I don’t venture out to Howard County nearly as often as I should, but every time I do I’m reminded that there are plenty of great places to eat just outside Baltimore. One spot that had been on my list for a while was Manor Hill Tavern in Ellicott City, a restaurant connected to the well-known Manor Hill Brewery.
Manor Hill Brewing is actually Howard County’s first farm brewery, located on a 54-acre working farm nearby, where many of the ingredients used in the beer are grown.
The tavern gives you the best of both worlds: the brewery’s craft beers alongside a menu of pizzas, sandwiches, and shareable plates. Good food and good beer? That’s always enough to convince me—and two of my friends—to make the trip.
Manor Hill Tavern sits right in Historic Ellicott City, which is worth exploring while you’re there. The historic Main Street area is full of shops, cafés, and restaurants, making it easy to spend an afternoon wandering around before grabbing dinner.
If you’re interested in learning more about the beer scene in the area, this guide to Howard County breweries from The Baltimore Banner is a great resource.
Manor Hill Tavern
Starting with the Beer
Since Manor Hill Tavern is connected to the brewery, starting with beer felt like the obvious move.
My friends both ordered the Manor Hill IPA, while I decided to go with a beer flight so I could try a few different options. Manor Hill beers tend to lean toward hop-forward farmhouse styles brewed with seasonal ingredients.
Sampling a few at once made it easy to see why the brewery has become such a popular stop in the area.
Manor Hill IPA
Flight of Beers
Spent Grain Pretzels
Beer and pretzels are a classic combination, so we started with the Manor Hill Spent Grain Pretzels.
The pretzels were soft and warm, but the highlight here was the whole grain IPA mustard. It had a nice kick without being overpowering, and paired perfectly with the beer cheese dip.
Manor Hill Spent Grain Pretzels
The Bird Is the Word
One of my friends has a very reliable ordering strategy: if there’s a fried chicken sandwich on the menu, she’s getting it.
At Manor Hill Tavern, that meant ordering The Bird Is the Word. The chicken is pickle-brined before frying, which gives it a crispy exterior and juicy interior. It’s topped with chipotle slaw, pickles, and a drizzle of spicy honey, which tied everything together really nicely.
Bird is the Word
Bacon Fat Fries
The sandwich came with a side of Bacon Fat Fries, and they were exactly as indulgent as they sound.
Crispy, salty fries topped with crumbled bacon are pretty hard to argue with, especially when they’re shared around the table.
Bacon Fat Fries
Cuparoni Pizza
I’m always drawn to pepperoni pizza when the slices curl up into those crispy little “roni cups,” so the Cuparoni Pie was an easy choice.
It was loaded with pepperoni and plenty of cheese, and the crispy edges made each bite even better.
Cuparoni Pie
Holy Smoke Pizza
Another pizza we ordered was the Holy Smoke, which might have been my favorite thing on the table.
This white pizza is topped with cheese, beer can chicken, pickled jalapeños, corn, BBQ sauce, and Alabama white sauce before being smoked. The combination of smoky, creamy, and slightly spicy flavors made it really memorable.
If I went back tomorrow, this would probably be the first thing I ordered again.
Holy Smoke Pizza
A Great Excuse to Explore Ellicott City
Between the beer, the pizzas, and the easy location in Historic Ellicott City, Manor Hill Tavern ended up being a really fun place to spend an evening. It’s casual, lively, and a great excuse to explore one of the most charming historic towns in Maryland.
Manor Hill Tavern is located at 3733 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City
If you’re exploring more restaurants around Maryland, you might also enjoy a few other spots I’ve written about, including River Hill Grill in Clarksville and Clavel in Baltimore.
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Categories: Howard County