At Preserve, consistency is not the point, evolution is. Each visit feels slightly different, shaped by a menu that shifts with the seasons and refuses to coast on familiarity. That restlessness works in its favor. The space is compact, almost disarming at first. Then it settles around you. There is a quiet intimacy to the room, the kind that feels less designed and more lived in. It leans closer to a welcoming home than a polished dining room, without losing its sense of purpose. The food carries that same balance. Thoughtful, seasonal, and just unpredictable enough to keep you paying attention. Cocktails follow suit, measured and deliberate, never an afterthought. For Annapolis, where good options are not exactly rare, this place still manages to separate itself. It belongs firmly in the top tier of the city's dining scene, and it earns that position every time it changes the menu and starts over again. read more

See all

We had made a reservation here for a Sunday brunch at 11. It wasn't overly busy when we came. This is in downtown Annapolis so there's some street parking around. Bright and open inside with friendly service. We ordered a handful of mimosas and got a couple of small bites to share. Sourdough Foccaccia - this was pretty good, warm and toasted. Pork Bites - I loved the flavor but thought this was pork belly and not ground pork. Overall, flavor was good but the texture wasn't great. Crispy Kale - this is very popular here and we really enjoyed it. The cumin yogurt really brought it together. Pickled Squid - Not what we expected but I actually really liked this dish. We did also order the Coconut Panna Cotta for dessert. The raspberry was pretty prominent here and wasn't as custard like as expected, just a little too soft but the flavor otherwise wasn't bad. Overall, everything was pretty good and I would visit again to try other items on their menu. read more

See all

Located on Main Street with bar, inside/outside seating. Wonderful decor and a great drink menu. Food menu was great as well and not too overwhelming. This is a place that has lots of drinks and foods that have some unique and creative flavor profiles. We were greeted immediately and sat at bar. Server acknowledged us quickly and was very friendly. Checked on us throughout the time we were there. Ordered a tequila cocktail that was amazing. Highly recommend!!! So so good. Their cocktail menu has the spirit and then a description under of the drink. No actual names. Lots of interesting drinks. We grabbed a couple of apps. Got the pork bites and smoked fish dip. Both were tasty and had interesting flavors that worked. The portions were great. You can tell that great care and thought is put into to the menu. The burger and fries looked amazing - on special and lots of people around us were ordering it. Would have ordered that if we were eating a bigger meal. This is a gem of a place. Truly crafty food and drinks. Highly recommend trying them out. Would come back again. read more

See all

Farm to table spot on Main Street in downtown Annapolis. The space is beautifully decorated, though seating is a bit limited. We sat at the bar, where the staff was attentive and friendly. Great option! One thing to note: while many dishes are labeled gluten free, they do share a fryer, so more gluten friendly than strictly gluten free. Now onto the food. The corn pancake was a standout, sweet with just the right amount of tang. We loved it. The steak frites weren't my favorite, the sauce didn't really work for me, and the cut of steak wasn't the best. Next time, I think I'd try the burger instead. I also heard the fish and chips are worth ordering. Overall, it's a really charming place, and I love that everything is locally sourced. You're definitely paying for clean ingredients and excellent service. We will be back :) read more

See all

During a gallivant downtown, a subtle whiff walking by someone's tummy grumbled and pronto, Sunday burgers at the Preserve it was! Our server Collin gave us fun recommendations in drinks, housemade raspberry lime soda and sparkling Gruner. It was refreshing cool to quench the thirst as we waited for our burgers, we passed on appetizers. The burgers are satisfying. Stacked and piled high, juicy to the last bite. I look for that smoky char and Preserve's burger hits one after another. The side of shoestring fries was well done. Limited outdoor seating available and open bar and al fresco concept is clean. It's downtown so parking is by chance and pay to park. Save the hassle because nearby Hillman garage is short walking distance (on Main, make a left on Gorman). read more

See all

Is it possible to fall in love with a salad? At Preserve, it was. The blueberry salad had me at first sight and bite. Every bite was incredible and so fresh. We made reservations for lunch and had a lovely seat right by the window. The interior is inviting, warm, and cozy. The service was great. As for the rest of the dishes, the steak frites were cooked really well but the fries are okay and the sauce was a bit unclear what it was supposed to be. Would love to be back to try the other dishes! read more

