Photo by Eddie Applefeld

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Daytripping: Sea King Seafood Market and Crab House, Primanti Bros, The Essen Room, Plumpton Park Zoo

Eddie Applefeld

Before I begin with our regular restaurant visits, this question(s) – where did summer go? Do you have it? How can it be late August already?

Would appreciate help with this. Okay, now that’s out of the way, let’s get moving with our first stop Sea King Seafood Market and Crab House, 3417 Plumtree Drive, Ellicott City, just off Route 40 West.

Open 7 days with outdoor dining, weekly specials (like oysters on Tuesday and wings on Wednesday), can accommodate private events, will do party platters, many of the desserts are made here, two dollar crabs Monday & Tuesday, three dollar crabs Friday & Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7. Keep in mind, all this is based on availability.

This is two places in one. In the front, you’ll find the market, open daily at 11. Here’s where you can take out all that wonderful seafood, though there are a few seats if you wish to eat there. In the back is where you’ll find the dining room. In summer it opens at 4 pm….410-465-9663…seaking.com

Okay, let’s hop on that always adventurous beltway and head to Linthicum and the newly opened (late June) Primanti Bros, 996 Corporate Blvd. Open 7 days with seating for about 185 and a large bar area with TVs, this is their 48TH location. The business began in Pittsburgh in 1933 as a sandwich cart. There were three brothers.

Photo by Eddie Applefeld

They are known for their large sandwiches, easily enough for two people. They’ll pile almost anything you want on a sandwich, with the most popular choices being cheese, tomato, lettuce, and French fries. Plenty of parking and this location is only about 10 minutes from the airport, meaning this is a convenient place for a meal coming or going. You should also ask for one of their colorful and cooling specialty drinks. Half price on drinks during the weekday happy hour (4-7) and weekday evenings 9 to 11. On Thursday it’s buy one pizza get the other free. 443-842-0255………primantibros.com

Photo by Eddie Applefeld

I’m sorry but it’s back on the beltway we go heading east this time to exit 22 (Pikesville) and to The Essen Room, 25 Hooks Lane. This is a kosher-style deli, but it’s a lot more than just deli meats. They offer soup, burgers, salads, eggs, shrimp salad, fish and breakfast is served all day. Try the French toast. Closed Monday, catering, delivery, no alcohol, reservations not necessary, a help-yourself pickle bar, and believe me I did, plenty of parking, seating for about 70, wide selection of bagels (what this is a surprise!) and they opened in November 2017. My favorites are the matzoh ball soup, the French toast, bagels, and lox, and the extra lean corn beef. Just like Primanti Bros, these sandwiches are huge, one is good for two days or two people….420-653-7666…theessenroom.com

I certainly hope you’ve had enough to eat, because we’re taking a longer trip, off to the Plumpton Park Zoo, 1416 Telegraph Road, Rising Sun, on Route 273. This highway is part of the Mason-Dixon Scenic Highway. Open seven days, 9 to 6 until Labor Day (10-5 thereafter), 180 animals consisting of about 70 species. We’re talking mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

The zoo got its start in 1985 on the family estate of Edward Plumstead. It’s visited by about 120,000 people a year. The zoo welcomes school groups, can use volunteers and the grounds can hold special events. I imagine a meeting or party at a zoo is kind of neat. At 11 and 1 you can feed the giraffes, as long as they don’t eat you first. Hey just kidding! The cost for that is $6.00, $3.00 for members.

An upcoming event is Fall Brew on September 16 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m./ (check website for details). Daily admission is $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors, and children 2 to 12 $14.95. This is locally owned so consider this for a family daytrip….410-658-6850…plumptonparkzoo.org

And that friends, brings us back to Go. I assume I’ll see you in the fall. Now go look for summer!