Market Street Public House — Restaurant in Denton

I've eaten here many times - not sure why I didn't leave a review before now... This is the kind of warm, inviting establishment that naturally lends itself to returning to again and again. If you're looking for a 10-page menu that constantly changes, this isn't really that place (but those folks will still find something great to eat here!). This is the place that has a basic core menu that pretty much remains the same, but that's a good thing, because you can count on them having that favorite every time you want it - and it will always be good. I've never had a less-than-great meal here. If you are travelling through Denton, or visiting friends here, this is where you want to go for lunch or dinner (or just drinks). Today I visited with a friend, and we started with the Crabby Pretzel - the pretzel was essentially the size and shape of a small baguette, and topped generously with crab dip, sprinkled with old bay. It was even better than it looked. I ordered the Reuben with fries for my entrée - the only critique I have is the bread could be a little bigger - the generous meat and filling needed just a little more "coverage," in my opinion. But the sandwich was awesome - bite led to bite. The fries are a long, thin-cut fry, and for me they go great with a little salt and malt vinegar (which they always keep available). My friend - a former bartender - ordered a tea w/ whiskey. They explained ahead that it would be a bagged tea. He was really impressed and said it was delicious, a perfect ratio of tea/whiskey. He also ordered the Seafood Smorgasbord, which featured battered cod, fried oysters, and jumbo shrimp on a bed of fries. He was very pleased with it. He let me try a fried oyster - which I hadn't had before - and it was really good. Today was unseasonably warm and so we sat outside and enjoyed conversation along with the fantastic meal. The service is always polite, friendly, and courteous yet still down-to-earth (read: not pretentious). This is the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and I personally wouldn't have it any other way. Reviews are for the unfamiliar, not for folks who already know a place well - with that in mind, welcome to your new "home away from home." I don't think you could possibly be disappointed. Great hearty food fare in a rustic, cozy setting, with a bar pretty much unmatched in the area. A place where the Welcome mat is genuine...

Four trips to the place and each one was worse. Tonight - 43 minutes with an empty beer while the bartender (just across the walkway from me about 8 feet - you can see it in the picture on this page) talks to his apparent pet customers while ignoring me. The one waitress available for the seven active tables walked by me about 15 times to and from those other seven tables; too bad as second time I was there she was pretty darn good but I was with five other folks in my group so I guess single people sitting by themselves don’t matter as much as lots of people. Add to the poor service, the food has been marginal to really bad (do not get the fish and chips!!!). The only thing decent over the 3 times I was able to get food was the fried oysters. Too bad as I am here on a two month project and will have about 30 people from three different companies corporate offices here rotating almost every week during that time but I guess when you are the only non fast food/dive joint in town you can get away with it. Not sure of the math but 5-10 people per night at $25-35 per head adds up over a 8 week period especially during the week in what appears to be a way point for tourists on the weekends. I even commented when I got up (after waiting for someone to take and order for 40+ minutes) to pay that I had been waiting and the bartender blamed it on the floor waitress. Would have been nice to have that $4.75 beer not charged to me; that would have saved this review maybe. We will be moving from the Best Western hotel (another ‘only choice’ in town) to about 20 miles up the road. It will be worth the daily drive I am told. You can read my few other reviews and see i'm not one to normally put up bad reviews but this one...

On the way back from Ocean City, Maryland to Baltimore, we stopped by a little town called Denton for dinner. Denton is a town in Caroline County, Maryland with a population of about 4,418. We found an Irish pub restaurant, “The Market Street Public House”. It is situated right in the center of downtown of Denton. The evening of downtown Denton was quiet and plesant especially with those dimed lights aligned along the street. The restaurant was also nice and cozy with some customers hanging around the bar sipping on their drinks. Our waitree was a very friendly lady who was eager to please her customers. For drinks, I ordered their house-made Lemon Crush as they run out limes that night. My son ordered the Half & Half that is a double layered Guinness (Stout) and some kind of Ale usually Bass Ale. We ordered some of the traditional Irish dishes including Fish&Chips, SEAFOOD SMÖRGÅSBORD, which is combination of jumbo fried shrimp, cod and fried oysters $17.99). I tried the GUINNESS IRISH STEW that supposes to be a typicall Irish stew with beef tips, carrots, potatoes, celery and onions, served with a side of toasted bread ($13.99). For the appetizers, I liked the GRILLED CHICKEN QUESADILLA, but not so much the PUB’S FRIED OYSTERS, as some of them was not even fresh. My GUINNESS IRISH STEW tasted pretty good but it was not as thick as the stew I would have imaged. Nevertheless, overall, the food was good and enjoyable especially with my children and grandchildren. The overall bill was also reasonable that was less than $35 per person. Thus, I would recommend this place if you like Irish food and dine at...