Hamilton Tavern - Small Bar, Big Burgers

I plan to do a full write up in the near future, but not yet as I haven't sampled enough of the menu to give a fair write up.  However, I will let everyone know that Megan and I went to the Hamilton Tavern yesterday evening to grab a quick burger, and we unanimously agreed that it was among the best burgers we have ever consumed. 

Very thick, perfect doneness, and topped with horseraddish chedder, they left our palates and our stomachs satisfied.  And to top it off, last night (Monday) was their burger night - a buger, (heavily seasoned) homemade fries, and a draft (microbrew) beer for about $13.  Great deal!

The space is tight though, so finding a table can sometimes be tough.

But I encourage you to check it out, and keep your eye out for the official review, coming soon.

The Hamilton Tavern

5517 Harford Road
Baltimore, MD 21214
(410) 426-1930

http://www.hamiltontavern.com/

The Woodberry Kitchen - Farm-to-Table meets Fine Dining

Located in the heart of north Baltimore’s hot new Clipper Mill community in a stylishly renovated former mill building, the Woodberry Kitchen has maintains itself as one of Baltimore’s hottest (relatively) new restaurants. Sadly I can’t remember exactly when this swanky farm-to-table restaurant originally opened – I feel like it’s been there about two years – but I will not forget each of the delicious meals I’ve enjoyed there.

If you’re in my income bracket, the Woodberry Kitchen might serve best as a special occasion venue, with its prices in the $25-$50 per plate range; but I have also known many to make a weekly trip to their bar for a burger and a beer. The place is a perfect date restaurant, with its charming and intimate dining room that accentuates the historic character of the historical structure. And your date will also be impressed by your progressive and eco-friendly dining decision – the Kitchen’s farm-to-table concept ensures that all of its products were naturally and locally grown or raised.

Admittedly, the entire Bob Ganoosh team has not made an official trip out to Woodberry Kitchen, so I cannot write about a specific visit; but I have been there enough times that I believe I have a pretty well-rounded impression of the place. My first visit to the Kitchen involved grabbing a quick burger with some folks from my community. After all, their burger is relatively inexpensive ($13), and one usually can’t go wrong with such a decision. Little did I know that I was ordering one of the best burgers I would consume in my 26 years as a food fanatic. The beef was top quality, filled with flavor, and incomparably juicy. And they give you about a half-pound of it, too! And even though the burger alone could fill me up, it is generously accompanied by the Kitchen’s homemade fries – which are as good as any other homemade fries, but I certainly had no complaints.

Later visits allowed me to try a sample of their menu items and specials (both of which change regularly based on what’s in season). One of my favorites involved a rib eye steak (which was a special of that evening and I believe was about $30), accompanied by sides of cheddar potatoes gratin and roasted zucchini and squash. The fresh cut potatoes were dressed in delicious homemade-tasting cheddar cheese, and the zucchini and squash were roasted and seasoned to perfection, with the seasoning complementing the flavorful veggies, not overpowering them.

In addition to its unique top-notch dinner entrees, the Kitchen also has a nice variety of snacks, cheeses, and small plates including popcorn grown in Lancaster County, PA. It is also important to note that no fountain sodas are served here, but rather, they serve bottled sodas made with natural sugar cane. And let me tell you, Pepsi Throwback has nothing on this stuff!

One last thing to note is that when you do decide to check it out for yourself – plan ahead! It is very difficult to get a table without a reservation. Even when we (2 of us) visited on a Tuesday night this past spring, the only table available was in the bar section. It worked for us, but was a little cramped for a special occasion dinner.

The Woodberry Kitchen is located in the new Clipper Mill development in the Woodberry neighborhood, down the hill from Hampden and walking distance from the Woodberry Light Rail stop. Check it out, and let us know what you think!

The Woodberry Kitchen
2010 Clipper Park Road, # 126
Baltimore, MD 21211
410-464-8000
http://www.woodberrykitchen.com/

5-Star Rating

Food: ****1/2

Service: ***1/2

Ambiance: ****

Price: $$$$ ($35-$50)

La Palapa Grill - Best Mexican Food in Howard County

Wait – am I reading this right? Bog Ganoosh’s Baltimore Restaurant Reviews is giving props to Howard County establishment? What gives!? Well, we here at Bob Ganoosh like to give credit where credit is due, and this time the credit is due far beyond the city limits.

From downtown, one can take the scenic Frederick Road – once the only road from Baltimore to the West –on a narrow winding path through Baltimore County and into the quaint village of downtown Ellicott City. Ellicott City’s downtown is a hilly historical mill town, with a level of charm and character that is pleasantly uncharacteristic of Howard County, known mostly for its strip malls and cul-de-sacs. And Main Street has everything you would expect of an old mill village – antique shops, boutiques, and an awesome Mexican joint.

Ok, so maybe the Mexican restaurant doesn’t exactly fit into the theme of the town, but it is said restaurant that we at Bob Ganoosh are so excited about! And that restaurant is La Palapa Grill.

La Palapa is well known amongst the college crowd for its heavy-handed bar staff (the area does not have a particularly hopping night life, but is the only area with decent bars that is accessible from UMBC via taxi). But Shawn and I learned this past Friday that the joint serves up some respectable entrees as well. While sitting on their outdoor deck being serenaded by a guitar-yielding duo, we each debated fiercely between their unique dinner entrees and their renditions of the classics; we both chose the latter. Shawn chose the California burrito, a large burrito generously stuffed with beef, chicken, and a conglomerate of other flavorful ingredients. Not only was the burrito huge, but it was packed with flavor. For those familiar with the famous El Andariego near Olney, the best way we could describe this dish is to take the “Twins Burritos” from El Andariego and stuff them into one burrito. A power move, indeed.

