(hemingwaysbaybridge.com) – Kent Island, Maryland

How I heard of this place: Our good friends and travel companions recommended a lunchtime pit-stop at Hemingway’s on our drive to St. Michaels. We came to enjoy the renovations and partake of the esteemed clam chowder.

Type of cuisine: A cornucopia of seafood eats, including a raw bar for fresh Chesapeake Bay oysters, calamari, crabs, fresh and farm-raised fish, not to mention burgers, steak and baby back ribs.

Ambiance: Fresh and vibrant, the openness of the exposed, high, A-frame ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the Chesapeake Bay create a lively yet calming, serene escape from the world outside.

A variety of kitsch, yet delicately placed paraphernalia give a warm, homey feel to this hardwood floor setting.

What I ordered: I was saving my appetite for dinner and opted out of appetizers, yet my dining companions were adequately tempted by the scrumptious menu. To start, Creamy Crab Bisque ($8.95) mixed with the soup of the day ($7.95) to create a vegetable-rich, creamy delicacy,

and Fried Oysters ($11.95) – a half-dozen Select Oysters, hand breaded, flash fried and served on horseradish cream with chopped salsa.

Of course, my temptation was easily swayed when one dining companion asked if I would share the Seafood Skins ($11.95): potato skins loaded with shrimp, jumbo crab meat, topped with cheese and broiled to order.

For our main entrees, my husband gratuitously jumped at the Farm Raised Atlantic Salmon ($25.95), roasted on white cedar with brown sugar BBQ sauce and served with a pickled cucumber salad and roasted red potatoes.

I shared the Salmon B.L.T. ($12.95) with the other of our dining companions, enjoying the thick layer of Atlantic salmon, bacon, arugula, and roasted tomatoes with an herb mayo served on multi-grain toast with fries.

What I loved: The flaky, tender salmon of my B.L.T. accompanied by the lemon-peppery fresh arugula.

Why I loved it: A warm, inviting establishment shared with close friends over a fresh and hearty meal.

Cost: Average to high ($10.95 to $29.95 per sandwich and entree)

Tags: Featured