Mark’s Score 8.4
I travel between St Michaels and Salisbury twice a month, which means traveling up and down Route 50. That can get boring; however, you can take the much longer and slower back country route through Preston and Hurlock. On my last run to St Michaels, I had finished my work early so I decided to take the slower more scenic route back to Eden. Once you pass through Easton the drive to Preston takes you through lovely gently rolling farmland.
I left St Michaels at about 11:30, which means I would be driving through the rural countryside about lunch time. Restaurants are far and few between in this part of Maryland, and you are most certainly not going to find haute cuisine. But when I do take this route, I stop at Preston Roadhouse Bar and Grill. It is like stepping back in time into a rural Maryland that is fast disappearing.
Preston Roadhouse opened in 2024 with the mission of providing a friendly, casual experience serving the local community with comfortable American style cuisine. In short, a typical unpretentious old-style small-town roadhouse.
The roadhouse is in the center of Preston at the junction of Maple and Main. Though it is smack in the center of town, it can easily be missed. I have passed it on more than one occasion, causing me to have to back track. It is in a non-descript brick building across the street from a gas station, there is no parking on the street but there is a lot in the back.
Though the outside is nondescript the interior is pleasantly charming with a warm, downhome vibe. It is quintessentially country American. Too often country décor can be a cheesy western tableau. There are no wagon wheels here, no weathered bull skulls, just simple understated country charm.
Their menu included traditional items you would expect to find in a smalltown roadhouse, but with a touch of sophistication and innovation. Frankly, their menu was delightfully innovative. I ordered the Cream of Crab Soup, well because it is Maryland. To accompany my soup, I ordered a side of Crispy Brussel Sprouts. Honestly, the soup was OK, but not memorable. I was neither disappointed nor wowed. But the Brussel Sprouts were some of the best I have had in quite some time. They were cooked to crispy perfection, without being burnt. The combination of sprouts, bacon bits and cranberries made for a very memorable dish. It is worth coming to this restaurant in the back-of-the-beyond, just for the sprouts. I also appreciated the fact that the dishes were presented with a bit of simple elegance and forethought. The food just wasn’t thrown on a non-descript white plate. It was presented with a bit of panache.
Would I drive out of my way to eat at this restaurant, probably not. But often, when you drive in rural areas you feel you have to settle for the mundane. That is not the case here, I would happily eat here at any time.
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