Glen Burnie, Maryland is outside of my usual stomping grounds. But when a friend told me about an iconic hot dog diner there, I had to check it out. In business for over 70 years, Ann’s Dari Creme has stood the test of time.

Ann’s Dari-Creme is located on Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie, right next to the Marley Station Mall. Ann’s was opened in 1951 by Ray Hines, back when the highway was a major north-south route. The place is named after his wife Ann. It’s unclear how involved she was with the restaurant, but since has been referred to as co-owner I suspect she was an integral part. Business dropped when a new highway (originally called Route 3, it is now Interstate 97) was built in the late 1950s. But with the loyal customers, Ann’s survived and business bounced back. The restaurant also survived the building the the Marley Station Mall in the 1980s, making a deal with the owners of the mall that allowed them to stay open.

Ray sold Ann’s Dari-Creme to new owners Howard Pinsky and Joe Obrien in 1976. I don’t know how involved Joe was, but Howard and his wife Thea were active at the restaurant until their deaths in 2021. Both passed away from COVID. As far as I can tell, the Pinsky family still owns the business.

Menu

The menu at Ann’s is pretty simple, consisting of hot dogs, hamburgers, and cheese steaks. There are two sides: French Fries, and Chili Cheese Fries. You can also get the chili in a bowl. For the dogs and subs, there is a choice of 10 condiments. There are also “everything” options for both. For hot dogs this consists of mustard, onions, and chili. The subs’ “everything” also has relish and pickles.

Hot dogs

Ann’s is famous for their Footlong hot dogs and that is exactly what I got, with the standard “everything” option.

The hot dog is of good quality. The chili is fantastic. It is a meat based chili with a mild, slightly sweet taste. The issue with the Footlong is that it is served in a very sizable bun, making for much more bread than meat. As a consequence, most people (including my friends) get a half sized Double Dog. It has the same amount of meat as the Footlong, but with half the amount of bread. I recommend going that route.

I also ordered a side of the Chili Cheese Fries. The fries are decent, but not exceptional. However, the chili makes the dish stands out. It’s a great combination. With copious amounts of both the chili and the cheese, these fries are a satisfying side.

Ice Cream

In addition to the grilled items, Ann’s Dairy Creme has a small ice cream menu consisting of Shakes, Sundaes, and Cones. Shakes include Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Banana, and Orange. The cones have one flavor: Vanilla. It can be dipped in Chocolate or covered with Jimmies. The sundae options are Chocolate, Strawberry, Pineapple or Hot Fudge.

I’ve had the Hot Fudge Sundae. All the ice cream, including the sundaes, are soft serve. But it is a high quality soft serve: smooth and creamy, with a refreshing taste that is not overly sweet. On top of that, the sundae is absolutely swimming in the hot fudge sauce. That is not easy to see in the photo, but trust me, there is a lot of sauce. I’ve also had the cherry milkshake. The shake is also high quality: thick, liquid enough to drink, and with good cherry flavor. It’s worth going to Ann’s for the ice cream alone.

Ambience

Anne’s is a casual restaurant with the look and feel of a 50s diner. This is not a retro look; it’s been around that long. There is not a lot of eating space – a small amount of stools at the counter and a couple of picnic tables outside. Most people take their orders to go. Both times I have been there, the line went out the door. The line moves quickly, though, and the food comes out in a reasonable time. The staff is friendly and helpful, but don’t really have time for small talk. Nevertheless, it’s a fun place to go for a quick meal.