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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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