jtkelley3's Profile
Need help for last minute V-Day trip to DC
Thank you both for your ideas. Lavandou looks like it might fit the bill, but I always love a challenge and it seems like Ray's the Steak offers that.
Do you know, can you walk from the Metro stop to Ray's?
Need help for last minute V-Day trip to DC
To make a long story short, my wife and I are getting away for the weekend to DC over Valentine's Day. It wasn't our original idea, but we need a weekend away after a very hard few weeks. We are arriving around 10:30 on Friday night and have a late night reservation at Proof.
But, Feb. 14th is turning out to be a problem. We don't want to get into all the prix-fixe deals around town and after some initial searching, it looks like there isn't a table to be found anywhere, even with the places that are offering these get'em in and roll'em out menus anyway.
So are there any ideas for either local hole in the wall places, or someplace to doesn't take reservations that we can sit at the bar for a while before we get a table?
I know that there are a few other threads on this, but as I mentioned, there are no reservations to be had at any of those spots.
The new Pazza Luna
Well, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by our experience at Pazza Luna. They've updated the decor a bit and made it brighter. The menu was not extensive, but everything was well done. That being said, they've brought in a whole new menu, so don't think that any of the old favorites are still there, The wine list is featuring most of the bottles are the $30 range because they are trying to go through the stock that they received when they bough the restaurant and then switch to Sotto Sopra's wine distributor.
We had the antipasta misto plate to begin with which was very good. I usually like more cheese selections on my plate, but it was still tasty. My wife had the lasagna and I had the veal which were both great.
So, bottom line, the restaurant is very good. It is less expensive than it used to be. Dinner before tip was $94 for 2 cocktails, bottle of wine, app, 2 entrees and desert. It is basically like a Sotto Sopra lite. But, I know that people will enjoy it!
The new Pazza Luna
We've got an 8:00 reservation this evening. I'll post my comments either tonight or tomorrow. I'm going with low expectations and hoping to be surprised!
Baltimore, trapped in Inner Harbor, HELP!?
Well, you're in a perfect spot then! Skip Windows, but both Charleston and Flemings are absolutely wonderful. I think that Flemings is the best steak house in Baltimore with the Capital Grille a close runner up. If you're on an expense account, you might want to give Pazo or Kali's Court a try, both are in Fell's Point. Charleston is arguably the best restaurant in Baltimore, so definitely get in there.
You're not more than a $5-$7 cab ride from any place in the city, so go and explore and don't think of yourself as being stuck in the Inner Harbor!
Federal Hill/SoBo breakfast?
Harvest Table in Locust Point does breakfast on Saturday and Sunday (they may not open until 9:00 am though) and it is always great. They've got a jazz/folk duo that play on Sundays which is nice and it's perfect during the summer to sit at the outside tables.
Hull Street Blues in Locust Point also has a great brunch on Sundays. It's usually packed and always great.
If you feel like driving, don't miss Jimmy's and Blue Moon in Fell's Point and the City Cafe in Mt. Vernon is nice as well.
30th Birthday in B-more...where, where??
You could try the upstairs portion of Mahaffey's in Canton. It's by far the best beer bar in Baltimore with great pub grub. If you want a tequila/mexican night, you could see if Lime on Fort Avenue in Locust Point/Federal Hill would do something for you, but I would call them first 'cause if you try to do something without their knowledge, they won't have the staff to handle it. They've got over 90 tequila's so that's a little different.
For my 31st birthday, my wife had an area of Chinatown Cafe on Park Avenue closed off. They allowed us to bring in our own wine/liquor and all of our guests ordered dim sum off the menu. It was a blast and totally different.
If you gave a little more info of what you were looking for, I could offer other ideas.
places to take kids in Baltimore
We've taken our niece and nephew to Red Star on the early side in Fell's Point. There's no smoking, so that's why we go there. They always seem to like it.
Crab Shacks in Del. and Md.
If you wait until it warms up, there is a deck on top of L.P. Steamers in Locust Point, Baltimore where you can see the inner harbor. In my opinion they have the best crabs in the area.
One great meal in Baltimore
I'll throw in Aldo's to the mix. I've never had a bad meal there. It's in Little Italy.
Pazo, Tio Pepe and Charleston are the two others that strike me out of this mix as being great examples of what Baltimore has to offer.
If you want to drive a little north out of the city, the Milton Inn and the Oregon Grill are great.
Nasu Blanca
We live in the area and love this place. It can be pricey, but they do great things with the food, they always have Belgian beer on tap and in bottles, the wine list and recommendations are usually spot on and the specials are tremendous. I've never had a bad experience here and ever since Pazza Luna closed (but reopens this Monday 2/26) my wife and I have used this restaurant as our anti-pubgrub location in the neighborhood.
Now, that being said. The paella is great, but can at times be a little salty for my taste. I can see where some people might be a bit disappointed in the service that they may or may not receive. This is not a factory that trains people to fill the water glass when it is 1/3 empty and has consultants time how long the staff spends tableside. It is a local restaurant, owned by local guys who do great things with the food.
I think that out of the more upscale restaurants in the area (Bicycle and the Wine Market are really the two that come to mind), that this is the best choice by far.
