RESTAURANTS

16
Feb
2016

Come with me on a Rocket To Venus

Last week, my work friends and I decided to take a rocket to Venus.

Well not an actual rocket, but we visited the bar/restaurant Rocket To Venus (3360 Chestnut Ave) in Hampden for a few Friday night cocktails.

This was my first visit to Rocket To Venus so I didn’t know what to expect. I pulled up to a grey and black corner building with limited parking. The parking wasn’t an issue, because most of the places I visit in Hampden are in residential neighborhoods, so I was already prepared to walk. Once inside I concluded that Rocket To Venus is a neighborhood bar with a rocket-themed interior.

There are about six u-shaped large booths along the right wall and on the left side of the restaurant is open-table seating with about six tables and a bar with high-top seating. The windows in each booth are small and round resembling that of a rocket ship window. The ceiling above the open seating area has circle-shaped cones that look like the bottom of rocket or space shuttle. Some of the windows in the booths have terrariums on display and for sale.

We got there around 5:00 pm and grabbed the booth closest to the bar. I went up to the bar to ask about the happy hour specials. The bartender advised me that “call drinks” were $5.00. I ordered a whiskey cranberry with a splash of apple pucker and my two friends ordered wine.

A waiter come over to our table and gave us two menus, a food menu and a cocktail menu. The food menu had daily specials on the left side and the regular/winter menu on the right. I was a little disappointed that the rocket theme didn’t extend to the menu, there were no rocket or space themed items. I ordered the clam chowder from the specials menu. It was cold outside and I wanted something to warm me up. I was a little hesitant because everyone doesn’t know how to make good clam chowder.

I was pleasantly surprised with my clam chowder order. It was hearty and full of clam, potatoes, celery, spices and arugula. I dare to say it was one of the best I’ve ever tasted.

We also ordered two appetizers for the table, the Vegan Spring Rolls and the Pierogies.

The spring rolls were crispy and full of rice noodles, cabbage, tofu and peanuts. They were actually pretty big for an order of two. The pierogies were pan-fried and filled with sauerkraut, mushrooms, chives and topped with caramelized onions and served with a horseradish sour cream. I especially liked the pierogies because it was my first time tasting them. I thought it would be like a dumpling but it was a little different – I googled the difference.

The food at Rocket To Venus was delicious, but the service wasn’t that great.

10
Feb
2016

Lunch at Frazier’s On The Avenue

categories: RESTAURANTS

Frazier’s On The Avenue has been a staple in Hampden since 1939. Originally located on 33rd Street and Elm Ave (hence the name …On The Avenue), it is now located at 916 W. 36th Street.

I recently visited Frazier’s with three co-workers and my empty stomach. This was my first time at the restaurant/bar so I asked my lunch companions for suggestions. My co-worker Mark was very excited about ordering the tater tots.

Apparently the Tater Tots are a big deal because they have their own section on the menu. With six varieties to choose from – chili, crab, loaded, pizza, plain and hangover hash, Mark ordered the loaded tots with nacho cheese and bacon. The tots came with sides of chipotle ketchup and sriracha ranch. I’m a serious cheese lover, but I’m not a fan of nacho or cheese whiz. I tasted one tot with the sriracha ranch and it tasty. I think the dipping sauce masked my dislike for nacho cheese. Mark on the other hand loved them and scarfed them down. If nacho cheese is your thing, I think you will like the tots.

I ordered a cup of Maryland Crab Soup as my appetizer.

The soup was seasoned well with lots of vegetables, but not a lot of crab meat. That’s the problem I always find with crab soups, restaurants don’t add enough meat.

One of my co-workers suggested the shrimp salad sandwich, so I ordered that.

The shrimp were a nice size and they were plentiful. The amount of shrimp in my sandwich definitely made up for the lack of crab meat in my soup.

Another co-worker ordered the Turkey Club Sandwich and that was huge also with lots of meat.

