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AJ's on the Creek
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
6585 Maddox BlvdChincoteague Island, MD 23336
(757) 336-5888
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
16 reviews for AJ's on the Creek
16 reviews in English
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Review from A K.
Manhattan, NY
7/22/2011
As high schoolers, my friend and I were too poor to consider coming to AJ's for a meal during our summer trips to Chincoteague. Now that we're adults, we decided to finally spend our well-earned money at this upscale, unpretentious seafood restaurant.
When making a reservation, the staff who answered was courteous and efficient. We were quickly seated and pleasantly surprised by the warm atmosphere - rich, dark chocolate interiors and a nice view of the water.
We had:
+ crab alfredo
+ crab cakes
+ prime rib
...all of which was rich, delicious and not at all overwhelming. Everything was perfectly proportioned.
All in all, a fabulous, yummy dining experience. We'll be back next summer! -
Review from Sparky F.
Sacramento, CA
3/15/2012
First night and first time in Chincoteague we decided to hit AJ's for dinner. The atmosphere was pleasant, although you need that trusty flashlight app on your phone to read the menu! The service was good, our server was pleasant, attentive, and efficient.
The special fish of the day was Grilled Tuna and it was REALLY good! The Imperial Crab with Morney sauce was good, but certainly not the best we have ever had. The Manhatten Chowder was good, the Crab Chowder was Better!
The bread was good and plentiful with an attentive server.
There was nothing about this place that was so great that it would draw me back, but there was nothing wrong with it either...it was a nice meal after a long drive. It was A-OK! -
Review from Kate G.
Capitol Hill/Northeast, Washington, DC
7/29/2011
Awful. Not sure where to start, but here goes...
We made reservations for 830, and arrived on time only to then wait 20 minutes to be seated. During that time we witnessed several arguments between the house manager (who was doubling as the host) and the wait staff. The manager also loudly complained to other customers about a table of 14 that he apparently felt had overstayed and needed to leave. More on that later.
Eventually the manager offered us a table with a curt "over there" and a point.
After what seemed like another interminable wait, the waitress arrived and informed us she'd be slow because shed just been given "the owner's table" of six people. She cursed her bad luck and said she couldn't believe "they did this to me."
When she eventually re-appeared to take our orders, she sat down in the booth next to my husband and "what do you want" as if we were at a Jersey diner. She also declined to elaborate about and then got wrong the night's specials.
When the food arrived, she commented on how jealous she was about the food because she'd come to work without her dinner. Judging by the overcooked broccoli, she shouldn't have been.
And this is not to mention the temperature being at a sauna-type level. We sat indoors and were sweating by the meal's end.
The manager, whom we overheard loudly complaining about the table of 14, at one point ordered one of his employees to turn up the overhead lighting in the entire restaurant to send a hint that the group should leave. It didn't work for them but sure did for us.
And the food. The bread to start was from a freezer aisle. The bouillabaisse broth was good, but the seafood would have been only average in the Midwest, and here we were on the coast. Don't order the clam prosciutto skillet either. Just terribly bland and dry.
I'm a long time Yelp reader but have never been moved to comment on a restaurant until tonight. This place was so bad I signed up just to submit this review.
Avoid this place. -
Review from K B.
Silver Spring, MD
6/8/2011
2 star food.
4 star atmosphere.
But really, when it comes to dining out, it's all about the food.
Maybe it was the chef's night off. Maybe the regular supplies didn't come in. Maybe standards are different here. Who knows? Other yelpers rated it at 4 stars, so something was off.
To start, we got the bread and butter. Nothing new, nothing special.
Same for the salad.
Dinner came. They were so in rush, we didn't have a chance to finish the salad and sat there gulping it down looking at the main dish getting cold.
Everything was coated in a fake butter flavor. Either butter flavored pam or margarine, I'm not sure which. I had ordered the blue crab and prosciutto, which was supposed to have "garlic and butter" in it but tasted more like a crab rendition of movie popcorn. It was overcooked and the prosciutto was completely flavorless. I really considered sending it back, which is not something I've ever done before, but I figured whoever had cooked this and considered it acceptable was a completely hopeless case - ie, nothing good was going to come out of this kitchen.
The place looks nice. It's a bit dated, but it has a pretty view of the marsh.
