Johnny's - Warm, cozy atmosphere and tasty food

Johnny's Downstairs, a new restaurant in Roland Park.....

Who's Johnny? She said, and smiled in that special way....A better question may be "Where's Johnny's?" This cute little place was a little hard to find. I used to live a few blocks away, and knew it was on Roland, but still passed it by. I saw a tiny little circle that said "Johnny's" and my coworkers were very impressed and wondered how I even saw the place! If you know where Petit Louis is, it is right next door, in the back.  

This place is adorable when you walk in - we all loved the decor and felt instantly at home. You can buy a lollipop for 10 cents, a gumball for 1 cent, or a caramel for 5 cents. Right away I thought, my kids would love this feature! 

We forgot to make a reservation for a large 7 party group at busy lunch time, the week of Thanksgiving, yet we were seated immediately by a very friendly hostess.

We had a female waitress at first who was very sweet and lovely. Somehow she was then replaced by a overly polished male waiter. He was nice enough, but he was pushing drinks and appetizers so hard we felt a little uncomfortable. When our food arrived, and I proceeded to take photos, he said in a very threatening tone "This better not be to trash us in a blog."  Wow....easy dude.....

One of my coworkers is married to a chef, so she recognized Tony Foreman and said she had heard he is at the place quite often. Together with Cindy Wolf, this is their newest venture.

Two coworkers got the grilled cheese and soup and loved it, photo below:

I wanted to get a healthy salad, but the salads were a bit intricate for this plain Jane. I got the steak sandwhich without the cheese whiz and other toppings. It looked rare inside, and I always eat mine near charred, but I ate it anyway and it was delicious. A little fatty and tough at the end, but flavor was great and it melted in my mouth. The FAT FRIES are amazing, almost Thrasher's like, with delicious sea salt.

One coworker got the wrap and it also had rave reviews. She loved the fries too!

 Two coworkers got the BLTA and found it deliciously fresh. This includes the chef's wife who was also pleased and wanted to return with her husband that same evening.

The entrees for lunch were reasonably priced. This place has a warm charm about it that is hard to explain. You just feel at home in this country style little restaurant. I would definitely return. I've actually promised all three of the "Johnny's" in my life to take them here, so I know I'll be there at LEAST four times now! And I got lolli's for the boys and gumballs for me on the way out. A perfect way to end a special lunch treat. I highly recommend giving it a try!

Alchemy in Hampden - Restaurant review for Baltimore spot

I went here for lunch the other day. I was excited to try it because the menu looked great. The ambiance looked very swanky and cute.

Click here to visit their web site.

When the food came, my friend and I were both excited.

She got a salad with carmelized avocado, which neither of us had heard of before....

I have to say, the presentation was cool and she said it was very tasty.

Now, we get to the bad part. I'm a picky eater and asked for my caesar salad with no anchovies or dressing. It came with two huge anchovies and it truly made the lettuce and entire salad taste very fishy.
I could have lived with the mistake if they would have been quick to fix it. But the waiter literally looked at my like I was crazy when I asked for just a bowl of lettuce and cheese to replace the fishy lettuce. He was so rude, and pissed, and threw all kinds of attitude my way! I couldn't believe it. I think he stood there a good 3 minutes while I just said, if you wouldn't mind. He walked away furious and said "I'll see what I can do..." Really? about getting a bowl of lettuce after you messed up my order?
If it were tomatoes or something I could easily pick out I would have, but it truly ruined the flavor of my lunch.  I give customer service a 0 out of 10.

 I have to give props where props are due. The shrimp were tasty and cooked well, with a peppery flavor. Maybe I just got a bad waiter and should try it again sometime, but with so many other restaurants in Hampden I'd rather frequent the other places that I enjoy, like Common Ground, Grano, or Cafe Hon.

