Foodie Friday: The Harbor’s End Restaurant
GREENBACKVILLE, Va. – At the The Harbor’s End Restaurant in Greenbackville, Virginia, it’s a family affair.
A Family Affair
“We just love people, and feeding people,” said resturant owner Stephanie Downing. “A lot of customers tell us that when they come here they feel at home, they feel welcomed. It’s very inviting, it’s open an airy, it’s pretty, it’s clean.”
Stephanie and Deitrich “Chef D” Downing know what it means to keep it local, and they’re eager to show off their craft. “Come to Greenbackville. Come look at the beautiful land and water. You’ve got Chincoteague across the bay,” Stephanie said with a smile.
Fantastic Fritter
As if that isn’t reason enough to visit, Chef D expertly fries up a clam fritter. First comes chopped clams, then the details of the dough: eggs, mustard, onion, baking powder, pepper, clam juice, and of course, a generous helping of Old Bay.
Then things heat up, before the fritter is perched on a beautiful brioche bun. The fritter firms up on the flat top, before being dunked into the fryer.
“The fritter, you saw how it started on the flat top, and then it was put into the fryer. That helped to keep everything nice and held together. It’s just developed this perfect golden-brown on the outside of it. There’s a nice crunch as soon as you sink your teeth into it,” said Foodie Friday Host Hannah Cechini.
And, you can’t go wrong with brioche. “It’s really pillowy and buttery,” Hannah added.
“You just get all those great subtle spices from the Old Bay, and from the clam and the clam juice. I was super happy to see him put the clam juice in there, because there’s a ton of flavor in it,” Foodie Photog Mike said. “The clam is a great texture. It’s super savory.”
Three Words: Smothered. Crabby. Fries.
Chef D also has a special skill when it comes to smothered crabby fries.
“The moment I saw that chef was smothering fries in crab dip, I was already fully on board,” Mike quipped.
The crab dip, like everything else at the Harbor’s End, is home made with lots of love. And the fries: hand-cut, and freshly fried to order. After being coated in crab dip, and plenty of cheese, the fries get melty under the broiler.
“You can’t say no to home-cut fries like this, especially if they’re covered in crab dip,” Hannah said after a satisfying cheese pull. “They’re really thick, which means that they can carry all of this delicious crab dip really well.”
“They’ve got the perfect amount of salt, like just enough so you notice it,” Mike said. “You can call it a side if you want, but I think you’d be doing it a disservice.”
Hannah describes the delicious dip.
“It’s creamy, and cheesy, it’s got nice chunks of crab in it,” Hannah said. “We’re right here on the waterfront. It’s absolutely beautiful, and this is exactly the kind of food that I would want if I’m spending a day on the water here on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.”
Blueberry Bliss
The best way to wrap up a visit to Harbor’s End is with a slice of home made blueberry pie.
“The blueberries are super fresh,” Mike mused after an indulgent bite. “It’s like biting into a blueberry cookie with whipped cream on top. You can’t beat it.”
The Harbor’s End Restaurant
The Harbor’s End Restaurant is located at 2118 Harbor Drive, Greenbackville, Va. You can call them at 757-990-4200. If you go to check it out, tell the team that you saw them on Foodie Friday.
