Reviews in Baltimore and surrounding area by Jim

Acropolis Restaurant

4714 Eastern Ave., 410-675-3384, Sun. thru Thur. 11 AM to 10 PM
Baltimore Fri. & Sat. 11 AM to 11 PM
Located in Greek town and it's been there for as long as i can remember, the food is excellent and the prices affordable and good size portions. We always get the same thing, our appetizers are Saganaki - Greek cheese with brandy and olive oil and brought to the table flaming and the Dolmathes. For our entree, we both get the same thing roasted lamb with string beans in a tomato, herb and wine sauce. The green bean that come with the dinner are really good, we could make a meal of just them. I'm sure their others items are good, but we always get the same thing here, because we like it so much.
posted 5/19/09


Ann's Dari Creme

7918 Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, 410-761-1231, open Sun thru Thur 10 AM to 11 PM
Fri & Sat 10 AM to Midnight

Their specialty is foot long chili dogs. They do serve a few other items like burgers and cheese steaks, but I've always gotten the chili dog. Service goes pretty quick and I'm always amazed that they get the orders right because they don't seem to write anything down. I know i could never remember that many different orders. Peak eating times it can get pretty crowded.
posted 5/12/09


Capital Grille

500 E. Pratt St., 443-703-4064, lunch - Mon. thru Fri. 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Dinner - Sun. thru Thur. 5:00 PM to 10:00 Pm
Fri. & Sat. 5:00 to 11:00 Pm
http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/
They're located in the Inner Harbor area, with convenient parking near by, plus valet parking. The restaurant is what i would describe as boardroom elegance, dark deep rich colors, you feel important just being there. The food and service is outstanding. The day we ate was a lunch for an organization group and some of the items may be on the lunch or dinner menu's. We had the lobster and crab cake for our appetizer, my wife's entree was a dry aged steak and i got the rib eye steak with Havarti cheese and caramelized onions sandwich. For dessert we both got the flan. All of the items were excellent. They also offer private dining for groups, anyone interested can contact Tammy Stone, Private Dining Manager at 443-703-4062.
posted 6/2/09


Corner Stable

9942 York Rd., Cockeysville, 410-666-8722
www.cornerstable.com

They have their own parking lot, but it's small, but they also have additional parking away from the restaurant and you'll have to walk back. The restaurant has tables, booths and a bar area, it's nicely decorated. The service was pleasant and attentive. We ordered onion rings and split them for an appetizer. For our main course Sandy got the baby back ribs and i got the Philly cheese steak sub. The onion rings were excellent, they had a nice crispy texture. Their advertised as the best ribs in Baltimore, but i wouldn't go that far. They were tender fall off the bone and moist, but I'm not sure if their smoked, they didn't have that smokey char flavor that we look for in ribs. The cheese steak sub was excellent. All in all it was a pleasant experience and i would go back again, if i was on that side of town.


Dimitri's Eight Mile House Restaurant

2205 Frederick Rd., Catonsville, 410-747-1927, Tues .thru Thur. 11 AM to 10 PM
Fri. & Sat. 11 AM to Midnight
Sun. 11 AM to 10 PM

They serve some Greek dishes as well as German, Italian and American. I've had their Sauerbraten which is excellent, but i usually get their Greek dishes. Our favorites here are the Saganaki - cheese grilled with brandy and olive oil & flamed, served with crusty bread, also the Dolmathes and sometimes we get the Skordakia - cold mashed potatoes with olive oil blended in, topped with a fish fillet, or the mezze platter which has a little bit of a number of the Greek items that they serve. They have a dinning room separate from the bar, the bar is a crisp clean wood bar with a few booths and an outdoor deck in the rear.
posted 5/19/09


Fish Head Cantina

4802 Benson Ave., Arbutus, 410-247-2474, open everyday 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM
Their food is excellent. My wife and i have never had a bad meal here. They have a large menu of appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, entrees and other items. Some of our favorites are crab toast, shrimp jammers, basket of burgers, prime rib sandwich, Philly cheese steak. They also have a a selection of dinner items. Our favorite dinner item is the rib eye steak, which was about 18. or 19. when i ordered it around Jan 2009 ( the price of course will change as food prices change ), but if you compare this to the big fancy steakhouses in Baltimore, you will find this is a steal and it taste better. Why pay 40. to 50. downtown when you can get a better one for considerably less in Arbutus and you'll get lower drink prices to boot and they have a parking lot, so you don't have to sell your first born to park the car for dinner. They also have an outside pavilion and they have live entertainment. What more could you want.
posted 5/8/09




G & A

3802 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, 410-276-9422, open Monday thru Saturday 7 AM to 7 PM
Their famous for their Coney Island hot dogs, but they serve many excellent dishes. Some of my personal favorites are french fries with gravy ( it's one of the best gravies I've ever had ), cheese steak sub and the gringo burger ( topped with ham and nacho cheese ). They've been in business for 90 years.
posted 5/8/09


Hunan Manor

7091 Deepage Dr., 410-381-1134, Columbia
http://www.hunanmanorrestaurant.com/
Located off of Snowden River Parkway. This is one of the nicest Chinese Restaurant that I've eaten in. They have a large menu, a very good staff. We have eaten here many times over the years. I'm not sure how long they have been in business, but i think we have been coming here for maybe 20 years. The food is excellent. We usually get hot and sour soup and we split an appetizer of spicy tangy wontons. Our entrees we change around, the last time we had General Tso's chicken, orange beef and young chow fried rice. We have also tried Kung Pao shrimp, deep fried whole crispy fish with a sweet and sour sauce and crisp duck, to name a few.



