Review: Destiny's
By Monserrat Urena
Photos by Tony Lewis, Jr.
Destiny’s
1216 S. Talbot St.
St. Michaels, MD 21663
410-745-5555
On a recent Saturday afternoon drive to St. Michaels with my partner, Fred, I looked forward to sampling traditional Eastern Shore fare in a new restaurant called Destiny’s. Named after owner Buddy Christopher’s daughter, it’s located on the outskirts of town in the space formerly occupied by Holy Mackerel. Family run and family friendly, the interior sports dark wood and a nautical theme with bar seating, booths, and tables of varying sizes.
Upon entering, the service was immediate and kind. We were warmly greeted and escorted to the table of our choosing. Our waitress, Jordon, quickly arrived and asked if we’d like something to drink. I was pleased to see that the wine list featured a number of selections from the popular St. Michaels Winery and that the beer selections included choices from regional breweries like Eastern Shore Brewing and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Believing not only in eating local, but drinking local, too, I ordered the former and Fred chose the latter.
Then I explored the menu—one of my favorite things about dining out. Merely holding a menu sends a rush of anticipation through my body; not only am I searching for that perfect dish to complement or even heighten my day, I’m getting a glimpse into the creativity and inspiration that’s at work in the kitchen. I was not disappointed with this particular kitchen’s approach to Eastern Shore cuisine. There was a little bit of everything, from seafood to homemade pies (I’ll be raving about the pies soon enough!).
Jordan returned with our drinks just as I’d decided among the dishes that had caught my eye. I started with a small cup of Maryland crab soup ($5) and an order of crab balls ($7). The crab balls were small morsels with an intense, authentic, crab cake flavor. I enjoyed the mild, hearty soup, which was full of fresh vegetables and a generous amount of lump crabmeat. For my next course, I opted for one of the lunch specials: a prime rib sandwich with fries ($8). Fred chose fried rockfish ($18) from the dinner menu, which included two sides. His two selections were an ear of fresh corn and a dish of sweet potato fluff—a variation on candied yams.
My prior experience with prime rib sandwiches has been that they’re usually every bit as messy as they are tasty. Don’t get me wrong; messy food is fun! I loved the way my French roll was cut, creating a neat pocket in which the meat and melted cheese had been carefully packed. I was not only able to enjoy the quality of the meat (perfectly cooked and very tender) along with the melted cheese, but I did so without any awkwardness or telltale mess. The petite French fries retained the natural sweetness of a good potato. The entire dish was simple, well-prepared, and I really enjoyed it.
Upon seeing Fred’s dish, I did a double take. The light, golden-brown rockfish fillets were larger than the dinner plate and enough to feed two people. As for the sweet potato fluff, it was topped with melted marshmallows and tasted like a delicate, homemade pumpkin pie.
Dessert proved to be the perfect finish to a meal that both of us felt had been terrific. From the list of homemade pies, I ordered a slice of coconut cream and Fred chose the apple pie. And there’s simply no better way to describe them than: absolutely delicious! The coconut cream pie was topped with an excellent, light meringue, which might seem like an easy thing to make. But those with experience know how well it speaks of the hands at work in the kitchen when perfectly executed. Despite finishing his extremely generous main course, Fred ate every bite of his apple pie in record time. I did manage to sneak one taste, which revealed a certain sweetness yet retained the natural tartness of apples. And our desserts were even more memorable since they’d been personally brought to the table and served by Destiny herself.
Why put up with the mediocre offerings of chain restaurants when this new, family-friendly establishment is nearby, convenient, and definitely worth the visit? Do yourself a favor: take time out of your busy schedule to discover Destiny’s. You won’t be disappointed.
Contributing writer Monserrat Urena is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.
Eastern Shore Dining
Eastern Shore Restaurants
Destiny’s in St. Michaels.
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