cainin2000's Profile
May be moving to Phoenix
Not a clue honestly. This whole thing was just recently sprung on me.
May be moving to Phoenix
Hey everyone, I'm currently a resident of Baltimore but possibly relocating to Phoenix. I would like to get an idea of good restaurants for Vietnamese, sushi, and seafood.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Best meal for $10 and under in Baltimore?
The mere mention of Mama's makes me salivate. Pavlov would be proud. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
good thai in downtown Baltimore?
I have noticed a sweetness in the pad tai and drunken noodles. I think I'll try the Med Ma muang next.
Best meal for $10 and under in Baltimore?
To all Baltimore foodies, what was the best meal you have had for $10 or under?
Amazing seafood soup and an addicting peanut sauce!
Due to the snowpacolypse of two weeks ago, we were shut in for a while, as was the rest of Baltimore. Luckily we had plenty of stock to keep us supplied until the roads became more accessible.
When it’s this cold, there’s nothing better than a good hot soup as you feel the warm broth course through your body all the way to the fingers. And when I think of a good hot soup, I think Vietnamese. I had Mekong Delta on my wish list for several weeks and decided today was the day to go. We intentionally timed our visit for around 3pm in order to miss the lunch rush and be out before the dinner crowd started to form. The dining area was empty and we were attended to immediately right near the front windows with the full view of Saratoga Street (not that Saratoga Street boasts anything spectacular to view). The simple décor and the family element of the restaurant I found quite charming. The father seated and served us, the mother calling out from an unseen area behind the counter, and the son working on his math and reading at a table in the far corner of the dining room. At one point, the boy called out, “Daddy, can you help me?” and since we were the only customers, he sat down and worked on story problems.
I knew what I wanted before I arrived: the seafood soup. My fiancée browsed the menu for a few minutes and decided on the lemon grass beef with vermicelli. To begin, we had shrimp and pork summer rolls that came with the most amazing peanut sauce.
Summer rolls – you can see the pork and shrimp running along the inside of the thin wrapping. Cool and refreshing with the crisp cilantro flavor taking center stage, they would make a nice summer treat. Make sure to use every drop of the strong peanut sauce, it’s very addicting.
Seafood Soup – Menu item H2 was my choice. Full of cilantro and the aroma of garlic, this soup did not disappoint. I added a small bit of the chili sauce because I always like a little bite to my food, but was careful not to detract from the overall flavor. This dish came with sprouts, basil, and large deep green slices of jalapeño, and a wedge of lime. I tore, not plucked, the basil leaves and stirred them in the broth along with the bean sprouts. The soup had scallops, shrimp, and lumps of crab floating around the bowl, much more seafood than anyone could expect for $8.95. This soup is so good, it will make you want to forgo any sense of manners and lift the bowl to your lips to sip down the last drops the spoon cannot get. The clear noodles and bean sprouts help give the soup some bulk for appetite appeasement.
Lemongrass beef with vermicelli – Rice can be substituted for the vermicelli if desired. The beef was savory and the lemongrass flavor definitely shined and the fish sauce added a nice tang to start off each bite.
These two dishes are great for anyone who may be shy to try Vietnamese food. Obviously, as shown by length of descriptions, we both agreed the seafood soup was the preferred selection. Will we go again? Definitely. We will still time our visits to avoid meal crowds because we’ve read that due to it being a single family operation, the service can be slow when there’s a full house.
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Mekong Delta Cafe
105 W Saratoga St, Baltimore, MD 21201
V-day romantic dinner
Any recommendations for a valentines weekend romantic dinner in either DC or Baltimore?
what to eat in the snow
I just walked to a Shoppers and back. The main roads were clear-ish but side roads were still past my knees deep in snow.
Review - Pioneer Pit Beef
I'm considering ordering just the sliced beef from there to take home and make sandwiches with that.
Best Pho?
I am attracted to all things peanut and I like the rare beef, also. If it wasn't for Snowpacalypse II coming, I'd be sure to try it this weekend.
