About a 2.5: My husband and I came to Mama's on the Half Shell for a quick dinner while we were in the area. This restaurant has been around since '03, and the place seems to be a local favorite for seafood. When we walked in, the hostess asked if we wanted to sit down- or upstairs; the downstairs was the bar with a few tables, and the upstairs was more of a 'dining area.' We chose the latter. The menu offers items such as appetizers (French onion soup, sesame tuna salad, beef pot pie, antipasto platter, etc.), entrees (steak, rockfish, chicken Chesapeake, etc.), fresh oysters, fresh catch of the day (salmon, tuna, tilapia, grouper, halibut, and rockfish), and desserts. I tried their Crab and Artichoke Dip (lump crab, gouda, boursin, cheddar, cream cheese, and swiss cheese, served in a bread bowl with some crackers; this was just okay - it wasn't as cheesy as I thought it would be; I appreciated the chunks of crab meat throughout, but I feel as if there should have been a better selection of crackers - I think the wheat crackers tasted the best with the dip); PBR Fried Shrimp (beer-battered shrimp that came with a side of chipotle orange dip; this was the least favorite as the shrimp did not taste fresh, and the batter itself was just not that crunchy or crispy; also, we thought the chipotle orange dip was kind of off and did not complement well with the shrimp; in addition, there were only 4 pieces, so we thought that was a little pitiful :P; and, a side of mac n' cheese (this was topped with bread crumbs but seemed as if it was an afterthought as it was just a mound that was sitting on top of the pasta (I just scooped that off); however, the mac and cheese itself was delicious! I was pleasantly surprised as it was nice and creamy, and the pasta shells were cooked al dente). Our server was very nice and friendly, and I liked the dark rustic decor of the place. I would definitely come back for the mac and cheese, but probably as a 'to-go' order if I was craving for it! +mac n' cheese +some free parking available a few blocks away read more

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Mama's on the Half Shell is a pretty darn good seafood fest, from crab cakes and scallops to oysters and shrimp. You name it, they've got it. Their menu is huge and you'll have to take a good long look before you decide on what to get. Or you can just order at random and that'll likely have you satisfied anyway. I think it's safe to say that the entire appetizers portion of the menu is great (Though I have yet to try their famous hot wings. Why get wings when you're at a seafood restaurant?) In addition, I generally am not a fan of crab dip. But a special kudos to Mama's on the Half Shell because I tried their crab and artichoke dip and loved it. read more

Mama is a liar. The $14 Crabcake Sandwich isn't made with crabcakes. It's heaps and heaps of delicious, real crab meat with very little breading or batter. It's like eating a whole crab without dealing with those pesky shells. Throw the meat into a toasted, possibly buttered bun with housemade tartar sauce, and it's merely the BEST CRAB SANDWICH EVER, despite the deceptive name. Add in the side of thin fries that are very crispy and never get soggy. Order a refreshing, very orange $5 Mimosa (or two before 2PM Sunday). Enjoy your Sunday brunch. Note to self: When you come back, get the Grand Marnier French Toast. Not IF. WHEN. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Crabcake Sandwich - Best. Crab. Sandwich. Ever. - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I've been to Mama's a few times but have to give it one star due to the service we received last weekend. We just completed a 5K and wanted a a drink and some food. We get there and the bartender says the hostess will be right with you. We waited about 15 minutes and out comes "sunshine". The hostess had an attitude from the beginning. I asked if we could sit outside since it was a nice day. There were three in our party so I suggest we can combine tables. She says no. Doesn't give any further explanation or ask if we would like to wait for another table. We ended up leaving to go to Tavern on the Square because she was so rude. Can't spend my money in a place I don't feel welcomed. If you see a petite girl with long brown hair, I hope she treats you better than she did us. read more

WOOOOOOOOOW. I'm in love. Love how this place is late night also! I stopped by on my first night in Baltimore. I ordered: Single crab cakes $23: I thought damn that's expensive for a small crab cake. It came with Mac n cheese and whipped potatoes. BOTH WERE BOMB. The crab cakes had actual decent size pieces which totally made up for its size. And it was so good. Clam casino $11: my favorite. Like eye rolling good. I ate 5 of clams and couldn't get enough. It was topped with cheese and inside had bacon and butter. Wow. Oyster Rockefeller $12: not fan. The oysters were not existent with a buttload of just cheese and spinach. Def not getting this one next time. Service was good. The lady constantly checked on us! read more

