Ashling Kitchen & Bar

I found this place using AI, which recommended somewhere in Crofton—and what a find it was! It was easy to get a reservation just a few hours in advance, and we were seated quickly. The server greeted us promptly and brought over the drink menu as well. The service was excellent, and the food was just as good! The atmosphere was a bit loud, but that wasn’t surprising, given the number of people in the restaurant.

Really great drinks and apps. Mains are good but I think the apps, drinks, and desserts are the stars of the show.

This place is surprisingly exceptional! The flavor of the dish I chose (shrimp and grits) was not what I was expecting, but the flavors were paired to perfection. The chefs and my waitress were amazing 💞 I will definitely be a returning customer 😌

Farah was AMAZING!!!! Our food was good, except my 1st dish came out cold but was replaced pretty quickly. Thank you Ashling Crofton 😊

This was my first time visiting this restaurant. I truly enjoyed the atmosphere, food was delicious and the customer service was great. I plan to visit again. I feel that the price of food was okay (nice size portions of food) but so is everything else these days. You only live once. I still want to go back.

Ashling is catering our wedding this year, and we could not be happier. Karla has been helping us through this process and has made everything so fun! She is transparent about cost, which I really appreciate. On top of that the food is amazing!! The chef really knows his stuff and the cocktails have yet to disappoint. I highly recommend this place for a date night, or small gathering

Stopped in here today and it was a pleasure! Tracy was fantastic, we started off rough with me having a glass of water spilled in my lap but she made it up double time! She was very attentive, very friendly, made a helluva margarita and she actually brought it for me! Thanks Tracy! I truly appreciate that!! The food was really good as well, I ordered the salmon it was perfectly cooked, the carrots didn't look like any carrot I've ever tasted in my life. It reminded me of potato but it was delicious. The vibe was pretty loud, but I was told it's usually not that loud! There's numerous tv, the bar is big, restaurant has nice decor! I will absolutely return no question, you should come here!

Very cool restaurant especially at Christmas time ,,, all decked out. We had a delicious meal and fun time.

LOVED it! We ended up over ordering because there were so many options and we couldn’t narrow it down. Our server Jessica was amazing and on top of the service. They nailed everything we ordered but the fried green tomatoes will for sure be a new obsession!

Drinks were thoughtfully prepared. Food was flavorful. Will definitely return.

Every time that I’ve been there, I’ve had a wonderful time. I’ve been to the dual pianos. I’ve been to the mystery Halloween. I’ve been there on New Year’s Eve. I’ve been there just to have lunch with friends. I’ve been there just to have dinner with my husband and the food is great. The service is great. The atmosphere is great.

I only post on Amazing experiences and this is one festive experience for everyone and the food is over the top!!

Reservations and prompt seating always make a difference in a food experience for me. The customer service was impeccable. Our server was phenomenal. The drinks were good and food was great! We ordered the calamari and spinach dip, both were delish. For my entree I had the quarter jerk chicken, rice and peas, and plantain. My cousin had the Rasta pasta. This is NOT a Caribbean restaurant but they executed those two dishes well. They have various fares, so whatever tickles your fancy palette you can find. They have steak, meatloaf, fried chicken sandwiches, tacos, and more. You won’t be disappointed. Everything came out quickly, hot, and seasoned to perfection. I highly recommend and I will definitely be back.

Crofton Dining has not been disappointing! The New Orleans Shrimp and Grits was delectable. Jalapeño Grits topped with a Cajun Gravy, this was a dish worth returning for. Also, the Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich was delicious as you could taste that they marinated the chicken, and it paired well with the pimento cheese. I will definitely be returning to try the Rasta Pasta and the Steak Frites!

I had a wonderful experience dining here! The food was delicious, but what really made the visit special was our waitress, Farrah. She was friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was perfect from start to finish. Farrah went above and beyond checking in just the right amount and offering great recommendations. Thanks to her, we’ll definitely be coming back soon!

Just went to Ashling for the first time last week for their taco night; 3 tacos AND margarita for only $15!! Name a better deal..! The tacos were so delicious, packed with flavor and food (not little dinky tacos). I have several food allergies and our waitress was super helpful in curating the menu to my needs. They even have a gluten free AND vegan menu to choose from, which is not common in a lot of restaurants. Super thankful for the choices! The best part....the halloween decor was spooktacular! Everything was decked out for the holiday. Giant spider legs, skeletons, webs, corn stalks, candles- it was amazing. Apparently they go just as big for Christmas so I can't wait to go back for that! Super easy location to find in Crofton, about 25 mins from Annapolis. We went kind of early but the place was PACKED at every table by the time we left. Lots of parking. Definitely a favorite!

