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    Ethel's Creole Kitchen

    4.4 (388 reviews)
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    Ethel's Creole Kitchen Photos

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    ETHEL'S CREOLE KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Kiera B.

    GO GO GO!! Never had authentic creole food but this is the place to stop since the chefs are from NOLA and you're in MD with not many other options of this nature! Got here at almost 7p on a Saturday and it wasn't so full that I had to wait (also made a reservation just in case) but once I sat down that's what triggered more patrons to come in, which is usually how it works. The place was banging! My waitress has been working here since the early 2000s and was very knowledgeable on the menu items. I decided to go with the Gumbo since I've never had it and it was one of the best dishes I've ever had! Nothing to compare it to, but the flavors were like a party in my mouth. Most importantly this bowl came out steaming! The dish definitely had some kick to it, the Andouille Sausage was so flavorful and spicyyy good, the chicken was delicious & easy to cut through (major), but I also really enjoyed the vegetables, they had just enough crunch! The rice was sucking up the stew once I got it all broke down and stirred around which helped in terms of me not using a spoon! The mini crabcakes were phenomenal. Fresh crab, thanks to those precious blue babies, & the dipping sauce was very tasty! Definitely had Old Bay in it, of course! It was such a beautiful night to be able to sit outside, I could hear the crowd of chatting from the people on the other side of the glass that were inside the restaurant, could hear the dinging of the food being ready from the kitchen, and then I got to hear a wedding party getting started up on the balcony at the tavern that is across the street. People that were inside the restaurant actually requested that the door be shut because it was just that loud and interruptive! If you want to avoid that, I was told this happens a lot in the spring/summer and of course, you could always go a little bit earlier since wedding parties are usually evenings!

    Hot Cat Stack with regular cornbread
    Nicole C.

    I went to Ethel's yesterday for my birthday as I wanted to try something/somewhere I haven't been and they did not disappoint! I don't eat red meat and the dish Hot Cat Stack comes with sausage cornbread but they made it without with no problem. Service was incredible from the host, bartender and the chef! I went pretty late so I had the restaurant to myself for majority of my time there which gave a private dining vibe. It's pretty intimate in size so I'm sure the place can get packed pretty quickly. No complaints I'll definitely be back.

    Chippepa
    Kendra H.

    Outstanding food. So tasty, and felt authentically creole with menu offerings and seasoning. The layout is a bit cozy, but you're not so close to others that it is uncomfortable. Good indoor and outdoor options. The staff is very accommodating but also very busy and constantly moving, so it does feel a little rushed but worth it.

    Shrimp and Grits
    Rhonda J.

    Absolutely AMAZING! Thank you Chefs! Everything was delicious. The service was impeccable. Jade and Haley really took care of us. I searched Yelp for the best cream of crab soup and Ethel's came up. The soup did not disappoint. The Shrimp and Grits were impressive. I can't wait to try the crab cakes the next time. For this to be our first visit we were thoroughly impressed.

    Chillee Cucumber Salad
    Jay S.

    Almost everything was 10/10 and I would fully recommend this spot for good food! Be prepared to spend more money than usual, but if we are basing everything off of what I have had, it was definitely worth it. Even though I have had jambalaya elsewhere, including in New Orleans, so far the jambalaya here is the best I have ever had. It was flavorful, abundant in quantity, well-seasoned, and had a good balance of meat, rice, and vegetables on the side. The baby back ribs were sure slow roasted because the meat was falling off the bones very easily, with a sufficient amount of ribs in some delicious sauce. There was also a good amount of roasted zucchini, squash, and carrots, so I was thoroughly satisfied. They have the ribs available in the mango chipotle sauce as well. I didn't have the cucumber salad, but I did have some of the Mom's Crab Cakes, which my friends ordered. They were not like traditional crab cakes, because the crab cakes had no filler at all. It was everything crab, which made it more worth it, which also meant that it was expensive because it was between $40 and $50 when we got it. Once again, a good amount of vegetables, and a good amount of mashed potatoes. I enjoyed it a lot as well, even if part of me wasn't really used to it. Once again, highly recommended! If I return here at any point, then I will, without a doubt, try their authentic gumbo and their Crawfish Fried Grits, which they were out of when we tried to order it today.

