Eating Out(side)
With its mild temperatures, beautiful foliage, and quieter crowds, autumn is a great time to explore Delmarva, including outdoor dining options that comply with pandemic safety guidelines. Many restaurants are getting creative about fulfilling our desire to dine outside, and we’re even taking some of those ideas to our home outdoor spaces.
Going Out
Dining outdoors has always been part of life at the shore and this year, more than ever before, it’s been the best way to stay connected with family and friends. While we may be dining out less often, and safety concerns remain at the top of our list, there are a number of options on the Eastern Shore that creatively combine great food and drink with safe social distancing practices.
The Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Maryland, has taken the idea of dining outside to a whole new level with the addition of three private dining homes on their beautiful property. These glass houses seat 2-6 people right on the waterfront; a perfect location for a celebration and special occasions, or for a getaway night out with family and friends.
British Master Chef Mark Salter at The Robert Morris Inn in Oxford has been serving his popular dishes–including fish n’ chips and curries and not-to-be-missed sticky toffee pudding–all summer long on the outdoor patio and side porch. Now, with the recent addition of fire pits, the atmosphere is both cozy and inviting and with some of the best views on the Shore overlooking Tred Avon River.
Easton, Maryland enjoys a reputation for summer fun and easy living, and this year that vibe continues into the fall with lots of outdoor dining options right in town. Wear a sweater, maybe bring a lap blanket, and show these local eateries some love!
Bluepoint Hospitality’s Bas Rouge and Sunflowers & Greens on Federal Street and its newest addition around the block, The Wardroom, have added space heaters to their outdoor sidewalk seating on one of Easton’s most elegant blocks. Stop here for artisanal breads, soups and salads, and even caviar, and enjoy the comfort and privacy for lunch with friends or a romantic dinner.
Osteria Alfredo, a hidden gem located next to the Acme, added a few booths to their outdoor area to create expanded dining al fresco for lunch and dinner. The daily appetizer and pasta specials and $27 bottles of wine make a fine substitute when a trip to Italy is off the table for the time being. And if you’re lucky, a tableside visit from Chef Alfredo may also be on the menu.
Hunters Tavern at the Tidewater Inn located in the center of historic, downtown Easton is one of the town’s busiest outdoor venues. With its radiant heaters overhead and gourd-decorated fireplace, it’s an ideal spot to grab lunch, dinner or happy hour drinks. According to General Manager Carla Morgan, the patio stays open unless the temperature drops below 40° or if really windy. Bloody Marys and oysters never tasted so good.
Staying Home
Inevitably, the upcoming holiday season will look different for many people due to the pandemic. As the virus likely spreads less in outdoor settings, having a space to gather outside can help families keep the tradition alive while doing their best to stay safe. Nicole Bailey Ashton, Vice President of Ashton Pools by Design, has been busy this season helping her clients transition their outdoor dining spaces to work for the fall and through the holidays. Recently, she shared her best tips for enjoying your outdoor space during the cooler months.
When possible, Nicole suggests starting your gathering earlier in the day so that you will have plenty of sunshine. For an added layer of warmth [and hospitality], consider laying blankets or pashminas over the back of each guest's chair. If the weather will be chilly, most local rental companies offer portable heaters which are a nice option for comfort. If you are hosting a larger gathering, the same rental company can set up 48'' tables to be placed throughout the yard, creating pockets for small groups of friends and family to convene. If your function will extend past sunset, lining walkways with candles or illuminated bags of sand is a simple, yet beautiful way to add ambiance and enhance your outdoor lighting.
Furthermore, Nicole notes that people often think of lunch or dinner when it comes to outdoor dining but having breakfast outside feels so decadent. If you have an outdoor kitchen station, the pizza oven can make breakfast pizzas, and a griddle is great for making fluffy omelets for the group. Ashton Pools by Design installs Teppanyaki griddles for many of their clients which are perfect for pancakes and the warming drawers on them can elevate store-bought muffins to a whole new level.
If you are creating or renovating your own outdoor space, Nicole recommends thinking about the number of people you will host on a regular basis, how you will want to use the area, and lastly, consider how close the kitchen is to your space to determine if an outdoor kitchen could make entertaining easier. When the Ashton team designs and builds custom outdoor spaces for their clients, they spend a lot of time planning. In the end, this leaves homeowners with a well thought out, gorgeous, and functional space.
Learn More
Ashton Pools by Design
37458 Oyster House Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE, (302) 786-0962, Facebook Instagram
Bas Rouge
19 Federal Street, Easton, MD, (410) 822-1637, Facebook Instagram
Hunters Tavern at the Tidewater Inn
101 E Dover Street, Easton, MD, (410) 822-4034, Facebook Instagram
Inn at Perry Cabin
308 Watkins Lane, St. Michaels, MD, (410) 745-2200, Facebook Instagram
Osteria Alfredo
210 Marlboro Avenue, Easton, MD, (410) 822-9088
Robert Morris Inn
314 N Morris St, Oxford, MD, (410) 226-5111, Facebook Instagram
Sunflowers & Greens
11 Federal Street, Easton, MD, (410) 822-7972, Facebook Instagram
The Wardroom
103 N Washington Street, Easton, MD, (410) 826-5489, Facebook Instagram
