Category Archives: Price $$

Evolution Beer Brunch

The Nickel Taphouse (1604 Kelly Ave.), located in the Mt. Washington neighborhood, was the host of an Evolution Craft Beer brunch. The event focused on locally crafted beers paired with some brunch favorites.

Evolution Craft Brewing Co. calls Salisbury, Md. home. The brewing company was started by two brothers, John and Tom. Tom had a passion for craft beer while John had a passion for food. Evolution has a series of craft beers featured at many restaurants and liquor stores throughout Maryland.

The Nickel Taphouse was featuring a series of Evolution craft brews. My favorite off the list was the Evolution Primal ($6), a slightly hoppy pale ale. Another popular brew was the Evolution Lot #6 ($7.50) a double IPA with an alcohol percentage of 8.5%.

A Sixpoint Ever Upward. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The beer tap list. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Now, by no means do I consider myself a beer expert but I must say these tap brews were great. I was weary at first ordering a beer before 12 p.m. on a Saturday, but pairing these beers with some locally sourced oysters on the half shell was the perfect start to a Saturday brunch.

Half dozen oysters with a Evolution Rebel. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Half dozen oysters with a Evolution Rebel. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The brunch food itself was great. All items were served a la carte off of the brunch menu. I started off with a dozen oysters on the half shell (market price). Eggs Benedict are my go-to when it comes to brunch. Every benedict is different or unique depending on the restaurant. Nickel Taphouse’s Eggs Benedict ($13) was perfect, with perfect poached eggs, pork roll, grilled tomatoes and a velvety hollandaise sauce.

Eggs Benedict. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Eggs Benedict. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Also ordered at the table were the Huevos Enchiladas ($11), an egg burrito with green and red salsas on top. The Crispy Challah French Toast ($10) looked amazing with a lemon cream cheese filling, definitely big enough to share!

The brunch was great and the seafood fresh and tasty. Evolution beer paired perfectly with the brunch offerings. Make your way to Nickel Taphouse for some great food and an extensive tap beer list.

Hope you all enjoy.
Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

Edited by Jared Kurlander

Parts & Labor (2600 N. Howard Street)

Woodberry Kitchen’s Spike and Amy Gjerde have struck gold again with their whole animal butchery shop Parts & Labor. Keeping with their locally sustained philosophy, Parts & Labor sources whole animals to break down in their in-house butchery. The restaurant’s menu changes daily depending on what meats are available.

The restaurant itself was very cozy and intimate. Huge communal tables fill the majority of the restaurant, allowing guests to sit together and enjoy one another’s company. The only downfall of an open communal style restaurant is the noise, as the restaurant got loud during parts of the dinner. One side of the restaurant has booths and the other side includes a beautiful bar and my favorite part, the open kitchen. The kitchen isn’t what you would imagine. At Parts & Labor the majority of the cooking is done on an open flame. The grilling of the meats, the sautéing of vegetables and preparation of side dishes are also done on the open flame. The cooking method made the food and experience that much better.

The daily beer flight offered by Parts & Labor. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The daily beer flight offered by Parts & Labor. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The menu itself was broken down into “snacks” or appetizers, salads, dry-aged butcher’s cuts, varieties, sausages and sides. The menu was extensive to say the least. With a binge meat-eating mentality we got started with the house made charcuterie (hand smoked and cured meats). Featured that night were several different cuts of beef, pork and wild boar.

The hardest part came when choosing what cut of meat to get for my main course. With all the different types of meats, it was hard narrowing down my decision. Among my top choices were the 6oz Skirt Steak ($19) cooked to medium, Cast Iron Chicken ($18) with boneless breast and chicken thigh and Sour Beef Short Ribs ($26). The short ribs are what I ultimately went with and was extremely impressed. The entrée was served with Spätzle (a German pasta side dish) and root vegetables.

The skirt steak served on a garlic herb sauce. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The skirt steak served on a garlic herb sauce. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Sour short rib. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Sour short rib. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Our party, staying with the communal theme, decided to split most dishes. We also ordered the house spicy sausage ($9) served with strong grainy mustard, grilled pork belly served with house coleslaw. The food was amazing, both flavorful and filling. By far my favorite selection was the sausage which was perfectly cooked and extremely flavorful.

