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    Michael's Cafe

    3.6 (499 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Seafood, Bars
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Michael's Cafe Photos

    MICHAEL'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Michael's Cafe

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    Crab dip
    Dee D.

    The food was bomb 10/10. We started with old bay wings a Maryland must have. Followed by the crab dip which was the best we ever tasted; however, we needed more garlic toast to consume it all. The brisket hash -- tasty with whole slices of meat on top of home fried potatoes and topped with made to order scrambled eggs. The classic burger was just that with juicy yumminess. The shrimp and grits were giving tender plump shrimp with a whole lot of grits. We finished the meal with a slice of Smith Island cake -- layered with decadent chocolate. Shout out to Sidney who gave excellent service. I plan to return to this place and highly recommend that it's worth a visit.

    Alexis B.

    I had dinner at Michael's Cafe last week with two friends after work. One of my friends picked it; she said she'd been before and really enjoyed it. She is a picky eater and between the fact that this picky eater had picked it for dinner and its name (Michael's Cafe just sounds like a strip mall spot that would make wraps to me?!), I wasn't expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised! The restaurant is beautiful (modern, cool, but totally appropriate for its cuisine/theme), and the menu really interested me. It's definitely full Chesapeake Bay - oysters, crab cakes, three kinds of crab soup, crab imperial, etc. But the menu had a ton to choose from - something for every taste/palate without anything on the menu seeming out of place. A friend I was eating with wanted to share some plates, so we shared: tuna tartare (raw tuna, avocado, cucumber, scallion, soy-ginger vinaigrette, sriracha aioli, and tortilla chips); the Greek salad; and the cauliflower bites (crispy fried cauliflower marinated in buffalo sauce, bleu cheese, scallions, and celery). The three of us also shared a side of their fried Brussels (gold fever, bleu cheese dressing, bleu cheese crumbles, and scallions). My picky eating friend got a bleu cheese burger. Two of us had their Super Filthy Martini (vodka, vermouth, olive juice, and bleu cheese olives). See a theme here? We really bleu cheese-d it up. I loved the Brussels (and I often find that dish boring), tuna tartare, my friend's burger (I tried it - yum), and the martini. The Greek salad was fine (standard and a good version). For me, the least successful thing we ordered was the cauliflower bites (instead of being marinated in buffalo sauce, they seemed to have a thin drizzle of buffalo sauce on top, which means they ended up being quite bland except for the bleu cheese sauce), but even those weren't bad (they were well-fried, just not as flavorful as I had hoped based on the Brussels. The service was good, and the restaurant was just comfortable. I enjoyed the meal so much more than I was expecting to! I'll definitely return; I want to try so much more on their menu: shrimp salad sandwich, shrimp cocktail, lobster and fried zucchini, grilled octopus, cast iron Peruvian chicken...

    Crab Cake
    Jeneen M.

    Stopped in for a quick dinner and had a fantastic meal in their bar seating. The crab cake had good flavor and not a ton of filler (so a respectable MD crab cake) but it felt a bit modest in size by comparison to some of the heavy hitters I'm used to locally. The split level crabs soup was the star of the show! Good chunks of crab really nice flavor.

    Happy hour menu
    Bianca S.

    Successful Friday happy hour!! Michael's is pretty decent size restaurant--one side seems a bit more casual than the other side. We sat at the bar for happy hour and the bartenders were friendly and attentive. I was able to sub out the ginger beer for sprite for my Moscow mule (I know ginger beer is the whole point butttt sometimes it's too much) and I'm glad the bartenders accommodated me and allowed it. We ordered deviled egg flight, bang bang tacos, buffalo tenders, fries and cream of crab soup. Everything was delicious and I felt stuffed leaving. I would definitely return.

    Birthday cheesecake
    Emily W.

    Went to Michael's for my birthday and it was great! First, I appreciate anywhere that acknowledges your birthday in a low-key manner - no loud singing & clapping, etc. They did a small card on the table and a complimentary dessert which was perfect. The meal was delicious! The food arrived hot and fresh. The short ribs were tender and the rockfish was cooked perfectly. Overall, I enjoyed Michael's and would recommend!

    White Truffle Mac & Cheese
    Ta M.

    OMG!!! The smoked gouda creamed spinach and truffle mac & cheese was SOOOOO GOOOD!! This is my second time here and the first time I think I only had the bar food as we were outside. This time we dined in for lunch and I got to experience the full menu. I ordered a burger which was good also but I couldn't get over how good the sides of spinach & mac were for just $6. In this 2025 economy those prices were perfect I will definitely be back. They were in the middle of some minor esthetic repairs out back but it did not interfere with the service. Our waitress was cute, personable and well versed in the daily specials. I will definitely be back to try mire items from the full menu.

    CHICKEN & WAFFLES
    Rye J.

    What a beautiful brunch! When I walked in, I was greeted with lots of holiday decorations, which I thought was such a thoughtful touch and made the experience even more romantic since it was Valentine's Day. The service was great, especially since working on a holiday isn't always ideal. Our waiter was attentive and kind. The food was delicious! The service was also pretty fast, considering how busy it seemed. Everything was a 10/10. I hope to come back soon since this was my first time. My only gripe is that I didn't see mimosas on the menu!

    Braised short rib
    Olajuwon N.

    I had to handle business in the Towson area, so I decided to swing by Michaels for lunch since I had a good experience the first time I was here. I ordered a couple of lemon drop martinis, which were definitely on point, before ordering the braised short rib meal... which came with garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed spinach, and crispy onions on top. I also had an order of shrimp cocktail. Did bar seating which allowed me to enjoy the wonder & quick service of Olivia. She was energetic, friendly & had perfect timing. Most importantly, he drinks were right right. My braised short rib came out nice and hot. I have no complaints. The shrimp were a good size and came out pretty chill. I compare all shrimp to Loch Bar shrimp, because they're always perfect. Michaels' shrimp were that top notch, but def doable. Nice & clean restaurant... Tons of people socializing in the bar area which is always pleasant. Never have a problem with friendly chatter or networking. T.V.s!!!!!!!!!! So important in the bar areas, and they have tons of them, wrapped around the entire bar area. And, all of them are functional!! Lol. Spacious Outback free parking. You'll definitely enjoy. #TeamDiesel #TeamDiesel4Evaaaa

    Crab Cake Platter
    ellie r.

    I love Michael's Cafe! Such a clean, high-end atmosphere with friendly service. I've been several times, it's perfect for all occasion- celebrating, casual lunch, etc. I recently got the single crab cake platter which was delicious! We started with the calamari which is definitely a must order item.

    Margherita
    Mariano S.

    Decided to check out this place for a late dinner next door to my hotel. They were closing soon so I sat at the bar. Bar tender was great she took my order while taking care of the other customers. The lobster roll was amazing, your typical butter roll with lemon cooked to perfection. The crab dip was yummy, it was hard for me to find something bad about this place. The only con I would give is that the food did take a while to come out.

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Friendly neighborhood pub. Standard pub fare but well prepared. Friendly staff who aim to please.

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    10 months ago

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    Happy birthday to you! We hope to have another chance at serving you!

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    We regret that we were not able to meet in the middle on this issue.

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    10 months ago

    Great food, reasonable prices, good service, yummy drinks, really nice setting. Definitely will return!

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    Ask the Community - Michael's Cafe

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    Michael's Cafe - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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