Got there right around 5pm on a Friday and was able to get a seat outside right away. There was a wait to sit inside. Outside is dog friendly! Corn tamale was really good! Tacos were pretty good Ceviche was good Did not like the spicy margarita because it was different than I am used to. Good vibes and good tacos read more

I travelled from Vegas to visit my friend in Baltimore and they knew we had to hit Clavel because it was one of my favorite spots when I lived here forever ago. My only qualm was the wait. 2 hours. But we did a little bar hopping before we were sat. Circled back to their bar next door and grabbed some yummy margaritas. Of course we got some queso, aguachile ceviche- which was phenominal, and some tacos! The tacos were just like I remembered. Absolutely full of flavor and leaves you wanting more. We left here so very full. It is pretty loud and tight inside, but service and good food warrants for that! I'll crave these tacos for another 3 years! read more

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First time at Clavel. It did not disappoint. Food and drinks together average a 9/10. The service was fast once you were seated at your table. I take away a star because they do not take reservations which makes this a little tricky. However, during our wait we were able to go to a minibar in the left dining room to wait. It is beautiful inside and would serve well as an adventurous date night spot or a small group gathering! We had the following: Drinks: spicy margarita regular margarita amado nervo santa sandía Food: queso fundido con chorizo guacamole carne de res ting de pollo el luchador read more

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I was excited to bring my son and his girlfriend to Clavel to celebrate a new job. We had been there various times before, and everything was always amazing. Tonight was no exception. We arrived early and waited in line. We had some delicious cocktails, tacos, and ceviche. I ordered one of the house Mezcals, and it was fantastic. We recently went to Oaxaca, so the food and drinks were even more meaningful. I wanted to purchase a bottle before I left, and went to the shop area where I bought some coffee, a wooden shot glass, and the bottle of Mezcal. When I got home and poured some Mezcal into the wooden glass, it leaked all over my table as there was a hole in the bottom. Obviously, this will not deter me from returning, though it was disappointing and unfortunate at $22. The bigger turnoff, however, was the 20% tip added. We would always tip more, but not in that case. I think adding the automatic tip is a disservice to your waitstaff and an insult to your clientele. read more

We knew there would be a wait for the table and there was. Excellent food though. All the different meat and veggie types we tried were so good. read more

I went to Clavel for my birthday dinner, and what an excellent choice! They don't take reservations, so somebody in my party had to arrive to put their name for 12. It ended up being about a 45 min wait and she hung out at the bar until our table was ready. The service at Clavel is top notch! Want to give a special shout out to our server Sid!! We were a large party (12) and it was phenomenal. Water was refilled, everyone's order was correct, and they came to check on us often (folks placing additional food and drink orders). So, I personally did not love the drinks. Most were either sour or spicy. I like fruity or sweet drinks and couldn't find much. But I did also learn that they change their drink menu in the summer, so I'm definitely going to be back to try those out. The food was *chef's kiss*!! The queso fundido was the cheesiest melted cheese I've ever had. Deliciousness! For food, I had a quesadilla made with carnitas and oh my! Almost had an orgasm in my mouth! Had to order another one. Can't wait to be back!! read more

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I was in taco and tequila heaven. Don't be in a rush, because it's always a crowd but the wait is not long and you can have a cocktail while you wait Great atmosphere for Girls Night, Date Night, and Family Dinner.! read more

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Arrived shortly after opening - place was already crowded, maitre d was not especially nice - we chose an open outside table since all inside tables occupied with a wait list - server was perfunctory at best, not bussing table of empty beer bottles after the next round was served, e.g. Wait for food was excessive - nearly 2 hours. What was received was ok Mexican food, nothing special. Even with the long wait server was minimally apologetic. Cut our losses and boxed and took home the remainder. 20% gratuity is mandatorily included in the bill. We would be very unlikely to return - there are plenty of other options. read more

