It's strange to me that pizza is often described as a pie. It's the great outlier among other dishes that carry the name. But to be honest, I can't complain. In fact, I enjoy eating pizza as much as any dessert out there. So in my effort to fill my pizza-loving stomach, I headed over to South River Pizza & Subs and boy was I delighted. The food was great, service was quick and I even got a discount for saying it was my first time dining there (which it was). If you find yourself outside of the south county area, don't fret, there are still plenty of tasty places to get your fill of a …

When it gets chilly to you reach for a bowl of chili? What about soup or gumbo? If you love soup and want to learn how to make your own, you may want to join the Chesapeake Cooking Club. Every Monday evening, these amateur chefs meet at Vince’s Deli to learn how to prepare clear and creamy soups, bisques and stews. For more information on the cooking club, email allen.blankenship@vincescatering.net or call 410-721-2017. VIDEO: Chef Allen Blankenship explains various ways to prepare soup at home. If you want to just go and pick up a bowl of soup from a local spot, there are several locations …

Pasta is one of those things that comes in various shapes and sizes. You can throw almost anything on a pile of noodles and it'll taste good. To an amateur chef like me, it just keeps me from starving. Really, you could technically eat pasta every day in a different variation for a month and still try something new. It's cheap, delicious and always fills you up. Thankfully, local restaurants put more effort into their pasta than I do, that's why I and other local Patch editors throughout the region have highlighted some hot-spots to satisfy your noodle cravings.  Crofton—The Italian Market in…

There’s something about watching a big game with a large group and enjoying your food too.  If you want to get out of the house, but don’t want to head to Baltimore’s M&T Stadium, here are a couple local suggestions. Big Fish Grille1260 State Route 3 S, Crofton, MD 21114410-451-3133 Blue Dolphin Seafood Bar & Grill1166 State Route 3 S, Gambrills, MD 21054410-721-9081 Christopher's Restaurant1286 State Route 3 S, Crofton, MD 21114410-451-1602 Crofton Cantina787 State Route 3 N, Gambrills, MD 21054-1303 410-923-2804 Fat Boys Crab Shack1581 Defense Highway, Gambrills, MD 21054 Irish Channel1053 …

Are you looking for the best thing since sliced bread on a couple pieces of bread? Patch local editors complied a list of sandwich shops around our area. But there has to be more places to score a super sandwich.    Crofton Sometimes you just want a great Italian deli sandwich. If you're around Crofton, you'll want to stop by Vince's Deli and Catering. They serve authentic American and Italian deli sandwiches. Plus, they offer sandwich platters for every occasion along with fruit platters; vegetable, cheese, rolled meat and cheese, and dessert trays. Atlanta Bread Company offers an assortment…

You have sung “Auld Lang Syne.” Sipped a little too much of the bubbly. Now you’re looking to recuperate and energize for 2012. Here are some popular spots around Crofton-Gambrills to get a cup of coffee and welcome in the New Year.   Atlanta Bread Company1334 Main Chapel Way, Gambrills410-451-8973 The Atlanta Bread Company offers an assortment of decadent coffee and teas. Plus you can always pair the drink up with something from their menu of fresh baked bread items.   Caribou Coffee2638 Chapel Lake Drive, Gambrills410 451-2845 Caribou is home to some of the most creative coffee recipes in …

I was having lunch at Rips in Bowie with a Crofton business owner when we started talking about his gluten-free diet. He had his heart set on a crab cake, but the waitress told us, “They have breadcrumbs in them so it has gluten.” Eating gluten-free means cutting out or limiting foods containing wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye), according to the Mayo Clinic’s website. This lifestyle change is often used to treat celiac disease. Here are some gluten-free food “do’s and don’t” from the Mayo Clinic.  Eat Away Beans, seeds, nuts in their natural, unprocessed form …

“Tapas” comes from traditional Spanish snacks and appetizers, but many types of restaurants offer their own version of “small plates.” Choosing items to share off a menu is a group activity and discussing and experiencing new tastes can be a gustatory adventure. Patch compiled a list of local restaurants you can go to experience the small plate trend with your own loved ones. Crofton Roundz Gourmet Market & Catering is also an eat-in restaurant serving food in small and large portions. Lunch or dinner options include roasted rack of lamb, broccoli and rice stuffed chicken breasts, sundried …

Crofton/Gambrills Blue Dolphin Seafood serves oysters, shrimp, lobster and crab appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, sandwiches, chicken, steak and veal for lunch and dinner. The spacious restaurant also has a sports bar and lounge.   Broadneck Seafood restaurant choices are limited in Arnold, but the best I've had is Deep Creek Restaurant. Their cream of crab soup is to die for. -Frank Smith, Broadneck guest editor and frequent Patch contributor   Edgewater Edgewater Restaurant. It's cozy—a home converted into a restaurant more than 60 years ago, where each of the old rooms had most of the …

