I'll tell you that I have NEVER seen such a professional Staff in all the years I have lived here. In fact, considering I have traveled all over the world, I'd say their service was within the top 3 I have ever experienced.
Jennifer had the Rock Fish with Crab Meat and I have the Tenderloin with Crab Meat, cooked Pittsburgh style. O M G! To Die For!
Their Cream of Crab Soup, the best I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying and obviously loaded with lump crab meat. I have always missed Bush's Chesapeake Inn just on the other side of the Bay Bridge. They had the best Crab Soup I had ever had and when they closed down it was a major loss. How exciting to find another restaurant with even better Crab Soup!
I believe Restaurant 213 has specials on Thursday and Sunday night. They offer a four course meal for $38.00 per person and let me ASSURE you, it is not only well worth the trip, it will be the finest meal you have EVER enjoyed.
Leave the kids at home and take your better half out for a honest to goodness treat. I truly cannot wait to go back.
I've posted several times over the past couple years that 213 is the only real restaurant in the area.
ReplyDeleteNo way I would ever pay $38.00 for those tiny portions. That's ridiculous. IDC how good it is.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I could afford to eat there was when I was given a $100 GC. It was some of the best food I have ever tasted here on the Shore.
ReplyDeleteI think I insulted them when I said the foie gras tasted like scrapple, which in my mind wasn't a bad thing.
The wife has been bugging me to go back and just get desert there.
Good to know, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete12:58, I consider myself a big eater. Let me assure you, this is a four course meal you'll have a very hard time finishing.
ReplyDeleteI know. When I go to restaurants and see such small portions it drives me nuts. However, again, this is a four course meal, not just a tiny steak. By the way, the package also included a glass of wine but we don't drink wine.
You can go to McDonald's these days and it's going to cost you a lot less. To each his own, I guess. My visit was on a special occasion, in case you hadn't noticed. TREAT yourself to a special evening for once in your life. When you do, go to this restaurant, you'll thank me the next day.
Always excellent food and the service is 2nd to none. Don't go when the poodle show is in town though. The poodle people drank all of the champagne, left me to drink a mixed drink.
ReplyDeleteOnce the BOE gets wind of this, there will be a run on gift cards
ReplyDeleteGood job on ordering your steak THE ONLY WAY IT SHOULD BE PREPARED!
ReplyDeletePeople around here will say it is too expensive. They would rather eat a large portion of cheap garbage.
ReplyDeleteWhile $38 seems expensive, take a look at the cost of an appetizer/soup, steak and desert at any of the non chain restaurants in the area. ($7/8 + +20/28 + $5/7) I can assure you that Rest. 213's meal is leaps and bounds beyond what you would get elsewhere at similar prices. This is not an every week dining spot for most of us, but I agree with Joe, treat yourself here and be amazed. Skip one AYCE crab dinners (same price) this summer and give 213 a try.
ReplyDeletePlease note, The Poodle week will be starting Fri Apr 18th. Stock up on the champagne.
ReplyDeleteHappy to see you both supported a local restaurant. And to read about the great meals. We will try 213 very soon.
ReplyDeleteNo dress code? I thought you had to dress up a bit for this place.
ReplyDeleteTex road house is the best place for a good meal and not a arm and leg to eat not saying this place is not but for me i like a good hunk of meat
ReplyDelete2:22 please don't get me started on the way people dress to go out and eat here. Why don't men understand that you are to remove your hat when eating? Actually you are supposed to remove it anytime you are indoors.
ReplyDelete2:22, God Forbid this comment comes from JT.
ReplyDeleteI have plenty of suits, ties, dress shoes and dress coats.
On Sunday I wasn't running for Mayor and I wasn't attending a wedding or funeral.
It was my Birthday. A day in which I chose to relax and enjoy.
I can assure you, my money was just as green as everyone else who was there to enjoy.
In fact, I'll add this to my story. You would have thought several bloggers were there because EVERY table was taking pictures of their meals, it was that good.
There's always that one person out there that has to criticize. The ONLY person who is going to get away with criticizing how I dress is my Wife and she was perfectly fine with what I chose to wear on my Birthday.
pardon my ignorance, but whats pittsburgh style?
ReplyDeleteYou also said the restaurant at the Fountains was really good.I plan on trying both.
ReplyDeleteJoe, glad you had a great birthday. Thanks for sharing the experience at 213. I haven't been there in a while and this gives me a reason to return...
