A special event Friday night was my third time at the Rod 'n Reel Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach. Sometimes the entire place is referred to as the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa but there are several dining options onsite and the Rod 'n Reel is a nice option, especially for large gatherings.
Cocktail hour was very nice with bacon-wrapped scallops and two other served appetizers - I didn't get to taste either of the other two but recognized the scallops and grabbed a server's arm so as not to miss out. There was an abundance of hors d'oeuvres, but servers seemed reluctant to approach guests in conversation. I didn't want to ruin my appetite for dinner but lusted after several more scallops. I saw a couple of platters that were not served but appeared to be vegetable and/or fruit platters and folks were helping themselves.
I had a couple of cocktails before dinner. Guess I'm really used to happy hour prices in St. Mary's - $6 for a vodka tonic seemed a little steep to me. Guess I'm spoiled!
The dinner service was efficient and professional - serving at the left, removing from the right and I didn't hear a single dropped dish. There were probably 100 or more people in the dining area. Well done!
Warm rolls were accompanied by butter and garden salad was delivered to each place shortly thereafter. There was probably a vegetarian dinner option but everyone at the table where I sat got filet mignon, crab cake, green beans and mashed potatoes. The crab cake was unexpectedly delicious served with a side dollop of tartar sauce that was not overly tangy. My filet was well done, however, which was very disappointing. Others at the table were pinkish in the middle - luck of the draw? Actually you should NEVER destroy a wonderful cut of beef like filet by overcooking it. Bummer!
I do, however, understand the difficulty of serving 100 plates within 30 minutes of one another so I will give the restaurant another shot during a private visit and see what happens.
There were two dessert bars - one which I bypassed seemed to have small cakes or bar cookies. I opted for the pound cake - which wasn't even close to home made - disappointing. But, other items at the table made up for that disappointment - chocolate sauce, fresh strawberries and pineapple, watermelon, and whipped cream.
It was a great way to spend a Friday night - celebrating accomplishments of many tri-county leaders. Congratulations to all!
No comments:
Post a Comment