Best Pho?
The only place I've been in the Baltimore/DC area is Pho #1 in Catonsville. I think it's good, but I'd to get a larger sampling to calibrate my opinion.
Plus, if you don't mind sharing, what is your favorite type of pho?
Review - Pioneer Pit Beef
Thanks for the correction. I just wrote down what google directions said.
Review - Pioneer Pit Beef
I do think the meat at Pioneer had more flavor, but considering the whole package, I'd pick Chaps. But I do put more emphasis on topping control than most people. I am kind of particular in amounts and arrangement of my condiments (a layer of HR beneath and on top of the beef, then the exact right amount of bbq sauce, then circular, non-minced onions). I'm sure the workers of Pioneer would have accomidated my condiment OCD if I insisted, but I never want to be THAT customer that says "a little more....a little more...a little more...wait, that's too much!"
I guess what I'm trying to say is I can see why people prefer Pioneer, but I think the Chap's hate on this board is undeserved.
Review - Pioneer Pit Beef
Last week, I reviewed Chap’s Pit Beef, and after reviewing the comments to my post, I decided to give Pioneer’s Pit Beef a try. Due to the weather, we wanted to call and confirm that they were open for business. To our surprise, Pioneer has no business phone number and only a cross-street for an address. We crossed our fingers and headed out.
To get to this little out-of-the-way meat shack, exit 17 Security Blvd/MD 122 and turn right at N Rolling road. You will see the “Pioneer Pit Beef” sign and can enter the parking lot at the intersection of Rolling and Johnny Cake Rd.
They stick to what they know: turkey, ham, and beef and don’t offer much for side selections. Their fries are completely homemade, cut and prepared right in house. While I was deciding, they gave me a sample slice of roast beef and I did enjoy the savory, smoky, slightly charred piece of roast beef. For sides, we had a small ($0.75) order of coleslaw and fries with gravy. We got two roast beef sandwiches (1/2 lb for me, 1/3 lb for her), both topped with horse radish, barbeque sauce, and fresh onions. For sides, we had a small ($.075) order of coleslaw and fries with gravy. The coleslaw was excellent. It had a little kick to it which we suspected was a hint of horse radish. The fries and gravy were also a pleasing part of the meal. What I didn’t like was the flavor of their florescent barbeque sauce and not having control over the application of the condiments. I’m aware that many elite pit-beef fans go very light on the sauce, if using any sauce at all, but that’s what we like so that’s what we eat.
I had heard I should try the turkey, and I will be sure to at some point. However, I will be using my own sauce and asking for a double application of onions.
http://cheapeatsincharmcity.blogspot.com
Review - Chap's Pit Beef
I'm still relatively new to the area and haven't tried Pioneer, but from what I've read, that's now on my list.
Review - Chap's Pit Beef
A Meat-Lover's Mecca
Their webiste: http://www.chapspitbeef.com/
We have been here twice before, and the first thing any first-time patron will notice that this small establishment shares a parking lot with a “gentleman’s club” complete with the gaudy flashing marquee. Across the street lies an adult bookstore, so it took a moment to find a decent angle to photograph the entrance without also getting a shot of any nearby adult establishment. Once you step out of your vehicle, you will forget Chap’s questionable neighbors as the aroma of the cooking pit immediately takes you back to your favorite memories of summer barbeques past. Even though it was below freezing, we did stop a moment to inhale as much as we could.
Overall, the building and seating area are a bit shabby, with wooden picnic tables as the seating in the dining area. However, the real quality of this place is where it counts: the meat. We kept our order simple: two roast beef sandwiches, one large order of fries, and one large half-and-half to drink (iced tea/lemonade). They got on our sandwiches quickly as we watched them pull a large slab of beef off the pit fire and begin slicing.
