Lib's Grill {Restaurant Feature/ Review}

Name: Lib's Grill

Location: 5009 Honeygo Center Drive Perry Hall, Maryland 21128 in the Honeygo Village Shopping Center. The shopping center is filled with other restaurants, boutiques, and health services so the parking directly in front of the restaurant fills up quickly. There is a larger lot behind the building which is where I would recommend parking {and going through the restaurant's back entrance}.

Prices: So here's the scoop... Saturday's and Sunday's at lunch time they serve a limited menu for brunch. All other times they serve the entire lunch and dinner menu which has a snack section with items priced under $5. I LOVE that section {I personally can vouch for the deviled eggs, edamame, sriracha ranch dip, and pretzels with beer cheese} but since we were there on a Saturday we had to choose from a small list of appetizers priced between $6-$14. All other prices are normal... not great but I wouldn't say it's overpriced either. Our bill ended up being $57 for 3 beers, an orange crush, fried oyster appetizer, and 2 sandwiches. It was expense for a lunch but standard considering we got 4 alcoholic drinks... man alcoholic drinks are expensive I think I need to stick to water! ;)

Food: The fried oysters were okay... I've had better. They came out warm not piping hot like I would prefer and I couldn't figure out what sauce I liked... the hollandaise was too bland and the black sriracha just wasn't my thing. Look how big Jon's tenderloin sandwich was!! He enjoyed his even though it was very hard to eat. His meat was very tender! I got the chicken sandwich assuming it was going to be fried {it didn't specify so this is just what I was thinking for some reason} and was disappointed when it came out grilled. That disappointment went away quickly though because it was cooked perfectly and juicy. The rest of the sandwich however was so so bland! The description on the menu said it would have honey mustard on it so I thought that would give it a nice flavor but I was wrong. I'm not sure it was even honey mustard... looked and tasted more like a grain mustard. I should have gone with the crab cake sandwich for 5 extra bucks.

Ambiance: We ate at the bar which was very comfortable but then again there weren't many people at the bar. It's a very pretty bar with granite countertops and dark lighting. They also have chalkboard walls where they write specials, drinks, and their oyster list. There's a glass wall dividing the bar and dining area- The dining area caries over the same feel just a little less casual. Lighting is dark and the area is filled with both booths and tables dressed with linen napkins. This is definitely a place you could come with family and sit in the dining area for a nice dinner but also a place you could come for drinks and appetizers with friends and feel like you are having a night out!

Interested in more of my restaurant reviews?

Iron Rooster - Ethel's Creole Kitchen - Oyamel

         Follow Justine's board Food & Drink on Pinterest.   

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34

Iron Rooster {Restaurant Feature\Review}

Saturday morning, Jon and I had brunch at the Iron Rooster. It was our first time dining there so I'm excited to share our experience with you all! Our goal was to get there around 9 or 10am but we decided to sleep in and take our time getting ready so we didn't actually get there until noon... when they were having a little rush. I'm not sure what the crowd would have been like if we got there earlier like planned. We were told the wait for 2 was around 30 to 45 minutes. Since we were looking forward to eating there, we decided to stay and head to the bar for a drink in the meantime. As luck would have it, a couple was getting up from their seats so we sat down and just decided to dine at the bar!

 

Name: Iron Rooster

Location: 3721 Boston Street Baltimore, MD. The restaurant is located in Canton Crossing, a newer shopping center with other restaurants, a grocery store, and a few retail stores. On a Saturday the parking lot gets packed so you may have to park near one of the retail stores and walk {not far}.

Source

Prices: I think some things on the menu were overpriced while others were priced just right! For instance, we spent $17 on just two drinks!!! Jon got the "Raging Rooster" priced at $9 and I got the "Iron Crush" priced at $8. But a fresh 2 egg breakfast with meat, homefries, and toast is just $9.95 and their specialty homemade pop-tarts are just $5.95. So all in all I'd have to say if you go there definitely do not get one of their cocktails. If you want an alcoholic beverage I guess you're better off getting one of their draft beers priced at $6

 

Food: We ordered a "chicken and {puffy} dumplings" as an appetizer to split. There's no description on the menu so I assumed it was going to be a bowl of classic chicken n' dumplings... you know, creamy. But I was wrong. It was more like a chicken noodle soup but without noodles and dumplings instead. A sure shock when it first came out but after tasting it mmmmmm it was so good! For our meals Jon went with the breakfast tacos and I decided to get the ranchers benny. I was very pleased with my meal and would get it again. The home fries that come as a side are simple but delicious. Jon was a tad disappointed when his came out because the menu read "pork belly" but when his dish came out it was just regular sliced bacon. When we've been to other restaurants usually pork belly means a thicker, chunkier cut {almost like large cubes} of bacon. He said the tacos tasted good and he quickly got over that initial disappointment. We were too full to try one of the pop-tarts but we will be back for that because those looked really yummy and everyone raves about them!