We're so glad we went with Ashling for our wedding! They were absolutely lovely to work with, very communicative and clear, and always willing to answer any question over email. Specifically Karla, who was absolutely lovely to work with. She was especially helpful with the specialty drinks we wanted, helping us figure out the best way to go about it (we wanted specialty drinks that could be mocktails and cocktails), how to organize it, what materials we needed, etc. Karla removed a lot of confusion from the whole equation! Karla was also very flexible with the food itself, and was focused on making sure we were happy with every element of the food throughout the evening. Any change we wanted to make at the tasting was met with an easy, "of course!" Additionally, I had a cookie table at my wedding that my aunt put together, and Ashling was so helpful in figuring out the logistics and helping to refill the cookies throughout the evening. I definitely recommend Ashling, they were fantastic!

We had a spectacular meal at Ashling!! The restaurant was decorated for Halloween which immediately made the evening magical. The waitress (Farah) was so kind and attentive. She double checked food allergies and made sure our drinks were exactly what we wanted. The meal was AMAZING. Steak frites and chicken sandwich blew us away. Do not have enough nice things to say about our time here. We will be back!!

I ordered the crab pretzel, crab stuffed shrimp (substituted the side with smoked gouda grits) and beignets. Everything was delicious! The entree had these little red peppers as garnish on the plate and they were amazing. I have been on a mission to find them! The beignets were amazing..really, everything was. And our server was so nice. Can't wait to go back

Came here on a Saturday night during the holiday season. The place was decorated amazing! It was quite busy, but we were seated at a high top within minutes. Our server Trayc came over immediately, and was quick, highly attentive, and fun the whole time! Best service we've had in a long time. I got the Rasta Pasta and my girlfriend got the Chesapeake Chicken. Both our dishes were outstanding. We noticed families with children, but it also was a great date spot! We'll definitely be back, and highly recommend!

The french onion soup is so good here! My boyfriend and I agree it is the best we have had! This is my second time getting the steak poutine, and it is amazing. Highly recommend trying it! Farrah was very sweet and made sure to check in with us periodically. Our water glasses were never empty. Thanks Farrah!

Ashling catered a wedding for my nephew last night. They really exceeded all of our expectations. First, the food was very good. There was an hors d’oeuvre table with cheese and meats and the most fantastic crusted bread. The dinner was a buffet, and although I’m a vegetarian, I hear that the short ribs were delicious. What really set this caterer apart from everyone else is their employees. I set up a Pittsburgh cookie table, and I had the help of Kaitlyn and Kennedy who were there for me the entire night. Those two ladies were unbelievable. I know we hear about people that don’t do a good job, but these two far exceeded any expectations that I had. Not only did they help me set up the cookie table, they refilled cookies all night, they were there for me at the end of the night to put everything away, and throughout the reception they were helping me. So, to Kaitlyn and Kennedy, thank you so much for helping me, for making the night amazing, and being two top notch ladies. I really appreciate you!

We visited Ashling for the first time last night. I had seen the IG posts with all the festive decorations and thought it looked like a good time. My expectations were absolutely exceeded. We were seated early for our reservation. The hostesses and waitstaff were friendly and smiling. And the food…. The food was fantastic. We had food, drinks, and dessert. It was all great. The standout for me was the French onion soup. I’m very picky and it was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. Looking forward to returning in the new year. Good job team!

Decor was so inviting and in the spirit of Christmas. Waitress was ok. I had to ask for a drink refill and she didn’t check on us after we received our food. Shrimp and grits were on point. My friend got the French toast and said that it had a good taste as well. My eggs had slice cheese stuck between the fold…oh no! What happened to scrambled eggs with cheese? For this issue they were rated a 4 star for food.

Okay, let’s talk food… 🍽️✨ Ashling Kitchen & Bar made our date night truly special. My wife and I enjoyed a beautiful evening alongside other couples from our church, filled with laughter, good conversation, and great food. While this wasn’t our first time enjoying Ashling, it was our first time dining in—and the soft glow of the Christmas decorations created such a cozy, romantic atmosphere. Even with a larger group and a few minor hiccups, the service was attentive and the food was delicious as always. It felt like one of those evenings where time slows down just enough to savor every moment. God willing, my wife and I will definitely be back, looking forward to another quiet, delicious, and memorable evening together 🌆❤️

Had a nice lunch/brunch at this place with friends. Service was pretty quick. Food is plentiful. The salads were huge. Our waitress got a few orders wrong but we didn’t complain. The drinks were pretty good as well. Served with a nice note. The music was good - loud but doesn’t keep you from having a conversation. Overall would go again to give another opportunity to knock it all out of the park.