    Fried catfish
    Kyra J.

    Visited here for dinner with my family. Made a reservation and was seated right away and offered water and bread. Looked over the menu along with the specials and had trouble deciding what to try because everything seemed like a good option. Started our meals with lemon drops and they were so tasty we ordered another round. Ordered the half rack of ribs- tender and seasoned well Fried catfish- delicious, cooked perfectly and the cornbread and sauce were a great accompaniment Seafood Jambalaya-lots of shrimp and mussels Cornbread-melts in your mouth Collard greens-seasoned perfectly The restaurant is kind of small but has a great vibe. Also the staff is top notch! Definitely a great spot.

    View from our table to back kitchen
    Gretchen B.

    Overall a 5 star experience! Small, cozy restaurant located in the "Village" at Mount Washington. Set between other shops and eateries which I've had the opportunity to eat at over the years, Ethels def stands out. Service was good, our waitress explained the specials in detail. I had the NOLA chicken with creole sauce over mashed potatoes and fresh veggies. The sauce was delightful, red peppers with a slight tang of vinegar and seasonings. My husband had the short ribs which were fall off the bone good.....but the real winner was the special my brother had which was the smoked Mac/cheese with pieces of brisket. It truly was the best mac/cheese I've ever had. The menu is not large but what they do have is done well. Many traditional dishes I'd like to try next time such as the gumbo and jambalaya.

    Authentic Gumbo
    Tiffany D.

    This time around, I was very pleased with my experience at Ethel's GLOWS: - I didn't have a reservation, but was seated at the bar until a table was shortly ready. Although my friend was a few minutes late, the hostess seated me without an issue. - They have some daily specials, which sounded pretty good----a nice addition to the menu. -The shrimp boat is tasty and very light. I ate almost the entire dish and did not feel sluggish afterward. - The chef forgot to put crabmeat in my shrimp boat entree but easily rectified the situation which was greatly appreciated - They have unsweetened tea- which might only be a plus for me!---- but also hot tea and coffee to pair with dessert - We got the strawberry bread pudding for dessert which was very delicious. It seems like they rotate their desserts, so I hope they always have something just as good to offer. GROWS: -My friend enjoyed her Gumbo, but noted that flavors would be more potent if every ingredient was marinated together. You can tell that some ingredients are added to the base after. - The cornbread was not really notable. I loved the complimentary bread better and would just order another serving of that in the future. -The lunch menu seems to have more variety, including sandwiches and po' boys. It would be nice to have those options at dinner too.

    Lemon Drop cocktail
    Mike F.

