Downtown Baltimore

17
Sep
2019

Topside Baltimore is now open for breakfast and lunch

Topside Baltimore, a popular nightlife location in the Mount Vernon, Baltimore district, is now open for breakfast and lunch. Today, I had the opportunity to check out their new weekday breakfast menu. I’ve been to Topside for weekend brunch a few times, so I decided to order a few items that I haven’t had. I decided on the Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, Grilled French Toast and the Stonefruit-Tomato Tartine. When the food came out to my table, I could see the food styling influence of the new Executive Chef Scott Hines. I had brunch at B&O when he was there and the food was beautiful and delicious. I especially liked the thick bread loaf french toast because I’ve never seen it served like this anywhere else in Baltimore. The tartine featured a perfect balance of salty ricotta cheese spread on multigrain bread topped with sweet ripe peaches, I may go back and order that with just a cup of coffee.

After breakfast, I took a peek at the lunch menu and if features a few items that caught my eye. I can’t wait to go back for lunch.

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

@ArlisAppetite on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

04
Feb
2019

A peek at the new Alexander Brown Restaurant in Baltimore

categories: RESTAURANTS

Last week, I was invited to the media preview of the new Alexander Brown Restaurant (135 East Baltimore Street) in Downtown Baltimore. The renovated bank building on the corner of Baltimore and Calvert Street was the oldest investment bank in the country built in 1901. It also has the oldest flushing indoor toilet in the United States, but of course it’s non-functional and tucked away behind a locked door… but a fun fact nonetheless. This building has bones, it survived the Great Baltimore Fire in 1904 and continued to operate as a bank until 2016.

The newly renovated 150-seat restaurant opens its doors on Monday, February 4th and will offer lunch, dinner and brunch service. Guests can also sit at the bar and the bar/lounge area and order food from an abbreviated bar menu.

Let me know what you think of the new restaurant. Leave your comments below.

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

@ArlisAppetite on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

23
May
2016

Happy Hour at Brio Tuscan Grille

categories: Happy Hour

I’ve been in love with indoor décor and atmosphere at Brio Tuscan Grille from the first moment it opened in Downtown Baltimore. I’ve been there for dinner a few times, but I go there more for Happy Hour. It’s definitely one of my go-to happy hour locations of choice. A few days ago a friend and I decided to meet there for Happy Hour, while I sat at the bar waiting for her to arrive I realized I written about my first visit, but never written a post about their happy hour.

Let me start off by saying I enjoy the cocktail selection that Brio offers because they have a variety to choose from: Wine, Sangria, Martini, Mules, Mojitos and more for only $4-$6 each. They also a variety of sharable food options for happy hour.

Crispy Tuscan Tots and Black Pepper Shrimp over Eggplant

My friend and I ordered the Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Crispy Tots and the Black Pepper Shrimp over Eggplant. The really liked the Crispy Tots because they were served with a cheese dipping sauce and it was a pleasant surprise to the otherwise basic tater tot. I also liked the Black Pepper Shrimp over Eggplant. The eggplant was soft on the inside and flaky on the outside and the shrimp were not too peppery but made with just the right amount of spice. The pepperoni and sausage pizza I couldn’t fully enjoy because it was served warm at room temperature. I would have liked it more if it was served hot like the other items I ordered.

Happy Hour Martini and Sangria at Brio Tuscan Grille

The one thing that Brio is consistent with is their cocktails. They train the bartenders very well. Whatever drink I order it’s always mixed with the right proportions, the flavors are balanced and I always leave with a little buzz.

If you are looking for a restaurant to have happy hour cocktails with a co-worker or an out-of-town friend, Brio Tuscan Grille is the perfect place.

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

03
Jan
2014

Brio Tuscan Grille

categories: RESTAURANTS

I recently visited Brio Tuscan Grille (100 East Pratt St., across from the Gallery Shopping Center) in the lovely Baltimore Inner Harbor. I was more than excited to try Happy Hour at Brio as I was already familiar with the $3.95 Happy Hour menu because I’d previously visited the restaurant. And Yes you read that correctly, the appetizer menu during Happy Hour is $3.95!!!

This little piggy in me likes to order three appetizers whenever I visit Brio because truth be told, they are $3.95 and whatever I don’t eat and I can take home and eat the next day 🙂 My tasty top contenders of the night were the Ravioli Caprese, Crispy Shrimp Piccante, and the Brio Burger.

The Ravioli Caprese is topped with a pesto cilantro drizzle, fresh tomatoes, romano and mozzarella cheeses. I’m a cheese girl, so if you give me food with any cheese (anything but American cheese) I get excited. Romano cheese is a sharp cheese of Italian origin and mixed with the mozzarella it made a winning combination. The Caprese is served with four large ravioli rounds and it’s enough to share with another person. The Shrimp Piccante is a crispy breaded shrimp served with a spicy aioli sauce.

Ravioli Caprese

The Brio Burger was delicious! Served with homemade chips, provolone cheese, and topped with a flavorful tomato garnish. I suggest you get the burger with nothing added, specifically how it’s advertised. Be forewarned…my friend attempted to add onions to her burger and was told onions are an additional $4.00! Ummmm the onions cost more than the actual burger! She’ll pass..thank you.

Brio Burger

The Happy Hour drink menu is also very impressive offering 11 cocktails at $5.00 each. I always say variety is the spice of life and the cocktail menu offers (2) Sangria’s (white and red), (3) Mojitos and (2) Cosmos. All the drinks on the Brio menu are what we like to call “Craft Cocktails” in the bartending world. Craft Cocktails include fresh ingredients like fruit, mint, and specially made juices. These drinks are muddled, strained, shaken, and stirred in numerous ways… basically your cocktail is made with tender loving care. I must say our cocktails were delicious!

I looked on like a proud mama as two of my friends asked to have the strongest drink on the menu and eventually everyone at my table ordered a Sangria Rosa made with red wine, fresh pineapple and strawberries. I also ordered the mojito and it was very delicious, dangerous in bar standards because it taste like kool-aid and those are the drinks that creep up on you.

Of course I had dessert, mainly because it was served in the cutest little oversized shot glass and they had cheesecake!! Brio offeres a dessert sampling of all your favorites like cheesecake, brownies, creme brulee and they are priced at $2.99 each.

Brio Strawberry Cheesecake