The Trolley Stop

Decent normal American bar type food. The menu isn’t super large which is good, mostly sandwiches/burgers/wraps. They don’t serve main meals or pasta until 4pm. The crab soup did have a lot of tasty crab, however the soup itself was like gloop. It was so thick and had no taste which was so weird. Hardly even salt and pepper. Way too thick even for a chowder. Burger was pretty good taste, a little charred, ordered medium but got more like medium well. Steak and cheese also was okay, better than burger as it had nicely cooked onions and mushrooms in it. The fries were good when hot - but they seemed like really cheap crinkly fries. After they got even a little cold they tasted so awkward and not good. Server was nice. The main reason I’m giving low stars is cleanliness. The whole place felt dirty, which in turn made me feel like the food was dirty. The ceiling has caked on dust. I guess it’s an old building but that doesn’t mean it should be dirty. Bathrooms needed cleaned as well. Windows are smudged everywhere. Menus were dirty which gave a horrible first impression.

Very cozy pub interior. Traditional American breakfast. Menu small but completely adequate. Service was phenomenal. Food came out quickly after order. The waitress was very attentive and checked in regularly. The other wait staff was also attentive. Prices were reasonable. I got the three egg platter with a scrapple, rye toast and home fries. Scrapple was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside soft interior with a slight thickness. The home fries were fresh and good. The type was soft not crispy. Side order of bacon was a hefty portion and was somewhat limp but crispy. Will definitely return.

American Menu I got the wings which were very good. They had the right amount of heat. My companions ordered French onion soup and the Italian cold cut sub. Both real good. Great friendly quick service. Full bar available.

Explore Maryland - The Trolley Stop Address: 6 Oella Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043 Hours: Closed ⋅ Opens 8 AM Phone: (410) 465-8546 Menu: places.singleplatform.com Our goal is to serve superior food in a casual atmosphere. Our historic building adds charm to your dining experience, ensuring that every meal is unforgettable. Come and discover our rich history and delightful menu offerings! Our stone building, erected in 1833, began as a tavern and Country Inn. Over the years, it became a general store and boarding house, and then returned to a tavern in the mid 1940’s. In 1972, Tropical Storm Agnes hit Ellicott City, destroying the lower floor. A high-water mark is visible above the packaged goods door. After a massive cleanup, new owners began serving homemade chili and sandwiches, eventually adding a kitchen in 1985 that has since been expanded three times. In 1995, the second floor was renovated into dining and private party rooms. So, why the name The Trolley Stop? The Trolley #14 car stopped outside the second-floor dining room from 1889-1927. In 1927, it changed to the #9 car and made its final run on June 18, 1955.

Walked with some lovely friends and then lunched at the Whistlestop. EVERYONE was very satisfied with their meal. I had the Trolley #? grilled chicken sandwich with a side of cucumber salad and took half of it home. Delicious!!!

Great service and food. The pancakes we're huge, but I'm not complaining! I was pleasantly surprised with their size. I had the option of 2 or 3. I ordered 3, but I did not eat all 3, 2 would have been perfect. I will definitely be back.

Good food and very good crab cakes which are big, not dry and flavorful. Didn't blow my taste buds away but definitely above average. Another nice place in charming downtown Ellicott City

The service was great and the food was amazing!!! End of story… we had the Philly cheesesteak sandwich and the Cold Cut with the potato salad. It was extremely delicious I cleaned the plate. I asked the server what is your favorite hot sandwich and he responded with both of those so we had to try them and they were in the top three of sandwich’s I’ve had in my life.

Today was my first time here and I was so glad to stumble upon it! I was in and out in less than 30 min- was quick to be seated, get my order in, and the food was out in less than 10 min. I loved the art and old photos on the walls. I got the French toast and 2 scrambled eggs. The portions were large and I left fully satisfied! The eggs were cooked medium. My server came back to ask if I had wanted cheese but they were great as is. The French toast had powdered sugar on top and was presented beautifully. If I'm in the area again, I'll definitely stop by!