    I throw the word "authentic" around a lot in my reviews, but this time I mean it. Ethel's Creole Kitchen is LEGIT authentic Louisiana cuisine up here in the north east. Crazy I know. So, how could I tell? It's all in the roux, man. When it's that rich and that dark and can permeate an entire dish with such a small amount... that potency is simply unmatched. It's acute, bona fide flavor. Before we get into the food, let's start with the cocktails. Lots to choose from, including the New Orleans classic, the Sazerac (rye, absinthe, bitters, and a lemon twist). They have all the usual staples as well, like their Prohibition Perfect Manhattan, Seasonal Sangria, and Lemon Drop. For whatever reason, I was feeling something sweet, so I went with the Lemon Drop. It was, uh, very lemony. Sugar rim, lemon twist. Very pleasing to the eye. Simple yet elegant. If you're a fan of Sour Patch Kids, this is for you. As for the food - holy crap, everything was a home run. Started with the Chippepa (fire roasted red bell pepper stuffed with Andouille sausage, mozzarella, and peppers and onions). Very unique appetizer. Comes out looking like a giant Italian meatball. And it really is giant. This may be intended for one person, but it's great for splitting up two ways. Just slice that baby in half and you're good to go. For my main, I couldn't pass up on the gumbo. When I think of New Orleans cooking, that's the first dish that always comes to mind. And I even love that boxed gumbo by Zatarain's (as well as their jambalaya). You can choose your proteins - I went with chicken and Andouille, but you could sub shrimp in as well. Gumbo, of course, starts with the dark roux. And Ethel's hits the nail on the head. You get a wonderfully rich broth that explodes with flavor. The other standout has got to be the Creole Shrimp Boat. Not sure if many people order it here, but it's not something to be overlooked. You get sauteed shrimp, mussels, jumbo lump crab meat, and fish du jour simmered in fire roasted red bell pepper sauce, creole rice, and vegetables du jour. Speaking of vegetables "du jour," they are the same every day. Every day forever. It's squash and carrots. Perfectly fine, but if you frequent this place, don't expect anything different. Ever. That's what we got, and looking back through years of reviews and photos, that's what everyone else got as well. Wonderful experience overall. Clean, comforting dining room. Wood floors, wood table tops, wood stools at the counter. Polished look all around. Ethel's gives me that rare feeling about a restaurant... that feeling of... "Thank god you exist." Definitely don't feel that way about a lot of places. But being able to have a truly authentic creole dining experience in the northeastern part of the US... gosh, I just feel so fortunate. One day I may make it down to New Orleans to taste their fabled fare, but until then, Ethel's will fill that bayou-sized void.

    Mom's Crab cakes
    Taylor H.

    I visited Ethel's for the first time yesterday with 5 friends and for the most part, had a lovely dinner experience. Two people from the group frequent the restaurant and highly recommended the cornbread. Needless to say, I had an insane amount of cornbread, ciabatta bread, and mini crab cakes. Everything was top of the line. Once the entrees arrived, we sampled from each other's plate and literally everything I tasted was delicious - from the jambalaya, to the rockfish, also the collard greens were flavorful and melted in your mouth. I ordered Mom's crab cakes which was exactly as advertised, no filler. The crab cakes were cooked perfectly and I loved the remoulade sauce served alongside it. Now about the service. Service started off really great, fast and friendly until it was time to pay for the bill. Among 6 people, half of us had cash, whereas the other half of us was paying with a card. The waitress was visibly flustered and upset once we provided her with the payment. We were even kind enough to write the card numbers and amount due for the 3 cards we hard. Honestly, this was the only large disappointment with this being my first experience here, but I will definitely be back very soon, just with less people and and less payment methods next time.

    Jambalaya
    Foodie Gawd R.

    FOOD: I had crab dip red beans and rice and crab dip So let's start with the crab dip very good but I hate that the spinach they put in it is not chopped but still good red beans and rice lacked flavor but portions was great jambalaya well I didn't eat it cause I was pissed cause I actually asked for gumbo but ION SERVICE: is the usual pretty decent AMBIANCE: I personally think it needs to be some brightness to it but it's works

    Exterior
    Qadira W.

    I was part of a party of 5 and we were there for the dinner service. We sat upstairs and we were the only ones and we didn't mind! The restaurant is an older place but was charming with the lights outside and the colorful decor inside. Everyone enjoyed their food immensely. Most drinks were good, we had 1 that was a miss but they later ordered a sangria after that and all was well. Our waitress was very pleasant. The highlight of the evening was the strawberry mango bread pudding!!! DELICIOUS (bonus, it is served warm AND with a scoop of vanilla ice cream)

    Chef Bloom
    Thy N.

    Chef Ed Bloom came and greeted us!! We said we'd make his place famous!! Anyhow, his food is amazing!!! Started with cucumber salad and cornbread! The honey garlic chive butter that goes with the cornbread is amazeballs!! Salad was standard fare. Also got a side of greens - delicious and well seasoned with no stems!! Along with their home made scotch bonnet hot sauce!! So yummy!! Husband ordered the creole seafood bost and I ordered the rockfish . We had already eaten too much but ate it all. The seafood was perfectly cooked and delicious in a tomatoes sauce base and the fish has crispy well seasoned skin! I wish there was better win selection and my husband wished for better beer selection but it was fine for what we're eating! We will definitely be back and highly recommend this place if you something southern in your mouth!!!

