RESTAURANTS

The Dizz Does Not Disappoint

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The Dizz  located at 300 W. 30th Street,  is a happening Hampden staple Hon! No matter when I visit this place it’s always bustling with people and food is consistently coming out of the kitchen. The Dizz is two-levels and I’ve noticed they reserve the upper level for larger parties.  I especially love when I visit and the front and side patio areas are decorated with colorful plants and umbrellas or festive holiday decorations. Recently, I visited with a friend for a quick bite to eat during lunch and The Dizz did not disappoint.

The menu is extensive, they offer appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, platters, pizza, sandwiches, wraps, daily specials and much more. My friend and I decided on sandwiches because that seemed like the lighter mid-day option.  Boy were we wrong… in a good way. The sandwiches were huge! All sandwiches come with a heaping side of fries, you have a choice of curly fries, regular fries or sweet potato fries.   I ordered the Blackened Salmon BLT.  I asked the server to add avocado slices, because avocado makes everything better.  When she brought my sandwich out she said “Wow, it looks delicious with the avocado!”

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Blackened Salmon BLT with curly fries
Look at the size of that salmon!
Look at the size of that salmon!

The salmon was so big that is couldn’t fit on my average-sized kaiser roll…I love it when I get more food than expected.  This was a massive piece of salmon.  The salmon was perfectly tender and seasoned well. The roll was fresh and so was the tomato and avocado.

My friend ordered the Roast Beef Sandwich on Rye melted provolone.  He commented that the roast beef was moist and he especially liked the dijon horseradish mustard that came on the sandwich.

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Roast Beef on Rye with Melted Provolone

As I said, I’ve been to The Dizz many times before and another one of my favorites is the Cornmeal Encrusted Cajun Catfish.  This catfish is delicious.  The cornmeal on the outside is crispy and the fish is moist and juicy.  I’ve gotten this more times than I can remember.

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Cornmeal Encrusted Cajun Catfish

Have you visited The Dizz?  I would love to know your favorite meal to order.  Please comment below.

Be sure to follow my foodie and cocktail adventures on Instagram.com/Arlisappetite and twitter.com/ArliBaby.

Sunday Brunch at Bistro RX

Bistro RX (2901 East Baltimore St) is a cute corner restaurant in the Linwood/Patterson Park neighborhood.  It actually sits on the Northeast corner of Patterson Park.  My best friend recently moved to that neighborhood and we decided to go there for Sunday brunch.  I pulled up to the restaurant around noon and immediately found a space outside, I think it was because this is a neighborhood restaurant that everyone walks to.  My best friend called two hours earlier and made same day reservations so when I walked in there was no wait. I was immediately seated at a high-top two-seat table at the front of the restaurant across from the bar.  There are two main areas, the front bar area and additional seating for larger parties in the next room.

I was the first to arrive and immediately ordered the bottomless mimosas ($10.00 per person). My waitress was attentive and filled my glass whenever she noticed it was empty.  I drank a total of 3 mimosas before my best friend finally arrived.  Because I was there for about 45 minutes, I had time to scan the menu and order for the both of us.

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Katzenjammer Hash Skillet

 

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Baltimore Benedict

 

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Blueberry Pancakes with Bacon

I ordered the Katzenjammer Hash which included bacon, chorizo, ham and scrapple atop breakfast potatoes topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise. Some restaurants don’t know how to cook a poached egg but this was the  perfect poached egg if I do say so myself.  Lots of lump crabmeat on the benedict and the pancakes were fresh and fluffy.

And always follow my foodie and cocktail adventures on social media …  

  

What’s Your Flavor? Tell Me What’s Your Flavor!

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Out with the old and in with the new.  The former Midtown BBQ & Brew in Mt. Vernon, Baltimore is now Flavor Restaurant and Lounge (15 E. Chase St.)  The restaurant was remodeled and revamped back in September 2015 and re-opened with new owners, a new look and a new menu.  I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a fan of Midtown BBQ & Brew because every time I visited the menu items and the ingredients in the food weren’t consistent. It took me a few months but last week I finally visited Flavor Restaurant and Lounge.