I was swayed by the Texas Chimi, a beef and chicken burrito, fried and covered in a chili con queso sauce. And as long as you like cheese, I can promise you will love this dish. The con queso was plentiful, and the meat was well seasoned – the chimi had just the right amount of kick. Both dishes were adorned plentifully with refried beans and rice. I also threw in an a la carte beef taco in a soft shell, which was pretty much what I expected. But it was stuff so full that I had trouble keeping it all in one piece.

Our only disappointment was the lack of “corn cakes” in the kitchen – you know, that scoop of corn stuff that they used to give you at ChiChi’s. And I think they still give it out at Chevy’s. Shawn and I could live on that stuff. Also, the parking situation is rough – the city has a free municipal lot but even that was completely full – but that is a bit outside of the scope of their control.

Overall though, there is no way we could give this place anything less than 4 stars. Along with their excellent food and heavily-poured drinks (we confirmed this to be accurate), the service was prompt, and the drinks were unusually quick for table service. We never went thirsty.

So if you’re looking for some quality Mexican food and one hell of a margarita, just take a drive down old Frederick Road.

La Palapa Grill
8307 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-465-0070
http://www.lapalapagrill.com

5-Star Rating
Food: ****
Service: ***
Ambiance: ***1/2
Price: $$$ ($20-35)

Finally - Ledo's Pizza in the City!

As we speak, a heated debate is occurring the Charles Village area regarding a developer’s plans to build a large shopping center, including a Wal-Mart and a Lowes, on a soon-to-be-vacant parcel of land. Opponents site that these “big box retailers” could put the small folks out of business, while proponents argue that the area could finally get some of the services that suburbanites take for granted, and that urbanites have to travel to the County to get.

Well I am, willing to bet that, while caught up in this heated debate, many of the proponents of bringing some “suburban amenities” into town may have overlooked what I consider a major victory of their cause – the opening of a Ledo’s Pizza in Charles Village!

Anyone that grew up with me down in Severna Park has eaten plenty of this unique square-shaped, thin-crusted, and provolone-adorned pizza. If hand-tossed and greasy describes New York style pizza, and flaky deep-dish crust describes Chicago style, then Ledo’s could arguably be called “Maryland Style” (I’m not saying its covered in crab and Old Bay, but I mean, it’s from here…).

The Charles Village location is the newest of a handful of Ledo’s locations to open in the city as of late. Its opening has allowed me to more regularly enjoy a food item that I took for granted before I moved up here. I won’t waste my time writing a review, because pretty much all of us have had Ledo’s at some point in time. And if you haven’t, there’s no time like the present.

So, it is still unclear whether or not, in a few years, I will have to drive all the way to hoity-toity Timonium every time I need some grass seed or a hammer; but at I know I won’t have to drive that far for good pizza...

Update - Holy Frijoles!

A Public Service Announcement from Bob Ganoosh

We are very disappointed to report that Holy Frijoles – our long-time Tuesday night venue thanks to their fantastic half-priced quesadillas – has committed a culinary sin. That’s right, it has done away with its unlimited complimentary chips and salsa! As such, Team Bob Ganoosh would like to take a moment to denounce this horrid business practice.

Don’t get me wrong – their chips and salsa are good enough that some people will pay for refills (including us, last night). The chips are fried on site, and the salsa is freshly made and boldly spiced. But come on, it’s basically a slap in the face to the loyal patrons who go their week after week despite a poor economy and a wide array of Tuesday night specials throughout the city. And, they are boldly charging $2.50 for each refill! Ouch!

Holy Frjoles: we understand that times are very tough right now for small local restaurants, and that giving away anything gets more and more fiscally challenging each day. But there has to be a way to squeeze some extra revenue out of your patrons, without seeming so… CHEAP! Raise the entrée prices $1 or the drink prices 50 cents. If anyone noticed, they certainly wouldn’t care that much, and it appear a lot less stingy than charging for a small basket of chips and salsa!

So, to Holy Frijoles: please stop charging for chips! To our readers: please let Holy Frijoles staff know that you support this cause.

Best Place to Take an Out-of-Town Visitor: Mama's on the Half Shell

After a winter of unprecedented snowfall and blistering temperatures, it goes without saying that Baltimoreans – known for their complete intolerance of winter weather – couldn’t be happier that summer is finally upon us. Finally, it’s time to pull the grill out of the shed, put on your flip-flops, and crack open a bottle of Natty Boh. And of course, its time to eat some good seafood! And whether you’re looking to shuck oysters or savor a fine filet of Rockfish, Mama’s on the Half Shell is the place to go.

Mama’s on the Half Shell, located on the Canton Square next to sister Mexican joint Nacho Mama’s (stay tuned for “Battle of the Mexican Specials”, featuring Nacho Mamas) does a superb job of pairing a rustic-yet-upscale atmosphere with a range of seafood dishes that varies in style and price, but not in quality. Mama’s serves as a perfect venue to which to take out of town guests, or just to have a nice dinner out. However, reservations are recommended, as the space is small and the fan base is large.

On the particular Tuesday evening that we visited (just a pair of us), we did not have a reservation, and thus were subject to a reasonably short wait (in the ball park of 15 minutes). So we wandered over to the snug bar area, nursed glasses of cold beer, and watched the Orioles lose on the several flat-screens behind the bar. The service at the bar was not particularly quick, but since the bar area was filled to capacity, we weren’t particularly surprised. With that said, the bar area is a bit cramped and has minimal standing area, making it not ideal for hanging out with a group of people.

