With gentle waterborne breezes, soft island music, swaying palm trees, tiki torches and fruity tropical drinks, Bay Cafe does such a good job of whisking you away to the Caribbean that you'll forget you're actually overlooking Canton's waterfront. Inside, there's a two-level restaurant with water views and lots of exposed brick. When the weather heats up, Bay Cafe's island-style bar keeps potent potables flowing and plates of food coming, and the Jamaica Me Crazy parties here are well-known.

The menu is a pleasing collection of traditional bar food and Chesapeake specialties served in more-than-ample portions. A raw bar tempts the happy hour crowd with oysters, clams casino, steamed mussels and shrimp. Maryland crab soup and chunky homemade chili come in sizeable crocks, while most folks could make a meal out of the salads. Sandwiches are cut-'em-in-quarters-and-ask-for-a-to-go-bag huge; turkey is piled so high you'd think they were feeding the whole family at Thanksgiving. -- Pete Kerzel (Photo: Christine Carr)