I recently discovered The Retriever Bar & The Decoy Bottle Shop. The owner, Neyah, is down-to-earth and knows his stuff when it comes to high quality spirits. I was impressed by their extensive collection of highly sought after bottles such as Fortaleza (blanco, reposado, and añejo), not to mention the allocated bourbons they had available for tasting with options for both full and half pours. The food was the cherry on top! I also got to walk about with a bottle of G4 Repo and XA! Will definitely be returning here. Salud!!Dietary restrictions: I am gluten sensitive and they were super accommodating!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger and Fries, Locally Sourced Oysters on the Half Shell, Bluepoints - Connecticut, Huge Beer and Wine Selection
Jim Drenning
Consistently good food! Best smashburger! Try these: Split Base Manhattan, Toki Highball on tap, Salmon Tartare, Green Chile Hummus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger and Fries, Locally Sourced Oysters on the Half Shell, Orchard Points - Kent County MD, Bluefin Dip Fresh Dill and Pickled Onion
John Wasilisin
We stayed in Chestertown for 2 nights recently and went to The Retriever for dinner BOTH nights! Food was innovative and delicious, the bartenders were very friendly and the spirits bar was outstanding! Neyah (the owner) was a wealth of info and very conversational), making us feel at home. We will return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Locally Sourced Oysters on the Half Shell, Bluepoints - Connecticut, Bluefin Dip Fresh Dill and Pickled Onion
Holly P
DELICIOUS FOOD! Incredible atmosphere, perfect for date night, going out with friends, or hanging out at the bar. They have a huge oyster bar and wine selection! Vegan and vegetarian options! Tacos, soups, chicken dishes, seafood, and more! I got the Heirloom Grits with Marsala Mushroom, OMG DELICIOUS!!!!! Also my friend got the chicken tinga tacos, yum!!! So good I’m honestly going back to get it again!!!Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian options! Try the heirloom grits with marsala mushrooms!!!Dietary restrictions: Lots of vegetarian and vegan options!Parking: There’s free street parking but you might have to park around the block or a couple blocks down. It’s free though.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Locally Sourced Oysters on the Half Shell, Tacos, Chicken Tinga Tacos, Bluefin Dip Fresh Dill and Pickled Onion
Lambada
While residents of Chestertown, my wife and I were not aware of this bar and restaurant and we decided to try it. A wonderful experience: great first impression as you enter through the fantastic bar, more subdued and elegant atmosphere in the dining room, with very comfortable seating. The welcome by the friendly waitress made us immediately feel completely at ease and happy to have chosen the Retriever. While the menu is limited, it was exciting to see different choices than the typical American "Surf and Turf" offering. We had fried chicken on a waffle with blood orange slices and maple syrup, enhanced by a glass of Champagne. Not everyday fare.
Chris Bonney
Stopped by for single malt Islay scotch, great selection of everything, friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Did not try the food.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Jerry
I've been here several times. The oysters are some of the best I've ever had, the food is delicious and the drink selection is great. All in a casual yet fun atmosphere. Also, the service is always fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Noah Johnson
Really great drinks and really great foodCan be loud at times, but up to you whether that’s a positive or
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Locally Sourced Oysters on the Half Shell
Kimberly Newman
Good food, drinks, atmosphere, and service. Very reasonable prices.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger and Fries
Andrew A.
Excellent food, personnel and atmosphere. We were looking for seafood during the Down-rigging festival and discovered that most of the local restaurants were reservation only, which we did not have. We also saw that the prices were astronomical. Walking well up High street from the waters edge we found the Retriever. While they were very near full, they fit us in and the service was prompt. They had a good selection of seafood, including several types of Oysters from the East coast and an amazing selection of beers and wines. The price for my party of three was surprisingly affordable. I highly recommend this place for visitors to Chestertown.
A beautiful place in Chestertown. Nice, classic bar at the front, with dining toward the back. I started with the crab soup, which was full of crab meat and vegetables. All of us got shrimp and grits. The dish was good, but I thought it lacked seasoning. The drinks were excellent, and service was impressive. It’s worth another visit.
P C.
Nice place. Good food and good service. Great ambience. Helpful recommendations re: the oysters, which were delicious. We will be back!
Barbara Seras
Friendly. Nayah has a great knowledge of beer and whiskey. An experience not to miss in Chestertown.
Robert R.
Very good atmosphere and service - I believe that the owner was our bartender. The selection of whiskey was outstanding and the beer wasn't bad either. He was able to take my likes and dislikes and come up with the perfect selection. We decided to split the burger and it was a good burger with good size and great fries.
Just For Funsies
Super cute place! I had the elderflower gimlet, half dozen local raw oysters, and a Maine style lobster roll. None of which disappointed! The bartender was friendly and offered thoughtful menu suggestions. It was a little pricey, but totally worth it!
