Lemon Leaf Cafe

You need several things to have a successful restaurant. Good food is obvious, a good location is important as well, but despite everything else, poor service leaves a bad taste in the customer’s mouth.
We sat and were given bread but no butter. We had to ask. we ordered the chicken and dumplings and it was very good but the waiter didn’t bring our salads first, he brought them with the chicken so by the time we finished the salads, the chicken was lukewarm. We had to ask for more water three times and the waiter never came by to check on us the whole time. We had to wave him over to ask for the check.
And a minor thing, he served me (the man) first, not my wife.
I’m sure few people grow up looking to wait on tables for a career, but even if it’s a temporary job, there’s no excuse for doing it poorly.

My husband and I had their surf and turf to go while staying at a bed and breakfast in Chestertown. The food was fabulous. Next time I hope to actually have our food there.

The crab soup is well worth the trip! And the crab cakes were solid lump. Very good. Been there several times now, and they always excell.

It’s so sad, I truly wished this to be my go to place when visiting Chestertown, Md. Our first experience was wonderful, but now the Prime Rib is off the menu. Replaced with an assortment of «sandwiches» and maybe 5 or 6 entrees but lets start with the good stuff. The atmosphere is great, you won’t be embarrassed to take someone here on looks alone. The paint isn’t pealing… yet. The service, lets talk about that. I don’t know if it is a problem with the servers or if it’s the cook but the rhythm of the kitchen but something must be addressed. We were a party of 5 arriving with maybe 5 or 6 tables active in a 12 to 15 table room. We had to ask for bread (annoying) and our waitress filled the water glasses halfway until the bottle ran out, then it was quite a while before another bottle showed up to add to the glasses. Rolling my eyes. Flagged down the Hostess and pointed out that bread is usually on the table by now which made her run off to come back to say that it was in the oven. I know they didn’t bake them just for us so they are warming them up, Rolling my eyes again, it’s making me dizzy. So, the sandwiches arrive, two of us ordered entrees, (6 oz filet and lamp lollipops) but not a steak knife to be seen. A few minutes of waiting to be noticed by anyone and I was able to flag our server from a distance. She arrives and I ask if we could get two steak knives and my wife also asked for a refill on her wine. Time passes and we start to joke that our server is waiting on the drinks before she «wallows her way» back to our table to save energy. Sure enough she makes it back with the drinks but only one knife. Doesn’t notice our dismay or the cold shoulder from anyone at the table. She asks if there is anything else and I say, «No, this will probably be our last time eating here. «She seemed ok with that. And Now The Bill Arrives, $ 132.00 with the meager tip, $ 152 with the receipt proudly proclaiming that we have just eaten at… Get This… JR’s Pub… I’m going to have to write another review of JR’s Pub just to get the taste out of my mouth. From our first experience to this one, each dining event has been a little worse than the last. We can’t take it anymore and will opt for something else first. Maybe Arby’s.

Have eaten there many times and it has been great but the last two times were very sad. This morning was pitiful. Only two small breakfast tables in at 730. It took ~40 minutes for two of us to get standard menu breakfast. The waitress did not check on us during the wait. This was the same experience we had at lunch a few months ago on a Saturday. The menu is paired down from the early days and the food is much more expensive.
We had heard things were not the same caliber as before and did not want to believe it, but now we have experienced it ourselves.

Came for lunch recently. The food was quite good. Service was horrendous!!! The waiter took us to our table and asked what we wanted to drink before we were seated. This is on a slow afternoon (4 tables with 3 wait staff)! After we told him we would like to take a look at the menu first, he «disappeared» into the back. I can see him standing around near the kitchen for about 15 minutes before he returned. No water was even offered. After we ordered, the food came out fairly quickly. Again, he disappeared to the back. We had to ask the matre d’ for refill of water. It is funny how he was suddenly more attentive when it’s time to get the bill! Will not return again!

Best way to start it off CREAM OF CRAB SOUP! It’s a must have. Great little gem to stop and get a bite to eat at. Always a Treat when we are in the area!

This was a great find! Order off the specials menu for something fun that the chef is trying new. our service was impeccable and we will be going back for sure.

Great place to go. Great service, great food. Love to owner Jr, he’s super friendly and conversates with customers.

Great food and drinks. Best burgers with sweet potato fries. My daughter loves the chicken dumplings. My wife has a business and they are very accommodating.

I have no bad things to say about this place. The service was friendly and the food was spectacular. I had the grilled cheese with pork and fries. The atmosphere was very nice and the store was well kept up. Prices were fair and noise was good for how packed it was. This is a must try restaurant.