About 15 minutes later we were escorted to our table in the second floor dining room, a dark cozy room adorned with southern nautical nick-knacks on the walls. We found the ambiance of the dining room to be quite pleasant, a combination of intimate and casual.

We started our meal with an appetizer of their legendary crab dip – a must do – which is served in a bread bowl with a generous serving of bread, crackers, and vegetable sticks for dipping. The dip itself was loaded with lump crabmeat, and is perfectly complemented by artichoke and a blend of cheeses. In short, this is the best crab dip we have tasted, ever.

The dinner menu offers a wide array of fare, from fish & chips to filet mignon (available several ways). There are also consistently a fair number of specials, which tend to reach the higher end of the restaurant’s price range (often in excess of $30), but are worth every penny. Off of the regular menu, we ordered the scallops – pan seared. The scallops were generously portioned, plump and tender, and pan-seared perfectly. As someone who is not considerably fond of scallops, I found this to be absolutely delightful. As with all regular-menu entrée items, the scallops were served with 2 sides of our choosing; we requested the whipped potatoes and the vegetable of the day, both of which were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of seasoning.

From the Specials list, we ordered a broiled salmon dish served over leeks with a mushroom demi-glace. I believe that it is pretty hard to mess up salmon; still, this dish was exceptional: the salmon was very fresh and was complimented perfectly by the leeks and mushroom sauce. The mushrooms were fresh and perfectly tender from being cooked in the sauce. And the portion was generous – more generous that it initially appeared.

In short, when it comes to Mama’s on the Half Shell, we don’t have much to complain about. The food is exceptional, the service was good, and the ambiance is pleasantly unique. The bar area could be a bit bigger, but that can be done in the corner rowhouse which houses the establishment. So, next time you have an out of town guest, take them to Mama’s and get them the best crab dip Baltimore has to offer!

Mama’s on the Half Shell
2901 O’Donnell Street
(on the Canton Square)
Baltimore, MD 21224
410-273-3160

5-Star Rating
Food: ****
Service: ** ½
Ambiance: ***
Price: $$$ ($20-35)

Bob Ganoosh is Back!

To all former Bob Ganoosh fans,

The absentee CEO of Bob Ganoosh Enterprises has expressed that he would like the infamous blog to be resurrected, this time being even better (hopefully) than before! As such, Team Ganoosh asks that a) you please keep an eye out for new posts in the next week or so; and b) that you please post your ideas, as a comment to this post, of places to review or general feedback about the site.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Gary L. Sever
Chief Financial Officer and
Editor-in-Chief

The Speakeasy Saloon - Shhh! Let's Keep it a Secret!

The Bob Ganoosh team received a tip Friday night, from Shawn's lovely mother (who going forward will be referred to as Mama Ganoosh), that the food at the Speakeasy Saloon in Canton was "fabulous." So of course, we had to check it out for ourselves. Despite what turned out to be a torrential downpour, team Bob Ganoosh initiated its investigation, so you wouldn't have to.

We arrived at the restaurant around 7:30 on Friday night, when the bar crowd was starting to show up and the dinner crowd remained strong. We were greeted immediately by a very attentive lady - the owner, we suspect - and seated at a table outside (per our request).

A review of the menu revealed a Mediterranean theme, including a variety of tapas plates and familiar Italian-themed dishes; however, one could also choose from an eclectic mix of seafood and steak selections. Shortly later our server arrived and presented the evening's specials, at which point the menu seemed to double: there were about 3 appetizer specials and 5 entree specials, which were made up of various combinations of seafood and steak. All sounded wonderful, and were priced at around $25 (which for a Filet stuffed with crab meat, for example, is very reasonable).

Shawn ordered one of the special appetizers - the Caprese Salad ($8) - which consisted of generous slices of homemade mozzarella cheese served atop ripe tomato slices and topped with a balsamic vinegar glaze. The mozzarella was very creamy and melted in your mouth as you ate it. I think Shawn and I were both in agreement that this Caprese was only second to the stuff served at DiPasquale's. Meanwhile, I started my meal with a cup of French Onion Soup ($4.95) - as the self-proclaimed expert on French Onion Soup, I had to it out! The soup was served as French Onion typically is, with a slice of baguette concealed in the soup by a blanket of melted cheese (in this case, it seemed to be provolone). The soup was very good, but tasted more strongly of onion and less of beef base, which differs from some with have a more flavorful broth. So, make sure you really like onion if you order the soup.

Onward to our entrees: Shawn sampled one of their classic Italian dishes - Chicken Parmesan served atop Penne Pasta ($11.95), while I sampled one of their more unique dishes - Chicken Phoenix ($11.95). The Chicken Parmesan, consisting of a sweetly-breaded chicken breast topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella, was moist and flavorful, a superb rendition of a dish that many order merely because "you can't go wrong." And, the penne was abundant. The Chicken Phoenix yielded one of the most unique flavors either of us had ever tasted on a chicken. This dish consisted of the sweetly-breaded chicken breast, and was topped with a "silky honey-jalapeno sauce" (as the menu describes it). Now, I was going on a whim when I ordered this, and I had no idea how spicy it would be, nor did I have any idea what honey and jalapeno tasted like together. Well, this sauce has to be one of the most unique flavors we have tasted - it was not spicy at all, but rather had a sweet creamy flavor that complimented the sweet chicken breast perfectly. The dish had me talking about it all night.

