Laurrapin River City Public House Opens In Havre de Grace

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — The owner of Laurrapin Grille has opened a new restaurant where his previous eatery used to be. Laurrapin River City Public House is open for lunch, and next week it will be open for both lunch and dinner.

"It's going to be more of an upscale tavern than a full restaurant," owner Bruce Clarke said Wednesday morning before the Harford County Liquor Control Board, as he was applying for a new liquor license to sell beer and wine. "We're open for lunch right now until we get the license."

Since the board unanimously approved his request for a liquor license, Clarke said he expects to open for dinner starting Monday, Feb. 17, or Tuesday, Feb. 18, based on when the delivery occurs.

After six months, Clarke said he would apply for the ability to sell liquor in addition to beer and wine.

More entrées and specials will be added to the menu, Clarke said. As the previous Laurrapin concept did, this restaurant will focus on locally sourced ingredients.

Said Clarke: "We're working with a lot of local farmers."

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Previously, Clarke and his wife, Sherifa, owned Laurrapin Grille and had a liquor license for about 15 years with Harford County. The restaurant opened in 2001, until they sold it and channeled their efforts into catering in 2017.

In the past three years, he said the demand for Laurrapin Caters has grown. That liquor license is handled through the state.

"I really didn't want to be here," Bruce Clarke said of appearing before the liquor board in Bel Air again.

The Clarkes transferred ownership of Laurrapin to their former employee in January 2017. The new restaurant, Lagom, went out of business by May 2019.

"We tried to sell the building or re-lease it," Bruce Clarke said. When they couldn't find any serious buyers, he said they moved the catering business back into the building "and basically reopened the restaurant." He is now the sole owner.

Laurrapin River City Public House at 209 North Washington Street.