Rainy day restaurants
Last night as we were driving to Washington in the rain to take my mother-in-law out to dinner at her favorite restaurant, Clyde's in Friendship Heights, I was fantasizing about my perfect rainy day restaurant.
The cozy pubs where we sat around the fireplace in Ireland were the first thing that popped into my mind, only I want them to serve something else besides Irish pub food.
Like lobster.
If my rainy day restaurant was in Baltimore, it would need to have cozy, comfortable booths you could snuggle up in and be warm -- probably warmer than 90 percent of you would like. And if it was a pub, it would have to be a pub where everyone was talking in low voices, and if there was music, it would have to be playing softly. ...
Maybe it would be better to think in terms of afternoon tea on a rainy day. It occurred to me that Teavolve in Harbor East might be a good rainy day restaurant, although I've never been there and it might be too contemporary for these purposes. But it might be nice to have big windows so you can look out at the rain if you're warm and cozy.
Actually one of the best (summer) rainy day restaurant experiences I've had recently was on the second-floor porch of Sanders' Corner near the Loch Raven Reservoir. We watched the storm approach, and there were awnings so we didn't get wet.
It turned out Clyde's wasn't a bad rainy day restaurant. The booths were comfortable and for once it wasn't too loud. And the place was still running its $18.95 lobster dinner special. (My mother-in-law had a glass of pinot grigio, the Saltines from my husband' s soup and part of a hot fudge sundae. When you're 94 you get to eat like that.) The only downside was we had to drive an hour in the rain to get there. I want my rainy day restaurant to appear next door like Brigadoon when I need it.
Comments
What about Clydes in Columbia? Same Lobster special, but closer.
Unfortunately, not closer to her. And she's not doing much driving. :-) EL
Posted by: Retired in Elkridge | October 26, 2008 10:27 AM
The Clyde's Lodge (Tower Oaks?) in MoCo is pretty close to your rainy day place, and they serve lobster.
It's not all that far from the Friendship Heights Clyde's, depending I guess where you are coming from. It's way cozier, with fireplaces, snuggly booths, and low voices.
Posted by: LJ | October 26, 2008 3:12 PM
Yo, mo PoMo MoCo.
Posted by: mr. pretzel | October 26, 2008 6:08 PM
That lobster special is a really good deal. I've been thinking about going to Columbia to get it for a couple of weeks now (I think it's just for this month - right?). It's just that I get ready to go to dinner and it's getting dark and while there may be places that are scarier in the dark, Columbia terrifies me! I used to actually know my way around there when you took Rt 29 to everything but now, there's Rt 100 and Rt 103 and quite honestly I have no idea where I am anymore (at least in Columbia!)
Posted by: Joyce W. | October 26, 2008 6:26 PM
Columbia terrifies me!
Especially if you need gas. All of the gas stations in Columbia are hidden.
Posted by: Hal Laurent, VoR | October 26, 2008 7:38 PM
You want to have fun, try finding the bus stops in Columbia, Some have small, discrete signs. Some have no signs.
Posted by: Lissa | October 26, 2008 9:05 PM
You want to have fun, try finding the bus stops in Columbia,
I'm not nearly brave enough to attempt going to Columbia by public transportation. It's scary enough by car.
Posted by: Hal Laurent, VoR | October 27, 2008 7:33 AM
Driving to a party in Columbia Saturday night...when I realized that the street lights were all strategically placed to be RIGHT BEHIND the street signs. Made them completely unreadable.
I believe GPS systems were designed for Columbia...
Posted by: Zevonista | October 27, 2008 10:19 AM
Don't worry, Hal, you won't be able to much longer. Gov. is canceling the commuter buses to Columbia.
Posted by: Lissa | October 27, 2008 10:41 AM
All of the gas stations in Columbia are hidden.
You want to have fun, try finding the bus stops in Columbia
My experience has been that street signs are also very small and difficult to read - even in daylight. If a main thoroughfare is closed for some reason the is one sign reading Detour posted with no further explanation. I would outline the ensuing wander through developments with practically every street a circle, but there is no entertainment in it. My am convinced that the overall attitude is, "If you don't know where you are, you don't belong here. Go away."
Posted by: Eve | October 27, 2008 11:36 AM
I live in Columbia. My eldest made an accurate and amusing comment when she was learning to drive. 'All the streets go around in a circle and you can't get there from here.'
Posted by: carolb | October 27, 2008 1:05 PM
A long time ago, I worked in Columbia for like 7 months, on Sterrett Place. I was quite happy to get another job in downtown Baltimore.
I'm guessing the Rouse Company was just figuring things out when they laid out that town. sheesh.
