Carroll County Bites: A Glimpse at Restaurant Week Specials

by Kerri Gaither

Sunday marked the start of Carroll County’s annual Restaurant Week where local eateries offer special menus at special prices.

Patch dug around to find out what some of the restaurants are offering this week. 

Legends Café:

Legends Café is participating in Carroll County’s restaurant week for the first time this year and is offering a two course lunch special for $10.13 and a 3 course dinner special for $20.13.

Owner and general manager Amy Fields said she is excited about the new items her husband and executive chef, Jim Fields, has developed.

“I am my husband’s biggest fan of course but he really does make the best sauces," Amy said. "My favorite thing on the upcoming special menu is the Crab Manicotti." 

What exactly is in Crab Manicotti? According to Amy, it is manicotti shells filled with a blend of ricotta cheese, crab meat, herbs and spices; it’s topped with mozzarella then baked with a vodka cream sauce.

For those who haven’t been to Legends Café or haven’t checked them out in their new location in the Town Mall of Westminster this week would be a perfect time to do so. 

“We are a family owned business. I think people appreciate that,” Amy said. “Also, over 90 percent of our menu items are made in house and it’s all made to order…we make everything from scratch including our own bread.  We make our own rolls, baguettes, pizza dough – everything!”

Legends Café Restaurant Week Menu

Mt. Airy Tavern

The Mt. Airy Tavern’s special Restaurant Week Menu includes 2 courses for $23.13. What's good on the menu? Jim DiChiara of the Mt. Airy Tavern explains that the Shrimp and Crab Pasta dish is his favorite on the menu.

“The flavors in the dish complement each other very well.  Shrimp and crab in an old bay cream sauce over pasta. What's not to like?” DiChiara said.

The Mt. Airy Tavern would love to see locals come out and sample the freshness of the items on their menu.

“The one thing we try to stress is fresh food, with as much sourced from local farms as possible,” DiChiara said.  “The other thing we would like people to know is that we make as much as possible from scratch.  We even make all of our sauces, stocks, and salad dressings.”

Mt. Airy Tavern Restaurant Week Menu.

Giulianova Groceria & Italian Deli

Billy Schroeder, Owner and Chef at Giulianova: Groceria – Deli – Catering loves Carroll County Restaurant Week as it encourages people to support local businesses.

"For every dollar that you spend in a local business, 80 percent of that dollar stays in the community,” Schroeder said.  “Spend that very same dollar in a corporate environment -- how much of that dollar do you think is cycled back into the community?"

This week, his special menu will feature his favorite classic dish homemade in simple fashion and ‘impeccable execution:' spaghetti and meatballs.  The meal is a ‘U-Take-Home Dinner" menu that feeds 4 for $25.13.

Schroeder stresses a local hometown feel in the core of his Italian comfort food and in the way he runs his business.

“My Groceria and Deli stresses local and home-grown -- the way it used to be.  We are the essence of Mom and Pop Business.  I make an overwhelming percentage of the product sold here from scratch,” Schroeder said.  “McDonald’s is closed, support your local restaurants and get a real meal that will make you happy!”

Giulianova Groceria & Italian Deli Restaurant Week Menu

Maggie’s

Lisa Zipprian, Maggie’s Restaurant Office Manager is excited about the 2013 restaurant week and expects that customers will love the crab cakes as much as she does.

"Our Colossal & Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes are a house favorite as well as my own. Our recipe of seasonings and the lump crab meat are a delicious blend of east coast tastes, that we broil, so they are served golden brown and irresistible,” Zipprian said. “Once you have tasted a Maggie's crab cake, they will be the standard that you hold all others to!”

For those who have never visited Maggie’s, Zipprian not only describes the remarkable food but also the casual, comfortable and inviting atmosphere of Maggie’s from the entertaining bar area to the inviting dining room and relaxing outdoor seating area.

Zipprian invites locals to check them out this week and says: “We really believe at Maggie's you can....Relax, Meet friends, Dine & Unwind!”

Maggie’s Restaurant & Pub Restaurant Week Menu

For a full list of participating restaurants and a links to this week’s menus visit www.carrollcountyrestaurantweek.com/. If you participate in Restaurant Week, let us know where you went and what you thought of the food.

See Also:

• Order Up! Carroll County Restaurant Week