Restaurant Review (Atlanta Bread Company) Severna Park

551 Ritchie Hwy
Severna Park, MD 21146
(410) 315-7887
Website

I've eaten here a few times before writing this review.

This restaurant has completely turned around from a few years ago... a remodel, new owner, better management and a well trained staff. The quality and consistency of the food has increased and they even bring the food to your table when you dine in. My only complaint is they can get a little busy at lunch, sometimes a line out the door. So come early, come late, phone in your order. The soup, salad and sandwich selection are amazing... My personal favorites are the hot pastrami, any of the panini's, corn chowder and brocoilli and cheddar soup. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to find out they serve breakfast all day and they use real eggs, none of those frozen egg patties here. I would suggest sitting over by the fireplace and TV to relax while eating your meal. Every Tuesday and Thursday night is kids night and on Wednesdays Senior Citizens get 10% off all purchases all day.

I've even used them for catering and they deliver literally. Any order over $200 and they will bring the food to you... The food is the same great fresh quality trayed up for your needs... I have used their website for catering but I find it easier just to call the store and ask for the catering manager.

Restaurant Review (Zella's Pizzeria)

1145 Hollins St
Baltimore, MD 21223
(410) 685-6999
www.zellaspizzeria.com

Just off West Lombard in the Hollins Market/Sowebo neighborhoods. There is the best pizza I have had in Baltimore so far. This bar sits on the corner hidden by the Hollins Market. One of the smaller markets, unlike Cross Street and Lexington Market... The prices are very affordable for what you order. The crust is pillowly with a nice chew to it. The toppings are plentiful and fresh. We had tried the margarita and the Eggplant, Olive, Roasted Red Pepper and Feta pizza. They were both done well... The staff was pleasant and attentive. They pour their mixed drinks strong, and have a number of beer in bottles and on tap. A great place to sit and chat with friends in a relaxing environment. There is also plenty of street parking, even on a friday night. I would recommend this pizza place and it is worth the short drive out to this out of the way neighborhood.

Restaurant Review (JTB's Kitchen)

http://jtbskitchen.com

I've know Jenn the Baker of JTB's Kitchen for a little over a year now. Her and her husband Phillip run JTB's Kitchen. They are avid motorcyclist. And her products got started by bringing some cookie bars to the track days. It is a nice story I've heard from Jenn the Baker a few times.

The products are very tasty and are great gifts for any occasion. She sells cookie bars, crispy treats, pumpkin rolls and other tasty treats. They even have monthly subscriptions of most of their products. All the products I've tasted have been moist and tender with the right balance of sweet and crispiness. I would recommend them for gifts or treats. Order the larger size because they will go quick.

JTB's Kitchen gives a discount to all orders shipping to a United States Military member receiving mail to an AF, AP, AA, AC, AE, or AM address, qualify for a 20% discount on all orders $10 or more. They also have multiple order and shipping specials.

Restaurant Review (Tapas Teatro Cafe)

1711 N Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 332-0110
www.tapasteatro.net

After eating at Tapas Teatro Cafe, I will have to say this an amazing restaurant. The server's are educated, and polite. They make recommendations based on your tastes and wants. The chef and cooks prepared the food very well. The overall impression of the meal was very positive.

We had ordered a glass of wine Pinot Grigio from Italy. The wine was from Alois Lagader "Riff". This is about a $15.00 - $20.00 bottle of wine in a wine shop. The flavor was very balanced and the fruity notes were mild with low acid. I am not a fan of Pinot Grigio but this was a very good Pinot Grigio.

We had started with baby potatoes, boiled baby potatoes dusted with salt and a dollop of sweet garlic aoli. The potatoes were tender and smooth with a creamy aoli. This is a simple dish and none remained shortly after arriving at the table. We also had the haricot verte and asparagus salad. This salad with green bean, asparagus, sweet garlic cloves, and peppers, dressed with a vinaigrette.

For the entrées we had for dinner were the lamb and lentils. This skewered lamb medallion was grilled and served with creamy and not to spicy lentils. The lamb was not gamey. We also ate the pincho moruno, a grilled pork medallion marinated in cumin, paprika, garlic. This pork was moist and tender and had a nice smokey taste.