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I go to mamas on the half shell quite frequently. It's a Staple staple. Gregg Bar crowd

It was our first time in Baltimore and we came here for lunch as per the recommendation of our lyft driver. We've never had crabcakes before and our lyft driver recommended this place. Mama's on the Half Shell didn't dissapoint! We got the crab cakes and the grilled salmon with a side of spinach. Crab cakes - huge lumps of crabs and tastes divine! Salmon Plate - the salmon was cooked perfectly. It was moist and perfectly seasoned. The french fries on the side was the best! It's thick-cut so we can still taste the potatoes and it has a delicious crisp on the outside. Perfectly salted too! Spinach was delicious we definitely love the garlic on the spinach! read more

Visiting my son from Utah and wanted to have some great seafood before going home. This place did not disappoint! Juliana helped us and blew us away! The Bouillabaisse was phenomenal! Awesome crushes and great atmosphere! We will definitely be coming back! read more

Hit up this spot on my way back to NYC from DC and was blown away! Boiled shrimp - tender, tasty, fresh and well seasoned. Not deveined, but we didn't care. Cheesy crab and artichoke dip - SO GOOD, but best while it's hot. Would get it as an app again and share so everyone can enjoy while it's still melty and amazing. Celery and carrots to dip were a nice fresh method of delivery. Clams on the half shell - delicious, but sooo tiny. Would probably ask about the size before ordering again. Crab cake - our fantastic server suggested it, and she was right on the money. Literally all crab (I really don't know how it holds together, magic?) seasoned and cooked to perfection. Service was wonderful, and she even stopped to take a picture for us, so sweet of her! Will most definitely make a point of returning to Baltimore just to come here, what a gem! read more

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Had some friends in town visiting from California and decided to bring them to Baltimore for the day, We were craving Seafood and this had been on our "To Try" list. Unfortunately, it was prime time on a Saturday night so we had to wait an hour and a half. And we were STARVING. But we REALLY wanted to try it. So went across the street and had some drinks to kill time until our table was available. We got seated upstairs in a cozy semi-private corner which was perfect.We had a spacious table and appetites to feed. So we decided to order a bunch of things and share. We ordered: Crab and Artichoke Dip Bacon Wrapped Scallops Fried Calamari (HUGE Portion) Mama's Famous Hot Wings Crab Cake Platter w/Mac & Cheese Seafood Melt The portions are huge. And the prices are reasonable for what you get. Everyone loved everything. I personally wasn't a fan of the seafood melt, way too creamy for me. I couldn't handle it. But everyone loved it. I liked the crab dip, bacon wrapped scallops and the wings best. We were surprised to see that for all that food, our bill was less than $100. We had leftovers for days, and everything hit the spot. Definitely coming back again and again. read more

Thus was absolutely yummy and the service was great! Crab cakes yummy, peel and eat shrimp, burger, and the seafood club OMG huge and yummy. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Nothing is shy in this restaurant.. from the people to the food. The portions are HUGEEE. The food is AMAZING. I've tried the crab cake, mac&cheese, crab& artichoke dip, fried calamari, seafood chowder, Maryland crab soup, and the pan-seared scallops. Everything was delish! This place is a must try if you're around the Bmore area! read more

