'Reign' brings new dining experience to Salisbury

Reign Restaurant and Event Center in Salisbury is working to create a new genre of dining experience to the city, one that brings the big-city life home, without big-city prices.

“When you walk through the door, you don’t feel like you’re in Salisbury anymore,” said executive chef Daniel Mears.

Mears grew up in Salisbury. He helped open this restaurant with the mindset of someone who spent time in big cities, but wanted to come back home.

When Mears moved away from Salisbury, he worked for some of the top restaurants in the country, a National Football League team and more, but wanted to come back to be closer to his family and “change the food scene” in Salisbury, he said.

He began by opening food trucks with a friend and helping at a few restaurants, but two years later he said he felt his time back in Salisbury was not going the way he thought it would. But then, he came across the plan for Reign and felt that was the perfect fit.

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Now in full swing, the food Reign serves will change seasonally but will be made with a focus on “elevated local cuisine."

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“Things that people are used to, we’re just taking that to a city level for them.” he said. “We still use crab cakes, we still use shrimp, we still use the seafood staples (from the) Eastern Shore. We just try to use familiar flavors for people.”

Reign’s full service restaurant and bar is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 4:30 p.m.- 2 a.m., while Sundays they will be serving brunch.

Other than that, the restaurant is a full service event center complete with room for over 300 people, VIP seating, a stage, courtyard and more.

“We’re also in the works of planning the biggest New Year’s Eve party on the Eastern Shore,” Mears said. “We’re going to bring the city’s New Year’s Eve.”

The event will be formal attire, with red carpets and more, he said.

There is also a large focus on entertainment at the venue. Each night Reign is open, there will be easy listening during cocktail hour and dinner, and at night, live entertainment including bands, DJs, comedy or magic.

“We have a focus on music, but there’s all kinds of entertainment,” Mears said.

Mears said that even though they have only been open for a few weeks, they are constantly evolving to make themselves better.

“We just want to let people be able to get away, without having to travel,” he said. “We’re constantly trying to better ourselves so we get where we want to go.”

What: Reign

Address: 331 Civic Avenue, Salisbury, Maryland

Hours: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 4:30 p.m.- 2 a.m.; There will be a Sunday brunch available

Contact: 410-572-4763, www.reigneventcenter.com