I keep saying I need to spend more time exploring Southern Maryland, and this trip proved my point. @nomtasticfoods and I were driving back from Solomons when we stopped for brunch at Bulrushes Cafe in Prince Frederick, and I’m so glad we did. It’s a fast casual-ish spot where you check out the menu up front, order at the counter, then grab a seat and the food comes to you.
Our runaway favorite was the shrimp and grits ($16), creamy, flavorful, and loaded with a good amount of shrimp (just know it’s a weekends-only thing). Add a giant cinnamon roll and a solid brisket omelet, and you’ve got a wonderful little brunch stop that had me wanting to explore this corner of Calvert County a lot more.
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What Makes Bulrushes Cafe a Standout Brunch Spot in Prince Frederick
What I loved about Bulrushes is that it hits the sweet spot between casual and genuinely good. It’s a locally owned breakfast-and-lunch cafe (no dinner) tucked into the Central Square shopping center, and the format’s easy: browse the menu at the front, order at the counter, and they bring it to your table. Calvert County’s own tourism page calls it a spot for locally loved comfort food, and that tracks. Beyond what we ordered, it’s known for chicken and waffles, beignets, eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, and those famous cinnamon rolls that reportedly sell out within about an hour of opening. Basically, come hungry and come early.
What to Order at Bulrushes Cafe
Shrimp and Grits ($16)
This was hands-down our favorite dish of the meal. The grits were super creamy and flavorful, and there was a good amount of shrimp piled on, which is exactly what you want. I can absolutely see why it’s a fan favorite. One important heads up: it’s only available on weekends, so plan your visit accordingly if this is what you’re after (and it should be).
Brisket Omelet ($15)
A really good omelet, and it comes with a delicious biscuit and a pile of tots, which is a solid deal for $15. The flavors were on point. My one honest note: the brisket itself was a bit dry. It didn’t stop us from enjoying the plate, and that biscuit it comes with is genuinely delicious, but if dry brisket’s a dealbreaker for you, keep it in mind.
Cinnamon Roll ($7)
You have to see this thing to believe it, it’s HUGE and ridiculously instagrammable. Taste-wise it’s yum, especially with all that frosting, though we did wish it were a touch more moist. Still, for $7 and that size, it’s a fun one to split. And since the cinnamon rolls reportedly sell out fast, grab one early.
A few more things worth knowing about the menu:
- They do chicken and waffles, beignets, French toast, eggs Benedict, and biscuits and gravy if you want to go full brunch.
- There are vegetarian options like a veggie omelet, and the staff’s known for being accommodating with gluten-free requests, though it’s not a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, so ask if you have celiac.
- Reviewers rave about the coffee, so grab a cup while you browse the menu.
The Solomons Detour That Led Us Here
Here’s a little context on how we ended up at Bulrushes. @nomtasticfoods and I had been out in Solomons (we even did the delightfully creepy Spooky Solomons ghost tour while we were down there), and Prince Frederick sits right on the way back. That’s the thing about Southern Maryland, it’s a little out of the way for a lot of us in the DMV, but the food scene down here is full of surprises. If you’re making the drive, Bulrushes is an easy brunch anchor, and I’d happily go back if I’m in the area to see what else this corner of Calvert County has going on.
The Vibe and Experience
The vibe’s exactly what you want from a brunch spot, laid-back and unpretentious. Because you order at the counter and seat yourself, there’s none of that fussy wait-to-be-seated energy, which makes it easy with a group or on a quick solo stop. It’s wheelchair accessible, there’s Wi-Fi, and the big free lot out front means parking’s never a headache. It’s the kind of place that works whether you’re a local grabbing your Saturday cinnamon roll or a couple of road-trippers like us refueling on the way home.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 135 Central Square Dr, Prince Frederick, MD 20678, in the Central Square shopping center.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 7AM to 2PM, closed Mondays. Breakfast and lunch only, no dinner.
- Prices: budget-friendly, roughly $10 to $20 per person.
- Ordering: counter service, walk-in only, no reservations. Seat yourself and they bring the food out.
- Parking: plenty of free surface parking in the lot.
- Good to remember: the shrimp and grits are weekends only, and the cinnamon rolls sell out fast, so go early.
- Website: browse the menu at the Bulrushes Cafe site before you go.
Is Bulrushes Cafe Worth It?
If you’re in the area, yes, especially on a weekend when the shrimp and grits are on. It’s not a fancy, dress-up brunch, it’s a genuinely good, budget-friendly one in a part of Maryland that doesn’t get enough love, and that combo makes it an easy recommendation. Go for the shrimp and grits, grab a cinnamon roll to split, and if you’re making a full day of it, Blue Wind Gourmet in Lexington Park is another gem worth the drive.
Have you guys been to Bulrushes yet, or do you have a favorite brunch spot in Calvert County I should try? Let me know in the comments, Nomsters. And if you’re planning your own Southern Maryland day, save this one and maybe pair it with something fun like Bubbles Bzzz in Lexington Park, boba and pottery painting in one stop.