Opening Late Spring - Early Summer 2026
If you know the owner, Dave Carney, you know he’s been dreaming of it too. In the last ten years, there have been a number of dream restaurant “maybes” and one “almost”, the latter of which was doused by one of the town’s tragic floods. Always there was a vision of good food, a well crafted cocktail, a great glass of wine and space that was unique and inviting filled with friendly interesting people. It was not going to be just a night out, but an experience you would want to return to again and again.
In the summer of 2025 the dream took on new life. A beloved old building in the center of town sold and the new owner approached Dave.
He enlisted a few close friends and work began on planning the transformation.
But how to get to the ‘good food’ part of the dream… As is often the case in Dave’s life, he started asking friends and eventually someone said, “I know a great chef”. He met he Chef Rachel Bindel and immediately the dream felt real.
We invite you to join us in anticipating something the opening of something new and truly special coming to historic Ellicott City late Spring early Summer 2026
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, Rachel Bindel’s culinary career is defined by a commitment to precision, global technique, and high-level execution. Her trajectory through some of the country’s most prestigious kitchens earned her national recognition in 2022, when she was named by San Pellegrino as one of the Top Ten Best Young Chefs in America.
A Howard County native and alumna of River Hill High School, Rachel’s professional journey began at the acclaimed Husk in Charleston, SC, where she rose through the ranks to Sous Chef, mastering Southern-inspired cuisine and farm-to-table excellence. She then moved to Washington, D.C., to serve as Executive Sous Chef at the Michelin-starred Tail Up Goat, refining her skills in one of the capital’s most celebrated dining rooms.
Rachel continued to build her expertise at Georgetown’s sophisticated neo-bistro Lutèce before being appointed Chef de Cuisine at the Michelin-starred Gravitas, where she oversaw culinary operations and crafted dishes designed to tell a story. Her career has also included leading the successful opening of Cielo Rojo as Chef de Cuisine.
After years of refining her craft at some of the nation’s most prestigious culinary institutions, Chef Rachel brings her passion to create delicious food home to Howard County at Vesper in an 1890 building at the center of historic Ellicott City.