Ambiance: Since we ended up dining at the bar, that was our only view {haha}! But it was a very nice bar with plenty of room to eat. Don't you hate when you go to a bar and feel cramped? I didn't feel that way at all. The restaurant had tables and booths. The booths were huge and can accommodate parties of 8 or less. There's an upstairs and if you eat up there, you can look down on the entire main dining room which is pretty cool! I think they are going for a country kitchen feel with a modern flare which they accomplished pretty well. Our bartender was really sweet and although he was busy, he never looked stressed. He served us waters with our alcoholic drinks without me having to ask {which I really love}! And asked our food was, immediately when it came out. Overall we had great service and enjoyed the atmosphere!

Follow Justine's board Food & Drink on Pinterest.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34

Restaurant Review, Ethel's Creole Kitchen

Name: Ethel's Creole Kitchen

 

Location: 1615 Sulgrave Ave, Baltimore, Maryland 21209. Ethel's Creole Kitchen is located in the heart of Mt. Washington Village. They are accessible via Light Rail (2 min. walk from Mt. Washington Stop) and via I-83 (a 4 min drive from the Northern Parkway East exit). Mt. Washington offers fantastic walking, shopping, and dinning options for those who are interested. Everything from a Whole Foods Complex to numerous restaurants, boutique shops, and bars are all just steps away from each other in Mt. Washington. Valet parking is available.

 



Prices: Our total bill was around $32. Lunch sandwiches range from $10-$15 and are served with chips- same with the lunch entrees. Dinner appetizers range from $9-$15 and entrees range from about $20-$29. I can vouch that the lunch entrée proportion was large and so I can only imagine the size of a dinner entrée. Compared to a chain restaurant, you are going to obviously spennd a few extra dollars but this is fresh authentic creole made by artisans and to me it is definitely worth it! Compared to other downtown restaurants, it is right on point.

 



Food: We were there for just a quick lunch during the work week so we opted out of drinks and an appetizer which we normally do when we go out to eat. Instead we each got a lunch entrée and that filled us up quite a bit... we even had enough for a take home box! I decided to go with the crab cake sandwich. I can honestly tell you it was the best I've ever had. It starts out with fresh toasted ciabatta bread which is prepared daily {so so good}. Next is the 6 oz. crab cake topped with lettuce and tomato. Finally, a remoulade sauce is served on the side. I wasn't sure if I would like the remoulade so I tried a small amount first. It was delicious and really tied in all the flavors so I loaded my sandwich up with that!



Jon went with the andoullie and chicken gumbo. Our server recommended it and told us it was the best in town. He was not wrong! It impressed Jon so much that he wants to go back for dinner to try the jambalaya and the creole shrimp boat. The gumbo is a slow simmered, rich Louisiana stew made with a dark roux, 4 different stocks, okra, and andoullie sausage At least that's what the menu says. To me it was pure goodness! It was my first time trying gumbo and I absolutely enjoyed it. Definitely a must if you're going to eat at this restaurant.

 

Ambiance: I felt like I was in Louisiana when I stood in front of the restaurant. The small street and cute buildings reminded me of something you would find in New Orleans. The tables are set casual and bistro style. We sat on the main floor where there is a small bar and window to see into the kitchen. We did not get a chance to see what the upstairs looked like but as you can see from the outside, they offer outdoor seating on the balcony! Our server was very nice and welcoming. He gave us a little background of the restaurant and menu since we were newcomers. He also gave very great and accurate recommendations on the food. We were not disappointed!!! And we will be back :)

 



XoXo

Restaurant Review, Oyamel in DC

Name: Oyamel

Location: 401 7th Street NW Washington DC In the Penn Quarter at the corner of 7th and D. Parking is on the street (fee per hour) unless you want to reserve a spot on a lot for a flat fee ($11-$22). See the Oyamel website for that.

