Historic dining

Susanne C. wrote:
>I like going to old historic homes/Inns (c. 1700's)that have
>been restored and are now Inns/restaurants. I just moved to
>Maryland and would like to find a good restarurant like this.
>Can anyone suggest a good/historic place for me ?

Turning Point Inn (301-831-8232) in Urbana, MD is very good. Located off of 270 at the route 80 exit in Frederick County. Food is excellent.  Prices were (1 yr ago) $25. for dinner but did not include appetizers, drinks or desserts.  Serves dinner every evening except Monday.  Lunch Tuesday thru Friday (I think).  Reservations required.

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Well, you're in luck now that you have come to this area. There are quite a number of such places around here. Almost all of them are in greatdemand, though, so you must make reservations -- and, sometimes, well in advance.

The first place that comes to mind is Gadsby's Tavern in old town Alexandria. It has not been in operation continuously since the eighteenth century -- the two co-joined buildings were used for other purposes during the period from, roughly, 1880 to 1930 -- but it IS the original tavern [Washington, Lafayette, J. P. Jones, etc., did eat there; most of "out of towners" when they were on their way to or from Mount Vernon to visit G. W.]. They have a good ballad singer in the evenings, although I cannot remember his name. He specializes in eighteenth century song.

The most famous location in the region is the Red Fox Inn in Middleburg, Virginia -- just out Route 50 west, about thirty miles or so from the Beltway. While it may not be, in fact, the "oldest inn operating continuously in America" [as they claim], it HAS been in operation as an inn since the later eighteenth century [it has one or two rivals in New England for the title "oldest"]. WARNING: It is very fashionable, because it is located in the town that is regarded as one of the twin binaries of the Virginia hunt country [Upperville is the other town] and you must make reservations well in advance, if you are not well-known to them. The last time, I made a reservation in April for dinner in September. AND, they are VERY expensive. I think I've been there about three or four times in over forty years -- it is a unique experience [which is what you pay for] and the food is very good. Pretentious, YES -- but an unforgettable experience.

Also famous locally is The Inn at Little Washington, in Washington, Virginia [yes, there is a Washington, Virginia -- called Little Washington around here; as Washington, Pennsylvania, is so called. It's written up in the papers quite frequently. Reservations WELL, WELL, in advance [weeks, perhaps].

There are other places, as well. E-mail me for some lesser suggestions [Evan's down on St. George's Island, Maryland, comes to mind].

  FY> From: [email removed] (Frank Young)

Frank Young from CWOW?  Hi, Frank!

  FY> Red Fox Inn in Middleburg, Virginia -- just out Route 50 west, about
  FY> thirty miles or so from the Beltway. While it may not be, in fact, the
  FY> "oldest inn operating continuously in America" [as they claim], it HAS
  FY> been in operation as an inn since the later eighteenth century [it has
  FY> one or two rivals in New England for the title "oldest"]. WARNING: It
  FY> is very fashionable, because it is located in the town that is
  FY> regarded as one of the twin binaries of the Virginia hunt country
  FY> [Upperville is the other town] and you must make reservations well in
  FY> advance, if you are not well-known to them. The last time, I made a
  FY> reservation in April for dinner in September. AND, they are VERY
  FY> expensive. I think I've been there about three or four times in over
  FY> forty years -- it is a unique experience [which is what you pay for]
  FY> and the food is very good. Pretentious, YES -- but an unforgettable
  FY> experience.

My own experience at Red Fox Inn has made me take it off my list for anything but a quick burger for lunch.  I've had mediocre service, very so-so food (not cheap), and the luncheon menu is /literally/ soups and burgers, nothing worth going out to Middleburg for.  And, first and foremost, their once-incredible peanut soup was extremely bland and uninteresting the last time I had it. I've never made reservations and never had a long wait for a table.

  FY> Also famous locally is The Inn at Little Washington, in Washington,
  FY> Virginia [yes, there is a Washington, Virginia -- called Little
  FY> Washington around here; as Washington, Pennsylvania, is so called.
  FY> It's written up in the papers quite frequently. Reservations WELL,
  FY> WELL, in advance [weeks, perhaps].

I'd say that the Inn at Little Washington is famous nationally, and the Red Fox Inn only locally (and not of such great significance, IMNSHO).  I don't think that the physical structure of the Inn at Little Washington is particularly old, based on a weekend there a couple of years ago.  The food, however, may be the best I've had in the United States.  And the reservations for popular months (spring flowers, autumn colors, winter holidays) and weekends (all other holidays) are required a LOOOOONG time in advance. Weekday dinner /might/ be handled by dropping in -- but it's a long way from DC just to see if there's a free table.