As for the service, it was spot-on. Even during the ensuing chaos that occurred when the rain arrived and the outdoor-diners began to panic, the servers managed to relocate people inside promptly and open up a retractable awning to maintain some of the outdoor seating. All in all, Team Ganoosh was abundantly impressed with the entire experience!

As for the restaurants ability to handle a large group, it's tough to say. Though there were ample tables available, none of them looked large enough to handle a large crowd, although we were not privy to seeing the size of the upstairs dining area. So if you have a party greater than 4-6, I would recommend calling ahead.

So, like a speakeasy from the Prohibition days, we should probably keep this wonderful spot a secret... but then again, that's definitely not the Bob Ganoosh way!

The Speakeasy Saloon
2480 O'Donnell Street (Canton Square)
Baltimore, MD 21224
410-276-2977
http://www.speakeasysaloon.com/

Note from the Editor-in-Chief

My apologies for the typoes in my most recent post - the post was made on a time constraint, and as a result I forgot to run a spell-check. The typoes should now be corrected.

The Brewer's Art - A Review Long Overdue!

This week is Baltimore Restaurant Week, and the Bob Ganoosh team decided to partake by conducting a review that no legitimate restaurant review blog could be without - The Brewer's Art!

Located in eclectic and trendy Mt. Vernon/Midtown, The Brewer's Art is just as eclectic as the community in which it resides. The upstairs dining room is somewhat formal and quaint, the type of venue to which you'd take the folks out; while the basement bar has the dark grungy-yet-trendy ambiance you'd expect in Baltimore. We started our evening off downstairs, because despite being the middle of the week, we could not get a reservation until 8:30 (I guess it is Restaurant Week!).

For those who don't know, The Brewer's Art is a brew house that serves a selection of its own Microbrews right out of the basement bar. Their regular beer selection consists of about 8 (I'm guestimating) brews, and pretty much covers all ends of the beer spectrum. The most popular is their Resurrection Ale, which is a favorite around time and I believe has won a "Best of Baltimore" award.

Prior to last night, many of us had tried their beers, or at least the Resurrection (it is served at at least one other bar in Baltimore), but we were all virgins to their food. Now, they serve pretty decent pub grub downstairs, but we learned quickly that the real good stuff is served in the upstairs dining room. Taking advantage of the Restaurant Week menu, we all went with the Steak Frites - some medium and some medium rare - and either the Caesar Salad or the Tortilla Soup. The soup was a tomato-based soup with adequate spice, but not too much to make it unenjoyable; the salads were large, generously dressed, and topped with some spicy cheese wafer that we were not able to identify.

But lets get to the most important part - the steaks! The steaks, New York Strips that I'm guessing were about 12 oz, were cooked to the perfect temperature and topped with a sweet demi-glace sauce. It was served upon a bed of flavorful garlic fries, and with a side of a sweet buttery sauce for dipping. Being a bit of a steak snob, I must say that for an establishment not known as a steakhouse per se, these were some of the best steaks I have ever encountered. They were large, juicy, and cooked perfectly to our specifications.

After we conquered our wonderful steaks, we were provided (as part of the Restaurant Week special) with a small dessert, consisting of a rich chocolate tart and a small cheesecake tart topped with blackberries. Can't really go wrong there.

Being Restaurant Week, all of this came out to $30.09. This was particularly a good deal because their regular menu prices, for an entree, are not much less than that. Though I wouldn't put this in the "fine dining" price range, it is definitely pricier than just a casual dinner out (at least for someone as frugal as myself). The prices for the entrees range from $19 to about $30, and the appetizers were around $8. If everything they serve is as good as the Steak Frites, well worth it!

So, here's the Bob Ganoosh summary:

Is The Brewer's Art worth all of the hype it gets? 5 full stomachs and 10 thumbs up say YES!

Is is a good place for a large party? Sure, but definitely make a reservation! This is not the place to go spontaneously, if you plan of having dinner.

Is this a good place to take a date? Most definitely! This is definitely a great place to take a beautiful date or a guest from out of town (interesting side note - they are walking distance from Penn Station).

So take a trip out to Mt. Vernon, get yourself a great steak, and check out the sisters of the Resurrection!

The Brewer's Art

1106 N. Charles Street

Baltimore, MD

410-547-6925

http://www.thebrewersart.com/

13.5% Wine Bar - If You Build It, They Will Come!

Note: Please see our update to this review.

Finally, the post you've all been waiting for: Bob Ganoosh's review of the newest addition to the Baltimore eats & drinks scene - 13.5% Wine Bar on the Avenune (W. 36th St.) in Hampden!  The new wine bar opened its doors on Friday the 10th, and we were there to check it out.

The bar opened at 6pm, and by the time we got there at 7pm the place was packed. The owner Wayne greeted us at the door, saying "we're packed but go wherever you can find space!" There was about a 30 minute or so wait for tables, which we suspect will be on a seat-yourself policy on less busy nights. While we nursed glasses of blush from our first bottles of wine, awaiting our table, we admired the ambiance, which was very hip and modern, but managed to also incorporate the rustic aspects classic of Hampden (such as the stone wall, which was new, but still a very nice touch). One of the members of the group, and regular blog commenter "Barget", became particularly excited when they turned on the orange glowing lights that illuminated the whole bar.