I don't really know what to make of this experience. Yelp is usually pretty close, plus or minus a star, but this just did not hit it. -
Review from Amanda M.
11/20/2008 2 photos
We made reservations for a busy Saturday night in August and were seated immediately. The restaurant was a bit dark and not too fancy, but comfortable and fairly quiet. I recommend the oysters Rockefeller (served piping HOT, so proceed with caution, but oh-so-tasty!) and the crab cakes. Our house salads with artichoke vinaigrette were very good as well. My friend had the crab alfredo and remarked that it was the first time she had ever ordered a seafood pasta dish where it seemed like there was actually more crab than noodles... this alone seems pretty noteworthy to me!
We came for good seafood, and were not disappointed. The wine list is reasonable; mainly low-to-mid-priced bottles with several nicer options. Our server was attentive and friendly, as well. I would definitely return on another trip.
Great for a special night out or just an evening of good wine and dining. -
Review from David R.
Reston, VA
1/28/2010
Terrible. I went there in October 2008, and the parking lot was surrounded by McCain/Palin signs. Consider that a bad omen.
Inside, me and my friend (who owns a vacation home on the "island") were treated like outsiders. Remember the scene in Easy Rider, when Nicholson, Hopper and Fonda visit the cafe in Louisiana and are ignored? That was the situation at AJ's.
I had been here before in 2003, and the place was cool. Great food, decent wine list, nice atmosphere. I don't know what happened - management change? Chincoteague Island is in DIRE need of some night spots. Cap'n Fish closed. So now the best bet is off the island, at Greene Turtle over the Maryland border.
(By the way, Chincoteague Island is in Virginia, not Maryland - address is wrong in the profile). -
Review from Marty H.
Richmond, VA
7/17/2011
This is one of the better restaurant's on the island if you are looking for an upscale atmosphere with good food and service. Our first visit was very enjoyable and I would highly recommend the Bouillabaisse which is not easy to find on any restaurant menu. Try the coconut shrimp to start. We will definitely be going back to AJ's on our next visit to Chincoteague.
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Review from cindi n.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2010
had an AWESOME dinner here a couple of nights ago during a serious lightning/ thunderstorm downpour night. (the first rain/storm chincoteague had in 2 1/2 months).
despite the thunderstorm, we had an AWESOME dinner which is attributed to:
1. AWESOME impeccable service from john -- friendly, pleasant, attentive, (not over-bearing), gave great entree & wine suggestion -- the fat bastard shiraz which my mother-in-law got a kick out of.
2. AWESOME juicy char-broiled delmonico steaks which my hub, my mother-in-law & i all agreed was the best steak we've all had in a long while!!!! plus 2 huge tasty onion rings on top & potatoes on the side. & it was a bargain for $29. another customer noted he travelled 200 miles for this steak. (& big thanks to our hotel for directing us to AJ's -- the best steak on the island)
3. definitely nicer dining atmosphere relative to other restaurants on the island.
4. yummy cream of crab soup & good bread!
5. this was THE place to be during the thunderstorm!!!! super cozy with delicious food!!!!!
john & the delmonico steaks made our night!!!!
if we ever come back, we'll definitely be back to AJ's -
Review from Mike H.
Arlington, VA
5/1/2011
Came to the island from DC for a weekend to celebrate my wife's grad school graduation. After checking out some reviews onilne and reading the menu, I decided to give it a shot. Sounded like it'd be a decent place to have a nice dinner. It was surprisingly busy but we were seated right away by a nice hostesss. Our waiter had only been on staff a month but was helpful and friendly. I had the crabcakes, which were outstanding, she had the shrimp scampi which looked good - big shrimp and huge scallops. The fresh french bread was warm and tasty, salads were very fresh. And my baked potato was piping hot and full of melted butter. It'd been a while since I'd had a baked potato, and honestly, what more can you ask for than a piping hot potato. The atmosphere was good - intimate, small-town fancy restaurant.
Bottom line - I expected something average to slightly decent, and we got something memorable with quality food. Recommended. -
Review from W Z.
Washington, DC
1/1/2011
So good that my boyfriend and I went back two days in a row for lunch. The decor was nice and the people are very friendly. Although I feel like the lunch menu was too tilted towards sandwiches, the food was delicious. We had the oyster stew, oyster rockfeller, seafood scampi, fried flounder sandwich, and blue crab salad. The food tasted fresh and oh man, the fries were unforgettable.
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Review from Jim B.
2/26/2010
Decor is a bit nicer than some other Chincoteague restaurants. Good service. I have always enjoyed the food - salads, crab cakes, flounder. Not a fan of their desserts.
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Review from Seth M.
Washington, DC
7/16/2010
3.6 stars really.
friday night. 8pm. restaurant was half full. the 2 of us got seated in our own private little breakfast nook type room. just the 2 of us in this tiny room. we even had the option to close the curtains for privacy. it was cool. never really experienced anything like it at a restaurant.
the little room was a bit odd though. there were old family portrait type photos on the walls, an "everything i learned in life, i learned in kindergarden poster" on the wall, and a couple reviews from food magazines. it was an interesting little room, to say the least.
service was fine. friendly, and prompt.
i ordered a strawberry daiquiri because it was a bit warm in the restaurant. it was refreshing, but i couldnt taste any alcohol. i think it was because there was probably a quarter of a shot of liquor it in. which was fine. i wasnt looking to get drunk. that ended up being a little over $6.
got a caesar salad. pretty standard salad. tasted fine.
ordered the seafood bouillabaisse as my main dish. $26?
it was pretty good. the soup/sauce itself was very very good. there was a piece of french bread soaking in it, and that bread was amazing with all the sauce soaked right in. the seafood in the dish was very good. the scallops, oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp - all very fresh. the crab was a bit fishy... which was a turn off.
2 mini baked potatoes were on the side. they were pretty standard baked potatoes.
would i go back? maybe one day. if the prices were a little lower, i would probably feel more comfortable giving this place 4 stars. -
Review from Kelly K.
10/17/2009
Limited lunch menu....tried the fried oyster sandwich for $8....made fresh....served on a grocery store bun with shredded romaine lettuce and a great couple of slices of ripe fresh tomato (a rare find in any place)...had three oysters nicely breaded...tasty....watch out when you get your fried food...is is made fresh and comes out so quick that the oil is HOT....But recommend the sandwich which was served with chips that seemed to be made there? with bay spice on them...Enjoyed the sandwich and will return to try dinner. Restaurant overlooks a pretty creek...the decor is out of date though and there is a smokey bar....Old fashioned drinker and smokers seems to be in the bar and working there....but hey the seafood seemed fresh and cooked right so although not quite my style restaurant I will put up with it for the food! Aim to get a booth overlooking creek.
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Review from Don D.
Colchester, VT
8/9/2010
Great service. I had the fried oysters and they were very good. My wife had the crab cakes. Nice atmosphere.
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Review from Alison O.
Allston-Brighton, MA
9/12/2010
I've been coming down to Chincoteague since I was a baby, but only when my siblings and I were grown up enough to enjoy AJ's to the fullest did we really get just how amazing this restaurant is.
The wait staff have always been helpful and understanding (my mother broke her shoulder last year and they went out of their way to make sure she was comfortable throughout the meal. When we came back this August, not only did they remember her, but asked how she was feeling.)
My favorite dish is the Blue Crab and Prosciutto. Giant lump crab meat broiled enough to give a desirable crisp, but not burnt. Prosciutto is tender and adds just the right amount of salty flavor that the scent of the dish alone makes my mouth water. They're always ready for questions about the menu and wine suggestions that go perfectly.
AJ's is a bit more sophisticated than the other restaurants on the island, but that has never deterred my family from making it a regular stop on our vacation. Can't wait for next year!!! -
Review from Dee B.
3/23/2010
If you want some place kind of "nice", this is probably the place to come for a dinner on Chincoteague. It's nothing super fancy, but the atmosphere is a bit more sophisticated than a place like Bill's or Sea Shell. Yes, it's a bit rundown and cramped, but service was great and the grilled scallops were absolutely amazing. We had a young waiter who was just born to be in a customer service role - he was effecient, friendly and plain good. We both ordered the grilled scallops and had the house salad with house artichoke vinagraitte to start -- surprisingly fresh and tasty salad and the dressing was very good, as well. The presentation of the scallops was a bit strange, and I was miffed about the small amount of potatoes. But, holy gift from the sea, the scallops were perfectly prepared!!! For dessert we had the chocolate bundt cake, which was not too sweet, but nice and chocolaty - I'd only have liked a bit more whipped cream. I would definitely return.
