It has been since 2018 since I have written my last review here. Cosima still and will always be…read morethat girl, no matter if you go on a regular basis or have not visited in a long time. The food and service never disappoints. And this is why they are always recognized as one of Baltimore's best restaurants. Not only do they highlight the fresh Mediterranean cuisine of Sicily, but the capture they also capture the authentic southern Italian flavors through it's menu and unique cocktails. Stopped through for restaurant week in which they offered a really nice 3 course dinner for $55. They also offered wine parings but they were not included. They also offered ala carte pizza's as well. Their pizzas are always really delicious. It was 6 in our party. Everyone chose a different item from each course so that we could share and try. Some of the choices were the, ARANCINI AL GRANCHIO, BURRATA, INSALATA DI SPINACI,PETTO DI POLLO ARROSTO to name a few. The grilled branzino and the porchetta was phenomenal. I had the grilled flank steak. I wish I had taken pics of our desserts( panna cota, limoncello tiramsu and the chocolate torta). Overall food and service is always good. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meals. So if you want a nice low key restaurant with really nice ambience, but rustic and intimate with a classy vibe. Cosima is and will always be that spot. SYOY

First time at Cosima for a birthday dinner. Restaurant is a bit hard to find if it's your first…read moretime. Complimentary valet and/or self parking is nice once you locate the restaurant. Interior is very pretty and moody. Server was great-very attentive and knew the menu well. I give the overall experience a 6.5/10. The drinks a 8/10. Dessert 7/10. The food 5/10- not the best in my opinion. We had the brussels sprouts, shrimp, meatballs, and calamari. Overall everything needed more seasoning/flavor. The salads were however really good. I think this place is best for a few good drinks and a shared app or dessert with friends, personally wouldn't come back for a full meal.

We went to The Black Olive early on a Friday, so the restaurant was mostly empty and pleasantly…read morequiet. The wine and cocktails were great. I had the Sonoma Cabernet and really enjoyed it. The only awkward part of the experience was that our waiter did not seem very knowledgeable about wine. When I asked a wine-related question, he thought I was asking about mixing Cabernet with Sauvignon Blanc. That was a surprising misunderstanding for a restaurant with such a strong emphasis on wine. The food arrived relatively quickly and was good overall. The lamb chops were the standout. They were cooked very well and were delicious. Overall, we had an enjoyable dinner with strong food and drinks in a quiet, relaxed setting. Better familiarity with the wine list would have improved the service, but we might return.

We were warmly greeted and seated immediately. When our server found out it was our first visit,…read moreshe explained a little bit about the restaurant's background and her favorite items. We sat in one of the little back rooms, it was quiet and romantic. The food was so fresh (locally sourced) and tasty. The tomatoes were some of the best I have ever eaten. This place is a bit on the pricey side, but we are definitely adding it in to our date night rotation.

Pleasantly pleased with my first Persian experience…read more Just off Joppa Road no the eastern edge of Towson is a massive complex built just for shops. In the sea of massage parlors, tanning salons, and laundromats is a Orchard Market & Cafe, serving up authentic Persian cuisine for 35+ years and counting. Had the fam visiting sis in nearby Pikesville. When we come down she always picks somewhere off the beaten path, something unique. This visit was no exception. Having never tried Persian food, I was excited to try something completely new. In this case, it was new yet also familiar. It's kind of like a mix between Indian and Mediterranean. You've got your assortment of stews and grilled meats infused with saffron, cardamom, and turmeric served of course with a side of basmati rice. The Mediterranean influence can be seen in their homemade hummus and use of fresh fruit and vegetables. There is perhaps no better example than the Mango Pear Salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, mango, pear, Bulgarian feta and pomegranate vinaigrette. If you're feeling up for some true Persian fusion, you can't go wrong with Spicy Kermani Beef, which features succulent filet mignon sauteed with mushrooms and pepperoncinis in a zesty tomato garlic curry sauce. Everything in that brief description is right up my alley, and usurpingly the meal did not disappoint. Service was on point from start to finish, the finish being a tall glass of Persian saffron ice cream. Now this was truly a first for me, as I've never had anything like this in my life. The taste can be described as earthy, slightly floral and very aromatic. Rosewater adds the floral notes, while the saffron gives it the signature golden-yellow color and luxurious scent. Definitely a one-of-a-kind flavor that I highly suggest trying. The dining room is cozy with some neat pieces of art resembling ancient Middle Eastern artifacts adorning the walls. All in all I'm glad we got to try cuisine that doesn't have much representation in this neck of the woods.

My wife found this unassuming little Persian restaurant in Towson. It is small but cozy. Apparently…read moreit's been around for more than 10 years. The food is delicious. The grilled meats were well seasoned. The portion sizes are generous. We ordered 2 different dishes and shared them. The saffron ice cream with pastry and sour cherries was heaven. Do not skip this dessert when you go here.

