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In celebration of my sister's 50th Birthday BLK Swan was at the top of my list. The food was delicious, no complaints at all. However, my niece ordered a still water...for herself. I guess the waitress thought she was ordering for the table. Before I knew it, we had $77 in "still bottled" water charges. Unfortunately, the waitress didn't inform her that the water was $11/ bottle as she so graciously kept coming out with bottle after bottle. We decided not to make a fuss about it, though very disappointing. My takeaway, be clear with your server. Who wants to spend almost $100 on water? In wrapping up the atmosphere is fun and once again food was great! The watergate is the only reason they will not get 4-5 stars.
I went for Valentine's day and my husband and I had a great experience. The place was decorated with balloons and valentines decor. Everything had a black almost gothic interior, with accents of red. Super pretty and dramatic. R&B music was playing to set the mood. Food came out quickly. Staff were very accommodating and attentive. The signature drink Blk Swan was so good. Crab cake didn't blow my mind, but I went for the overall experience. I'd definitely go back.
I want to love this place! The decor is amazing and I love the dj booth. We have tried this restaurant three times, and the service and food quality just do not match up with the price point. Our first time was during a slow Tuesday. We got good service because we were basically the only people in the venue. We wrapped up our meal early because a fire alarm went off (because of the hotel next door we were told) and it would not turn off and we couldn't hear each other. The second time we had a reservation. We were seated after waiting a few minutes. We sat for 20 minutes with no water or drinks or even being greeted by any wait staff. We left. The third time was restuarant week. The dirty martini was the worst drink I have had in awhile and it was $20. Service was friendly but took forever. We never got water refills. No fun containers for the adult happy meal + we had to request the advertised included glass of wine. The smash burger was good, my husband's pizza tasted like something out of the frozen case at the grocery store. They were out of both desserts, replacement offered.
My partner and I came here for a date night, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish! Our waiter, Cam, was a true professional; friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. He offered excellent suggestions and recommendations, and every dish we ordered was absolutely delectable. I had the lamb appetizer, cooked medium-well, and it literally melted in my mouth. It was perfectly seasoned and incredibly tender. My partner ordered the short rib appetizer and couldn't stop talking about how it melted like butter. Both dishes were phenomenal! My absolute favorite drink was the Smoke & Mirrors. The bartender did not disappoint, they were generous with the pour, and after two of them, I left feeling happy! If you enjoy a great cocktail, this one is a must-try. The atmosphere was just as amazing as the food. I loved the striking black artwork throughout the restaurant, the hidden DJ booth tucked away in its own little nook, and the incredible mix of '90s and 2000s R&B and hip-hop. I was definitely doing some chair dancing throughout the evening! This restaurant delivered on every level: exceptional service, delicious food, amazing drinks, and an unforgettable vibe. I can't wait to come back for brunch. Highly recommend, you won't be disappointed!
Blk Swan was a cute little spot for a double date with my sister & brother-in-love. We went during happy hour time and we were able to dine on some of their apps as well as meals. Since there were only 2 other patrons, our service was exceptional! The Margherita pizza was cheesy and the sauce to cheese ratio was on point. The crab stuffed shrimp was my favorite item! My brother-in-love enjoyed his chicken pasta. The deviled eggs were just ok. The filing needed more seasoning and relish in my opinion. Now, the bill will hit you in the head, so be prepared.
Beautiful space inside with fun vibes. I've been here a couple times in the past and remember drinks being better. This time, the Blk Swan cocktail tasted like cough syrup but at least my next drink (a Cosmo) was good. My friend and I ordered their Spicy Pepperoni and Hot Honey Pizza to share which was quite tasty. Staff here are ok. Best part is the ambience and live DJ's they have.
The BlK Swan is a amazing place to eat. The ambience is great and upbeat and the service is excellent. From greeting to seating to eating the experience is special. The music is upbeat and the cocktails are top notch. My favorite appetizer is the chicken box, be warned it is very filling and should be shared. The chicken I seasoned just right and fried l. The fries are well seasoned and crispy. The Stuffed shrimp and grits are very good. The shrimp are served in a hollandaise sauce and complement the grits perfectly. My only issue is that I would have like a little more spice and perhaps more than just two shrimp. Otherwise, another home run!
Visited recently for the first time for what my girlfriend and I refer to as our regular rotation girl dinner! We made reservations and arrived on time. We were seated immediately. We parked in the neighboring garage as the open lot across the street was for monthly pass holders only, bummer. There were a lot of parties in the establishment and several birthday's. I did feel like we were a bit stacked on top of each other. Service was pretty good and our food was delicious! I had the short rib which while delicious, I wished I had a leaner cut of meat. A good portion of it was fat. I also had a side of regular Mac and cheese. Everything was hot, fresh, and seasoned to perfection. My friend had the lobster pasta and we shared a stuffed shrimp appetizer which was literally 2 shrimp. Get the PWA drink! So good! The blk swan was nice too but not better than the PWA! Dessert menu was small so we grabbed it elsewhere. Would definitely return.
As a out-of-towner, came here based on research on social media. Despite the mixed reviews, I really enjoyed my visit. Except for the entrance door. The door to this restaurant's entrance door is the heaviest door on the planet!! We made a reservation for a Saturday night. We appreciated the beauty of the entrance with accompanying social media light for pics and boomerang and a mural. The place had a beautiful ambiance and vibe to it. Felt like a must visit place for anyone in Baltimore. They had a female Dj there that night and she did a great job with the biggest Hip Hop and R&B hits from the 90s through today. They had a fully stacked bars with plenty of seating and televisions. Food - For the three of us, we ordered the crab cake fritters (which was a bit salty), a Caesar salad, a chopped salad, shrimp pompadour, Brussel sprouts and steak bits. All in all our food was pretty tasty. The brussel sprouts had a good helpig of bacon and steak bites were cooked perfectly. The shrimp pompadour was really good, made in red sauce but was not heavy at all. The shrimps were a really good size. We ordered the smoking mirror drink, which was good. But our margarita was a bit tart and had to request some additional agave. Service was okay. We had to track our waiter down at times, but it was still good overall. Our bill split into three was about $77 each.
