Exquisite Food-- and Spaceships? It's the Sputnik Cafe in Crownsville!

When you walk up to the Sputnik Café on Generals Highway in Crownsville, it's hard to tell what decade you're in. Is it the 70s or the 50s, or modern day? Actually, it's some crazy hybrid of all three. Before you even get in the door, you see plastic rockets, a fountain and a garden deck. (Be sure you don't pass it and get all the way to Crownsville Hospital. The sign is rarely lit up, and it is easy to miss.)

Inside you're greeted with a beaded curtain, orange plastic chairs, and a chandelier that looks like something that could have fallen out of the sky or been a porcupine's mother. You are also greeted by a smiling hostess wearing bright-colored tube socks, a short black skirt and a Sputnik Café tee shirt.

Seating is done promptly, almost too much so. There is not much time to enjoy the kitschy art and knick knacks in the lobby and go through the t-shirt display to find one you like, in sizes from infant to adult.

Once you are seated in your plastic chair, or maybe you will choose the thin, smooth-backed chair with the ominous curve in it or the couch, the server quickly brings you a menu and the ample wine list. That's when you notice the huge assortment of wines along the back wall and wonder what kind of place this exactly is once more.

Then you get your menu and find out that it is a classy and somewhat expensive place, with entrees such as rack of lamb and beef tenderloin. It is also an eclectic place, with other meals including fried tofu and Kalua pig with mango chutney. A good place to start would be with the ample appetizers menu. I would recommend the Korean BBQ Kobe beef or the Avocado salad. You can also do a "pick three" from the prix fixe menu.

Sputnik calls their food "world fusion" since they seem to have influences from all around the globe. In fact, the restaurant was inspired by an eclectic ebay find: the chandelier that hangs in the dining room and could resemble a satellite, though I don't think so.

The entrees play well with the appetizers, although there is a bit of a wait for them to come out. It helps if you have a glass of wine and enjoy the company, so come with someone you like, and probably not on a blind date. Or you can chat with your server. They all seem amiable. The entrees are worth it once they arrive.

On my visit, I had the roasted eggplant curry, which I would highly recommend. It had a good amount of spice to it, and the vegetables were good and fresh. My companion had the pan seared sea scallops and said they were the best he'd ever tasted. The portions are good-sized, but not so big that you won't have room for dessert afterwards.

Even if you can't finish your food, get a box and try one of the desserts. The cakes, ice creams, and other treats vary, but all are tantalizing.

All in all, the bill for two comes out to about 60 to 100 dollars, depending on what you order. Be sure to make a reservation, as it can be hard to get in otherwise. There are few if any other places like this in Crownsville, so it fills up for dinner fast, and as of yet, it's not open for lunch.

People of all ages will enjoy this restaurant, but there don't seem to be a lot of kids there. This is surprising considering all the bright colors and robots. However, this is definitely a good destination for a night out with friends or a date. A big plus: Crownsville is easy to get to without sitting in traffic for ten hours.