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    Very small and intimate restaurant with large portions. Very tasty greens and jambalaya. Love the cornbread too. Only has street parking.

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    The Duchess - Matcha muffins

    The Duchess

    4.3(114 reviews)
    2.7 miHampden
    $$$

    Great service, excellent cocktail and mocktail selection, and delicious island-fusion cuisine!…read more I visited The Duchess during Restaurant Week and had a wonderful experience. The ambiance is beautiful, with a vintage yet elegant feel, a cozy fireplace, and stunning chandeliers. Tessa, the general manager, was warm and welcoming, and our server, Zoe, was kind, attentive, and very helpful in guiding us through the menu. The food was fantastic! I highly recommend the Short Rib Kare Kare, the broccolini, and the award-winning Crispy Shrimp & Corn Patties. For dessert the chocolate Namalaka was a fave!

    We came here for the Mother's day course - overall pretty good but not impressive…read more Appetizers were okay, not impressive. Arepa was not that good, corn flatbread wasn't good and very dry. The crispy shrimp and corn patties were like a crispy takoyaki so actually pretty good and the Mac and caviar was like a cold macaroni salad also pretty good just not impressive for a nice dinner. Was really looking forward to trying their duck confit chilakiles, but they ran out unfortunately. A little surprising since it's many hours before they close. I was considering coming again to try the duck confit, but after trying everything else I'm not sure it's worth the drive here since I'm not from the baltimore area. Their grilled ahi tuna was done well and the sauce was really good. The garlic soy shrimp pancit had good textures and flavour as well. The nori butter tteokbokki was lacking in flavour a little. Missed a bit of acidity to balance out the cream. Desserts were also just okay. I'm usually a sweets person, but I was kind of disappointed. The carrot mochi cake was strange, the texture was good, but the flavours did not mesh well together and I was confused what I was eating. The latiya was dry. The shaved ice was pretty refreshing but not impressing. The Ube flan was good though!

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    Interior

    The Duchess - Kimchi Fried Rice with Crispy Tofu

    Kimchi Fried Rice with Crispy Tofu

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    Corkscrew - Curry Chicken Egg Rolls

    Corkscrew

    3.8(66 reviews)
    2.7 miHampden
    $$

    Stopped by on a Friday evening and had a great experience! There was a live saxophonist playing who…read morewas really good. The bar was filled and it looked like they only had one bartender so it was a little slow getting or drinks but with the wait. I got the cognac espresso martini. Strong and good! Highly recommend. Then we ordered the catfish tenders and the curry chicken egg rolls. The catfish tenders were great! I'm not even really a curry chicken person but I was pleasantly surprised at the egg rolls! Can with great sweet/spicy sauces. Got an entree, we split the Rasta pasta. That actually turned out to be perfect because after the two appetizers, we would not have finished a full entree by ourselves. Everything was delicious. Definitely returning.

    The restaurant is in a good location but the inside left a lot to be desired. Our table for two was…read moreactually a side table. We had to sit to the side because the underside was blocked off. Not to mention it was wobbly. My best friend and I came here for my birthday and I was disappointed. It was a Friday night around 7pm. It wasn't packed but my drink took a while to come out. It was okay but nothing special. I don't remember the name. Although my waitress didn't ask how I wanted my lamb chops, they were too rare for my liking. So, I didn't eat it and decided I'd cook it more at home. The Mac and cheese was very dry. I didn't eat all of it and did not enjoy the texture. The greens were not good at all. I think wayyy too much vinegar. Oddly enough when I got home I put a lot of hot sauce in it. It enhanced it a little but still not " good". Overall, I was disappointed in my meal and I don't think I would return. I think they were supposed to to have live music but it was just two people setting up/ DJing. I was just underwhelmed by the food and the decor.