1011 West 36th Street

Baltimore, MD, 21211
410-366-1163

Hours

Tue-Thu: 11:30am - 3:30pm 5:00pm - 9:00pm Fri: 11:30am - 3:30pm 5:00pm - 10:00pm Sat: 11:30am - 4:00pm 4:00pm - 10:00pm Sun: 11:00am - 3:00pm 4:00pm - 9:00pm

Wit and Wisdom, Michael Mina, Harbor East - Great views, delish food!

I wanted to try somewhere I had never been before for a Valentine's Day dinner. My boyfriend and I opted to go the day after Valentine's day because babysitting is easier to find and it is less crowded!

I had heard only a few things about Wit and Wisdom and decided it could probably use a solid review from BaltoandBeyond blog!

The valet cost $8. My boyfriend found street parking for a bit less down the road in front of Charleston.
The location is between the Mariott Waterfront and Oceanaire. It is on International Drive.

You'll find the website for the restaurant here.

My boyfriend got to the bar around 5 and said it was empty. By the time I came at around 5:45 it was packed. It was mostly business men (hint hint single ladies).  Other than that the restaurant was not very crowded at all.

They had our reservation, and after a drink at the bar, we were quickly shown to our table. I asked for a view of the Harbor, and we got a prime location. As you can see from this photo, I could see the Rusty Scupper across the way, and the Aquarium, part of the stadiums, a great skyline:

Our waiter Donny was awesome. He had a great smile and attitude. Service you would expect from a Four Seasons employee. He joked with us and took his time with us. He was wonderful.

The menu is a bit ecclectic....for those who know me, I am a picky eater so my choices were limited...but I find that issue at a lot of high end restaurants.

One item is always a go to for me: the CRABCAKE.

So I went with the Crab Cake. I am very particular about my crabcakes, but this was delicious. I usually get them broiled, but most of their dishes are served in a cast iron skillet - which made for an almost Fried-tasting crust on the cake. The crab meat was good including mostly lump. There was little to no filler - and it was tasty and moist without being slimy and full of unnecessary mayo.  I didn't eat the "weird stuff" you see here on my plate - I'm sure others would have loved this stuff - I just went for my typical side dish of Old Bay to pour on top.

My boyfriend got the Bison and said it was amazing. I tasted it and wasn't sure what the fuss was about, but I've never had Bison before so who am I to say. It was moist and not overly flavored. It was cooked just the way he wanted it and he and I both scarfed our dinners up very quickly.

For side dishes we decided to go all out carb-happy and order the hush puppies and the potatoes. The potatoes were delicious. The hush puppies were pretty good, but I wouldn't order again. They didn't have that "deep south bad for you" taste that I have come to know and love from a hush puppy. I think I have yet to find a quality hush puppy in Maryland or north....I challenge people to prove me wrong and let me know where I can find an excellent one.

So now for the kicker....dessert. 

I got the Baltimore Bar I believe it was called, which tasted like an explosion of my favorite candy bars wrapped into one -Take 5 and Snickers mixed together. 

It looks crazy, but it sure was amazing. It was very Woodberry-Kitchen ish and reminded me of their Cake 5 dessert, which I love. My stomach wasn't pleased with this choice though - I felt pretty full after eating it....I probably should have stopped at dinner, but as a blogger I felt I had to represent.....

My boyfriend got the apple crisp with home made cinnamon ice cream, which he also thoroughly enjoyed but probably wished he stopped at dinner!

We both left very full and happy! Maybe next time less side dishes to leave room for more dessert.

There were only two dissappointments with this meal: one, Donny gave us the wrong check for $222. Thank goodness I caught it and he fixed it immediately and apologized. Ours was more along the lines of $140 for the both of us. We paid for our drinks at the bar, so that helped keep the overall dinner cost down.

The other sadness for me, a bread lover - was no bread basket or bread before the meal. I love rolls and bread, so this was a downer for me. Maybe if I had bread I wouldn't have needed dessert - you can see there is a marketing genious here I suppose.....

All in all, I really enjoyed this spot. The decor and ambiance were amazing.

