The menu should be part of the entertainment, part of the dining experience. The 3 Cs “I like my food like my fashion: Casual, Classy, and with a Touch of Couture”.
And so our dining experience took us to The Grove Market, located at 12402 Saint Martins Neck Rd., Bishopville, MD 21813. Tel. 410-352-5055. This location is right outside Ocean City.
Crushed seashells pave the parking lot. Flags, a pizza sign, whimsical too. I believe the restaurant only has about 10 tables. And, yes, it is hard to get a reservation so give yourself about 2 weeks. Call, leave a message, give a few dates. If you like to eat late, I suggest you do so. Last reservation is at 9 p.m. Cash only. Checks accepted. It gets crowded in the summer. They only serve wine and beer.
Our reservation was at 8:30 a few weekends ago. This past Sunday, November 17th they closed until the beginning of May. For some of you it might be too late to eat but for us it was the perfect time to enjoy a relaxing dinner. John McDonal was the Chef Extraordinare, from Delaware, he works his magic in a very small kitchen. He has an amazing reputation and a wine connoisseur.
There is no menu. Out loud at your dinner table or if you are seated in the back it will be for the few tables to hear. You need to pay attention because they do offer a lot, both for the appetizers and the entrees.
You will find at the Grove Market quality in their ingredients, culinary competence because John MacDonald outdoes himself every time, service is personal and attentive. The ambiance? Well, you can see by the photos that it is a little quirky. Come hungry because they serve healthy portions. About $100 per person give or take.
The menu changes but they do have a lot of the customers’ favorites throughout the season.
Crab RemickNo Noodles Beef Stroganoff
I usually order the duck. It is a Delaware duck, roasted with a semi-sweet sauce and chutney. It is so good….only bones left on the plate kind of a dish.
On this particular night I let TC order it and I ordered a shrimp and crab dish. Crabs from Smith Island, no less, with a bit of Sherry and a slight kick to the dish. Yummy.
The breadsticks are a reminder that once upon a time this little restaurant was also a Pizza place.
I can honestly tell you that everything at the Grove Market is consistently good. Other dishes that are delicious are:
The Rack of Lamb
The Scallops
The Crab Cakes
There are several desserts to try but it seems that one of the most popular ones is the Bumbleberry Pie. There is no such thing as a Bumbleberry…it is just a mixture of berries.
Leslie, the owner, had time to chat on our visit which was great since in the summer there is, practically, no time.
It is a special place. Keep it in mind when you visit next season. You will not be disappointed.
Until next time…..Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Please check AboutMyBeaches Facebook Page.
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“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious” ruth reichl
I first wrote about The Grove Market in 2009. This was before I had incorporated photos in my posts. Having photos is wonderful because, we, humans, are so visual. The scenery, the colors, always create an impact in our minds.
A few weeks ago I had guests and we were on the go from the moment they arrived. On Friday evening we met my friend, Cindi, and her husband in West Ocean City and from there we took to 12402 Saint Martins Neck Rd., Bishopville, MD 21813. Tel. 410-352-5055. My guests had no idea where we were taking them. Then, the first impression of the place was the photo above taken. What would you say about this tiny place on a country road not far from Ocean City?
My friend’s husband told them to please choose the cheese pizza because it was the best. They were like….really?
Inside what you will find is a small bar, only beer and wine is served at The Grove Market. And only about 10 tables. We sat in the back of the building.
As you can see, very simple, funky and also whimsical.
The pizza story is not way off. At some point it was a pizza place. The breadsticks served are from the pizza recipe from those years long ago. It was a fish market too.
There is a protocol to get a reservation. You call, if nobody answers leave the message with the time of the reservation and day. And, give another time as well or day. If Leslie calls you and tells you I only have this or that, please take it. This is a special place. The food is outstanding.
Cash only. Depending how much wine or beer you drink the cost will vary. Between $100 and $120 per person to be on the safe side. Be prompt, and you cannot linger. The place is small and others want to experience what you just had.
I have mentioned before that there are 5 ingredients for a good restaurant; quality of ingredients, culinary competence, service, ambiance, and price. The Grove Market has all those. You’ll see when you go.
