Personal Review {16 January 2002} :
Heavenly! We stopped at Mealey's for dinner on a Friday evening a
couple weeks ago. Even without reservations, we were able sit by
the warm, nicely decorated fireplace (we did arrive right at opening
at 5pm). Our meal and service were
absolutely supurb. The waiter, Michael, was great...a bit of a card,
he livened up the experience while not being overberring or obnoxious.
We had a great time. The meal was wonderful. We began the meal with
house salads and dressings with homemade rolls. We shared an appetizer
of stuff mushrooms (stuffed with crab imperial). My wife had the Chilean
Sea Bass in a peppery sauce with perfectly cooked vegetables and rice
for the side dishes. I had the petite lamb chops (6 of them) served
in a savory port wine sauce with perfectly cooked squash and green and
red peppers on the side and whipped sweet potatoes. We had the house
White Zinfindel wine which was very delicate and smooth. The desert,
if you imagine we had room for it, was to die for. My wife had the
Chocolate Mousse (again, one of the best she's had), and I had the
Bread Pudding served nicely warmed in a brandy sauce. Absolutely the
best bread pudding I've ever had. We went away feeling like we'd just
had one of the best dining experiences ever. The prices are reasonable
for a fine dining establishment like Mealey's with entrees running
around $15 - $22. Our total bill came to about $70, and worth every
penny of it. You won't be disappointed with an evening out at Mealey's.
Personal Review {26 April 2001} :
Last weekend we stopped by Mealey's again after `a few months off.' It was
so good! We started off with their Shrimp Cocktail ($8.95) serving
large shrimp and a very peppy sauce. Wonderful. Our entrees included the
Stuffed Portabello Mushroom stuffed with shrimp, crab meat and brie, and the
Grilled Mahi Mahi covered with an Orange Mango barbeque sauce, again, a very
perky, albeit slightly sweet, sauce. Both were fantastic selections and
very reasonably priced. Complete with appetizer, salads, entrees and
included side dishes, our total came to a respectable $53.
Interestingly, even without reservations (at 6:30pm on Sunday) we only had to wait about 20 minutes. Service has picked up tremendously over the last two years, perhaps partly due to the explosion in development in the immediate area around New Market and Frederick. No matter how long you have to wait though, it's worth it. Enjoy.
Personal Review {27 August 1999} :
If you're out and about for a day of antiquing in or around New Market, you
should definitely consider resting your tired feet at Mealey's Restaurant.
The brochure about the restaurant describes Mealey's as a place where one can
"Experience a Historic Tradition..." Indeed. Mealey's Restaurant is located
in the old Utz Hotel building built in 1793. You will be dining surrounded
by antiques and fine art. Ambient lighting graces the main dining area and
during the winter, one may sit near a roaring fire adding to the cozy warm
atmosphere.
The food and service was, in a word, excellent. Specials on Sunday (from Noon-4pm) include a wide variety of dinners at great prices. Entree's tried on our visit included the Shrimp Scampi (shrimp sauteed in garlic butter, served over linguine) and Jumbo Pan Fried shrimp, both of which were wonderful. Included with both meals was the house salad and dessert. We had ice cream for dessert which was so good we thought it was home-made. The peach was filled with large chunks of fresh peahes and the mint chocolate chip was equally delicious. Both, it turns out, were Hershey's brand. Each dinner was reasonably priced at about $17. Included on the menu for the Sunday afternoon specials were a 6 oz. Filet Mignon, New York Sirloin Steak, Chicken Breast (boneless/skinless), Blackened Chicken Breast, and many more. Daily specials included a Blackened Halibut.
We couldn't have enjoyed this late afternoon meal more. Of course, we couldn't get out of the Restaurant without purchasing one of the paintings on the wall (done by a local artist just down the street). A fabulous experience to say the least, and one well worth repeating.