See all

My group of 5 made a reservation for a late lunch. The restaurant had a lovely ambiance and we were greeted quickly. We decided to family style our dishes which probably wasn't the best idea. We ordered the kale salad, smoked salmon tartine dip, steak frites, fish and chips, and a lion man's mushroom dish. The standout dish as most of the reviews mentioned, is the crispy kale salad. I could've eaten this entire thing myself. It was a little bit on the oily side, but that's the point of it being crispy, so that's just me. My second favorite was the smoked salmon tartine. I thought the balance of the herbs was lovely, and it wasn't too fishy at all. Apps wise, great to share. The entree portions though were on the smaller side. The lions mane mushroom was a really interesting dish, and had an Asian style sauce that was very sweet. The steak frites and the fish and chips option in my opinion wasn't worth it. The fries basically took up the entire plate, so maybe having the entrees being shared family style wasn't the best. Other than that, the flavor of everything was pretty good, and I wouldn't be opposed to coming back! read more

See all

Amazing! 1. Reservation: highly recommended. It's a small space and limited seats. 2. Food: 5 stars Very delicious good here - burger amazing - kale: wow, I didn't even know I liked kale! 3. Drinks: 5 stars They organize their menu based on the key alcohol and don't give names to their cocktail. - vodka: has lavender foam and truly amazing - tequila: good, not as good as the vodka drink 4. Service: good, straight forward 5. Ambience: romantic, small and open kitchen is great. read more

See all

Preserve is definitely a spot I'll be visiting again - hopefully in the near future. My partner and I decided to go here for our anniversary and we had an amazing time. Our waiter was very helpful and kind - providing awesome recommendations and taking note of my gluten allergy and helping me make decisions/substitutions. For example, the crispy kale is not labeled GF but they can make it with rice flour. He also recommended a red onion sour made with gin that was amazing. All the food we had was delicious and a great price. We loved it here and I can't recommend the crispy kale enough. The burger was also phenomenal for $20! read more

See all

I had lunch at Preserve last week when I was in Annapolis for some meetings. I'd had the restaurant on my list for a while, but thought it wasn't open for lunch for some reason! When I realized, I had been wrong about that, I walked over as fast I could in that snowy weather! I was quickly welcomed to the restaurant and sat at the bar (my preference when I'm enjoying a meal alone). The restaurant was comfortable, cozy, and warm - perfect on a winter day. It's not a large restaurant (they do have some outside seating in nice weather), but it wasn't busy when I arrived for lunch on a weekday (definitely could have been the weather, though)! The service was also great. I enjoyed a glass of wine from their list of wines by the glass (a more interesting selection than the average restaurant for sure), their pierogis (they were gruyere and mushroom on the day I visited), and their Harvest salad. I'd eat that Harvest salad any day of the week. It still kind of blows my mind when restaurants put croutons on a salad when breadcrumbs are just infinitely better on a salad (the breadcrumbs spread around the salad so that you get texture with every bite) and that plus the dressing plus the great goat cheese?! Loved. That. Salad. Their menu seems to change up a lot (the menu on their website is not the same as the one I ordered from last week), which means there is often something new to try. And their menu is interesting and creative. They're not phoning it in by any means. I had heard Preserve was good. That's why it was on my to try list! But it really lived up to my expectations. I'm sure I'll be back for that salad again in no time. read more

Preserve - Pierogies - Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

See all

Great service, amazing food and a wonderful location. We sat at the bar and had a wonderful time. A must visit spot in Annapolis!!

Firstly, couldn't have dreamed of better service than Derek K! He greeted us at the door, sat us immediately, and took wonderful care of us. The food was good but the service only definitely earned every star. We didn't order too much. The Preserve Pickles were refreshing and I loved that we could try both types with one order. I do think it's rather overpriced for the size. My friend loved his fish and chips. I enjoyed the Preserve Burger but would probably go with something more savory. The menu is a little small and pricey, but service and atmosphere are extraordinary. I'm sure it's perfect for a good drink or ten with friends, too. read more

See all

Excellent restaurant in downtown Annapolis. We originally only planned to grab wine here before heading elsewhere for dinner, but the menu looked so fantastic we stayed. Everything was super delicious, well presented, and creatively crafted. The scallops were probably my favorite and had such an unreal texture!! The servers were also very helpful in choosing wines to enjoy. read more

See all

Everything I had here was great. I liked the seasonal cocktail. The fries and pasta were tasty, though I didn't have a chance to take a picture of the pasta. The crepe cake dessert was delicate and delicious. I thought the food here was unique and slightly different from the other restaurants in Annapolis. The layout of the restaurant is somewhat compact but has a warm, modern vibe. read more