I’m giving this restaurant 4.5 but I did not know how to do the 0.5 point on the rating. Food was good and tasting. We shared a Caesar salad to start (it would be huge for one person) and then we had the tacos with shrimp and the seafood gumbo. We shared a bread pudding for dessert and coffee. It was an enjoyable experience. I did not give it a top score for two reasons: the coffee was not warm ( we did not have time to wait for another fresh pot) and the main dishes were brought to our table while we we were still eating our salad..

Went for brunch. Reservations made via Open Table. Nice little hidden gem in Crofton off 301, in a shopping stripe. Never would have noticed. The staff is friendly. The food is decent. The Taco Carne Asada with added Blacken Shrimp and Avocado was delicious. Highly recomend their brunch drinks, Peach Soda. My friend had the Bistro Steak with 3 Eggs. The atmosphere is nice astectically but unfortunately, I do have to agree that the music is loud. I had a hard time hearing my guest across the table. But I would go back to try other dishes.

I enjoyed the pineapple mimosa. The salmon with risotto and broccoli was okay; I just needed to add sal and pepper. The food’s presentation was nice. Service was good.

First visit. The server was very friendly, professional, and cheerful. She made honest recommendations and paid close attention to us throughout the meal. The food was decent and plentiful. The homemade Apple Cobbler ala mode was exceptional and made the meal. I always find it a little "less" when dining at a sit down restaurant and they serve beer in a bottle without a glass, it just seems to distract from the atmosphere of going somewhere to sit down and have a nice meal. The music was a bit loud, so the customers were all holding table conversations over it, and the room acustics amplified everything making it a bit noisy. Overall, a nice experience, and we will probably be back in the future.

The food and service are wonderful. Extensive menu - I’m excited to try more. We had the steak poutine which was rich and wonderful. We also had the whole red snapper. This was the only reason for the less than perfect rating, it was dry. The flavor wasn’t bad but I wouldn’t say it was worth $36. We had two desserts - apple cobbler and bread pudding. The bread pudding was awesome. Personally I think the apple cobbler had too much cardamom. The service was fast! I’m ready to go back!

We set a brunch date here. Booked a reservation via OpenTable around 11 on a Sunday. Welcomed warmly and seated in minutes. Nene was our sever and attentive. The food that stold the show was the biscuit, eggs, and gravy. Everything else was ehh. Would come back for the same dish or try the the talked about burger.

Went for hubby's 2nd birthday dinner celebration with daughter & grand. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was great and chilled. I would definitely return to try additional menu items. We ordered the pretzel (soft and warm) with mustard and beer cheese sauce , fried calamari, fish and chips, chicken (half of fried chicken pieces) and waffles, burger and kids chicken tenders. The all the food was delicious especially the unique fries. My only disappointment was the chicken breast was slightly dry and I didn't not receive a wing. I was given two chicken 🍗; those are my least favorite piece of meat. Thus the four stars. Sorry, I didn't whip out the phone and take photos 😅

Customer service was great! Food presentation was on point. The shrimp and grits were good. However, there were so many fried onion strings on top that they became the highlight of the dish. The lobster macaroni was extremely dry and lacked lobster.

I actually cannot believe all the great reviews. The food is very basic imo. I did only have brunch so maybe the dinner menu is better. I ordered the banana foster French toast which was pretty good but lukewarm. The sausage that comes with it are very dry, overcooked links. When I asked for a replacement the waiter told me that they are all like that and would I like bacon instead. She immediately brought bacon out and of course it was cold. I also ordered calamari which was seasoned nicely but the chewiest calamari I’ve ever had. My kid had pancakes and eggs. The pancakes were burnt, and I had to ask for butter. They tasted just ok and her cheese eggs were fine- the only thing she ate. I don’t understand not having at least one kid sized item on the kids menu. Overpriced and overrated. But the atmosphere is nice enough I suppose. I won’t be returning for brunch but I may for lunch just to see if it lives up to the hype.

I went here Sunday and really had high hopes for a good breakfast. The restaurant was not full. I always look at a restaurant and think where are the people if the food is good? The server kept forgetting to bring the sweetner for the coffee so asked another server. The fried green tomatoes were over breaded and the vinegarette drizzle was not good on top of them. The gouda grits were too much cheese. I didn't like them. The waffles were ok and the chicken breast was over fried. I didn't like the wings much either. I had a crofton omelet. I drank water and it was not filtered. The water was from the tap. The food was very expensive. But I wanted to try something different. I will not eat that food ever if I ever go back. Which will not be soon.

The service was just not good for our table. We could see other tables getting what appeared to be excellant service so maybe it was limited to just our server. Even if the server is new, every table should receive good service and that was not the case. We should not have to wait almost 10mins for a server to visit our table. We should not be offered a desert menu before we are actually done eating and, please, never ask a table that is still eating if they want their check. It became obvious that were were being rushed out of a partially empty restaurant. The crab pretzel was really good. The shrimp tacos were excellent. The fries and remoulade on the fish and chips were great. The fish was not good. Very thin and overcooked. I would not recommend the fish and chips. Bathrooms were very clean and nice.