I remember visiting Blk Swan when they first opened. I had a good experience. But it seemed to fall off. Well they are BACK!!! The food was flavorful, hot, and overall very satisfying. The staff was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. And the vibe gives grown and sexy. They now have a jazz brunch every 2nd and 4th weekend of the month. Will definitely return.
Based on reviews more so for the ambience and vibe, I drove from Philly to this restaurant and was highly disappointed. I tried to add more photos however something must be wrong with Yelp I was unable to. It's a nice location. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a lot of historical and meaningful photos. There was also a live DJ playing some really good music. The food is overpriced, and the portions are small. All of the food was unmemorable. The server suggested Bronzino, which is a fish. I generally enjoy however this fish lacked any flavor or any interesting notes. My husband had the short ribs. He was not impressed he tasted a little and boxed it up, and took it home. It was tender however the portion was extremely small and was just short ribs. Nothing special. One really good thing were the appetizer crab balls Our server was okay except he bought the check before offering a dessert menu. I asked about it and they said "oh usually no one wants the desserts. We only have two things on our dessert menu." Huh? Would I recommend or go here again? Hard No! This is one of those places that young people over-inflate and hype up as a hotspot and there was really nothing special going on as far as dining.
Food and ambiance were on point. The wait was a little longer than expected for food and our waitress may have forgotten about us when it was time to checkout. We had the angel eggs, Brussel sprouts, and cinnamon rolls for appetizers. The mimosas were delicious As were the skillet, pancakes, omelet with short rib, and chicken and waffles.
Checked out BLK Swan for the second time. First time I took away a jerked pizza which was okay. Very light on jerked chicken. The second time was to dine in. I tried several options. The cinnamon bun, chicken and waffles, sausages and Caesar salad. The cinnamon bun didn't taste of cinnamon, but of butter and a mild orange/weak citrus. The glaze lacked flavor, just mildly sweet. The sausages had what I think was a coating of maple syrup but crusted on. Both of these weren't finished. The Caesar salad was okay, but nothing special. My dining partner partially enjoyed the Chicken and waffles but didn't finish them. There was some disorganization during ordering which may have been due to service understaffing. Ordered items being forgotten, etc. Ambiance and vibe was nice which we both enjoyed. We both agreed that this is more of an appetizers and drinks spot. Probably more the later. Overall, while there is a vibe and cool ambiance, I cannot recommend for entrees and full meals, but more of a happy hour option at most.
I visited this place as a celebration with my partner. I tried to make a reservation online but they were booked out for the next month. We ended up going right around opening time and were able to secure a seat at the bar. After speaking with the staff I started to realize why they are so busy, our bartender Manny was amazing. He helped us make decisions on the menu and was great to speak with. The food was amazing, we ordered a variety of dishes and loved every single one of them! The ambiance is great with fun lights and a black swan theme throughout. 10/10 I would recommend this place and hope to be back soon! read more
We had such a great time at Blk Swan and I can't wait to visit again. Aminah took great care of us and made great (and honest) recommendations. The food and drinks may seem pricey but I definitely think the quality, presentation and ambiance make up for it. We ordered so much and I'm not quite sure where to start. We ordered a chicken box with regular fries, fire roasted lamb chops, truffle fries, brussel sprouts, Korean barbecue cauliflower, pasta pomodoro, braised beef short ribs, cavatappi mac and cheese, glazed baby carrots and sweet potato cheesecake. The drinks that we ordered were the blk swan, concrete rose, pretty with an attitude and outlier. I don't eat seafood so the only thing I didn't try was the pasta pomordoro. My friend said it was her favorite thing out of everything we ordered. Everything I had was delicious. This was my first experience with lamb chops and they didn't disappoint. I enjoyed each drink but the outlier was definitely my favorite. I was able to get pictures of almost everything but there were times that we just started eating and I forgot. read more
3 years ago
Ambiance 5 out 5 Service 4 out of 5 Food 3.5 out of 5 Value 2 out of 5 Went here to celebrate my bday, ambiance and decor are excellent. Service was good, food was ok but soo overpriced. I had the meatloaf and greens which cost $40 and I didn't even get a full side of greens they looked like a garnish lol. All my daughter and I could do is laugh. Great experience food is just a bit pricey for the amount you get. Definitely a first-rate experience not sure it warrants a return visit though. read more
I saw Blk Swan on the Yelp Baltimore Instagram account, I knew I had to stop by based on what I saw. Reservations are super hard to get, they are always booked. I ended up stopping by for brunch during Morgan's Homecoming weekend. I knew this would be a gamble but I thought I would at least try, there were plenty of seats available at the bar. When you first walk in you get the vibes of the blk swan, from the dark interior, black silverware, plates, cocktail glasses and even the bread. You can tell the owners spent a lot of time designing the atmosphere. On the walls are photos of black icons, this restaurant screams black excellence. I started off with the blk swan cocktail made with Kettle one orange, lemon, blackberry and topped off with fresh black pepper. Don't let the black pepper scare you this cocktail was absolutely delicious. I enjoyed the crispy lake trout and the steak and eggs. Make sure to ask for their homemade steak sauce, sooooo good. Overall, I had a great time, the service was great, the music was lit and this brunch gave me the experience I was looking for. I highly suggest if you want to have a good brunch outing with your girlfriends. read more
2 years ago
All I can say is 10s across the board . Service from the moment we walked in was amazing . Food was delicious , fresh , and flavorful . The PWA drink was so good I got a 2nd one and my friend got it for her 2nd drink as well. Vonte was a great server and didn't miss a beat . read more