I am definitely going to return and bring a large group for happy hour, or for another special occasion dinner. We walked out on the patio after our meal, and the view of Baltimore, one of my favorite views in the world, was simply breath taking.

The photo doesn't do the view justice. Go and see it for yourself!

Blue Hill Tavern - Canton, Baltimore

Check out the Blue Hill Tavern.....yum!

I have eaten here probably 4 or 5 times. I like the ambiance and the feel of the bar area.

Last night, my friend Jen and I ate here for a late "Christmas dinner" that we have together annually instead of buying each other a present.  We walked in around 7 with no reservation and were told nothing was open til 8:45 - it was pretty packed, but it was a Saturday night. Luckily, we grabbed a table at the bar with no problem.

My cosmo was quite delicious. Just the right amount of strong - with a refreshing flavor - couldn't figure it out - cotton candy/grapefruit juice, something in it was just the right amount of sweet.

Jen got the bellini and enjoyed it as well. the house cabernet was also good.

Jen got the escargot at the recommendation of our server. She said it was good, but not amazing. For her entree, she had the Barramundi and said it was delicious.

I had the caesar salad and had steak added. It was very good - steak was tender and well seasoned, and salad was fresh.

We didn't really need dessert, but why not, after all, it's Christmas in February! I had the "candy bar"

This was very sweet but delicious. It had pretzel, ice cream, chocolate marshmallow and graham cracker and reminded me of something Woodberry Kitchen would make. I enjoyed it, but didn't need it!

Jen had the cheese plate and as you can see below, was very excited about it, although again, she was too full to completely enjoy it.

I like this place because it's off the beaten path in Canton and very close off 95. From White Marsh where I live, I can get there in 20 minutes or less. Parking can be tough but they do offer valet.
After circling just twice we found a spot a few blocks away.

This is a great place for a date, a girlfriend night out, a guys night with drinks at the bar, or even a business lunch or dinner. I like taking people here because I know we will both be pleased with our dining experience. I recommend trying it out if you haven't already!

I can't wait for this! 200 Anniversary of Star Spangled Banner/Blue Angels!

http://starspangledbaltimore.com/star-spangled-sailabration/

Sailabration Schedule:

(subject to change)

Wednesday, June 13		All Day		Ships Arrive
Flag Day
Thursday, June 14		11 a.m. – 6 p. m.		Ships Open to the Public (1 – 5 p.m. at N. Locust Point) Land-side Festivities
		6:30 p.m.		Welcome ceremony
Friday, June 15		11 a.m. – 6 p.m.		Ships Open to the Public (1 – 5 p.m. at N. Locust Point) Land-side Festivities
Saturday, June 16		10 a.m. – 4 p .m.		Star-Spangled Flag House Flag Day Celebration
		11 a.m. – 6 p.m.		Ships Open to the Public (1 -5 p.m. at N. Locust Point) Land-side Festivities
		11 a.m. – 4 p.m.		Blue Angels Air Show
Sunday, June 17		11 a.m. – 6 p.m.		Ships Open to the Public (1 – 5 p.m. at N. Locust Point) Land-side Festivities
		11 a.m. – 4 p.m.		Blue Angels Air Show
Bicentennial of the Declaration of War
Monday, June 18		11 a.m. – 6 p.m.		Ships Open to the Public (1 -5 p.m. at N. Locust Point) Land-side Festivities
		TBD		Declaration of War Anniversary Event
Tuesday, June 19		TBD		Parade of Sail Departure

Woodberry Kitchen, My Favorite Restaurant in Baltimore, maybe the world

As their web site will tell you, Woodberry Kitchen features the seasonal best from local growers and emphasizes organic meats and sustainable agriculture.

http://www.woodberrykitchen.com/

I love everything about this restaurant. The valet parking, the customer service (waiters, waitresses and bartenders are always friendly.)  The casual vibe. The warm surroundings and toasty atmosphere. The amazing drinks. The fresh taste of everything in little touches like the butter, to herbs on your plate. The desserts and breadbasket alone are worth coming for....I always say next time I'm not ordering an entree so I can just focus on bread and desserts.  But then the entrees are the best part too!