I paid $36 for the steak and frites and they brought a perfectly cooked medium rare piece of rubber. The steak was so thin and had so much gristle that a third of it wasn’t edible. Not even the knife would cut it. The salad and fries were good and I’m sure the kitchen did all they could. The quality of meat was just REALLY poor. I would have been better off at Applebees.

I took my BFF to Ashling Wednesday past for her birthday. She’d been there over the holidays and enjoyed the food, drinks and ambiance; it was my first time. The ambience was nice and the wait staff was exceptional, being attentive the whole time spent there, AAA+ for our waitress. My BFF had the Ashling Signature Wings, Crispy Brussels Sprouts and Braised Beef Short Rib with Heirloom Carrots, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Red Wine Demi Glaze. I had the Mic Drop Poutine (Steak) and the Irish Whiskey Glazed Salmon with Creamy Risotto and Broccolini. They must have changed cooks since the holidays—because the food did not all taste as good as it looked online or on the table. BFF said her same wings did not have the same flavor as before and her short ribs—though tender—lacked seasoning and so did its glaze. As for me, the beef pieces in my Poutine were quite chewy to the point I had to discreetly remove un-chewable meat after each bite. The potatoes and cheeses in my beef Poutine were tasty. My salmon was tender and moist and its sauce held its flavor. The broccolini that accompanied this dish was cooked perfectly. But—the risotto served with this dish was absolutely tasteless, just an unflavored ball of sticky rice/starch! I was shocked the cook didn’t know it was tasteless! I took the risotto home, doctored it up with some garlic powder and Daisy sour cream and “wallah”, a dish with taste worth eating. Based on my BFF’s holiday visit I hope we just caught the wrong chef.

We came on a Saturday afternoon to celebrate my friends birthday. We happened to be in Crofton and I told her about my initial experience with Ashling Kitchen which was great honestly. My initial experience was when they had a South African menu. The chef came out, he was talking to the tables asking about the food- which was all really good, well cooked and well seasoned. On this recent visit, The restaurant was not super busy other than a party in their back area and maybe three tables when we first came in. The hostess greeted us kindly and quickly sat us down. Our waitress came over and greeted us. We ordered two sweet teas that quickly came out. They were both perfectly sweet. We decided to try the crab and artichoke dip as an appetizer and were not so sure about what entrees to get. We asked the waitress who didn’t give us much to work with, maybe new so we didn’t think much of it and took our time to look it up on yelp. The crab artichoke was meh, more cheese, not much crab or artichoke pieces, but we didn’t make a fuss and kept the merriment going. My friend got the jerk chicken. It was a big portion size and smelled great. The sauce was different than normal jerk, but still decent in taste. I tried a small piece on the side, that looked cooked. She literally said “I wish it was cut up more so I don’t have to get messy.” We laughed and she started cutting into the chicken - she opens up her chicken and mortified she sees blood and raw chicken. We didn’t even think to take a picture of the rawness which in retrospect maybe we should have. We were both so surprised. We immediately looked for the waitress. The waitress saw it and said “sorry”, grabbed the plate and asked if my friend wanted it to be redone. My friend was disgusted so she didn’t want chicken or anything at that point. I encouraged her to take another look at the menu as it could be a rushed unfortunate mistake. My gumbo had a wonderful appearance, tasted great in flavor and spice level. The portion size was pretty big so I asked my friend to try and see if she wanted some of mine/to order her own gumbo. A guy (was he a manager? Another server? Who knows) came over and asked was she ordering anything else. She hesitatingly said fish and chips after I’d encouraged her to give it a try. There was no management apology about the issue as a follow up which I expected because I’d bragged about the exceptional experience and customer service prior. In the middle of eating my meal, I started to feel sick. I thought maybe I was disgusted by her raw chicken, so I didn’t think too much about it. I asked for my food to go and kept it moving. Getting a box for the leftover gumbo seemed to take forever. We finally got the check and left. My friend and I went down the street to TJ Maxx and I literally had to leave the store, because I felt so sick and started to experience several symptoms of food poisoning. My friend soon after expressed nausea and also showed symptoms of food poisoning as well. I am not sure if the small piece of chicken was the cause of my food borne illness or if it was the gumbo but needless to say the leftovers were trashed. I’d like to say this was a one off situation, but as I looked at other reviews following this experience I noticed someone else had a similar issue, maybe the restaurant should consider cutting the chicken into smaller pieces to ensure everything is done.