Page 15 - Garrett County 2021-2022 Visitors Guide

Firewater Kitchen & Bar Offers Lakeside Dining in Historic Setting
For Brenda McDonnell and husband Martin Heise, opening Firewater Kitchen & Bar (firewaterkitchen.com) was a labor of love.
McDonnell already owns three local favorites — Brenda’s Pizzeria, Traders Coffee House and Ace’s Run — but the lakeside property that houses Firewater holds special significance.
It is part of Will O’ the Wisp, a vacation property that dates back to the early days
of Deep Creek Lake and has been in Heise’s family for three generations.
Firewater was built in place of the last vacation cottage remaining from Will O’ the Wisp’s
early years, and some of the original stone
was incorporated into its façade. The resulting building “was designed to make guests feel at one with their surroundings: lots of glass, wood, airiness and light,” Heise said. “The windows can be opened up, so in warm weather, there isn’t even glass to separate patrons from nature.”
Guests can also take advantage of ample outdoor seating on a large balcony with heat lamps. Other outdoor features include a bandstand, fireplace and dock slips for guests who arrive by boat.
The restaurant opened its doors in December, and has met with an enthusiastic local reception already. “Many guests have expressed what
we most wanted to hear: that they feel a close kinship with the setting,” Heise said. “The friendliness of the staff and promptness of service have also met with approval.”
Careful thought has gone into crafting both
the restaurant and bar menu. The bar’s special touches, such as torching certain garnishes to bring out the oils and working with designer ice cubes, have “delighted many people,” Heise said.
As for the food menu, Firewater offers an eclectic mix of small plates for sharing. There is also a wide variety of salads and sandwiches, as well as a raw bar with countless seafood choices.
While COVID regulations and precautions change frequently, Heise said he would “very much like for people to know that we pledge to do our best to follow stringent guidelines for sanitation and health.” He noted that masks are required for both staff and guests, as of the time of this writing, and all surfaces are wiped frequently.
Heise said he feels optimistic that “Firewater Kitchen & Bar can become another asset to our mountaintop community — our home and our retreat to recreate ourselves.”
www.visitdeepcreek.com 13
PHOTOS BY KRISTIN SKEWERIS – RAILEY VACATIONS