I have been wanting to try this place out ever since I moved, but we finally had the chance to the other day. For starters, the whole restaurant is ADORABLE. It's very simple with cute lights and plants, and long wood tables. Will have to come back to sit on their patio soon. We ordered the house margs , which are on sale during happy hour m-f, and they were delicious. Definitely tasted more like a craft cocktail than a lot of places around here. And they had a huge cocktail menu. We ordered the pina con tuna as an app which was insanely fresh and one of the best ceviche style dishes we have ever had. For dinner we both got two tacos, all four of which were exceptional. We will absolutely be back here to try more of the menu soon. read more

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Best tacos in Baltimore. Hands down. Been going for years and it never disappoints. Put your name down for a table then head down the block to WC Harlan for a drink and get your check right away--you'll only have time for one because Clavel will get you in quick! There's no other vibe, atmosphere, menu, cocktail, or mocktail like you'll find at a Lane Harlan establishment. Both Clavel and WC are perfect. read more

Whelp, I'm still in love with Clavel. Everything we get some here is delcious. We recently tried a fish entree that was so unique. Every bite was out of this world. Their queso apps are incredible. The veggie one has seasoned veggies on top which add another dimension to the cheese. The chirzo one is perfect. The only qualms I've ever had with Clavel after eating almost the entire menu is one of the ceviches was a bit dry/acidic (I wasn't familiar with the fish name, so I forgot it. It's the white one in the pictures.) and the tamale, while delcious, is too small for the $10 price tag. Everything else we've ordered has and will be ordered again and again. Drinks we've had: El Galeon--super smokey so I, unfortunately, couldn't drink it, but friends liked it Mezcalita--partner who loves mezcal is obsessed Margarita--great and smooth. My partner says it's the exemplar of a perfect margarita and he's a tough drinks critic Paloma de Luto--we enjoyed this! read more

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Really fun spot in Baltimore with great ambiance! It's very dimly lit, cool and intimate. They don't take any reservations, so be prepared to wait or you might get lucky and find a seat at the bar. Our favorite tacos were the Tingas tacos. The queso fundido with drinks was a fun start to the meal. They have several different kinds of cocktails so I highly recommend trying something you have never had to before! The tres leches cake was okay. Definitely stand out things to note were the ambiance and the presentation of the dishes! read more

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This is hands down one of my FAVORITE spots in Baltimore. Everything from their drinks to food is so good! A couple things I highly recommend getting: their queso fundido, cochinita pibil tacos, and their tamal de élote! But really everything on their menu is carefully crafted and really delicious. Also the vibes in here feel like Tulum and really take you on vacation. This place is a must for any event! read more

Clavel - Sipping on margs - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This place never disappoints. I tried the Flan this time and it was PERFECT. You must get the queso. I don't love guacamole but there's is better than any I've ever had. The vegetarian tacos are actually great unlike most veggie tacos. Definitely get there early if you don't wanna wait long. Wish they were open for lunch sometimes. read more

Amazing tacos!!! I had the corn fungus taco, carnita, steak, and fish. Everything was very good. My favorites were the carnitas and steak. I also had two things from the appetizers that I can't remember it was some cheese queso and corn cheese appetizer. Parking was street parking and wasn't difficult. read more

Clavel - Appetizers - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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We were in Baltimore for a week and despite having the chance to enjoy a lot of restaurants, Clavel was hands-down my favorite restaurant of the trip. Not too far from Johns Hopkins campus, in a slightly industrial neighborhood that is very unassuming. But when you see the lines that begin forming every day when they open, that's how you realize that they are a local foodie destination. If you are craving authentic Mexican, they are amazing. Honestly as good as California and even some of the good spots I've had the chance to experience in Mexico City. Very highly recommend if visiting Baltimore. read more

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I don't go to Clavel often, but when I go... it's on my birthday. I have been meaning to go for a long time, but not being able to make reservations makes it difficult. I decided to go on a Monday, and it was excellent! Their aguachile ceviche was delicious, although I was unsure about the raw shrimp (I'm usually okay with everything raw... except shrimp). Their queso fundido and cocktail of the day were excellent. It can get pretty loud, so if you are looking to have conversation on a date, maybe go somewhere else and save it for the second or third date haha. read more

