Photography by Stephen Buchanan
Miss Shirley’s Cafe has become a hallmark breakfast/lunch spot in uptown Annapolis. What more can be written about the popular eatery that locals and visitors have embraced and love to this day? On any given morning the joint is hopping, the energy vibrant, the dishes exciting and colorful, plates are piled high to the moon, aromas entice all who enter, and the service as courteous as courteous can be. All this to say, that an a.m. visit to Miss Shirley’s is uniquely fun and feeds all cravings.
Our magazine’s editors and writers have visited many times to convey the Miss Shirley’s experience to readers, now 13-some years established at the chic Park Place development that anchors Westgate Circle. What makes us excited to visit each and every time are the classic dishes and southern-inspired cuisine—it’s all a hearty, smorgasbord of breakfast and lunch creations coupled with soothing libations.
Hospitality is an endearing quality that the staff of Miss Shirley’s perform well—everyone is all smiles, all the time, and on a recent autumn visit with my family, I felt quite welcome when greeted, seated, and served. For this breakfast outing, I wanted to revisit a few classics, the signature dishes that Shirley’s has built a proud reputation upon. A greatest hits collection.
To rev up our morning, cups of hot coffee were ordered. My wife and I appreciate a good cup, and Shirley’s delivered with fresh ground and brewed beans from Open Seas Coffee. The Stevensville-based roastery sources their beans worldwide from sustainable farms and reinvests a percentage of proceeds back into farm projects and communities. So, each sip you take not only tastes great, but also feels good to give a little back. Squeezed Fresh orange juices were also a must, so a round for the table was ordered, please and thanks.
If you want to whet your whistle with a little extra zing, Shirley’s has morning cocktails—a couple crushes, a couple mimosas, and a spicy house-made Bloody Mary rimmed with Old Bay seasoning that’s won Best of Annapolis “Best Bloody Mary” honors a few times over the years.
Knowing that a deep-dive into big dishes was forthcoming, we eschewed any appetizers for this meal, but Shirley’s does offer exceptional options to “wake up your taste buds,” as the menu states. There are always a couple creative deviled egg dishes, fried green tomatoes, a grapefruit brûlée, and several baked goods—pimento cheese biscuits or chocolate chip cookie donuts, for example.
Sweet ’n savory is the name of the game here, so we ordered a smattering of dishes that exemplified the very best of these attributes: Coconut Cream Stuffed French Toast; Maryland Omelet with lump crab; Buttermilk Pancakes topped with blueberries and banana; Poppy’s Fried Chicken Classic; and an all-timer selection, the Chicken ‘N Cheddar Green Onion Waffles.
Photography by Stephen Buchanan
Photography by Stephen Buchanan
I think everyone at our table fell in love at first bite. The French toast is ridiculously delicious—thick slabs of challah bread are stuffed to the max with coconut-enhanced cream cheese, then washed in the sweetly-spiced batter and skillet fried to perfection. The yin-yang of the crispy, creamy textures was heavenly. The Maryland Omelet shouts hometown pride with its lumps of crab interspersed within folds of Chesapeake Gold Farms Crabby Cheddar cheese (made local in North East, Maryland), tomato, and the three-egg omelet. Dusted with Old Bay, my omelet was served with a chosen side of grits amplified by bits of bacon, chives, and tomato. Stellar!
Buttermilk pancakes are usually a hit with my children, and Shirley’s stacker was a monster homerun. Their cakes were once proclaimed the “best pancakes in the country” by Food Network and—meaning no insult to Dad’s Saturday morning skills—my kids agree. At least four pancakes, almost the diameter of the plate, were stacked high, dusted with powdered sugar and topped with plump blueberries and banana slices inside and on top. Served with real maple syrup and whipped butter on the side, it’s easy to prep your bites as you like—smothered and covered for us, thank you very much.
As if our belts weren’t already stretching their limits, we had a couple more plates to work through (and don’t worry, you can certainly take home with you what’s left on the plate). Poppy’s Fried Chicken Classic is a beast of a sandwich. A boneless breast is drenched in buttermilk, dredged in batter, and fried to deep golden goodness. It’s then built with greens, white cheddar cheese, tomato, and pickle slices on a brioche roll, and dressed in ranch and Buffalo sauces. Each big bite deserved another—it’s so, so delish. In the sea of fried chicken sammies endlessly marketed to us these days, Shirley’s version is a standout.
And how about those Chicken ’N Cheddar Green Onion Waffles? They once starred on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins & Dives hit television show and, dare I say, they’ll be the star at any table they’re ordered. Those crispy, buttermilk’d ’n fried morsels of chicken are complemented by the unique, savory waffles that incorporate cheddar and green onion into the mix. Served with a Peppadew Jalapeno Butter and given a hit of Cajun spice, the dish works best when you fit all elements on a single fork bite. Serious yum factor!
We were stuffed to the gills and very, very satisfied with this visit to Miss Shirley’s. Good thing we parked a few blocks away at the Knighton Garage on Colonial Avenue to walk off some of those calories. Whether you opt for a “greatest hits” parade of Shirley’s classics or go for fresh takes (they do update the menu with seasonal selections), I’m confident that you’ll join the ranks of Annapolitans and out-of-towners who’ve fallen in love with Miss Shirley’s Cafe.
Miss Shirley’s Cafe | 1 Park Place, Annapolis; 443.4BRUNCH; MissShirleys.com
