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    Benny’s

    4.5 (75 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Benny’s Photos

    BENNY’S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Benny’s

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    'Best balls on the block' (appetizer)
    Tina C.

    Possibly as advertised with truly the "best balls on the block" (keeping in mind the size of the block). This place had excellent energy on a Friday night with live music and sports playing at the bar. Very friendly service, and overall efficient despite being pretty busy. We weren't blown away by the food but enjoyed the generous portions. The rigatoni al pistachio and "best balls on the block" (meatball appetizer) were solid; the chicken parm was okay. Plenty of leftovers after an already filling meal.

    Linguine con vongole
    Ellen H.

    I don't know why my last review was 4 stars, it should have been 5! Since I left my first review, we've been back a few times and have loved it more and more. We've come in for dinner, an afternoon drink and snack, and most recently, we walked over for a late dinner after visiting the Christmas Village in the Inner Harbor. The service is great, the food is impeccable, the drinks are delicious, and the vibes are so friendly, exactly how a neighborhood bar should be. Love ya, Benny's!

    Eggplant meatballs over polenta.
    Megan P.

    Amazing experience at Benny's. Sat at the bar. Excellent service. Nice vibe. The eggplant meatballs over polenta was one of the best vegetarian meals I've ever had. Will be back!

    Braciole Messenesi
    David T.

    In Baltimore for a conference and walked over from my hotel. Sat at the bar and had a braciole messinesi to start. The mozzarella's flavor was a little stronger than the meat. But I liked the cheese. The Puttensca Alla Norma was the star of the show. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was delicious and the chunks of eggplant, olives and tomatoes were terrific. I came back again later in the week and had some meatballs and a salad for a 'lighter' dinner.

    Heidi F.

    Excited to try Benny's in Little Italy. I had been to a the previous location a few years back and was so happy to see the new location. We didn't have a reservation but we're able to eat at the bar. The bar wasn't crowded at all. The menu out front was completely different to what we were given and were told it just changed this week and those items were no longer available. The new menu was fine and we were able to find things we wanted to try. I got the Chesapeake linguine and my husband tried the Pistachio Rigatoni. I also got the stiff coke to drink. The dishes took a little time to come out, I wish there was some bread before - I didn't see it on the menu to order. My dish was tasty but once I ate the shrimp I was completely turned off. The shrimp was terribly over cooked. I flagged the waitress and she immediately took my dish and shortly returned with new shrimp on top of my pasta. While handled quickly I wish they had replaced the whole dish as it felt like it sat for some time. The rigatoni was a great dish and the fennel gave it a lot of flavor. The coke cocktail was unique and I really liked it. Overall a nice experience - great atmosphere! I just wish the shrimp dish was better prepared.

    Pistachio pasta
    Emily K.

    I stopped in for a late lunch on a day trip to Baltimore and had a great time at Benny's! I sat at the bar and the vibes were very chill on a Saturday afternoon. I ordered the famous rigatoni al pistachio and it was solid! Pretty mild flavor compared to a regular pesto but it was really nice with the fennel sausage. I didn't get a chance to try the famous meatballs but that will be for next trip!

    Meatball Appetizer  "Best balls on the block"
    Andy Y.

    A great experience all around! We were warmly greeted by the host and seated promptly. The service was fast and very friendly. We started off with a couple orders of the "best balls on the block" and it did not disappoint! I opted for Liam's Big Chicken Dinner (essentially Chicken Parm) and it was delicious! The sauce was a little absent, but glad we had the sauce left over from the meatballs to add on top. A fun neighborhood spot that we would love to return for more! Enjoy!

    Focaccia pizza
    Sarah B.

    I love Benny's and could write an entire review just on their focaccia pizza (currently only available for lunch on weekends). Make a reservation but if you're not able to they have several spots at the front and bar for walk ups. They have great drinks; I especially love the sangria. Tons of yummy foods and the veggie balls were great. Can't wait to go again!

    Eggplant meatballs with polenta and sauce.
    Manny S.

    A restaurant with great charm in Little Italy. Owner, servers and bar staff seem to treat all customers like family.. your first experience there will make you feel like a regular. Besides the service, the food will bring you back. House made pasta and sauces, along with Focaccia Pizzas, and meatballs (vegetarian options too.) I highly recommend getting their focaccia pizzas, any of the pastas with their delicious pesto sauce and try the eggplant meatballs!

    Tyler C.

    I have a new Little Italy favorite. Small space. Great balls (meatball/eggplant) . Friendly space with personal service and a desire to please.

    Charming Hugo
    Raven T.

    Glad I gave Benny's a second shot. This experience was much improved from the first. Our server was friendly and efficient, I finally got to try the meatballs, and the pistachio pasta was unexpected and delicious!

    Liams chicken dinner "parm" style
    Justin I.

