Woodberry Kitchen

Woodberry Kitchen

2010 Clipper Park Road, No. 126
Baltimore, MD 21211

410-464-8000

For Mr_BTM's birthday I took him out to dinner at Woodberry Kitchen, located in the restored Clipper Mill near Hampden. Their philosophy is farm to table, getting all of their produce, seafood and meat from local farmers and fisherman. It's not all organic but it's all local. I like that idea. The menu is simple American cuisine featuring cold plates, warm plates, oysters, flat breads and entrees. We both chose our items from the specials menu instead

of the regular house menu. We started with a half dozen oysters on the half shell (2 varieties). Following that was a flatbread with house sausage, which was paired well with the Spanish Rioja we had. The flatbreads are all baked in a wood burning stove, which gives the crust a great smokey flavor and a great crunch. For entrees I went with the bison rigatoni (fresh made) and Mr_BTM went with the Poppy Cod with fava beans and beets in a leek broth. My dish had a nice surprise veggies of fresh peas and a sauce based on the glaze for the bison. It was good, but the bison was a little overpowering of the rest of the dish. Mr's dish was nice and light in flavor and well seasoned. He enjoyed his dish.

For dessert, since it's berry season, Mr_BTM went with the 2 berry cobbler (cherry and blackberry) with a side of vanilla ice cream and I got the poached apricots with blackberries, sesame toast and yogurt panna cotta. Overall, we enjoyed our dining experience at Woodberry Kitchen and would love to go back and try more of their menu!

Peter's Inn

Peter's Inn
504 S. Ann Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-675-7313
Closed Sundays & Mondays

We have tried eating at Peter's Inn on two earlier occasions and both times were met with long wait times. Of course, both of these attempts were on Saturday nights. So, with the power out last night and it being our anniversary and all, we decided to try Peter's Inn on a weekday evening. Good choice on our part! We were able to find a table right away with no wait. The menu changes weekly so we weren't entirely sure what would be offered. We quickly noticed that the menu consisted solely of meat and fish dishes, no vegetarian options were offered (excluding the house salad, which isn't an entree). Even the garlic & potato soup came with salmon crostini. We both started with the house salad, served with a large slice of garlic bread. The salad was simple, just greens and a light dressing, and went well with the warm garlic bread. I ordered the wild rockfish fillet with a lobster, bacon and potato hash and Mr_BTM ordered the braised veal cheeks a la bourguignonne. My dish was pretty good and the hash did have large chunks of lobster, carrots and potatoes. The rockfish still had its' skin on, which made a nice addition to a regular fillet and added some much needed flavor. Mr_BTM's dish was also good, served with white onions, carrots and mashed potatoes. We enjoyed our dinner with a bottle of the petite syrah. The service here was good and overall had no complaints with the meal. I do hope they incorporate more vegetarian options in future menus, especially now that summer is coming soon!

Louisiana Restaurant

1708 Alicanna Street
Neighborhood - Fells Point
http://www.louisianasrestaurant.com/index.html
410.327.2610

We've passed this restaurant a handful of times and always were curious about what it had to offer. The menu looked appetizing but we never got around to going. Louisiana has gotten a few awards, but looking into the place, it never seems busy. Well, finally last night we made the leap of faith. Actually, our first choice had an hour wait, so we decided to check Louisiana out since we figured that the place would be open. As we had suspected, they didn't have a wait and they welcomed us in. We felt a bit out of place because the group in front of us were all dressed fairly nicely and we were just in jeans and a t-shirt. Plus, we were about half the age of the other folks. Anyway, we walked through the narrow hallway into a massive ballroom dining area. There were many tables, all surrounding a large hanging chandelier. On the other side of the room was an elegant staircase leading to upstairs seating area. We were amazed with the size of the dining area and decor. All fitting the southern creole style.

The menu offers three courses with a few classic dishes scattered within it. Mrs. BTM ordered the Crab Bisque and the Catfish while I ordered the Shrimp and Grits for a starter and the Pork Chops as my main course. We also ordered a bottle of one of our favorites, the 2006 Willamette Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir. The wine came out first and to my surprise, it was corked! Blah! The waitress apologized and brought out another bottle, which tasted delicious. She confirmed that the other bottle was corked and said that was her first time having a corked bottle.