Daily spicy sausage. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Daily spicy sausage. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The food, drinks and ambiance of Parts & Labor made for a fun and enjoyable night out. I was thoroughly impressed. For those of you who are looking for a great piece of meat look no further.

I highly recommend making a reservation; Parts & Labor is not even a year old.

 

Hope you enjoy.

 

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander. 

B&O American Brasserie

I found the next restaurant on my list of GoodEats nestled in the Hotel Monaco of Baltimore. B&O American Brasserie is cleverly named after the prior owners of the building: The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Headquarters.

With a clever chef and a supporting staff, B&O Brasserie has been moving up in the Baltimore restaurant scene.

Executive Chef Michael Ransom, originally from Chicago, takes his spin on the restaurant’s coastal-influenced menu. Chef Ransom is relatively new to Baltimore. He just recently moved from San Francisco.

Chef Ransom rolled out his new seasonal menu in the middle of October, featuring about 30 different menu items. The menu highlights fresh seafood, creative brick oven flatbread combinations and beautiful cuts of meat. Chef Ransom says he was inspired by how food has evolved over the years.

The restaurant currently serves breakfast five days a week, lunch daily, dinner daily, brunch on the weekends and a happy hour menu during the weekdays.

The lunch menu. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The lunch menu. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

I had to try B&O for myself, so I took a trip downtown Thursday for lunch. The restaurant offers valet parking (only $5 with validation), which is so convenient not having to deal with busy Charles Street. Once inside, the architecture did all the talking. The restaurant just felt historic but with nice contemporary and modern notes.

For lunch, I started with Cheddar Fondue ($11) off of the “Starters” menu. The dish was huge, definitely enough to share. The starter included a smoky cheese fondue with a hoppy taste (Chef used Lefthand Milk Stout) and handfuls of homemade kettle-style potato chips.

Cheddar Fondue. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Cheddar Fondue. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Also off of the same menu, I tried the PEI Mussels ($12). These were amazing. PEI, an acronym for Prince Edward Island, a Canadian province, is where the restaurant sources these mollusks. The mussels were served with huge sausage balls, a chili-yuzu butter and Allagash White Ale. The broth was comforting and spicy at the same time. It was definitely a favorite of the meal.

PEI Mussels. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

PEI Mussels. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

For my main dish, I had the choice of brick oven flatbread, salads, or sandwiches. With recommendation from the chef, I went with the Pressed Cubano ($15). The sandwich was huge. I couldn’t believe it was a lunch portion and served with a side (hand-cut fries, potato salad, or mixed greens). The sandwich had spicy braised pork, shaved ham, sweet pickles, Swiss cheese and spicy mustard. Napkins are a must for this sandwich.

Pressed Cubano served with mixed greens. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Pressed Cubano served with mixed greens. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

A Cheeseburger ($15) with a bacon jam, Maryland Crab Cake Sandwich ($19) and a braised pit beef sandwich ($13) were also featured on the lunch menu.

I’ll have to go back and see a dinner service, but I was thoroughly impressed during my visit.

Hope you all have a chance to make it out to the brasserie.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

The BoatHouse (2809 Boston Street)

On Nov. 18, I was invited by Downtown Diane to come and enjoy The Boathouse. I had been invited to a similar event just a few months prior so I had some type of idea what was to come. The expectations I had were completely wrong. I imagined a few samplings and some time to mingle. That by no means was the case. The food seemed to be never ending, but I’ll get to those specifics later.

The BoatHouse is a relatively new restaurant to the Canton area. Situated right on the water, the restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating (right on the water) for those nicer days. The restaurant is a two-floor open set up with tables placed around the bottom dining room and more seating upstairs. Our event was hosted on the upstairs level of the restaurant.

Once upstairs, appetizers were already plated and ready to be eaten. The BoatHouse featured some of their favorites including: oysters on the half shell, lobster mac n’ cheese and calamari. The lobster mac was decadent, so cheesy and topped with huge pieces of lobster meat. The calamari was also a huge hit. Lightly breaded tender pieces of squid fried with cherry peppers and a spicy marinara.

Lobster mac n' cheese. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Lobster mac n’ cheese. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Oysters on the half shell. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Oysters on the half shell. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

After a few drinks, appetizers and some mingling, it was time for the main course. I kid you not, there was enough food to feed an army and everything looked unbelievable. I hope you all know this is a judge free zone so no judging on the amounts of food I devoured. Dinner included a spinach salad, chicken Chesapeake, hanger steak and frites, grilled salmon and a roasted penne.

