Mark’s Score 8.6
This is a tale of redemption, and second chances. I have visited this restaurant multiple times since they replaced Blue Dog Café. Blue Dog was an iconic restaurant and for the past six years I have felt that Oaked 110 was a poor replacement, until now.
Oaked 110 is owned by local residents Jason and Heather Welch. Oaked opened on West Green Street in October 2020 and soon moved to Blue Dog’s old location. The Welches wanted to create a pub where locals could drink, eat, and socialize in a relaxed atmosphere. As for the food, Executive Chef Thomas Raymond describes it as American comfort food with a southern influence and an Eastern Shore twist, with bourbon and whisky being central to the restaurant’s identity.
About a year ago, I had lunch at Oaked, at the time, they were doing renovation work in the dining area. The construction was noisy and intrusive, the service was bad, and the food was cold and uninspiring. In fact, the experience was so bad, I had vowed never to return. But a year is a long time. I found myself in Snow Hill at lunch time, and Château Le Mère had not yet opened, so with a bit of trepidation, I decided to give Oaked another try.
Right off the bat I was happy to see that last year’s renovations had been completed and the make-over had created a cozy neighborhood bar atmosphere. So, things were already looking up. I made my way to an empty bar, and I sat down.
Presently the bartender burst through the kitchen door and immediately filled the space with bonhomie. He greeted me as if I were an old friend whom he had not seen in a long time. Things were looking even better for Oaked.
I ordered a Berlin Beer (glad to see the local support) and asked for a menu. Sometimes the best test for a restaurant are the simple menu items. So, I ordered the candied bacon BLT, which received the bartender’s hearty approval. On the bartender’s recommendation, I also ordered the sweet potato fries with a bourbon dip for a side.
As I was waiting for my meal, I noticed the upside-down bottle of a vanilla orange infused bourbon on the wall. I asked the bartender what that was all about, and he explained that it was the featured bourbon. Though I am not a bourbon drinker, he was quick to offer me a sample. It was nice, I got the vanilla undertone, but frankly I couldn’t taste any orange.
The sandwich arrived, shortly. There was a generous portion of bacon, cooked to crispy perfection on lightly toasted bread. The bartender was right about the fries and the bourbon dip. The combination of salt and sweet was magical. So, Oaked had passed the final and most important test, the food, and they did it with the humble BLT. After nearly six years, and multiple tries, Oaked has finally won me over. I am looking forward to my next visit.
What else is there to do in Snow Hill?
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