The most recent reincarnation of the corner BYOB dining establishment offers interesting choices at good prices. The spring and summer menu does not steer you wrong when describing a starter dish of “lightly coated” Calamari Rings ($6), with barely a trace of breading to disguise delicate tender rings (with a few tentacles thrown in for good measure), cooked quickly to perfection. Swirls of cilantro oil and sun-dried tomato pesto for accent balance the calamari beautifully. A delightful soup featuring not-too-dense Gnocchi ($4) floating in a pool of ginger broth with scallions and carrots had a definitive far east reach and was satisfying yet not overindulging; however, it is usually never recommended to go swimming after partaking in any version of the little Italian potato dumplings. We found the Satay of the Day ($6) on one visit to be a slightly spirited Portobello Mushroom Satay sporting the undeniable flavors of this classic Indonesian dish, garnished with a couple of extra-crispy yellow and green beans and chow mein noodles. Even with lemon poppy buns delivered to the table upon your arrival, it is difficult to bypass an order of Basil Focaccia ($5), rustic flatbread topped with grilled vegetables, thin sliced tomatoes, and toasted goat cheese. And, conversely, what could be more refreshing on a spring or summer day, other than simply fresh and cool cantaloupe wrapped with thin sliced Prosciutto ($5).

“Mean Greens” are salad selections from the menu that are expansions of The Hub’s dinner salad. Anti-Pasto Salad ($5) translates into a base of baby greens laced with bundles of fresh mozzarella, artichoke hearts, olives, and tomatoes combined with the Gazebo Room’s Greek dressing; an Oriental Salad ($4) describes a pillow of those young mixed greens with mandarin oranges, chow mein noodles, and California almonds, served with a toasted sesame dressing that is amazing, and a Mediterranean Salad ($4) is the same mélange of greens with olives, feta cheese, tomato, walnuts, and plump raisins with house-made red wine vinaigrette. If you’re ordering an entree, the accompanying dinner salad may lack the more lavish additions but the greens are just as crisp, clean and fresh and offered with a choice of the aforementioned and other dressings.

Preferable selections from the entrees include Medallions of Pork ($16) from the tenderloin filled with a homemade cranberry walnut stuffing and drizzled with a velvety white butter sauce tasting like anything but an old-fashioned pork roast, and a Side of Duck ($17) sprinkled with sesame seeds and basted with a honey orange glaze, cooked to your liking. An entree of Smoked Salmon Rolls ($14) draped over a bed of greens with red peppers and grilled fresh vegetables is the way to go if you have a huge craving for smoked salmon, but if you have a bias for a grilled or cooked salmon filet, the distinct flavor and texture of this customary first course may not be the entrée for you. Chef choice dinners can vary in their allure. The Ocean Grill ($16) feature of Shrimp Scampi was succulent with its extra-large sweet shrimp and a lusty garlic butter sauce, but grilled lamb chops were found to be a bit too tough and arrived at the table as loin chops instead of the described rib chops. A Pittsburgh-style New York Strip Steak ($16) is offered smothered in barbecue sauce, but if you’re not sure you want so much smothering, order this OK entrée with the sauce on the side. A few crispy, fresh yellow and green beans are offset by an exorbitant serving of rice and lentils as accompaniments to many of the dinners.

Mix and match parts of the menu for your own designed dinner. Appetizers and dessert, dessert and coffee, a salad then dessert. Do you see a theme developing here? You cannot leave The Hub without dessert. Who needs a pastry chef when you have Mom? Mom is Chef Shar’s mother, Rosita, who makes all the desserts from scratch in her Hanover home. You will never quite know what you will have to choose from, but it may be a creamy Chocolate Eclair Cake, or Mom’s version of Chocolate Decadence, high and moist not dense and gooey. As “Ambrosia” was the food of the Gods, it will take more than Zeus-like power to keep Mom’s heavenly bodied coconut-flavored Chocolate Ambrosia Cheesecake from being swiped away by your partner. But, if you are truly blessed, a sweet and creamy Mango Cheesecake encircled in a tropical kiwi sauce will be in the stars the night of your visit. Top all of this off with your favorite coffee or Chai, an India-style tea with ginger root and spices that reminds one of Christmas in the summertime.

Location:
Easy to Find

Parking:
On Street

Handicapped Access:
Request Assistance

Exterior Appearance:
Victorian Corner Home

Initial Interior:
Crisp & Casual

Reservations Necessary:
Preferred

Preferred Dining Attire:
Casual

Wait (to be seated):
None

Wait (for service):
None

Lighting:
Subtle

Dining Area
Spotless

Noise:
Light Chatter

Climate:
Fine

Tables:
Compact

Chairs:
Comfortable

Booths:
Seat Four

Table Setting:
Full

Your Meal:
Dinner

Automatically Served:
Lemon Poppy Buns

Soups:
Gnocchi in Ginger Broth

Cocktails:
BYOB

Main Course:
Side of Duck w/ Honey Orange Glaze

Desserts:
Mango Cheesecake

Coffees:
India-Style Chai Tea

Staff Attitude:
Friendly

Staff Appearance:
Neat & Clean

Hospitality:
Like Family

Cleanliness:
Above Average

Wash Rooms:
Clean

Crowd (Qty):
Some Empty Tables

Crowd (Attitude):
Casual/Laughter

Food (portions):
More Than Ample

Food (prices):
Fair

Overall Service:
Attentive