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I went with a friend on a Wednesday after work around 5:00 p.m. prime happy hour time.  Flavor Restaurant and Lounge has happy hour 3-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (closed on Monday). The interior was unrecognizable, all new furniture a fresh coat of paint and new decor has turned this place into a classy after-work destination.  The new menu specializes in small plates and cocktails. They do have entrees, appetizers and desserts, but welcome sharing food with friends. On this particular Wednesday there were no customers there when we arrived, which is great in my opinion because my food won’t take long to prepare.  We scanned the happy hour menu and decided to order the 1/2 Pound Steamed Shrimp ($10.00), Spring Flatbread Pizza ($8.00), Grilled Chicken Tacos ($11.00) and the Truffle Mac & Cheese ($9.00).

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Spring Flatbread Pizza
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Grilled Shrimp
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Truffle Mac & Cheese

My friend and I especially liked the Spring Flatbread Pizza with pesto, zucchini, roasted tomatoes and mozzarella… so much flavor in each slice.  I also liked the steamed shrimp because they had a hint of Old Bay and a hint of garlic.  The Mac & Cheese was made with rotini noodles, a light crispy breading on top and a heaping of cheese throughout the serving. Gruyère and white cheddar made an interesting cheese combination as it was tangy and pungent, but in a good way.

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Grilled Chicken Tacos

We also ordered the Grilled Chicken Tacos but I was not pleased with them.  They were served with roasted corn salsa, lime sour cream and a light slaw.  Unfortunately the chicken was dry and surprisingly it didn’t come with the lime sour cream on it.  I had to ask for the lime sour cream on the side.

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Vanilla Bread Pudding

For dessert I ordered the Vanilla Bread Pudding topped with vanilla glaze and powdered sugar.  The bread pudding was also accompanied with brûlée-style oranges. The bread pudding was full of flavor and also surprisingly light and fluffy.

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Lemosa
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Peach-Strawberry Daiquiri

Happy Hour at Flavor Restaurant and Lounge also features two signature cocktails – Peach Strawberry Daiquiri and the Lemosa, both $5.00. They also offer $2.00 off glasses of wine and $1.00 off draft beer.  The recipe for the Lemosa is easy… view it here.

Have you been to Flavor Restaurant and Lounge?  Tell me about it.

Be sure to follow my foodie and cocktail adventures on social media …  

  

GRAND OPENING: McHenry Row Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi

If you weren’t already drooling from my earlier post and photos about Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi in Horseshoe Casino, you definitely will be by the time you finish reading this post.  Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi has a new location in McHenry Row, Baltimore and I was invited to the soft opening celebration.

Walking into the restaurant,  I was excited to see a DJ spinning tunes at the end of the bar. It was a great addition to the party and it relaxed the after-work crowd.

Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi has a full bar available but the liquor was complimentary for the soft opening…sweeeet! There were three bartenders behind the bar and each created four signature drinks to choose from. My favorite was the Tsunami Jack and my friends seemed to like the Hot Chili.

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And of course what sushi restaurant would be complete without a fresh sushi bar.

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The restaurant has seating at the bar, there is a small lounge area with three large table and lounge seating and there is also the traditional restaurant booth seating.  As soon as we sat down the friendly and knowledgeable staff began to bring us various appetizer items.  Too many to name, so I’ll just post the photos below.  Please know that everything was delicious.

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My plate runneth over with deliciousness.
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Hawaiian Punch Cocktail created by Alla
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Lobster with Ginger, Scallion and Crispy Salt & Pepper

Writing this post has made me satisfied and stuffed all over again. If you haven’t done so already, please visit one of the Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi locations (Horseshoe Casino or McHenry Row) you won’t be disappointed.

