As invitations go, this one was a no-brainer: We’re opening a new restaurant at the Annapolis Towne Centre – BRIO - and you’re invited. This is a private, invitation-only event; the masses will have to wait. All you have to pay for is drinks, and be as understanding as possible if our staff-in-training brings you the wrong order or drops linguine in your lap.

Okay, so I made that last part up – but show up we did. Everyone knows that if you invite Realtors to anything, your chances of a turnout are much better if you include food, since most of us are too busy to eat.  

See the ladder leaning up against the roof? They really are putting on the finishing touches even as you read this. You wouldn’t have known it, however, judging by the food, the service and the interior – which is drop-dead elegant and evocative of a Tuscan country villa.

They make good use of fabric and floor runners to keep down the background noise. The kitchen is open, but you don’t hear all the clatter and noise that drives us nuts over at Macaroni Grill. I like to converse when I’m out for dinner, not compete with cooks yelling at one another.

The food? In a word, excellent. For starters we tried the Lobster Bisque and BRIO Chopped Salad, both wonderful, though you should order conservatively if you start with the rich bisque.

The Wood Grilled Salmon – which our server Tracie told us was the company’s best-seller nationwide – was beautifully done and served on delicious Romano-Crusted Tomatoes. The Shrimp Scampi on Angel Hair Pasta was a real winner as well.

It’s exciting to see such fine establishments opening at Annapolis Towne Centre, only a stone’s throw from our Keller Williams office on Old Solomons Island Road. BRIO joins a growing list of great places to shop, eat and live - and I’m referring now to the luxury condos at GrandView at Annapolis Towne Centre.

If you’d like to know more about these condos - prices, availability and/or to arrange for a tour – just call one of us, Ken or Bev, at 410-353-2469 and we’ll fill you in.

Meanwhile, get over to BRIO – they open next week – and sample the goods.