Our starters came out. The Shrimp and Grits were amazing. Nicely seasoned. Probably the best grits that I have had. Mrs. BTM's Bisque was good and savory. I think she liked my dish better than hers. So far so good. Then we waited....and waited...and waited some more. Our waitress said that our food was on its way, but it never showed. After 40 minutes, she came up and apologized. She said that there was something wrong in the kitchen and offered us desserts on the house. *Sigh* After a long wait, our main courses came out. Even with the wait, the dinner did not dissapoint. My pork chops came with an artichoke risotto and apple bourbon demiglace. It was well cooked and the dish was flavorful. The portion was huge and I had left overs. Mrs. BTM's catfish came with collard greens and mashed potatoes. The catfish had a pecan crust and was nicely done. A pretty solid version of this classic. For desserts, I had a chocolate mousse with whip cream and rasberry sauce. It was good, but a bit thick for me. Mrs. BTM had the apple beignets with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Wow. It was warm, sweet, fried...all what you could ask for in a dessert.

Overall, the meal was impressive and left us wanting to try more of the menu. Everything was nicely prepared, well seasoned, and exemplified high quality southern comfort foods. The only hiccup was time. Dinner took just over 3 hours. If we we had all four courses and drinks, then the time would have been appropriate and enjoyable, especially in the ambiance of a grand ballroom. This is probably not a place for casual dinners, but we'll definitely be back, most likely with family. We look forward to another tasty meal.

Charleston

Charelston
1000 Lancaster Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
410-332-7373
Monday - Saturday 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Closed on Sundays

For my birthday dinner, Mr_BTM took me to Charleston where Head Chef Cindy Wolf creates daily menus for you to create your own unique dining experience. The menu is set up so you can choose how many courses you want and what you want to eat for each course. There's also a pre-determined 6 course meal called "The Season" that Chef Cindy Wolf created and is available with wine pairings ($134). Mr_BTM chose "The Season" while I created my own 6 course meal ($109). I also added wine pairings with my meal. The Courses listed below are shown in order with my meal first and Mr_BTM's "The Season" choices second.

First Course:
Roasted Local Sweet Corn, Bacon & Tasso "Chowder"
Charleston Shellfish Bisque, Lobster, Gulf Shrimp

Second Course:
Salad of Local Heirloom Tomatoes
Soft-Shell Crab

Third Course:
Pan-Roasted Wild Rockfish, Lobster Risotto, Butter Poached Fennel
Salad of Baby Arugula, Reggiano, Lemon Vinaigrette

Fourth Course:
Veal Sweetbreads, Cauliflower, Marcona Almonds, Lemon Brown Butter
Halibut dish

Fifth Course:
Cheese Trolley Selections

Sixth Course:
Peach Tart?
Creme Brulee Trio

Overall, my favorite course was the Rockfish with Lobster Risotto. This dish was simply amazing. The flavors blended together well and the fish was perfectly cooked. My lease favorite course was dessert followed closely by the Veal Sweetbreads. The Cauliflower in that dish did nothing to enhance the flavors of th dish. The dessert was so inmemorable that I can't remember what it was called but it had peach in it. I was dissapointed with the dessert offerings as they all seemed unispired compared to the rest of the dishes. They do get bonus points for having Mighty Leaf Tea available for dessert. I'd like to go back again to see how the menu changes from season to season.

DuClaw Brewing Company

DuClaw Brewing Company
Multiple Locations
We visited the Fells Point Location
901 S Bond Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-563-0575
Sun-Th 11:00 AM-10:00 PM Dining Room, 11:00 AM-2:00 AM Pub
Fri & Sat 11:00 AM-12:00 AM Dining Room, 11:00 AM -2:00 AM Pub

Coming from Portland, home to hundreds of breweries and brewpubs, we sorely miss our good beer. We were excited to see that DuClaw's had a brew pub in Fells Point, close enough that we can walk, if needs be. We went on a Friday night and noticed the restaurant wasn't all that full. Granted, it was raining pretty hard so I'm sure some folks just stayed home. But still, the place was kinda empty. We should have seen this as a warning sign! We were seated promptly and started off with the beer sampler and a pint of the "Funk", their American style wheat. Of the beers we tasted, none of them tasted all that good. The Funk beer was a fairly weak wheat and tasted more like a pilsner.

On to the food...we both ordered cheeseburgers ($7.99). Mine came way too well done (asked for medium well) and the bun was crunchy. I don't like crunchy buns or overdone beef burgers so I wasn't happy with my meal. Mr_BTM also had a burger but his was done to his liking and he still didn't like it! The food simply lacked flavor. I wasn't impressed with the menu options either. I'm not sure we'd go back here since the beer and food were quite mediocre.

