Annapolis Gem: Chris’s Charcoal Pit
Every city has a few restaurants that are local landmarks. In Annapolis, one such restaurant is Chris’s Charcoal Pit located at 1946 West Street (map below).
It is also one of those places that have not changed much over the years, making it even greater. My dining companion was telling stories about how his parents always took him there as a kid.
I go for the pit beef. It brings back my own childhood memories from a different town. My family is firmly established in the York Road corridor of Northern Baltimore County. York Road used to have a lot of roadside pit beef stands in the summer and they were a favorite of Mom, Dad and me. Weekends always included a giant pit beef sandwich. For me it was always on rye with nothing but mustard and raw onions.
Although a county and many miles away, Chris’s is able to bring fond childhood memories out of me.
Chris’s is all about real food — little extra touches that you are not going to get from your run of the mill joint. Even something as simple as french fries: they are longer than other places you usually get them and are perfectly cooked.
While Chris’s has an extensive menu filled with many great treats, I cannot deviate from the pit beef. I have no desire to. They make it perfectly.
The joint is as casual as casual can be – so casual that I get away with calling it a joint. During the most recent visit we had a great waitress. She made sure our glasses never emptied and was feisty. She wasn’t afraid to engage in conversation but knew not to over talk, either.
I felt bad because I saw other guests leaving her $2 or $3 tips. Not because she didn’t do a great job. Perhaps it’s the economy? I made sure to tip more than what is customary because servers like her are a rare treat. These days I usually get a sense that they are being fake-nice for a decent tip. That’s not what I want. Be nice and be real. I wish I would have gotten her name.
The food came out hot and perfectly cooked. We waited until about 3 PM before going and did not eat earlier in the day because we wanted empty stomachs going in. Although I tend to fill up quickly, I ate all of my food, which was in perfect portions.
I went for all-American: pit beef on a Kaiser roll, mustard, raw onions and a side of fries. My dining companion went with the chicken strip sub with a tossed salad. He said that the sub hit the spot and commented that it tasted like they battered their own chicken. The salad was extra crisp and full of color – something that seems to be lacking in many restaurants these days.
We were offered dessert but had to decline – our stomachs were too full … in the good way.
Prices are reasonable – we both ate for $31 and some change.
The décor is old, which is great because it reminds you that you are in a landmark. Even though things are older, the restaurant appeared to be very clean. There a few things you do not typically see – like an old wood winery at the beverage station. The napkin dispensers also have run-of-the-mill number stickers (the kind that go on mailboxes) to identify the tables. There are many things to remind you that it is owned by Greek folks. The tables are a throwback to bygone days where you put something on the old wood top and cover it with a coat of varnish a half inch thick.
The menu has something for everyone. They serve a great mix of American and Greek food and everything in between. The deserts look delish. I would have devoured one if I had the room in my stomach.
We’re not the only one to love the place. TripAdvisor.com has plenty of reviews:
- “Best lamb I’ve ever tasted…”
- “Best Greek food in Annapolis…”
- “Chris’s does not look like much from the outside and can be a little hard to find on that crowded stretch of West Street, but it is worth looking for.”
- “The dishes at this little Greek & Italian restaurant do not lack in flavor, portion size or quality.”
Visitors to TripAdvisor give it a four out of five rating and it is ranked #6 out of 107 restaurants in Annapolis.
If you are from Annapolis, you’ve probably heard of Chris’s and have been there. If you do and have but haven’t gone in awhile, treat yourself to another trip real soon. If you haven’t, I highly recommend that it be moved to the top of the list of places to try real soon!
Their menu is available online as a PDF (I don’t know how old the menu is, so the prices may or may not be accurate). They offer both carryout and dining room service and the linked menu is for the dining room.
Chris’s only accepts payment by cash. There is an ATM for guest convenience.
Chris’s Charcoal Pit
1946 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone (410) 266-5200
Fax (410) 841-2590
www.chrischarcoalpit.com
PS I’ve heard from numerous people that there Gyros are the best you’re going to find.
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Tags: American Food, Annapolis, Chris's Charcoal Pit, Greek Food, Gyros, Pit Beef, Restaurant Review, West Street
- About Jesse Barron
- I am an Annapolitan and founder of the Annapolis Anchor. I love Annapolis and am proud to call it home. This great city has a lot to offer, which is why I founded this blog. I appreciate each of our readers and always strive to deliver relevant information in an easily digestible format.
Copyright © 2009 
March 28th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Gyros are the best but you always get into the debate on just how to pronounce it..is it gyrow or yeero? And the fiesty waitstaff has no problem correcting you if you screw it up!
I will always get a gyro and fries and can’t go wrong, but I have also heard that their pizza is a hidden treasure of Annapolis–go figure
March 28th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
It’s funny that you mentioned the pronunciation of gyro — that was a debate my dining partner and I had. Then, last night, on some review site, I found what looks like a third possible way to pronounce it where they said “roll the d.” Um, there is no “d” in gyro. I wish I could remember where I saw that.
More often than not, I’ve heard that you’re supposed to pronounce it like yeero. Or, as my lunch companion unapologetically said, “I say it the American way, gyro.” Even if there is a correct way to pronounce it, I think that here, a lot of people have taken on the literal spelling as the way to pronounce it.
I am sure that true foodies hate that pronunciation as much as many of us hate those “freedom fries” in Congress.
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