Faster, better…

(At least since September 2008 we had heard that Topside closed. The latest word as of February 9 is that a new restaurant and bar will be reopening March 6 under new management and with a new name. Port Side Restaurant is casual dining down stairs and a fun upstairs deck bar with a key west flair.)

My wife and I took my sister to the Topside Inn and Restaurant, across the street from the famous Pirates Cove restaurant in Galesville, MD on Saturday May 26 during the long Memorial Day weekend. It was Linda’s 50th birthday.

I wanted a place that was unique to Southern Maryland and I wanted to eat outside. It was a glorious day. The Topside is in a very old structure. Parking is a bit tough after hours but this afternoon we found a spot in front. Walking in the front door you negotiate floors and steps that leave you wondering if you actually had learned to walk. I suppose the building’s age adds character to the experience, but please watch your step!

We were greeted immediately by a smiling waitress ready to seat us in the dark restaurant and TV bar on the first floor. I asked if there was a seat upstairs. Much to my amazement the waitress seemed discouraged and handed the menus to my sister who had walked in ahead of me and said,”Take these upstairs and they will seat you up there.” The waitress shrugged and pointed saying, “Go go that way. Around the corner.” A tall young man also working in the restaurant responded to the confusion. He took the menus and walked us upstairs. He turned us over to Sarah.

Sarah seated us in the outside deck area with a view of the water between Galesville and Shadyside. At that point the experience improved and we relaxed. Sarah took extraordinary care of us during our lunch at the Topside. I’d recommend it to anyone. We had a chance to observe the other wait staff upstairs and were very impressed at the way they kept customers happy.

My wife and sister had soups and large seafood salads. These were not tiny little salads with a few pieces of fish or crab. These were BIG salads. Each of my guests were very satisfied with their meal. I had the corn beef Reuben with optional onion rings. My sandwich was a little wanting on the corn beef and a tiny bit too oily for my taste but it was good. I’d give it a B. The onion rings were an A+ so the experience averaged out well. We completed the meal celebrating with vanilla ice cream sundaes smothered in butterscotch sauce. Sarah took the obligatory fiftieth birthday pictures.

The restaurant wasn’t crowed since we arrived well before the regular dinner rush. A few minutes before we left a guitar player/singer arrived to entertain everyone. We were not sure what he was playing just that it was rather depressing music and a little loud for us. We did in all fairness tell him when he asked that we had an open mind as to our taste in music, Well almost anything.

We didn’t order alcohol with the meal. The meal before tip was in around $65. A shade more that you you pay at the new Pantera Bread in Prince Frederick with a whole lot more ambiance. On a scale of one to five the Topside gets a four for lunch and we will be back for dinner someday and ask for Sarah. Sarah rocks.

Topside Inn And Restaurant
1004 Galesville Rd
Galesville, MD 20765
Phone: (410) 867-1321

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