notmandatory's Profile
Late Night Baltimore dinner
I know that it's too late for the initial request, but our favorite late night restaurant is Jack's Bistro. Their full menu is only served until 10 or 11 but they have a late night menu served until 1
that includes a number of menu items, including some heavier ones. It has become our go-to stop on the way home from BWI when we get in late. Excellent beer is a bonus!
-----
Jack's Bistro
3123 Elliott St, Baltimore, MD 21224
Big Bad Wolf closed for vacation?
They were open yesterday, maybe they just took an extra day for the holiday. It seems like their website is down now, though. I hope everything is ok.
pho between dc and bmore
In Columbia, you've got two options within a few minutes of the Rt 32 exit, Pho Dat Thanh and An Loi. Between the two, I prefer Dat Thanh, but it's been a while since I've been to either.
-----
An Loi
7104 Minstrel Way Ste 9, Columbia, MD 21045
Pho Dat Thanh
9400 Snowden River Pkwy Ste 125, Columbia, MD 21045
September 2010 rehearsal dinner in Baltimore
We had our rehearsal dinner for about that many people at the Helmand, and it was fantastic. The food was all served family style, so people unfamiliar with Afghan food don't have to try their luck at picking a single menu item. Everyone really enjoyed it, even those who were wary of trying a new cuisine. It was reasonable priced, and really the only downside was that we were all at one long table in the front room, so it wasn't easy to mingle.
Mexican Restaurant on Route 1 north of Elkridge?
I'm not sure from the description, could it be El Dorado, just north of Montgomery Rd, near subway and across from Taco Bell/KFC? If it is, I recommend that you beg your friend to reconsider, it was one of the worst meals I've had in years. The salsa was runny and had a dishwater taste to it, and the mole was terrible in that way that the flavor just clings to your mouth until you brush your teeth. Even the fried ice cream was bad. I would honestly prefer to eat at the Taco Bell across the street.
Looking for cooking classes
Thank you for the replies. It sounds like L'Academie's classes are exactly what I'm looking for, and For the Love of Food is probably not. It looks like I just missed the start of most of L'Academie's classes, but I plan on taking one soon. I'm leaning towards the 12-week Culinary Skills Lab. I'll be sure to report back if I take it, or if I find something closer to Baltimore.
Looking for cooking classes
I've been thinking of taking some basic classes as well. Two schools I've seen recommended on here before are L'Academie de Cuisine (http://www.lacademie.com/), which has classes in Bethesda and Gaithersburg, and For the Love of Food (http://www.fortheloveoffood.com/) in Reisterstown. I think L'Academie looks great, but it's a bit far from Baltimore, and a bit pricier. Does anyone have experience with either?
Baltimore Restaurant Week 2009 reviews!
Four of us went to Mezze on Friday, and we were very happy with it. We were seated right away in the front room upstairs, next to a window overlooking the patio in front of Kali's Court. Service was a bit slow, but it was Friday night and the first night of RW, and someone came by frequently to refill our water and sangria glasses. Everything was served family style, with most dishes coming with one piece per person, so we all got the opportunity to try everything.
The meal started with hummus and tzatziki. I loved the tzatziki, and the hummus was tasty but a bit heavy on tahini for my taste. The pita for dipping was warm and delicious. Next came a Greek salad, which was a good, but unexciting, salad, and a veggie plate with stuffed grape leaves, spinach pie and eggplant with sauteed vegetables and halloumi (the waitress claimed this was a portobello mushroom, but it was pretty clearly eggplant!). Everything on the plate was excellent, and the eggplant was one of the highlights of the meal.
Next came the meat course, a delicious, lightly charred chicken kabob, good falafel (good in that I liked it, I am sadly very inexperienced when it comes to decent falafel, so I can't comment on how it would compare to true, middle eastern falafel), and a disappointing lamb chop. The lamb was nicely seasoned, but the rack was cut apart and then the thin chops were individually cooked, so it was well done and a bit tough. It was a shame because the lamb was one of the things I was most looking forward to in the meal, but after so many other great dishes, it really didn't take away from my overall satisfaction with the meal.
Next came dessert, a plate featuring baklava, pistachio custard and a custard wrapped in phyllo that resembled a blintz. The baklava and "blintz" were good, but the pistachio custard was the real winner. It was light and had honey covered phyllo shreds underneath it, and it was pretty much perfect after such a huge meal.
Overall, we were very happy and would definitely return for a non-RW meal in the future.
Cheap, fun eats on the Balt north side?
It's a chain and not particularly cheap, but I think the Melting Pot on York Rd., right by campus, would be a lot of fun for a group of college kids.
Changes at Bicycle
Nicholas Batey bought the restaurant back in 2006, but I was never there before his time, so I'm not sure of the changes he made. The new menu looks like it's the same style as before, but maybe a bit more casual and definitely a bit cheaper (entrees in the $18-22 range, I think they were $26-32 before). They do still have the tuna tartare, and they're back on Open Table, so I think this is really a minor change, rather than a reinvention of the restaurant. I hope they're able to weather the economy, I enjoy Bicycle.
Changes at Bicycle
A few days ago, I noticed that Bicycle was gone off of Open Table. I went to their web site and discovered that they closed for a week for renovations, and are reopening today with a new "recession proof" menu. The web site currently has no more info, just that they will have entrees and wine under $20. I really liked the old menu, but it was a bit on the high end for a casual place, and I had noticed that it was quite quiet the last couple of times I'd been there.
I'm dying to know what's on the new menu, and what, if anything, will be kept from the old one (will I never have their tuna tartare again? that would be tragic!). I wonder if they will be staying off Open Table and becoming a walk in place, or if they'll be back once they've settled into the new menu? Does anyone have any knowledge of what we can expect from the new Bicycle? If anyone gets a chance to stop by and check out the changes to the space and the menu, I'd love to know about it!
Wine Bar in Fells Point?? Any Scoop?
I'm not sure about the Wine Market, but that's how Grand Cru has always done it (but I believe corkage is $5). Rather than marking up a bottle of wine to 2 or 3 times what a store would charge for it, as most bars and restaurants do, you buy the bottle for retail price and have the choice to take it home or pay corkage for service and the use of the bar's stemware. I've always thought if it as a great deal in comparison to most bars' bottle prices.
Tuna Tartare in B'More
I agree, the tuna tartare at Bicycle is fantastic. It's the perfect time of year to sit outside, too.
Cheap anniversary in baltimore
The Helmand is a great, reasonably priced special occasion place.
Where to find croque-en-bouche?
I think Patisserie Poupon makes it, although it's been a couple of years since I was last there.
-----
Patisserie Poupon
1645 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC
Celebratory dinner in Baltimore
I really enjoy b, but it is very casual, so it may not provide much of a "special occasion" atmosphere. It is very good, creative food at fairly reasonable prices, though, so that may be far more important to you than atmosphere. I have heard that Chameleon Cafe is fabulous, and I was hoping to go there for my anniversary dinner next Monday, but they are closed on both Sunday and Monday, so unfortunately that puts it out of the running for both of us.