I recently discovered The Retriever Bar & The Decoy Bottle Shop. The owner, Neyah, is down-to-earth and knows his stuff when it comes to high quality spirits. I was impressed by their extensive collection of highly sought after bottles such as Fortaleza (blanco, reposado, and añejo), not to mention the allocated bourbons they had available for tasting with options for both full and half pours. The food was the cherry on top! I also got to walk about with a bottle of G4 Repo and XA! Will definitely be returning here. Salud!!Dietary restrictions: I am gluten sensitive and they were super accommodating!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger and Fries, Locally Sourced Oysters on the Half Shell, Bluepoints - Connecticut, Huge Beer and Wine Selection
Consistently good food! Best smashburger! Try these: Split Base Manhattan, Toki Highball on tap, Salmon Tartare, Green Chile Hummus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger and Fries, Locally Sourced Oysters on the Half Shell, Orchard Points - Kent County MD, Bluefin Dip Fresh Dill and Pickled Onion
We stayed in Chestertown for 2 nights recently and went to The Retriever for dinner BOTH nights! Food was innovative and delicious, the bartenders were very friendly and the spirits bar was outstanding! Neyah (the owner) was a wealth of info and very conversational), making us feel at home. We will return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Locally Sourced Oysters on the Half Shell, Bluepoints - Connecticut, Bluefin Dip Fresh Dill and Pickled Onion
DELICIOUS FOOD! Incredible atmosphere, perfect for date night, going out with friends, or hanging out at the bar. They have a huge oyster bar and wine selection! Vegan and vegetarian options! Tacos, soups, chicken dishes, seafood, and more! I got the Heirloom Grits with Marsala Mushroom, OMG DELICIOUS!!!!! Also my friend got the chicken tinga tacos, yum!!! So good I’m honestly going back to get it again!!!Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian options! Try the heirloom grits with marsala mushrooms!!!Dietary restrictions: Lots of vegetarian and vegan options!Parking: There’s free street parking but you might have to park around the block or a couple blocks down. It’s free though.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Locally Sourced Oysters on the Half Shell, Tacos, Chicken Tinga Tacos, Bluefin Dip Fresh Dill and Pickled Onion
While residents of Chestertown, my wife and I were not aware of this bar and restaurant and we decided to try it. A wonderful experience: great first impression as you enter through the fantastic bar, more subdued and elegant atmosphere in the dining room, with very comfortable seating. The welcome by the friendly waitress made us immediately feel completely at ease and happy to have chosen the Retriever. While the menu is limited, it was exciting to see different choices than the typical American "Surf and Turf" offering. We had fried chicken on a waffle with blood orange slices and maple syrup, enhanced by a glass of Champagne. Not everyday fare.
Stopped by for single malt Islay scotch, great selection of everything, friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Did not try the food.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I've been here several times. The oysters are some of the best I've ever had, the food is delicious and the drink selection is great. All in a casual yet fun atmosphere. Also, the service is always fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really great drinks and really great foodCan be loud at times, but up to you whether that’s a positive or
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Locally Sourced Oysters on the Half Shell
Good food, drinks, atmosphere, and service. Very reasonable prices.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Burger and Fries
Excellent food, personnel and atmosphere. We were looking for seafood during the Down-rigging festival and discovered that most of the local restaurants were reservation only, which we did not have. We also saw that the prices were astronomical. Walking well up High street from the waters edge we found the Retriever. While they were very near full, they fit us in and the service was prompt. They had a good selection of seafood, including several types of Oysters from the East coast and an amazing selection of beers and wines. The price for my party of three was surprisingly affordable. I highly recommend this place for visitors to Chestertown.
Restaurantji Recommends
A beautiful place in Chestertown. Nice, classic bar at the front, with dining toward the back. I started with the crab soup, which was full of crab meat and vegetables. All of us got shrimp and grits. The dish was good, but I thought it lacked seasoning. The drinks were excellent, and service was impressive. It’s worth another visit.
Nice place. Good food and good service. Great ambience. Helpful recommendations re: the oysters, which were delicious. We will be back!
Friendly. Nayah has a great knowledge of beer and whiskey. An experience not to miss in Chestertown.
Very good atmosphere and service - I believe that the owner was our bartender. The selection of whiskey was outstanding and the beer wasn't bad either. He was able to take my likes and dislikes and come up with the perfect selection. We decided to split the burger and it was a good burger with good size and great fries.
Super cute place! I had the elderflower gimlet, half dozen local raw oysters, and a Maine style lobster roll. None of which disappointed! The bartender was friendly and offered thoughtful menu suggestions. It was a little pricey, but totally worth it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5