See all

Pretty disappointed. We were told that the chicken tenders would be served on a dinosaur plate, which my son was excited about -- but when our food arrived, we were told they had run out, even though other kids were still being served that way. The salmon entrée was $30 and incredibly small -- it didn't even make me half full. To make things worse, the food was brought out without any silverware. Maybe this place works out for others, but unfortunately, it just didn't for us today. Customer service definitely needs improvement. read more

Preserve - Chicken tenders that supposed to be served on the dinosaur. - Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

I enjoyed Preserve. I have been to Annapolis maybe five times in my life, so if you take only the adult portion I'm on a once-every-eight-years schedule. If you told me Preserve were the best restaurant in town, I would believe it. I mentioned my trip to a friend who checked out the menu, and she said it looked great. I will open with a compliment that might sound like a criticism. I have a knack for that. I love garlic. It also is good for you, with benefits to the GI tract. My wife is less enthusiastic. It is good I was traveling solo. The next morning, I had a sensation I do not mind. I woke up, and I could discern the effects of heavy consumption of the allium. If you also like this seasoning, or even if not if you are attentive, you know what I am talking about. I am sure I reeked. The reason is the crispy kale. I have been a fan of kale since it became big -- remember the stickers exhorting people to eat more kale? (It dates to 2011, incidentally, and there is a back story.) When the bowl was brought out, I said, wow, that's a lot. The waiter assured me it was fluffy. I had no difficulty finish it all. The cumin yogurt was a great touch. For a main course, I had rainbow trout. It was excellent. I polished off the entirety of the plate. Although I try to do that, it being wrong to waste food (and I'm enthusiastic about leftovers to take home), I am not always up to it. The flavors did not become tiresome either. It was worth devouring. The wine list was terrific. They had a gruner veltliner with bubbles and an orange, both unusual. I partook. The service was highly attentive. That might be a function of when I showed up, 5pm, well before any rush. When I departed, I noticed something in the men's room. They had a container of those little toothpick-floss devices. I'm obsessive about dental care. I usually duck into the restroom at the end of a meal out, to brush my teeth. So that was a bonus, to have the ability to be extra thorough. Assuming I am back in slightly less than a decade, I will book a table here again. read more

We had the duck, scallops, beets, and lemon cup dessert. All were fantastic. Perfect wine recommendation for pairing with the duck. The service was lovely, attentative, but not overly fussy. read more

Overhyped and overpriced. Portions were small, and while the food was sup-par(6/10), it definitely didn't justify the price.

I liked it a lot. Had the steak Frites. Only gripe is that it is VERY loud. They need to put some soundproof tiles and wall tapestries up to manage the ruckus. Food is good though, so if you can handle the noise, you'll enjoy it. read more

We were seated at a high top table right next to the kitchen and while I would've preferred a low top table, my boyfriend and I enjoyed getting to see the kitchen staff cook up some delicious meals. We ordered a variety of food and drinks but some of the highlights were the CHESAPEAKE CHEDDAR PUPUSAS, which were lightly fried and had decent heat to them! I also enjoyed their bread pudding - it wasn't overly sweet. read more

See all

I'm gonna keep this simple, mostly because I intend on dining here again and updating this review. Amibance, Food, Service were all excellent and left an impeccable impression upon me. I expect to be back soon with the family. Keep in mind that this restaurant is small, with maybe enough tables for a few groups. I highly recommend the crispy kale and the pasta. read more

I had an affair tonight. My wife was there. She approved. In fact, she encouraged it. It was short-lived--because I devoured it within minutes. This restaurant isn't just dinner. It's a full-on sensory experience. The kind of place where you stop mid-bite just to make sure everyone else is tasting what you're tasting, because it feels like a secret too good to keep. The food? Fresh. Unique. Bursting with flavor and creativity. Not your standard fare, this is what happens when a chef actually cares. Speaking of which, after seeing the talent in the kitchen (and mildly stalking a few dishes as they passed by), I handed over control and asked the chef to choose my main. He delivered a rainbow trout that basically made me question every meal I've ever had before. Holy crap. Just... holy crap. We're already planning our return. If you're anywhere near Annapolis, this place should be an automatic yes. Pro tip: make a reservation. You won't be the only one having a culinary affair. read more