ReplyDelete3:03, I'm not a chef but I believe they rub salt on both sides of the steak of your choice. They then sear it fairly quickly on both sides leaving you a cooked exterior, yet a more rare/medium rare inside.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy this a lot with prime rib as well. However, I use horse radish with my prime rib. MMMMMM, now I'm HUNGRY!
If I stand corrected, someone who is a chef is welcome to correct me.
The food is out of this world!
ReplyDeleteWe can't go often, but it is an AMAZING treat.
To those who think the portion is small, you won't go away hungry. The food is rich and to be savored with every bite.
Best of all, if you give it to your special someone as a gift, you have a great memory of a great experience without some stupid knick knack hanging around the house!
I never tried them because I was told it was a formal attire required place. Now that I know different I may give them a try.
ReplyDeleteJoe what is the last picture of? It looks all warm and gooey! Made me hungry just looking at it.
ReplyDeleteIf you like 213 you should try Bistro Poplar in Cambridge. It's even better!!!! And they change the menu for each season so there's always something new to try.
ReplyDelete3:19, It is a small cake with hot melted chocolate in the center.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I make it down to the Shore to visit(usually 3-4 times a year), I always make sure to stop at 213. It's incredible. On "this side" of the bay, I'd probably pay twice as much for a meal I'd hope was comparable. $38 per person for a multiple course dinner is a deal, you're likely to spend as much at a tourist trap!
ReplyDeleteGOnna see the county employee that uses county vehicle there now getting a sip. I know he reads ur blog Joe.
ReplyDeleteTexasroad house is gross.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you think that is considered a good meal.
May as well order yourself a saltlick because that's what their food tastes like.
5:48 PM, don't agree with you, but then you are entitled to your opinion. I like Texas Roadhouse, but would really like to go try this place, sounds so good.
ReplyDeleteCrap, now Pollitt has another place to slide that County card.... Brace yourselves, taxpayers!
ReplyDeleteWe love this place, and I usually take my dessert home because I can't finish it.
ReplyDeleteMy stomach is churning as I think about their crab soup. Joe - my wife and I are definitely going to try out this place. If it tastes half as good as it looks - then it will be $38/per person well spent.
ReplyDeleteI don't know of any restaurant on the Eastern Shore where you really have to dress up to go to.
ReplyDeleteAs a customer of 213, I/we would appreciate that you not arrive for dinner in shorts, T-shirt/wife beaters and baseball cap. Suit and tie is not required, but please have the courtesy to other to dress appropriately. At minimum, jeans with a collared shirt and shoes not sneakers. in addition to quality food, ambiance is part of the dining experience. BTW, I/we are not the owner or connected to 213 other than being a customer.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe people would compare Texas Roadhouse and 213 Chef Hughes does a good job
ReplyDeleteThank you for supporting a locally owned business! There are many other restaurants and small businesses that have a had a tough time these past few months between the economy and the weather. They can use our support.
ReplyDeleteJoe, can't believe this is your first trip to 213. It's been around a while now! Best there is!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am very glad that 213 has been here as long as they have and hope that they get some new customers b/c of Joe's endorsement. The majority of consumers on the shore are content with the sysco/pre-packaged food served by the chain restaurants and there is nothing wrong with that if it is what deem to be dining out. I prefer meals that are cooked to order and menus created by a chef that wants to provide a culinary experience rather than just a means to fill ones stomach. BTW, thanks to the person posting info about the restaurant in Cambridge. I will put that on my list of places to visit as I am in there area on occasion.
ReplyDelete213 is Amazing. Jim used to be Ronald Reagan's chef. And maybe the Saudi Royal family? He's definitely the best chef out here.
ReplyDeleteWhen the economy was better, I ate there a few times a year. The meal was always fantastic. My only knock on the place is that the sides have been the same forever. The potato mushroom things, the spinach, and carrots. It's not really *that* big a deal, as they are excellent. But by your 5th visit you want something different, you know?
The breakfast sundae is a great way to end the meal. French toast, vanilla ice cream, and sauteed bananas with real maple syrup. Yum!
Re: Pittsburgh style - Slice it off the mooing cow. Throw it on an insanely hot cooking surface to char the outside. Flip and repeat. The outside is just shy of burnt. The inside is pretty much raw. Thick steaks often get dipped in butter before placed on the cooking surface. Prime Rib is often thrown right on top of the gas burner.
Food fit for a King.
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