Now, to make all your mouths water.

The spinach salad was such a clean, fresh way to start the meal. The salad had pears, crumbled goat cheese, bacon, walnuts, cherry peppers, roasted sweet onions and a sweet honey balsamic vinaigrette. After the salad I quickly moved on to the chicken Chesapeake, a personal favorite of mine. The BoatHouse had a nice spin on their chicken Chesapeake serving it with prosciutto and an old bay cream sauce. The crowd favorite was the grilled salmon served in a cast iron skillet with crunchy Brussel sprouts, bacon, pearl onions and a rosemary balsamic butter.

Spinach Salad. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Spinach Salad. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Grilled Salmon. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student

Grilled Salmon. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student

Hopefully these three dishes have you sold, but if not, The BoatHouse also has a pretty sweet Happy Hour including both menu specials and drink specials. Also, they have “yappy hour”, a happy hour inspired menu every Thursday that incorporates your four-legged friends. The BoatHouse also features a brunch menu Saturdays and Sundays with bottomless mimosas for only $10.

Head Chef Matt Campbell is an artist in the kitchen pairing fresh seafood with local produce. With a friendly and personable mentality, he is the perfect fit for this up and coming restaurant.

I hope you all make it a point to go out and enjoy The BoatHouse in Canton. It is definitely GoodEats.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

Edited by Jared Kurlander.


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Ryleigh’s Oyster House (22 Padonia Road)

Before I begin reviewing the next restaurant on the list of GoodEats, I’d like to thank all of you. I’ve now been operating GoodEatsMD for almost 10 months and the support has been unbelievable. Without all of your help, I wouldn’t be where I am now. So, this post is dedicated to all of you, my fans. Without further adieu here is my newest recommendation.

Ryleigh’s Oyster House, the fresh seafood house in Federal Hill, has now opened a second restaurant in Hunt Valley. Located off of Padonia Road (accessed by York Road), this favorite restaurant of mine has a beautiful new home. The restaurant is chic and very modern. The interior is highlighted by a huge dining room with a focal point around the massive oyster-shucking bar. Patrons sit around the bar and watch the action. The restaurant also includes a full-service bar inside and one outside, as well as a huge outdoor dining area.

The inside dining room of Ryleigh's including a look at the outside dining. Photo by yelp.com

The inside dining room of Ryleigh’s including a look at the outside dining. Photo by yelp.com

The menu is focused around seafood, starting with the specials, which lists the daily local oysters available on the half shell. Ryleigh’s compiles a hefty list of local oysters, somewhere around a dozen different types ranging in brininess, texture and size. I went with the Hollywood Oysters, a local, sweeter oyster from St. Mary’s County, served with all the fixings (hot sauce, vinegar, cocktail sauce and horseradish).

Half Dozen of the Hollywood Oysters served with all the fixings. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Half Dozen of the Hollywood Oysters served with all the fixings. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

A Hollywood Oyster up close and personal. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

A Hollywood Oyster up close and personal. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The appetizer list was extensive, featuring some bar favorites and seafood classics. I went with the crab dip ($13). A hot and cheesy dip served in a cast-iron dish accompanied with crunchy bread perfect for dipping. The dip was all lump crab. The waitress also suggested the crab pretzels ($11), warm crab dip served on soft pretzels.

Cast-iron Crab Dip. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Cast-iron Crab Dip. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The entrees and sandwiches carried a similar theme, providing several seafood options. The first thing that caught my eye was the fish tacos ($14): three huge tacos served with a chipotle sauce and pico de gallo. The fish was fresh and flavorful. The fish and chips ($15) made with Atlantic cod and hand cut fries was also suggested. My friend, also a Marylander, holds crab cakes true to his heart. He went with the crab cake sandwich ($15), served with lump Maryland Blue Crab and a homemade slaw. The sandwich was huge and featured a plump crab cake.

The Crab Cake Sandwich served with a tangy Tartar Sauce. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The Crab Cake Sandwich served with a tangy Tartar Sauce. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Ryleigh’s Oyster House had some great food. Whether you are in the Hunt Valley area or downtown by Federal Hill and are in need of some great Maryland seafood, give Ryleigh’s a try.

