Photography by Stephen Buchanan
Photography by Stephen Buchanan
Crisp, blue and white umbrellas and black wrought railings wrap the corner of Talbot and Mulberry Streets. You can imagine you are in the south of France, but you are not. You are about to dine at The Galley Restaurant in charming St. Michaels, Maryland.
The Galley, within in the Dorris house built in 1806, is the latest chapter in the history of a building that has been a residence, a hotel, and a bank. For architectural buffs, the building retains the best of 19th-century craftsmanship and, in a nod to more recent history, the Diebold safe remains on the premises. One can still see where the side patio encompassed the bank’s drive-through window. The owners have achieved the transition from bank to restaurant while maintaining the integrity of the building.
The restaurant is open every day except Tuesday, serving breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Private dining is available for special events and includes the option of The Tree Top Lounge, a unique addition to the downtown “skyline.”
We decided to dine on a Sunday; what better way to test a restaurant’s mettle than during a busy tourist weekend? The restaurant does not take reservations, so I was a little worried that, like us, everyone would want to dine al fresco on this brilliant sunny Sunday. But my worries were unfounded. The outdoor seating is plentiful, and there is always the indoor option. When we arrived at eleven a.m., we were seated immediately under one of those jaunty-striped umbrellas and promptly presented water with a refreshing coin of cucumber floating on top.
It was a pleasure to watch the well-choreographed wait staff as they deftly maneuver through the diners. Service is a well-oiled machine. Our server, Kate, introduced herself and doled out the menus. Although the menu is a one-pager, it solicits your full attention with its clever names and in-depth descriptions.
Baked goods head the list; sticky buns, scones, donuts, and biscuits, all made on-site, followed by cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and acai bowls. The menu’s core features every possible combination of breakfast foods culled from family recipes and named for family adventures. It is here that you get a sense of the owner’s culinary point of view; food should be good, plentiful, and fun.
Photography by Stephen Buchanan
My friends and I are self-proclaimed trenchermen (hearty eaters), and we both dither and deliberate as we ponder our selections. One of the items, The Big Geiger, claims to be a hangover helper. Hmmm? Another is eggs, cheese, and bacon stuffed inside a donut. How do they do that? Since we cannot have it all, the only sensible thing seems to be to plan another visit. So, we make our selections. I chose The Big Breakfast of pancakes, bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, biscuits, and tater tots. Tater tots seem to be enjoying a renaissance, cropping up on many local menus, much to the delight of those who ate them as kids. About those eggs—the menu writer used the adjective fluffy in almost every description of eggs, and I wondered if that was an accurate description. Having now tasted the eggs, I agree they are like little bits of yellow cloud that floated down to your plate.
Photography by Stephen Buchanan
One of my dining companions chose the Breakfast Quesadilla, boasting cheese, eggs, bacon, and salsa wrapped in a tortilla. He declared it the best he had ever had.
Another friend chose an omelet that she customized with lox, tomatoes, and mushrooms.
Visitors to our area expect to sample Maryland blue crab, our local delicacy with a national reputation. A restaurant would be remiss if they did not offer a crabcake or something crab related. Locals, like me, have some strong opinions about preparing crabcakes, the first rule being minimal filler and no shells. So, to put The Galley to the test, my husband ordered The Crab Benedict, with locally-sourced crab from Wittman’s Wharf.
Photography by Stephen Buchanan
Two golden tennis ball-sized crabcakes resting on an English muffin napped with a tangy Hollandaise sauce, and the ubiquitous fluffy scrambled eggs quickly appeared. My spouse declared, “No filler, no shells, and I could taste the crab.” The Galley passed the crabcake test!
A few days after our dining experience, I had an opportunity to chat with Jennifer Smith, one of the owners. She shared that she grew up cooking on boats, and food has been a lifelong passion. Owning The Galley is her dream come true.
The Galley Restaurant 305 S. Talbot Street, St. Michaels | 410-200-8572 | thegalleysaintmichaels.com