My lunch companions also suggested that I order the fries well done. They said the fries are fresh-cut and are sometimes not cooked properly. The fries weren’t a favorite, they were a little wilted and not crispy like fries should be. This was to be expected because I was pre-warned.

I think Frazier’s On The Avenue is a cute lunch restaurant if you’re looking to grab a good sandwich or burger.

09
Feb
2016

A Valentine’s Weekend Round-Up: Best Events in Baltimore

categories: Holidays, RESTAURANTS

It’s that time of year again – love is in the air and singles are in despair. Do you already have plans? What are you waiting for? I’ve put together a list of happenings in Baltimore for the cutest couples, the sexy singles and all my girls celebrating “Galentine’s Day”. Whatever side of the spectrum you’re on, there is something for everyone in Baltimore to enjoy this Valentine’s Day.

Brio Tuscan Grille – $23.50 Lobster Tail or Sea Scallops, $33.95 Surf and Turf. All options include soup or salad.

GrillFire – Thursday 2/11 – Saturday 2/13. $85.00 Prix Fixe dinner for Two includes 2 starters, one entrée sized to share and a double chocolate mousse.

Lebanese Taverna – $45 Three-Course Dinner/$20 Wine Pairing

Jack Binion’s Steak in Horseshoe Casino – $95.00 per couple Three-Course Menu

Wine Market Bistro – $65.00 Four-Course Prix Fixe Dinner

Red Maple – $80 per couple Three-Course Dinner includes one glass of wine or champagne per person.

Linganore Wine Cellars – Days of Wine and Roses: Special Romance Package. $35 Per Couple Wines and Chocolate Pairings. February 12-15.

Warehouse 518 – The Anti-Valentine’s Day Party on Friday, February 12. Specialty Cocktail List, and music start at 9 pm. Bring your bitter heart and maybe a friend, platonic or romantic.

Baltimore Social – $10 in advance, $15.00 day of event. Valentine’s Day Bar Crawl

Johnny Sanchez in Horseshoe Casino – Valentine’s Day Speed Dating $15 Early Bird, $20 General Admission, $25 At the Door. Mix and Mingle with a complimentary cocktail, extended happy hour specials and prize giveaways.

Baltimore Paint Party – Prices and Locations Vary

08
Feb
2016

A look inside Game Day Warehouse

categories: RESTAURANTS

Baltimore sports enthusiast can rejoice because there is a new MVP sports bar in town.

Game Day Warehouse (1400 Warner St) is a fairly new sports bar located within minutes of Horseshoe Casino, M&T Bank Stadium and Orioles Park at Camden Yards. The 10,000 square foot location was once a warehouse and is now complete with 20 TV’s, 6 projector screens, two bars, an interactive DJ station, old school arcade games, pool tables, ping-pong tables, corn hole and many other gaming options.

The menu consists of American-style bar food – burgers, fries, wings, potato skins, etc.

On my last visit I ordered the Black and Bleu Burger with bacon and blue cheese crumbles. I like my burgers well done and they perfected my burger request.

There is also an exclusive liquor vault with hard to find and expensive whiskey and cognac. The main bar in the front room is stocked with Fireball Whiskey. I’ve been to GameDay Warehouse three times and each time they were offering a special discounted price on Fireball shots.

If you are looking for a place to watch the Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens or any sporting event, GameDay Warehouse is the perfect spot. It’s also great for pre-gaming and post-gaming.

Have you been to GameDay Warehouse? Did you enjoy it? Leave a comment below.

03
Feb
2016

Mussels and More at Mussel Bar & Grille in Harbor East

categories: RESTAURANTS

On Monday evening, I visited Mussel Bar & Grille (1350 Lancaster St, Baltimore, MD 21231) with a few friends. I frequently visited the previous tenant/restaurant Townhouse Kitchen & Bar before it closed in early 2014. Mussel Bar & Grille has managed to keep everything the same – the furniture, the large middle bar, the large televisions around the bar, everything except the self-serve table beer taps and the menu.

