By E.T. MOORE
CLEAR SPRING – The word “comfortable” most adequately describes Windy Hill Restaurant, which is just south of Clear Spring along Md. 68. The decor, the food, the staff and even the clientele made me comfortable.
A recent excursion there on a crisp, fall evening was a treat for me and my dining companion.
I ordered the salmon cakes after asking the server if she would recommend them. She replied that she thought I would like them if I preferred about 95 percent salmon and very few other ingredients.
All they needed was a little fresh lemon, some salt and pepper, and I was pleased with my choice.
As a side dish, I ordered the green beans, which are always served piping hot and laced with cooked ham for seasoning. I could have eaten two more helpings of those beans but instead finished my meal with a baked potato and sour cream, which was unimpressive but adequate.
My entree was just $6.95 – another reason why Windy Hill Restaurant has a devoted following. The dining room was busy for a Monday with mostly local folks who spoke cordially to each other as they met in the two dining rooms.
For his entree, my companion ordered the pork chops for $7.95. At first he asked for an accompanying order of mashed potatoes but when told they were instant, he opted instead for the french fries.
He said the two pork chops were tasty but just a tad overdone. But the crispness and flavor of the huge of french fries made up for the minor shortcomings of the pork, my friend said.
A side dish of corn also scored high, tasting as fresh as right off the cob, my companion said.
Saving room for dessert, my companion ordered blueberry pie topped with ice cream. That order was meant to be a sort of test since his favorite pie is blueberry and he considers himself quite the discerning judge of that particular treat.
So when it came, he took a bite of the steaming pie and proclaimed it almost as good as his late mother’s version. The blueberries were still whole, not pureed to death, in the Windy Hill pie.
At the end of the meal, both diners were full, and the bill was an incredible bargain at just over $20.
Windy Hill also serves breakfast and lunch and has a regular following from Clear Spring and other parts of the Tri-State area.
Indeed the blueberry pancakes served up at breakfast time are a big hit with locals as well as with a certain former U.S. president (Jimmy Carter) and his wife who stopped in while traveling to a Habitat for Humanity project.
They were so impressed with those pancakes that they have stopped in again and ordered those pancakes, the staff said.
The decor is pure country, but it gives off a warmth that matches the food, the service and the company.
Windy Hill Restaurant
n Food: 3 forks (out of 4)
n Service: 3 forks (out of 4)
n Atmosphere: 3 forks (out of 4)
n Value: 4 forks (out of 4)
Hours: Windy Hill Restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Prices: Dinner entrees range as high as $11.95 for steak.
Phone: 301-842-2827.
Location: Windy Hill Restaurant is at 13120 Clear Spring Road, Clear Spring.
e th�fk �<�am cheese icing is a favorite of mine. Excellent, even with the coconut. The mousse was even better – fluffy with a rich, deep chocolate flavor.
A stop at Washington Spy is worth your time, and your wallet won’t feel unduly pinched afterward.
Washington Spy
n Food: 3 forks (out of 4)
n Service: 4 forks (out of 4)
n Atmosphere: 2 forks (out of 4)
n Value: 3 forks (out of 4)
Hours: Washington Spy is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. (10 p.m. on Fridays); Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sunday
Prices: Range from $3.75 for an appetizer of garlic bread with cheese to $21.99 for the Washington Spy Combo platter, which includes grilled chicken breast, pork loin and jumbo shrimp served with fettuccine noodles and an Alfredo or Marsala cream sauce
Phone: 301-745-5400
Location: 33 E. Antietam St., Hagerstown