There are two counter tops along the sides of the order pick-up area with a variety of sauces and condiments. Once our sandwiches were handed to us (fresh Kaiser rolls and not the cheap, value pack little grocery store burger buns) I slathered on the barbecue sauce and, since I like my sandwiches to bite back, slapped on a healthy amount of horseradish then topped it off with a nice pile of onions. There’s been plenty of times when eating at a sandwich place, I would say “heavy on the this” or “light on the that” and when my sandwich was served, I wondered if the preparer knew the concept of light and heavy. At Chap’s, all the condiments are laid out on a couple of counters by the pick up area, so you have complete control over the amounts to be your own Sandwich Guru.
As everyone in Baltimore who cares about local dining knows, this is one of .Guy Fieri's favorite stops and it only takes one bite to know why. The meat is juicy and tender and had the same smoky “bring back memories of barbeques past” quality as the enticing air outside.
Will we go again? Oh yeah. The roast beef sandwich is the best $4.75 anyone could ever spend and I'm surprised I've never had to wait more than ten minutes to put in my order and even less from order to delivery.
http://cheapeatsincharmcity.blogspot.com
Lunch at Mama's on the Half Shell
Their menu: http://www.allmenus.com/md/baltimore/245528-mamas-on-the-half-shell/menu/
My fiancee had lunch with an old high school friend who happens to be passing through town as part of the musical Young Frankenstein cast. Without hesitation, she chose Mama’s on the Half Shell. I asked her to write about her experience so I could share with anyone who cared to read, so here’s a cut and paste of her direct words:
I enjoyed Saturday's dinner at Mama's on the Half-Shell so much that, when I met an old friend from Canada who is in Baltimore for 2 weeks while touring with Young Frankenstein, I convinced her she had to have lunch with me at Mama's to get a *real* Baltimore experience. We each had a drink; I enjoyed ANOTHER Orange Crush, which is an amazing orange vodka-triple sec-orange juice mix that tastes somewhere between orange pop and an Orangina. It has a double shot in it which you don't taste at all and don't even realize you've ingested until you get up to go to the bathroom and things feel nice and fuzzy. Delish! To start we shared a crab and artichoke dip, which came in a MASSIVE bread bowl and could easily feed 4-6 (my friend took the leftovers back to her hotel mini-fridge, gleefully anticipating so many post-show midnight snacks). She had a special of blackened tilapia which she said was amazing; I had the seafood melt. With fries on the side (double fried I think? And very tasty), the sandwich consisted of a lightly sauced seafood salad made of crab, shrimp and scallops, piled high on an english muffin and toasted with cheddar cheese. The seafood salad mix was really savoury and pleasant and had little minced bits of celery and onion that really rounded out the flavour. There was nothing bland and mayonnaise-y about this. It was AMAZING. Also very filling; for just over $10, you basically get 2 meals as I took home half my fries and half the sandwich for a late-in-the-day pick-me-up. The seafood was of good quality and it just struck me as a really tasty but still economical meal. The experience definitely confirmed for me that Mama's is good at any time of day or night, and who doesn't like to return to work on a weekday with a nice little Orange Crush buzz on? Obviously.
Color me jealous for missing out on that.
http://cheapeatsincharmcity.blogspot.com
Oregon Grille -- taking the "host" out of hospitality
I have heard nothing but how pretentious the restaurant's attitude is and the dining experience is nothing more than over-priced mediocrity. Thanks for sharing so I'll be certain never to go.
Grace Garden - Review
We chose this restaurant because the Chinese cuisine in Baltimore is quite disappointing and we read glowing reviews online. It is a bit outside the Baltimore area (25 miles from my apartment), but close enough that we're willing to make the journey when the mood for Chinese strikes.
They have two menus: typical Americanized Chinese food, and traditional Chinese food and we selected from both. We ordered tea, the Grace Garden Shrimp, Crispy Beef, and Crispy Eggplant. We chose the meat dishes first and assumed there would be little to no vegetables cooked with the dish, ordered the Crispy Eggplant for a vegetable dish. You know what they say about 'assume' and we definitely made the wrong assumption. The shrimp came with a nice portion of steamed broccoli and the beef had a nice mix of shredded celery and carrots.
