Restaurants in West Elkridge

The Jerk Pit’s white wood siding and covered porch might lead folks to think they’re stepping into owner Lisa Waddell Rose’s own house—and that’s likely what she intended. Within the warm, comfortable digs, light-orange walls evoke offerings of carrot juice beside a bar painted with a sun and bright crescent moon. The chefs apply spicy blends of seasonings to transform morsels of chicken, pork, fish, and tofu into traditional Jamaican jerk dishes, served alongside other staples such as curried goat and ackee with saltfish. While sipping on Jamaican soda or sweet iced tea, patrons can utilize the Pit’s free WiFi to download sounds of crashing waves or pictures of the Caribbean's blueberry-flavored waters.

Dancing Dinosaur, Fancy Spider, and Green Godzilla—they sound like movie monsters, but they're more likely to attract a crowd than to cause people to flee. That's because these are the names of sushi rolls on Katana Sushi's menu, which boasts more than 40 types of hand and specialty rolls made from such colorful ingredients as squash, yellowtail, and mango sauce. Katana's chefs also slice sashimi from red snapper and sweet shrimp, and they craft such fusion entrees as salmon teriyaki and chicken katsu. These entrees arrive accompanied by an entourage of green salad, miso soup, and a mound of rice shaped like the former key grip of Entourage.

Luna Blu’s walls sport hand-painted murals of an idyllic Naples coastline, its cerulean hues echoing the dining room’s candles and blue glass accents. These are the first hint at chef Ivano Scotto’s Neapolitan heritage. The second, of course, is the food: chef Scotto peppers his pasta dishes and stews with fresh seafood like that fishermen in his native city would pluck from the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea. Additionally, veal and chicken marinate in creamy marsala wine sauces, and an ample wine list complements entrees.

True to its name, New York Deli offers a menu of East Coast–style, piled-high sandwiches and subs with fillings including steak and cheese, homemade chunky chicken salad, and vegetarian-friendly falafel. Patrons can also nosh on wraps made with pita bread from a local bakery or slurp down chicken noodle soup made fresh daily. Located in College Park, New York Deli welcomes patrons from local neighborhoods and the University of Maryland and scornfully hisses at visitors dressed in Duke apparel.