So, this is my favorite drink. It is called Kramer after Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld. It is usually not on the menu, you have to know to ask for it. It is DELICIOUS.

This was some kind of meat plate my boyfriend ordered. He loved it.

OK, this could be the best corn bread I've ever had in my life. I ordered it extra, as if the multiple servings from the bread basket weren't enough. They have different breads every time I go which makes it very fun!

This may not look appetizing because I'm a plane Jane and ordered it without the sauce, but this pork chop was one of the best 3 I've had in my lifetime! The fries, are always amazing. I never met a french fry I didn't like though.....

This again, does not show how amazing the chicken and biscuit tastes. The chicken is probably the best I've ever eat. So moist and yet with the crispiest most delicious skin I've ever had.  I usually get this every time.
I was trying to be adventurous which is why I opted for the pork chop.

Now for dessert. We couldn't decide between several, so our waiter was so sweet and brought us samples of two on a plate. This apple cider sorbet was so incredible. My kids would have LOVED it. The chocolate bulb or whatever it was called, was really fun to eat and so tasty.  Our favorite dessert is CMP - which we have driven to woodberry and ordered at the bar just to get.  It's chocolate marshmallow and peanuts and is so delicious.

My 7 year old asked me Mom, is there anything you DON'T like about your favorite restaurant? I replied the only thing is that sometimes you can't get a table and have to reserve way in advance. Otherwise, I can't think of one negative for this place. I highly recommend it, with a thousand stars.

Chazz Palminteri's new Italian Restaurant in Harbor East

Last night I met some old coworkers of mine from Johns Hopkins out at the new restaurant in Harbor East, Chazz.  It was a soft opening so not all food was available, in fact I can't even find a web site for it yet, but here's an article from the Baltimore Sun.

I was a bit surprised to find out that valet parking was $9 without tip, but it was convenient on a Friday night rush hour with bumper to bumper cars on Aliceanna.  When I walked in, I loved the ambiance. Being Italian myself, I felt right at home. A really cool little place with a cheese and italian meats bar similar to what you see at Cinghiale.

We were told to show up early if we wanted a table for 10 and we did. We were seated and our waitress was very nice. We were brought delectable italian bread, warm and delicious although some were disappointed there was no olive oil or butter, I thought it was fine and didn't need any of that.

It was a bit pricey (my red wine was $12/glass) but here an entire pizza was about the same price....maybe they need to work on the pricing a bit. The only negative I had was the salad. A friend and I split the grilled caesar and asked for no anchovies and dressing on the side.

The salad came with the dressing on the side but huge anchovies on the top. My friends said it started to slip off the plate and the waiter used his bare hand to touch our lettuce and cheese and flick it back on the plate. They took the salad back and brought back what seemed to be the same salad with the anchovies flicked off. You could taste their very strong flavor. The salad was slimy and I just couldn't eat it.

OK now for the pizza. I'm a pizza enthusiast and could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. I thought the crust was delicious and I enjoyed it very much. Some at my table thought it could have used more sauce and cheese. They were probably right. But still very yummy.

Other friends said the fluke was so-so, the shrimp parm delicious, and the panini very good (pics below).

I would go back to this place for a date night, a work dinner, or a quiet night out with friends, but not with the kids I don't think....Bagby pizza and Bop are just blocks away and more kid-friendly. This place was playing mafia movies that Chazz was in during our dinner - probably not the best for having little kiddos there.

I would definitely go back for an adult night out, however, and give it a try once they have had their official grand opening and give them a few more weeks to perfect their service and food. I had the pleasure of eating with some fellow Baltimore Bloggers - check out their blog too! Baltimore is Awesome.

Oh, I almost forgot the desserts. The desserts were a big hit. These tiny doughnuts were amazing. I didn't eat the ice cream because it was coffee flavored and I'm not a fan, but everyone at the table who tasted it said it was delicious!