Harford Road | GoodEatsMD

Hamilton Tavern (5517 Harford Road)

I am always looking for a great burger. That is why this week I have chosen Hamilton Tavern as the newest GoodEats recommendation.

Tucked away off of Harford Road, you’ll miss this neighborhood joint if you blink. The interior is painted brown with a rustic feel and a big ornate door capture the storefront — once inside you just feel warm and cozy. All I needed was a blanket and a reclining chair.

The restaurant is comprised of just a couple tables and a short bar as you walk in. Don’t look for a hostess stand here. The restaurant has no need for one, with a friendly bartender waiting to find you a table.

Now, I know I hyped these burgers up, but before I get ahead of myself, let me tell you all about the appetizers.

The appetizers, or “munchies,” are all centered on finger-food and easily shareable items. My family and I started with the daily special house-made chips and dip. That night they were featuring a warm broccoli and cheese beer sauce.

Alongside the chips and dip, we also got the disco fries ($6), which are hand-cut fries with a cheesy duck gravy, cheese blend and scallions. They were a truly guilty indulgence for all of us to enjoy.

Here we go, time to get all of your salivary glands going with this flavorful burger. The Crosstown Burger ($14) starts off with Roseda Farms fresh beef. They top the patty with lettuce, onion and horseradish cheddar. And, if you’re really feeling adventurous, throw a fried egg or bacon on it. The burger lived up to the hype; it was juicy and absolutely amazing.

Not to overshadow the rest of the menu items, but the burger was worth the drive. The pulled pork BBQ biscuit ($13) featuring a homemade cheddar-jalapeno drop biscuit was also scarfed down at my table.

Our server also recommended the falafel pita sandwich ($11) and the chicken sandwich special (a unique sandwich made up daily). No matter the entrée you chose, they are mostly all served with your choice of fries or chips.

For a dollar more, you can get broccoli salad, potato salad, a house salad or Boh Battered O’s. Get the onion rings. I repeat, get the rings, they were the real deal.

Hamilton Tavern had fantastic food and featured a wide array of local and craft drafts and bottles. I hope you all make it out to this newest addition to GoodEats. And as always, if you have anywhere new for me to try please feel free to contact me.

Until next time. I wish you Goodeats.

The Crosstown Burger

– 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.

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Until next time. I wish you GoodEats.