The food was delicious The service was excellent and the ambiance was perfect. I highly recommendread more

When we find a new restaurant we like, we want to share it with our friends which we did on three…read moreweekends in a row. On a Sunday, Sept 6, we met a friend for dinner. It was a quiet evening at the restaurant, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Our servers were new and learning the ropes, which we understand. The restaurant was out of several items that we wanted to try, which was disappointing. We did suggest that they start off by telling their guests what they are out of on the menu when they hand them the menus. I decided to try the Mutsava, an aromatic meat soup with rice, chickpeas, vegetable and herbs. I found the soup to be quite delicious and different from anything I had ever tasted before. My husband ordered the Shrimp, which was marinated shrimp grilled with garlic, lemon and herbs with a salad - and he made it a platter with mashed potatoes. Our friend had the Lamb Shish Kebab that also came with a salad, and she also made it a platter with the homemade potatoes. She said her lamb was cooked perfectly. We all enjoyed our dinners. The following Saturday, Sept 12, we came again with another couple. RT, our server, took excellent care of us. They had everything on the menu this time, which was great. Both of our husbands ordered the Azure Signature Plov. This is a traditional, Central Asian, rice pilaf slow-cooked with tender beef, carrots, onion and aromatic spices. They both said the beef was very tender and delicious. I enjoyed a bowl of the Lentil soup that was velvety lentils that had been simmered with vegetables and Mediterranean spices and pureed. It was tasty and different. Our friend decided on the Beef Tenderloin Shish, that was a premium beef tenderloin cooked to her specification (medium), marinated and grilled over charcoal that came served with a salad - and she made it a platter with grilled vegetables. The desserts sounded so good, we decided to try 3. We ordered the Pistachio Baklava - layers of crisp phyllo, pistachios and fragrant syrup, and two Chocolate Temptation cakes - layers of rich chocolate cake and silky mousse. Oh my, we were in dessert heaven! We all commented that we so enjoyed being at this restaurant as it was so quiet, that we could have great conversations and we enjoyed the background music because it was instrumental and not music with words. This past Saturday, Sept 19, we met 4 other couples for dinner. The owner, Shahboz, saw to our every need. We reserved a table that could accommodate the 10 of us. It was a square table with bench seating and it was perfect. Even though the restaurant was packed with customers, we were able to have conversations. We enjoyed the following entrees: four Beef Tenderloin Shish Kebabs, one Lamb Shish Kebab, one Lamb Chops, two Osso Buco, and two Azure Signature Plov. Two of the couples ordered the Chocolate Temptation and the Pistachio Baklava for dessert and were thoroughly pleased. We really liked the fact that they offer BYOB with no corkage fee. Everyone was very impressed with the décor and the food. Thank you so much for all of our great dining experiences.

I am writing to share how much my wife and I enjoy dining at your establishment. We always have a…read morewonderful experience and truly appreciate the great food, ambiance, and atmosphere you provide. Whether we are seated inside, outside, or at the bar, we find the accommodations to be excellent. We also value the family-oriented environment you have created. Thank you for the consistently great service. Raymond and Angela

We went here for my birthday and also for new years. The owner is so kind and personable and the…read morefood is oh so good. Indian food plus American choices as well. Will definitely return!!

Food is always delicious and service is great. We dine here every time we drop off or pick our son…read morefrom Loyola.

Second visit with friends. The service was incredible and the food was just as good as the 1st…read morevisit. The servers are and very good at what they do. Will absolutely visit again soon.

The dj that Saturday night was playing afrobeats and all and mostly an African crowd. It was an…read moreamazing vibe. The decor is quite nice which was appreciated as the exterior was a bit questionable. I especially adored the marble accent walls in the dining room and the velvet seats. Really nice. You kinda felt you were in someone's home. The servers were super kind. The food was wonderful (crab falafel I should've ordered more to go omg so freakin good; then the Moroccan carrots were really tasty as well). All that said, the wings I make better at home these tasted like some Tabasco hot sauce and cheap honey sauce tossed together on slightly burnt crispy wings. I didn't like the flavors. The fries were fine. Go, enjoy

I haven't been out in a while so for girls night we chose dinner and a show . We started our night…read moreat the Meyerhoff then made our way across the street to Nora Blu . Ok so Boom ! The decor and vibes are pretty cool . The drinks were the star of the show but honestly I did not enjoy any of my food . Presentation wise , things were ok . Our server was amazing but the food , Ehh . Everything under seasoned and overcooked . I started with Crab Falafel , the crab was entirely too fishy and the falafel extremely dry . Next up , Crab risotto. Once again , I don't know what type of crab they offer but the smell and taste wasn't as if it was crab and it's super fishy fishy . Maybe this was an off night but I left disappointed.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to try Marie Louie Bistro during their restaurant week. I…read moredecided to order their foie gras pate, seabass with asparagus, risotto with lemon beurre blanc, and a glass of wine which was a good option instead of dessert. The first round of brioche crostini came with unexpected mold on it and when I informed our server, he took it away and brought fresh slices out. The foie gras and fig jam was quite tasty and played well. When I tell you this sea bass was cooked to perfection! I mean just that. The meat was flaky and solid with the outside perfectly seared! The risotto was very rich and I wasn't a big fan however I forced myself to eat it with the fish and it was perfectly paired along with my asparagus for the ultimate bite. I would come back just for the sea bass any day!

I was in Baltimore for only a week and I heard it's an unwritten rule somewhere that while there…read moreyou MUST have a crab cake. The crab cake here did not disappoint. I didn't want to enjoy it as a sandwich so I picked a salad off the menu and they plated it perfectly. It's an 8oz crab cake but this was a generous 8 oz. The flavor was perfect and the crab very sweet. I enjoyed it with their Pear & Blue salad $14 which was a nice mixed of greens, a poached pear with blue cheese crumbles and candied walnuts. It was very agreeable. I did not plan on enjoying dessert until he said lemon bar, "Yes please!" The service was on point and I would definitely visit this local restaurant again if travels bring me to Baltimore. Thank you for a wonderful dinner.