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    Corkscrew - Great energy in the air accompanied by fantastic music make this place a vibe.

    Great energy in the air accompanied by fantastic music make this place a vibe.

    Corkscrew
    Corkscrew - Band

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    The Green Room at The Bluebird - Live jazz

    The Green Room at The Bluebird

    3.2(6 reviews)
    2.7 miHampden

    I want to like this place but it honestly gives more overhyped DC energy than a quality Baltimore…read morecocktail bar. The drinks are fine, the food is mediocre. But my issues is the staff. It can be completely hit or miss depending on who your bartender is. And last night I witness a truly disrespectful interaction between my friend who is a WOC and one of the bartenders. I understand having a limited drink menu, but each time my friend asked for a recommendation she was responded to as if she had just spit in that woman's face. The final straw was when my friend said, "I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with most of these drinks. What do you have that is sweet?" asking for a recommendation. The bartender looked at her and said "sugar" then rolled her eyes so hard I'm surprised they didn't get stuck in the back of her head. I understand being over your job, but my friend did nothing wrong. Was not rude, and in return got spoken to like a child. I don't know what the chip on this person's shoulder was, but if you absolutely HAVE to to be vile to everyone you speak to, try a back of the house position because you are actively damaging your bar's reputation.

    My best friend's younger sister had a milestone birthday party here and it was perfect. She rented…read morethe space and the layout was wonderful -- with a perfect balance of open standing space, tables, bar seats, and a photo booth. There was a preset menu for cocktails, mocktails, wines, and beer. Some of the mocktails were sweeter than my liking, but it was fine. The staff were awesome. The bartender was solo up until it turned into a cash bar -- she was working really hard! The music was at a great volume, and food was being passed around regularly. It's really a great space for having a private party. And on top of that, while it can fill up quickly, there's free street parking outside. I do wish the bathroom was lockable -- the stall within there is, but otherwise things could get awkward. Pro tip -- it's behind the stage.

    Photos
    The Green Room at The Bluebird - A promotional poster of the Django jazz on Mondays

    A promotional poster of the Django jazz on Mondays

    The Green Room at The Bluebird - The bar from a different angle

    The bar from a different angle

    The Green Room at The Bluebird - The bar and the stage

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    The bar and the stage

    Clandestino - Looking towards the bar area

    Clandestino

    4.5(19 reviews)
    2.3 miRosebank

    Clandestino has grown up, literally. What began as a small operation in Frederick has moved into a…read morelarger space, and the expansion suits them well. This is Puerto Rican pitorro, also known as ron cañita, made with care and intention rather than gimmickry. Many local liquor stores now carry the brand, and it is well worth picking up a bottle, but visiting the distillery is an experience in itself. The founder is a fellow Puerto Rican born retired military member, a background I share, and like me, he has put down roots in Maryland. That story is reflected clearly in the brand's own framing, "Puerto Rican born, Maryland made." The space feels grounded and unpretentious, and that sensibility carries through to the hospitality. We arrived late on a Saturday and were still welcomed warmly, never rushed. We were taken care of by the founder's daughter, who was exceptionally kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. She guided us through a flight that included the traditional pitorro, almond, pineapple, coffee, coconut chai, and several seasonal offerings. The flavors were thoughtful and well balanced; even the infused expressions retained a clear rum backbone rather than drifting into novelty. We enjoyed them enough to leave with several bottles. This is artisanal pitorro done right, rooted in Puerto Rican tradition and confidently made in Maryland. Buying it locally is convenient, but going to the distillery is where the people, the story, and the spirit fully come together.

    The Clandestino Speak Easy at Zen West is open Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm to 12pm. It's also…read moreavailable for events and private parties.

    Photos
    Clandestino - Write what you want

    Write what you want

    Clandestino - Music posters

    Music posters

    Clandestino - Tequila!!!!

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    Tequila!!!!

    Ethel's Creole Kitchen - cajun - Updated May 2026

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