John McDonald is chef extraordinare. In a very small kitchen he creates unique dishes full of flavor. Many years ago he owned The Garden Gourmet in Rehoboth Beach. He is a wine connoiseur, as well. He truly is excellent and so nice.
Here is our group. Patrick is Leslie’s brother and he is such a character. The restaurant does not have a menu. First the appetizers, then the dinner, then dessert. Out loud so the group of tables in the back need to pay attention. When Patrick danced the Macarena, I knew we would have a good time.
So this is what we had:
Appetizers:
Please have in mind that even though the menu changes here and there, they continue to have many favorites all the time.
Crab Remick was ordered by Cindi. I have had it before and at this time of the year the crabmeat is superb.
Our friend, Jody, ordered the Beef Stroganoff….served with no noodles.
Patti ordered the Cream of Crab Soup. Thick and full of crab, with a hint of Sherry.
And I ordered a salad that could have been shared.
Wine was ordered. But, I was a designated driver so nothing for me.
Now dinner…..Patrick came out again, veryl lively to announce their offerings. A few of us already knew what we wanted. Practically, we always order their duck. A Delaware duck, no less. It was roasted to perfection wih a semi-sweet sauce and chutney. Ross and I did not want to share with anyone and the bones were clean at the end.
Cindi had the lamb. If I had not had the duck that would have been my other choice. It looked fantastic.
Another excellent choice that is usually on the menu are the scallops. Jody ordered them and look how perfectly cooked they look. See the breadstick on the side of his plate. This is what I was talking about at the beginning of the post. How they have kept the pizza dough recipe and added as a bread.
Our friend, Patti, ordered the crabcakes. No fillers just tremendous lump.
Some entrees came with the side dish of cucumbers, onions, breadstick and potatoes. The others had it already on their plates.
A few desserts were ordered. The portions at The Grove Market are healthy ones. But, it is always good to order a few.
The Bumbleberry is a pie of a mixture of berries. There is no such thing as a bumbleberry. It is usually on the menu.
And also, usually on the menu is the Chocolate Silk Pie.
The story goes like this….Do you remember the movie Runaway Bride? It was mostly filmed in Berlin, Maryland. Not far away from The Grove Market. Apparently they were looking for a restaurant to feed their crew and stars. The Grove Market fed them through the duration of the filming.
I can go on an on talking about a restaurant and its food. But, it is the people that share your meal that make it priceless!!
Give it a try. Let me know on my AboutMyBeaches Facebook page how you rate your experience. Until then, Summer 2019 continues.
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“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ruth reichl
The Grove Market never changes, which is a good thing. That’s why we love it!! Located at 12402 St. Martins Neck Rd., Bishopville, Maryland, 21813 Tel. 410352-5055 The Grove Market is funky, small and you will not find another restaurant like it in Delmarva. In the summer, it opens every day at 5 p.m. Leslie is the owner. Her brother, Patrick helps. But, tonight Lisa was taking care of us. Please note that there are no credit cards accepted so bring cash or a check.
How to make a reservation. It can be tricky. That’s for sure. When you call to make a reservation make sure you have a few dates available and times. If you have to leave a message do so and be specific. Leslie will call you back and either she will say yes or you might have to pick another day or another time.
The Grove Market is small. I think about 7 tables and maybe a couple of stools at the bar. This restaurant is very popular.
At the helm of the tiny kitchen is John McDonald. John is from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and he is a well known chef and wine connoisseur. He makes his ingredients come alive and your taste buds will immediately start dancing.
There is an extensive wine list. No written menu; everything is recited from memory. Their menu changes practically every day.
Seated in the back porch with only 3 tables we were chatty with our fellow diners. Not enough time to write the description of our dishes…but take a look at the photos.
Drinks and the appetizers followed:
I only wanted a small wine cup. That’s what I got.
Crabmeat Remick
Fried Green Tomatoes topped with shrimp. I have a thing for this dish. I will order Fried Green Tomatoes in every restaurant that serves them. These were superb.