The Lemon Leaf is one of the little known gems of the area! The food is fantastic, you won’t be disappointed with anything you get.
We’ve been going to the Lemon Leaf for years, and are always amazed as to how good it is, and how it’s remained so consistently good for so long.
Our favorite dish is the crab cake salad. A huge plate of fresh, high quality vegetables, no matter what time of year you come. It’s topped with one of the best crab cakes on the Chesapeake Bay — yum! Always a very satisfying meal!
The sandwiches are also always fantastic. Fresh breads and fillings, top quality ingredients, and thoughtfully assembled with just the right condiments.
The deserts are the best part — they are always nothing short of absolutely amazing! Made in house and totally delicious… Whatever you order, make sure to leave room for desert!
Overall, this is one of the little treasures of the area.

Very disappointed with this restaurant. While working in the area for the day, I checked out the Unilocal reviews to find a good place to stop and enjoy lunch. This restaurant had raving reviews, so I decided to give it a try.
When I walked into the restaurant, it was a very cute, clean looking little café. The party ahead of me took the last table, so there were no tables available even after 1 pm on a weekday. The hostess asked if I would like to sit in the bar instead. She told me that the food was the same, and recommended the change of rooms. Having never been here before, I agreed. I was taken into a small room off the main bar area. It was a nicely decorated room. It was a little dark inside even with the big windows in the front and a nice sunny day. I was the only one in the room and it made me just a tad depressed. I felt like I was bad in class and had to go sit in the corner, in the dark, by myself. I even told the server who offered to move me into the main bar area, but there was no one in there either.
The server, Erin W., was very polite. She answered the questions I had about the food. I selected the chicken salad croissant sandwich with fries. The chicken salad was a little pricey for what I got, it was a little bland, but a nice portion on a fresh roll. The fries were hot and crispy and good. Unfortunately, I was still alone in that back room when I had finished my lunch and paid to leave.
I think I would have a totally different feel for this café had I sat in the cheerful dining room instead of the back bar area all by myself. When I left, the hostess asked how everything was. I told her I felt like I had been bad in school and was sent to the corner since I was alone in the back bar. She chuckled and apologized.
IF I ever go back to this café, I would NOT sit in the bar area. It you have a group of people or another dining companion it would be fine. However, I strongly suggest not to seat a lone diner in the back room, all alone for an entire hour with only one server occasionally checking in. It does not feel right. Definitely not the warm, cozy feel I got when I walked in the café door.
Therefore, the rating, «Meh, I’ve experienced better.»

Good food. Prices a little bit on the stuffy side for what you get. As others have mentioned, the crab soup is amazing. We had the chicken salad croissant. 5 stars for the sandwich.

The food was good and service was nice. Creative menu with a wide variety of food items.
Their sister pub (next door) was a fun break from the heat with a good variety of well poured drinks were served.

Picked up some more of their great soup which you can get a gallon of. Ready in 5 minutes!

Delicious cream crab soup! I could eat a gallon of this! And add in a bit of sherry too but not too much or else it’ll be bitter. It’s one of there award winning dishes.
This place is super cute!!! Very garden and tea atmosphere with your family. Great place for lunch. Lots of sandwich choices and some dessert.
So the sandwiches were good. I tried the pulled pork grilled cheese. Delish. It wasn’t my dish and I wished I had ordered it. I ordered the shrimp salad on croissant, I was pretty disappointed with it. It was lacking in seasoning or flavor.
Dessert: brownie and ice cream. Good but not the best. Huge tower of whip cream but not the real homemade kind.
Peach cobbler– good but where’s the crust? It came layered in a wine glass but had no crust.
Lemon meringue pie– big and good. Delish crust.
Jersey Fries were good and thick cut. Upgrade from chips. Chips are okay.

Been multiple times. Dinner is great, breakfast is fabulous!
This morning I tried the «Hungry Oarsman» which comes with a little bit of everything. It comes with «Flannel Cakes» which are a cross between a crêpe and a pancake and they are delicious. The have a light, slightly sweet flavor. I would have liked for the home fries to be a bit more crispy, but they had a really nice flavor.
Prices are reasonable considering the quality and quantity of food you are served. highly recommend!

Crab soup is very good, homemade, but didn’t like the turkey dinner. Other menu items have been of good quality and unique taste. The prices are a tad high for instance the crab cake dish.

I was recently treated to dinner here while visiting for a job interview with Washington College (full disclosure: I’ll be moving to the area in six months to start the job, so yay!). I had arrived late thanks to a series of delayed flights, but the restaurant was kind enough to push the reservation back by an hour and a half.
Service was a little on the slow side (drink refills required waving over the waitress), but the food was absolutely amazing. The cream of crab soup was unreal – I wish I could swim in it – and the pasta was art on a plate, especially since I was prepared for/​expecting something basic.
This place very much seems like a true town gem, and I’m happy that I’ll have the opportunity to return many more times in the future!