Ruse

Ruse, nestled within the stylish Wildset Hotel in downtown St. Michaels, has quickly earned a reputation as a culinary hotspot, even garnering a James Beard finalist nomination. My companion and I decided to experience the hype firsthand, choosing Valentine's Day to sample their legendary weekday happy hour (4-6pm). Arriving right at 4pm proved to be a wise decision, as the bar filled to capacity within the first fifteen minutes. Clearly, the word is out.The happy hour menu is concise but perfectly curated. We started with half a dozen baked oysters, Ruse's elevated take on oysters Rockefeller, and they were simply fantastic. Next, we opted for the happy hour burger and fries. These are scaled-down versions of their main menu counterparts, offered at a fraction of the price, and both were outstanding. The burger features a miso Dijon that adds a layer of umami complexity, elevating it far beyond your average bar burger. The fries were the epitome of shoestring perfection, sprinkled with rosemary for an extra touch of flavor - the ideal accompaniment.Intrigued by the main menu, we also ordered the anchovy toast. The combination of piparra peppers and cultured butter perfectly balanced the saltiness of the anchovies, creating a harmonious and delicious bite. To drink, we enjoyed a few glasses of the house white Pinot Gris, and a well-made Manhattan.The staff at Ruse were incredibly attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, making our happy hour experience at the bar truly exceptional. From the quality of the food and drinks to the impeccable service, Ruse is clearly doing great things. I can't wait to return and explore the rest of their offerings.

We loved Ruse!!The ambiance is more of a casual, rustic farm/coastal vibe. I love the long wooden table in the kitchen which gives the feeling you are hanging out, having dinner at a friend's house. We loved all of the super fresh seafood. Some highlights of the meal were the interactive make your own spicy tuna rolls, fresh sourdough bread with salty butter and fresh briney oysters. The caviar with the tater tots and creme fraise was actually the most perfect bite and I could've eaten a million of those. The burger was perfect with light shoe string fries! Overall Ruse was a perfect hit to kick off our stay-cation!

We came here for our anniversary dinner, as we were staying at The Wildset. Service - AMAZING. We were stuck in traffic on the way from Baltimore, so we called ahead and they were able to accommodate us a little later than evening and we really appreciated it. They also gave us complimentary champagne since we were celebrating. It was a really nice touch and made our evening extra special. Ambiance - We loved the casual nautical vibe, without everything being the typical blue & white color. It was definitely an intimate space however, so I would strongly recommend making a reservation well in advance. Food - also amazing! Our waitress gave us amazing recommendations. We started with the oysters and cocktails, following by prawns, and ending with the pork chop and scallops. The only thing we didn't love was the pork chop - it was cooked well but it was sweeter than we expected and I wish it had a sauce (felt a little dry bc it was breaded). Would strongly recommend any seafood dishes. Didn't have any room for dessert, but I'm sure it would be great as well. Our bill overall was about $250 - on the more expensive end, but worth it for a special occasion. Would highly recommend this restaurant.

A new favorite, Ruse in Maryland. We had a great meal with the trout and the burger paired with dirty martinis. The trout was well-prepared, with a fresh and flavorful profile, while the burger was juicy and satisfying, cooked to perfection. The dirty martinis complemented both dishes well, enhancing the overall experience. The service was attentive, and the ambiance added to a relaxing dining experience. A fantastic spot for a quality meal!

Big fan of Ruse. Love the fancy farmhouse, coastal vibe. Has both indoor and outdoor space, but glad we picked indoor for our reservation because it was way too hot. When we sat down around 6pm the entire bar was full, but by 8pm it had mostly cleared out, so if you don't have a reservation, get there super early or relatively late. Service was attentive and the food was sooo good; I especially loved the simple yet tasty anchovy toast and the crab pasta. Will for sure be back when I'm in St. Michael's again.

The food here was amazing! We went on our mini moon and they gave us some CAVA to celebrate. The food was amazing but very rich. We started with oysters, then enjoyed the hand rolled tuna, and the shrimp which was chilled and with curry. For our mains I enjoyed the crab pasta which was very rich and my husband got the scallops. One thing to note we thought we would enjoy happy house since we were there at four PM. But you need to be at the bar in order to take advantage of happy hour and we were seating on main dining area.

Hands down the absolute best meal I had on my recent trip to St. Michaels.The service was absolutely phenomenal and the menu is creative but not *too* creative that I felt scared to try something new. Everything I ate had me excited about my next bite.We tried: + Oysters: They are known for their raw bar and their oysters did not disappoint. The Mookie Blues opened up a new pleasure center in my brain.+ Grilled Prawns on Toast: Herbaceous, plentiful, and super tasty. Don't be shy, rip the heads out and suck on all the juices. It's delicious! + Crab Cacio e Pepe: Nearly every table in the restaurant had ordered this and for good reason. The noodles were cooked to a perfect al dente and was the perfect foil for the generous jumbo lump crab meat on top. It was cheesy, comforting, and oh-so-good. This is a dish you don't want to miss out on!+ Grilled Rockfish + Papaya Salad: There must have been a Thai auntie in the kitchen because this papaya salad was out of this world. Thick, pungent, delicious, and fully flavored. The warm, crispy, and flaky rockfish on top had me crying tears of joy.+ Labneh Ice Cream Sundae: The ice cream was a savory and creamy delight. The pistachio cotton candy teased my senses, and added to the playfulness of the dish.When we were leaving, the hotel front desk had mentioned that Jose Andres was recently in town and dined not once, but twice here which is the highest of compliments.I highly, highly, highly recommend. PS: Make reservations because they book fast.

Two years in a row my partner and I have come here to celebrate our anniversary because of how special this place is. This restaurant is within a bed and breakfast/hotel and is very farm to table. Always always make a reservation otherwise only the bar area is available. Servers have always been kind and quick; love getting their recommendations on what to eat. Ruse has the best and tastiest oyster selection ive had in my life. We ordered 3 orders of the roasted oyster and had some of the freshest raw ones that had a citrus after taste (unlike any oyster ive had before). The meat and vegetables are well seasoned. I absolutely love this place and highly recommend to anyone who enjoys oysters or a good meal. The drinks are great too - the bartenders are quite the mixologist!

Our dinner experience at Ruse for our mini-moon was truly exceptional. I was captivated by their decor and the overall ambiance of the place. Opting for outdoor seating added to the charm of the evening. We began with the anchovies toast, which was an absolute delight. The ceviche was another winner, with its delectable sauce. We also ordered a couple of oysters to try and they were the freshest oysters I've ever tasted! The prawns were also SO delicious. Another appetizer we tried was the beef tartare which I thought was okay. There was too much cheese on top and the tartare could have more flavor but overall it was very fresh. We also indulged in prosciutto and figs; the figs were impressively fresh. My husband's choice of the pork chop left us amazed, with a beautifully done crust. On the other hand, I ordered pasta and, to be honest, it didn't quite meet my expectations. The inclusion of corn didn't seem to harmonize with the dish, and I felt the flavor could have been more appealing.Nonetheless, our visit to this restaurant was thoroughly enjoyable, and our server was charming and attentive. This was our first time in St. Michael's, and we are definitely looking forward to returning to experience The Russ.

First time visiting and we were extremely impressed. Very accommodating with food allergies. Delicious oysters with a wide variety to choose from. Great service and atmosphere. We look forward to our next visit!