See all

Preserve and I used to have a "yeah, maybe later" kind of relationship. Nothing personal--just wasn't quite my vibe at the time. But fast forward to now, and let me tell you: this place just sprinted from the bottom of my "maybe" list to the top of my "why didn't I come back sooner?" list. Update: potentially the best burger in Annapolis. Yep, I said it. And I stand by it like a proud grill master guarding his secret sauce. Juicy, flavorful, and somehow both elevated and comforting at the same time. I didn't know a burger could emotionally support me, but here we are. The service? Spot on--friendly, quick, and refreshingly unpretentious. The craft beer lineup is solid (they know their hops), and the cocktail list has some real charm if you're feeling fancy or just need a little liquid courage before tackling downtown parking. Speaking of--Preserve isn't tucked into the chaos of City Dock, but it is perfectly perched on Main Street at the light. That means you've got options: play "parking roulette" on the street or hedge your bets with the nearby garage. Either way, worth the gamble. Long story short: if, like me, you once left Preserve on read, it's time to revisit. The food's fire, the vibe is better than ever, and yes--you will start recommending it like you discovered it yourself. read more

Love this fantastic farm to table restaurant. The salad was just perfect and my husband really enjoys his burgers here. It's great to have a place like Preserve so close to us. read more

Stopped in for lunch on the way to a wedding. My husband and I sat outside and loved looking out over the cute street. The service was quick and friendly. I got the mushroom cheese steak after the server wasted no time when I asked between that and the panko fish. It was delicious and the salad was perfectly lightly dressed. My husband had the smoked salmon Benedict which was perfectly flavored. When paying the bill my husband noticed there was a "labor of love" tax of a few dollars which was a little odd. After talking with a local it turns out it's something the restaurant does, as well as a "liquor tax." read more

Preserve - Smoked salmon eggs Benedict and mushroom cheese steak. - Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

Unique in everything! Delicious food, especially if you are game for the unusual. The decor is really neat. We were seated in a booth that appeared to be a leather/pleather scraps. It was cute. The restaurant was decorated with canned fruits, vegetables, & juices. The large windows were open, which was nice. The music was very loud. We ordered smoked fish dip as an appetizer. It was very good. For entrees, we had summer squash, fried blue catfish, eggplant pesto sandwich, & smoked salmon L.T. (forgot to add the salmon, but corrected the mistake). We noticed that the kids meals came in dinosaur shaped containers, so my sister asked if we could have fries served in a dinosaur. The server granted her wish. We all enjoyed our own food & each other's tastings. Our server did an excellent job with everything. This is a restaurant that uses what is currently available, & it is good for people who prefer a vegan or vegetarian diet. Definitely would recommend. read more

See all

Severely understaffed, but the drinks and food that we did get were delicious (tequila drink, the meat terrine and the grilled cheese). It was cool to hear about the restaurant, using *Preserved* local ingredients to make their feature: sauerkrauts, pickles, kimchi and such that you see incorporated into the menu. We made a reservation online a few days in advance and were seated at the best seat in the house, inside right at the little garage door opening, enjoying the nice weather of downtown Annapolis. We only ordered a few things and with all the waiting, dinner took 2 hours which is madness. read more

Preserve - Tequila drink - Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

See all

Way over priced the steakfrets was under cooked damn near raw. Cocktails over priced they were not strong read more

Preserve - Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

I was in Annapolis for a few hours and decided to stop in here for a late lunch/early dinner. It was my second time here and I was even more impressed than the first time! My friend and I decided to get a few things to share. We got the harvest salad and the fish and chips. I also got the bartender's choice of spritz as my cocktail. The spritz was probably one of the best drinks I've ever had. I gave the bartender a few ideas about the kind of flavors I liked and she whipped up a refreshing green colored cocktail that had some elderflower liqueur and other sorcery mixed in. Seriously, I have no idea what kind of spell she cast on this cocktail but it was magically delicious. I only wish I could come back and reorder it exactly the way she made it but since it was a on-the-fly creation, it'll just have to exist in my memories, I suppose. The harvest salad was super fresh tasting and had a nice combination of flavors and textures with the mixed greens and snap peas. The fish and chips were the star of the show too especially since they were gluten free! You would've never known that the fish was battered in rice flour. Even the vinegar based aioli for dipping was gluten free because they prepare it all in house in a very specific way. I hadn't had fish and chips in SO long and this was such a tasty treat for me. The total was about $45 per person including tip. It's expensive but worth it, in my opinion. I highly recommend this spot to anyone in Annapolis looking for an upscale, farm to table experience. read more

Service and ambiance was nice but food was bland and over priced. We were also seated directly in the sun even though plenty of shaded spaces were available. read more