And now for my self-important, opinionated itemization:
The tea - I'm not a huge tea fan, but I liked this. Very fragrant with a nice flowery aroma and flavor; a good drink on a cold night.
Crispy Beef - This dish is a definite classic of American Chinese food and my fiancée’s favorite by far. This is a must-have whenever we have a chance to dine Chinese. I know it's a common favorite among Chinese food fanatics, but please indulge one who loves to hear his own opinion (or at least the gratifying clicking noises of the keyboard as I share my opinion). I love the crispy texture of the beef and the sweet flavor of the Szechuan sauce. The shredded celery and carrots give nice, flavorful filler, along with the rice to help sop up the remaining sauce on your plate. I know it's not an adventurous selection, but if it's good, it's good, regardless of how pedestrian it may be.
Grace Garden Shrimp - We were both happy with this selection as well. The shrimp were good sized (as shrimp go) and well-battered. I've had enough over-done breaded shrimp that I usually avoid it entirely, but these were cooked to perfection. The sauce was a sweet and sour ginger sauce, which was a nice alternative to the crispy beef's Szechuan and another good sauce to mop up with the rice.
Crispy Eggplant - This was technically our vegetable selection. However, it counts as a vegetable as much as those deep-fried vegetables that are peddled at county fairs and other events. However, the difference is in the quality of the preparation. Also, I noticed the website offers a picture of this dish and what was served to us did not look like what is on the photo. Those look like pan-fried slices of eggplant. What we received was battered and deep fried. Oh well, it was good, although too much for two people. If you have a family-sized dinner party, the portion is perfect. I chose this dish because o the spicy/sweet sauce and knowing that eggplant absorbs flavors, so I was gambling that a good sauce would make this dish. It did. My only reservation was that it was battered and deep-fried. I'm not saying it wasn't good, I'm saying it really made us hold back (which was for the better) since it turned out all of our selections were also breaded. These also made the best next-day left overs because the sauce completely saturated the breading overnight and, in my opinion, made it even better.
Will we go again? Definitely. Will we order the same dishes? The Crispy Beef, since that is my fiancée’s utmost favorite Chinese dish in existence. There is another vegetable dish we almost ordered instead of the eggplant, a bean dish, and I don't see it on the online menu. Next time, we plan on ordering Crispy Beef, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, and that mysterious, enigmatic bean dish.
http://cheapeatsincharmcity.blogspot.com
Review - Pete's Grill in Baltimore
I have been here a few times and only for the breakfast, so I cannot comment on the lunch portion of the menu. There is nothing unique or avant-garde about the menu: standard North American breakfast items: pancakes, waffles, eggs of different styles, the usual breakfast meats, egg sandwiches, etc. However, if Baltimore could brag a few more of these places, it would help put the Charm back in Charm City. Not only will you walk away satisfied, but you will have a ‘real’ Baltimore experience.
The seating are stools along a lengthy counter with no division among individuals or groups. Be prepared to accidentally elbow and be elbowed by neighboring patrons. You will also overhear several conversations from the currently unemployed, blue color workers, and PhD students. My fiancee’s neighbors swapped stories about adventuring in the world of Dungeons and Dragons while my neighbors were recommending museum exhibits to one another. Also, we were treated to a man in a long black wool coat stepping into the establishment, raising his arms then announcing, “May the Lord bless and keep you all!” Apparently, he’s a regular since a lady behind the counter addressed him by first name and informed him that the police would be called if he didn’t leave. He didn’t leave immediately, but remained with his hands folded and mumbled unintelligibly. He eventually left and, to my knowledge, the police were never summoned. You get a full sense of the cross section of classes in the city as the proletariat and the opulent crowd each other for counter space.
What we ordered:
Blueberry Pancakes - Nice, fluffy, filling. There’s just something comforting about large pancakes with blueberries cooked inside, dripping with butter and syrup. An order of three thick and fluffy pancakes will definitely tide you over until lunch and possibly even dinner.
