Marli's Dockside Grill & Crabhouse
203 Nanticoke Rd
Baltimore, MD 21221
410-574-6275
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Review and photos by Lena Sala
Prior to visiting
Marli's Dockside Grill and Crabhouse, I thought burgers and pizza
is what you would call fine dining. That all changed once I sat down
inside the Caribbean-style restaurant and spent almost two hours indulging
in everything from grilled bacon wrapped scallops to the famous Maryland
crab soup. The crabhouse, located at 203 Nanticoke Road, recently
celebrated their grand opening on Thursday, July 1 by welcoming the
public to stop on in and experience mouthwatering desserts and something
everyone has heard of - happy hour! Mark Hoos, manager of Marli's,
showed my coworker and I the best possible dining out experience by
recommending the most popular dishes and taking the time out to make
sure we went home satisfied. The waiter started us out with the Maryland
Crab Soup which was filled with chunks of white jumbo lump crab meat.
There was not one bite that wasn't juicy and seasoned to perfection
with just the right amount of Old Bay. The vegetables, which consisted
of peas, corn, string beans and carrots, melted in your mouth with
every spoonful. Once I finished the soup, my tastebuds were curious
for what lay ahead. We were then greeted with something known as Sesame
Sashimi Tuna, which was freshly prepared and coated with delicious
sesame seeds, and served with wasabi creme, soy syrup and pickled
ginger, over seaweed salad. If you're a fan of sushi, then its an
absolute must that you stop down to see what your stomach has been
missing. It is no surprise that every meal is made to perfection with
Head Chef Rob Palen, who has been in the food industry for over 12
years. Marli's stands out because this isn't your typical crab house.
We actually have intertwined some aspects of Asian culture with our
dishes, stated Palen. With everything from citrus juice to marinate
our meats to crushed vegetables, Marli's stands out from the rest.
Speaking of meats, I found myself practically drooling over their
crab cake sandwich which consists of six ounces of pure lumps of fresh
Maryland crabmeat. Every bite was moist and laced with Imperial-style
sauce. Marli's has something for everyone to enjoy, even for those
of you who do not have a taste for seafood. Like their famous Norman
Creek Nachos that can be found on their lunch menu featuring fresh
tortilla chips topped with seasoned beef, tomato salsa, chipotle queso
and tons of sour cream! Are your mouths watering yet? No...? Then
maybe their eight-ounce fresh vintage natural ground beef burger,
prepared on a freshly grilled artisan roll will do the trick. If you're
a steak lover, then you may want to try out their hormone-free steak
which in Palens opinion, has a richer taste than Angus beef. Marli's
has even saved you a trip to Ocean City, MD by adding the classic
favorite Boardwalk Fries to the menu. According to Hoos, you will
never get tired of the food at this restaurant. Everyday we have a
different special to introduce new and exciting dishes to our hungry
customers, he said. If you're like me and are always on the go and
just don't have the time to sit down and wine and dine, then check
out Marli's carryout, which includes everything from their Chicken
Chesapeake - two six-ounce chicken breasts marinated and chargrilled,
topped with peppers, garlic and jumbo lump crab meat - to everyone's
favorite, Maryland style steamed crabs, which are hand-picked. You
can place your order for these delicious creatures seven days a week.
Marli's isn't your typical seafood house, so its no surprise that
their carryout is not like any other restaurants, due to the fact
that they will actually run the food out to you, which is a huge benefit
for boaters in the area who have an afternoon craving. Just call,
place your order and when its ready, your food will be handed right
to you. Its as simple as that. Everything that you sink your teeth
into is 100 percent freshly cooked that day. The only thing you will
find frozen are their ice cubes. Hoos, who also owns Marli Sport Fishing
and Norman Creek Marina, is all about customer service, if you couldn't
already tell. We will soon be introducing KENO and this fall, all
sports lovers are welcome to join us for Monday Night Football, NFL
and college football, said Hoos. He also noted that with the changing
of the seasons, there will be a change in the food choices on the
menu which will relate to that particular time of the year; this way
no experience is the same. No matter what season it is, everyone loves
a side of crab dip, a true Maryland favorite. I have to say, I have
never tasted crab dip as creamy and as rich as when I sampled some
at Marli's Every piece of fresh crab was mixed with cream cheese and
just the right amount of seafood seasonings to keep my mouth hungry
for more. If you think that steaming crabs and preparing steaks is
the only thing Marli's can do, then you may want to think again. They
also have the best desserts anywhere around town. I have just two
words for you, Creme Brulee. This is one dessert I never had the opportunity
of trying up until my recent visit with my coworker All I can say
is I have been missing out. If you're a chocolate and peanut butter
lover, then what you need is to try their moist Reese's Pieces Peanut
Butter Pie. The fusion of the chocolate with the creamy peanut butter
sent my tastebuds into a frenzy. Marli's even has something for all
you coffee lovers out there, known as the Mississippi Mud Pie, which
intertwines chocolate and coffee all in one bite. What can get better
than that? Hoos and Palen added that in the near future, you will
be able to come on down as early as 7 a.m. to enjoy their breakfast
and bring some friends and family to enjoy the soon-to-come KENO.
So make sure you gather up the crew and head on down to see what fine
dining is all about. For more information on specials and times, call
Marli's Dockside Grill and Crabhouse at 410-574-6275.
