Olde Crisfield Crab & Steakhouse - An Update You Will Love!

First, here is a photo of what this restaurant looked like before it was sold to a new owner. Keep in mind there is a tiki bar to the right. It used to be called Side Street.

Want a 2010 update? Click here.

I never take anything off because you can't erase the news. People do it, but it's not right. Update March 2012: The tiki bar and restaurant are now closed. 



Side Street was purchased by Jerry Hardesty who decided to give the old place a new look. For several months Hardesty's workers have been hard at work transforming the old restaurant into what is going to be an eye-popping, mouth-watering experience.

No corners have been cut in transforming Side Street into what I have said will be, "A Universe unto itself."

Several weeks ago, I gave you a little sneak peak of a few of the painted table tops. Well, here are a few more photos to,"Wet your appetite." Oh, and point your compass to Crisfield in advance of Labor Day weekend. The Olde Crisfield Crab & Steakhouse will be open!

The drab is gone and happy is in. Just look at those colors - and there are more surprises to come.

The tiki bar, to the right of the restaurant, is going to wow you when it is completed. Come by boat if you have one. Those are crab houses behind the tiki bar. Somers Cove Marina can be seen in the far rear. The tall beige building is the J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum. Click to enlarge.

Jerry has been great about letting people tromp around and see what is going on. I caught Kathleen Sheeran of Prudential going in to take a peek. Let's go inside with Kathleen.

Look who I found inside taking a little tour: attorney John Phoebus, Events Planner Allison Castellana, and Rick Cauble. They are looking over the wall murals. Everything has been hand-painted.

This is Cranston Cox. He actually did some painting in our house when we moved here. But he did not tell me how talented he was. Remember, that is all done by hand. Cranston, I want a do-over!

Cranston is very picky.

This is Johnny Schunck, artist extraordinaire, flown in all the way from Florida. Look! There is lobster tank in the back.

Cranston and Johnny take time from their busy schedule to pose for the camera. Try to get workers in your town to do that.

Some of you may remember the stool tops, along with some of the finished tables I showed you several weeks ago. Here are some of the finished stools created by artist Johnny Schunck.

Back outside, take a look at that 100 year old crab steamer being sanded. It had been steaming crabs at the old restaurant for many years. No one knows how long it had been there, but they say it came from a place that used to steam tomatoes. I have eaten many a crab steamed in that pot. I can't wait to see what color it will be.

Well, that is all you get for now. Giving you more would be like giving someone all their Christmas presents before Christmas. We want you to be surprised!

See you Labor Day weekend at the Olde Crisfield Crab & Steakhouse!