Our table full of Roasted Ducks. This is the most amazing entree. One of their most popular. It is a Delaware duck, roasted to perfection with a semi sweet sauce, accompanied with chutney.
Our Roasted Duck came with the side dish of the Grove Market’s Mash Potatoes and their famous breadstick, which is made out of the dough that was in the pizza recipe when many years ago pizza was served.
Well, I needed more photos of the entrees that Lisa had so perfectly recited. Here is where our fellow diners come into play. Could I take photos of your food? I have a blog with photos. They were great and immediately caught on to the fact that they could not touch their food until I had taken the pictures. Thanks so much for being so gracious. This is what our Maryland diners had for dinner. By the way, they are repeat customers.
The Tuna
The Stuffed Flouder with Smith Island Crab Meat.
The Scallops.
The Crab Cakes…Smith Island Crab Meat.
“We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.” david mamet
The Bumble Berry is a pie of a mix of berries.
And, if you like chocolate….then, the Chocolate Silk Pie should be ordered.
Sharing a meal with friends is always priceless…the chat, the laughs and the friendship. Cannot wait to go back!
Note: The Grove Market is also a smoke house so when there is smoked fish for an appetizer you might want to order it.
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I really don’t mind driving distances to go to a good and unique restaurant. I do mind waiting in line to get into a restaurant, though. And with that in mind my husband and I went to meet Ross and Cindi at The Grove Market in Bishopville, Maryland.
The Grove Market is at 12402 St. Martins Neck Rd., Bishopville, MD 21813. Tel. 410-352-5055. No website. And, if you are planning on having dinner there, bring cash or check. No credit cards are accepted.
That being said and done, the next step is you have to go through the process of getting a reservation. All you have to do is call. But don’t expect to get a reservation that pronto. Well, maybe, if you are lucky or have a good friend like I do. Even though I think Leslie, the owner, knows me now. When you call, leave your request and I would even leave a second choice for time and day.
The Grove Market is very small, and so popular. Be patient. I have written a couple of times about it and questioned if it has been worth going through the “ordeal” of making the reservation. Every time the answer is, Yes!! It is that good.
This was their opening week-end for the new season. From Rehoboth Beach it takes about 45 minutes. Go Ocean Highway until the Rt. 90 Bridge. Take that exit and continue to the next light. Turn right on St. Martins Neck Rd. and continue driving for about 1 1/2 miles. It is on the left hand side of the road. A tiny little place. Check the picture so that you can remember it.
It was packed, but Leslie moved her patrons quickly. Don’t expect to stay there forever.
The Grove Market looked good; all spruced up for the season but always keeping that look that makes it so unique.
I was so happy to see that John McDonald was at the helm of the tiny kitchen. He is a fantastic chef.
We were seated in the back room which I really like; only 3 tables and backyard view. It is funky. There were lights and signs and, wow, also flowers on the table. Yes, the tables are plastic, and the tablecloths are faded. That is why you go there; so different, but the food is the icing on the cake.
In the back dining room, your waiter will take your order for beer or wine. Bottled water is available, as well.
Then, the waiter will announce the appetizers. There is no written menu, did I tell you that? Everything is from memory. Plenty of appetizers for the size of the restaurant. I could not copy one thing down so bear with me and check the pictures.
I chose the clams in a very well seasoned broth. Thank God they brought a spoon. All gone, it was.
My husband chose the mussels. I was surprised because he never orders them. I am the one that loves them. Just as good as my clams.
Cindi had the soup. This was a beet and tomato soup. The color was just beautiful.
Ross had the beef kabobs. The rind of the orange and the combination of seasonings were tremendous; so tender.
Soon we were ready for the main event. And this is how it went.
I ordered the lamb. I wish I could remember everything he said. The lamb was a very big portion. It had chutney and raisins; a little Indian, maybe? A little sweet and tangy. I could not eat it all. Served with a breadstick, which is the recipe that was used many years ago when they had pizza.
My husband ordered the scallops with risotto and asparagus. I have had them; very good, as well.
Cindi ordered the shrimp. She was a happy camper.