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I have wanted to try this place for years. Luckily, I was warned by friends that this place does get extremely busy. They open at 5pm and we arrived at 5:10, and there was already a line of about 30 people. We entered the restaurant at 5:30 and secured the last table available. The food is definitely an elevated experience and very fresh! Everything we ordered was delicious! We tried the cocktails, ceviche, queso, and tacos and they were probably the best tacos I've had in Baltimore. The place has a fun vibe and romantic lighting. Just fyi, they include the tip on the check. read more

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Clavel is a home away from home since 2018 when I moved here from Texas. This was the only place I could get queso fundido and consistently delicious tacos. Chef Carlos Rabas has since been nominated for a James Beard and the owner Lane Harlan has opened several other spots. They used to have a brunch before the pandemic that I miss dearly. I went the last normal weekend for which I will always be grateful. They have a lovely happy happy hour. They've changed their nonalcoholic menu - they got rid of the surrealista which was such a good over ice fermented beet orange juice. Also I noticed this time they didn't have their famed ice cubes but chips of ice. They don't take reservations so get there at open or be prepared to wait an hour. It's definitely hipster chic but the prices aren't crazy. Always get more of their cucumber and radish and limes bc it's never enough. If you love Mexican food this is the spot for you! read more

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Clavel is everything and more in a family owned Mexican inspired restaurant. This was my first time but when you find gems in Baltimore, you know immediately that's you'll be returning. The service was amazing, the food comes out lightning fast! The people at the bar are friendly and check in frequently which was nice considering how packed it was (we'll get to that later). I loved being able to see the kitchen and wait staff do their thing, you can really tell that the employees have a good routine going considering the popularity of the restaurant. There's 20% tip included in your bill which I also really liked. The food was phenomenal! I had the fish tacos and ceviche. The quality of the ingredients are so fresh and flavorful, of course there's some spice to most items on the menu but it's extremely balanced. The fish taco was perfectly crispy and the ceviche came on a tostada and was the perfect size for one person. Ceviche was fresh with a light kick from the jalapeños. I also ordered the black beans on the side and they were so well seasoned, I wish I had tried it with chips. I also had the cilantro honey margarita which was good and a pineapple tepache drink which was my favorite. There's no artificial pineapple flavoring here and it's not overwhelmingly sweet. Lastly, there seems to always be a line and the place seems to stay packed. This is definitely a place where you'll want to plan ahead but it's well worth the wait. I was lucky enough to find a seat at the bar. The space is spacious and has an intimate ambiance to it. read more

Clavel - Ceviche Sinaloense and cilantro honey margarita - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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5-start experience. The server was really nice and helpful when we asked for suggestions on the menu. The regular margarita was blended very well. You only need one or two maybe total. It didn't seem like your typical margarita, but in a good way. The food was top tier. Starting off with the chorizo queso fundido was I love queso fundido and this was a great selection. The cheese was a little thick as it sat and hardened, but overall feat shareable appetizer. It also came with refried beans (rendered fat) and guac which was a great balance. I had the barbacoa lamb and carne quesadilla. The lamb was super moist and juicy, tons of flavor. The carne was a little on the drier side, but it was still really good. I'm coming back here again. read more

Clavel - Lamb and carne Quesadilla - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

A sure way to impress anyone! I was shocked tonight (a random Monday night) that we got a table immediately without a wait. In the other times that I have been and attempted to come here (even on a random weeknight), it's always been a 2+ hour wait that requires you to either give up or make the time pass at WC Harlan. No reservations taken either. But when you DO get in, the vibes are immaculate, both with regards to atmosphere and food. The menu seems small but yet the food makes you wishing you could try everything! I've had the torta, mezcal, and ceviche in the past, but tonight we were in more of a happy hour mood so our table just got the margaritas and queso fundido. Both were splendid!! The cheese pull on the queso fundido was insane and I was couldn't put down the margarita. The guac that accompanied the queso fundido was the right mixture of creamy and sour. The food came out pretty quickly for the number of people there. I appreciated that the background music was low enough that we could hear each other talk. The only small bummer was that the waitress really was rushing us out, but I get that she wants to make the table available for other parties. Clavel is in a sort of random location and finding street parking is sort of hit or miss, just FYI. Definitely recommend! read more