Give yourself a morning break from the kitchen and enjoy breakfast out of the house. Here are some of Patch’s favorite breakfast spots. What are yours?   Odenton The Daily Diner opens at 8 a.m. and serves its breakfast items any time of the day—except on Mondays when the Odenton eatery is closed.   Edgewater Wharfside Restaurant has a breakfast menu that is sure to please, including real grits (not instant), crabcakes with poached eggs, Eggs Benedict, pancakes, French toast and of course a full bar including Bloodies and Mimosas. The only problem is that sometimes there is a wait for a table…

Nov. 28 is French Toast Day.  Whether you call it “eggy bread” or the “poor knights pudding,” it’s a breakfast treat that many love to eat. Here are some spots around Crofton-Gambrills that serve French toast.  Big Fish Grille 1260 State Route 3 S, Crofton, MD 21114 410-451-3133 Friendly's 1673 Crofton Center, Crofton, MD 21114 410-721-3007 Nautilus Diner 1709 Transportation Blvd., Crofton, MD 21114 410-451-8515   What’s your favorite French toast topping? What local restaurant makes the BEST French toast?

It’s the weekend. Time to get out and “Dish It!” at area eateries near Crofton. This weekend it’s all about the sushi spots. Where’s the best sushi house nearby? Crofton Fins Hawaiian Fusion and Sushi Bar   Odenton Hana Japanese Cuisine   Bowie Ichiban Sushi East Moon Asian Bistro Sakura Japanese Steak House Hunan Delight Hibachi Japan   Upper Marlboro Kobe Japanese Seafood House   Greater Annapolis Katana Sushi Annapolis Sakura Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar Yama Sushi Bar Ziki Japanese Steakhouse   Historic Annapolis Aqua Terra of Annapolis Tsunami Ego Sushi and Grill Nano Asian Dining…

Our Crofton Patch foodie Joe Robinson checked out The Awe Shack with the family. Here's what the outspoken food critic had to say about the Princess Center resturant. By Joseph Robinson For an Awe-petizer to use their terminology, we had the Samosas to start - fried pastry shells with potatoes and green peas with a homemade chutney dipping sauce is fantastic.  They are somewhat different from traditional Indian Samosas but great!  The chutney sauce that they serve this with is a cilantro, garlic, vinegar, jalapeño, and yogurt blend sauce - really good and great for dipping both the samosa's …

By Joseph Robinson When Hans closed in the Crofton Shopping Center, the pickings were kind of slim for good Chinese/Japanese food in the Crofton area.  We have gone to Empire Garden several time since they opened in the Princess Center and the food has always been very good although service has sometimes been a little spotty.  This past weekend* we ordered and picked up and the food was terrific.  Large portions help because my family loves leftover Chinese the next day.  My son always orders his favorite, which is very good - Chicken with Cashew.  My wife always goes for the steamed …

By Joseph Robinson For those long time Crofton/Bowie/Gambrills residents that remember Lucky Luciano's in the Priest Bridge Center in Crofton and Happy Italian Delight in the Free State Mall in Bowie - we do have good Italian food within our reach.  So many people in our area settle for Ledos - which in my honest opinion is right up there with Mama Celeste from the frozen food aisle. The best (in my humble, honest opinion) in our area are: Mamma Roma 8743 Piney Orchard Pkwy Suite 102-103, Odenton, MD 21113 410-695-0247 HoursMonday - Thursday: 11am - 10pmFriday & Saturday: 11am - 11pmSunday: …

By Nancie Allen I eat at Christopher's Restaurant quite often. The food is wonderful! My favorites dishes are the blackened red snapper and the jumbo lump crab cake. I also like their lounge. We usually have a glass of wine then head to the restaurant for dinner.  The staff at Christopher's is always professional and friendly.   Also, "Laura" left the following review on the Christopher's Crofton Patch directory page: "Went only once and that was some time ago. I do remember the food being very good and the service as well."   Do you agree or disagree?  Sound off in the comments section. Your…

By Kayte Brown Very few times have I been in there around lunch hour but Sunday at 2 p.m. You expect the place to be packed. We walked in and around eight tables were filled (that should have been my hint) we sat down got our drinks and went to the buffet. Many things in the buffet you could tell were old. The chicken nuggets were so dry the made a snap sound when u broke them in half. I then went to get steamed pork buns. Old as old gets. The bun was hard like stale bread and the meat inside was like mush. I told the waitress and she couldn't understand not a thing I was saying. “Oh good,” …

By Lynde Saulpaugh I admit it: I am a “food snob.”  I don’t work in the service industry now, but I do have experience with that certain rite of passage called working-in-a-restaurant-while-finishing-my undergrad-degree, which taught me to expect certain basic components of cleanliness, friendliness and food quality when dining out.  Starting a family only caused my expectations to increase in certain ways: natural, organic, gluten-free, heart-healthy choices on the menu aren’t absolutely necessary, but they sure do win bonus points. In 2010, we came to Anne Arundel County from a resort town …