El Trovador
318 S Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-276-6200
This past Friday for Caitlin's birthday, we had a rather large group that wanted to eat dinner together. After Iggie's didn't work out because of the wait, we decided to head to Fells Point. The Mr & I have been to this restaurant in Fells Point twice now and suggested it to the group since most of us had been to Arcos on Broadway already. The group was seated immediately and we all decided to have the Sangria as our beverage of choice for the evening. The menu here offers a variety of combo platters with both Mexican and Salvadorian options. I got the Jalisco platter with 2 beef enchiladas, one chicken taco and one pork tamale, served with sides of beans and rice ($13.95). I managed to finish only half of this platter as the portion sizes are generous. The Mr got the Plato Tipico Salvadoreno ($12.50) which included a fried plantain, a papusa, a fried corn tamale, skirt steak, rice and beans. He had no trouble finishing his dish, but did confess he ate too much at the end of the meal. The others enjoyed various dishes from the menu and everyone enjoyed their meal. While the Sangria was a little pricey ($20 per pitcher), the overall value here is quite amazing. We all had ample portions for a relatively low cost. The service was friendly and the decor nice. This place is a nice gem on Broadway and we'll be sure to visit again.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Monday, December 8, 2008
The Charles Theater
The Charles Theater
1711 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD
410-727-FILM
We've driven by this theater many times and have always said, "We should go see a movie there" but never had the chance to go. After a year of living in Baltimore, we finally made it to The Charles to see a movie. Tickets are only $8.00 during the evenings and the concessions are also reasonably priced. We got a large popcorn and 2 bottles of water for a mere $9.00! Compared to the prices at the Landmark Theater in Harbor East, this place is a deal! However, this place is cash/check only so be sure to bring money with you! The theater is in an old, renovated building that once housed cable cars and street cars. It's got great character on the inside and is a great local business, unlike most of the corporate type movie theaters around town. Our first movie was Milk, starring Sean Penn. The movie was pretty good but we got there late and had to sit in the 2nd row, not all that great. Overall, I really like this theater and hope to go see more movies here soon!
1711 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD
410-727-FILM
We've driven by this theater many times and have always said, "We should go see a movie there" but never had the chance to go. After a year of living in Baltimore, we finally made it to The Charles to see a movie. Tickets are only $8.00 during the evenings and the concessions are also reasonably priced. We got a large popcorn and 2 bottles of water for a mere $9.00! Compared to the prices at the Landmark Theater in Harbor East, this place is a deal! However, this place is cash/check only so be sure to bring money with you! The theater is in an old, renovated building that once housed cable cars and street cars. It's got great character on the inside and is a great local business, unlike most of the corporate type movie theaters around town. Our first movie was Milk, starring Sean Penn. The movie was pretty good but we got there late and had to sit in the 2nd row, not all that great. Overall, I really like this theater and hope to go see more movies here soon!
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Brewer's Art
The Brewer's Art
1106 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-547-6925
Mon - Sat 4:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Sun 5:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Full Dinner Service at 5:30 PM
In honor of our one year anniversary of living in Baltimore, we dined at The Brewer's Art for the first time! Located in the Mount Vernon neighborhood, this restaurant has 3 distinct sections. The lower level is dedicated to a bar while the upstairs houses a lounge and a restaurant. We decided to get our dinner from the restaurant portion and we were not disappointed! We started out with the Duck Liver Mousse on Grilled Bread with Apple Chutney ($7) and the Pumpkin Risotto ($7). Both were good but the risotto was a little undercooked and the portion was a bit large for a starter. Second course was salads for us both, the Brewer's Art Caesar for Mr_BTM ($7) and the Roasted Heirloom Apples with Candied Nuts, Cheddar Cheese Brittle and Apple Cider Vinaigrette ($7). My salad was good but the Cheddar Cheese Brittle had no place on that dish. The cheese flavor didn't blend well with the bitter greens and the sweet apple. The Mr liked his Caesar and had it with extra anchovies. For our main course the Mr went for the Steak Frites with Rosemary Garlic Fries ($26) and I had the Baked Butternut Squash Ravioli served on a bed of winter greens ($18). The Mr's steak was a little tough but was cooked well and my ravioli was good and was delighted with the addition of the winter greens. The meal was good and the service was excellent. And the menu does change from time to time so next time there will be different selections, which I like.
But enough about the food, how was the beer? We both started with a pint of the St. Festivus, a brown ale brewed for the fall. The flavor was good but lacked depth and bite. For the second round I got the Resurrection Ale and Mr_BTM got the guest tap brew, which had a nice smooth taste and a strong aftertaste. It was the best beer we had all night. However, after living in the local brew pub capital of the world (I deem that place Portland, OR) the beer selection wasn't all that great but the few we did have were good enough but not great.
