Seafood

Chef’s Night at By The Docks Seafood Restaurant

categories: RESTAURANTS

If you haven’t heard, By The Docks Seafood is a very popular restaurant in Maryland.  They won a several awards in Baltimore Magazine: Best Brunch, Best Crab Cake Sandwich, Best Crab Balls, Best Crab Dip, Best Crab Imperial and Best Cream of Crab Soup.   The brunch buffet I can attest to because I visited the restaurant for the first time about two months ago and the food was great.  My recent visit, I was invited to join other Baltimore food bloggers in sampling a few items from the new Wednesday Night Chef’s Menu.

We started our meal with a wine lesson on the wine selections from Lanterna Wines. I ordered the Pinot Noir to start with my appetizers and the chef made recommendations for each entrée option.  Let me just say that the glasses of wine at By The Docks are huge, well over the standard six-ounce pour.

Pinot Noir by Lanterna Wines

The Chef’s Menu features 4 for $24.00 – Maryland Crab Soup, Garden Salad, Homemade Dessert and a Seafood Entrée served with a loaded baked potato and asparagus. For the purpose of this dinner, we were also given a few family style appetizers.  Because we had such a large group, we managed to order and share everything on the menu.

Crabby Nachos

 

House Cut Onion Rings
Mediterranean Grilled Octopus
Surf and Turf

 

Jambalaya
Crab Cake and Lamb Chops
Stuffed Shrimp
Baklava Cake, Cheesecake and Smith Island Cake

Here’s a quick rundown of my thoughts on the menu items…

Crabby Nachos  – The cheese pull is insane! Lots of crabmeat, crab and cheese on every chip
House Cut Onion Rings – Crispy, fragrant, fresh out of the fryer
Mediterranean Grilled Octopus  – Chargrilled flavor is perfect served with the Greek cucumber and tomato vinaigrette
Surf and Turf – Large sweet lobster tail, equally large cut of steak
Jambalaya – Huge portion, spicy, lots of sausage and shrimp
Crab Cake and Lamb Chops – Large crab cake with all crabmeat and no other fillers
Stuffed Shrimp –  Large, juicy shrimp, lots of crabmeat
Dessert Sampler  – Out of this world. Best Cheesecake I’ve ever tasted. All desserts served at By The Docks are made by their family owned Yia Yia’s Bakery

Our group was also gifted with two bottles of Le Grand Courtage wine to kick off our holiday celebrations.

By The Docks is a great restaurant with hearty portions and delicious food.  Definitely check them out for Brunch or the Chef’s Night Special and be sure to visit and tell them Arli’s Appetite sent you!

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

  

Mo’s Seafood in White Marsh, MD

categories: RESTAURANTS

Of all the restaurants I visit in Baltimore, I have to admit I never thought I would be writing a review about Mo’s Seafood.   I’m not saying that Mo’s Seafood is unworthy of a review, but It’s a famous Baltimore staple and because I was raised in Baltimore, I’ve been to Mo’s numerous times and I was sort of…over it.

But on a Friday night I was invited to visit the newest location in White Marsh, so I decided to give it a go.  Pulling up to the restaurant I was impressed with the Tuscan-style exterior.  I could see the restaurant was full of people as we drove by the big windows along the front entrance.  Once inside, my friend and I managed to snag a couple of stools at the bar and lucky for us the stools were available because there was a wait for a table.  I counted about 10 televisions mounted on the walls making it a prime destination for watching sporting events.

I glanced over the menu and after a few suggestions from friends I settled on the Salmon Imperial…and I’m glad I did!

Salmon Imperial

The salmon imperial was served over roasted potatoes and my choice of a side.  I opted for the vegetable medley topped with parmesan cheese.  The vegetables (broccoli and carrots) were a little hard and could have been steamed a little longer, but the salmon did not disappoint.  The salmon was moist and flavorful and the imperial was made with large chunks of crabmeat and  stuffed with two large scallops and two large shrimp. The imperial sauce was tangy with a little kick.  I forgot how good Mo’s Seafood really is and not to mention reasonably priced, my meal was only $15.00.  The portion size was large which I like, large enough for leftovers the next day.

Mo’s has Happy Hour from 4-7pm and again 10pm until close.  The happy hour menu features $6.00 appetizers and a variety of drink specials.   It’s safe to say that Mo’s Seafood will see me again soon, preferably the location in White Marsh because I feel like we had a connection…wouldn’t want to mess up a good thing.

Rock Star

categories: COCKTAILS

Last weekend my best friend and I made our way to Joe’s Crab Shack to give it a whirl because the  commercials always look like a good time… Way to advertise Joe!

I was in the mood for a Margarita (as I’ve been all Summer, Fall, and now Winter) and I was excited to see there was a “Pop Rocks Pomegranate Margarita” on the menu.  Whoooaahh! Sold!! I get super pumped when sampling new trendy drinks!

The bartender warned us about putting the poprocks in the drink, she said they would pop everywhere.  So I closed my eyes and went for it and wowzers! They popped in my face, in my hair, and down my shirt…dangerous, but fun nonetheless.  The actual margarita wasn’t the best, it was a little weak as most frozen/blended drinks normally are (unless you are drinking at Wet Willies), but overall a gun drink.

 

 

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