Pascal’s Tavern

How I heard of this place: We were in search of a weekend getaway in St. Michaels without paying an arm and a leg for our accommodations. This one came highly recommended on Trip Advisor and became our new favorite diggs in St. Michaels.
Type of cuisine: «The Harbour Lights Restaurant provides guests with an elegant experience overlooking the Miles River and St. Michaels Harbor. Enjoy signature dishes from Executive Chef, David Hayes, featuring regional specialties and the freshest seafood with a focus on seasonal delights and local ingredients.
The Club Room offers a relaxing atmosphere for you to enjoy delicious cocktails, appetizing small plates and beautiful views of the harbor.
Our outdoor covered Port Deck is a unique and charming setting for dining or enjoying a cocktail while taking in the waterfront views. It’s also the perfect location for a private event such as a rehearsal dinner, cocktail party or intimate waterfront wedding ceremony. Dock & Dine! Tie up at the Marina for up to 3 hours while enjoying lunch or dinner *subject to availability, call ahead.» Ambiance: «St. Michaels Harbour Inn, Marina & Spa offers one of the finest marinas in the Chesapeake Bay area. Conveniently located on the Miles River off of Eastern Bay, our full service marina features all the amenities you would expect to find at a waterfront resort.
Let our experienced and courteous staff help you tie down while you enjoy a refreshing swim in our pool, a snack in the lounge or a meal upstairs overlooking the Miles River. Enjoy one of our many spa treatments, a leisurely bike ride into town, go crabbing or take an ecological nature cruise. Our Dock Master or our front desk personnel will gladly make arrangements for these and all other area activities.»
What I ordered: For breakfast, I started with a mug of hot water with lemon wedges. Three of us dined on the Harbour Lights Frittata ($ 11.50 each), wild mushroom, spinach and ricotta frittata topped with sun-​dried tomato and arugula salad. My husband, the rogue in our frittata experience, selected the Lemon Hinted Pancakes ($ 14.50) with fresh strawberries, maple flavored syrup, vanilla ricotta butter, and applewood smoked bacon.
For dinner, after spending the afternoon cycling through our spa treatments, we stayed close to home, returning to Pascal’s. We had, on each trip into the elevator, studied the menu, salivating at the thought of our dinner options. Now, we had our moment. To start, I selected the BLT Boston Bibb Salad ($ 9.50) with cherry tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon, sliced avocado, shaved red onion and bleu cheese dressing. At our table, we also had one order for the Baby Green Salad ($ 9.50) with roasted apples & pears, toasted pecans, dried cranberries tossed in an apple cider vinaigrette and topped with fried goats cheese. The salad course was accompanied by a table favorite: the Applewood Smoked Bacon Mac & Cheese ($ 6.50). It was wrong to imagine that our appetizers would replace the bread and dipping oil, as the fluffy rosemary focaccia squares in a bread basket made its way to our table, accompanied by a generous helping of herb-​infused oil: parsley, chives, red pepper flakes, mozzarella cheese and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. The main entrees, making their way to our table side: Rosemary & Honey-​Glazed Lamb Shank ($ 27.50) served over a root vegetable mash, lamb bacon, potato and Brussels sprout hash with a lamb-​raspberry jus. Two orders for the Shrimp & Corn Crusted Flounder ($ 27.50) served atop over-​sauted zucchini and squash with cherry tomatoes and lemon caper butter sauce. Rounding out the bacon-​rich meal, I enjoyed the Bacon Wrapped Scallops ($ 29.50) with wild mushroom, spinach and ricotta cheese lasagna and lobster cream sauce. We were advised to save room for dessert, and while the room is questionable, the dessert recommendation was a hit! Our table of four shared one serving of the night’s special dessert: Vanilla-​Bean Honey Panna Cotta served with fresh berries, chocolate covered strawberries and a caramel drizzle.
What I loved: The honey panna cotta was a sincere hit! The Mac & Cheese a unanimous table favorite, and the herb-​infused oil a winner with every bite.
Why I loved it: Friendly service, calming space, beautiful scenery, awesome company and a rich meal!
Cost: High ($ 25.50 — $ 30.50 per dinner entrée)