About us

Founded by brothers Scott & Brian Beck in 1992,  E. W. Beck’s has been serving fine food to good friends on Main Street in Sykesville, MD for 30 years.   Beck’s is a testament to a family’s love of food and a belief in being kind and generous towards others.   Scott & Brian named the restaurant after their father, Ernest William Beck, Jr., their granddad Ernest William and their great, great grandfather, Ernst Wilhelm.   Their granddad drove trucks for Shell Oil during the day and bartended in the evenings.  He was a generous, easy-going man who offered hospitality and companionship to anyone who walked in the door.  Granddad Beck was liked by most everyone he met so it made sense when he purchased a local neighborhood tavern in Lansdowne, MD and called it Ernie’s Tavern.   The companionship and camaraderie of his neighborhood tavern inspired Scott and Brian to create a similar “neighborhood tavern” in Sykesville when they set out to purchase what is now E. W. Beck’s Restaurant & Pub 30 years ago.

Just before opening Beck’s, Scott was a student at Towson University and bartended at the Crab Shanty in Ellicott City, MD.  Before many of his shifts, he would stop in to see his Little Nan who lived nearby.  Little Nan was 4’ 8”, Italian and an amazing cook.  She would greet Scott with a warm hug and “are you hungry?”  That question never got answered because Nan was already busy in the kitchen preparing him a meal.   Little Nan’s cooking was how she expressed her love, and her meals were always  fulfilling, authentic & plentiful!  From his afternoons with Little Nan,  Scott learned how much better great food can be when it is served with two goals:  (1) to nourish; and (2) to express kindness and love to your guests.

Thirty years later, E. W. beck’s is still serving fine food to good friends and  countless new friends as well!  We are happy to say Beck’s is a place  where the companionship & camaraderie of a local tavern seamlessly connect with kindness and the nourishment of plentiful portions found in a family restaurant.   After 30 years, Scott has decided to retire and has passed the torch to long time employees Dan Feehan & Brian Wilbur.   Through Scott’s vision and tireless efforts, E. W. Beck’s has become  a staple in the Sykesville and surrounding communities.   We hope to continue that cherished tradition for the next thirty years!   So, stop in and say hello.  It will be our pleasure to serve you fine food and drink and to make some new friends as well! 

Brian & Dan

He was a generous, easy going man who offered hospitality and companionship to anyone who walked in the door. Granddad Beck was liked by most everyone he met so it made sense when he purchased a local neighborhood tavern in Lansdowne, MD at age 46 and called it Ernie's Tavern. The companionship and camaraderie of his neighborhood tavern is what inspired my brother and I to create a similar "neighborhood tavern" in Sykesville when we set out to purchase what is now E.W. Beck's Restaurant & Pub. With the tremendous generosity and help of our family, we opened our doors on Main Street in July 1992.

Just before opening Becks, I was a student at Towson University and bartended at the Crab Shanty in Ellicott City. Before many of my shifts, I would stop in to see my Little Nan who lived nearby. Little Nan was 4'8", Italian, and an amazing cook. She would greet me with a hug and "are you hungry?". That question never got answered because Nan was already busy in the kitchen preparing me a meal. I cherish the memories I have of sitting in her kitchen and eating while she fiddled and fussed around, never sitting for long, as she added more of this and got me more of that. She was never one to be waited on… that was her job. Little Nan's cooking was how she expressed her love for me and her family and it was always fulfilling, authentic, and plentiful! My family and I learned from Little Nan how much better great food can be when it is served with two goals: (1) to nourish; and, (2) to express kindness and love to your guests.