I've got a very specific (and perhaps odd) request. We're looking for a place that serves food in the style of the much-missed (by us, certainly!) Terrapin Taco in College Park or Toucan Taco in Laurel, but in the Bmore region. If you're familiar with the unique offerings of those places, you'll know what I mean. Does a similar type of place exist?

I would second the Woodberry Kitchen recommendation. We went for the first time a month or two ago and it absolutely blew us away.

My dad's coming up for lunch tomorrow and I was thinking of taking him to Miss Shirley's. I've only been there once before and that was on a weekend, but late enough in the afternoon that we didn't actually have to wait. I know how busy it usually is, though. How busy does it tend to be on a weekday? We'd be stopping by late morning/early afternoon.

Ah, have one one me. <sighs wistfully>
I lived in Cincinnati for only two years but became totally hooked on the stuff. I was partial to the "chili sandwiches" with extra cheese, however.
With lots of hot sauce on top.

I wonder how well Skyline or Gold Star would fare in this region?

Oh, we used to go to Mazatlan all the time!!! We love(d) that place. The only reason why we haven't been there in a while is that some time ago they changed their hours so that they closed earlier in the day and we could no longer make it there in time. Which is too bad, because it was by far our favorite Mexican place in the area (and run by a very nice gentleman and his family). I assume they're still operating at their same level of quality.

I have a strong hankering for a Caesar salad. I don't want to travel *too* far to find one, though. Any recommendations for a restaurant in Baltimore County with a reliably good one?

Is there any laksa to be had in the Bmore area? I get the feeling I might be outta luck on this one, but I thought I'd ask!

Oh, wow, that *IS* great news!!! I really missed them. We are definitely going to have to make a trek out there ASAP. Out of curiosity - did you happen to notice on the menu a tomato soup item? That was delicious stuff. Perhaps better once the fall weather comes around again...

Whoa - I'm terribly late to the thread, but "Mt. Everest" caught my eye. Is this perchance a re-opening of the restaurant with the same name that used to be on E. Joppa Road in Parkville (where Kitchen of India is now)?

*That* Mt. Everest was our absolute favorite Indian place and I was quite unhappy when they closed/changed ownership. I would love to hear that the Mt. Everest on Belair is the same place!

Ahhh...I *love* cream of crab soup. My criteria are: silky-smooth texture that isn't gravy-thick (no gelatinous or blobby soup, please!), delicately flavored with a bit of sherry, and plenty of lump crab.

I've had a lot of cream of crab in the area, and my two favorites are rather surprising, as they aren't thought of as purely seafood places.

My absolute favorite: Peppermill in Lutherville! Consistenly great (I wouldn't recommend ordering it at the very very end of the day, but that goes without saying).

I've also had wonderful cream of crab at Fazzini's in Cockeysville! It was a special, however, and not I believe a regular menu offering - so I only had it the once. But it was great.

I've frequented Glarus' Timonium location since it first opened (I haven't visited their Inner Harbor store yet). Their chocolates are *wonderful*. Their seasonal cinnamon-ginger truffle is perhaps my favorite chocolate item, *ever*, and that's saying something, trust me. :) (I've begged for them to make it available year-round - in the warmer months they offer instead an also-terrific lavender truffle.)

Also, the couple that own the place and make everything themselves are the nicest folks you could ever meet - and they genuinely appreciate their customers.

Ah, locustpointgirl, you bring back the Cincinnati memories! I lived there for only two years but how I still miss chili cheese sandwiches. What I wouldn't give for a Skyline or a Gold Star chili around here! But as far as ice cream - Graeter's was amazing, but IMO Aglemesis Bros. was even better. (Graeter's had the astounding chocolate "chips" but Aglemesis had an even deeper richness of flavor.) I also had the good fortune to sample Jeni's in Columbus and it is perhaps the best of the entire lot.

FWIW, all three places do mail order (yes, I've ordered from all three!)

In B'more, I have had Moxley's, Beach Bums (the Towson location) and Sylvan Beach, and I have to say that none are quite as good as the Ohio ice cream places - not only in terms of depth of flavor, but also the texture. That said, I would consider all three to be the best that B'more has to offer (at least that I've tried). ;)

I'm a big fan of Atwater's sandwiches and salads, but I've disliked every soup I've tried (and I've tried quite a few).

We stopped by Saturday at 6:00pm, assuming it would still be open (yeah, we were planning to get in as much Smokey Hollow as we could before it shut its doors for good) but it wasn't. I was hoping maybe they just shut early for the day, but apparently no such luck.

We're longtime Andy Nelson's fans but their ribs (which is the main reason we go there) are wildly inconsistent. When they're good, they're amazing - but more often lately, they've been pretty bad. (FYI, We're fans of tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs, not the tough-and-chewy variety - I point that out because some folks apparently prefer the latter!) Smokey Hollow has always been far more consistent in its quality.

