Captain, your Table is ready....

Our friend in DC brought some relatives down to SOMD yesterday to see our little bit of paradise, take in a bit of history, and have a meal.

So, I gave them a quick tour of the Chapel down at Historic St. Mary’s City in the late afternoon. We could maybe have had our first funeral service in the Chapel as it was extremely hot and humid in the building (as usual). But, we went over the Lords Baltimore, the plundering times, the construction of the Chapel and its subsequent dismantling, refinding and reconstructing, etc. They were impressed as they had seen the Written in Bone exhibit and wanted to see the “real” thing..

Anyway, averting heat stroke (at least for your loyal docent) we returned to the digs, and refreshed ourselves with some cheeses and wine. Our friend who used to live down here in the “golden days” wanted to return to the Captain’s Table, which he had enjoyed previously. The feeder had not paid a visit in many a year, so off we went, only mildly concerned over the beginning of this year’s edition of the Screwpile Challenge Series sailboat races (i.e., people). We arrived at the restaurant, which to my observation had not physically changed (don’t know about ownership), and went inside to inquire about a table. Although it was pretty crowded we were ushered in through the bar area (with the traditional keno screens but now also one of those out of place HD flatscreens shoehorned in). Like a lot of our waterfront places, there’s a bar located the furthest from the water, then closer is an inside dining area (watch your step), and then an outside one. There were quite a few hearty souls outside, probably those who live on sailboats and don’t know that air conditioning has been invented.

Inside are the typical plain wooden tables, dark paneled walls with aging seagoing prints on them. It has a very close view of the boats resting at the piers wishing somebody would come and take them out. A busy waterfront scene. As I said, the place was pretty full, and if you sat very still it wasn’t too hot. Right on the ragged edge of comfortable, but it was boiling outside, so we weren’t surprised. I have never quite figured out the geometry of the place, but our table was in that lower section, and although the kitchen is on the same level as the bar, there is a constant parade of bus people with trays of varying degrees of dirty dishes brushing past your table. Not too appetizing. Our server at least didn’t offer any recorded speeches, just asked about drinks and told us the soups and the special of the day. She sounded for all the world like she was from Long Island. Nice lady. The menu is of course a “one for all” including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tri-fold, encased in plastic, with main dishes offering you two (traditional southern Maryland) “choices” forcing you to search the menu for the list of fries, slaw, hush puppies, the usual stuff. Sandwiches come with fries or for another dollar onion rings.

I didn’t look too closely but I suspect there was one of those “platters” available, along with crabcakes, salmon, chicken, steaks etc. All of that was a little heartier than we wanted to contemplate. So we ended up with a couple of broiled rockfish sandwiches, a crab cake sandwich, a seafood quiche, and chicken fried steak. I couldn’t help but notice that other tables were being brought a basket of breads, but we never got any, maybe our order didn’t rise to the bread worthy level.

Food came out fairly fast which was surprising given the amount of people in the place many of whom were definitely not the least concerned with any DFD considerations, as ball caps stayed affixed, logo T-shirts everywhere, but it is after all a waterfront place. Again, the place was pretty full, but my “broiled” rockfish sandwich was completely pallid without any trace of color, just gray. It did have some taste, but not overly endowed. The fries were vintage Sysco seasoned fries which are never too bad or too good. The grayness of the fish had sort of invaded the mac and cheese that went with the CFS as it was faded yellow not the vibrant color one might expect. I really didn’t get an evaluation of the crab cake, the person who ordered it did it sort of experimentally (when in Maryland….). It generally looked okay. We did have a good time discussing further activities in DC for the out of townies, so it was a fun time, but getting back in the fully airconditioned car was welcome.

My friend, who wanted to “go home again”, said “okay, I’ve done that; I don’t need to go back”. That would pretty much sum it up for me..it was just okay and there are other options. I’m sure they have their following. and, if you care, I was

DFD