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Port House Grill, 15 Main Street in North East, MD - Family-Owned Traditional American


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Not really sure where to put this...North East is pretty far north of Baltimore and for those of us from the DC area, the relevant feature is the proximity to an exit from I-95.

The Port House Grill is one of those places that:

- Has a smallish menu of standard American fare (salads, burgers, sandwiches)

- Yet seems to take great care with each element on the plate

- Is casual and affordable

These things make it perfect for families, travellers, etc who don't want Burger King but also don't want a full, formal meal "process".  It reminds me a bit of a somewhat less ambitious version of Family Meal sans a waitstaff on the floor.

For instance - the fries are fresh cut and nicely seasoned.  They aren't as heavy on the salt and seasonings as Family Meal.  The potato salad is likewise fresh (the diced onion still had snap), goes light on the mayo and comes with a sprinkling of seafood seasoning (which I LOVE on potato salad).

I enjoyed the portabella mushroom burger, served with a zucchini/squash filling on a brioche bun.  My wife had the chicken sandwich, and the kids had quesadillas.

The folks are nice.  You might say the downside is the layout - a square room with about 12 tables and a counter at the back.  You order, pour your own soda and sit and wait for the food to come, a la Noodles and Company.  But...if you're travelling and want a decent meal but not a long wait for the waitstaff to take your order and bring your check- this is the ticket.

Note that the online menu is pretty accurate in terms of what they offer but I think the in-store prices are a higher than what you see online.  Not much, but a little.

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Not really sure where to put this...North East is pretty far north of Baltimore and for those of us from the DC area, the relevant feature is the proximity to an exit from I-95.

[it's perfect here (the Baltimore forum extends all the way up to Cecil County), and also answers a question which has been asked multiple times here over the years: "Where can I find something good to eat off of I-95 between Baltimore and Delaware?" That's why I tagged the thread the way I did - this will greatly benefit Baltimoreans and Washingtonians alike, and it surely beats the heck out of Maryland House (where I recently got a squish penny and a disease). I suspect your post is going to help numerous people in the future (and also the restaurant) - thanks for having taken the time to write it. I'd almost bet money that, sometime during the course of my life, possibly even in 2013, I will have that portobello mushroom burger ($5.95!) - for travelers who don't want to stop for a meal, I'm sure they'd pack it to go.]

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Yes, I would think they'd pack stuff to go.

To be clear, I can't guarantee you'll be 'blown away' - but for me the alternative was Panera in White Marsh...and this does blow that away.  If someone reads this and seeks it out - you get off the North East exit and head to the east side of 95.  About 2 miles, no turns, maybe only 3 lights - it is the first house after the strip malls as you enter the towny part of town.  It is clearly marked and there's a nice front porch.

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This was a more than acceptable alternative to the two Maryland I-95 rest stops.  The crab cake was good and with no filler as they tout.  It is not fast, especially when large groups come in, as the ordering at the single register can create a bottleneck.  They do have online ordering for take out if you want to plan ahead.  A charming appearance - basically an old house with a front porch that has been gutted and turned into a restaurant.  Reasonably full even after 2pm.  We ordered some sauteed vegetables as a side (zucchini, squash, and red pepper).  They were alright, but nothing to rave or complain about.  Mid-way through our meal the chef comes out from the back and tells us that he was not satisfied with the vegetables he sent out with our meal and that he was making them again and it would be right out.  Although we told him that was not necessary, I am glad he did.  They were 100% better.  The one idiosyncrasy I noticed is a penchant for paprika which seemed to be on almost everything.

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