When it comes to old things, do we automatically assume a love for them or must we first understand the old thing to enjoy it? This question bears some meaning on downtown’s The Federal House Bar and Grille, established in 1830. The restaurant is of course old (as you can clearly tell from the interior), but do visitors instantaneously love Federal House or does it require tasting the food, drinking the beer, and laughing with good friends to cherish? Perhaps this inquiry is subjective, in which case we should provide an overview of what to expect at Federal House and what’s so special about it. Keep reading for more on menus, specials, and pictures of the tavern-like interior.
Located right in front of Market Space, Federal House sits in a spot that’s easy to get to and, thanks to its bright blue facade, is hard to miss. When you walk through the entrance, you are greeted by kind hostesses and floor to ceiling original brick. The old mortar and the worn color of the bricks confirms its originality. The archways inside curve as expected of the 19th century, and the staircases are made of dark wood and curve themselves. There are several different dining areas–sections in the bar and a dining area opposite the bar. The bar dining area features checkered tile floors while the more formal dining space has wooden floors. As you can imagine, the interior truly does tell the story of Federal House’s history.
As far as the menu goes, updated favorites are available. Federal House is known for its raw bar, happy hour deals, and hearty portions. The raw bar menu serves up mussels, shrimp, oyster, and Alaskan Snow Crab all steamed in savory juices. The happy hour deals come in the form of discounted drinks like $2.50 Natural Lights, $4 Sam Adams beers, $4 rail drinks, and $3 selected beers like Angry Orchard. The bar also has a surprising number of locally brewed beers on tap, like Festina Peche from Dogfish Head in Delaware. House specialties anchor any meal, like the seafood entree starring sea scallops and shrimp; the Maryland Crab Cake dinner, featuring local Maryland crab; and the “Salmon Annapolitan,” complete with salmon, crab imperial, rice, and asparagus. Aside from these seafood options, there are land options like fish and chips, ham with mac and cheese, and all sorts of chicken dishes. There is also the opportunity to make your own entree comprised of two of the three: a sandwich, a salad, or soup. For dessert, bread pudding, pies, and chocolate things are on the menu.
Aside from the tasty food, good wine, and hearty beers, Federal House features entertainment throughout the year. They welcome local DJs at night for a lively time. Additionally, Federal House is quite celebrated for its Tuesday night “World Tavern Poker” that’s open to all above the age of 21. See the site linked here for full menus, more pictures, and events.
Whether you want to grab a drink with friends, enjoy a satisfying meal, or revel in the history of Annapolis, Federal House is the place to be.
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