LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Eating OUT: Our Place is a Hit on Every Level |
by Barry Becker |
All last winter I watched the planning, construction and seemingly round-the-clock work going on at OUR PLACE RESTAURANT & GARDEN PATIO (37 Baltimore Avenue) as it was being transformed from a retail space into a glorious restaurant. I could always count on finding owners Deb Invanor and Maryanne Miller scurrying about working and overseeing teams of family, friends and contractors any time of day or night trying to get all the work done for their opening. What a gem they have created! Our Place is a comfortable space, whether youre sitting on the see-and-be-seen front porch keeping an eye on Baltimore Avenue, dining in one of the intimate, colorful rooms inside, or eating on the outdoor patio. Theres also a front porch room paneled in beautiful wood that reminds me of my grandparents porch at the lake. As always with Konrad and me, everything on the menu sounded like we just had to eat it, and we couldnt make up our minds. We fell in love with Kelly, our wonderful waitress, when she said those two magical words this restaurant reviewer loves to hear: "Sample platter?" But of course! We started with a healthy fresh salad full of goodies, dressed with a Gorgonzola vinaigrette full of chunks of cheese, along with warm French bread. Yum! Deb and Maryannes vision of their restaurant was to create a place that served good home-style comfort food, and in this they have succeeded marvelously. The Rotisserie Chicken was juicy and oh-so-delicious, glazed with Caribbean spices. The Barbecue Spare Ribs were very meaty and loaded with tangy barbecue sauce, just like my grandmother used to make. And tender! The meat just fell off the bones. And dont worry about making a mess with them. You get lots of napkins and a finger bowl of water and lemon to stay clean. With great mashed potatoes and a melange of broccoli, carrots and yellow squash, this was indeed great home cooking at amazingly affordable prices. So many people we have talked with over the summer say they eat here several times a week, either for breakfast, lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch, its that affordable (and that good!). Chef Danny Richards has bumped the home cooking idea up a few notches with some tantalizing dishes you wouldnt normally see at home (well, at least not at any home Ive ever lived in!) The Lobster Cakes, packed with chunks of succulent lobster, were baked to crispy perfection and topped with a mango sauce that was divine. We sampled the special of the day, a fresh and incredible salmon lightly breaded with Japanese bread crumbs and topped with European mustard. This could be on the menu every day, its that fabulous. The Seafood Fettuccine was fresh, and served with a light cream Parmesan sauce with perfect grilled shrimp and scallops that were tender and tasty. There are many other items on the menu, too, and we will definitely go back to try the Garden Lasagna and Medallions of Pork. Of course, if youre going to have a Sample Platter for entrees, you might as well have one for desserts, too, right? Danny makes all the outrageous desserts on the premises, and they are all fabulous. We had a hearty piece of Banana Foster cheesecake, high and light and full of flavor. The caramel apple cake, loaded with apples and pecans, was served warm with a caramel topping, whipped cream and mandarin oranges. The Chocolate Queens cake (I swear this is what its called) is a chocolate lovers dream, dense with chocolate on a bed of thick Kahlua-laced sauce. The big hit was the Berry Berry Bavarian, strawberries and raspberries whipped into a raspberry cream that is so light and heavenly youll just want to eat like 2 or 3 of them. It also has mandarin oranges in it, and is a perfect dessert after a meal on a summer night. On our way out of the restaurant, I ran into a friend eating on the front porch. I asked him if he had eaten here before, and he quickly said, "Oh sure, Ive been here 3 times this week." See? I told you it was this kind of place! Its a hit on every level, from friendly service and great atmosphere to terrific food, and prices that are too hard to beat! If you havent been to Our Place yet, make it your place soon. Youll see what everyone else has been talking about this summer! Our Place Restaurant, 37 Baltimore Avenue, is open every day except Wednesday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For reservations, call 302-227-4143 |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 9, July 16, 1999 |