DINING TRENDS
Savor the Chesapeake A CULINARY COMPENDIUM OF RESTAURANT, FOOD, AND BEVERAGE NEWS AND TRENDS FROM THE CHESAPEAKE REGION By Kelsey Casselbury
Welcome to the Neighborhood!
Annapolitans have been acquainting themselves with the wine country-inspired eatery Smashing Grapes, which opened in the former location of The Greene Turtle last fall. When it comes to outdoor dining, this restaurant— which serves up a fusion of Mediterranean and California coastal cuisine, paired with more than 350 wines—may be just the place, given its already-ultra-popular fire pit tables. West AACo residents will be able to enjoy their own fire pits when a second location opens in Gambrills’ Waugh Chapel Shopping Center (As of press time, no word on when that will happen). 177 Jennifer Road, Annapolis | 2383 Brandermill Boulevard, Gambrills (coming soon) | smashingrapes.com
We’re happy to say hello to these new businesses that have opened over the past few months: Feel extra-good when you enjoy a cup of coffee when you visit Second Alarm Brewhouse in Pasadena, a firehouse-themed specialty coffee shop is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, established to raise awareness of the need for volunteer firefighters. Originally a coffee truck, Second Alarm is owned by Anne Arundel County native Duane McKee, a 26-year volunteer firefighter (who, until shutdowns occurred last March, also worked as a sound engineer on Broadway in New York City), who says its proceeds will go toward supporting its mission. Paid staff members man the shop during the week, but on the weekend, Second Alarm welcomes volunteers to work behind the counter. The shop serves its own coffee blend from Crofton-based Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company. McKee hopes to obtain a liquor license in the near future, so Second Alarm can operate as a pub in the evening, serving Maryland beers and wines. 8510 Fort Smallwood Road, Pasadena | secondalarmbrewhouse.com The team behind Eastern Shore favorites 208 Talbot, Doc’s Sunset, Downtown Grille, and Doc’s Riverside are back with a new restaurant, Legal Assets, in Easton. Opened in mid-December by Valerie and David Clark, the latter of whom serves as executive chef, and Bo, Dianne, and Chooch Oristian, Legal Assets’ menu features new American cuisine with an international influence. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday. 22 South Harrison Street, Easton | facebook.com/legalassets Things have gotten dangerous in Annapolis—dangerously delicious, that is, with the opening of Dangerously Delicious Pies on West Street. Owned by Christopher and Kimberly Miller, Dangerous Delicious Pies sells both sweet and savory varieties; its best-seller is the Baltimore Bomb, a creation made of vanilla custard and Berger Cookies. They have a full-service coffee bar, featuring Baltimore’s Zeke’s Coffee, and plans to serve beer and wine in the future, so folks can pull up a seat and enjoy local brews or vino with a slice of their favorite pie. 212-214 West Street, Annapolis | dangerouspiesannapolis.com Everybody, raise a glass to Ten Eyck Brewing Company, a Queenstown brewery owned by a team of women veterans and first responders. Owner Nicki Snyder talked to What’s Up? in its November issue about their plans to offer foeder-fermented beer (a foeder is a giant oak barrel), as well as traditional steel-fermented beers. Ten Eyck offers seating in the taproom and an outdoor beer garden and often has food trucks serving on the property. 205 Grange Hall Road, Queenstown | teneyckbrewing.com Not an opening, but rather a relocation—El Toro Bravo has closed its West Street location and is now serving at its new location on Riva Road in the former location of Les Folies Brasserie, which closed in summer 2019. 2552 Riva Road, Annapolis | facebook.com/eltorobravoannapolis
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What’s Up? Annapolis | February 2021 | whatsupmag.com
Additional new kids on the block include: Shika Sushi and Ramen | 509 S. Cherry Grove Ave, Suite D, Annapolis | shikasushimd.com Nothing Bundt Cakes | 1901 Towne Centre Boulevard, Suite 130, Annapolis | nothingbundtcakes.com Tai Chi Bubble Tea | 2568 Solomons Island Road, Annapolis | facebook.com/taichiannapolis Oscar’s Alehouse | 8026 Governor Ritchie Highway, Pasadena | oscarsalehouse.net