I found this cute little restaurant by using a featured photo. The outside odd cute and the inside is intimate. My daughter and I also enjoyed our food. Yum!

We arrived around 7pm on a Friday, and found a space right in front. There's plenty more parking in the large well-lit lot 120-feet up Oella Av. The restaurant was pretty busy, and the bar was nearly full, but we were able to walk to one of a good number of available 2-seat and 4-seat tables. A number of people wound down dinner through 8pm, so more tables and front-door-parking kept opening up. It's a casual retro interior with dark wood and exposed brick, true to the building's 1833 origin. It's darkly lit and welcoming in a homey way. Nice people, many from nearby towns. The lunch-dinner menu is casual, from sandwiches to a variety of mains. It's average-priced, not expensive, and the servings are very generous. We had a hot Chicken Riggie linguini with artichokes, and a cold over-stuffed shrimp-salad sandwich on a hoagie roll with fries. They were both fresh and flavorful. The fries, since you asked, were piping hot, lightly crisp, and perfectly soft inside. We were served without a long wait, and the floor staff was constantly attentive. Throughout dinner, the crowd was mostly middle-age and older. The bar side nearest the door seemed like mostly regulars. But surprise, they have restarted their Friday 9pm karaoke, and by then a younger crowd really filled the place along with the regulars. This was "Christmas in July", with some fun decorating and several themed songs, some by decades-long regulars! You have to see nattily-dressed Mike, well-known for his spins and kicks! And you havent lived until you've heard Tim's bawdy version of The Night Before Christmas :-). Singers ranged from could-be-pros to I-just-love-to-sing. The best part was that the great crowd joined in boisterously with the singing, and applauded every performance. It's probably the most fun karaoke I've been to! We faded out around 11pm, and it was still going strong. It's a great casual restaurant, and a really fun Friday evening out!

Highly recommend , cool neighborhood bar right on the heart of historic Ellicott city . The place is clean, the decor fits the overall vibe and service is great . Came in breakfast , sat at the bar was greeted and given great service . No complaints on breakfast (minus the fact the grits are absolutely water down and no matter how hard you try to season it still taste watery ) I definitely would be back .

The vibes of this place is amazing! It's a restaurant for regulars for sure with quality decently priced drinks! Service is great and they are super nice!

The Trolley Stop is a place we're locals and visitors can come have a good meal and relax. Highlighted by a beautiful bar and amble seating, this historic building built in 1833 has served the community of Ellicott City for nearly 200 years including a stop on the #9 Trolley Line out of Baltimore (last run was in 1955). Lots of history and pictures throughout the restaurant showing the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood of Ellicott City. Note: There is limited parking in front of the restaurant, but don't despair, go around the corner to the public lot or back across the river to another.

If you want simple American/Maryland/pub fare, The Trolley Stop has you covered! There's a decent amount of seating but they're usually pretty busy. There's also seating at the bar. Service can be slow to get you seated but after that you are well taken care of. I've had the Trolly Burger #2 both times just because it's so dang delish. Tastes like it came right off the outdoor grill with good shrooms, cheese and plenty of bacon. We each had fries so it was good some of crab dip was left over to dip the fries into. The crab dip was a nice balance of crabbiness and cheesiness. Haven't tried the breakfast menu yet but lunch and dinner have plenty of options with salads, wraps, hot and cold sammiches, pastas and more! Next time you're enjoying EC, patronize these good folks!

Good food, large portions, waiter was very nice. Ambiance is a mix of a sit down restaurant and a bar. The steak and cheese sub was excellent. Our only issue was that our food came right after the salads arrived. By the time we started eating the food it was getting cold. Our waiter should have spaced the food apart some.

Bartender Hannah was the best part of my visit. #13 chicken sandwich was pretty good also

The breakfast is awesome. They give you a lot of food. Burgers are great. Everything I have order has been above average. Prices are reasonable. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The bar is nice. Very rustic. One of my favorite places to eat.

A great place to stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Large portions and everything is full of flavor. If you are in Ole' Ellicott City, stop by!