GRRR...I hate it so much when wonderful mom 'n pop places go out of business while lousy chain restaurants put out a far inferior product and continue to draw crowds.

My husband had lunch at Smokey Hollow this afternoon and was told by the staff that they'll be shutting down for good within the next couple of weeks! :( Folks, this is terrible news - Smokey Hollow is just so good (their brisket is IMO the best around and their ribs are terrific and more consistent than Andy Nelson's). I don't know the reasons for the closure...The owners weren't on the premises at the time so my husband couldn't ask. I'd like to believe that they're just relocating or something, but I know that's just wishful thinking.

So deluge them with business while you still can. They're worth it.

Just to echo a few suggestions already made...

We love Mazatlan, but they cut back their evening hours over the last year and it's made it difficult for us to be able to stop by. A shame, because IMO they are the best little Mexican joint in the semi-immediate area (better than Los Amigos and El Salto).

And I've been meaning to post about the place in more detail, but we've been to Alabama BBQ Company many times since they've opened, and we really like the place. I love their beef brisket best and my husband loves their ribs, which he feels give Andy Nelson's a reasonable run for the money. (We've had some experience with Andy Nelson's being rather inconsistent on the rib front recently - what gives?)

And I love the white sauce. On pretty much everything. (Even items they recommend I NOT pair with the white sauce. ;)

We're going to a show at DAR Constitution Hall in May (on a Friday, in case that makes a difference). Are there any good eats in the vicinity? Not looking for anything in particular, really, and open to all recommendations!

>Hard Times Cafe makes better Cincinnati chili than anybody in >Cincinnati.

WHOA!!! I know this thread is all about controversial opinions, but I just can't let this one stand! :) Hard Times Cafe's "Cincinnati chili" is an abomination. I don't know *what* it is, but it ain't Cincinnati-style chili. They get it *all* wrong, from the consistency of the spaghetti to the spicing and granulation of the beef to the cheese on top. Dreadful. And so disappointing, as I really wanted it to be good - I really miss Cincinnati chili!

We have eaten there on a number of occasions...We spent several days of our honeymoon there (having dinner, tea, and breakfast every day of our stay) and visited again for several days for an anniversary celebration. So, we have had many a meal there. It is "everything they say" and worth every penny. Absolutely impeccable.

[WARNING: LONG POST BELOW!]

I'm late to this thread, but we (my husband and I) just ate at Vin for the first time...And what will no doubt be our last time. I find myself echoing many of the previous comments. I was cognizant of the negative reviews here but really wanted to give the place a shot.

Bear in mind that this was a Tuesday night, so while the place was busy, there *were* some empty tables and it wasn't packed to the gills like one might expect later in the week. Anyway...

Things started rather ominously with the tomato soup. It was, basically, warm tomato puree - nothing in the way of nuance to make it interesting. (And not as smooth/velvety in texture as one might hope/expect.) We shared the foie gras appetizer, in which there was little in the way of foie gras, with the dish overwhelmed by the slab of seared tuna on which the foie gras was served. If I'd wanted seared tuna, I would have ordered *that* appetizer. The foie gras itself was good, however (at least IMO - my husband was underwhelmed). For our entrees, I had the hanger steak and my husband the gnocchi. I loved the hanger steak - I don't know how representative their preparation was (it seemed to have involved a fair amount of butter), but this was the first time I'd ever had that particular cut of meat and I thought it was great. The gnocchi, regrettably, was overcooked and rather mushy (as was the spinach-and-garlic dish ordered as a side).

We didn't bother with dessert. We had already been in the place two hours and fatigue had set in.

In all...We could have had a far more satisfying meal (hanger steak excepted) by going downstairs to Trader Joe's.

We encountered many of the same issues mentioned in earlier posts, such as:
...an overpriced and limited wine list (it *is* called Vin, right?) - obvious to us, and we are in no way wine experts
...interminable wait for food (at least 30 minutes transpired between appetizer and entrees, with no explanation or apology and no server to be found)
...stinginess with that whole cracker business (why don't they serve bread - especially as long waits between courses appears to be the norm?)

Obviously, Towson needs the kind of place that Vin aspires to be, given its obvious popularity. Unfortunately, it appears to be just a missed opportunity. For comparison's sake, the local restaurant that I find most similar in terms of atmosphere and menu is Taste in Belvedere Square; we found Taste to be superior in just about every way.

So anyone know of a good place to get hanger steak in the B'more area? :)

As much as I love Petit Louis, I don't think I'd re-order their steak frites (more my failings than theirs - I prefer my steaks of the super-thick-and-tender variety, which don't seem par for the steak frites course). As far as Baltimore-area steak, my preferences run towards Prime Rib or Jordan's in Ellicott City.

We *love* Smokey Hollow. We're Andy Nelson's loyalists, but I actually find Smokey Hollow to be more consistent. Smokey Hollow's brisket completely ruined me for Andy Nelson's!