For several decades, The Trolley Stop has welcomed neighbors, travelers, and trail riders along the old trolley line between Oella and Ellicott City. Inside our 1833 stone tavern, you’ll find cooked‑to‑order meals, Maryland favorites, hearty breakfasts, tavern burgers and sandwiches, pastas, and a full bar that pours late into the night. Whether you’re stopping in after a hike, meeting friends for dinner, or grabbing takeout on your way home, we’re here to serve you with warm hospitality and timeless comfort.
OPEN
Tuesday – Sunday
Closed Mondays
SERVING
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Full bar all day
FIND US
6 Oella Avenue
Ellicott City, MD 21043
The menus
Breakfast is served from 8 AM to 11:30 AM Tuesday through Friday, and from 8 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Breakfast
Eggs how you like them, thick-cut bacon, home fries and toast — the plate that gets Oella moving.
Farm eggs & home fries • pancakes • Bottomless coffee
LUNCH · FROM 11:00 AM TO CLOSING TIME
Lunch
Tavern burgers,& sandwiches and Maryland favorites, all cooked to order.
Tavern burgers • Sandwiches • Crab cakes
DINNER · FROM 3:00 PM TO CLOSING TIME
Dinner
Settle in for hearty entrées, pasta, and Maryland crab cakes
Steaks • Pasta • Maryland crab cakes
Bar is open until 1:00AM from Tuesday - Sunday
OUR STORY
At the foot of Oella Avenue, our stone-and-brick tavern has watched the hillside, the river, and the old trolley line change for nearly 200 years. The floors still creak in the right places, the walls still hold their stories, and the welcome feels the same as it did generations ago.
Made by hand, served with care
Our kitchen cooks everything to order — never rushed. Crab cakes are shaped by hand, soups begin early in the morning, and the bar pours generously well into the evening. It’s honest food from a team that knows the rhythm of the neighborhood.
A table for everyone on the trail
Hikers and cyclists rolling in from the Trolley Line #9 Trail, families from Historic Ellicott City, and from surrounding areas across Howard County and the greater Baltimore area, and the regulars who’ve sat at the same table for years — they all meet here. The Trolley Stop has always been a place where the community comes together.
HISTORY
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.
The trolley line has gone, but the tradition of meeting here has stayed. Today, neighbors, trail riders, and visitors still come together around the table.
Evenings That Feel Like Home
The Trolley Stop has always been a place where the neighborhood unwinds — a tavern where voices carry warmly through the stone walls and the night settles in slow and easy.
HAPPY HOUR
Every Tuesday through Friday, from 2 to 6 PM, the tavern fills with familiar faces and the clink of glasses. It’s a simple tradition: good drinks, good company, and the comfort of an old building that’s seen generations gather here.
OPEN MIC WEDNESDSYS
On Wednesday nights at 9 PM, the tavern becomes a small stage for locals, musicians, poets, and anyone carrying a piece of art they’re ready to share. It’s a gentle, welcoming room — the kind of place where stories settle in like old friends.
KARAOKE FRIDAYS
When Friday night rolls in, the first floor hums with laughter and bold voices. Karaoke begins at 9 PM, and it’s never just singing — it’s neighbors cheering each other on, strangers becoming friends, and the kind of fun that only happens in a place that’s been loved for decades.
- Private parties
The Second Floor, Reserved for Your Gathering
Up one flight of stairs, above the hum of the tavern, sits a warm and beautifully appointed room — a space with stone walls, old wood, and the quiet charm of a building that has hosted celebrations for generations.
Up to 60 guests
A large private room on the second floor, beautifully appointed.
Customizable menu
Built around your group, your courses and your budget.
Full-service bar
Beer, wine and cocktails served in the room.
Plenty of parking
Free parking in front of the building and free public parking to the left of the building- no meters, no garage
Book the room with the stone walls
Rehearsal dinners, birthdays, showers and team nights. Tell us the date and the head count and we will build the menu around it.
The Trolley Stop
Party & Banquet Options
For Buffet
SALADS
Italian House • Greek • Caesar • Garden
APPETIZERS
Potato Skins • Wings • Mozzarella Sticks • Chicken Tenders • Cajun Chicken Strips • Crab Dip
Entrées
CHICKEN — Alfredo • Maria • Primavera • Marinara • Marsala
BEEF — Roast Beef/Au Jus • Prime Rib/Au Jus • New York/Au Jus
SEAFOOD — Shrimp Scampi • Steam Shrimp • Garlic Shrimp • Crab Cake • Fish of the Day • Salmon
STARCH — Roasted Potatoes • Mash Potatoes • Garlic Mash Potatoes • Rice • Butter Noodles • Pasta Salad
VEGETABLE — Green Beans • Medley • Broccoli
Rolls & butter included
For Plated Meal
Pick any 3 entrée dishes — Chicken, Beef, Seafood
— Visit
You’ll find us where the hill settles into the river — at the bottom of Oella Avenue, where Oella Avenue meets Frederick Road in the old stone‑and‑brick tavern built in 1833. The Trolley Stop has welcomed travelers ever since the original B&O Railroad line opened across the street.
ADDRESS
6 Oella Avenue
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
PHONE
410-465-8546
EMAIL
trolleystop101@gmail.com
Easy Parking, Steps from the Door
Guests can park freely in front of the building or in the public lot just to the left — no meters, no garages, no fuss.
Find Us
FROM THE DINING ROOM
Sharifa F.
Marcus T.
Saturday breakfast
The Callahans
Private party
“We came to The Trolley Stop for lunch. Enjoyed it so much we decided to return for dinner. The food was exquisite and plentiful. The service was fast and attentive to the perfect degree. The staff were very friendly to the point where we felt like we were at home. The prices are reasonable. For dinner we shared a Greek chicken pasta. We barely ate half of it because the portion was so large. It was amazing! We also enjoyed crab stuffed mushrooms and mozzarella sticks for appetizers. It was all delicious! We will be back!”
Heather C.
“When you want old school charm and history in Ellicott City, this is your stop. I haven’t been in years, first time for lunch and couldn’t be more satisfied. Their stuffed mushroom caps were all crab meat, delish. Their Steak wrap was better than a cheesesteak sammie. Herman was on his service game!”
Daniel S.
“If you’re looking for the quaint old tavern feel, then this is your place. It has a large bar area that can satisfy any type of thirst you have. They also have a pretty extensive menu with a good choice of burgers and sandwiches. The wait staff were very friendly and helpful. All our food was delicious.”
Larry H.
Helpful details
Questions before you visit?
Everything you need to know for a relaxed meal at The Trolley Stop Restaurant and Bar
What meals do you serve?
Do you have Happy Hour and/or any entertainment?
Do you offer delivery or takeout?
Where are you located?
What areas do you serve?