Finding the balance between a neighborhood cafe and an upscale restaurant is the greatest challenge, according to Tim Hofman, co-owner of The Falls, a new restaurant that opened Dec. 3 in Mt. Washington.
"First and foremost we focus our attention immediately on the neighborhood. We aim to be a community place where people can come when they've dropped their kids of at school, come in after church, or can bring their paper when they're headed into work and they can pause for half an hour, drink their coffee and read the paper. Or, bring their laptop because we have free WiFi."
The Falls, located at 1604 Kelly Avenue, is the second joint venture for Hofman and co-owner, Mike Sproge. "Mike opened The Evergreen on Cold Spring Lane. I came to help him run it shortly after he bought it. We also have a coffee shop on base at the Naval Academy in Anapolis. It's called the Coffee Mess," he explains.
The Falls, according to Hofman, has more in common with The Evergreen. "We're trying to make it a little more upscale, less of the college funk that worked really well at Evergreen. We're trying to make the place a little nicer. And, here we have our full liquor license that adds a totally different dimension."
Patrons will be able to stop in for a breaksfast bagel, eggs, or pancakes and a very good cup of joe. The lunch menu includes salads, soups and sandwiches. "That aspect of it is a neighborhood hangout. Teachers can come and grade their papers. Students can come and write their papers. A casual neighborhood place.
As the sun begins to set in the evening, The Falls will undergo a bit of a transformation. "That's our exciting new territory for us. We still want to be a part of the community, but we want to have things here that will be a draw for people across town. Namely our evening menu, which has been exciting to develop, and our wine program has been an important part of what we want to bring to the neighborhood," Hofman explains.
The two owners teamed with Al Spoler, co-hose of WYPR's "Cellar Notes" to develop the restaurants wine list. "We have a small but a full-spectrum wine program that was really exciting to put together. We put a lot of thought into it."
Hofman and Sproge also consider themselves to be beer aficionados. So, the two have built a 10-beer tap system into the bar. The beers will focus on American craft brews based in Maryland, New York, California and the Pacific Northwest. The beers will be available on a rotating basis "so that beer lovers and wine lovers from across the city will find us the spot to go to." he notes.
Though The Falls is currently serving a limited menu, Chef Ian Hommel, who came to the restaurant from Vermont, is a follower of the farm to table movement. "He has a passion for fresh, locally sourced ingredients. We're focusing on a few entrees to start with that are just dynamite."
Examples of the type of cuisine The Falls serves includes a Buffalo Flank Steak from the Gunpowder Buffalo Farm in Monkton, MD. "It's American but draws on different culinary traditions."
"We're trying to find the right balance between upscale and unpretentious. Mike and I would never put on airs. We're trying to make a nice place, but its not a fancy place," Hofman concludes.
The Falls is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Their website is under construction, but you can reach them at 410-367-7840.
Source: Tim Hofman, The Falls
Writer: Walaika Haskins