Had a good experience dining here. I had the crab stuffed shrimp (comes with two) and the chicken box (6 wings and fries), which were both great. I also had one of their drink specials, the blackberry lemon drop, which was good. For entrees, we had the pasta pomodoro and the jumbo lump crab cake with a side of mac and cheese. Really enjoyed the pasta; the crab cake was good, but could have use a tad bit more seasoning/flavor...and more salt in the Mac and cheese read more
First off the aesthetic is AMAZING! I whole heartedly loved being here. I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 simply for the volume of the music. It's never fun to have to yell at the person at the same table as you. Tylisia (Ty) was the highlight of our outing. She went above and beyond helping us and accommodating my needy date :) The food was good the drink obviously had liquor in it which is a rare thing in the restaurant industry. I had a Mexican mule and my date had an old fashion. We had lobster Mac and cheese, calamari, lemon herb chicken and pasta. The calamari had a lot of fried veggies mixed in. Not sure how much calamari was actually there. The Mac and cheese was A1!!! read more
5 years ago
This is one of the worst restaurants I've been to in recent memory, and I mean that in all seriousness. The only thing I enjoyed about this place was the live DJ. The brunch menu is rather run-of-the-mill: chicken and waffles; fish/shrimp and grits; lamb chops, etc. I originally wanted the lamb chops, but by the time I arrived, they had run out. I'm not a fan of grits or waffles, so I opted for the Salmon BLT. BIG MISTAKE.. HUGE. *Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman' voice* When the Salmon BLT came out, the first thing that came to mind was that episode of Spongebob where Mr. Krabs tried to sell an old Krabby Patty that had turned black-- the bun for the Salmon BLT was black. (I should add here that the black swan motif is overdone. Why are the buns black?!). Aside from the bun being black, it was TOUGH. Never in my life have I ordered a sandwich at a restaurant, including someplace like McDonald's, and received a tough bun. I also asked for the salmon to be cooked medium, but I received it well-done. The absolute kicker about the sandwich was that it was served by itself. There were no fries or even a small side salad to accompany the sandwich-- fries weren't even on the side options if I wanted to order them! The presentation of the single black sandwich on the black plate was awful. The sandwich was obviously underwhelming and also dry, so I asked for a side of the aioli that was on the sandwich. When the bill came, I saw that I was charged $2 for a small side of this sauce-- it was probably an ounce-- but the waitress failed to inform us beforehand that there would be a charge for it. I wound up ordering a side of $12 "crispy" Brussels sprouts that were soggy and overly sweet. I also ordered a cocktail called "pretty with an attitude" and was l served a glass that was only half full. What?! I hated absolutely everything about this meal, as did everyone in my party. For a group of 4 of us, our bill, including a 20% gratuity charge, was about $248. We each spent $62 and we all left the restaurant starving. If you have a developed palate, skip this place altogether. read more
5 years ago
Finally made it here! Soon as I heard about this place I just knew I had to come check them out. I started following on IG and was hype. The pics looked amazing!! I had heard reservations are hard to come by, but a fellow Yelper and I decided we would just visit right as they open (5 p.m.) and just sit at the bar! On a Wednesday it wasn't too packed. We had a great time. Everyone was welcoming and engaging. Shout out to the amazing mixologist, Nick and manager, Tom! With bar seating, food options are limited. That was ok because I was just so excited to be in the place and experience it! We were able to get some bar bites - cheesesteak egg rolls and lamb chops! They were tasty but not filling if you're starving! The drinks were great and just seeing them being made was a whole vibe!! I love a good cocktail and Nick did his thing! I asked for his personal signature drink and although he didn't have one, he obliged. Thanks Nick!!! My second time at Blk Swan was for brunch. We made a reservation in advance. We were seated in the room towards the back of the restaurant. Our initial seat was very awkward and we asked to move to a better seat. It was also a bit warm... not sure if their AC was broken, but it didn't take away from my experience. I was in good company! Our server (totally forgot his name) told us he was new and I could tell he was nervous, so I was patient and understanding because he was friendly and attentive. The brunch menu was limited for me as I don't eat shellfish (no allergies...just a personal preference). I ordered the "chicken box." Loved it - nice and hot and so finger lickin good! It comes with fries and hot sauce, ketchup and mumbo sauce! They have mimosas and bellinis but not they're not bottomless! I wanted a regular cocktail anyway. I placed an order for an old fashioned. My girl, Jada highly recommended it and since I didn't get to try it during my first visit, I figured I would now. I was told only brunch drinks were available so I was sad...well only for a lil bit because he came back and told me I could get the old fashioned. Yay!!! It was very good! Jada was right! So parking can be tough in this area. There's some street parking, but luckily there's a garage right around the corner - $4 after 5 and on weekends. Just park here and save the headache of looking for a spot. My overall take-away from my experience is that it's absolutely worth checking out. It might not be a place for everyone, but I like it and I hope they're here to stay. This is definitely a girls night out, date night spot in my opinion. I won't recommend it for young kids but that's just me. The music was good as well! So dress cute and come take some IG worthy pics. The decor is beautiful! Even the bathroom is nice - I got some great selfies in there! I can't wait to come back... maybe I will for my birthday next month (hint hint). If you're still reading this, thank you. I know this was very long, but I really wanted to give my detailed experience. read more