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This is based on the bar. Came in for HH and was sitting in the bar area for awhile before we had to flag down the cocktail server. She came over and said that we were talking and didn't want to disturb us. I asked what the HH specials were and she didn't mention the mussels, so I asked her about it and she said "Oh yeah, that's on HH." So, what else was on special that she failed to mention? It actually would of been okay if she didn't tell us about the mussels because although there were a lot, there was hardly any marinara sauce. Basically, dry mussels with a few diced tomatoes and hard bread. There were also shell bits which were unpleasant to get. (Maybe our server was trying to save us!) We got a dozen oysters and the first few I had, had grit and shell all up in them. I was scared to eat any more so I left them for awhile. Our server came over to pick up our oysters platter that still had oysters more than a few times. She also asked us if we wanted more to drink/food more times than was necessary. My fiancé was still picking shells out of his mouth as we were walking down the street. I did like the Bloody Marry with Kettle One that I got. It came with a couple of big green olives and pickled green beans with their house-made bloody mix. We debated whether to order more food but from our experience so far, we decided to go somewhere else instead. The noise level at the bar was quite high and had a hard time hearing from across a 2 top table. Perhaps, the food and service is better in the dining room. read more

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I don't want to give a bad review before physically giving them a try...however, the staff answering the phone @7:43pm was a bit too hasty and hung up before I could finish with asking my question. First impression made me change where I'll be eating today. I rather not come with a negative impression so I'll try this one later this week. I hope to have a more positive review and experience read more

One of the few places where shitty service is out shadowed by the delicious food. I came for crab cakes and mama's did not disappoint. 6 oz fatty delicious crabby cake sandwiched in between a delightful bun and neighbor to two massive pieces of ripe juicy tomato. Also, my favorite white wine [oyster bay] on the menu. The only complaint is the crappy service. We came in around 2 or 3, the place wasn't full, mostly just first floor and bar, but everything was super slow. I was in a great mood so it didn't bother me, and I commented that it looked like our server was the only one in the whole place...to which my friends replied that she was constantly chatting up guests at other tables and just hanging out, while our food and drinks sat on the counter. Not acceptable. But, alas, the crab cake was so good that I don't even care. read more

If I could give zero stars I would. The oyster po boy had rotten oysters and the server Matt actually was extremely insulting and told me I should have let him know and he'd have brought me a new one. I told him I didn't want another rotten oyster sandwich. I told him I'd pay for it and he actually charged me. So I hate a half order of fries that cost me $14.95. To respond to management, when oysters are rotten a replacement will be rotten. Not worth dealing with and wasting more of my time. read more

The oysters and chicken Chesapeake are my all time favorites hear. The service is always amazing as well.

Classic bmore, casual, quality Mama's seafood is a stable in the canton area. Great vibes and always high quality food. At times, it gets crowded, and when we went, the servers were slightly slower then normal. Yet they are generally always accommodating. I had the steak, which I thought it was just okay. But the lump crab cakes and the oysters were my favorite! Family and young adult friendly, definitely a solid seafood joint to check out. read more

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Cozy pubby brunch spot with a graham crusted brioche french toast that's as good as it sounds, a killer mac n' cheese, and solid bloody mary (topped off with pickled string beans, a nice touch). Service was prompt and attentive. Gets crowded, especially on Ravens game days- so be sure to come early. Seafood menu looks incredible- will definitely need to check that out next time. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Pickled green bean Bloody Mary - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

My good friend told me about this place and he knew that I would instantly fall in love with both the taste and feel of this establishment. We got there around 12pm on a Saturday and were seated immediately near the bar. The bar and first floor dining was very cozy and welcoming. Of course I had to have a Mama's Bloody Mary which was one of the better Bloody Mary's I have had. We sampled the Blue Point Oysters which were clean, smooth and fresh! We also ordered the Oyster Rockefeller made with spinach pernod parmesan cheese. They were good but not the best I have had. The Pan Seared Scallops (Diver Scallops = huge rested on cream spinach over a potatoe cake was incredible. The beer steamed mussels were hmmmm yes, amazing! I also opted to try the Oyster Shooter chilled with vodka, cocktail sauce and oyster. If you want something refreshing, the Orange Crush is made from fresh oranges and served with crush ice! This drink is truly a brunch must! The french onion soup was killer version that stacked up with the best that I have had... This place is fun, lively, busy and best of all delicious! I am from Northern Virginia and will definitely be back here often... read more

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shrimp and grits was a little salty but it was so good! Calamari and oysters was amazing as well. The vibe of the restaurant was perfect too! read more