Must try! Crispy Kale Salad. If really hungry, try the fish dip too! Ginger soda is slightly spicy (not too sweet), very refreshing. read more

Preserve is interesting and quite unique. I believe it is the only restaurant I have been to that focuses on preserving, pickling and fermentation. Though it is on Main Street, it is a bit fancier than most of the restaurants--yes, casual but dress to impress. The aesthetic is adorable, décor is witty and the bathrooms are always clean. Atmosphere is perfect for a date to grab drinks and an app or two. Drinks are fancy and pretty! They also have the most extensive list of non-alcoholic mocktails on the strip which are also priced the best. Appetizers are thoughtfully portioned. I recommend trying the preserve pickles, pickled squid, griddled pierogies and smoked fish dip! Please note that they at times have an extra charge on their receipts--"Labor of Love." Which I understand, however, at times, restaurant staff seem to not provide the best service due to knowing that they will already get some sort of tip. It is truly annoying and sad that restaurants have to add this. Please tip on good service and high quality food! read more

See all

Immediately caught my eye when walking the streets. Preserve has a sophisticated, appealing ambiance that provides local, high quality ingredients. What interested me was their incorporation of fermented ingredients within their meals or cocktails. It was so unique tasting a slight fermented flavor within my cocktail. I opted for the Rum based drink while my friend got the Tequila. I preferred the Tequila for the better and taste and portion size, but the Rum was still a good, unique drink. We tried their special of the day, spätzle which had some spaghetti squash, goat cheese, and other ingredients. It tasted delicious honestly and unlike food I normally eat. Visually, it looks like a baked Mac and Cheese, but this was better. Overall, a nice, quaint place to enjoy dinner at. I would come again to try their other fermented creations. A unique perspective to find in this area. read more

See all

Cute impromptu lunch. The catfish seemed pieced together inside of the batter, almost like a mush. Not pictured, the burger was quite delicious. read more

See all

My husband and I came here for a date night two months ago. The food was ok but the service was terrible. Our waiter made it known that he expected us each to order full entrees. We ended up sharing appetizers which clearly annoyed him, even though we also both had drinks and dessert. Every interaction with our waiter felt combative and we couldn't wait to get out of there. I didn't feel the need to write a review until last night when we stopped into Preserve to say hi to friends who were seated at the bar. We were relieved to see our same waiter from before was not there, but it was a very rude hostess this time that berated us for standing next to the bar. We had been there for a couple of minutes, and instead of asking us to step aside or some other polite way to go about it--the hostess yelled "EXCUSE ME!" every time she walked by us. It became clear by her attitude and yelling that she wanted us to leave, and as we were walking out of the restaurant she was actually angry and yelled again about how we were in the way. So 2/2 terrible experiences with the rude staff at this restaurant! If you want to eat ok food and get yelled at then I highly recommend, but seriously please spend your money at one of the many excellent restaurants nearby. The 4% "labor of love" fee added to the bill is also laughable considering the attitude that appears to run rampant with the staff. If there are friendly people who work here, I'm disappointed that we missed them in both of our visits. read more

Heavenly unique vegetarian options. The Za'atar Zucchini had so much flavor and still can taste the spices.Loaded Cabbage has yum in the description for a reason. Corn Cake- YES so good. read more

Delicious. The servers were attentive. I enjoyed my tequila cocktail it was very reminiscent of a snickerdoodle/ginger bread cookie. The dishes took a bit to come out but I like to think they were taking their time with them so if you are going just make sure you're not in a rush. Lamb Ragu was delish just very on the savory side I should have ordered some veggies on the side for myself. Also some of the tables are on the smaller side so if you need more space it may be difficult. Very cute place and will definitely be coming back. read more

See all

Love the ambiance. I go there specifically for the ambience. It is such a cute place. The food was nice enough. The service was awesome as well. read more

Preserve - Flatbread and fish and chips - Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

I love Preserve. The food is great, innovative and there are always excellent vegan options. The staff is friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is cozy and informal. I highly recommend it. read more

Came here for lunch during a day trip to Annapolis and it was absolutely the right choice. They had a great drink selection with cocktails and local beers. We had the Bloody Mary (maybe my favorite ever) and a local Pilsner. Their thing is pickled/fermented things so we had to start with the pickles, half pickles half giardiniera (which we liked a lot more). We also got the pickle brined fried oysters (also my favorite fried oysters I've ever had), and the mushroom "cheesesteak" which was so good that I didn't miss the meat part one bit. The desserts sounded amazing but we were stuffed. Will definitely be back again! read more

See all