Eastern Shore: April 2008
By Brent Lewis
To many people, for many years, all-day breakfast in Chestertown has meant
Ellen’s Coffee Shop. Golfers and hunters, white- and blue-collar workers, and students and senior citizens alike are loyal to this Spring Avenue landmark. And though it’s hard not to notice the makeover the place has undergone in the last few months, some clientele might not know their favorite spot for diner-style fare is under new ownership.
Kent County natives Buzzy Lane and Jim Smith bought Ellen’s last August, and though they didn’t change the name, atmosphere, or much of the menu (they’re still serving the classics, and both the staff and customers are hometown friendly), they did give the establishment a complete overhaul and polish. Buzzy is proud of the coffee shop’s bright cleanliness and the antique photos decorating the walls. There are black-and-white photos of the old-time amusement parks at Tolchester and Betterton, and an aerial shot of Washington College when Chestertown was criss-crossed by dirt roads. A favorite is the arms-length, 1933 picture of the crowd in attendance when FDR spoke at the inauguration of the college’s new president.
These captivating reminders of another time are all the more notable for the mountains of Elvis memorabilia they replaced. Buzzy was so happy to see “The King” hit the road that, like the previous owner, he keeps a sign on premises that echoes that famous announcement: “ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING.”
Hill’s Drug Store on Easton’s Dover Street recently remodeled and reopened its lunch counter, and customers are delighted. The little alcove in the back looks great, with new booths and a modernized, open kitchen. Simple breakfast and lunch dishes are prepared with first-class care and top-notch ingredients. Burgers, Reubens, double-decker clubs, and a variety of salads make for plenty of options to choose from. But don’t turn your nose up at the grilled-cheese sandwiches—other than your mom’s, they’re probably the best you’ve ever eaten. Everything about
Hill’s Soda Fountain is appropriately comforting, including the prices.
Governor Martin O’Malley and a group of companions gathered a while back at the
Canvasback Restaurant in Cambridge. They watched a political event on TV, ate smoked Peking duck and crab dip, and sampled a couple of drafts. A few weeks later, after the tragic January fire that affected almost every downtown Cambridge business, a support rally was organized. The governor had a prior commitment but he sent a representative, and the gesture was well appreciated. Meanwhile, the Canvasback, known for its upscale, fine dining and comfy Irish pub, is continuing efforts to open the
Old Havana Club, a plush cigar bar that will feature top-shelf drink selections in an elegant atmosphere.
Kent Island’s
Rams Head Shore House is one of the Rams Head group’s regional outposts. The Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis is the home base of Fordham Brewing Company and a beer-making tradition dating back to 1703. Signature brews include the Genius Stout and Copperhead Ale. Dominion Spring Buck is the currently featured seasonal offering.
Back when Doug Kirby was growing up in Easton, the
Rustic Inn was the only “fancy” dining establishment in town. Now this graduate of the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University, with 16 years of local restaurant experience, has purchased the Talbot County mainstay he remembers so fondly. Doug and his wife, Kristen, have started renovations that are part of a long-term plan to modernize. The menu has been tweaked just a little, mostly updating the restaurant’s traditional selections. A Sunday brunch has been added. Customers can look for Chef Kirby’s signature focus on the type of ingredients and preparation that makes Eastern Shore dining so exceptional.
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