1106 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-547-6925
Mon - Sat 4:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Sun 5:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Full Dinner Service at 5:30 PM
In honor of our one year anniversary of living in Baltimore, we dined at The Brewer's Art for the first time! Located in the Mount Vernon neighborhood, this restaurant has 3 distinct sections. The lower level is dedicated to a bar while the upstairs houses a lounge and a restaurant. We decided to get our dinner from the restaurant portion and we were not disappointed! We started out with the Duck Liver Mousse on Grilled Bread with Apple Chutney ($7) and the Pumpkin Risotto ($7). Both were good but the risotto was a little undercooked and the portion was a bit large for a starter. Second course was salads for us both, the Brewer's Art Caesar for Mr_BTM ($7) and the Roasted Heirloom Apples with Candied Nuts, Cheddar Cheese Brittle and Apple Cider Vinaigrette ($7). My salad was good but the Cheddar Cheese Brittle had no place on that dish. The cheese flavor didn't blend well with the bitter greens and the sweet apple. The Mr liked his Caesar and had it with extra anchovies. For our main course the Mr went for the Steak Frites with Rosemary Garlic Fries ($26) and I had the Baked Butternut Squash Ravioli served on a bed of winter greens ($18). The Mr's steak was a little tough but was cooked well and my ravioli was good and was delighted with the addition of the winter greens. The meal was good and the service was excellent. And the menu does change from time to time so next time there will be different selections, which I like.
But enough about the food, how was the beer? We both started with a pint of the St. Festivus, a brown ale brewed for the fall. The flavor was good but lacked depth and bite. For the second round I got the Resurrection Ale and Mr_BTM got the guest tap brew, which had a nice smooth taste and a strong aftertaste. It was the best beer we had all night. However, after living in the local brew pub capital of the world (I deem that place Portland, OR) the beer selection wasn't all that great but the few we did have were good enough but not great.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Ben's Chili Bowl
Ben's Chili Bowl
1213 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-667-0909
This past weekend we went to DC to catch a show at the 9:30 Club. We took the Metro in and found a great place to have dinner before the show. Ben's Chili Bowl is a neighborhood fixture, celebrating it's 50th Anniversary this year. You order at the front or at the counter, if you can grab a seat. We were lucky to grab a seat right at the counter. Virtually no waiting for our food! We ordered the turkey burger with cheese, the chili burger and an order of the chili and cheese fries. The burgers were both served with chips and were delicious. The chili has a distinct flavor and added a nice twist to an ordinary bowl of chili cheese fries. Our meal cost a little less than $15! So, if you skip the fries you can comfortably eat for 2 under $10.00! I'm sure next time we're in the neighborhood we're stopping at Ben's Chili Bowl to try some of their other favorites like the hot dogs!
1213 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-667-0909
This past weekend we went to DC to catch a show at the 9:30 Club. We took the Metro in and found a great place to have dinner before the show. Ben's Chili Bowl is a neighborhood fixture, celebrating it's 50th Anniversary this year. You order at the front or at the counter, if you can grab a seat. We were lucky to grab a seat right at the counter. Virtually no waiting for our food! We ordered the turkey burger with cheese, the chili burger and an order of the chili and cheese fries. The burgers were both served with chips and were delicious. The chili has a distinct flavor and added a nice twist to an ordinary bowl of chili cheese fries. Our meal cost a little less than $15! So, if you skip the fries you can comfortably eat for 2 under $10.00! I'm sure next time we're in the neighborhood we're stopping at Ben's Chili Bowl to try some of their other favorites like the hot dogs!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Bonapart Breads
Bonapart Breads
903 South Ann Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-342-4000
8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
We've gone to this cafe/bakery on the water front in Fells Point twice now. We love the small outdoor patio where we can watch the boats on the water and avoid a lot of the foot traffic that is out in more crowded parts of Fells Point. I've sampled 2 of the hot sandwiches (turkey and ham) and enjoyed the turkey sandwich much better than the ham. The sandwich is served on their fresh baked bread with lettuce, tomato and cheese. Each sandwich is served with a small side salad and chips. It's the perfect size for a light lunch. Mr_BTM has sampled a variety of the pastries and breads along with the coffee. He's enjoyed them enough that we will most likely frequent this cafe/bakery for breakfast and lunch. At the very least, it's a great place to sit down and read a book!
903 South Ann Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-342-4000
8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
We've gone to this cafe/bakery on the water front in Fells Point twice now. We love the small outdoor patio where we can watch the boats on the water and avoid a lot of the foot traffic that is out in more crowded parts of Fells Point. I've sampled 2 of the hot sandwiches (turkey and ham) and enjoyed the turkey sandwich much better than the ham. The sandwich is served on their fresh baked bread with lettuce, tomato and cheese. Each sandwich is served with a small side salad and chips. It's the perfect size for a light lunch. Mr_BTM has sampled a variety of the pastries and breads along with the coffee. He's enjoyed them enough that we will most likely frequent this cafe/bakery for breakfast and lunch. At the very least, it's a great place to sit down and read a book!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
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.
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.
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