This one of my favorite places to come to, the service is always wonderful no matter who is working , the chicken Chesapeake is one of my favorite dishes and I recommend getting it blackened I will definitely stop by again when I'm in area.

Stumbled upon this place when walking around old Ellicott City on a Sunday afternoon. We were nervous when we walked in because it was almost empty aside from some locals hanging at the bar drinking and two tables being occupied. We were starving so we figured we'd give this place a chance and I'm so glad we did. We started with the potato skins which came out pipin hot with plenty of cheese and bacon. The menu is huge so it was hard to choose what to order but we settled for the New York strip, trolley chicken #3, and Cajun chicken wrap. Sandwiches and wraps are HUGE. My brother and I only finished half of our meals and took the rest home. My mom enjoyed her steak and potato. The only complaint was that her side salad could have been served on a larger plate. Our server was so bubbly and sweet, I wish I remembered her name. Definitely recommend stopping here while in the area!

Overall Trolley Stop Restaurant is a pleasant place to dine, the staff are very professional and courteous, to name a few, Wilma, Hanna, Carrie, Tish and Chris are so nice and a pleasure to have them as my Bartender or server. The Trolley Stop could use a little atmosphere improvements like more modern lighting, as opposed to the current Christmas lights that hang year round and the Men's Restroom's Urinal has been not working for weeks and the Bathroom itself could use an updated remodel as it is very outdated and unpleasant to use. The food is great at Trolley stop. As someone who buys and sells Restaurants for my Clients this Critique of Trolley Stop is meant in good faith. I feel as a Consultant/Customer that these improvements I state could only draw back lost customers, whereby increasing sales income for the owners as well as the staff will benefit. I have had many regular customers state the same feelings to myself, although they may not comment their opinions as openly as I do. I do hope that my constructive Critique will ever be seen by the Owners in a positive way.

Very nice place and people that work there very nice and helpful very clean too for such a very old place! Food is delicious next time gonna sit at the bar seemed very fun we had a delicious Rum Punch the bartender actually delivered to our table! Our server was was very nice too! We were stuffed after we had to walk trail again lol we walked before going there and then couldn't see going back to car! Lol prices were good and if in area you have to stop by! See ya soon! Walk trail first you be glad you did lol

Overall, the food is good. We have only had breakfasts from there. I love the sausages they serve. Not your typical breakfast sausage. We went on. Saturday morning, so they were crowded. Still, service was good and our waitress was friendly, attentive, and fast. Not so much for my son and his partner. They went later and were seated at the bar. The waiter took their order, gave them drinks, then put them on "ignore" while he talked to his friends, seated at the end of the bar. They trued to get one of the wait staff to help them but were told it all had to go through the bar tender who was do engrossed in his own conversation that he couldn't be bothered. So, food is good, but service not good at the bar.

What a dirty trick. This sunny Saturday afternoon, we toured the quaint shops of Ellicott city and thought we would cap off the visit with a meal at the trolley stop. We were quickly greeted by friendly staff upon walking through the door. Drinks were on the table in short order and our late lunch of 2 sandwiches arrived in no time at all. Nice. It was at this point the wheels fell off the trolley. No one came back to check on the meal, refresh the drinks...nothing. I finally was able to flag down a server who brought napkins, refilled the drinks, and brought us boxes. It was honestly quite disappointing as the food was good enough, but the service was poor. I guess it was the steady stream of regulars coming and going at the bar that impacted service. If you can put up with spotty service, give the trolley stop a try. I'm a little lukewarm, but your experience may be different. *cucumber salad and potato salad are both very good.

The burgers are amazing! Stopped in for lunch and each picked a burger. Cooked to how we ordered, juicy, and delicious!

I like to support local small businesses and prefer restaurants that aren't part of a National chain and the Trolley Stop is a perfect fit. The portions are large and fairly priced and the service we had was friendly and attentive. Once I said I can never have enough coffee the server made sure my scup was never empty. I had the Philly cheesesteak and it was okay. There was a spice missing and I still cannot figure it out. The sandwich was huge and the fries were piping hot and a perfect accompaniment to the sandwich. My wife had the pancakes and they were great. We will be back.

