Downtown Ellicott City sells itself on a vibe of sweet and clutter, and the Old Mill Bakery Cafe will sell you sweets amid clutter when you want a place to rest.
This is comfortable clutter. Tables and chairs scatter around a coffee shop that invites you to relax with some tea and maybe the apple betty that I had last week while doing errands. A delicious pastry with slits on top that revealed an filling still firm with apple slices and rich with spices. It tasted of butter and being baked that morning by someone who cared.
The Old Mill's pastries range from a casual muffins to proper-looking heart-shaped cookies, from scones to breads. It's a wide variety. They accompany coffes or a selection of teas that seemed unique to my eye. Many boxes are for sale in the shelves, so this might be good shopping if you have a tea-lover in your life.
The Old Mill also offers sandwiches, including eggs-and-bacon breakfast versions. I don't know that they're a reason to drive into downtown, but you could try if you are downtown. Plus, you can take home a loaf of the bread that the Old Mill bakes every morning, including baguettes, an Italian loaf, a rye. It also sells local honey from the Sweet Bee Apiary in Relay, MD up where I-95 intersects with I-195. At $5 for a small bottle, it was too rich to impulse buy for my morning oatmeal, but I'll keep it on my list to try.
Old Mill Bakery Cafe
4 Frederick Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-465-2253
I had a very pleasant lunch in this cafe last month with my sister. Their chicken salad is AWESOME!! However, had to give the potato salad a pass - it was waaaayyyy too heavy on the vinegar. They offered to replace it with a fruit salad, I accepted, but the fruit was older than I like. They were very apologetic. Still, I'll go back just for the chicken salad!!
ReplyDeleteI love their pastries and also they have great mugs, teapots and other gift items! It is definitely worth a visit.
ReplyDelete# 1
ReplyDeleteUser Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
by Marcus
12/21/2011
OLD MILL BAKERY CAFE/ OLD ELLICOTT CITY
HAS IT LOST ITS CHARM ?
IN THE LAST 11 YEARS I HAVE SUPPORTED MY LOCAL BUSINESSES. ESPECIALLY DURING THE DOWN OF THIS ECONOMY
EVERY HOLIDAY SEASON I PURCHASE PIE'S AND THE FAMOUS BUTTER COOKIES
LAST YEAR DO TO THE COOKIES VAST ORDERS THERE WAS A 3LB LIMIT
THIS YEAR NOW A 1LB LIMIT
NOW WITH LIMITED PIES DESERTS AND COOKIES EVERYTHING MUST BE PRE-ORDERED WELL IN ADVANCE
THE OWNER AND STAFF OVER THE YEARS HAVE BECOME MORE ABRUPT AND NOT SO NICE TO THE CUSTOMERS
ONE WOULD THINK IF THEY ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE OF THE ECONOMY THEY WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND SHOW MORE KINDNESS TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THEIR BUSINESS OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS
ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO SUPPORT THESE KIND OF LOCAL BUSINESSES ANYMORE AND IN THE FUTURE WILL ONLY SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT SHOW THEY APPRECIATE AND CARE ABOUT THEIR PATRONS