Turkey Sausage – We choose turkey sausage over pork sausage whenever it’s available. We both put a lot of effort in losing a combined total of 100 lbs. As much as we like to dine out, we find ways to cut a few calories here and a few grams of fat there. We shared the three links and if all turkey sausage was this good, the pork industry would be seriously hurting.
Blueberry waffle – I have been wanting to order one of these since my first visit. I would watch a cook pull one from the waffle iron and slap it on a plate, the four corners jutting over the edge of the plate, then dump a handful of fresh blueberries over top. PROS – firm, crisp outside and doughy inside and deep craters for holding pools of flavorful syrup. CONS – You just can’t spread butter over waffles and in the end, I like the blueberries cooked inside the batter.
One egg, over medium – Done to perfection: not overdone with a hardened yolk and not underdone with a completely runny snot-like yolk. You can cut it up with a fork.
Would I go again? Definitely and fairly soon. You might have trouble getting seated with a party larger than two and you may have to bring a magazine for the wait as you stand directly behind the seated people who are already jammed in shoulder to shoulder.
http://cheapeatsincharmcity.blogspot.com
My review of Mama's on the Half Shell
ATTENTION ALL SHELLFISH LOVERS! ATTENTION ALL SHELLFISH LOVERS! Your presence is required at Mama’s on the Half Shell, STAT! I repeat, your presence is required at Mama’s on the Half Shell, STAT!
The only displeasing element of our experience was our own fault. We were thoughtless enough to go during the Ravens vs. Colts playoff game. Once we got inside Mama’s, the wait wasn’t terrible considering the crowds outside of other places (about 20 minutes), and we each enjoyed a drink while we waited at the less-crowded end of the bar. The hostess kept track of our whereabouts and sought us out when our table was ready. Other than the half mile walk from our parking space and a rowdy crowd hollering f-bombs as the Ravens received a thorough pounding, this was an incredible experience.
We were given the menu and as you can see, it will take several visits to try everything that interested us. We happened to be seated next to a couple who also made the mistake of daring to hope for a romantic evening in the midst of a play-off fan frenzy. The loudness of the crowd and the marathon-like distance to our car was worth it. Did I mention it took an hour to even find parking? Knowing what I know now, I would have been willing to search another hour. The meal was that good.
Here is their menu and address: http://www.allmenus.com/md/baltimore/245528-mamas-on-the-half-shell/menu/
Our server was very personable and made the effort to time our entrees to come out one at a time so the table wouldn’t overcrowd our chess-board sized table. And now without further ado, our food:
Steamed Jumbo Shrimp – We discussed on whether we should order half or a full pound, and obviously, I lobbied for the full pound. My persuasive powers prevailed and they were brought out in a large, round plate with a small dish of lime-chipotle cocktail sauce and a dish of melted butter. Each one was a satisfying two bites, one for a dip in the butter and the other for the sauce. If you love shrimp half as much as I do, you would return just for this. For those of you with smaller appetites, the half pound would make a wonderful and affordable appetizer for two.
Steamed Pei Mussels – With the white wine garlic herb sauce, of course. The pile of shells was quite substantial and we sopped up the excess sauce with bread. Usually mussel sauces are more broth-like and this was more of a thicker gravy consistency. We visited Monks in Philadelphia last year and had the world’s most perfect mussels and have been on a quest to find something as good in Baltimore. Mama’s didn’t quite hit that standard, but they were still very good. We heard the beer broth was exceptional, so we’re going to try that next time.
Scallops – This does tip our dollar scale, but we were celebrating our 2nd anniversary so we splurged. They were perfectly pan seared and large in size (3 bites). I dipped my first bite into the butter, which was perfection on a fork. Ultimately, these sweet and tender cylinders of succulence needed no sauce or butter and we enjoyed the remaining ones dry.
