Two Maryland restaurants, including one right here in Montgomery County, have earned national recognition on Restaurant Business’ prestigious 2025 “Top 100 Independents” list, which highlights the country’s highest-grossing independent dining establishments.
The Choptank Annapolis ranked No. 56, reporting $16,537,914 in annual sales, an average check of $63, and more than 222,000 meals served. The waterfront crab and fish house, known for Maryland classics and sweeping views from its deck and rooftop, was one of the state’s strongest performers on the list.
Rockville’s Tower Oaks Lodge earned a spot at No. 74, bringing in $13,367,659 in annual sales with an average check of $51 and more than 270,000 meals served. When Tower Oaks Lodge opened in 2002, Clyde’s Restaurant Group introduced yet another signature habitat-style concept, this time overlooking a 21-acre nature preserve and housed within a reconstructed 200-year-old timber barn transported from Vermont. The distinctive setting, built to evoke the rustic grandeur of Adirondack “Great Camps,” has helped make it one of Montgomery County’s most recognized dining destinations.
Restaurant Business notes that this year’s Top 100 generated a combined $1.96 billion in food and beverage sales for 2024, with Miami’s Mila topping the list at more than $51 million in revenue.
Despite ongoing challenges across the restaurant industry, the publication emphasized the remarkable staying power of the operators who achieved Top 100 status. “It’s a tough time for restaurants of all sizes. But some independent operators keep showing their resilience,” the report states. “This year’s list boasts 19 new names, as well as many stalwarts, all with a focus on putting people first.”
