The Union Canal House is open for dinner Monday through Saturday, 5 to 10pm. The dining room is closed on Sundays.

We arrived early, around 5:30, without a reservation and were seated quickly. The rooms quickly filled up and soon people were waiting in the lobby area. I suggest calling ahead for a reservation.

We were seated in the first dining room, which was very pleasant. We could see the bar area in the back. There are two more rooms off the main room that were used for larger parties and other diners.

My husband enjoyed the New York strip steak, which was very tender and cooked perfectly. I tried the crabcakes at the waitress' recommendation. I was leery about ordering them, as I have had the best cakes in Maryland and often and perhaps unfairly use them as the measuring stick for all others. The Union Canal House crabcakes were delicious. They served one large cake, but it was mostly crab chunks with little breading. Still, not the best I've had, but a close second.

While the room was filled with families and couples alike, I think the restaurant is better suited for romantic dining. The lighting is a bit dimmed and the service is more relaxed. The prices are a little high, and seem a bit inflated for the area as well.

For further information, check out their website.

The dining room is small (fewer than 20 tables) and quaint, and features a fireplace. The restaurant's atmosphere is intimate, but they did not seem to mind us bringing our children--there were high chairs and booster seats available. When asked to do so by our 5-year-old son, our server even brought an extra booster seat for his stuffed animal. Our server was also very friendly and spent quite a bit of time answering our son's many questions.

The menu features mostly seafood, such as crab cakes, flounder, lobster, shrimp scampi, and trout. There are also a few steak, veal, chicken, and pasta dishes, as well as one duck and one pork-chop entree. The entrees themselves range from $16 to $26 and do not include soup or salad. The portions are average and come with potatoes or rice and vegetables. The meal also includes bread. The wine list is average for a restaurant of this type and includes several reds and whites, along with one or two champagnes and dessert wines. The wine prices are probably three times the retail value.

My wife ordered the broiled Maryland lump crab cakes, which were moist, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. I ordered the blackened steak Delmonico, which was cooked to perfection. I thought it could use a little more spice, but I also enjoy food a bit more spicy than many people. My father-in-law accompanied us to this restaurant; he also had the steak Delmonico and said the level of spice was perfect for him. Our son had a kids' chicken meal, which was also very good.

Overall, this restaurant had a nice atmosphere, good service, great food, and somewhat reasonable prices--and is a place we would definitely return to. The restaurant serves dinner only (from 5 to 10pm) Monday through Saturday. For further information, they also have a website at www.unioncanalhouse.com.