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Clavel is a perennial favorite of ours and we've loved every meal we've had - a few dozen at least! We do miss their brunch and hope someday those will be back. A few favorites that we keep coming back to - fish tacos, lengua tacos, any of the ceviches, always the salsa and chips, the pineapple wine. Once or twice we've gotten an incorrect taco and it's been such a great way to discover a new favorite - the carnitas is now a favorite of mine because it was swapped for a barbacoa one once! Don't fill up too much because the tres leches is a wonderful finishing plate - not overly sweet, served cold and super refreshing. Arrive early or late, or put your name on the list and walk over to Dutch Courage to have a drink while you wait for your table. read more

Came here over the summer with some coworkers and really liked it! Clavel definitely has a rep so it gets busy almost as soon as it opens but we were able to get a table outside pretty quickly and the service was fast! We got some margaritas for happy hour which were small but delicious! We got ceviche and guacamole to share, which I thought were pretty tasty, then a couple tacos each. Overall I was really happy with the food and felt like it lived up to the hype. I'd definitely go back, hopefully inside next time too since it looked cool! read more

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Clavel is hands down one of the best restaurants in Baltimore. The food is authentic and just so delicious. The queso fundido with chorizo is the perfect way to start your meal. It comes with fresh, warm chips and sides of guac and refried beans, all made to perfection. I've tried most of the menu. Ceviche, tostadas, tacos, mixtas, quesadillas, adorned with all the different meats and absolutely everything I have ever tried gets 5 stars. My personal go to meal is the mixta with lamb paired with a carnitas quesadilla both drizzled with the green salsa they serve on the side. Pro tip: opt for a mixta instead of a taco for all the extra cheesy goodness. End your meal with the tres leches. There is a line when they open at 5pm so get there early to guarantee a spot. Happy hour runs from 5-7 Mon-Thurs with deals on margaritas and queso fundido. The house margarita looks nothing like a margarita you'd be served anywhere else and that's exactly what makes it so delicious. Clavel is also a great place to adventure outside of your cocktail comfort zone and try any one of the perfectly curated drinks on the menu. Service is always friendly, but tends to be a bit slow only because they are very busy. With that said, this is never a place I want to rush in and out of anyway. It truly is an experience just walking in the door. Clavel is above and beyond not just when it comes to Mexican cuisine, but restaurants in general. read more

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I finally came here for the first time after living in Baltimore for a few years. This restaurant is truly a gem that stands out in the Baltimore food scene, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for delicious Mexican cuisine! Ambiance: Pretty casual vibes with different rooms having different decorations. Some more old stone-style seating with large wide wooden tables. Seats at long tables means you do sit near/next to other parties rather than individual tables. Service: Line out the door before opening at 5pm, so I do recommend coming early. I've heard people wait 1.5-2 hours for a seat. Good service, pretty fast overall. I think they are a busy retaurant, so it does at times feel a little rushed with repeatedly asking to take your food/plates away even though unfinished. Food: Delicious, great, even as a vegetarian, and would come back again! - Queso fundido with rajas vegetarianas: One of the standout dishes. This cheesy, gooey dish is an absolute must-try for cheese lovers served with chips! The melted cheese is perfectly seasoned and topped with onions, corn, and other vegetables, creating a delicious combination of flavors that will leave you wanting more. - Chips (totopos) & salsa: Great chips, great red salsa that is actually served warm rather than cold. Quite enjoyable! - Quesadillas with hongos con huitlacoche: Definitely something I would get again. The warm tortilla with melted queso on its own was delicious, but the filling with the mushrooms was very savory and tasty. - Tres leches cake: I don't have a huge sweet tooth, but this was also pretty good, although I would be interested in trying other desserts in the future. - Vegetarian tacos (mushrooms or rajas vegetarianas): The tortillas are stuffed with a flavorful mix of vegetables and topped with fresh cilantro and onions. Overall, I highly recommend Clavel to anyone looking for delicious Mexican cuisine. The queso fundido, quesadillas, and vegetarian tacos are just a few of the amazing dishes that this restaurant has to offer. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service is always friendly and attentive. read more