Be sure to follow my foodie and cocktail adventures on social media …  

  

 

Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi in Horseshoe Casino Baltimore

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I don’t like to gamble but I do visit the Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore occasionally to check out the bar and live music scene and grab a pizza after hours. I have noticed that when I’m there, it doesn’t matter the time or day there is always a crowd at Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi. I got to thinking… if there is always a crowd the food has to be great so I decided to check it out for myself.

I went there with a friend on a Thursday after work. We were both starving and everything on the menu sounded so appealing that we decided to eat a small feast. The manager Lisa was very friendly and knowledgeable about all the items on the menu.  She helped us select the perfect combination of dishes to satisfy our taste buds.

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Szechuan Shrimp with Peppers
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Veggie Pad Thai Noodles
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Stir Fried Green Beans with Chicken

That food looks so good, it makes me want to go back again and again and again!  First let me say that everything was fresh. The shrimp were huge and mixed with the peppers it’s a light dish with lots of flavor. The Veggie Pad Thai Noodles entree is perfect for those who don’t eat meat but want a hearty meal with lots of flavor.  The noodles were light and airy and the best noodles I’ve tasted in a long time. My favorite entree was the Stir Fried Green Beans with Chicken.  The chicken was tender and the green beans were crispy and fresh.   All dishes are the perfect portion for sharing.

As if we didn’t have enough goodness from Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi…we decided to try the sushi.

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Top to Bottom: VIP California Roll, Ruby 8 Roll, Horseshoe Roll

Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi is definitely the best place in Baltimore to eat sushi.  This sushi was amazing, the best I’ve ever tasted.  My favorite was the Horseshoe Roll (bottom right in photo) with softshell crab and avocado.  I think I ate the entire roll myself.

Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi is opening a second location in McHenry Row on May 12!  For those of you who don’t want to deal with the casino crowd, McHenry Row will be a great alternative.

Have you been to Ruby 8 Noodles and Sushi?  What was your favorite dish or sushi roll?

Be sure to follow my foodie and cocktail adventures on social media …  

  

Dooby’s in Mount Vernon

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I’ve been hearing a buzz about Dooby’s (802 N. Charles St) Noodle Bowls for some time now and this week I visited the Mt. Vernon, Baltimore restaurant on a mission to finally try one of the famous bowls.

I went there during the lunch rush hour and as expected it was pretty busy.  Dooby’s is a coffee shop/restaurant with high-top tables in the main dining area and window and wall high-top seating.  There is an upper-level dining area with standard, more formal tables.  Menus are placed at the door and once you order at the counter, you take a number, have a seat and a staff member brings your food.

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Dooby’s has a “build-a-bowl” style ordering system.  First you pick the base (rice, noodle, salad or wrap) and then you pick the protein (chicken, steak, meatballs, salmon, veggie or tofu). I decided on the Korean BBQ Steak over Sir Fry Noodles.

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Korean BBQ Steak Noddle Bowl

I must say it was an excellent choice! The steak was seasoned well and thinly sliced and it was a very hearty portion, I had steak in every bite.  There was plenty of noodles and broccoli in the bowl also, it was so large I almost didn’t finish it all.

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Roasted Chicken Lettuce Wrap with Sweet Soy Ginger Sauce

My best friend ordered the Roasted Chicken Lettuce Wrap with Brown Rice and  Sweet Soy Ginger Sauce .  The Ginger Sauce was delicious, I kept sneaking pieces of her chicken and dipping it in the sauce… I think I even dipped my steak in it.  The Lettuce Wrap was a perfect light lunch entree.

We also ordered a small appetizer to share.

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Pan-fried Chesapeake Dumplings with crab, shrimp, scallops and aioli

The seafood dumplings were great!  So much flavor in two bites. I could taste each seafood ingredient separately and they fit well together.  I was mad I didn’t order my own serving.

If you are in the mood for a hearty filling meal, definitely order one of the noodle bowls.  I have to try their freshly home-brewed coffee on my next visit.

Be sure to follow my foodie and cocktail adventures on Instagram.com/Arlisappetite and twitter.com/ArliBaby.

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