just bring a change of clothes! I saw other couples eating dinner afterwards with wet butts ;) The views at this place are pretty awesome. Restaurant is situation on the tip of a peninsula, so views are all around! Service was very friendly but the kitchen was a tad slow...which we did not mind, just sat and enjoyed some beers. Crab pretzel app was very good. Lots of lump crab meat. For entrees, the crabcake and the fish tacos were good, but not great. I would go back here to try out some other options and enjoy the view!

Cyndi M.

This was by far our best dining experience of the summer. The crabs were heavy and tasty and the rest of the food and drinks were very good (love their fried chicken). Most importantly, the service was fast, friendly and accurate. Thank you, Amanda! One of our favorite places on the bay and we will definitely return.

Mike P.

We arrived by sailboat and docked easily at the dock. Greeted by several staff members and was seated immediately on the outside deck with an amazing view of The Chesapeake Bay. Food was fresh and delicious. Food cooked perfectly and portions were great. I would highly recommend Island View Waterfront Cafe.