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Sat outside this most recent visit given inside was filled. Ordered carne de res tacos which were awesome as always. Only gripe this time around was the number of mosquitos around the outdoor patio area. read more

Clavel - Patio seating - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Very nice authentic Mexican food. Tacos and drinks are amazing. Atmosphere is pretty good. Service was nice.

I was visiting Baltimore from out of town, and Clavel came recommended from a friend who lived in Baltimore in 2017. This restaurant did - and still does - live up to the hype. Given they don't take reservations, we came at 4:45pm on a Saturday to queue up before the restaurant opened at 5pm. By the time they let people in the door, there were ~20 parties waiting with the line wrapping around the building. Good thing there is ample seating! I loved the ambiance of the restaurant - long wooden tables, exposed brick, filled with greenery, and hip hanging lights. For food, we shared the queso fundido, esquite, atun con pina ceviche, and three tacos. All the tacos were sooo delicious - flavorful, tender meat, served on soft homemade corn tortillas. My favorite dish was the atun con pina (so fresh, complex flavors, and generous cuts of fish). Least favorite dish was the esquite, as it was limey, watery, and much spicier than expected. I will note that it is an automatic 20% gratuity, but we had a good experience with the service; we were very well looked after throughout the meal with frequent check-ins and beverage top-ups. Clavel was our favorite restaurant in Baltimore, and we will definitely come again on our next visit to the city! read more

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Incredibly delicious every time. This place has consistently excellent food, service, ambiance, drinks....I could go on and on. Even though the wait can sometimes be 30 - 40 minutes, they are upfront about it and have a nice sitting area where you can order drinks while you wait. I try to have different food from the menu every time I go so I've had a lot and I haven't had a single thing I didn't absolutely adore. This is definitely a spot to take dates if you want to impress them and out of town guests. It can get a bit loud just because it's constantly packed but the tables are small enough to where you can still have an intimate conversation while still having enough room for your food. And the drinks! Oh wow the drinks. Amazing. Always different things to choose from, always imaginative, always delicious. I can't recommend this place highly enough. read more

a friend of mine recommended this place as a nice dinner to take family when they visit. i went on a thursday night and it was pretty packed but we were seated immediately. the lighting is very low and comfortable, which i really liked, but my dad had to use a flashlight to read the menu so just something to keep in mind. i ordered a mezcalita (i've never had mezcal before) and it was really good! it tasted almost smoky. for food, i ordered a chicken tinga taco and a huitelacoche taco, both of which had very distinct but very good flavor profiles. they came with some extra sauce too. you have to order chips if you want them, but they also come with the ceviche, so i was able to try some. they are clearly made in house and are great corn chips, especially when dipped in those extra sauces. i got the flan for dessert, and although i'm not usually the biggest fan of flan, i really enjoyed it! it's pretty small and pretty expensive for what it is though. this is probably the best, most authentic taco place around so i would definitely recommend if you're looking for mexican food. read more

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110% worth the hype. Got there shortly after opening time on a Friday with a 45-60 hour wait. Fear not- put your name on the list and go visit some nearby cocktail places for a drink (WC Harlan, Fadensonnen, Dutch Courage...). I do think they offered their own bar service in their waiting areas, but you can do two places in one night if you're feeling adventurous. I do wish Clavel offered reservations! There was plenty of street parking nearby as well. The interior is unlike any other place I've seen in Baltimore, unique and modern. I loved it and wish I took more pictures! Once we got a text for our four person table we were seated and served promptly. Our food and drinks came out very quickly, especially for how busy it was. Our server gave us recommendations and they were ALL a hit with the table. I mean.... They were unique, fresh, flavorful... 5/5. Delicious! I will 100% be back for more and I think Clavel is a great dining experience in Baltimore, whether for a date night or for friends/family going out. read more

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The tacos and queso dip is next level. The spicy marg is really good and the vibe is great.

