Deauville Inn adds gourmet touch to eclectic eatery
They conquered the kids market by offering a lunch with Santa Claus and a child friendly atmosphere.
They conquered the sports market by installing nine TVs around the bar area while utilizing a satellite dish system that broadcasts every sporting event from Game 7 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference semifinals (It was a great party, especially because the Sixers won!) to Eagles games on their wide-screen TV in the dining room that turns the restaurant into a tailgate party.
They conquered the laid-back summer atmosphere of beach-goers dusting sand off their feet and kicking back on the deck to watch the sunset while picking at clams and shrimp.
They tied it all together with a dining room that was for those whose idea of dining included more formal attire than flip-flops, tank tops and Hawaiian Tropic No. 10.
But gourmet?
Not until last month, when the Deauville introduced a gourmet dining experience that marries a seven-course meal with wine tasting to go along every step of the way.
It’s the brainchild of Linda Brown, who is the daughter of Gloria and Walter Carpenter, who bought the Deauville in April 1980.
Brown wanted to start something for locals to enjoy during the off-season. Ten months of the year (excluding July and August), she opens the Sunset Room on the second floor of the Strathmere landmark for an evening of fine dining with an international theme. Once a month (this month’s special night, June????, features Italian food and wine; May’s event was Australian-themed) the restaurant puts 30 people on a list on a first-come, first-served basis. The May event, Brown said, was spectacular.
“It takes a lot to impress me, and I was impressed,” she said. “I have people waiting in line just to hear about the next one. I have no doubt that this one will be sold out as soon as I announce the date (she got the word out to the waiting list this past Tuesday).”
Patrons get a taste of a different wine with each course. The experience begins at 6 and lasts until 9 p.m. so that diners can enjoy sunsets while overlooking Strathmere Bay. If the event continues to grow in popularity, Brown said she’ll go to two gourmet nights a month.
“When I say it’s gourmet, it’s unlike anything else being done in Cape May County. Cape May City hasn’t seen anything gourmet like we have. It’s a special evening,” she said. “People are really into pairing certain wines with certain foods, and we give them a taste of wine to go with each course.”
The rise of the Sunset Room completes the circle at the Deauville, where locals have been visiting since the late 1880s. The Carpenter family has been running the show since 1980 and celebrated their 21st anniversary this past April.
“It’s a family business. We own it and operate it, I live in this building, literally,” she said. “My dad always wanted to run the Deauville ever since 1958 when he first rented a summer home on Whale Beach (south end of Strathmere). We bought it in 1980, and as my mom just said, she’s still here.
“We have been fortunate in being able to appeal to all ages. There’s something here for everyone, and this gourmet night completes that.”
Rob Seitzinger can be
e-mailed at seitz[at}catamaranmedia.com or you can comment on this story by
calling 624-8900, ext. 250.
DEAUVILLE INN
Willard Road, on the
bay
Strathmere
(At the base of the Ocean Drive bridge
connecting Upper Township and Ocean City)
263-2080
ON THE MENU
Menu:
Munchies (cheese and crackers, U-peels, blooming potato—try it!), soups
(She crab, snapper, chowder), pizza, sandwiches, salads, seafood right
out of the ocean, burgers, steaks and pasta.
Prices: $3.95 to $29.95
Dine in/Take-out: Take-out available on anything on the menu.
Liquor license: Three full bars (tavern, dining room, deck).
Parking: On premises.
Reservations: Recommended, especially over the summer.
Rob Seitzinger can be e-mailed
at seitz[at]catamaranmedia.com or you can comment on this story by
calling 624-8900, ext. 250.
Check out his Cape Cuisine food blog