California Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in California

April 14, 2018 Toi Mattera

California is a census-designated place and community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,857 at the 2010 census, an increase of 27.4% from the 2000 census. California continues to grow with the spread of population out from the older adjacent community of Lexington Park and the growth in both technology-related and defense-related jobs at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. There are department stores and numerous shopping centers situated along Maryland Highway 235 ("Three Notch Road"). Maryland Route 4 crosses Highway 235 in California, providing access to the wide Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge and the popular weekend resort town of Solomons, Maryland on the opposite side. Bridge-bound traffic is infamous for backing up during rush hour.
Things to do in California

1. Mission BBQ

22599 Macarthur Blvd, California, MD 20619-3079 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol American, Barbecue, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner +1 301-880-0857
Excellent
66%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 142 reviews

Mission BBQ

Reviewed By agnitfom2000 - Glastonbury, Connecticut

I eat here every time I come to Lexington Park. It is a fast, inexpensive meal and the food is excellent. The salmon is especially recommended, though if you don't like that they have a good selection of traditional BBQ meals (beef brisket, pulled pork, sausage, etc.). Sides are excellent. Many different sauces. Portion sizes are fairly generous.

The restaurant can be crowded at times, particularly at lunch. It is less crowded outside of the noon hour or in the evening. Parking is never a problem. They also do good takeout which we've used when meetings were running behind schedule.

The restaurant is especially good about recognizing servicemen and first responders. It has a very patriotic atmosphere. They play the national anthem daily at noon (not sure I remember the time correctly).

2. Blue Wind Gourmet

22803 Gunston Dr, Lexington Park, MD 20653-6317 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Wine and Beer, Digital Payments, Accepts Credit Cards American, Healthy, Wine Bar, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast SGD 5 - SGD 20 +1 301-737-2713
Excellent
54%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 118 reviews

Blue Wind Gourmet

Has a great wine selection with tastings at lunch. Awesome atmosphere with a small outdoor seating area for nice days. The food is always remarkable and fresh!

Reviewed By na07950 - new jersey

We had a wonderful lunch at Blue Wind. There's something on the very large menu for everyone and the chocolate selection in the space looked inviting as well. The set up is unusual - you order at the counter and the staff will bring out...MoreThanks for stopping in and taking the time to write a review :) Hope to see you again soon!

3. Kim's Key Lime Pie and Lotus Kitchen

14618 Solomons Island Road, Solomons, MD 20688 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Free Wifi, Serves Alcohol American, Cafe, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch +1 410-326-8469
Excellent
61%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 166 reviews

Kim's Key Lime Pie and Lotus Kitchen

Reviewed By Keisha_HB0216 - Mechanicsville, Maryland

I really enjoy coming here with my friends it a wonderful place to hang out and if you plan it right a good view outside. They have wine and design here sometimes witch is a fun twist. If you like tapas they have it on Thursday nights. Their coffee is addictive and you have tons of flavors to choose from.

4. Teariffic Cafe

22576 MacArthur Blvd, #307, California, MD 20619-3086 Takeout, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible Chinese, Asian, Healthy Lunch, Dinner +1 301-866-9688
Excellent
54%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 55 reviews

Teariffic Cafe

Reviewed By callijo

Great food!!! I ordered crab rangoons which were fantastic. Then I ordered the Singapore noodles and they were amazing. My finance ordered general chicken and it was fresh chicken with actual big pieces of chicken the sauce was good and the broccoli tastes fresh and crisp. I will definitely be back soon. This was some of the best Chinese food I have had!!!!

5. Wildewood Pastry Shop

23415 Three Notch Rd, Ste 2031, California, MD 20619-4017 Wheelchair Accessible +1 301-862-4177
Excellent
64%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 11 reviews

Wildewood Pastry Shop

Reviewed By Hey_Joe54 - Solomons, Maryland, United States

This is the award winning custom bakery that you go to for that special cake or pastries for any occasion in addition to their wedding cakes. The hardest part is choosing from their impressive selection from creative cookies (Macaroons and Meringues are out of this world) to cakes and pastries to anything their chefs can create on site.

6. Bollywood Masala

23418 Three Notch Rd, California, MD 20619-6019 Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar Indian, Vegan Options, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Late Night +1 301-862-7735
Excellent
61%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 120 reviews

Bollywood Masala

Reviewed By DoubleB6 - Maryland

Always a delight when we eat here, great food that always satisfies. Extensive menu which can be overwhelming, ambience is off though in this new location but food certainly makes up for it. When I am in town this is always a stop and when I am out of town I try to find a restaurant to this standard. Who would of known So Md had a hidden gem.

7. CD Cafe

14350 Solomons Island Rd, Solomons, MD 20688 Takeout, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar American, International, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Brunch +1 410-326-3877
Excellent
68%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 312 reviews

CD Cafe

Reviewed By Hey_Joe54 - Solomons, Maryland, United States

You have two delightful choices for seating venues at best kitchen and Chef combo in Solomons: CD Cafe or the Next Door Lounge which shares same kitchen in a bistro/wine bar type setting. There are a lot of dining options in Solomons but this one is head and shoulders above the rest.

8. The Coffee Quarter

22576 Macarthur Blvd, Ste 336, California, MD 20619-3086 Takeout, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible American, Cafe Breakfast, Lunch +1 301-866-0106
Excellent
54%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 32 reviews

The Coffee Quarter

Reviewed By tania2001 - Maryland

Been comming here for a while and try to make it at least once a month for lunch. Nice selection of sandwiches, soups, and coffee.

9. Thai Inter

22622 Macarthur Blvd, California, MD 20619-3002 Delivery, Takeout, Seating, Waitstaff, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol Asian, Thai Dinner, Lunch
Excellent
50%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 81 reviews

Thai Inter

California MD and Lexington Park Maryland are neighbors.

Reviewed By Alex C

This place has great food and is really consistent. There isn't a lot of selection for great ethnic foods in Southern Maryland, but this place is pretty good. It's a little pricey but you get what you pay for.

Also great for lunch, easy to get in and out and back to work. If you want...

10. Lighthouse Restaurant and Dock Bar

14636 Solomons Island Road S, Solomons, MD 20688 Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Free Off-Street Parking, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Reservations, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards American, Bar, Seafood, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks SGD 13 - SGD 59 +1 410-231-2256
Excellent
48%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 378 reviews

Lighthouse Restaurant and Dock Bar

Beautiful Waterfront Restaurant, with great Quality Food and Drinks!

Reviewed By Bruce W - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My wife and I found The Lighthouse Restaurant & Dockbar to be clearly the best restaurant for traditional Chesapeake seafood dishes in Solomon's. We ate there several times and loved the crab and oyster offerings served outdoors bayside.
Make a reservation or be prepared to wait a while for a table if dining weekends or during the dinner rush in the summer months.

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