Came here to celebrate a friends birthday. Reservations are a must for a group and they are strict on the seating and guest #. If your whole party is not there within 15 minutes, only the guests there at the time will be seated. The place is also loud so conversations took a bit of effort but possible. Service was good, especially for a busy Saturday night. I was surprised by the quality of food. Ordered the flash fried lobster to start and the cowboy ribeye. Both were top notch. I would take the 50 minute drive for that steak again. Super flavorful- didnt need any toppings or sauce or salt.. perfect! The sides of asparagus and truffled mash were superb too. Heard the salmon was a bit overdone but others seemed atleast satisfied with their dishes. The black swan cocktail and perfect pear cocktails are delicious as well- i would get both again. read more
I have been looking forward to trying Blk Swan for weeks since I first heard about them. I love supporting black owned businesses and this is a fine dining establishment, how could I not! It took weeks to get a reservation at a decent time and I was only able to make it for two. I was extremely happy when I received a call to confirm, although I had confirmed via text earlier that morning, so that gave me the opportunity to request to add more to my confirmation. I was only able to add two more though and I understood that. It wasn't difficult to find and parking was around the corner and across from a gym that allowed me to peek in as I walked & stare at some eye candy. A gentleman was waiting outside to open the door for me and when I arrived. I was asked to join half of my party seated at the bar since they couldn't seat us until all arrived. I didn't like that but could understand with no shows being a pain in the butt these days. Three of us were there and we were waiting for one more so we would have been at a table for 4 anyway but ok. We were seated and I'm guessing COVID restrictions have been lifted for indoor dining because tables were so close and we were packed in tightly. We weren't lucky enough to have a waitress wearing a mask but I was lucky enough to have her speaking directly over my drinks and food each time she came to the table. I moved my drink to my left and put the menu over it to block her speech. I'm glad I did because she ended up spitting on my arm one occasion as she was spoke SMH She apologized multiple times :'c It wasn't in the stars for me this evening because the first thing I ordered was the creme brulee for my app and only found out they were out when the rest of my party's apps were brung to our table. Our server's first round of apologies. I know this dish is usually limited so Ive leaned to always order it first and not as a dessert (free tip) but apparently they sold out early. To make up for the missing creme brulee, I asked our server to have the bartender make me two more of his specialties. When she brung them over, I noticed they were very light and didn't look like the original ones and pointed this out to her. She informed me she didn't know what happened, apologized, and then took both of the drinks back. She later returned saying that they were out of ginger and apologized more. I believe this is when she spit on me. This review is already really long so I'm just going to sum it up. One of the dishes ordered at my table was extremely salty and was asked to have it remade only for it to come out extremely salty still. This was the salmon entree. Maybe you'll have a better experience with it. The brussel sprouts were too sweet, one of my girls informed me when I asked her why she wasn't eating it. I didn't try it because pork is in it but another did and said the same thing. The signature cocktails, I was told were really good and so was the salad with added salmon on top my bestie had. She also ordered the grilled shrimp as an appetizer and enjoyed it but I didn't notice any standout seasonings. Service was really slow and I noticed they had a small kitchen. A lot of people were enjoying themselves and we enjoyed each time one of the cowboy steaks came out and they seared it for the person who ordered. That was unique. I did like that they separated our food by seat number so it was easier to pay since they don't allow separate checks. The decor was also fun to look at and I love seeing iconic framed faces on the walls. I will definitely be back and I have not written them off yet. I would love to see what they add to their winter menu. read more
Blk Swan was recommended to me by a dear friend/family member of mine. He said the Chef was amazing! Annnnd he was right!!! Every dish we ordered!! Philly cheesesteaks egg rolls Calamari Crab cakes Korean BBQ Cauliflower Lobster Mac & Cheese Lamb Chops...cooked beyond perfection! We literally ordered the whole menu!! Saon Brice has given every thought into this amazing menu! His dishes will have you coming back again and again! The entire team at Blk Swam just makes you feel good on the inside! Everyone checks on you, talks to you and vibes with you. This is a must go to in Baltimore!!! read more
5 years ago
Even without reservations we had a great time.. we scouted for seats at the bar for about 20-25mins just ordered drinks while we waited... the 29th the last Saturday in January turned out great..!! Staff, bartenders Manny and Yonni (sp) were amazing... as busy as they were food was on point. Fire roasted lamb chops Cauliflower Calamari A slew of drinks read more
2 years ago
This is what you call faux-upscale dining. Why is there an entertainment fee but no entertainment?? No DJ, no band...just fees. For what? I know why, because it's a BLK owned establishment. Absolutely ridiculous. And even if there was a band or a DJ, that's a plot to bring in more business- not charge customers on top of their meals. This is what you call a Black tax. read more
3 years ago
Went to BLK Swan to celebrate my little sister birthday and it was an amazing experience. From the ambiance, food, drinks, music and service provided by our waiter Dave. We all enjoyed ourselves and recommended that you add this place to your rotation as the food and drink menu typically changes based on the season. I will be returning as I've heard there brunch menu is to die for. read more
3 years ago
From the moment we walked in the door everything was perfect. A nice lady opened the door for us with a smile. Immediately greeted by the host gave her our reservation name she gave us menus and got us seated. Once we were seated a nice young man walked up our waiter and introduced himself he was dressed nice and very professional. We had a show to see at the Baltimore Convention Center so we knew this would be a quick dinner but this restaurant was on our list so we had to stop by while in the area. And we have no regrets we skipped an appetizer and started with our cocktails we both got a smoking mirror. It's was Perfect flavorful , presentation nice and strong what wise could you ask for in a cocktail. Waiter gave us great suggestions everything he suggested we tried. Next we ordered seafood risotto when I say melting in my mouth omg yesss! If I had to describe it I would say romatic, Delicious, Flavorful and mouth-watering! The last time I had really good risotto it was in Gordon Ramsey restaurant in London so I know a good risotto. Let's not forget about the ambiance classy, modern and just a vibe. They had a DJ music was good. Overall we will be back i want to try the lamb chops and the crab cakes. We will Definitely recommend this restaurants to all of our fellow foodies. read more
