Lisa

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

Intimate dining experience with exceptional dishes, inviting seating, and phenomenal service. My sister and I came to Ruse to celebrate my birthday and were pleased from the moment we arrived. The space includes an oyster raw bar and an antique French table used as a serving station paired with minimalist elegance. We ordered the Heirloom tomatoes and sourdough bread as starters as well as a Big Energy mocktail. The Heirloom Tomatoes were exceptional with the use of pistachio pesto marrying well with the cheese and acidity of the tomatoes. The mocktail was a bright indulgence. I ordered the Day Boat Scallops for my entree and my sister ordered the double cheeseburger with fries. These were the best scallops I have had, cooked perfectly with a thin sear and pairing well with the corn polenta and blue basil. My sister enjoyed her meal as well. We ordered the Lepne soft serve and Butterscotch Budino for dessert. The soft serve is made in house and is delicious. Throughout our dinner, our server was attentive and eager to answer any questions about the menu or St. Michaels. Ruse has become an instant "favorite restaurant" that I look forward to enjoying next time I am in St. Michael's!

DJ Glasseyes

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

The Ruse was the culinary highlight of our week in St. Michaels. From the outside it's modern and unassuming, but as soon as you walk in you're greeted by baskets of fresh oysters behind the raw bar. That immediately tells you what this restaurant is about: exceptional ingredients treated with respect. The oyster program is one of the best we've seen. Rather than simply listing where each oyster comes from, the menu teaches you what to expect—describing the brininess, minerality, sweetness, creaminess, and finish of each variety. We sampled oysters from several regions and every one was impeccably fresh. We also ordered the spicy tuna hand rolls, which turned out to be one of the most enjoyable surprises of the evening. Instead of arriving pre-made, the ingredients are presented separately with instructions so you assemble each roll yourself. It was fun, interactive, and absolutely delicious. Then the Radicchio & Peaches salad arrived. At that point it became obvious why Chef Michael Correll has received James Beard recognition. Jamón Ibérico, peaches, Marcona almonds, white balsamic, and St. Malachi Gouda came together in a way that was both creative and perfectly balanced. Every bite offered something different, yet everything worked together beautifully. We honestly considered coming back later in the trip just to order that salad again. The menu changes with the seasons, so this exact dish may not be available when you visit. If that's the case, don't worry—order whatever seasonal salad the kitchen is featuring. Based on our experience, it's likely to be something special. For our entrées, my wife chose the Day Boat Scallops, beautifully cooked over fresh corn polenta with cherry tomatoes and basil. I ordered the Blue Crab Cacio e Pepe, a creative Chesapeake interpretation of the classic Roman pasta. The rich Pecorino and black pepper sauce paired beautifully with generous pieces of sweet blue crab, creating a dish that was both comforting and refined. Dessert finished the evening on the same high note. The house-made butterscotch pudding was silky and deeply flavorful, while the black cherry frozen yogurt with pistachios was bright, refreshing, and the perfect ending to the meal. The dining room can get a little noisy during busy service, but the energy fits the restaurant well. Service was knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic about the menu. Restaurants like The Ruse are why we enjoy traveling. It's the kind of place where talented people take outstanding local ingredients and create something memorable. If you're visiting St. Michaels, don't miss it.

Samantha Monteith

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

This restaurant was our favorite during our trip to St Michael’s. We came for brunch because dinner was booked out for the entire weekend- which just shows how popular they are. Brunch did not disappoint though. The heirloom tomato salad and the cucumber salad are not to be missed!! Each bite is packed with flavor & you can tell the chef puts a lot of thought and effort into each dish. This restaurant is truly a must visit if you’re in St Michael’s. The service was also fantastic!!

Aled & Jess Homer

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

We had the most incredible meal here whilst staying at the Wildset – everything was 10/10. The service was super friendly and educational (we loved learning about the oyster offering as part of the 'raw bar' and learning how to roll our own spicy tuna sushi rolls!) – our server really took his time to explain every part of the meal and our options. The food was exquisite – my husband and I live back in London and have an array of brilliant restaurants on our doorstep, yet neither of us could recount a meal as delicious from start to finish as we had at Ruse. The roasted oysters were a stand out … one of the best things I've eaten. We definitely hope to return one day!

Brooks Perry

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

🦪 🦪 🦪 St. Michael’s top spot for Happy Hour and Oysters! Ruse sits right off the main drag in St. Michael’s, Maryland, adjacent to a little country store. The restaurant is a large, open space with two bars and plays upbeat music (at least during happy hour). Ruse also has a patio but with little shade. The menu is robust offering up lots of fresh seafood options and culinary favorites. My wife and I stopped in for happy hour and shared drinks and oysters to start. Ruse had lots of oyster options, each uniquely described with taste profile and location – perfect for oyster rookies. We then split a burger and shoestring fries and finished the early evening off with a lovely cup of ice cream topped with cotton candy shreds and strawberry swirls – A MUST for any sweet tooth aficionado! 🍨🍨 Make sure you stop! 🛑