Crab Cakes , old bay wings and Mac & Cheese were great ! Garlic Oysters w/ parm could've been better but still really good. They did not have Tabasco sad . Really good vibes and the service was awesome ! Definitely recommend. read more

Great atmosphere, excellent dinner service! We had dinner here on a Saturday night on their outside patio. We had to wait about 30 minutes for our table but the bar area kept us company. Even though the bar area was pretty busy, the bartender made sure we were taken care of, attending to our drink orders right away. I had the Orange Crush - vodka, fresh squeezed orange juice, and a splash of Sprite. It was pretty good, I enjoyed it! My bf had a beer which he liked (I forgot the name of course). I have yet to get the courage to eat raw oysters. I will one day, but just not today. My bf likes raw oysters and I somehow convinced him to try their Oyster shot haha. It was his first time but he liked it though! We decided to share their dinner special of Soft Shell Crabs - two soft shell crabs sautéed or fried served with rice pilaf fried green tomatoes and an old bay hollandaise sauce. We told our server we wanted it fried but she suggested to get it sautéed instead. I was hesitant but we trusted her. I'm glad we opted for sautéed because it was just as delicious! It had a slight crunch to it (she said it was dusted in flour and pan fried) and it was sooo good! I don't know how one person could eat this dish because sharing it with my bf was just the right amount for the both of us. We skipped dessert because we were stuffed. We loved this place and highly recommend to anyone passing through! read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Soft shell crab (opt for the fried, not breaded) - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I heard many great things about this place before coming for lunch and my expectations were definitely met. I went with a friend and we got the double crab cake platter with two different sides (Mac n cheese and fries) to share! We both came in starving and came out extremely full. The portions look small upon arrival but little did we know that we would not even be able to finish everything. I would recommend getting a single crab cake platter and another dish (like an appetizer) if you're planning to share with a friend in order to get a little taste of everything. AND definitely if you want dessert after. Those crab cakes are super filling! read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - crab cake platter with mac n cheese on the side! Yumm - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Such amazing Crab Cakes!!! Thank goodness Mama's on the Half Shell was the first place I tried on my quest to get good crab cakes in Baltimore because I went to G & M the next day and it sucked! If G & M was my first experience with crab cakes in Baltimore then I would have thought that Baltimore having amazing crab cakes was just a hype BUT luckily Mama's made sure I knew Baltimore knows how to make an amazing crab cake. The crab cake is small and I wish I had ordered two but its really rich and full of flavor. I savored each bite. Nice pieces of lump crab. The perfect amount of breading and seasoning. Truly delicious. The Mac N Cheese I ordered was one of the best Mac N Cheeses I have had and so was the cole slaw. The cole slaw is full of pepper and mayo. Nice and cold to go with a hot piece of crab cake. Also I have to mention the delicious tartar sauce which is homemade and has lots of garlic. The only dissapointing part of the meal was the fish and chips. It was a tad bland but to their credit it tasted exactly like the fish and chips in London so I guess I just dont like London type beer battered fish? It was an extremely generous portion though! Great place! I highly reccomend it. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Crab Cakes with Mac N Cheese and Cole Slaw - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Food was good. Server took good care of us. Nice atmosphere eating outside. Would definitely return.

We had drinks, oysters, and calamari. The oysters were some of the biggest we have ever had, but the calamari was not so good. I wish our server could have been kinder, she really made the experience hard. She did not seem like she liked us at all. read more

If you are looking for great seafood this is your place. The prices are not too bad and I would by no means call this fine dining. Be careful as you may end up with more food then you can eat by the time you get to your entree, portions are on the heavier side, which is not a bad thing. The bar on the first floor is very inviting but if you are trying to be seated upstairs is where to be as the main level gets a bit loud and crowded and it doesn't take many people. Overall a great place to try out read more

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The best restaurant in the square, hands down! Don't miss out on their orange crushes and crab cakes. You won't be sorry! Just make sure to plan accordingly, their portions are large and make you full! read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Cream of crab, maryland crab topped with crab.. best soup ever! - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Yummy place and the waiter was excellent. Very nice staff, friendly, happy and knowledgeable. Very highly recommended. I'd visit again with no hesitation. Pix to come! Oh and Monday's the bottles are cheaper. My type of restaurant!!! Lol read more