For dessert we had chocolate royale a plated 3 layer chocolate dessert with crispy and smooth layers and a raspberry sauce on the plate.

This restaurant also sits right next to the charles theatre.

Restaurant Review (G&M Restaurant & Lounge)

G&M Restaurant & Lounge
804 N Hammonds Ferry Rd
Linthicum Heights, MD 21090
(410) 636-1777
www.gandmcrabcakes.com

I'm not a fan of the decor or the wait at this restaurant, but they make an amazing crab cake. This crab cake can even be shipped uncooked and on dry ice to your door. Make a great birthday, or Christmas gift. So you know what to get me...

Restaurant Review (Abbey Burger Bistro)

1041 Marshall St
Baltimore, MD 21230
(443) 453-9698
www.abbeyburgerbistro.com

We stopped by this establishment for dinner. The food is always good... What I liked this time was the service, The bartenders, and managers interact with the customers and make it a very enjoyable experience. This is my favorite burger joint in federal hill.

Shop Review (Candy Kitchens)

5301 Coastal Hwy
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 524-6002

This is a shop I come to for a nice sweet treat while walking the board walk. From dots to chocolate covered anything. I personally like the haystacks and chocolate covered pretzels. The fudge is good alittle rich for my liking. Any treats and sweets needed can be found here.

Restaurant Review (Greene Turtle)

11601 Coastal Hwy
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410)-723-2120
www.greeneturtle.com

I'm not normally a fan of chain restaurants, but we stopped for dinner at this Greene Turtle Restaurant. We were seated right away, the drinks were nothing special. We had ordered the chicken chesapeake, a grilled chicken breast with crab dip, bacon, and melted american cheese on a toasted potato roll. The chicken was moist and the crab dip was flavorful. I was pleasantly suprised by the sandwich. We had also ordered a Southwest Chicken Chop Salad full of fresh romaine lettuce, corn, tomatoes, grilled chicken, cucumber, fresh fried onion ring. The dressing was alittle spicy but very tasty. I was suprised with the quality and quantity of the food from the greene turtle, I was not expecting something so good.

Restaurant Review (Brass Balls Saloon)

1105 Atlantic Ave
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 289-0069

A quick dinner at Brass Balls Saloon, was very enjoyable after walking down the board walk in Ocean City, MD. After a brief wait in line, we were promptly seated and offered drinks. The manager came around and lit the teaky tourches by our table. The server made recommendations by our moods and we ended up with fried mac and cheese wedges for an appetizer, they were crispy and creamy. We shared the seafood duo for dinner. The crab cake had very little filler and lump crab meat. The tuna steak was cooked to medium. I'm not a fan of pink tuna, this tuna steak was cooked perfectly. The server recommended it to be medium instead of medium well not to have it overcooked. Brass Balls Saloon was very busy and the service was impeciable. I would come back again next time I was intown.

Restaurant Review (Bull on the Beach)

17 94th St
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 524-2455

We stopped for lunch and dined out side. The pit ham and roasted beef were good, the meat was moist and tender. We had also ordered a ruben, which was a little messy with finely shredded corn beef, russian dressing, and swiss cheese. The fries were crisp. This is a place we always stop to eat when in town.

Restaurant Review (Icedgems Baking)

Mobile Cupcake Wagon
Baltimore, MD
IcedGemsBaking.com

I was told about this mobile cupcake truck that travels all over Baltimore city, and county, by a friend of mine. Who rants and raves about the concept and almost threw their SUV into a 180 turn with the emergency brake to get a cupcake. The owner Christine Richardson studied under the TV chef Rick Stein at his restaurant in Devon, England. The cost of a cupcake is $2.50, a half dozen $12.50 and a full dozen $24.00. This is a cash or check only business also. No Credit Cards are accepted here.

We started with a half dozen to get a wide variety of product and flavors.


