by Allison McAlister
Known as the
home of the original Maryland crab pretzel, Silver Spring Mining Company
draws in customers not only for this monster of a pretzel but also
for their family friendly atmosphere and varied menu featuring a wealth
of taste sensations to please every palate. In addition to the numerous
menu options available, there are also several daily specials from
which to choose. If it all seems a little overwhelming and you simply
cant decide, the knowledgable and friendly wait staff is very helpful
in offering suggestions so you can narrow down your choices. A co-worker
and I visited the restaurant for lunch on a recent weekday. Its obviously
a popular spot for business lunches. I knew it was a favorite restaurant
of another of my co-workers, but this was my first visit to Silver
Spring Mining Company. Id heard about the fried pickles and was eager
to try them. Obviously, we had to sample the signature appetizer -
the Maryland Crab Pretzel. When the pretzel was brought to the table,
I gasped. This pretzel is ginormous! Be sure youve got dining companions
to share it with you or plan on taking some home. Its huge! Oh, and
was it delicious! Topped with generous amounts of crab dip and Cheddar
Jack cheese and baked to perfection, this pretzel is out of this world.
And, of course, I had to try the fried pickles. While my co-worker
wasnt too taken with them, I thought they were quite yummy, especially
dipped in the country mustard sauce that comes with the appetizer.
Id definitely order them again, and Id also like to try another of
Silver Springs unique appetizers - the fried green beans. In addition
to these distinctive items, the normal appetizer fare, such as mozzarella
sticks, potato skins and nachos, rounds out the offerings. For our
main entrees, I chose the crab cake wrap, one of the daily specials,
while my co-worker went with the Baltimore Reuben. This specialty
sandwich, served open-faced, features seasoned shrimp and crabmeat
over grilled marble rye with thousand island dressing, bacon bits,
tomatoes and Cheddar Jack cheese. She let me try a bite or two, and
it was really, really good. My crab cake wrap was tasty as well, filled
with succulent crab, lettuce, tomato and a mustard sauce served up
in a wrap baked to golden brown perfection. All the food comes to
the table piping hot. The french fries are really good, too - crispy
on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. Somehow we managed
to save room for dessert. When you visit, you must plan on having
dessert. Trust me on this. Ask to see the dessert tray and you will
not be able to say no. Everything looks sinfully scrumptious, with
choices such as mile high apple pie, Oreo brownie sundae and homemade
rice pudding. We chose to sample the black bottom cheesecake and the
peanut butter crunch. The cheesecake was decadent, but I have to say
the peanut butter crunch was outstanding. Imagine peanut butter, chocolate
and caramel together with chocolate fudge and whipped cream. Heavenly!
And the portion was enough to share with three people! Wow! It was
incredibly delicious. Like I said before, the restaurants menu is
chock full of choices. There are several salad options, including
Raspberry Walnut Salad, Asian Chicken Salad and a Mediterranean Antipasto
Salad, just to name a few. Soups, fajitas, chicken dishes, pasta dishes,
seafood, steaks, burgers, specialty sandwiches and more, including
Miner Joes favorites like sour beef & dumplings and baby back ribs,
complete the extensive menu. Theres definitely something for everyone
at Silver Spring Mining Company. Besides daily specials, the restaurant
also offers an Early Bird Menu available from 2 - 6 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Complete dinners, including soup or salad, choice of select
entrees, vegetable, select dessert and beverage, are just $14.99.
Some restrictions apply. Throwing a party? Silver Spring also offers
custom catering and party platters, both in house or off premise.
A private party room is available for booking. They will customize
a menu to fit your needs. Silver Spring Mining Company is located
at 8634 Belair Rd. in Perry Hall and is open seven days a week. For
more information, call 410-256-6809 or visit their web site at www.silverspringminingco.com.