Kumari Restaurant and Bar

Kumari Restaurant and Bar
911 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-547-1600

It all started with a craving for Lebanese food. Since we didn't know off had where any good places are located, we decided the next best thing would be Indian or Nepalese food. After eating at Thairish earlier in the weekend, we saw Kumari on our walk home and though we'd try this place out. Good thing we did! The food here is amazing. Upon a recommendation from a Nepalese friend of ours, we ordered the chicken momo (steamed) and enjoyed these lovely dumpling style treats with a delicious curry based sauce. I ordered the Nepali Bjojan ($15.95), a special occasion dinner that included khasi ko masu (lamb curry) with basmati rice and chutney, daal, bhaat and achar. Mr_BTM enjoyed the Kumari Thali ($19.95), a full meal of basmati rice, vegetable samosa, daal, 2 vegetable curries, tandoori chicken, raita, chutney and gulab jamun. Both meals were generous in size, came with naan, but were among the more expensive items on the menu. We would love to go back with a bigger group so we could order more dishes and share amongst the group. Overall, great food, good service and good prices. We'll definitely be back!

Spoons Coffeehouse and Roastery

24 E. Cross Street
Neighborhood - Federal Hill
(410) 539-6751
Opens at 7:00 AM daily, Varying closing times 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM

A local coffee roastery serves breakfast and lunch in the heart of Federal Hill. It's located on the north side of the Cross Street, between Charles and Light Street. Taken from a page from Portland, they recycle 95% of their waste, serve a variety of organic products, and is certified green!

Inside, the restaurant is cozy with a mix of tables and chairs, couches, and patio furniture. We arrived at the end of the breakfast rush and had to wait about 30 minutes. I enjoyed a cup of coffee, Columbian blend, while we waited and watched the various people. Some folks were squatters - people who eat and sit for a long time while reading, even when it is really busy, FOC's - fresh out of college - retelling their escapades from the night before, and urban hipsters - which I guess we fit into that category.

Once seated, service was very prompt. Breakfast items ranged from $6 to $10. Lunch items were a tad bit more. They had a separate tea menu also. We ordered the Bananas Foster French Toast and the Big Spoon Omelete. The french toast was good although it was heavily doused with a sweet syrup. Extremely tasty, but the sugar crash in the afternoon was deadly. The omelete was covered with ham, potatoes, onions, and bacon. It came with two pieces of hearty whole grain toast, which ended up as perfect dippers into the french toast syrup.

Next time we plan on going to Spoons, it'll be really early or well after the rush.

RA Sushi

RA Sushi
1390 Lancaster Street
Neighborhood - Harbor East
410-522-3200
Food Service: Mon-Sun 11:00AM - 11:PM
Lunch: Served until 3:00 PM
Bar: Open until 1:00 AM
Happy Hour: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

RA Sushi is a newly opened restaurant in the Harbor East development. As you enter, you're immediately hit with the loud music, a strange variety of dance, hip hop, pop, and alternative songs. The decor is a modern asian mix set in a loft environment. The restaurant includes booths and tables and has a long sushi bar. There is also a large bar area with bar seating available. The ladies and I grabbed a seat at the bar and enjoyed the wonderful happy hour specials. Prices on the happy hour menu range from $2.50 for edamame to $4.75 for the shrimp tempura roll and the crispy spicy tuna. I enjoyed the edamame, salmon nigiri, crispy spicy tuna, tootsy maki (crab roll) and a shrimp tempura roll. The sushi was presented well and, more importantly, tasted good and fresh! The edamame was good until we reached the bottom of the bowl and the last few pieces were sitting in a pool of liquid. They should really drain their edamame better as we were unable to eat the remaining portion.

Overall, I would definitely go back for happy hour, especially since it goes all the way to 7:00 PM! The beer selection is not all that great and no beers are offered on tap, bottles only. I didn't have any of the specialty cocktails but they sounded delicious!

b - A Bolton Hill Bistro

1501 Bolton Street
Neighborhood - Bolton Hill
http://www.b-bistro.com/
(410) 383-8600
Tuesday to Saturday: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sunday brunch: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Sunday dinner: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Tucked away in the affluent Bolton Hill neighborhood is "b". "b" is a simple restaurant as the name suggests. On a whim, we decided to visit this restaurant after a friend had recommended it to us. It's dimly lit with the kitchen exposed in the back. The place was filled with a warm aroma creating a welcoming feeling.

The menu includes $7 salads, $8 sandwiches, $12 pizzas, $17 pastas, and $20 entrees. We started our meal with salads (spinach and mixed green), then moved to our entrees, (pumpkin ravioli special and mushroom risotto), and finished it off with the "b" bread pudding. The wine list had a scattering of bottles, mostly from France and Italy, all of which were priced below $50.

The food was as simple as the restaurant name. Lightly seasoned, perfect portions, and nicely plated. The salads both had a nice touch of dressing, but they had a large pile of red onions that was a bit overpowering. The risotto and pasta were very good and consistent. Each bite had a great balance of flavors with a generous dusting of parmesan cheese along the sides of the dish. The bread pudding came in small cubes, warmed and on top of a cream custard sauce. It was a nice end to a fine meal.

b is definitely a restaurant to keep on the revisit list. I look forward to a Sunday brunch in the future.