POV at Pier 450, Ridge, St. Mary’s County, Maryland

After lunch at the College Park Diner, Nancy and I headed down to Southern Maryland, where local seafood is a national treasure. As a rule, the waterside seafood places are old school, informal, often veering on dive status. Now however, there’s an elegant option.

Pier 450 used to be Scheible’s, an old school marina, restaurant, and motor lodge. Scheibles closed around ten or fifteen years ago, and Peggy Binzel, owner of Scotland Yards, a cluster of high end beach houses five miles away, bought the property in 2019. She spent 18 months transforming Pier 450 into an upscale restaurant and motel with individually redecorated rooms. The restaurant is POV, for Point of View.

POV boasts plenty of outside seating for drinks or dinner on the beach and a long, long pier for those who arrive by boat.

Imagine yourself sitting there on an afternoon. The interior is pleasant and the service is very professional and as friendly as the kitchen is flexible. On our first visit, for brunch, Nancy was attracted by the salmon and asparagus omelet, but really just wanted a piece of fish. No problem.

Nancy was thrilled both with the kitchen’s responsiveness and the quality of the meal. Meanwhile, I enjoyed two small egg and duck burritos.

On our latest visit, Nancy ordered the Made-for-the-Beach Salad Bowl, with chicken salad, a roasted corn and black bean salad, a mixed greens salad, and fresh fruit, with the balsamic vinegar dressing on the side,

while I ordered the gumbo topped with a beautifully seared rockfish filet, with the recommended wine pairing, a Merlot from Walla Walla by Seven Hills. 

The food was very good. Nancy’s chicken salad had lots of tarragon, the key to a great chicken salad, and the other salads were fresh and flavorful. The corn and bean salad had been tossed with some cumin.

I liked my gumbo a lot. It was nicely seasoned and blessed with okra and andouille. The rockfish filet was fresh and hot as it was from the kitchen, not a bit overcooked.

Earlier we had seem the server show the next table the dessert tray, and friends it was gorgeous. I, of course, was just back from a barbecue/pie/biscuit trip, and fortunately we had a movie to see, and didn’t have time for dessert. We’ll be back, though.

POV is serious about the food they serve. All of the menu items are made in house — not just the sauces but also the breads, pastries ,and desserts. There’s a nice garden for the restaurant off to the side.

We’re looking forward to more meals at POV, and I really think it would be nice to spend a weekend at Pier 450, with its beach and the many activities available. Think about a weekend at 450, or perhaps Scotland Yards. but definitely have a meal at POV.

UPDATE — another Pier450 review is here.

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