Eastern Shore Restaurant Buzz | October 2008
By Brent Lewis
New ownership has taken over Georgetown’s
Kitty Knight House after its being closed for a couple of years, and they’ve quickly re-established the cherished and historic location’s reputation for elegant, yet relaxed, classic dining. Major remodeling was completed and over the summer, put to good use. The restaurant’s interior looks elegant with lovely colonial style dining rooms and a new bar area, while the deck provides fair weather casual seating with a view of the harbor below. Jambalaya, crab cakes, and grilled pork loin topped with a honey-apricot-pistachio butter are popular menu items. There are 11 beautifully appointed guest rooms, so consider staying the night at Miss Kitty’s place in Galena.
The ground beef used in the Kitty Knight House’s soon-to-be-famous burgers is provided by Holly and Steve Isaacson‘s
Sassafras River Beef Company of Brick House Farm in Cecilton. Steve was Cecil County’s 2007 Farmer of the Year.
Two Tree Restaurant in Millington might seem out of the way, but it’s just a mile of Rt. 301 on the border of Queen Anne’s and Kent counties and worth your drive. Owner Dennis Hager opened his restaurant earlier this year, and he and Chef Tom Rosendale have made a real impression on their patrons with a friendly American South meets Healthy European style. Many of the herbs and vegetables used in the kitchen are grown in the owner’s personal garden, so there’s a freshness here that can’t be faked. Liver and Onions is a customer favorite, as is the blackened ahi tuna. Baked-on-site breads include Maryland beaten biscuits. The Maryland crab bisque is awesome, but if the soup de jour is gazpacho or chilled cherry, What’s the buzz? highly recommends trying something new.
Steve and Biana Arentz, owners of
Hemingway’s and
Lola’s Sunset Grill on Kent Island, recently completed some renovations including Hemingway’s upstairs dining room’s veranda where diners are treated to some of the best views and spectacular sunsets on the Chesapeake Bay. With the expansion of their catering division, Executive Chef Raul (Poncho) Ledezma, known for his creative specials and sauces, has been joined by Catering and Special Events Director Natalie Slater and Director of Operations Rebecca Srsic Anderson.
Bay Hundred Restaurant & Tiki Bar, voted What’s Up? Eastern Shore reader’s favorite Outdoor Dining Spot in this year’s “Best of” issue is opening Tilghman’s first sushi bar. Owner-Chef Mark Chew intends to take advantage of the fresh local seafood available and the expertise of some longtime associates from the New York restaurant scene who he says are experts at this “delicate art.” Chef Mark was born in Vietnam, orphaned to violence, adopted by an American, and worked in restaurants since high school. He’s influenced by Asian, Italian, and seafood cookery and in 1993, won the National Mushroom Cook-off with his grilled portabella au poivre, a recipe that is still featured on grocery store boxes. Mark’s been running Bay Hundred since 2006 and the restaurant features an all-weather tiki bar, a VIP lounge, and a bloody Mary bar on weekend mornings.
Though very discreet about their celebrity patrons, rumor has it that rock star Dave Matthews recently stopped in
Mason’s on Easton’s Goldsboro Street. Matthews and his band, DMB to fans, formed in Charlottesville, Virginia and maintain strong ties to the Chesapeake Bay region. Mason’s specializes in new American cuisine and offers impeccable service. Their dinner menu offers wine suggestions for all entrees, and though nobody’s saying what a certain famous rock star might have eaten there, What’s the buzz? recommends both the grilled filet of beef and rockfish tournado. There’s a great lunch menu, a gourmet gift shop, and the some of the best chocolate this side of Candyland.
The housing market might be flat, but Realtors specializing in the local restaurant market are seeing lots of interesting activity. Culinary landmarks listed for sale in the last few weeks include Oxford’s
Robert Morris Inn and
Mill Street Grill, Tilghman Island’s
Bridge Restaurant, Easton’s
Portofino Ristorante Italiano, and the
Cambridge Grill. These are all well loved eateries and we hope to see their continued success when new ownership is found.
oct 08
eastern shore
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