And, Ross orders the same thing every single time. The Duck. Well, he gave me a piece and I can now see why. It was crispy and the sauce was tremendous; a semi sweet soy drizzle with an English cumberland sauce. I will have it next time.
No room for dessert, except Ross ordered the chocolate pie. He asked for extra forks but he only gave me a bite. Smooth texture; if you like chocolate, order it.
I am going to have to take a notebook next time to write the ingredients down. What happened was that between the talking and more bla bla bla, then, hello? It was over. You got the idea, though.
Please note: The Grove Market is sensitive to customers with food related allergies.
Since I started this blog almost 2 years ago I can tell you that the majority of the time I have had good meals; but also some lukewarms, as well. I give the benefit of the doubt and go again. Everyone can have a bad night. It is when those bad nights are consistent; then there is a problem. I guess I have been lucky or easy to please.
Sharing a meal with friends is something else…I love it!!
Talk to you later….you know I will…
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What makes a good restaurant? To me, it has always been 5 key ingredients; I have mentioned them before. Some restaurants only have a few of those ingredients; The Grove Market encompasses them all, and they are: quality of ingredients, culinary competence, service, ambiance, and price.
The ingredients should be the best money can buy, the culinary competence, well, what can I say? The Grove Market has John McDonald, a seasoned chef and one of the best. Many years ago he had in Rehoboth Beach the very popular Garden Gourmet. The service should be attentive; not intrusive, always anticipating what the customer needs. The ambiance should be tranquil and relaxing. At the Grove Market it was definitely tranquil, amidst trees and marshes. The prices are just like all the restaurants at the beaches who are known for serving quality food.
The Grove Market is located on 12402 Saint Martins Neck Rd., Bishopville, Maryland, 21813. Tel. 410-352-5055. Even though it is in Bishopville, it is actually just so close to Ocean City, Maryland and I came from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware which took about 40 minutes.
It is tricky getting a reservation at The Grove Market. The restaurant is small. I think about 7 tables and 2 can eat at the bar. Therefore, reservations go quickly. My tip would be that if you want to eat there, then make the call, leave your information, and request any time they have available. We went at 5:30 p.m. which is earlier than I would have gone to any restaurant but it was fine, and it was definitely worth it.
Leslie and Patrick greeted us very graciously and took us to one of the tables in the back. Every time I go into this restaurant I just love looking around. It is funky; the walls are decorated with all kinds of adornments; lacrosse sticks, pictures, holiday lights, you name it.
Let me point out to you that there is not other restaurant like it in the Maryland and Delaware Beaches.
They have an extensive wine list. Beer is available as well and soft drinks.
There is no menu. Everything is recited from memory. I chose for my salad a beet salad with arugula and goat cheese. I have had it before and it was again, delicious. I knew that if they had the scallops I would order them as well. Last time they were so good, accompanied with a risotto and a roasted vidalia onion; they did not disappoint me. Just as good. Another appetizer was the smoked steelhead salmon. Here is where the explanation comes.
The steelhead salmon is commonly known as trout. They are a species of salmon. The land locked steelheads are known as rainbow trout.
The term steelhead differentiate between those rainbows that stay in fresh water permanently and those that go out in the ocean. In order to spawn, they return to the place where they hatched. Can be caught year-round and fly casting remains the most popular way to catch them.
If you like salmon, you would really enjoy this appetizer. Just like salmon, the taste is a little bit stronger.
Another entree ordered was the duck. It was roasted, a semi-sweet soy drizzle, with an English cumberland sauce, mashed potatoes and vidalia onions.
The Cumberland Sauce is a fruit base sauce with ingredients like red currants, port, mustard, pepper, orange, ginger and vinegar.
One person ordered dessert and I took a bite of this dense chocolate silk pie. It was very good and sinfully rich.
As usual, I have to say that a meal is best enjoyed with good company. As we were leaving, people were waiting. This restaurant is and has been very popular for a long time.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the restaurant was very sensitive to two people on our table with food related allergies; seafood, peanuts and gluten.
I guess I will be talking to you soon….
Please note that The Grove Market does not take credit cards.
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