Restaurant: Holly’s
Location: 108 Jackson Creek Rd Grasonville, MD 21638. (410) 827-8711
Date: May 23, 2014
Cuisine: American
Rating: Solid modern Gastro-comfort
My family has been stopping at Holly’s (a greasy spoon a few minutes east of the Bay Bridge) for almost 40 years.
This establishment is old school Americana at its best. Nothing has really changed here since the 70s, and probably for 20 or so years before that.
Classic decor. As a kid they even had one of those “Have a Coke and have a smile” machines that was a top opening cooler! Served bottles of course.
The menu is pretty classic too.
But it does have Eastern Shore specialities like Crab and Vegetable soup. This Eastern Shore variant on Manhattan Clam Chowder (blue crab instead of clams) is delicious, sweeter, and altogether amazing.
Tuna sandwich.
Catfish sandwich. They don’t skimp on the portions.
Pancakes.
And one of their specialties, straight up friend chicken. No chocolate. No waffles. No tempura batter. Just homemade American fried chicken. And it’s still great.
Another regional specialty, the crab cake sandwich. Filled with blue crab!
It’s nice that some things, especially simple good things, don’t change. As much as I’m a food modernist, I can also really appreciate well cooked classics, sort of the culinary version of folk music.
Oh, and they have crazy good pies too, including the famous apple “dumpling.” Plus, the prices are crazy cheap. Adding a fried chicken breast to anything costs $2.59!