The Calvert House Inn, a Riverdale restaurant, attracts university students.
The Calvert House Inn is one of the College Park area’s best-kept secrets.
The bar and restaurant, which specializes in seafood, has been tucked about one mile south of the university on Route 1 since 1963.
But despite having a menu that matches fine dining with affordable prices, the Inn rarely sees university students, according to owner and manager Freydoun Salimi.
“Students come in on special occasions,” said Salimi, who said he has adjusted his prices to make the restaurant more appealing for a casual night out.
“We get a lot more staff [from the university],” he added.
Salimi also hopes that a newly revamped bar menu will attract students to come in for drinks and appetizers. Patrons can also watch sports in the secluded bar located next to the dining room.
The dinner menu offers a variety of fairly priced appetizers and entrees including six pasta dishes, two specialty sandwiches, 18 seafood options, as well as nine other selections.
“The Calvert House Inn is one of the best places I’ve been to in the D.C. metro area,” said Nick Little, a junior economics major who recently ate at the Inn. “They had a big menu that was reasonably priced,” he said.
Little also added that his favorite item on the menu was the crab dip, which is served as an appetizer.
Salimi, who manages the restaurant with his wife Sousan, said 90 percent of his staff is comprised of university students.
The Calvert House Inn is located at 6211 Baltimore Ave. in Riverdale, one block past East-West Highway.
The entire menu is also available on Campusfood.com (not for delivery) and can be paid for with the University Meal Deal.
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