On September  17, the Derby, a new bar and restaurant, opened in downtown New Market. Dan and Staci Caiolas own the Derby. Both of them are graduates from the Culinary Institute of America with more than 15 years of culinary experience. Putting a flavorsome twist on local delicacies all while using locally grown produce and ingredients is a Caiolas standard.

The Caiolases also own Olde Town in Mt. Airy. Both restaurants have a very family-friendly appeal making the customer feel at home away from home. Both restaurants have fairly similar menus.  One of the significant differences between Olde Town and the Derby is that the Derby has an open bar and their hours are open much later compared to Olde Town.

The Caiolases opened the Derby in New Market because the Caiolases live close to the location and it’s an equal distance away from Mt. Airy, so they can manage their other site.

Students can look forward to an after-school menu as well as reserving the Derby for parties to come and eat before homecoming or prom.

In ten years the Caiolases hope to see the Derby as a successful culinary flavor house with an excellent staff that is like family, and also expect to see one of their four kids working there.

Co-owner of the Derby, Dan Caiolas said, “I have trained hard and put many hours in to make the Derby the best it can be. We want our customers not just to come in to eat but to have a culinary experience.”

Michele Blue and I went to the Derby on September 16. Judging from the number of cars in the parking lot, we knew the dining experience would be a packed one. When we stepped into the restaurant, the smell from the kitchen filled my nostrils with scents of delicious homestlye cooking.

A hostess at the Derby, Logan Moore said, “I love the people there, they are so sweet and great to work with. My boss is super understanding and very flexible.”

Once seated we were handed our menus which were loose pieces of paper held together by little clipboards. I thought this little unique spin on the menus added a quaint charm to the overall dining experience.

The decor of The Derby was designed by Staci Caiolas, Bonnie Wingate, and Judy Robinson. An original design aspect at the Derby is the inclusion of little derby hats modified to accommodate the overall atmosphere of the restaurant.  Whether the derby hats are being used as light shades or as decals for the menus, you’ll be looking for new caps each visit.

I ordered salmon, seasoned and pan seared with a lemon butter caper sauce with fries and jasmine rice, and my mom ordered a chicken parmesan  panini which was panko crusted with fried chicken breast and house made honey mustard.

The Derby has a signature sandwich called the Seafood Club. It has a crab cake, and shrimp salad served on a toasted brioche bun topped with lettuce, tomato, bacon, and Old Bay mayo.

When we got our food, my Salmon looked like a golden marshmallow. With every bite, I had to hold back the urge to gobble down the whole thing. The fries were seasoned exquisitely with a nice crunch, and when the lemon butter caper sauce soaked into the fires, it caused a flavor that can only be described as one of a kind.

My favorite part of the whole experiences was how the Salmon paired with the jasmine rice. These two majesties went with each other like peanut butter and chocolate! I will be recommending this pairing to everyone. As I ate the salmon, every bite was crisper than the last. My finale bite ended the adventure with a satisfying bliss.

My dining partner, Michele Blue said, “I felt like I was in a little European type restaurant. The owners did a great job with the decor. I got the chicken parmesan panini. Huge portion, the food was yummy. Nice varied menu.”

While we were waiting for the check, we noticed a huge Julie Child quote painted on the wall. The quote read, “people who love to eat are always the best people.” This quote sums up the experience we had at the Derby with a big red bow. It’s funny how people who love to eat and people who love to cook always have a way of finding each other. I would highly recommend visiting the Derby as soon as you can, you won’t regret it.

For restaurant hours, days open, and  contact information go the the Derby Facebook page here.