Last updated on January 27, 2011 by Liza Hawkins
Nestled down in a little valley on the boarder between Howard County and Carroll County is historic Sykesville, Maryland, a stop on the old B&O Railroad. Baldwin’s Station – the actual historic railroad station – has been transformed into a cozy nook of a restaurant, with an active railroad still passing through behind it.
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| 7618 Main St, Sykesville, Maryland |
The inside is very warm and inviting, and while I’m a sucker for exposed brick and wood beams (which they have plenty of), what really impressed me was their music: Sarah McLachlan, Landon Pigg, and old school Dave Matthews Band – I’m talking ‘The Song That Jane Likes’ from Remember Two Things (circa 1993). It was as though they were playing someone’s iPod or Liza’s channel from Pandora Radio. Very cool.
I happened to be at Baldwin’s Station this last time with a group from work, about 35 people. The food was good, but I prefer the cooking when the chef has the ability to prepare individual plates. This was wedding style – 35 plates of the same exact meal: strip steak and crab cake with salad and dessert.
The salad was fresh, crisp and simple, dressed with a vidalia onion vinaigrette that made my mouth sing, it was so good. And the strip steak was cooked exactly how I like – medium rare, tender, juicy, YUM. However, since you didn’t get a say with how the steak was cooked (wedding style, remember?) for some the pink was a turnoff. Crab cake? It was okay, but it’s hard to love another crab cake when your favorite is made by your grandmother.
Dessert was a sweet and rich flourless chocolate cake and a slice of cheesecake with a raspberry sauce drizzle. Perfection with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
There’s a lot to do in historic Sykesville beyond eating – so if you visit, make a reservation at Baldwin’s Station, but plan to spend another hour or two roaming the cute shops along Main Street. You won’t regret it!