Really like Clavel, very cool atmosphere, good food, good drinks, overall a great place to visit. Portions are a little small. It's a little pricey but totally worth it. Usually has a wait and can be crowded and loud, but that won't stop me from going back. read more

You knew this place had to be good when there was a line before they opened (5pm) of people just waiting to in! But make sure you know going in that there might be a line or a wait. The ambiance is great, exposed brick, large plants and high ceilings. We ordered an app and tacos. Queso fundido came out hot in a iron skillet, but make sure you have a group sharing it, lots of cheese! The chips that come with it are delicious and crispy, we even took a bag to go! For tacos we got 4 of the flavors. We ranked them as: 1. Barbacoa (great flavor and tender meat) 2. Carne de res (close 2nd because also had great flavor). 3. Tinga de pollo (almost as much onions as chicken in ours, so if you love onions this is your jam). 4. Carnitas (pretty dry meat and not as much flavor as the other tacos). Our sever was great as well. Overall an awesome spot in Baltimore! read more

Clavel - Queso Fundido - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Good, expensive, service was horrible, got wrong drinks. Ambiance was nice but quite loud with all the people in the room read more

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Everything about Clavel is worth mentioning. The food is incredible, the service is great (our server had great recommendations and was friendly), the drinks are different and interesting combinations of flavors. We chose to dine outside because it was lovely but the vibes inside also seem fun and low key. My advice is to get there early or be prepared to wait for a table (but it's well worth the wait!) read more

Clavel - Ceviche Sinaloense - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This is a wonderful restaurant! We got there around 5 pm on a Saturday night right when they opened and they basically only had seats at the bar left, but it's full service! I like the lighting and decor- kind of dim and simple. The margarita I got was beautiful! The flavors were complex and balanced. So lovely. We also ordered the queso fundido, tacos carnitas, and chicken tacos. All were really good. The food took a while to come out but we enjoyed soaking in the atmosphere while we waited. read more

Clavel - Bar area - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I am confused why the waiting room drink prices are different from the actual restaurant price. That's odd. Everything was super delicious. All the flavors was like a burst of flavors. We had 2 appetizers. Also a few tacos each. I wish they explained to us what sauce was and for what tacos. But they just drop off the food and run. We figured it out and ate what was good to our palates. I would definitely come back. Highly recommend! Downfall no RSVP. We waited roughly 25 minutes around 6pm on a Tuesday. read more

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I had a wonderful experience at Clavel, a cozy and authentic Mexican restaurant in Remington. Its a hidden gem with luxury feel. The service was friendly and attentive, the atmosphere was lively and inviting, and the food was delicious and satisfying. I ordered a michelada, which was made with pacifico beer. For an appetizer, I had the queso fundido, which was cheesy and gooey. It did leave some to be desired. It kinda felt like they melted a block of cheese and served that. I had the hongos tacos, which were a new thing for me. It was extremally tasty and would recommend for any who has not had it before. I also had the torta. It was better than other tortas in Baltimore, but didn't meet my expectations coming from los angeles. I would get it again. Lastly, I also enjoyed the mezcal cocktails, which were refreshing and complex. I think these are the best items on the menu! The only downside was that the place was very busy and noisy, and we had to wait for about 40 minutes to get a table. But it was worth it for the experience. I dont think i would come back, mainly because a mandatory 20% tip is added to the bill. The service was not worth the extra 20% mark up and will take my business elsewhere. I give Clavel 4 out of 5 stars for their excellent drinks and great atmosphere. If you are looking an Instagram able Mexican restaurant in Baltimore, you should check out Clavel! read more

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