My wife and I have been coming to The Trolly Stop for a few years, it's a great bar filled with very friendly people and staff. We have eatten lunch and dinner here often. Today we came in for the first time for breakfast. The menu was ok. Kinda of limited but you can probably get anything you want. My wife ordered a Western Omelet which she said was good but had no cheese on it at all, isnt a Western Omelet supposed to have cheese on it? I had the Cream Chip Beef (pictured) which came with potatoes on the side which I asked to add onions. The potatoes and onions could have been cooked longer. The Chipped beef was good but I like the Gravey a little thinner as it was very, very thick like spackle. Bottom line: great place for lunch, dinner and a few drinks but breakfast was just eh.

Me and my husband were visiting some family in Maryland and they took us to this really cool placed in Ellicott city it's a beautiful place we don't have anything remotely like this where I'm from we decided to grab a bite and decided to try this place. I'm confused by some of the other reviews on this place because I didn't experience any slow wait time for a table or food and we went right around lunch time and it was pretty packed we got a table right away and our server was very polite and very attentive. I got the shrimp toast and y'all look at that portion size can you believe that this is an appetizer? I needed a to go box because I couldn't even finish all of it lol. And what else I got that isn't pictured is the French onion soup and yalllll they did the damn thing! 10/10 best French onion soup I've ever had I'm really upset that I didn't order to go when I visit my aunt and uncle again I'm hoping that they will bring me back because I'm hooked

I visited The Trolley stop today for the first time, and I was amazed by the décor and the location. It had a rustic tavern feel as I entered. The staff and the other customers made me feel welcome right away. The coffee was delicious, and the food was outstanding for breakfast. I had the Western Omelet with a side of bacon, and it was a very large portion of eggs, home fries, and bacon. Did I mention large portions? Great service, great food, and great company made for a wonderful meal. I will definitely return!

What a fun and local establishment in the old Ellicott city area! Plenty of parking at the end of the trail and a super cozy atmosphere in the old trolley stop of Catonsville! Came here for breakfast one morning when everything else was packed and was NOT disappointed! Hubs got the cream chipped beef and I got the veggie omelet. Both came out quickly and hot! Service was fast and friendly. The overall quality of the food was great! Very fresh with a homemade feel. The taste was a little bland but picture this as grandmas kitchen. not anything fancy but you know you'll have a homey hearty meal

Solid diner food. No more, no less. Enthusiastic service! Trolley Chicken Sandwich. Family run spot.

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day and all I could think of was my corned beef & cabbage! Trolley Stop has had the best in town year after year! Something must have happened because my corned beef was tough like chewing rubberbands! I was so disappointed because it was not eatible! That doesn't stop me from telling everyone that the food is great and the portions are so large! I will go any time I have the opportunity. I don't believe anyone comes out of their place hungry or disappointed. It's wonderful place to go with friends and everyone is friendly and happy! Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Went back to the Trolley Stop for the first time in over ten years and had a good time and meal. Wife and I split a Caesar salad and French Onion Soup as course #1, the Caesar salad with blackened chicken was delicious, like really really great, the way they dressed it was just perfect and the chicken was not "too blackened" just right. The French onion soup was very good, tasty and cheesy but not too cheesy, just right. For our entrees, my wife and I split a mushroom, bacon, swiss burger and the French Dip. The French dip was probably the lowest point of the night, you had to pay extra to get it with cheese and fried onions (that put the sandwich up close to $20) and it just wasn't that great, not bad, but nothing special, just a big pile of roast beef that needed a dip in the au jus to taste good. The Swiss Bacon burger was delicious, cooked perfectly to medium (so many places overcook when you ask for medium, this had a perfect pink center), very tasty bacon, just very good. Our trip was probably 4.5 stars, we will come back!

