The Wellwood by Shirl Casey

Tucked away in the quaint waterfront community of Charlestown is The Wellwood, one of Cecil County’s finest dining experiences. Whether you’re searching for a location to host a large gathering, an evening of fine dining, or simply a casual meal, the Wellwood can accommodate all your needs.

This historic establishment has been in the Metz family for more than 40 years. What began as a prestigious Yacht Club has metamorphosed into a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere for all who enter. My husband Bill and I had the pleasure of meeting Larry Metz, current owner of the Wellwood on our visit there. It doesn’t take long after meeting Larry to see his loyalty and dedication to his family business. That wasn’t always the case. When Larry was 18 he decided that after growing up at the Wellwood, the business was not for him, and he moved on. He became a horse trainer, earning the position of lead trainer at Delaware Park for two years. His career took him to such places as Kentucky and Florida, but when the call came for him to come home, Larry did just that.

The Wellwood was in dire straits, facing the possible loss of all its business licenses and close to being condemned. The job ahead seemed impossible, but Larry rolled up his sleeves and began to work. Now, ten years later, the Wellwood has surpassed its former glory.

During our visit we also had the opportunity to meet the executive chef, Daniel Hannibal. Dan has been with the Wellwood for three years. He says “I’m always up for a challenge. I like variety, mixing the old with the new. Larry gave me this opportunity and it has been great. We have a good relationship.” Dan is in the process of revamping the menu, introducing many new items and keeping some classics. “If someone comes in and needs something made differently or plain because of diet or health reasons, we can do that too.”

I can’t even begin to share all of the rich history that surrounds the Wellwood. More than a few politicians have visited through the years, including Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge and Joseph Cannon. As you look around the dining rooms, you find many antique treasures, such as a carved wooden eagle that came from the White House. There are photo albums that give you a glimpse back in time. Many of the fixtures are original to the Wellwood.

Soon after being seated at our table, Bill and I were greeted by our friendly server, Jessica. She went over the evening’s specials and left us with a lot to ponder as she filled our drink orders. For an appetizer, Bill selected the Crab and Portabella Napoleon—a char-grilled marinated portabella mushroom with crab, roasted red peppers, onion, proscuitto ham and fresh sliced mozzarella cheese and balsamic reduction. I selected a bowl of St. Andrew’s soup, a delicious soup with rice, shrimp and sausage. Wow! The soup was very tasty, and Bill has a new favorite dish.

For an entree Jessica recommended the Filet Chesapeake. A petit filet topped with crab cake and provolone. It sounded so delicious that I had to try it. Bill chose an evening special. A pan seared, chipotle-spiced NY strip with crawfish butter and andouille sausage served over garlic-mashed potatoes. We couldn’t believe our eyes! The food was presented on the plate like a work of art; we almost didn’t want to eat it. My filet was melt-in-your-mouth fabulous. Bill is a meat and potatoes man, so he was in heaven. He couldn’t decide which he enjoyed more, the meat or the potato. The entire meal was just wonderful.

While we were enjoying our meal, magician Jeff Teate wandered over to entertain us. Not only is Jeff a master of balloon animals, but he also has great humor and wit. You can find his magic at the Wellwood on Thursday night, which is Family Night at the restaurant.

Larry feels that Cecil County is blessed to have so many independent restaurant owners. “It’s great because we all are so dedicated. We work hard, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. We all need to work together to keep the chain-style restaurants from taking hold of the county.”

After much hard work and dedication, The Wellwood has so much to offer: A banquet tent that is heated and can accommodate 450 guests. Fine and casual indoor dining, patio dining and the River Shack. You can get there now by land or by sea. Larry added 51 boat slips recently. The Wellwood hosts special buffet dinners for holidays such as Mother’s Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving. Saturday, December 22, is the annual Christmas at the Wellwood. Carolers and Santa will be present to get everyone in the holiday spirit. So whatever your dining wishes, take a drive out to Charlestown, to the Wellwood. We promise you won’t be sorry! —CSM