Our party fluctuated between 6 and 7 people, which made seating a little challenging on this opening night, but we managed to get a table with little drama (just a bit of patience). Our server Megan was very nice, and despite it being the establishment's first day in business, she was very knowledgeable of the menu (both food and beverage). Whatever she didnt know, she referred to the resident wine expert, who was running around answering questions and keeping things in-check.

The menu consisted of a list of paninis, all priced at less than $9, and a selection of mediterranian tapas dishes. Everyone ordered a panini with the exception of Barget, who ordered the antipasta plate. Each of the paninis was different, offering various combinations of italian meats, cheeses, veggies, and spices. Everyone enjoyed the paninis thoroughly, and it was the general consensus that the portion was well worth the modest price. They are generally served with potatoes, but they were totally out by the time we ordered, so we'll get back to you on those. They were also nice enough to give Bob Ganoosh a very nice salad with Italian Bacon, in lieu of the potatoes. As for the antipasta plate, Barget finished every bite. I tried a small piece of one of the imported cheeses, which at least seemed of much higher quality than one usually gets on an antipasta plate. Overall, the food was excellent.

As for the wine, we were generally pleased with this aspect as well. They have a decent list of wines sold by the glass, and a huge variety of wines available by the bottle. The bottles can be bought for carry-out (like your local wine store), or opened to drink in-house (subject to an $8 corkage fee, regardless of the price of the bottle). We ordered several bottles, including 2 different blushes, a very smooth red, and a sweet Moscato for dessert. The staff was very prompt with refilling our glasses (they kept the lighter wines chilled and refilled them for you).

We were also given a free sample of their desserts, due to an error in the kitchen. They were offering 2 desserts that night, which to our understanding were not their regular menu items, but were prepared for opening night by the owner of the Puff's & Pastries Bakery in Hampden. Our sample included a cream puff filled with fresh peaches, which was delicious; and smoked applewood bacon covered in chocolate, which was... interesting (I wouldn't say it was my "cup of tea," but definitely worth trying!). The quality was superb; however, we are interested to see what their regular menu desserts will be like.

Due to the large amount of merriment and drinking we did that night, I did not do a good job keeping track of the price of each bottle we drank. But I will say that for 6 people eating and drinking, our bill came out to less than $150 ($25/person). Not bad, given the amount of wine we drank. The only disappointment as far as price is concerned, is the $8 corkage fee, which I found to be a little more than "nominal" (as the website described it). The establishment claims to focus on more budget-friendly wines that are as tasty as more expensive wines - although there are bottles available in excess of $100, everything we drank was under $20. Given that, the $8 fee represented a pretty significant mark-up on each of our bottles. We suggest, perhaps, a percentage corkage fee, maybe with a "not-to-exceed" amount for the pricier bottles. But regardless, overall we found the evening to be pretty reasonably priced given the amount we consumed.

We feel 13.5% would be a very fun place for a large group; however, given the size of the place, a group larger than 6 would probably have trouble finding a place to sit at peak times. So, large groups would probably have more luck on a Wednesday night than a Friday night. And the staff will definitely be as accomodating as possible, based on our experiences.

So, Team Bob Ganoosh happily gives Hampden's newest addition its Seal of Approval, and recommends to anyone who hasn't checked them out yet, to give them a visit.

And, after seeing how busy they were on Friday, and how people basically flooded the gates as soon as the doors opened: I think it is safe to say that for high-end establishments in Hampden - IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!

I love being right!

13.5% Wine Bar

1117 West 36th Street

Baltimore, MD 21211

410-889-1064

http://www.13.5winebar.com/

Editor's Note: Please see our update to this review written December 29, 2010.

Update - 13.5% Wine Bar

Due to my cut-throat investigative journalism (an in-passing conversation with my roommate), I have found out that the tentative date of 13.5%'s opening is slated for July 10 (this Friday)! Team Bob Ganoosh intends to be there, and encourages all else to go and give us their input!

http://www.13.5winebar.com

Review should be posted by Monday!

Coming Soon to a Hampden Near You - 13.5% Wine Bar

For those who don't know, a new wine bar is scheduled to open on "The Avenue" in Hampden, any day now. To be called the 13.5% Wine Bar, is owned by the former owner of the Wine Underground in Medfield, and will sell bottles both by the glass and by the bottle. They will also serve tapas-style food.

This is an exciting addition to the Hampden business community, and finally acknowledges that Hampden is growing up a little and becoming a bit more sophisticated. People have argued with me time and time again that there is no demand for a "yuppie" establishment in Hampden, and I always argued that the client-base is here, and if you build it, they will come. I hope this experiment proves me correct.

In any case, if anyone hears any developments on this wine bar, please keep me posted, and I will do the same for you. When it opens, I'm there.

Kali's Mezze Restaurant - A Milestone for Bob Ganoosh

Bob Ganoosh experimented with some quasi-cannibalism last night. You guessed it, he tried Baba Ghanoush, the classic Mediterranean eggplant dish from which his nickname - and thus this blog - was originated. We had been contemplating trying this namesake disk for a few weeks, when we met a group of people while playing pool at the Waterfront Hotel. When Shawn introduced himself as Bob Ganoosh, one of the gentlemen indicated that he worked for a restaurant that served Baba Ghanoush. And he referred us to Kali's Mezze Restaurant.

Located in Fell's Point walking distance from the water, Mezze is a small trendy joint squeezed-in next door to its sister restaurant Kali's Court. They offer a tapas style menu with a Mediterranean influence. At the time we got there (around 8pm) most of the dining room and all of the sidewalk seating was full; however, they managed to seat our party of 3 moderately quickly.

