Bentleys Restaurant & Banquet Facilities

Our name originates from the Bentley Automobile. Bentley Motors was established in 1918. Restaurant History The current site of Bentleys Restaurant has a history long embedded in the restaurant business. In 1934 Steve Groff opened the Groff Inn and obtained the first liquor license in Cecil County. Shortly thereafter, in 1939 Mr. Ramsaurer purchased the Groff Inn and ran it himself for the next five years. John and Frieda Schneider, who were both born in Switzerland and their son Paul, moved from Wilmington to Elkton in 1944, when Leonard Ramsaner talked to John into taking over what had been the Groff Inn. Both families of Swiss origin and thus the name “The Swiss Inn” was born. At the time of the Swiss Inn’s opening, the seating capacity was only 42 people in the one-room restaurant. The Inn did a booming business throughout the 1940’s, as it was the first restaurant in Cecil County to have both television and air conditioning. People would park their cars down U.S. 40 and wait in the parking lot as they sipped drinks ordered from the bar. The Swiss Inn was well known for their Chiffon pies and homemade soups, of which snapper was the favorite. The Swiss Inn also included eight cabins, often occupied by newlyweds coming to Elkton, the marriage capital of the world. At that time lodging was a requirement for a liquor license of the county. The cabins were torn down in 1957, when the restaurant underwent the first of many renovations. Paul Schneider claimed that the long-term success of the Swiss Inn had been adjusting to the times. The building underwent five renovations from a one room building to a 10,000 square foot complex offering seating for over 300 guests. The building was damaged by fire on two different occasions, yet only closed for a total of three days. In 1998, after a life long career at the Swiss Inn, Paul Schneider wanted to retire and sold the restaurant to the current owners of Bentleys Inc. After the purchase the building once again transformed and emerged with a new name, and entirely new concept and menu. Today Bentleys Restaurant strives to offer the best in food and service at reasonable prices in a fun filled environment suitable for all ages. Our house specialties include seafood and steaks and we take exceptional pride in our famous Maryland crab cakes. We are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, in addition to an all you can eat Sunday Brunch. The Bentley Grill offers a week day happy hour with complimentary munchies and late night entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. We also offer three separate banquet rooms to host private parties of any kind.Less