    5 stars every time food and service is great , friendly and attentive . Best balls in town , Lasagna , Liams chicken cutlet "parm" style, and calamari are some of my favorites . Cocktails are well crafted with quality ingredients including a nice whisky selection . I recommend reservations for parties of 3 or more for weekends and busy times ,there is nice seating in the front bar area and also separate dining room in the back . It is very nice inside low lighting, couple tv's at the bar to watch the O's .

    Jasmine M.

    I love Bennys! I used go here when it was Joe Bennys with the pizzas and I'm so glad it's back! The dining room in the back is very cute and a nice place for a more fancy night but love the bar up front for more casual evenings and watching the Os! The espresso martinis might be some of my fave in Baltimore because of the pistachio! They have happy hour during the weekdays! I always get the eggplant meatballs w polenta, a focaccia and then the pistachio pasta! I love Bennys - they treat you so nicely and like family!

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    2 years ago

    Great atmosphere! Great service! The sloppy meatballs are phenomenal!! I'll be back for sure. Thank you.

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    2 years ago

    1st time ever. The food and service was outstanding! The stop by to talk. Well worth the visit!

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    1 year ago

    Super fun place with amazing meatballs. Everyone was super friendly with lots of regulars who all the staff seemed to know by name.

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    1 year ago

    My new found city restaurant! The meatballs and the gnocchi were outstanding. Don't skip the Focaccia. Excellent service!

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    1 year ago

    Deliciousness all around! Cant beat anything meatball, octopus was great, salads fantastic, and the pizza....yum!!!

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    The pizza is AMAZING but we also ordered the fish entree and it was very bad. however the pizza is so so good.

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Benny’s

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    My husband and I just left Tagliata, it was just an amazing experience I wanted to review as soon…read moreas possible. We came to celebrate our 4 year anniversary, immediately at the host staff they congratulated us and brought us to a table where they had a hand written card congratulating us on our anniversary. The service staff were incredible, they were so attentive and kind. The food was 10/10 amazing. We had the oysters, the 18oz NY strip, squid ink pasta, lobster ravioli, tiramisu, and the chocolate mousse dessert (cannot remember the name at this moment). The dry aged steak was to die for and was definitely our favorite of the main entrees. Dessert wise the chocolate mousse was incredible! This was just an overall unforgettable experience, we will definitely be coming back in the future!

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    We stopped into V-NO Wine Bar while walking around Fells Point, mostly because the location right…read moreon the marina caught our eye that part alone is a big selling point. When we arrived, we were the only ones there, and there was one staff member working. That said, she came over immediately, brought us menus, and made the experience feel welcoming right away. We had to ask about tastings and she poured us about four different wines to try, which was a really nice touch and made the experience feel relaxed. We liked a few of the wines and ended up purchasing a bottle of Honor Cava Brut Rosato for $32.99. Solid choice. Nothing mind-blowing, but enjoyable and fairly priced for the setting. The space itself felt calm and cozy, especially with the fireplace and wine displays, but at the time we were there it didn't have a ton of energy or buzz. To be fair, it was early in the day, so I can absolutely see this place feeling very different in the evening or on a weekend when the patio and waterfront vibe are in full swing. V-NO is a pleasant, low pressure wine stop with friendly service, a thoughtful tasting experience, and a beautiful waterfront location. It may not scream "vibes" during slower daytime hours, but it's an easy place to relax, learn what you like, and enjoy a glass (or a bottle) without feeling rushed. I'd definitely come back later in the day to see it come to life.

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    The views from The Bygone are amazing! We stopped in here somewhat early on a Friday night. We had…read morejust come from happy hour so we opted for a few bar bites and dessert. We ordered the pineapple and peanut butter cake to share as well as the strawberry toast and meatballs. The guava on the pineapple cake was fresh. I wasn't a fan of the bar bites, the meatballs were lukewarm and the lack of flavor made them feel overpriced. I wouldn't order what had again. The bartenders were attentive and welcoming. It was my birthday so the bartender offered us a champagne toast to celebrate which was an amazing touch. I'd definitely return but I'd opted to come back and try the cocktails since we missed them this time around. The views were 5/5 The food was 3/5 The service was 4/5

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    Inside the restroom.

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    Sisu Bar & Bottles - A beaut

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    We stopped in here for happy hour on a Friday. My friends and I ordered quite a few things to share…read moreand most everything was amazing. We order the turkey club, hush puppies, cream of crab soup, the charcuterie board, fries, and fried oysters to share. The turkey club was the star of the show. It had nice layers of avocado, the chicken was cooked well, and the bacon added a nice touch. For drinks we stuck to the margaritas and they were perfect! I would say you can skip the fries, the seasoning was great the batch of fries we had seemed like they might not have been fresh. The rest of the menu was so good I would still say you could skip the fries and order a double serving of hush puppies.

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