Mark’s Score 8.7
My work with Bordeleau brings me to St Michaels a couple times each month. On my last trip to St Michael’s, I decided to have lunch at Doc’s Sunset Grille in Oxford. It is July, so it was a hot and sticky summer’s day. Doc’s sits right on the bay, so fortunately there was a stiff breeze. Consequently, in spite of the heat, I decided to have lunch on the patio. The strong breeze was welcome; occasionally even whipping up spray from the bay. Though the bay is merely brackish, I could smell and feel the salt water in the air. Though it was hot, the cool bay breeze provided a pleasant relief from the heat, and the combination of salty air and cool breeze immediately put me in a mellow and good humor.
Doc’s Sunset Grille is part of the Oristian stable of restaurants. Bo and Chooch Oristian own Doc’s Sunset Grille in Oxford, Doc’s Riverside Grille in Centerville, and Doc’s Downtown in Easton. Bo and Chooch have also partnered with David and Valerie Clark to create Legal Assets in Easton. With a pedigree like that, one should expect good things from Doc’s Sunset Grille.
The special on the day of my visit was a burger. But I was on the water, salt was in the air, and the day was hot and sunny. In that circumstance it would be a crime to eat anything but fish at a waterside restaurant. So, I skipped the special and ordered a cup of their Cream of Crab soup and their Blackened Rockfish Sandwich.
The Cream of Crab soup was much of muchness. It wasn’t bad, but neither was it extraordinary. You can get Cream of Crab soup of the same quality in dozens of locations all over the Eastern Shore. If you like Cream of Crab soup, this soup was adequate, if not particularly memorable. But the Blackened Rock Fish Sandwich, that was something altogether different. First, the fish was cooked to flakey perfection, and seasoned just to the point of being a bit piquant without the heat completely overwhelming the taste of the fish. Though I like Old Bay, I think it overdone here on the shore. So many restaurants use Old Bay to spice their dishes it has almost become a cliché. But I have to say, I thought the Old Bay spiced Aioli seasoning on the rock fish was just the perfect blend. They serve the fish on a bed of coleslaw that added a nice crunch without being soggy, as coleslaw can often be. In short, this sandwich was memorable, I would order this sandwich again.
Doc’s isn’t the place to go if you want fine dining. But if you are looking for decent food in a pleasant setting, Doc’s more than fits the bill. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and sitting by the bay on a warm summer’s day made for a memorable meal.
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