Being the Bob Ganoosh team's first tapas experience, we were pretty entertained by the idea of ordering a bunch of small cheap plates in lieu of a large expensive dish. For those unfamiliar with tapas-style restaurants, dishes are served in appetizer-esque portions, for prices usually less than that for a large dish at a traditional restaurant. Typically, if you're hungry you'll order several plates, or if you're just sipping down some drink you may just order a few plates at a time for the table to share.

When we reviewed the menu, we came to realize that the prices were a little bit higher than I had anticipated, with some plates costing in excess of $10 (for a small plate). Granted, these plates usually contained lamb or steak. And they did have cheaper plates as well, such as tapanade (a spread made of olives, among other things), which was under $4. The Baba Ghanoush was about $6. Given the trendy cosmopolitan theme and the quality of the dishes, we didn't find the prices unreasonable.

As for the food, we did not order a single thing we didn't like. We all found the Baba Ghanoush to be surprisingly pleasant, especially when eaten with the wonderful complimentary pita bread they provide. In addition to his namesake dish, Shawn got a dish with Haloumi cheese (very similar to mozzarella) on top of portabello mushrooms, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. This dish was very flavorful, with the balsamic perfectly accenting the cheese and portabello. He also tried the baby lamb chops, which were generously seasoned with thyme and basil. I am not a big fan of lamb in general, but Shawn found it to be very tasty.

We also tried:

• Stuffed peppers, which consisted of 3 small green peppers stuffed with cheese, rice and spices. Don't be fooled by the peppers, this is a very mild dish
• Steamed Mussels, which gave Bertha's a run for its money (no disrespect to Bertha's, which is one of my favorite Fell's Point establishments). The mussels were fresh, the portion was generous, and the seasoned butter sauce drizzled on top sealed the deal.
• Cheese Pie - several cheeses baked into a phylo dough crust. Can't really go wrong there!

The Bob Ganoosh team would also like to give Mezze kudos for its plate presentation. Each dish was carefully and attractively garnished with Mediterranean-themed items (olives, etc.). And Shawn enjoyed the fact that all of the garnishes were not only edible, but delicious!

The only major downside was it's unlikely ability to handle a large party, especially without a reservation. This is merely a result of the small space in which they operate.

So, Bob Ganoosh's first tapas experience (and first taste of Baba Ghanoush) was a huge success! We plan to visit again with some more (but not too many) friends.

Kali's Mezze Restaurant
1606 Thames Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-563-7600
www.kalismezze.com

Loco Hombres/Alonzo's - We hombres are loco for their nachos!

Another review that is long overdue, is of the sister restaurants Loco Hombres and Alonso's. Located in old Roland Park a short walk from Loyola College, the two restaurants share an entrance, hostess stand, and bar. Loco Hombres has a tex-mex theme, while Alonso's goes for more of a sports-bar/pizza theme (although the 2 menus are overall very similar). The tex-mex ambiance is experienced before you even walk in the door, with the old Spanish-style tiles on the roof of this old corner business (which is incidental, as this is a common style found on rowhomes made in the "daylight" period, which is a whole-nother blog!). The Alonso's side also sells beer and wine for about couple hours later than most of the nearby liquor stores.

Anyway, we had visited on Wednesday night, having been there many times before, expected greatness. We have been there in both large groups and small, and tried items across the menu. One previous visit worth noting, was on the opening night of the 2008 Hampden Christmas Lights - while all the "Avenue" restaurants were on a 2 hour wait, Loco's accommodated a party of 12 in a matter of minutes. And everyone left satisfied.

This week we were in a beer and pub-grub kind of mood, and we remember being intensely impressed by the nachos they served - so we each ordered an order of nachos. I got ground beef on mine, the others got chicken. As we remembered, the portions were huge and looked delicious. Each plate of nachos was smothered with cheese, olives, peppers, guac, etc.; and you never had to worry about getting a nacho with nothing on it. The ground beef was good, the more mild of the choices, but of course was a little greasier. The chicken had a slight bite to it - which we all found to be delicious - and was generously rationed throughout the plate.

The nachos with meat were $13, and were large enough for 2 meals. If you're in a vegetarian mood or want to save money, they're available without meat for $10.

Most of the dishes offered are between $10 and $20 - some other Bob Ganoosh recommendations include the fajitas, the huge burgers (1.5lbs!), and the pizzas on the Alonso's side. They also have a nice drink menu, with a decent beer selection and some fun cocktails. I got a bottle of Newcastle, served with a frosted glass, that was very cold and refreshing on such a warm evening.

So, of course, we give our strong endorsement to these fun restaurants for almost any occasion - large group or small, dinner or just pub-grub during the game.

And, they get bonus points, since our waitress had a Natty Boh tattoo!

Hogs Really Do Taste Better BBQ'ed! - Andy Nelson's BBQ

Shawn and I made a visit to this quaint little BBQ house in Old Cockeysville, already having a pretty good idea of what our review was going to say. We have both been here many times, and it happens to be the venue of choice for company-wide lunches provided by my employer. So this particular visit was more or less a technicality, spawned by a strong craving for some great barbecue (plus, I owed Shawn some money).

The restaurant consists of a small old house on York Road, which you probably wouldn't even see if it wasn't for the large pig on the roof. There is also a large shed-like building that they converted into an additional seating area, which would help in a large-party situation. This is not a fast-food restaurant per se, but all ordering is done at the counter and there is no table service. A cosy casual environment. We looked at the various pieces of paraphernalia on the wall while waiting for our food, and learned that Andy Nelson (the restaurant's founder) was once a member of the Baltimore Colts.