2 years ago
Yikes, lots of room for improvement here. I am disappointed in my experience, but hope that the restaurant is able to solve some of their issues. We went for brunch on a Sunday (had reservations) at 11am, party of 4. Street parking was free and easy (around the corner - not designated). First, the positives. Some of the food was good! The cinnamon bun was good, the crab and lobster omelet was good, and our waitress was kind. There is a door man to hold the door, which is very nice. There are separate room stalls for the bathrooms. There is a definite color and ambience theme which I can appreciate - it was all black down to even the silverware! Now for some negatives. As many have mentioned, the music was absolutely too loud. We were screaming at each other. It was Sunday brunch - I'm sure some people would've been hungover - it's not a club, have some humility. The prices were outrageous. $10 for ONE cinnamon roll that was not very large, while tasty, there should've been 2 at that price. $19 for 2 pancakes? Again, good, but with no side, that's just ridiculous. Some of the food was not great. I got the chicken and waffles - that was the absolute saltiest chicken I have ever eaten. Why did it need to be salted like that? The breading had flavor and would've been fine as is... but I could see CHUNKS of salt on the chicken, curious why that needed to be a part of the dish. If you do get this dish - it comes w/ syrup and sprinkles, ask for that on the side (as our waitress kindly recommend) otherwise it will be a sugary, salty mess. Also I was disappointed for a chicken and waffles dish to be wings... It wasn't much of a cohesive dish. Usually chicken and waffles are large pieces of chicken you can cut with a fork and knife (either bone in or boneless) so you can get a bite with the waffle. I just basically had wings and a waffle for brunch. Odd. There's no coffee?!?!? It's brunch! That's insane. We asked for coffee and our waitress said she would see if they could make us some. The worst offense was that our entrees were not brought out at the same time. Two entrees came out about 5 minutes before the other two. So two of us had to sit there watching our food get cold... they need to figure that out. Service was also just slow. While our waitress was nice, she was slow (maybe not her fault) but I ran out of water twice and it was about 20 minutes to get and pay for the check after we had finished eating. It's important to note that 20% gratuity is included in the check - I typically have no problem with this, when service is at least par, but I felt like maybe since gratuity was included, there was no incentive to provide great service. All in all, it was just not a great experience and we are not rushing back. For the amount of time and money that was clearly spent on renovating the space, updating the decor, and hiring a live DJ, I expected more care to go into my meal and service. read more
A great night out w one of my favs. No Valet but 60k street spaces within a minute's walk w cheap meters that end at 12am. As soon as I entered the establishment, I was greeted by 2 nice hostesses that immediately sat me w my party. The atmosphere was everything and more. Beautiful decor that complimented "Blk Swan". Trendy non intimidating vibe, perfectly spaced seating, lively bar and nice wall art to keep you visually engaged. Let's get to it !! Party of 3, we ordered drinks... Pretty w an Attitude, Blk Swan Smoking Mirrors and an Old Fashion. Pretty w an Attitude was real cute. Could have been more plentiful w pour but it's 2021, I'll go for quality over quantity any day. I ordered it because it was the only Rum beverage on the menu. I think I'm gonna request a Rum Punch next visit and see if they're up for the challenge. The Blk Swan was ok. Several were ordered at our table. Smoking Mirrors has an acquired taste. You'll either love or hate it. The beverage 100% has a smoked flavor. I couldn't fathom it. It's a beautiful drink. The Old Fashion deserves it's own zip code. It was so good and made me so happy. It's rare to get a well made Old Fashion and baybeee, this one was perfectly crafted, smooth taste and plentiful. That Old Fashion is def my favorite from this establishment. Appetizer time !! Fire Roasted Lamb Chops w Chermoula Herb Green Sauce, Chicken Box and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. My Lamb Chops were surfaced seasoned w the Herb Green Sauce but not internally. I brought them home to further season and oven bake a little more and they were perfect. The Chicken Box was a class act. Although not provided in the red/ white rectangle box w saltpeppaketchuphawtsauce (1 word) like us Baltimorians love from the Junction... iykyk !! It was definitely the best Blk Swan version given. I would certainly order again. The wingettes were served at perfect temperature and crispy!! I like crispy !! Sooo good. The Jumbo Lump Crab Cake was ok. I didn't try due to food allergies but my friend who ordered wasn't too impressed. She didn't feel the seasoning was present. I must say they were a good size. Entrée time! I ordered the Lemon Herb Roasted Airline Chicken Breast. Great concept. Tender Roasted Chicken Breast, great accompaniments. The Brussels were delish. The flavor of the pan sauce was busy. A little too busy for me. Kinda tart for chicken but perfect for Brussels. Taste is an subjective sense. I let hubby taste the same entrée when I returned home and he loved it stating "This is good Babe but seems to busy for you"!! He's right and now I feel like I need to take him for the full experience too. Haha Next on the Corn Pudding and Dessert. The Corn Pudding was tasty but the consistency was a shock w it being puréed and not having whole corn present. Remarkably created Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée and it's a nice sharable size served warm. We had the pleasure of having TK as our table person. She was very personable and knew the menu like the back of her hand. She was very helpful w beverage selections and keeping us posted on wait times, etc. She was sweet as pie. Ut ohhhhhh! No popcorn offered as menu states. I'm allergic to the parmasean but I still wanted it to stunt for the gram. My friends would have enjoyed. ... maybe next time. The evening finale was great w DJ PDrama spinning Fantasy by the Elements while we were given lit party favors to wave was perfect! It reminded me of church benediction after being "fed". Get it... FED!! Overall, great visit and I'm looking forward to returning for brunch next. Then dinner again. read more
