Shift into Gear and Go to SHIFT

Honestly, there aren’t too many restaurants in Frostburg that I enjoy eating at. There aren’t an abundance of restaurants in the area to choose from, but it still remains difficult to find the good ones.

However, there is one restaurant that I would be willing to go to seven days a week (if I wasn’t a poor college student). You might be wondering which restaurant that is. If you read the title, you know I’m talking about SHIFT.

SHIFT is a very small farm-to-table restaurant that sits on Broadway Street. It is the only restaurant in Frostburg that I’ve eaten at more times than I can count on all ten fingers.

My first time there, I could tell I was going to love the place before I even walked inside. The restaurant’s sign hangs from a bright yellow bicycle frame that is stuck to the building. Peeking through the windows is an array of quirky decor.

Inside hanging from the walls there are bicycle wheels with small, colorful plates weaved in between the spokes and paintings from local artists. With its decor, SHIFT creates a fun dining experience. Being able to eat really delicious food, while looking at eccentric decorations is something that we don’t really encounter in Frostburg.

However, enough about the funky ambiance. Let’s talk about the food.

Owners Jes and Jason Yowell wanted to create “an experience centered not upon conventional, industrial food but rather food from the heart.” The food is organic and sourced from local farmers and bakers. Everything is made from scratch, so you don’t have to worry about how long ago the food was processed before it was put on the plate in front of you.

Since the food is local, the menu has to change with each season. That means you’ll never become tired of a stagnant menu.

In addition to constantly changing, the menu offers a wide variety that should cater to almost anyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re vegan, vegetarian, or a meat and potatoes kind of person; SHIFT has you covered.

If you’re looking for lighter fare, try out the Sprouted Winter Salad. It’s delicious and filling, but won’t make you feel weighed down. On the other hand, if you are in need of some comfort food, do yourself a favor and get the Skillet Mac-N-Cheese. If you really want to treat yourself, add the Savage River Farms shredded chicken. Seriously. Do it.

A meal isn’t going to be as cheap as Chick-fil-A or Moe’s, but SHIFT is a completely different type of restaurant that isn’t even comparable. Based on the quality of the food, SHIFT’s prices are very reasonable.

If you’re like me, you probably don’t mind spending $30 on a meal, but that sweater that you just found at your favorite store…Let’s just say I’ll be waiting until someone wants to give me a gift.

SHIFT offers weekly specials which will help cut down on the cost of your bill. My favorite night is Thursday…1/2 price corking fee and buy one large plate, get the second 1/2 price.

That’s right, they have a corking fee, so you bring your own alcohol (if you’re 21+, obviously). If you forgot your drinks at home or don’t want to go out of your way to the liquor store, don’t worry because Beer Wine & Spirits is right across the street. If you aren’t drinking alcohol, try the iced tea that’s brewed with ginger and lightly sweetened.

Aside from the atmosphere and food, the service has always been remarkable. The servers are very knowledgable about the menu and don’t seem bothered to answer any questions you might have. Since the restaurant is very small, so is the amount of staff employed. If you eat there often, chances are that you’ll have the same server over and over again.

If you haven’t been to SHIFT yet or even if you have, head over to this little gem on Broadway Street soon.