We got a:


Vanilla Vanilla Cupcake

Vanilla Chocolate Cupcake

Chocolate Vanilla Cupcake

Chocolate Chocolate Cupcake

Red Velvet (Red Velvet cake with Cream Cheese Butter Cream)

Duche de leche - (Caramel)


So after tasting these cupcakes, I will have to say she makes an amazing Italian butter cream. The piping is done by hand and needs some work, and is not consistent on all the cupcakes. The taste of the cupcakes while made from scratch, were bland and nothing to write home about in my opinion. The Red Velvet cupcake was the best cupcake out of the half dozen selected.

Yes, this is a nice treat every once and a while, no I would not go out of my way to follow her on Facebook or Twitter and drive to her location to get more cupcakes. I like the food concept, mobile cupcake truck but the concept was not done well here.

Baltimore

Restaurant Review (Texas Roadhouse)

4465 Mountain Rd
Pasadena, MD 21122
(410) 439-0233

On Saturday evening I went out to Texas Roadhouse in Pasadena, MD. The food is decent, the service is decent and this time was the first time out of maybe the last 5 visits to this location they were not out of Prime Rib. This steakhouse is not fine dining, their is sawdust and peanut shells sitting in the waiting area. (Not a place for people with peanut allergies) We were seated promptly. The server was pleasant, the service was nothing to right home about. The food came out of the kitchen hot in a timely manner. I ordered the 12oz Prime Rib cooked medium rare. I looked to me like the only difference between the 10 and 12 oz prime rib was a piece of fat they cut off the end of your steak. One person in our party got a country critter salad. The salad was not over dressed and had a mellow taste. Nothing really popped in the salad. The Margarita's are large, well prepared and served strong. So watch how many you drink if you are driving.

I eat at this restaurant maybe twice a year. Just long enough to forget about the mediocre food and service.

Baltimore

Restaurant Review (Abbey Burger Bistro)

1041 Marshall St
Baltimore, MD 21230
(443) 453-9698
www.abbeyburgerbistro.com

This is an adult burger joint... They have a diverse menu with salads, burgers, vegetarian options, desserts, and spiked milkshakes. But the reason I go here is for the build your own burger!

9 Proteins: from Black Angus, and bison to turkey and wild boar.
Temperature cooked how you like it: from mooing to charcoal.
7 Breads to put your burger on.
10 Cheeses that can be put on your burger.
13 Topping you can put on your burger ranging from: bacon, peanut butter, and a fried egg to white truffle oil, crab dip and chili.
19 Free Toppings that can be applied to your burger.
6 Side you can get with your burger.

Come for the make your own burger. There are so many options you will be coming back just to try more. The portions are large and the pricing is fair. This kitchen is open to midnight to feed the young professionals and drunk socialite masses of Federal Hill.

Now the added bonus with Abbey Burger Bistro besides the vast selection or beer and wine is their spike shakes. What is better then a Burger, Fries, and a Milkshake except the milkshake is loaded with alcohol. I recommend the Berger Shake: Berger cookies, vanilla ice cream, Stoli vanilla, and Godiva liqueur.

Restaurant Review (Courtney's Bagel Cafe & Deli)

11000 Owings Mills Blvd # 1A
Owings Mills, MD 21117
(410) 363-4331

Courtney's Bagel Cafe and Beli has fresh hand rolled bagels, and lightly whipped cream cheese. If she doesn't have your favorite type of bagel left its because they have sold out and you need to show up earlier. She also does lox really well. The location is great for take-out bagels, however I believe the location is well overdue for a remodel. The restaurant is named for their daughter Courtney who is a major inspiration in their lives. It is definitely the best bagel place in the area.

Restaurant Review (Angelo's)

3600 Keswick Rd
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 235-2595

On the corner of 36th Street "The Avenue" and Keswick rd is Angelo's. What I know them for is their 18 inch slice of pizza. Priced right at about 5 dollars, plus topping this massive slice is a nice cheap meal. The quality of the pizza is good and the toppings are fresh. The subs are also very good full of meat in the cheese steaks and italian cold cuts...

Restaurant Review (Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers)

1949 West St
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-6788
www.wendys.com

Sitting on West Street in Annapolis, I've been going to this Wendy's for years... Late nights after work in a busy kitchen or concerts down at piezano's. I drove by today, and stopped for a frosty and a large fry. (My Regular Order) This works out very well.
You can always finish the salty and sweet treat before you get home.

