by Sue Barry

So . . . you’re looking for virtually unadulterated, pearly white, jumbo lump crabmeat, not breadcrumb filler in your crab cakes. Maybe, you’re looking for tender sautéed veal scaloppini with a light, clean taste and perfect consistency in a reduction sauce of your choice . . . or, tonight you just want a variety of comforting appetizers or a deli-fresh sandwich in a congenial lounge atmosphere. But, whichever it is, we know you can’t wait to follow any of these edibles with a decadent frozen three-layered Belgian chocolate dessert with imported creamy white, milk and dark chocolate so silky and deserving. Look no further . . . and wait no longer. Cassady’s has all this and more.

Next time you find yourself whizzing through the busy intersection at Linglestown and Colonial Roads, slow down your pace and take a moment to explore the hidden delights inside the confines of Cassady’s Restaurant and Lounge located on the southeast corner. Whether you seek the happy hour with Lounge or Lite Fare, a splendid dinner and/or sublime dessert, you will find yourself exposed to a profusion of divine treats at Cassady’s.

The welcoming lounge features a horseshoe-shaped bar and the friendliest bartender around - both reminiscent of TV-land’s Cheers! Answer the posted trivia question of the night correctly and win yourself a beer. Great lounge specials are featured nightly, along with a menu featuring characteristic munchies such as peel and eat shrimp and jalapeno poppers. The menu also includes sandwiches such as grilled Reuben (with corned beef or turkey) and hot or sweet sausage sandwiches. And, we all know what time of year it is - time for football and wings (10 cents during all PSU and Monday Night Football games). Happy hour is Monday - Friday, 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. On Friday and Saturday nights after 9:30 P.M., DJ’s take over.

Having a great dinner with more refined edibles at Cassady’s is as much fun in the contrasting sleek and contemporary dining room. The centrally located tufted black booths call out for your company, and tables with lightly upholstered chairs housed in black tubular framing extend the polished look. The inviting surroundings of Cassady’s dining room are complemented by its accommodating service. Our fussy dining companions challenged the staff with exceptions and special requests. Our omnipresent waiter and charming owners Adel and Fadia Rizk handled all without a flinch.

My dining companions and I decided to begin the evening with samplings of Cassady’s appetizers. Succulent, jumbo lump crab mixture engulfed mushrooms in this broiled appetizer experience. Fried calamari served with a flavored mayonnaise and potato ravioli were unequivocally rivaled by a special starter of Baba Ghanouj, a warm spread consisting of eggplant, zucchini, garlic, and olive oil served with pita wedges. If not your appetite, the aroma itself will lure you, repeatedly and unmercifully to this classic meze course. The owners may be revamping their menu and if you are lucky, Baba Ghanouj will become a staple.

In addition to the wonderful appetizers two soup specials were offered . . . and they were special! The lemon-chicken soup was sumptuous with a natural pairing of citrus and shredded white meat. This, non-traditional, chicken soup would have brought vitality to anyone who would be ailing. And gazpacho, that cold summer soup, highlighted with fresh tomatoes and herbs, was served directly from a well-chilled refrigerator (as opposed to the way this classic soup used to be chilled in caves in 19th century Spain).

While most everyone at the table opted for the house salad: a well-balanced and delightful combination of Mediterranean vinaigrette, served atop a classic dinner salad, I decided to try something different. A salad of super-fresh grilled vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, tomato, peppers, and red onion) evoked late summer pleasures.

The house specialty dinner of broiled jumbo lump crab cakes, with your choice of one or two golden-crusted cakes, was prepared with a minimum of seasoning as to not mask the delicate, creamy, crab meat which is delivered fresh from Louisiana year ‘round. If you look on Cassady’s dinner menu, however, crab cakes are not offered as a choice among the eight seafood selections. What is offered is shrimp, or scallops, or flounder, all stuffed with crabmeat, and snow crab claws as part of a combination platter. The only place in the dining room where you will find the house specialty is at the bottom of the Lite Fare menu on the back of the Lounge Fare menu in the small acrylic stand on your table. These crustacean transformations deserve an invasion on the dinner menu.

Cassady’s offers a variety of veal, chicken, and pasta dishes, as well as limited number of beef, lamb and pork entrees. The Veal Picata platter specially prepared for one member of our group held three large, thin and oh-so-tender scaloppini, which had just the right amount of lemon and pungent capers in its sauce. It was trickery imposed to get a taste of these sublime top round medallions that, bite after bite, were almost too good for our dining partner to share. The scaloppini of Veal Marsala had the same delicate consistency, and was covered abundantly with sautéed sliced mushrooms and laced in a dry wine demi-glace. The sides of pasta with tomato sauce, and rice, should give way to the potato of the day - this time, a huge twice-baked potato with the cooked contents creamed with chives, piped through a pastry bag then browned. The accompanying snow pea pods were served crisp-tender with mushrooms and just a hint of garlic.

Two dishes were a bit overcooked for our taste, however, as the meat from the slow cooked braised Lamb Shank should have still been clinging instead of fallen from the bone, and the Filet Mignon ordered medium-rare was presented medium, although tender. A dish of Scallops Cassady with Angel Hair Pasta featured large slices of sun-dried tomato, which complemented the choice mollusk meat adding intense flavor as well as a deep vermilion color to the dish. A special, Chicken Swiss, sported an abundance of broccoli interspersed with the chicken tenderloin in its smooth cheese and cream sauce, with no one element overpowering the flavor of the others.

The wine list comprises many of the affordable reds and whites hailing from wineries we have all come to expect in the many comfortable eateries we visit, e.g., - Washington State’s Chateau St. Michelle, California’s Kendall-Jackson Estate and Napa Valley’s Fetzer Vineyard.

And, after all of this . . . desserts? You bet. Signature desserts abound at Cassady’s. Most are made in-house and are absolutely exquisite. Share or have one all to yourself. You won’t go wrong with the sultry Triple Chocolate Frozen dessert mentioned earlier. Close your eyes and savor each indulgent bite - guaranteed you’ve never quite tasted anything so luxurious. A fantastic frozen Harlequin number featuring peanut butter and chocolate was a close contender for the best of the best. And, the Creme Brulee with Raspberry Sauce - a perfectly torched classic custard with its crisp, thin crust of sugar, was served on top of a swirl of refreshingly sweet raspberry sauce.

So . . . the next time you’re whizzing through the neighborhood, slow down and turn into Cassady’s. You will be glad you did.

Cassady’s Restaurant

Entrees range from $8 to $20

Average Dining Time: 60 minutes

Location: Easy to Find

Parking: Ample

Handicapped Access: Entranceway

Exterior Appearance: Clean

Initial Interior: Foyer

Reservations Necessary: No

Preferred Dining Attire: Neat & Clean

Wait (to be seated): None

Wait (for service): None

Lighting: Comfortable

Meal-time Music: Contemporary

Dining Area Appearance: Well tended to

Noise: Light Chatter

Climate: Fine

Tables: Standard

Chairs: Comfortable

Booths: Ample

Table Setting: Full with cloth napkins

Your Meal: Entree from Dinner Menu

Appetizers: Good Selection

Salads: House

Dressings: Good Variety

Vegetables: Good Selection

Desserts: Exceptional

Coffees: House & Regular

Staff Attitude: Friendly

Staff Appearance: Dress Uniform

Hospitality: Felt at Home

Cleanliness: Excellent

Wash Rooms: Clean

Crowd (Qty): Light

Crowd (Attitude): Casual

Food (portions): Satisfied

Food (prices): Fair

Overall Service: Attentive

Payment Accepted: All Major Credit Cards

Banquet Facilities: Private Available

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