The vibe is this restaurant is really cool, from the music to the lit up sign and the Kendrick quote when you walk in. The staff was amazing and even contacting them ahead of time, they were really friendly and helpful. The music is hard to hear because the crowd noise is so loud so I wish there were speakers spread out better but I see they have a DJ on the weekends and that sounds like a fun experience but there needs to be more things for the sound to absorb and bounce off. The table noise is just that loud. The drink was amazing, I had the Sore Loser. I'm a sucker for drinks with egg whites. The Oreo beignets were also so delicious. The pasta however, did fall a little short. I love that they gave so much seafood but the sauce tasted super bland like plain tomatoes. You don't taste the chili oil or basil at all. I would skip this. I would come back but for drinks, apps, and dessert, I would skip the entrees. The only other cons were the pricing was all over the map and they were out of some things. All checks, no exceptions, have 20% gratuity included always. I don't mind because I always tip at least 20% anyhow but I've never seen this literally anywhere. Even if you're dining alone just getting drinks, this still applies . Overall, I enjoyed trying this new spot out. There's some learning curves since they're brand new so I think over time the experience will only improve. read more
Blk Swan is a great addition to Harbor East. I'll forever miss Cava Mezze which was once here. Bottomless brunch and penny mimosas. Who would get rid of that?! Anyway, Blk Swan is an upscale, beautifully decorated, overhyped restaurant. Did I just call a place over hyped? SURE DID! When you have DMVs local celebrities and local news consistently posting you on social media, society (including myself) wants in and ASAP. I fortunately was able to grab a reservation on the day reservations opened on open table. I'd compare the experience to getting Beyonce tickets. Needless to say, Blk Swan is completely booked for the next few months. You're able to walk in for bar seating which offers a limited menu, typically consisting of their appetizers. Pros: great service, decor, music, drinks and food. Pretty much everything you need to run a restaurant. I ordered the large crab cakes, Korean BBQ (cauliflower), and lobster mac & cheese. While these looked like small portions, I was full without even finishing everything (score for dinner leftovers for lunch the next day). Everything was amazing. Shout out to the chef who also came by each table to see how everyone liked their food. I also order the "pretty with an attitude" and "smoke & mirrors" cocktails. The first one should be called "pretty with no alcohol" since all I could taste was the cayenne pepper sprinkled on top. "Smoke & mirrors" was perfection. If I had ordered two of those I would have been on the floor somewhere Cons: music is a tad bit too loud. I do love the fact there's a DJ even though there's no place to dance. The space of the restie is small so the most jamming you'll be doing is from your seat. Or maybe the bar area. Another con was the fact that the hallway where the restrooms are smells like sewage. Cava never smelled like that. Or maybe I was always too tipsy to notice. Anywho... Biggest con was the fact that NO ONE ANSWERS THE PHONE. Why is there a phone number if you aren't going to pick up? I tried at night time, morning on the weekend when they first open when it should be the least busy. Nothing. I'm not the only person who's experienced this either. I don't get it. There's a hostess at the front door who just checks in people. They can't answer the phone for a general question? I'm honestly in no rush to go back. To the bar, sure, but Blk Swan offered no wow factor for me. It's still a nice place overall. read more
5 years ago
My friend and I came to BLK Swan for a drink at the bar and had a great experience! The host/doorman was very welcoming, and the bartenders were also lovely. To drink, I got the Hardship (Toki whiskey, scotch, nut meg fig syrup). It wasn't as strong as I was expecting/hoping for, but it was super tasty! I decided I needed a little something to eat, so I got the Legendary Vegan Burger Sliders (local plant based burgers, pickled onions, marinated tomatoes, baby arugula, vegan garlic aioli). They were so good! I love how the buns were black (thanks, activated charcoal!) just like everything else there. It's definitely on the pricier side, but I can see myself coming back for a special occasion or just to treat myself! read more
I could not wait for Blk Swan to open. It's something that we definitely needed here in Baltimore. My experience was great and the vibes are awesome. The service is on point. Our server was super attentive (shoutout to Chris). We had a 6:30 dinner reservation and sat at the bar after. Love the bartenders! While the atmosphere was amazing, the food did not really stand out to me. Don't get me wrong, everything was good and was cooked very well, BUT it's nothing I would rush to go back for. Also, for some reason everything came out kind of warm, but not hot (except the Mac & Cheese). The Roasted Cauliflower Steak had a great flavor and all the veggies were cooked perfectly. They all had that nice crunch. I was happy to see that there were a solid amount of dishes for vegetarians and vegans. I loved the complimentary popcorn and thought that was a great touch...something different! The drinks were very good. My favorite was the Outlier which was like an alcoholic half and half with a spritz sort of vibe. Super refreshing and I wish I chose that to start. I also tried the Call A Hack which is the Casamigos flight. I recommend both. Pretty With an Attitude was my least favorite cocktail, but that's just a personal preference. Overall I had a great experience and I would visit again. I def want to try brunch! read more
5 years ago
