Looking for lunch in Pasadena, MD? Mountain Road and Fort Smallwood Road cover a lot of ground, from a stuffed Italian sub on Mountain Road to crab soup beside the Stoney Creek bridge to a casual pub midday.
Neighbors in the Best of Pasadena Facebook group selected Lisa’s Deli, Stoney Creek Inn, and Pit Stop Pub as the 2026 top three for Best Lunch Restaurant. Here is a closer look at each, including signature sandwiches, soups, and the feel of the room.
1st place: Lisa’s Deli
Best for: Italian cold cuts and made-to-order subs on Mountain Road
Lisa’s Deli is at 2608 Mountain Road, Suite 4, a small-town counter with deli meats by the pound, party platters, daily specials, and sandwiches made to order. The Italian cold cut is the sandwich reviewers mention again and again, often praising the roll and a generous, well-balanced stack of meats and toppings. Stuffed cheesesteaks, Reubens, and homemade shrimp salad also come up as favorites. One reviewer called it a hidden gem with friendly service and a quirky sense of humor, the kind of place that greets regulars by name. It is a classic Mountain Road lunch stop.
Address: 2608 Mountain Rd STE 4, Pasadena, MD 21122
2nd place: Stoney Creek Inn
Best for: Maryland seafood lunch beside the Stoney Creek bridge
Stoney Creek Inn sits at 8238 Fort Smallwood Road, next to the Stoney Creek bridge in the Greenland Beach corner of Pasadena, in the 21226 zip code. The official site says the inn opened in 2001, with recipes that go back to Baltimore’s Cross Street Market, and it remains a casual indoor and outdoor lunch and dinner spot. Crab cakes, shrimp salad, Maryland crab soup, cream of crab soup, and homemade Old Bay chips are at the heart of the menu. Reviewers have long come for those Maryland standards, though recent crab cake comments are mixed, so it is fair to go for the setting, the soups, and a menu that still reads like a local seafood house. Details are at stoneycreekinnrestaurant.com.
Address: 8238 Fort Smallwood Rd, Pasadena, MD 21226
3rd place: Pit Stop Pub
Best for: A Fort Smallwood pub lunch for crab soup and sandwiches
Pit Stop Pub is at 8111 Fort Smallwood Road, also in the 21226 zip, and it appears in the 2026 Best Bar round as well. It is a neighborhood pub with TVs, a short homemade menu, and a loyal lunch crowd. Reviewers repeatedly praise the cream of crab soup, Maryland crab soup, crab cakes, and the rib or pulled-pork sandwiches. A 2017 Capital Gazette dining column called the cream of crab one of the best things on the table and noted a solid crab cake sandwich. It is a casual Fort Smallwood stop when you want a bowl and a sandwich more than a formal dining room. The site is thepitstoppub.com.
Address: 8111 Fort Smallwood Rd, Pasadena, MD 21226
Plan a visit: Pit Stop Pub
Hours and specials can change, so check with each restaurant before you head out.
Find more of Pasadena’s favorites
Have a local favorite to share? Join the Best of Pasadena Facebook group to discover more neighborhood recommendations and help choose the next winners.
Moving to Pasadena or looking for a home near your favorite lunch spot? James Bowerman, a Pasadena local since 1990, and Real Creative Group can help you find the right neighborhood fit. Call 410-971-8004 or visit realcreativegroup.com.