Hi foodies! Ryan Laspina here! The Foodies team was invited out to Rumsey Tavern on Friday, May 3rd to sample some of their incredible menu items. I was very happy to return to my old stomping grounds and see a place revitalizing a historic building.
Location
Rumsey Tavern is located at 233 Lowe Dr. in historic Shepherdstown, WV. Utilizing the space that was once the Clarion hotel, Rumsey Tavern has a goal of revitalizing a historic building while also providing the Shepherdstown community with affordable, quality food.
Cuisine Type
The cuisine at Rumsey Tavern is what I would call affordable fine dining. It is definitely a casual place where families, college students, and other members of the community can all feel welcome, but there are quality, unique dishes on the menu. A lot of different cultures are represented on the menu – from Spanish to Italian to Cajun to traditional American dishes. There is so much diversity that even the pickiest eaters will find something they enjoy. However, the menu also offers unique dishes for the more adventurous types.
Ambience and Decor
As a proud Shepherd University alum, I was taken back to my college years walking into Rumsey Tavern. While the building they are in is under construction, this only impacts the walkthrough from the entrance to the tavern. Once inside the restaurant, you will see plenty of Shepherd decor, televisions playing sports, and an outdoor patio area with a fire pit. The owner, Campbell, is also a proud Shepherd alum and big supporter of Shepherd sports. This is the perfect place to come during or after gameday to get a great meal!
Service
The service at Rumsey Tavern was top notch. Campbell and his staff were very attentive and took the time to graciously chat with us (more on that in a bit when we spotlight Campbell and Mitch, his head chef). The staff brought us multiple specialty dishes to try, and we actually got to learn about how the dishes were made and the inspiration behind them.
Menu and Specialities
Let’s get down to the food! The menu was extremely eclectic, with dishes inspired by a plethora of cultures. They also had multiple drink options (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). There aren’t many places in this area where you can pair a cold brew with a Spanish-inspired entree, or a mocktail with a Cajun-inspired dish. As stated previously, picky eaters and adventurous eaters alike will find something to eat at Rumsey Tavern.
Food Quality and Taste
The food at Rumsey Tavern was sensational. Everything was simply made, with minimal ingredients and seasonings to let the dish stand out. The proteins delivered the flavor, not a premade spice packet. Below is a list of all the drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts we tried.
Drinks
We tried two cocktails and two beers. The Rumsey Runner, their take on a rum runner, was delicious and was the perfect drink to sip outside on their patio while the fire pit was going. I am not a fan of cosmos, but Ashley enjoyed it. They also gave us a domestic beer (Yuengling), but they also have specially brewed beers from Antietam Brewery, and we had the 1605. It hit the spot to wash down all the food!
Appetizers
I got really excited when I saw the appetizers they had picked for us. First, the mini crab cakes were incredible. They were pure crab – no filler at this spot! So sweet and succulent, I could have eaten about 20 of them. They also brought us out their most popular flatbread (which is big enough to be ordered as an entree) – the Italiano Flatbread. This beast had three types of Italian meats – pepperoni, salami, and the indulgent soppressata. The sauce was made with real crushed tomatoes and the dough was perfectly crispy. We got off to a very tasty start!
Entrees
The entrees basically took us on a tour around the world. We had British inspired fish and chips. The piece of fish was monstrous and was beer battered and fried in house. The hand cut french fries were also cut and fried in house. It was served with tartar sauce and was better than any fish and chips I have gotten elsewhere. My favorite entree of the whole night was the fried shrimp po boy, an homage to the Creole culture of New Orleans. The shrimp were plump and crispy, the bread was soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside, but what really made the dish for me was the incredibly fresh veggies. That attention to detail is what takes dishes over the top for me.
We continued our tour with a Spanish dish that I had never tasted or frankly heard of – chicken pimentos. This deboned and lightly fried quarter chicken was drenched in a delicious sauce and served with house made potatoes. This dish is pretty famous in Nashville, and luckily Chef Mitch brought it up to the Eastern Panhandle. Go try this dish today!
We also got two of their most popular beef dishes – the NY Strip and the prime rib. The strip was cooked perfectly and served with Brussel sprouts. The prime rib was thick with multiple Cs, and the au jous added the perfect amount of salt. Both dishes were decadent.
Last but not least, Moy had heard that Rumsey Tavern makes poutine, and he had to try it out. The poutine was smothered in melty cheese and homemade gravy from scratch (for each order). We could not stop eating these spuds.
Dessert
I thought for sure I was going to leave with the po boy being my favorite thing I tried all evening, and then the desserts came. First, we had homemade, authentic tiramisu, and let me tell you . . . it was the best dessert I have ever had in my life. They used real cappuccino-soaked ladyfingers which makes all the difference in the world. I was in heaven. If the tiramisu wasn’t enough, they brought out an enormous slice of carrot cake, a recipe handed down to Chef Mitch from his grandmother. While I preferred the tiramisu, Ashley and Moy joined the masses in liking the carrot cake best, as it is their best seller.
Portion Size and Pricing
The portions were hitting here at Rumsey Tavern. Each dish was more than enough to leave you full and satisfied. But the beauty of Chef Mitch’s dishes are that you may leave full, but you won’t leave feeling bloated and loaded up on salt. Again, minimal seasonings and sauces. The way that food is supposed to be served.
While the menu does give off fine dining vibes, the prices are very reasonable. They are operating in a college town, and these prices are affordable. Did you know Rumsey Tavern offers AYCE wings on Mondays for only $20? That is insane value, especially in this economy. Make next Monday your night out to chow down on some wings, and do yourself a favor and order the tiramisu for dessert!
Overall Experience and Recommendation
I am so happy that Rumsey Tavern is revitalizing the Clarion building. This was such a fun evening out with the foodies team. All of the food was incredible, the interviews with the owner and chef were so insightful (we will be doing a new series where we spotlight owners and chefs in the local area – be on the lookout), and the atmosphere was so nostalgic for a Shepherd alum. I would highly recommend you take a trip to Rumsey Tavern as soon as possible!
