Lighthouse Bistro (Annapolis, MD)

A warm October afternoon seemed like the perfect chance to meet up with friends who were moving out of the area, so we made our second visit to this small, but busy restaurant located off Annapolis' bustling main drag. 

Without fail, the first beer I ordered was no longer available, so I settled for a crisp, light Delco lager. (This happens so often that it's a running joke with my wife and me.) A side of Crab Dip with a Kick (pictured) came with crisp house-fried tortilla chips perfect for holding the creamy dip filled with crab and jalapeno, plus some fried jalapeno on top. The plentiful crab justified the $16 price, and there was plenty to go around.

I had been eyeing up the Meatloaf Hash (meatloaf, two eggs, onions, scallions, potatoes) but decided on a burger with Swiss cheese, sauteed mushrooms and fried onions. While cooked the way I like it, the burger was kinda bland and in need of a sturdier roll, as the crappy Maryland roll disintegrated on my first bite. Also, serving tomatoes after Labor Day should be like wearing white — just don't do it.

The rest of the group enjoyed the Chicken Salad, Bistro Club, and Eggs Benedict with pork over biscuits. Aside from the food and atmosphere, Lighthouse Bistro gets high marks for a mission focused on providing hands-on training, job experience and living-wage employment to individuals facing barriers to work, especially those transitioning out of homelessness. — Dan Taylor