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Daytripping with stops at Sorrento’s, The Grill at Harryman House and Salisbury Zoological Park

Eddie Applefeld

It’s been almost too hot to leave the house. But how much of The Price is Right can one man watch? So I decided to leave the air conditioning behind and venture out to two restaurants and a Maryland zoo. The restaurants had air conditioning but the zoo didn’t. How do those polar bears survive a Maryland summer?

Let’s begin in Arbutus and a first-time visit to Sorrento’s of Arbutus, 5401 East Drive. This restaurant has been at this location since 1965, but the current local owner, Harold, has had it since 2020. It’s very popular in the community for various reasons. One is the food and the second is because they take an active role in this community. Very involved with the schools and with UMBC.

Sorrento’s (Photo by Eddie Applefeld)

Sorrento’s is open 7 days, a small bar area, with parking on the street, in the back and a lot across the street, seven-day beer, wine, and liquor license, casual, family-friendly, does not accept reservations, catering, offers wings, subs, pizza, Mexican, soup, salad, kid’s menu, dessert, burgers, seafood, pasta and more.

Seating for about 90, TV’s, carry out of course, and, are you ready for this, very good crab cakes. I honestly was surprised at how good they were. They are participating in Baltimore County Restaurant Week (runs through July 21). Reach them at 410-242-8383.

Let’s hop on 695 and scoot on up to Reisterstown and The Grill at Harryman House, 340 Main Street. This is another restaurant that has been in their community for many years. Locally owned and operated, open 7 days but closed for lunch on Monday, very nice and big bar area with table seating and bar service, weekend brunch, reservations encouraged, three rooms available for private events, plenty of parking in the back, pizza oven, outside dining, seating for about 180 and all housed in a turn of the 18th-century log cabin.

The Grill at Harryman House (Photo by Eddie Applefeld)

There are more menus here than I’ve seen in a while. For example, a kid’s menu, an in-between menu (3-5 pm), a social hour menu (Monday-Friday 3-5:30), a lunch and dinner menu, and a late-night menu (Monday-Saturday 9:30-10:30). In other words, they have you covered no matter when you’re there. Harryman House is also involved with Restaurant Week. An example of a few of their entrees includes crab & shrimp newburg, seafood paella, and cauliflower parmesan. Also available are appetizers and desserts. You choose one appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Price $42.00. Reach them at 410-833-8850 or harrymanhouse.com.

Okay fasten your seat belt, we’re crossing the Bay Bridge. And look at where we are, the Salisbury Zoological Park, 755 South Park Drive. Situated on 12 acres with over 100 animals, founded in 1954, free admission and parking (yes you read that correctly), run by 9 member Salisbury Zoo commission appointed by the mayor, gift shop, no pets (except service animals), about 300,000 annual visitors, open daily from 9 to 4:30 (not Christmas or Thanksgiving) and houses species mainly native to North and South America and Australia. (no polar bears) School groups and charter bus groups are welcome. Three events you may find of interest – Bunk with the Beasts August 2 & 3; Zoovies Night, August 3 (that’s a movie); and Zoo Teen Camp August 5-9. They have wheelchairs, a picnic area, and paved pathways. They will happily accept a donation. This is an ideal place for a family trip…410-548-3188….salisburyzoo.org

And that my friends will bring us back from where we started. By the way,  I have a feature on YouTube called Eddie’s Corner where I highlight restaurants and I can be heard on various days on Talk Radio 680 WCBM with entertainment commentary.