Leap Over To Frogg Pond!
It’s great to see an old favorite up their game. And that’s just what’s going on these days at the Frogg Pond on First Street—long a downtown favorite, but now spending some serious time ramping up the kitchen.
While the Pond still has its signature wings (really excellent, crispy and a choice of at least 11 flavors!) and pub favorites like it’s Five-alarm or Patty Melt burgers, there’s some serious innovation going on backstage in the kitchen. Bonnie and I hung out at a tall table near the bar one Thursday night, pre- Trivia contest, and got to sample a whole lot of what the Pond has going for it—and we were wonderfully impressed. With creations like the homemade lump crab dip—topped with yummy melted cheese, and the amazing Fried Brie served with tart apples drizzled in honey, the apps can be as sophisticated as you’d like. Try the Portabella and crab, served with diced tomatoes, onions and spices, along with aged balsamic and parmesan. They go well with a house wine and can be solid gold for the palate in the Pond’s casual, comfy atmosphere at casual comfy prices. Of course, if you want a loaded plate of Nachos or a spicy Buffalo chicken dip to go with your ice cold beer, the Pond’s still the place for that comfort food, too. Our server Rhonda knows the menu inside out and can help guide you, with a smile or even a laugh, to the perfect choice.
As for the dinner entrees, there is some exciting news on that front as well. Coaxed to try the Shrimp Scampi—something I would ordinarily save for an authentic Italian or seafood place, not one of my prized watering holes—I was delighted by the hearty shrimp sautéed in garlic butter and wine, served with an al dente fettuccini. It’s the kind of entrée where the bonus is dunking fresh bread into the remaining garlic butter. We were not disappointed!
With my spouse hailing from Baltimore, the hunt for a perfect Bawlmer-style crab cake is often a frustrating one. Many local restaurants have their special recipes, added ingredients, and a fancy way with a crab ball, but the Frogg Pond’s lightly fried plentiful crab meat truly deserved its Maryland Crab Cake description. You’ll get your money’s worth and a proudly traditional recipe. And the housemade Mac and Cheese rocks.
Other entree selections include Chicken Florentine, Shrimp Tempura, Ahi Tuna, and Fish and Chips. The expanded menu has some great variety.
Because one of the additions to the Frogg Pond menu has been some very popular paninis, we sampled a bit of their Cuban Panini—ham, swiss cheese and pickle, with Dijon Mustard on toasty flatbread. Contemporary name, old fashioned goodness all at once. Other Panini choices include The Chesapeake with lump crab, cheddar and Old Bay seasoning, The New Orleans, with roast beef, onion, crumbled bleu cheese and Cajun cream sauce, and the Greek with grilled chicken, feta, black olives, red onion and sundried tomatoes. You may catch me there for lunch a dozen days in a row sampling all twelve of them.
And now, a word about Tom the bartender. Somehow word had gotten around that I enjoyed a Cosmo every now and then, and he was anxious to get my take on his mixology. Yes, he can open up a Bud or a Yuengling in record time, but he also has a way with vodka and triple sec. It was a grand cosmo and not only does he know what he’s doing, but he likes what he’s doing and that adds to the good Frogg Pond vibe.
Of course, in addition to ramping up the kitchen, the Pond is always finding great bands (Wicked Jezabel, Lower Case Blues, and Mama’s Black Sheep to name three), hosting killer Team Trivia on Thursday nights and still offering that fantastic $5 lunch deal on weekdays.
The Frogg Pond’s logo includes the words ‘Somewhat Famous Since 1982.” Absolutely true. For me, it’s been part of my circuit since 1993. But like a chameleon, it changes with the times and fits in with the public mood. Right now, that’s fresh food, homemade, with reasonable prices. Way to go, Frogg!
The Frogg Pond is located at 3 South First Street in Rehoboth Beach. For entertainment schedule, call 302-227-2234 or visit www.thefroggpond.com.