The menu is simple but offers everything you would want from such a restaurant: pulled pork, pulled turkey, pit beef, and beef barbecue. And of course the usual sides: corn bread, potato salad, collard greens, etc. You can get just a sandwich for somewhere around $7, or a platter with 2 sides for under $10. We both went for the platters: I got the pulled pork with corn bread and potato salad; Shawn got pulled turkey with cornbread and greens.

I'll just cut to the chase and say, as we expected, we loved everything. Both the pork and the turkey were unbelievably moist. The turkey was well-seasoned, the pork was more mildly seasoned, but most likely under the presumption that it will be topped with one of their signature sauces. Shawn enjoyed his greens, and we both loved the cornbread (they were generous with the portion, too). I loved the potato salad - I'm not really capable of resisting it - but I will warn that it is strongly spiced. It is possibly the most unique potato salad I have ever eaten.

We got there about a half hour before they closed, and ended up closing the place down. As such, there was plenty of seating. I have never actually been in the restaurant at lunchtime, but I would suspect that lunchtime on a Friday would be a bit busier, so I suspect that a large party would have a little more challenge then. I would make a similar prediction for dinner, but adding that their not-s0-late closing time (8pm during the week and maybe 9pm on the weekends) would make it difficult for a dinner-night with a big group.

So overall, the Bob Ganoosh team gives Andy Nelson's (aka "Pigman") our golden seal of approval! However, we would recommend them as more of a casual lunch or a quasi-quick dinner, than a big group get-together. If I worked in Hunt Valley, I'd eat there every day (and generally, I don't even like pork)!

Andy Nelson's Barbecue

11007 York Road

Cockeysville, MD 21030

410-527-1226

http://www.andynelsonsbbq.com/

Bob Ganoosh's First Bad Review - Double T Diner

Friday night the Bob Ganoosh team decided to get out and enjoy the nice weather by hanging out at Shawn's parents' community beach in Severna Park, with some wine and stogies. Sometime between midnight and 1AM we decided we needed a late night snack, so off we went to Double T Diner in Pasadena. Now let's remember, almost everyone (all except the designated driver) had been drinking, so our standards were not very high. All we needed was some cheap food in the middle of the night. And that is pretty much Double T's purpose in life. That, and being a venue for Sheila Dixon's business meetings.** So we knew what to expect.

However, this visit to Double T, as usual, did not even meet our already-diminished standards for late-night dining. To start on a positive note, the service was fine - better than average for a diner, I would say. My glass never reached the bottom before being offered a refill. That is a power move by any server, in my opinion. However, as soon as food arrived at the table, it all went south!

A few of our entrees came with a cup of soup to start with. Shawn got the New England Clam Chowder (which was actually Manhattan Clam Chowder). The other 2 ordered Cream of something, but the restaurant was fresh out of that so they were given Chicken Noodle. The chicken noodle was basically chicken broth, a little bit of chicken, and tons of macaroni... but whatever, Chicken Noodle can only be so bad. The Clam Chowder, however, is a different story. I'm not sure what was in it or specifically how it tasted, but to quote Shawn: "this tastes like shit!" He specifically asked that I quote him on that.

The entrees were mediocre. I got some kind of breakfast platter which I found to be pretty good (can't really go wrong with eggs and pancakes), but I was not a fan of the hashbrowns. All of the sandwiches ordered were acceptable, but nothing particularly special, even for the price (which is not all that low for a diner).

So our verdict - if you're hungry in the middle of the night, go to Denny's! Last time I was there with my parents (a few months ago) we were surprisingly pleased with everything, and it was a lot cheaper! The service we received Friday night was better than one would ever received at a Denny's, but then again I think it was better than what is usually offered at Double T. All in all, the only reason to eat at Double T is for straight-up convenience.

There are several locations, but I will not waste my time looking up the addresses of somewhere I do NOT recommend.

** The Bob Ganoosh team has no opinion, and does not intend to imply any opinion, as to the innocence or guilt of any persons as it relates to any pending indictments. So Sheila, please don't sue us!

WTF??? This Food is Good!

NOTE: Please see the update to this article published 8/1/2011.

Today's post is long overdue, as it is of one of our favorite eateries and watering holes in Fell's Point - The Waterfront Hotel. Represented throughout the area by its ovular "WTF" stickers, the Waterfront is a restaurant/bar located in an historic rowhouse on Thames Street, right across from the old recreational pier. The building, built in the 1770's as a hotel for sailors and such (hence the restaurant's name), is one of the oldest buildings in Baltimore.

We originally started hanging out at their bar back in college (like 3 years ago or so). It was a little bit different back then - they have been making the place a little higher-scale over the past few years, although it was a pretty decent place to begin with. You may recognize the first-floor bar - it was where the bar scenes in Homicide: Life on the Streets were filmed. Their "pub grub" was always a little on the pricy side, since their menu is a little higher-scale, so we never really tried much of that. Although, the bucket of Old Bay Fries (if they still have it) is to die for.

For the dinner scene, the Waterfront has a quaint little 2nd-floor dining room, with windows that look out on the goings-on of Thames Street. The dining room is not large, and thus not promising for large party accomodations; however, usually when we go there (during the week) the dining room is mostly empty. The ambiance is calm and quiet, and a nice place to go for a relaxing meal.

