Familiar Name Pops Up On Broadneck Restaurant's Menu

WENDI WINTERS
The Capital

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Stephanie Regina was tired and a bit down.

Her family's restaurant, Regina's, had closed on New Year's Eve. For 28 of its 32 years, Regina's had been a longtime staple of West Annapolis after it relocated from West Street. To its legions of loyal customers, Regina's was the only German restaurant with an Annapolis ZIP code. She spent two weeks packing up the old place and consoling the out-of-work staff.

Then, the phone rang. Dan "D.K." Miller, co-owner of the Riverbay Roadhouse in the Cape St. Claire Mall was on the line.

"Let's talk," he said.

The phone call changed a few lives -- and the menu at Riverbay.

"I was going to take time off, but I didn't," said Regina, who lives less than a mile from Riverbay. "I just keep going."

As Feb. 2, Riverbay is now open for breakfast. The menu is called "Regina's at Riverbay Roadhouse." Regina is Riverbay's new general manager. Riverbay's dozen new staff members are former Regina's employees.

Do you miss Regina's potato pancakes? German sausage? California Benedict or Huevos Regina's? They're on the menu.

"I was looking for a general manager to handle day-to-day operations," said Miller, an Arnold resident. "Someone to handle employee training, hiring, firing, overseeing the kitchen, dining room and bar area."

He'd heard of the West Annapolis restaurant's demise. Miller had dined at Regina's several times. Plus, as the owner of a plumbing business, he installed Regina's original plumbing in 1986.

A mutual friend suggested Miller connect with the former restaurateur. It was karma. The two got together and decided to join forces.

"I was thinking of opening up early for breakfast," said Miller. "We decided to use the Regina's name for breakfast to keep the name alive."

"We're six miles from the old Regina's. A lot of people who live in the Broadneck area used to be regulars there. We're hoping they'll come here for their favorite breakfast dishes," said Regina.

"We're taking this slow," said Miller. "Eventually, we plan to do dinner entrees that were popular at Regina's."

Though Riverbay only debuted its breakfast hours this month, the word is getting around. At 9 a.m. Wednesday, the place was half full.

Riverbay used to open at 11 a.m. to serve lunch. Its new breakfast hours are 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

For the breakfast menu, visit http://riverbayroadhouse.com/www.RiverBayRoadhouse.com/Breakfast--Menu.html

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)