I can't believe I've lived in Howard County since 2007 and I've never been here before now! Stopped in for brunch on Sunday and was not disappointed. I was very happy to see how busy they were and I was even more impressed by the sense of urgency from the waitstaff. I'll be honest, ever since the pandemic occurred, service at a lot of places has been really bad. I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case at the trolley stop. We sat at the bar, ordered 2 drinks and breakfast! I got the western omelet with a side of scrapple. I'm very picky about how my scrapple is cooked and they nailed it. My partner ordered the chipped beef and a side of bacon. Portions were huge and everything was great. Our bartender was very sweet and attentive. They also have keno which is so fun. Can't wait to go back!

This was a great little gem found at the bottom of old Ellicott city. It seems very unassuming from the outside but is rich with history. The locals eating and drinking at the bar added to the ambiance of a small mom and pop restaurant with delicious basic good food. We ordered the Philly cheese steaks which were to be expected, the French dip which was also to be expected, but we also got to try scrapple which was interesting in and of itself. The side dishes were delicious - especially the cucumber salad. But really what made it was the service. The server was knowledgeable, respectful, timely, funny, and an overall pleasure to work with. Highly recommend for a quick and easy lunch!

I grew up in Ellicott City and this was always a good choice when frequenting Main Street. I came here recently for some take out for lunch and was very pleased with the experience. We ordered the turkey club sandwich with fries and coleslaw. The sandwich is MASSIVE. It's easily two meals. The coleslaw was really nice and cool. My only suggestion would be to switch to different French fries. The fries are clearly frozen and while tasty and enjoyable, I expect a fresher home made French Fry when I go out to eat. The service is wonderful and friendly, prices are decent and location is perfect for a visit to Main Street. It's also nice to sit in the garden area right across the street next to the river. The trolley trail is also a great option for a nice after meal walk.

Great laid back place to go for an awesome meal!

My husband and I have been coming here for years and they never disappoint! If you want good homemade food that's local, you gotta come here. The staff is always super nice and the quality of food is amazing. Super cool atmosphere also!

We've eaten here twice and don't plan to again. The food is just ok. Not bad but not great. Very overpriced for what you get. Our first visit was for breakfast and it was nothing special. Second visit was burgers for lunch. They looked/tasted like frozen patties and the fries were frozen crinkle cuts. For the same price you can get fabulous homemade burger and fries at a nearby restaurant in Old Ellicott City. The building and location are charming, but it was a little dark inside. Our waitress was nice and hard-working, but very loud and kept yelling across the restaurant to other customers and coworkers. Did not make for a pleasant lunch date. My advice is to try one of the other local spots that serve higher quality homemade food that is more worth the money.

Came here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. Parking can be tight, a few spots out front. When you walk in the bar is the first thing you see. The dining room is very dark and the dark wood doesn't help. The server was fine but a little sassy. The menu is an assortment of bar food, pasta, and diner meals. I ordered the open faced hot roast beef and mashed potatoes. The food came out fast and was huge! I enjoyed the dish but masjed potatoes were so so. Overall decent place but could use updating some.

I had the Chicken Florentine special and it was really good. The busboy was very helpful taking our drink orders to give the waitress so we didn't have to wait. Brandi was our waitress and she was extremely accommodating as we dined with 2 toddlers. She made sure that their food came out fast. They had a little area of books and toys for the children which was really nice. We will be back.

The food was overpriced and just okay. The building was not clean. Next time I will eat at the much nicer cafe next door.

Yelp lists this as karaoke, they don't have karaoke. But the food and service was good

Love the location, very cool building, relaxed ambiance, but our meals were not good at all. Only giving three stars because of the physical location/building. Food experience was 'one star'. I ordered a Rueben Sandwich... and I suspect the meat was Oscar Myer (disappointing). Other member of my party had a $12 sandwich that she couldn't eat. I recommend this restaurant reduce its portion sizes and improve the quality of its meals (this especially so for the tasteless French fried!). Been years since I was here last. Recall the quality being much better. Would love to see it return to those better days.