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I really wanted to love this place, especially after having been referred by a friend, but the attitude and discrimination I encountered regarding their current "policies" surrounding sending items back really ruined my experience. Let me just say, I absolutely HATE asking to replace items, especially these days knowing that businesses are getting back on their feet. That notwithstanding, I also take issue with paying for items that I genuinely do not enjoy consuming. Not to mention, ensuring a customer is satisfied is basic customer service. My friend and I ordered an appetizer, two cocktails and two meals. She ordered an orange crush and I ordered a gin basil smash. They arrived in plastic cups with lids (FYI for context). I took two sips of the drink and immediately noted that something wasn't right. I tried a few more sips, just to be sure, and determined I really did not like it. I kindly notified the server who responded by letting me know that due to their COVID policies, they can't allow exchanges. He at least was kind enough to offer some simple syrup to try and help, which I accepted, but it still didn't help. While I fully understand that overall circumstances are very frustrating at the moment, this policy did not make sense to me. I checked in with the server who then brought out our meals. I acknowledged that the other server was kind enough to inform us of their "policy", but I wasn't sure what the expectations of me were since I had no plans of consuming the beverage. He proceeded to respond, in a nasty tone, saying "we can't just keep pouring drinks". HUH!!?? A customer asks for a replacement of something that they do NOT enjoy, and that's your response!? As if this was even a repeated request. To make it worse, that same server begrudgingly agreed to take the drink back inside to the bar and see what he could possibly do to mitigate. He then proceeded to return carrying that same drink, without gloves, AND tells me that someone tasted it and believes that it tastes fine. SO, YOU CAN'T REPLACE MY DRINK DUE TO COVID, BUT YOU CAN USE YOUR BARE HANDS TO REMOVE THE LID, POUR SOME IN A SPOON, AND HAND IT BACK TO ME!!?? Not to mention, how could one possibly make that connection? We are two entirely different people with separate taste buds. I've never encountered such hypocrisy at a dining establishment. Of course, the item was never removed from the bill and gratuity was already included. I didn't even make a fuss because what would have been the point? They clearly did not care about my business. It certainly wasn't the about the money, but the principle. Here's where things really upset me... My friend and I decided to go to the spot next door (Nacho Mama's) to grab a drink. We quickly discovered that the restaurants had the same owner. Of course, this was an immediate turn off, but we'd already ordered the drinks and also noticed they even have a note on the menu saying "You ordered it, you bought it". Well, not only did I witness a white woman next to me sending her meal back/receiving a replacement with no problem, I also witnessed our SAME waiter (we could see our former restaurant table from the new location) asking another group that questioned something they had received, if he could "take it back". I don't know exactly what he was referring to, or what the overall circumstances were, but the fact remains that those customers (also white) expressed an issue and he IMMEDIATELY asked whether they prefer the item be returned/exchanged. Witnessing these encounters validated my feelings. They didn't value MY business, but they had no issue ensuring those particular patrons were satisfied. This was truly an incredibly frustrating experience. read more

It was exactly what I went to Baltimore to eat. Will for sure return for those crab cakes read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Best crab cake ever ! - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I am so thankful this place has good seafood. My favorite are their fresh oysters, but their crab dip was also very tasty. I have yet to find a place in DC that's as good. The atmosphere here is very laid back and if you're lucky to get a table during a game night, you won't be the only sports fan there. This is a great place, I only wish it was closer. read more

Managed to get a table with no wait during lunchtime on a playoff Sunday. They technically aren't allowed to seat patrons who only order appetizers according to our waitress, but she said we'd be okay. I wouldn't have minded moving to the bar but that was nice of her because it was getting packed. Points for that. I had: - Orange Crush: Not bad. Not sure what makes it a "thing" here. I'll just have a beer next time. - Blue on blue: this is an oyster and cocktail sauce swimming in a shooter of PBR. Yeah, it sounds strange, but really it's just like eating oysters and drinking beer... just at the same time. Let me tell you, it works, and it works well. - Seafood pizza: More shrimp and cheese than anything. It was good, just not as good as it sounded. A generous sprinkling of old bay kicked this up a few notches. - Fried oysters: Deeeelicious. The mustard aioli will have you licking the half shells clean. Everything I saw brought out to other tables looked amazing and plentiful. I would definitely come back and try more of their extensive menu. read more

