Went to the Westlawn Inn for a celebratory dinner with my fiancee and had a fantastic experience. The owner was very personable and stopped by to check in on us multiple times. The live music was excellent. The food was fresh and delicious. The crab soup and the crab and avocado appetizer were our favorites.
Review Source:Along with an earlier reviewer, we made the mistake of hoping that things had improved from a very lousy brunch experience 5 years ago (yes, it takes me that long to forget about something that bad). Â Under encouragement from friends to try something new, we ventured back hoping for vast improvement. Â Unfortunately, it was only worse than the prior visit. Â The food is expensive and tasteless to the point of being inedible, the service was lackluster -- slow and non-apologetic. Â Agree with Laurie C -- we were victims of a similar evening. Â I won't be making this mistake again ever. Â Adding it also to our Southern MD boycott list.
Review Source:My wife and I have been here for a Sunday morning brunch and twice for dinner. Â For the area we highly recommend it. Â The owner is very attentive and always on site. Â On Saturday nights they feature music in the main dining room and the acts are excellent. Â On one evening we heard a jazz / dixie land jazz band that was excellent. Â They put a smile on everyone's face. Â We tend to dine at 4-5 star restaurants on occassion and have done so all over the DC area and the world for that matter. Â We recommend the Westlawn. Â I also particularly recommend their steaks.
Review Source:My husband and I enjoyed a very quiet Sunday night dinner at the Westlawn Inn. Â There were several people in the bar, a couple parties on the porch, and a couple in the dining room with us. Â The service was attentive and pleasant, and the food was quite delicious, though the blueberry pound cake we had for dessert should have been fresher. Â The food was pricier than it should have been, and the sound system in the dining area is horribly blown, causing an obnoxious hiss to drown out the music. Â Nonetheless, our experience was wonderful and we would return again the next time we visit the Chesapeake Beach/North Beach area.
We ordered:
Oven-roasted rainbow trout over red rice with spinach and caramelized onions. Â Chef special of sesame tuna with red pepper rice. Â Westlawn salad (tomatoes, feta, dried cherries, pecans, orange-thyme vinaigrette). Â Blueberry pound cake.
I've had two delicious dinners on the porch. Everyone at the table enjoyed what they ordered.. Â scallops, fried green tomato appetizer, salads, filet, dessert.. all delicious and a cut above other restaurants in the area. Â The salmon with "grapefruit salsa" was the only disappointment b/c it was simply a few pieces of grapefruit sitting on top of an average piece of grilled salmon, not really a salsa or chutney.
I have not been seated inside or had a drink in the bar as described in the other reviews.
As a newcomer to SoMD, I have been actively enjoying the hospitable staff and clientele, beautiful bay scenery, high quality of food (both in flavor and portions) and the very reasonable pricing of all of the aforementioned in a single package.
From what I've seen, the Westlawn Inn is the exception to the rule on all counts. My wife and I jokingly call it the "Worstlawn" - and was the first restaurant to go on to our mutual boycott list.
Parking in the region is tight, but not impossible... if you're a local you can obtain a street permit to plug into side streets. If you're not a resident, you run the possibility of getting a ticket. (slim chance - I can't say as I've ever seen a meter maid in the region.)
The clientele is at first blush a few colorful locals... the blush rapidly faded and became a collection of loudmouthed, rude and downright grotesque mob of alternately clique-y and then snoopy in-your-facers. While it's possible to view them as a comical version of dinner theater, Â it's hard to enjoy any meal near folks like that for very long.
Our server, while initially friendly and polite, were generally poorly informed about the menu, and when a particular order came back unlike what was requested - one of the wait staff in particular became obstinate and steadfast about not having made a simple mistake.
On one recent visit, the cook prepared a salad of wilted, poorly cleaned lettuce with croutons that were less flavorful garnish and more charred remains of exploded granite. It was actually a relief to have microscopic portions on the plate.
The wine was a tasty and soothing chardonnay, and our cohorts merry - Both were much welcomed and softened the gastronomical trauma caused by the other patrons and entree.
I suspect that whoever voted the "Worstlawn" Maryland's Best New Restaurant has either failed to eat anywhere else recently, or possibly a financial interest in the place's success.
For the love of all you hold dear in your heart, steer clear. Â Run, do not walk away.
I'd advise a nice little side trip to Stoney's instead.
The Westlawn has proven to be a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde experience. And unfortunately, the Mr. Hyde side of this establishment is keeping us from returning.
Let me begin by saying that the Westlawn was voted as Maryland's Best New Restaurant. That's a HUGE deal for a little place in good ol', bikercentric North Beach. Of course, NB is changing, courtesy of Hurricane Isabel and local pressure, and the addition of the Westlawn has been a positive one. The rebuilding of the old guest house that now serves as the restaurant and bar has been beautifully handled.
The Westlawn Inn's restaurant deserved this vote. We have had two wonderful late dinners here and a fantastic brunch. The barbequed scallops and grits were to die for. Our waiters and waitresses were very attentive and knowledgeable. The wine list was extensive and bite for bite, the dining experience was a very positive one worth the money spent (and yes, it's a bit pricey). If you go to the Westlawn, reservations are suggested, but when you enter go to your right. Always to your right. Because to your left, lies Mr. Hyde.
Mr. Hyde is in the guise of a well stocked seperate bar, complete with a selection of cigars, fine wines and tons of atmosphere. It also seems to be the home of what are quite possibly the rudest, most obnoxious patrons I have ever encountered. The cozy little pub  is inviting and on several occasions, my husband and I have attempted to come for a nice glass of wine, dessert and a some quiet conversation...but it's not possible. I think we would have a better chance down the street at the much more "local" Crooked Eye.
I've never come so close to punching a woman wearing a pink and green Ralph Lauren ensemble in my life as I have at the Westlawn's lovely little bar. I wouldn't give it a second thought if it had only happened once, on an off night, but this seems to be a regular problem. We've finally decided to avoid it altogether. Tipsy and too friendly is one thing, and that's what you expect in an everyday drinking establishment, but I expected better from the patrons of the Westlawn's pub.
I'd give the Westlawn a much higher rating based on the dining experience alone. And maybe, based on your desire to see the well heeled act like asses...I should boost it up a bit.
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