Middleton Tavern (Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.A.)

Middleton Tavern  2 Market Space, Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.A. www.middletontavern.com  This is  very cool, beautiful, historic and amazing bar!!

The following history is from the Middleton's own web site: "Middleton Tavern was host to a galaxy of the nation's most revered leaders during the period following the American Revolution. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were numbered among its prominent patrons.  The Tavern was frequented by members of the Continental Congress meeting in the State House on such historic occasions as the resignation of General Washington's commission, December 23, 1783, the ratification of the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War in January 1784, and the Annapolis Convention which laid the groundwork for the Federal Constitution Convention held the following year in Philadelphia. The building was probably occupied as early as 1740. In 1750, Elizabeth Bennett sold the property to Horatio Middleton who operated the building as an "Inn for Seafaring Men." The nautical oriented Middleton also owned a ferry that linked Annapolis to the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.The Tavern was an all important stopping place for early travelers using the ferries to cross the Bay, including George Washington; Tench Tilghman, on the way to Philadelphia with the message of Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown; and Thomas Jefferson, whose records note that in 1783 he gave Samuel Middleton passage money to Rock Hall on the Eastern Shore. In those days, Middleton's was much more than a tavern; it has been described as one of the early showplaces of Annapolis, with its gardens spreading form Prince George Street to the water's edge. During the Revolution, the Tavern was operated by George Mann, but when the war ended, Samuel Middleton's son Gilbert, operated the business until the 1780's. The next owner was John Randall, a distinguished Revolutionary logistics officer who, prior to the war, was a builder and a partner to the renowned architect William Buckland, designer of Annapolis' Hammond-Harwood House. Jerry Hardesty, the current owner of Middleton Tavern, bought the restaurant in 1968 from Cleo and Mary Apostol who had operated the Mandris Restaurant on the corner for thirty-five years. Hardesty restored the building inside and out and was responsible for changing the name back to the original Middleton Tavern."

We were here in early September 2018 and loved our visit! It has a great sit-up bar that curves around and seats 13 or 14.  It is beautiful in here, lots of wood and class.  8 different beer on tap.  Wine andmixed drinks too!  We started of with a couple of appetizers, the Crab Balls, were good, then we had the 1/4 pound of Steamed Shrimp, they were a bit spicy as they use Old Bay spice and they too were very good.  For our dinner we shared the Fettuccine Alfredo Parmigiano-Regghiano and is was very good!! We really enjoyed this tavern! Can't wait to come back again!!  Another must do place in Annapolis!  Just love the history this place has!!