Macaroni and Cheese, – Probably the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had. There was a reason for the goodness, copious usage of butter. Even the breadcrumbs that topped it had a distinct butter flavor. Once the top layer was gone, we noticed the deep pool of melted butter with the remaining pieces of macaroni submerged in its murky depths. I took one last forkful, and a macaroni piece fell to the table, leaving quite a large greasy splat. I was no longer delightfully ignorant of the amount of fat, so out of respect for my heart and arteries, I did not finish it.
Seasonal Vegetables – Green beans with an almond garnish. I’m a huge almond fan and enjoy most things with an almond twist. We both agreed they were slightly underdone, which was fine with me. I would rather have my veggies on the firm and crunchy side than overdone and wilted. My fiancée disagreed.
The John Daily Crush (drink) – Since I was the primary driver, this potent drink was enjoyed by my lovely fiancée but I did ask for a sip for posterity’s sake. It tasted like a deadly Arnold Palmer: sweet tea, lemon aid, infused with a substantial dose of vodka. She’s driving next time.
I have not left a restaurant this stuffed in a very long time. I personally made sure that no delectable shrimp and succulent scallop went to waste. With what felt like a bowling ball in my stomach, we left for the long walk to the car. I was both grateful and grumpy for the walk. It was good to walk off some of the over-stuffed-uncomfortable feeling, yet I wished the world’s most comfortable couch would materialize so I could lapse into a food coma. Will we return? Yes, the sooner the better.
http://cheapeatsincharmcity.blogspot.com
My review of Miss Shirley's (hopefully I'll get it right this time)
This is a cut&paste so the link to the menu won't work.
Miss Shirley's Cafe
This place is on the more pricey side of our spending spectrum, but you can still manage a great meal for under $15 a person, especially if you avoid the crab dishes, which today we didn't. We have been here plenty of times and I was excited about returning. This is the type of place were several items practically jump off the menu and yell "PICK ME!" Even though there are several tried and true items, we wanted to try something new (well, one selection we have had before at a different restaurant). Here is their full menu.
Before I get started on my review, I just wanted to say I do like this place overall and I recommend it to anyone who would ask, but today's experience was below what I've come to expect. I never thought this would happen, but here comes a less than perfect review for Miss Shirley's.
The Mac Crabby - Both of our eyes were drawn to this selection. Mac and cheese made with high quality, creamy cheese and savory crab, what's not to love? Our high hopes were dashed. We agreed the main problem was the cheese. It was a thick get-stuck-in-your-throat cheese that muscled out any other flavors. When a savory and pricey ingredient, oh let's say crab, is featured in a dish, I personally would like to taste it but that's just me. We separated several pieces of crab from the cheese, cleaned them off, and enjoyed them separately. The Old Bay seasoning came across as regular salt after being submerged in the over powering cheese.
Pumpkin Cheesecake-Stuffed French Toast - We have ordered this before at Blue Moon Cafe and we were expecting a similar, if not better, quality. The first thing I noticed was the thickness of the bread. I suffer from chronic Eyesbiggerthanmystomache Syndrome, so this excited me. But the thickness turned out to be a negative as it overwhelmed the dish and made it seem dry. The pumpkin cheesecake filling between slices was good, but spread to thinly to compensate for the dryness of the bread. Have you ever had a dry roast beef sandwich with too little mayo? Similar situation. I added some syrup, but I would have had to drench it. There was also a thin layer of raspberry coulis along the underside, but it didn't mix well. I would have rather had slices of fresh bananas and strawberries to balance with the sweetness of the syrup, cheesecake filling, and whipped cream.
I don't leave my food unfinished often, but today I did. Again, I want to stress that I do recommend Miss Shirley's. Unfortunately, we chose two-star selections from a typically five-star menu. Will we return? Yes, eventually but no rush.
http://cheapeatsincharmcity.blogspot.com
Top five Baltimore area pizza places?
If it hasn't been mentioned, you have to try Fortunato's in Towson.