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Great experience. Crab cakes were great. The seafood chowder was the best!!! Soft shell crab was very good also. Oysters were fresh, and the crab dip was awesome. read more

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Stopped by on our way back from road trip to dc and had a great meal! Loved the baked oysters and crab cakes. read more

Went there on a Saturday evening with my bestfriend. We sat at the outdoor seating, it was relaxing. The oysters were very delicious and fresh. I had the chicken Chesapeake which was amazing. And my friend the crab grilled cheese which was also amazing. We will be returning. read more

Mama's on the Half Shell - Top :crab grilled cheese Bottom: chicken Chesapeake - Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Came here a couple times, but I gotta say Mamas is amazing!! Everytime I've come, the food has always been on point (well most of the food.) Last time I came was for a friends birthday and ordered all of the appetizers (almost all) and raw oysters. I didn't try any of the raw oysters, but my boyfriend and friends enjoyed all of the ones they ordered. For starters I do suggest getting the seafood chowder!! It's basically crab chowder soup but with shrimp and scallop and corn!!! We got the crab cake appetizer, the crab & artichoke dip, oysters Rockefeller, pan seared scallops, tuna tartare, fried calamari, coddies, clams casino, parmsean grilled oysters, steamed old bay seasoned mussles, steamed Cajun butter mussels, & steamed shrimp. The crab cake was delicious, I usually don't like crab cakes, but this is the only place I'm okay eating it at. The coddies were my least favorite. Just fish cakes with crackers and mustard. I wasn't much of a fan. I did love eating the Cajun butter mussels. I couldn't stop eating them! The old bay mussels was good too, but too much old bay for me. Our waitress was also wonderful on checking up on us and making sure we got what we needed! read more

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I stopped by Mama's on a busy Friday night around 5:30. The bar and restaurant was packed. They had misters going over their outdoor seating but it was over 100 and we couldn't bare to sit outside. I had a group of 12 firemen and I wasn't sure we would be able to sit as a group. After waiting about 15mins and downing a very tasty Orange Crush they found a few tables to push together. It was a shock that being so busy they found a spot for us. For starters we had the crab dip, (2) orders of seared tuna, fried shrimp, bbq shrimp & a large order of Cajun shrimp. The quantity of food was above average and all our apps were very good. I even had a few guys eating crab drip and tuna that said they didn't like seafood. For my meal I had the Classic combo. It came with a fried combination of oysters, shrimp, fish, scallops & a single cake. There was so much food on the plate they had to stack everything in a large pile. Everything was cooked to my liking and nothing was burnt. I enjoyed the meal but the flavor was just ok. I'm not saying I would not get it again but I didn't find it memorable. When we got the bill it came to about $30 per person plus booze. We had the food and drinks split on different tabs and the drinks were not expensive at all. I think we might have got happy hour prices. One thing that did stick in my mind was the countless groups of pretty women streaming into this place. We were there for over an hour and girls kept coming into this place. I will stop back to Mama's on my next visit for happy hour. read more

Let me just say I am not a fan of Baltimore. I am also not a fan of 'no parking' or rather 'street parking with no parking.' So with that said, we dined at this place based on recommendations by our friends, whom we were visiting. - Ravioli Appetizer (aka mushroom ravioli) - Pretty well done but heavy on the parmesan cheese. There really isn't much to say about mushroom ravioli and it is pretty hard to mess this up. - Steak - Chunks of peppercorns tossed in a white sauce over top the steak. I don't like pepper so I took 1 bite and didn't finish. I liked their drink menu, even tried out a super girly martini. We had dessert, which was good, but by then, I was completely intoxicated, so sorry, I can even begin to tell you what we had. To be fair, we were told to order seafood; our friends dishes tasted much better than our dish. 4 drinks, 1 appetizer and a main amount to $75 read more