Fish Tacos served with house made Pico de Gallo. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Fish Tacos served with house made Pico de Gallo. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Follow GoodEats on Twitter and Instagram at @GoodEatsMD, and like us on Facebook.

 

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats.

 

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Papermoon Diner (227 W. 29th Street)

It was a lazy Saturday morning and my roommate and I were looking for somewhere a little different to go eat. I was in the mood for diner fare and didn’t want one of the usual suspects. After some short research, I came across my next GoodEat, Papermoon Diner, in Remington. The website reads, “Comfort food meets a Baltimore twist.” This was all I needed to get into my car and drive the short 15-minute car ride from campus.

I’m going to be honest, the restaurant is funky. The décor is eclectic. Once you open the door to the restaurant you are greeted by a huge collection of Pez dispensers. The dining room brought more surprises. The corner of the room housed dozens of mannequins and baby dolls caged in by the framework. Despite the very strange décor, the food and service was perfect.

The menu was huge and everything on it was screaming my name. I had to narrow it down to breakfast or I would have been looking at the menu for hours. Our waiter pointed out some of his favorites and then the decision was ours. We started off with Charlotte’s Web ($8.95): hand cut French fries drizzled with hearty gravy, Romano cheese and two runny eggs. They were delicious.

Deciding on my main entrée was a difficult decision. Our waiter had suggested the Eggs Benedict, Banana Foster French Toast ($12) and the Vanilla Custard French Toast ($12.5). I went with the Eggs Benedict ($11), which is served with your choice of ham, tomato, spinach, avocado, smoked salmon, or crabmeat. A toasted English muffin topped with poached eggs, avocado, and rich hollandaise sauce made this a scrumptious rendition of a classic. My friend went with the Vanilla Custard French Toast. The plate itself was a spectacle, with pinwheels of colors spewing from the French toast epicenter. The French toast was made with a homemade vanilla curd, blueberry syrup, and fresh blueberries. The dish was so good we were tempted to lick the plate.

Vanilla Custard French Toast. Photo by Taylor Seidel/ TU Student

Vanilla Custard French Toast. Photo by Taylor Seidel/ TU Student

The food, décor and outstanding service made Papermoon Diner a new favorite of mine. Welcome the unconventional décor and you’ll be rewarded with delicious food.

 

Avocado Eggs Benedict. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Avocado Eggs Benedict. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

 

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats.

 

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Michael’s Cafe (2119 York Road)

Being a newly turned 21-year-old college student, happy hour is something to look forward to. The problem is, Towson University doesn’t have a close-by bar that has great food and great drink specials. Well ladies and gentleman, I am pleased to announce that Michael’s Café is your answer. Having enjoyed this restaurant three separate times, it is safe to say it deserves a spot on my list of GoodEats.

A short 10-minute drive down York Road from campus is what separates you from delicious house prepared menu items. As said before, I am a big fan of happy hour (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.); a restaurant puts together a great menu for discounted prices, what’s not to like about that? Michael’s is no different. They strategically break up their happy hour menu into three different price ranges ($6, $7, and $8). Not only are they cheap, but they also are filling and just plain good.

The happy hour menu includes all different types of food selections. I highly recommend the crab nachos ($8), topped with huge lumps of crabmeat and melted cheese. Also, the Jalapeno Shrimp Ceviche ($8), a perfect blend of acidic and spicy notes. Lastly, I have to highlight the Pulled Pork Tacos ($7), which are just as big in size as they are in flavor.

Now, here is the kicker: Michael’s also has unbelievable lunch and dinner entrees, and brunch (you have to try it once). A few of my now all-time favorites are the Shrimp, Tomato, and Feta Salad ($13.50). The chef stacks the three ingredients, topping it all with light vinaigrette, which is extremely light and refreshing. The Chicken Marsala ($16) is fantastic, sautéed with mushrooms and a tangy marsala sauce. Lastly, being a raw bar, you have to give some credit to the delicious oysters on a half shell ($2 each). The seafood is native to the areas around Maryland and they are deliciously fresh.

If the happy hour and regular menu don’t get you running to your cars to come to Michael’s, then the near-perfect ambiance of a beautiful dining room or enclosed patio/bar should. The food and décor combine for a pleasant dining experience. Please also check out their daily specials. They are amazing!

