Ever wonder where chefs eat out on their night off?
Benjamin Erjavec of The Oceanaire Seafood Room e-mailed me recently to say how much he likes the "great pub food" at Second Chance Saloon in Columbia.
Tucked away in the Oakland Mills Village Center -- what isn't tucked away in Columbia? -- the saloon is in the spot once occupied by Last Chance Saloon.
Erjavec lives nearby, and he often comes in for a bite after work or on his days off.
And what does the chef who turns out seafood dishes like $46.95 Dover sole select for himself from the Second Chance menu?
"Old Bay wings are probably his favorite," said Wendy Binder, one of Second Chance's owners.
Those set the chef back $7.99.
While it serves simple pub fare, Second Chance does it right, Binder said.
"We make everything, down to our chips," she said. "Our tortilla chips and potato chips are all homemade. We cut and batter our fried vegetables. We do everything fresh."
The saloon, at 5888 Robert Oliver Place, opens its patio bar for the season Friday night with acoustic rock music outside. The "all-girl" rock band Wicked Jezebel will perform inside from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
When Chef Erjavec gets his fill of Oceanaire cuisine, he heads to Second Chance Saloon for wings. Sun photo by Amy Davis