DINING REVIEW
Rustic & Richly Fulfilling
A
By Rita Calvert | Photography by Stephen Buchanan
s you travel to untamed surroundings, the bright white of the Blackwall Barn & Lodge building stands out from the nearby woods. The Lodge dining room quietly greets as you enter the front door. Soaring ceilings and a dark, muted color scheme with pops of bright, natural wood tabletops with white chairs land a clean, crisp ambience. The space has the enticing atmosphere of a country pub. An inviting bar edges along one wall as well as high-top pub-style tables and chairs. The main focal point of the large room is a fireplace and the prized table with four upholstered chairs in front of it. Take a tour and next you’ll find the porch, a bright and airy dining space highlighted by a few special round tables with cowhide upholstered swivel chairs. Explore further and enter the expansive barn function room, which true to its name, sports large chandeliers hanging from the 20-foot ceiling and lines of rustic farm-style, reclaimed wood tables for grand events.
As we were seated in the lodge area, our server AJ promptly poured water into mason glasses, set warm herb biscuits with butter on the table, and handed us an iPad for browsing the menu, drinks, and events digitally. Hard copy menus are also delivered and with them you can take time to read the creative descriptions of drinks and dishes. The moonshine menu and creative cocktails caught our eye. The restaurant’s Ole Smoky Moonshine is a new favorite and a unique libation made from corn grown close to the Tennessee distillery. Ole Smoky is the first federally licensed distillery in East Tennessee. Interesting moonshine options spin out from there such as Blackberry, Apple Pie, or Ole Smoky Moonshine flights. And creative drinks also command attention. There’s the Dead Frenchman, Man O’ War, Empress Greyhound, Raspberry Meringue, Smoked Maple Manhattan, and a Pear Elderflower Absolute Vodka cocktail with pear puree, elderberry liqueur, lemon juice, and honey syrup.
Contrary to sister-restaurant Blackwall Hitch’s coastal vibe (located in Annapolis’ Eastport community), Blackwall Barn & Lodge sports a more countrified, rustic ambiance and menu. The two restaurants do have the same proprietor—James King, CEO of Titan Hospitality Group, which also operates the two Smashing Grapes restaurants in the county.
Actually, the entire menu is written with mouth-watering descriptions. Consider butter-whipped potatoes over plain, old, mashed potatoes or the descriptive Lodge Burger featuring Hooks’ three-year yellow cheddar, Million Dollar bacon, Comeback sauce, brioche bun, and Barn fries. No wonder the restaurant was mobbed for that Monday evening half-price special.
BLACKWALL BARN & LODGE 90
3 2 9 GA M B RI LLS ROA D , GA MB RI LLS | 410- 317- 2276
What’s Up? Central Maryland | June 2022 | whatsupmag.com
| B A RNA ND LODGE .COM