So I was able to secure reservations at one of Baltimore's newest restaurants FINALLY! I had reservations at 615 but my party was running late so I was able to sit at the bar while I waited. It didn't hit me until I was actually sitting at my table that this is the old Cava ... Ooh how I miss their brunch but I digress . The Food. I didn't want heavy food since I'm trying to drop some lbs. so I ordered just a couple items though I wanted more The chicken box. Was YUM.. the chicken was piping hot, crispy and seasoned well and the fries flavorful and crispy. I wanted more The cheese steak spring rolls- They were food and seasoned well. I don't always prefer spring rolls because they are greasier than egg rolls but there good. The portions are very small. I think too small for the price point. The restaurant - All black everything! Cute inside. I think that the seating is a bit tight especially since Corona is not fully gone. Between the music and people sitting so close , it's a little difficult to maintain conversation. The service was ok. No glaring issues though we did have to wait a bit for our food. Pay attention to the dress code because it's enforced. There were a couple of men who arrived in shorts and they were reminded of the dress code. But they weren't turned away but rather offered to borrow some chefs pants to pull over their shorts. Overall it was an ok experience. I enjoyed the food I had. I would probably return for drinks and to nosh on some apps but would likely not return for dinner. read more
I really wanted to love this place but my expectations from the all the talk around town fell short. I visited the establishment for brunch with a reservation. Pros: The decor is amazing Live DJ playing 90's R&B The "Black Swan" walking around The drinks that were available were good Sanitizers on the table Excellent staff although waitresses are limited Cons: The fish and grits were too sweet for my taste. I'm more of a salt & pepper grit girl. Brussel sprouts were sweet as well No salt and pepper on the table Limited drink menu Entree and sides a la carte Close seating With that being said I'm still open to giving this place one more shot to try something else on the menu. I do believe since they are newly opened they are still working out a few kinks perhaps. Hopefully in the future my experience with the menu will be a bit better and the drinks menu will be fully available. I do encourage everyone to go though to show support. read more
My second visit here. This time is was for my sister's birthday gift from me because she'd never been. We had reservations for 11 a.m. on a Sunday which was exactly the time the opened for business. The customer service was great, from the doormen, to the hosts and our server Darrius. If you've never been, the atmosphere is great, it just gets a little too loud with the music for me. You're definitely going to have to speak up a little to converse with your guests. It was brunch so I opted for the chicken and waffles because the last time I came with my brother and he loved them. The waffle was delicious. Nice and fluffy. Had to ask for a little more syrup tho. The wings were seasoned well. They were just a little on the dry side but I could still tolerate it. It's a place that I'd return to but not often because it isn't my kind of vibe but I definitely see why it's so popular. read more
2 years ago
Love the interior...food was excellent. Waitress was awesome. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is it's SUPER expensive for the amount of food you get. I would love to go back but I won't because of the prices. read more
Sunday Brunch @ this black owned business was an expensive treat. The outdoor decor was absolutely cutesy. I have been to this restaurant before for late night dining however, wanted to try brunch with my mom and daughter since she is a new graduate. The cinnamon roll was amazing and sooo very good. It was fresh, warm, buttery, gooey and super delish. Definitely a must try. The French toast was really good as well. I also got my usual red sangria & my mom tried the signature drink. The lamb chop were delicious and seasoned well. The lobster omelet was really good. I could have used another one. The male waiter was attentive. The restaurant decor is very stylish with a DJ booth with R&B music and selfie picture stand which is a fun thing to do while waiting for your food. Will definitely return to check out the happy hour menu & dinner menu read more
Came on a weekday evening because of course this place stays busy so I could get a reservation on a random Wednesday. Short wait time. Even on a weekday, almost all of the tables and the bar were full. Really like the decor inside and how they stuck with the black theme in all aspects (down to the plate ware & glasses) Started with their black bread (still not sure how I feel about it being that color lol) Lobster mac was great- I love fried lobster anyway and the mac had a nice amount of cheese Chicken box was good- was similar to an "authentic" chicken box, chicken and fries had a nice flavor Lamb chops were also good- nice portion size, cooked to the perfect temperature Blk Swan drink- nice balance of flavors read more
I've been seeing so many food bloggers talk about this place all over TikTok and I decided "why not" and gave them a try. There were no reservations available in the near future, so we came right when they opened and was told they didn't have any reservations and they could put us on a waitlist if someone calls to cancel, but we could sit at the bar if we wanted. The place is beautiful and the atmosphere/vibe was perfect for a Friday night. Thankfully there was a few spots at the bar and my party and I were able to sit together (we never were able to get a table). The drinks here are amazing and worth every penny. I tried a few cocktails and I enjoyed every last one of them. Now let's get to the important part, the food. The food was delicious (with the exception of the corn pudding, it was cold and meh). With it being a full house it did not take long for us to receive our dishes (or maybe it did and between the drinking and dancing we lost track of time?). My reason for this not being 5 stars is the whole reservation issues (it's so hard to get a reservation and there's no waitlist outside of having to wait to see if someone cancel), but I will be back. read more
Blk Swan gives a very nice experience and a great time to enjoy yourself. Would have been 5 stars but the music was as loud as the club. Music was great and on point but I don't want to feel like I'm in a club while trying to enjoy my meal. Service was great. Wasn't really sure who the main waitress was because there was about 3 different ladies that came to the table asking if we needed anything. I guess that's a good thing. Popcorn was given first. Wasn't sure what the drizzled sauce on the popcorn but later found out it was a mix of honey and vanilla. Cheesesteak egg rolls were a nice touch and filled nicely. My entree was the gulf shrimp and crab pomodoro. Thank goodness for a good amount and size of the shrimp. Wasn't too much crab meat in it. Sauce was a nice blend. My drinks for the night was The Raven and the Call a Hack. The Hack normally comes with 3 variations of Cassamigos; refresher, heat and sweet. Was only able to try the heat and sweet. When they say heat, they mean heat. Lol. Still good. Street parking and a garage is right near the Swan. read more