Hope you all enjoy!

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

This has been an amazing 7 months, thanks for all the support!

Shrimp, Tomato and Feta Salad

Shrimp, Tomato and Feta Salad

Crab Nachos

Crab Nachos

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Maggie’s Farm (4341 Harford Road)

The whole fun of operating my own food blog is being able to just go out and explore new restaurants that Baltimore has to offer. Last night, on whim, I did a little research to find a new restaurant to try and hopefully review. As I was reviewing the 50 best restaurants of 2014, I stumbled across Maggie’s Farm on Harford Road. The restaurant was an acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant, which is a huge plus. Essentially, that means the restaurant sources local produce, meats and other locally grown products. I was sold.

That night, a friend and I ventured the short 15 minute drive from Towson’s campus to try out this potential GoodEat. The restaurant was small and hard to find at first, but look for the Safeway off of Harford Road; it’s right next door. A great sign whenever trying a new restaurant is the decals posted on the front door, and Maggie’s Farm had quite the collection. This included Zagat rated and TripAdvisor certified.

The restaurant was quirky and dimly lit inside. It was a beautiful night, so I opted to sit outside on the patio. Shortly after being seated, I delved into the complex, yet interesting menu they were offering that night (the menu is seasonal and does differ depending on the fresh ingredients). Our server suggested a few small plates to share that they were known for and we jumped on them all. We started off with Crispy Brussel Sprouts ($8) that were deep fried and topped with small pieces of pork and grapes. It was delicious, plain and simple. But, my favorite appetizer would have to be the Fried Oyster Steamed Bun ($5 each). They start off with a doughy, homemade bun and then top it with kimchi (a Korean style fermented vegetables), a basil mayo, and fried plump oyster. It was amazing. I actually debated ordering five of them for my main course.

The tough part came when deciding on what entrée to choose. I was stuck between the Grilled PA Duck ($13) and the Braised Roseda Short Rib ($14). Luckily, my friend chose to get the short rib so it made my decision a lot easier. I’ll start off with the duck. It was tender and juicy and served over rice with bourbon-poached figs delicately placed on the plate. The short rib was just as good, tender and just pulled apart with a fork. The kicker was the zucchini hoe cake (pancake-esque) the meat was served on. Additionally, the ‘Merica Burger ($14) and the Falafel ($12) were suggested by our waiter.

The dessert was what put this restaurant into another league. The menu was highlighted by their seasonal and homemade ice cream. I had the pleasure of enjoying a sweet corn and blackberry ice cream. Both were exceptional.

Maggie’s Farm also offers weekly specials, including a Wine Wednesday when all bottles of wine are $10 off.

Maggie’s Farm was worth it. It was an amazing meal and experience. The food was clean and sophisticated.

Can’t get enough of GoodEats? Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @GoodEatsMD!

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats.

Grilled PA duck.

Grilled PA duck.

Fried oyster steam bun.

Fried oyster steam bun.

The fried brussel sprouts.

The fried brussel sprouts.

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Mama’s on the Half Shell (2901 O’Donnell Street)

The next restaurant I had the pleasure of enjoying is Mama’s on the Half Shell. Located in the heart of Canton in downtown Baltimore City, this is a seafood lovers dream. Mama’s on the Half Shell prides itself on fresh and delicious seafood dishes and their amazing cocktails.

The restaurant is always packed, so come early and expect a wait. The wait may be long but the food and drinks are worth every minute.

If you have a long wait, I suggest heading to the bar and getting a drink. Mama’s on the Half Shell is known for their Orange Crush. A sweet and refreshing cocktail pairing liquor with fresh squeezed orange juice. If that isn’t right up your alley, the bartenders will happily whip up any drink of your desire.

The restaurant area upstairs is extremely cozy, with tables almost on top of one another and a huge wood fire in the back. Scattered around the dining room are old antique pictures of Baltimore landmarks.

The menu is quite overwhelming, as it all looks unbelievable. I highly recommend starting with some shellfish from the raw bar (clams, mussels, oysters). If you don’t like raw seafood, you have to try either the Crab and Artichoke Dip or the Seafood Skins. The Seafood Skins are potato skins topped with lump crabmeat, scallops, and shrimp, baked with cheddar cheese. Some of my other favorites are the Calamari, Beer Mussels and Oysters Rockefeller (baked oysters topped with cheese and spinach).