All of the food we have had there is enjoyable. Admittedly though, the prices are toward the higher end of what we like to pay for a casual meal ($15-25). So, we would recommend going during the week, during most of which they offer dinner specials from 6-10PM. These include the "12 for 12" Tuesdays - 12 items (normal priced around $20) are discounted to $12; and the Wednesday Steak Night, where they offer a nice steak, dressed one of several different ways with mashed potatoes and veggies, for $15.

Last night, we took advantage of the "12 for 12" special. Shawn tried the Lobseter Ravioli and I had the Fettucine dinner. The Lobster Ravioli was served under some kind of red sauce, which had a little bit of a tangy kick to it (not too much though). I believe there were peppers in the sauce too. Shawn loved it. The Fettucine included breaded chicken, stuffed with prociutto ham, laid across a plate of fettucine tossed in a mustardy cream sauce. The mustard sauce was different - not what I had expected - but overall it was tasty and very unique (as well as filling).

Shawn and I each got a salad too, which we thought was included but apparently was not. But the salad was very nice, wish a wide assortment of crisp leaves and such. If you like lots of dressing though, you might want to ask for extra on the side.

In short, the Bob Ganoosh team would like to officially give its seal of approval to an establishment that we have been fans of throughout the last few years. We deem this to be a great place for a nice quiet dinner, as long as you're not looking for dirt cheap. And if you're trying to avoid crowds, don't go on a Friday or Saturday night, as the bar crowd tends to be heavy at those times (obviously).

WTF - our only major suggestion: BRING BACK THE BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP!!! It was our favorite!

The Waterfront Hotel

1710 Thames Street

Baltimore, MD 21231

410-537-5055

http://www.waterfronthotel.us/

MORE REVIEWS COMING SOON

Loyal Bob Ganoosh Readers:

We apologize for the lack of postings lately - the Bob Ganoosh team has been involved with a lot of different stuff lately. In any case, we have some ideas for some new exciting posts, which you can expect to see in the next week or so. So, please stay tuned!

DiPasquale's Deli - Mama Mia that's a huge sub!

The Bob Ganoosh team would like to apologize for the lack of recent posts. The current writer (me, Gary) has been spending a lot of time being involved with his Community Association... perhaps Bob Ganoosh needs to expand its operations! As such, we took the lazy route and visited somewhere at the suggestion of the Food Network's Diners, Dives, and Drive-thrus... or whatever the show is called. A couple of weeks ago, it seemed like every time I turned on the Food Network I saw them visiting somewhere from Baltimore But something specific caught our eye - this delicious looking "rice ball" topped with marinara sauce. So we decided, we must visit wherever it is that they sell these.

DiPasquale's Gourmet Deli, the home of this unique dish, has been in business since the early 20th century (I want to say, it was 1914). The shop is a little corner rowhouse right smack dab in the middle of Highlandtown, and offers pretty much everything Italian, from fresh baked bread to imported aged cheese to rabbit & octopus meat. It is reminiscent of a little corner deli you'd find in NYC - a rare find in Baltimore - and represents one of the reasons I'd take a neighborhood like Highlandtown over one like Federal Hill any day.

So, Shawn and I drove over there one night (I believe it was Mardi Gras, actually) for dinner, and well we weren't impressed. Of course, that's because we couldn't get in the door - they close at 6PM Monday - Saturday (and are closed on Sunday). If we were really as lazy as I implied above, the article would have ended here. But, as the saying goes, if you don't succeed, try try again. So we planned to go back on a Saturday for lunch.

So this past weekend, we (accompanied by our friend Mark) took a drive down to "Hollantown" for lunch, right before the Maryland game. It was a few hours after lunch time when we got there, but the place was packed regardless. They have a decent sized menu, which includes various subs & salads, as well as classics like homemade lasagna. And of course, the Rice Ball! I ordered a meatball sub; Shawn got a cold cut sub and some mozzarella salad. I can't remember what Mark got off hand. And of course, Shawn and I eat got a rice ball.

Now we started out with our rice balls. These basically consisted of some seasoned beef and mozzarella cheese, battered with a thick layer of some rice mixture, and fried. It comes out a little bigger than a softball. They cut it in half and drizzle some marinara sauce over top. Let me tell you, it was great! Honestly, the flavor was more mild than I expected, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. And it pretty much filled me up, for about $5.

I barely had any room for the meatball sub, of which I took the majority home with me. This unbelievable sandwich consisted of plump homemade meatballs and marinara sauce, stuffed inside of a half loaf of their homemade break. A HALF LOAF! The bread really sealed the deal, but everything about the sandwich was outstanding. At this gigantic extremely filling (I barely finished it in the 2nd attempt) sub was only $7.95.

Shawn's sub was not as huge as mine, but still respectably sized. After the rice ball, he too had little room for his hoagie and took most of it home. Plus, he had some mozzarella salad (which he shared a bit with me). The Mozzarella was unbelievable - it was so creamy that you could eat it without teeth if you so desired. It was top-notch.

If you need, they also sell wine and liquor to take with you - I imagine this would be a good place to buy Lemocello!

So, in short, we had a great meal (well 2 meals) with what we got at DiPasquale's. We ended up spending a a little more than average, for a deli, but it was worth every penny. The portions are great and the quality is outstanding. The joint has been owned by the same family since it opened, and it is obvious from our experience that they take everything they make very seriously. If I lived in that neighborhood, I'd be a regular to this establishment.

Hmm... maybe I should move to Highlandtown. I wonder if the rowhouse across the street with the purple-painted formstone, is for sale!

DiPasqale's Gourmet Deli
3700 Gough Street
Baltimore, MD 21224
410-276-6787
http://www.dipasquales.com/