If you've never indulged in venison sausage, you're missing out. At Ellicott Mills Brewing Company, the venison sausage sampler is sweet and subtly spiced, one of the eatery's most popular starters. The sampler also includes a tasting of either bockworst, bratwurst, or wienerwurst.

The sampler makes a perfect accompaniment to an Alpenhof craft beer brewed with the highest quality ingredients. Brewmasters craft the beer in-house according to whichever regional technique matches the type of beer in accordance with historically-backed methods. This means that beers have plenty of time to breathe and mature as needed, resulting in a smooth finish for every pour. Use it to wash down a plate of the popular crab cakes, beer-battered shrimp, or Argentine steak.

Ellicott Mills Brewing Company
8308 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-8141
ellicottmillsbrewing.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ellicott-mills-brewing-co-ellicott-city-2

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Dinner Series

Located smack-dab in the middle of downtown Ellicot City, Johnny’s Bistro on Main offers a tasty array of creative sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, panini, tapas, wine and beer. Put your order in at the counter and a server delivers it to your table.

Options include some yummy entrée salads like the Atlantic Salmon Salad with seared marinated salmon, mixed greens and lemon-dill vinaigrette, and the Warm Mushroom Salad with sautéed portabella, shitake mushrooms, gorgonzola & crispy onions. The sandwich roster features the Bistro – marinated flank steak, roasted red pepper, grilled onion & horseradish aioli on rustic herbed ciabatta bread, and the California Dreaming with roasted turkey, apple wood bacon, guacamole, lettuce & tomato on ciabatta.

Be sure to save a spot for Johnny's Homemade Bread Pudding with bourbon sauce!

Johnny's Bistro on Main
8167 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 461-8210
http://www.johnnysbistro.net/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/johnnys-bistro-on-main-street-ellicott-city

If you want the fun and festive feel of Mexico without leaving Ellicott City, La Palapa is a great place to visit. This grill and cantina serves up fresh, flavorful Mexican fare in a fun atmosphere that’s perfect for everything from family dinners to nights out with friends.

What this spot lacks in ambiance it more than makes up for in fun, friendly energy, with a knowledgeable wait staff and a bustling bar area in the front. If you come with a group for happy hour, expect large, shareable appetizers and a number of different types of margaritas. The chicken quesadilla and stuffed jalapenos are especially popular. For lunch and dinner, Mexican fare classics like enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas, and tacos come with sides like rice and beans. La Palapa also offers sandwiches for guests with simpler tastes, and the children’s menu includes smaller portions that are perfect for the little ones.

La Palapa is able to accommodate large parties with advance notice. The restaurant is open from lunchtime until 11 p.m. Sundays through Tuesdays. La Palapa stays open until 2 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

La Palapa
8307 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 465-0070
www.lapalapagrill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/la-palapa-grill-and-cantina-ellicott-city

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/austinevan