The main course is always the hardest choice. So many choices and all of them sound so good. I have narrowed it down to three of my all-time favorites. The crab cakes are amazing, served either on their own or as a sandwich. The Lobster Roll, which comes as huge chunks of sweet and buttery lobster, is unbelievable. The Oyster PoBoy – Big oysters hand fried and topped with coleslaw and tarter sauce – is another one of my favorites.

This restaurant is an amazing addition to the list of GoodEats. Great drinks and unbelievable food with an amazing atmosphere highlight Mama’s on the Half Shell.

Hopefully, my recommendations will be your top choices when you go and visit. If not, don’t be afraid to try something a little different, and please try some seafood, after all, that is what they are known for.

Average appetizers are between $8 – $12.
Average sandwich/entrees are between $10 – $25 depending on the type of seafood.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats.

Follow us on Twitter @GoodEatsMD for more GoodEats!

The Oyster PoBoy

The Oyster PoBoy

Creamy Shrimp Salad Sandwich

Creamy Shrimp Salad Sandwich

Seafood Potato Skins

Seafood Potato Skins

Mama's on the Half Shell famous Orange Crush

Mama’s on the Half Shell famous Orange Crush

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

The Corner Stable Restaurant (9942 York Road)

Here we go, boys and girls, for one of the mac daddies of GoodEats. If you like finger-licking-good barbecue, I have quite the restaurant for you. The Corner Stable Restaurant is located right off of York Road in Cockeysville, Md. It would be nearly impossible to miss the reddish barn-like restaurant with a blackish-gray roof. Plastered on the roof in huge capital white letters is the slogan, “Baltimore’s Best Ribs,” and they aren’t kidding.

The décor is nothing that special – a long bar located on the far left side of the restaurant and an array of booths and tables filling up the rest of the space. Televisions with sporting events and keno numbers round it out.

The restaurant is almost always packed – I guess that’s the tell-all about the food. You should expect huge portions and reasonable prices.

Enough babble, the food is the true showstopper. The menu is backed by baby back ribs, barbecue chicken, and colossal hand packed crab cakes. Make sure you ask your server about the specials, each day has a featured menu item at a discounted price (for those wanting big flavors, but not big prices).

I went to The Corner Stable with three of my friends on a weeknight for dinner. We had a small wait, so we had a seat at the bar to kill the time. It was about 6 p.m. so we indulged in a beer as we waited. Lucky for us it was happy hour and all of the beers were discounted, which was a great start to our night. After a short ten minute wait we were finally seated.

The menu may be overwhelming to those who have never been here before. Take my advice and go for the barbecue food. The proof is truly in the cooking. If you are utterly against barbecue, than be adventurous. I have had some seafood and a few sandwiches off of the menu and they are pretty good – not as good as the barbecue, but still very good.

My friends and I started off with the onion bloomer, which is just like Outback Steakhouse’s Bloomin’ Onion, just a little better. Also, please, please, please order the cornbread. You will not find it on the menu so you have to explicitly ask your server. It’s amazing.

Ok, now for the main course. I always get ribs here. It isn’t even a question anymore of what to get. They are exceptionally good. The Corner Stable’s baby back ribs just fall off the bone and have the most wonderful, slightly sweet, homemade barbecue sauce. Now, if you’re feeling up for it, go for the “Showstopper,” which is a half pound jumbo lump crab cake plus a full rack of ribs and your choice of two homemade sides. Average entrée price ranges from about $15 up to $30 for the Showstopper.

This brings me to our next order of business: the sides. A few of my favorites are: the stable fries, macaroni and cheese, and the onion rings. You’ll have to let me know about some of the others, as I don’t usually venture past those three go-to items.

If you are looking for a restaurant that you’ll leave with a belly full of good food and fingers still sticky from the tantalizing sauce, this is your place!

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats.

Can’t get enough of GoodEats? Follow us on Twitter at: @GoodEatsMD

Half Rack of the Baby Back Ribs

Half Rack of the Baby Back Ribs

Crab Cake served along side stable fries and homemade mac and cheese

Crab Cake served along side stable fries and homemade mac and cheese

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander.