Comfort, Consistency, Community
J.C. Schnebly and his wife, Beth, operate Crown Stone Farm with his parents, John and Pam Schnebly.
At Oak Ridge Family Restaurant near Funkstown, American comfort food is served in exactly that—comfort
By April Bartel/Photography by Mark Youngblood
In a busy retail plaza near Funkstown, a familiar rhythm is taking shape at Oak Ridge Family Restaurant. It is the hum of conversation, the clink of plates, and the steady flow of neighbors coming in for a meal. It all feels both reliable and welcoming.
Since opening its doors last August, the restaurant has established itself as a place where classic American comfort food and a genuinely homey atmosphere go hand in hand.
The main dining room at Oak Ridge Family Restaurant.
“We’re a family restaurant, and we want people to feel at home,” says co-owner Dale Krahling, speaking on behalf of his partners, his wife, Maxima Krahling, along with another married couple, Mario Cabreras and Jozell Stoner. The partnership itself is a family affair. An experienced chef, Cabreras is Krahling’s nephew.
Cabreras and Stoner also own Bon Appetit, a restaurant specializing in pizza and subs that opened earlier in 2025. When the couple was ready to expand, the Oak Ridge Drive location felt like the right fit.
“They came to us with the opportunity,” Krahling says. “And we looked at it and thought, yeah, this would be a good idea.”
The 1,800-square-foot space, formerly home to Fratelli Italian Pizzeria and Grill, underwent a hands-on transformation.
“We did all the painting, fixed the walls, and updated the kitchen equipment,” Krahling says. That collaborative approach continues behind the scenes. Krahling brings decades of management and construction experience, while Cabrera leads the kitchen and Stoner oversees front-of-house operations.
The result is a menu designed to please a broad range of tastes, from breakfast lovers to dinner regulars. Breakfast is available all day here, a delight for brunchers, late sleepers, and anyone who loves breakfast for dinner.
“One of the things that we sell a lot for breakfast is chipped beef casserole,” Krahling says. This standout morning dish features made-to-order layers of perfectly crisp potato chunks smothered in a delicate cream sauce that is speckled with fine bits of dried beef and topped with a blanket of scrambled eggs and shredded cheese.
Breakfast is always popular at Oak Ridge Family Restaurant.
Lunches and dinners lean into classic American fare like burgers, subs, wraps, and even a stir fry. Top sellers include Oak Ridge’s open-faced roast beef and turkey sandwiches, chopped steak, quesadillas, and seafood dishes, each prepared with quality and consistency in mind.
“Mario is very particular about the food that comes out of the kitchen,” Krahling says of Cabreras. The family wants returning customers to get their favorite meal exactly as expected, time and again.
Krahling’s choice: “My favorite thing is the grilled chicken quesadilla with red and green peppers and lots of gooey cheese.”
Menu highlights include their hefty Nutella French Toast combo. That comes with three golden slices of custard-dipped Texas toast that is topped with indulgent Nutella, fresh strawberries and bananas, then finished with chocolate syrup and a dollop of whipped cream. Brekkie runs the gamut from Belgian waffles, pancakes, and crepes to egg sandwiches and a jumbo breakfast platter with eggs, diner’s choice of home fries, grits, or tots and a meat option. Everyday favorites on the sandwich menu include grilled chicken, turkey clubs and Rubens alongside Philly cheesesteaks and crispy Monte Cristos. And don’t forget the wings, bone in or boneless.
Dinners and daily specials may include their beer battered haddock with chips or seafood alfredo. Recent specials have featured a New York strip steak paired with shrimp, pork and sauerkraut, and lasagna.
Craving something sweet? Guests can roll up for a jumbo banana split or freshly made cakes and pies. The peanut butter-chocolate cake is always a winner, as is the classic carrot cake, which is heavily laden with walnuts, bits of carrot and warming spices, topped with a neat flourish of cream cheese frosting.
Three of the Oak Ridge Family Restaurant’s favorites: the open-face roast beef sandwich with fries, Texas stir fry, and seafood alfredo.
Beyond the menu, the restaurant’s welcoming spirit is reflected in its service. Krahling says, “I think we give reasonable portions at a decent price. We really try to please the customer.” That flexibility extends to accommodating guests with dietary preferences or special requests.
Oak Ridge Family Restaurant also serves as a gathering place. Currently, it can host small private groups. “As of now, we have parties and reservations with up to 15 to 20 people,” Krahling says, noting that they’ve hosted groups as large as 25.
A patio facing the South Pointe Center’s decorative fountain provides seasonal seating, and the expansive parking lot opens the door to future community events.
“We’ll host cruise-ins when the weather is warm,” Krahling says. (A photo of one patron’s classic car graces the back dining nook.)
As the restaurant continues to settle in, the owners are already thinking ahead.
“As we mature, we’ll do some other decorative things and renovations and upgrades,” Krahling says.
For now, the focus remains on giving customers what they want, whether that’s breakfast at dinnertime, a casual takeout meal, or a table full of familiar faces.
“I like to ask everyone who eats here, “How was the meal?” says Krahling. “Most of the time they tell me, ‘We’ll be back.’”
For a new restaurant hoping to build its legacy, that is the highest compliment.
Oak Ridge Family Restaurant
120 East Oak Ridge Drive, Suite 900, Hagerstown
www.oakridgefamilyrestaurant.com
240-347-4652
Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.