Absolutely outstanding breakfast each tome I have been here. And let me say this, we ordered our food, went to the bathroom, came back out and 5 mins later our food arrived. Then you are in this old building from the 1800's and it just completes the experience. If you are in Ellicott City you have to try this place for breakfast.

Overpriced, average food. Great location, it's a shame the food's not better.

Came here on St. Pattys day. It doesnt look like a restaurant from the outside. I saw a menu on the door. This was my first dining experience in Historic Ellicott City. "A must stop" to this historic restaurant. The host/server was friendly and helpful. Everybody in the venue looked happy and friendly. They even prepared a table for 15. The food was reasonably priced. I had the corned beef. I will come back to try a new dish. I just wish they had better drink specials.

Had dinner at Trolley Stop last night. Everyone ordered the Prime Rib and we were not disappointed. It was done to perfection. Also the sides, Mashed Potatoes or Green Beans were very good too. Have been going there for breakfast and now we'll put the Trolley Stop on our dinner rotation. Also would like to recognize our server. Not sure of her name (#27) but she was excellent.

Went there for breakfast and had the Greek Omelette. The food was Excellent! Atmosphere was fabulous! Service was great! I highly recommend this gem!

Took a business associate here for lunch today. He got side salad- he too 1 bite and pushed it away - looked wilted. I got the shrimp salad and when it came out is was just ok. Not outstanding like this place has been in the past. Hmmmm

And In Conclusion..... I've only ever had the sandwiches here because they are big and we'll made. You could easily take half the sandwich with you and still walk out satisfied. The service is always pretty good.

We come here everyday, steal cigarettes out of the sand pit, and order fries. Hallelujah

Anytime we stay with my brother-in-law in Ellicott City, we make a point of coming to this place for breakfast. They do such a great job with your standard breakfast fare, omelettes, eggs your way, and all your favorite breakfast meats (including scrapple!). Place has got a lot of old town, colonial charm and character for days! Whatever you do, get that side of bacon, because it's thin cut, perfectly crispy, and has that perfect mix of meat to fat. Definitely something you'll want to share with at least one other person (because I can't imagine the calorie count!). On weekends, you definitely want to get there before 9, otherwise it fills up and fills up fast! Great menu, great value for the dollar, and a friendly staff that's personable and responsive.

Great food. Great customer service. Love the look of the restaurants antiquity. It's a smaller establishment So I would recommend large parties but, for you and your special person it's great! After or before a great meal old town Ellicot city is a nice place to walk around and sightsee. The only reason I can't give 5 stars is due to parking, maybe 6 spots. Go on the wrong day and good luck finding a spot anywhere close. No events happening in the area and I would highly recommend this place!

Was thinking of a nice place to have breakfast, and cake axross this place in old Ellicott City. Looked interesting and nice from the reviews and pictures. Here's my review : personally i wouldn't eat there again, definitely not for breakfast again anyway. I ordered four meals in total. All breakfast items, i.e omelettes grits and scrambled eggs and bacon. The inside was nice and as expected.. an old mom and pop shop set up. I liked it. Once placing my order, my food order was done in literally less than 10 mins. Had me wondering like wow did they even make it or was it already prepared??? Upon getting home i honestly can say, i can make it better at home. Much tastier and much more quality. I spent about 55$ plus tips here and i can't say i was impressed. Food was bland and boring.... like i said i could do better at home.

Food is pricey, but the portions are definitely great. I've tried the chicken tender platter, steak sub, cucumber salad, gravy fries, and shrimp toast. All were really good. Cons: Charging $1 for fried onions on an already pricey sub is not right. Fried oniond are a standard topping anywhere else. Also, they lack any kind of happy hour deal which makes no sense because that only hurts their business. The drinks are expensive here. Its not hard to do a simple beer deal and discounted appetizers to bring in that early crowd. Once people start drinking they tend to stay and spend more money! Unfortunately, we have to walk further up the road to Manor Hill for happy hour. But overall food is great portions are huge and I definitely recommend for food. Maybe not so much for drinking.