Beautiful concept and decor, fun atmosphere with a professional and friendly staff. The food was good as well. The ONLY reason I didn't give it 5 stars is - The brunch menu was 86'd (out of stock) a lot of items - The kitchen puts the syrup on your pancake for you so it was way too much and it got soggy so I could t finish it However this is a super new restaurant so I know they'll work out the kinks. I will be back read more
2 years ago
During a recent visit to Baltimore, this restaurant came highly recommended by a local and did not disappoint. As the only vegan in my group, it is often difficult to find restaurants with appealing vegan options. I suggested this restaurant to my friends who were traveling with me, with no expectation of having options for myself. I was pleasantly surprised to find vegan options available. Not only were they available, but my meal was one of the best vegan dishes that I have had. The skillet is considered an appetizer, but was large enough to share or to be considered an entree. That staff was very accommodating and friendly. Everyone in my party was impressed with the food, drinks, and service. The atmosphere was grown and sexy. This is definitely a place that I will visit again. I want to give a special thanks to the Executive Chef, Chef Saon, who was very friendly and accommodating. He took time out to speak to me about my dietary needs and offered food and wine suggestions. Amazing establishment! read more
5 years ago
Finally got a reservation after a few months! Arrived for our reservation and unfortunately seating took 30 minutes. They can do MUCH better with that. Food: My table ordered the Chilean Sea Bass, Pot Stickers, Calamari, Brussels (very small) for price, Lobster Mac and Lamb Chops and a Caesar salad. Everything was good, notables are the Lamb Chops and Pot Stickers and the Sea Bass. Soooo good. Wouldn't recommend the Caesar salad, the lettuce was overly wet and just....soggy. Service was great, everything was timely and hot. Drinks are soo good as well. Venue is a little on the smaller side, however I would come back. read more
4 years ago
We visited last night on 1/13/23. 7:15 PM Reservation Let me first start by saying, we wanted to absolutely LOVE this place. The decor is absolutely stunning and very well thought out from the entrance to the back of the restaurant as far as you can see. We were greeted upon entering and seated within 1-2 mins of our reservation time. Once inside the restaurant, you could hear the music blazing through the speakers so loud it sounded like we were in a club. The Dj did her best to keep the music flowing until we heard the room fill with chatter and the music stopped. Her Amp must've blown. That worked out for us because we could now hear one another and have a brief conversation before the music began again. Our waitress comes over about 7 mins after we've set down to ask if we wanted water or drinks to get started. She took so long to bring back the water, we decided to order everything at once when she returned. We ordered two glasses of red wine to start @ $12.00 each. Our starters were Stuffed Shrimp for $33 that only had two on the plate, Maryland Crab Bisque for $22, Branzino Bass fish for MKT price which came up to $46, Pan seared Chilean ses bass for MKT price $51 and an order of White Truffle Pomme Frites for $15. For two people our bill was $272.34 this included 20% gratuity which was $43. The table space was cramped and we felt like our night was not as private as we wanted it to be. The presentation of plates were absolutely beautiful however, the lack of seasoning in which even Gordon Ramsey would've asked where's the salt/pepper. Not only was the fish not seasoned it was luke warm. We could not believe that such a high end restaurant that charges these type of prices would serve such underwhelming food. We were on a date night to celebrate and all we got in return was overpricing, underwhelming and a hood bougie experience. I was going to give this place another try because it's BLACK OWNED like maybe on a mon/tue thinking it may be a bit cozier and quiet. This was my thought due to me wanted to use this establishment for a small party in their private room but my fiance said ABSOLUTELY not and asked to never come here again. Overall - The decor was my favorite part of the night. The loud music, small space, underwhelming and over priced food was not. $272.34 later we left unsatisfied and wanting more. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
7 of us came out to celebrate one of my best friends birthday and boy did we have a great time! I ordered the catfish and grits which was flavorful and did not disappoint. Our waiter was attentive, friendly and patient. From the food to the service and lastly the ambiance we would definitely return for another Sunday fun day! read more
2 years ago
The dj and vibe was great for brunch. The food was good. However, at no time should I receive my food before the rest of my party has finished ordering. The waitress kept leaving the table in between orders, and no one received their food at the same time. The wait staff kept bringing out the wrong dishes and not bringing the drinks that were ordered. Just very disorganized. If they could get the staff together for a training, this would be a higher rating! read more
2 years ago
This was my first visit the atmosphere was inviting the food and the service was excellent read more
More info about BLK SWAN
Ask the Community - BLK SWAN
On Friday & Saturday when does the DJ start/last seat for dinner before it gets loud?
Is there a preset menu? Hosting a birthday event.
Not sure but the menu is great. Excellent place, bartend was great. Energy and food on point. Alil pricey but definitely a good time and food.
Are kids welcomed?
I've been there about 4 times. I have never seen any kids there but I do not think that they are allowed. It's a grown & sexy type of establishment.
Do I have to book a reservation to get in?
Yes, you have to have a reservation if you're going to eat. However, if it's just you and maybe one other person they may face space at the bar, but i recommend arriving when they first open to secure a bar seat. Hope this helps.
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