Restaurant Review (Paper Moon Diner)

227 W 29th St
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 889-4444
www.papermoondiner24.com

After coming to the Paper Moon Diner for a number of months and tasting a wide variety of the menu. Be prepared to wait 30 minutes or so to wait for a table and the food is either amazing and or not so good. As a typical diner the portions are large and serve everything but the kitchen sink on the menu. This diner also has the craziest decorations, a must see if you have never been.

The sandwiches, and subs can be a little bready. (as in to much bread for the sub). My personal favorite is the southern love burger. A burger with bacon, cheddar cheese, and pulled pork on a bun with sweet potato fries. The burgers are nothing special, the cheese steaks are large but not in proportion to bread and ltm (lettuce, tomato, mayo). The pasta is not a dish to be ordered here, precooked and heated though it can be a little chewy. Salad as complicated as they may be do not hit the mark for taste. The presentation is well done. The macaroni and cheese is amazing, with melted cheese and is gooey all over the place.

Breakfast is a hit or miss also. I've had eggs and pancakes that have been good and bad here. Along with waffles and sometimes the coffee can be a little bitter.

So Paper Moon Diner, take it as it is a diner. Sometimes good sometimes bad... Pricey for a diner and a good place to meet up with friends.

Restaurant Review (Crush)

Crush
510 E Belvedere Ave
Baltimore, MD 21212
(443) 278-9001
www.crush-restaurant.com

Last night I enjoyed dinner at Crush, a restaurant located in Belvedere Square. This trendy split level restaurant is great for both friends and family. We were seated within moments of walking in at an upper level table. The downstairs dining room includes a glass window for great kitchen views. After sitting down one thing I noticed over the course of dinner was that besides me all of the women were facing towards the center of the dining room and the men facing the walls. Maybe this keeps the men out of trouble, I don't know.

The meal was quite good, however the server did not recommend the hot mushroom soup simply because of summer and the heat. However the mushroom soup was ordered and very good, not a drop was left in the cup. The mozzarella and tomato salad was light and refreshing using heirloom cherry tomatoes. The recommended cold soup was a puree of roasted beets and tomato with small balls of mozzarella and basil, another flavorful treat.

The entrees we had were enjoyable. The chicken penne with fresh vegetables was tasty but the cooks had a heavy hand with their seasonings and it was a little strong on the black pepper. The tenderloin salad cooked to medium well was dresses with a nice demi glaze and a honey mustard vinegarette. The dish also included roasted potatoes that melted in your mouth. Another had a salmon BLT, and the dish was perfectly topped with two large slices of bacon. The salmon was cooked well and the aioli was light and refreshing. The French dip sandwich was served on ciabatta bread and topped with provolone cheese and caramelized onions.

The dessert we ordered was a sponge cake, with a quenelle of vanilla ice cream and a blueberry syrup topping. This dessert was very tasty but lacked in presentation.

Restaurant Review (Cafe Hon)

Cafe Hon
1002 W 36th St
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 243-1230
www.cafehon.com

This restaurant sits at the heart of Hampden on The Avenue. Owned by Denise Whiting the hon herself... I find this restaurant/bar to be rather touristy, with large portions, high prices, mediocre food and service. I've never been impressed from their meatloaf, burgers, and fries with gravy to milky fettuccine alfredo to being out of food on the menu on a regular basis. I have say I've tried to like this icon of a restaurant but I just can't. I would rather spend my money elsewhere in the neighborhood. Save your money for the next Honfest!!!

Restaurant Review (A Common Ground)

A Common Ground
819 W 36th St
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 235-5533

Sitting on The Avenue in Hampden is this little coffee shop, that does it right. This is no Starbucks. Many of the eclectic locals of Hampden are always starting their day off here. The coffee is fresh, brewed, and ready to go. (They use Cafe Pronto Brand Coffee out of Annapolis). They have iced coffee down to a science , flavorful and not bitter. The pastries and scones are always tender and moist. If you come with a real hunger then try one of their breakfast or deli sandwiches the portions are large and I tend to split one with a friend. For these hot days we have been having if you are a coffee drinker but need a cooler option, the blended coffee drinks are always refreshing.