Michael's Steak and Lobster House

6207 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, 410-633-6485, open daily for lunch and dinner
Located on the east side of Baltimore, convenient to both tunnels and a straight shot out Eastern Ave. from the city. They have specials Monday thru Friday for both lunch and dinner. We went on a Thursday night, their special was a 40 oz. prime rib, t-bone or porterhouse for 16.95, which included a baked potato and a vegetable. This was our first time there and they were out of the prime rib, which apparently goes quick, so we got t-bones. They were excellent, prepared just the way we requested, pink in the center. This is a big piece of meat. We discovered from the waitress that you need to get there early for the prime rib. The day core is dark paneling, like a club room, nothing fancy but fine by me. They have a large menu, big portions and excellent prices. Well worth visiting again for us, so many items we want to try.
posted 5/27/09




Mother's Federal Hill Grille

1113 S. Charles St., Baltimore, 410-244-8686
http://www.mothersgrille.com/
Located near Cross St. Market, this popular sports bar has a large & excellent menu selection. When you first walk in your in the bar area, which has a few tables and of course seating at the bar. To the right is the restaurant, it is decorated with tin ceilings and brick walls with table seating. I usually sit in the bar area & get a burger or cheese steak, but they also have an excellent chicken cheese steak, one of the best I've every had. They also have one item quite different from your average bar, a deep fried stuffed cheese burger called a heart attach on a plate. I guess if you have to die this is as good as any way to go. Does that come with fries? Another interesting sandwich is the Art Donovan Veggie Melt, grilled squash, zucchini, tomato, eggplant, portabella mushroom, roasted red peppers and pesto , with melted cheese on a toasted rosemary focaccia bread. posted 6/2/09


Phoenix Emporium

Located at 8049 Main St., Ellicott City, Open 7 days a week 11:30 AM till 2:00 AM
http://www.ellicottcity.net/
This is a pub restaurant located in the historic area. You can order food at the bar or sit at one of their tables. The table area is a little small and you may have to wait if you come at peak times, but it's a nice location with a big window area to do some people watching. The food has always been very good and the service is friendly. We usually sit at the bar and eat. In addition to the menu, they have a specials menu, which always has a lot of good selections. One of my favorites is a wrap that is a little unusual, roast beef, shrimp with lettuce and tomato and a dressing that is maybe a french dressing. I also enjoy the roast beef and crab dip with red onions, and tomato on crusty bread. Their burger you can't go wrong with, they get the meat from a local butcher not to far away that has quality meats. My wife likes their salads a lot like the flat iron steak salad with Greek dressing or their blackened chicken Caesar salad. You can eat here and have a couple of drinks without breaking the bank. posted 6/11/09



Polock Johnny's

3212 Washington Blvd., 410-644-5997, open Monday & Tuesday 7 AM to 6 PM
Wed-Thur-Fri 7 AM to 9 PM
Sat. 9 AM to 6 PM
Their specialty is Polish sausage with the works ( a spicy tomato sauce with onions & peppers ). They also have breakfast items, sandwiches, burgers and subs.
posted 5/9/09


Restaurante El Trovador

318 S. Broadway, Fells point, 410-276-6200
Located in upper Fells Point, they are a causal fine dining restaurant with a bar. My wife and i go here frequently. We usually get the same thing every time, ceviche - a citrus marinated seafood appetizer of haddock, shrimp and scallops. Ceviche will vary from one restaurant to another, we find this one very enjoyable. We also get the Veracruz platter, which consists of three large shrimp wrapped with bacon and topped with melted cheese and a large portion of mixed meat fajitas. And of course always a pitcher of sangria. posted 6/1/09



Samos Restaurant

600 Oldham St., Baltimore, 410-675-5292, Mon thru Sat 10 AM to 9 PM, BYOB
NO CREDIT CARDS
This small restaurant serves excellent food and has great prices. It's small and has no reservations and usually a line at prime eating times. Our favorites for appetizers are Dolmathes ( stuffed grape leaves ), Tzatziki - a dip/spread of yogurt, cucumber, garlic and herbs, Taramosalata - a dip/spread of fish roe, potatoes, olive oil & lemon ( taste better than the sound of fish roe ), Loukaniko - grilled Greek sausage with roasted feta, sweet peppers & onions. Most of the time we order about 3 different appetizers and some oven roasted potatoes. The few times that we actually order a dinner we get roasted leg of lamb or the grouper Corfu, which is stuffed with spinach and feta topped with a tomato caper wine sauce.
posted 5/19/09


Spirits West

2601 Wilkens Ave., 410-945-5066
Located in Baltimore City across from St. Benedict's Church. They have a small dinning area in the bar side and a much larger dinning area on the other side of the building. The staff is friendly and efficient, the food is excellent and reasonably priced. I just ate lunch there with my brother, it was the first time for me, but my brother has eaten there many times. The cream of crab is one of the best that I've had, the cheese steak sub was a big portion, with your choice of fries or chips. Tough decision for me, but i went with the fries finally. I will definitely go back to dry their other menu items.
posted 5/20/09



Vicky's

Located in the Broadway Market in Fells Point. They have a lunch counter with stools with a large menu selection. They serve breakfast and lunch. The food is very good and the prices are reasonable. My favorite breakfast is the cheese steak omelet. My favorite lunch is either the bacon cheeseburger or the patty melt.
posted 5/8/09