Posted by: PCB Rob | October 27, 2008 6:00 PM
My old timey memories of Columbia are much more small town than what it is today. When I worked there ages ago, it was about 4 village centers and Merriweather Post Pavillion, all off of 29 which was 2 lanes in each direction.
Now 29 is a monster expressway and this Rt 100 is strange beyond explanation. As your head is whipping past the traffic lights to read the tiny signs (yes, Zevonista - noticed that) cars are flying by doing amazing speeds that I find bring to mind the Los Angeles Expressway or maybe the Autobahn. And all the buildings are hidden behind trees and stuff so there are virtually no landmarks at all. (shudder) Is THIS what Rouse was thinking?
Posted by: Joyce W. | October 27, 2008 7:52 PM
Maryland Mass Transit is funded by the gas tax. Therefore as it gets more popular it gets less money to fund it. Must have been planned by the same genius who designed the 83-695 interchange.
Posted by: Elite Elephant Lover | October 27, 2008 8:02 PM
MTA is also 40% by riders, by law. That is very high, compared to other US transit systems.
MD's gas tax is too low, anyhow. Hasn't been raised in far too long. Which means crap roads and crap public transportation. TANSTAAFL.
Posted by: Lissa | October 28, 2008 7:20 AM
TANSTAAFL?
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. EL
Posted by: Anonymous | October 28, 2008 1:58 PM
Lissa, you should try PA roads some time if you think MD's are bad! You can FEEL the difference on 83 when you cross the state line.
Posted by: Joyce W. | October 28, 2008 2:48 PM
Wow... talk about getting off track. Given that it's cold, grey, windy, and started out rainy, I'd like to steer us out of Columbia and back to the original subject.
How I would much rather be at the original Wharf Rat in Fell's Point, sipping a pint by the fire in the back. Or, say, warming up to paella in Tio Pepe's or an Irish coffee at J. Patricks, or...
Posted by: Mike | October 28, 2008 3:30 PM
I am sitting here, at my fairly new job in Columbia, giggling discreetly cause you all are so right! Of course, I was not laughing this morning after it took me, like 10 hours to get here from Parkville...
Posted by: Trixie | October 28, 2008 4:33 PM
Joyce, I know we aren't the worst. I'm from Michigan, remember? We used to have good roads there...
Still, if you park inside of a pothole, it makes it harder for the kids to break your windows.
Posted by: Lissa | October 28, 2008 5:24 PM
Trixie,
I hear you, I used to make that trek from Parkville to Columbia.
Now, I live 3 miles from work.
Lissa,
How long were you in the Detroit area?
Posted by: PCB Rob | October 28, 2008 6:08 PM
PCB Rob, about 10 years in the city. Grew up in the suburbs. All told, more than 30 years.
This means I get to snicker at folks here who think this is cold.
You know, if Columbia didn't exist, we'd have to create it. The jokes, they write themselves.
Posted by: Lissa | October 28, 2008 6:54 PM
hmmmm, Jim Rouse having the ultimate practical joke upon us???
Posted by: Joyce W. | October 28, 2008 7:46 PM
Mooseburger Court, anyone?
Posted by: Dahlink | October 28, 2008 8:00 PM
Lissa,
I once dated a girl who went to high school at Whitmore Lake. Are you familiar with that school?
She was a huge Tigers fan, but that was back in the 80s when they were good.
Posted by: PCB Rob | October 28, 2008 8:05 PM
PCB Rob
I-95 southbound, morning rush hour, bad weather...It is enough to test your sanity or inner road rage. I swear Dante was tailgating me...Hmmm, Columbia did have a "Satanwood Court" until it was renamed I believe
Posted by: Trixie | October 28, 2008 10:01 PM
I know Whitmore Lake, PCB Rob. Used to drive by it on the way to the ski area. I grew up south and a tad east from there. We weren't in the same league, though, as the high school sports leagues don't cross county lines (I was in Wayne Co., Whitmore Lake is either Oakland or Livingston).
Posted by: Lissa | October 29, 2008 8:08 AM
Lissa,
If I remember correctly, she used to live in/near Ann Arbor, was a big U of M fan.
Posted by: PCB Rob | October 29, 2008 10:37 AM
Not that close to Ann Arbor, but folks there wouldn't admit to be close to Detroit anyway.
Ann Arbor, of course, is the centre of the foodie universe, being where Zingerman's Deli is. Heaven.
Posted by: Lissa | October 29, 2008 12:55 PM
Capt. Larry's in Fed Hill has delicious fish tacos and offers bar discounts when it rains!
Posted by: ketchem | October 30, 2008 3:24 AM