The open floor plan and exposed ceiling is the first thing you notice when walking into the restaurant. The space features pub-style wood topped tables in all shapes and sizes with leather seating and a private room in the rear of the restaurant for intimate parties and gatherings.

All the action seemed to be going on at the bar located in the middle of the restaurant. The long rectangular-shaped bar is also a focal point of the space because of the 10 large televisions that surround the bar overhead. This makes it easy to watch any sporting event from every angle, no matter where you are sitting in the restaurant, you won’t miss any of the excitement.

MB6 — Provencal Mussels – tomatoes, garlic, parmesan, cream, capers and basil

Of course with a name like “Mussel Bar,” you know the mussel options are SERIOUS. The menu features five mussel options, each with distinctly different flavors. My best friend ordered the Provencal Mussels and they were delicious, loaded with garlic in a creamy tomato based sauce. She also ordered oysters but I can’t tell you how they were because I don’t eat them. I did notice a lot of people ordering them, so they must be good.

We were feeling a little ~~greedy~~ hungry so we ordered a few additional items. My favorite side item was the oven baked feta which was melt-in-your-mouth good! Feta is the perfect cheese to bake in the oven because it keeps its shape and tangy taste. They drizzled the feta cheese with honey and olive oil and added eggplant, these ingredients toned down the pungent cheesy bite.

The Maine Lobster Mac & Cheese was also a hit with chunks of lobster and lots of cheese. They were NOT stingy on the lobster, I had a fork full of lobster with every bite I took.

MB3 — Sweet Potato Fries and House Cut Fries with three dipping sauces

MB4 — Housemade Ice Cream with Caramel Popcorn

The presentation of the food items were wonderful. I love it when my food is served in pots and cast iron skillets, it makes me feel special almost as if the items I ordered were cooked in a home kitchen specifically for me.

Have you visited Mussel Bar & Grille? What is your favorite mussel flavor?

02
Feb
2016

Lunch at Sweet 27 Cafe

categories: RESTAURANTS

Every once in a while I like to take a break from my busy day and have lunch with my co-workers. I’ve heard it’s good to take a short break and step outside for some fresh air. One of my new co-worker mentioned she prefers gluten-free food and wanted to try Sweet 27 Cupcakes and Cafe (123 W 27th Street) because they offer gluten-free items, vegan, vegetarian and soy free items.

We pulled up to the cutest colorful storefront cafe in the Remington neighborhood. Inside was just as colorful with lots of character. The cafe dining area is small with about six dining tables. Connected to the cafe is the actual bakery and a larger restaurant space. The cafe does have a variety of cupcakes on display under the register in a large glass refrigerated case.

They offer flavors such as – Lemon Buttercream, German Chocolate, and Chocolate Raspberry Ganache. In addition to the cupcakes they also bake cookies and other assorted cakes and pies. Everything on the menu is not gluten-free or vegetarian, they also offer carnivorous items.

I ordered the Lamb Kabobs with rice and side salad. For some reason I thought they would come on a skewer, but they were three medium-sized lamb patties the size of sliders. The lamb was drizzled with a mild spiced chutney sauce. My side salad was colorful and included mandarin orange pieces, green apple slices and spiced chutney dressing. My coworker ordered the lamb burger with a side salad. The lamb was seasoned well and cooked to the perfect consistency. We also ordered the Spiced Sweet Potatoes to share. I’m used to the southern soul food sweet potatoes and I was a little skeptical to try the spiced, but they were tasty and better than I expected. I passed on the cupcake, but my gluten-free coworker ordered one and she said it was delicious.

Maybe next time I visit I’ll try one of the gluten-free or vegan items.

Come with me on a Rocket To Venus

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Lunch at Frazier’s On The Avenue

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A Valentine’s Weekend Round-Up: Best Events in Baltimore

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A look inside Game Day Warehouse

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Mussels and More at Mussel Bar & Grille in Harbor East

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Lunch at Sweet 27 Cafe

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