Prices: Our total bill was $77 and we got 2 margaritas, a soda, chips and salsa, queso dip, and 2 dishes each. Overall pricing was mediocre... I wouldn't say it was high and I wouldn't say it was cheap either. The food is top quality and I think the pricing was right on considering that. 

Food: We started off with 2 Oyamel margaritas ($12 a piece) and they were delicious... basically a classic margarita but with "salt air" (which was a first for us) instead of a salt rim. The salt air was so cool and lasted the entire drink. With each sip, you got the perfect amount of salt flavor! I think for the size, it could have been a dollar or two cheaper.

{Please excuse the bags under my eyes and the messy hair... the Eric Church concert was the night before! ;) }

It was recommended by our server that each person get 3 dishes since they serve small plates. With that being said, we split queso and salsa as our "appetizer" and then each got 2 dishes.... we were so full and each had 1 dish to take home. So it is my suggestion that each person start out by ordering 2 dishes and then 1 more if you are still hungry.

Moving on to what we ordered. The "Queso fundido con tequila" ($8) was delicious but we preferred eating it with tortilla chips rather than the tortilla shells that it was served with. It was perfectly cheesy and not spicy (mix with salsa if you like spicy). 

I ordered the "Taco de hongos con crema" ($4) and "Frijoles Rebosero enchilados" ($10)... both were great but the taco knocked it out of the park. I totally recommend it to vegetarians and meat lovers alike! The taco was filled with mushrooms and shallots while the frijoles dish was a mix of beans and vegetables. 

Jon went with the "Gorditas de pato" ($12) and "Quesadilla de chicharrones" ($8.50). He says the gorditas knocked it out of the park for him and reminded him of a dish that he gets at Anejo (our all time favorite mexican restaurant). The gorditas were topped with duck confit while the quesadilla was filled with pork belly.

Ambiance: I don't even know how to describe the decor. I feel like it was really artsy and fun! Definitely a casual place but they had a room in the back with darker lighting and different decor for more formal events. There's a large bar, 2 open dining spaces, a small corner bar, and then the back room. It's a huge place but trust me, it fills up! You might consider making a reservation because there were only a few tables left on a Wednesday around 1pm. Our server was great and made the best recommendations for us as well as describing the food to us in detail. She highly recommended the guacamole a few times but Jon isn't really a fan so we passed. Come to find out, they come to the table and make the guacamole in front of you! I was so jealous when I saw another table order it. The next time we are there (and there WILL be a next time!), I'm definitely ordering the guacamole!!!

{The table behind us who ordered guacamole... #jealy}

XoXo

Restaurant Review, Brunch at The Milton Inn

Name: The Milton Inn

Location: 14833 York Road Sparks, MD 21152 Okay so this place is a little off the radar if you are in the city but I promise it is oh so worth it. If you hop on York Road and head North it should take you about 25 minutes to get there. 

Prices: I'm going to start off by saying that our total bill was just a bit over $100. We first ordered drinks... a German beer ($8) for Jon and a mimosa ($10) for me. Way overpriced if you ask me! But to justify the mimosa, it was served in a large wine glass rather than a champagne flute. Appetizers went up to $16 for crab dip and entrees were in the $16-$32 range.

Food: For our appetizer we were considering the crab dip but for just 2 more dollars, we split the lobster mac and cheese which was technically an entree. The lobster mac was absolutely delicious and I would definitely recommend it. It was perfectly creamy and baked with bread crumbs on top!

Jon decided to go with the steak and eggs but he's not a fan of goat cheese so he requested for his eggs to be poached rather than scrambled. He loved his choice (although his steak was cooked a tad overdone than he'd prefer)! 

I went with the zucchini "crab cake" and omg vegetarians AND meat lovers are sure to love this dish. It had me at "white bean salad" because I absolutely adore white beans. The entire meal was something to rave about but I just have to say the fried onions on top of my salad were to die for.

Ambiance: The old mansion was decked out in holiday decor and it felt so cozy and historic. They are a couple of dining rooms on the left and right when you walk through the front door. Toward the back is the bar area where they offer small plates instead of large entrees. It appears that they also have a covered patio which I'm sure is open during warmer weather. Tables were set with white linens and a candle. Service was impeccable and servers dress formal. 

XoXo

Restaurant Review, Fork and Wrench

Name: Fork and Wrench

Location: 2322 Boston Street Baltimore, MD 21224 I wouldn't call it the Canton area and I wouldn't call it the Fells Point area... it's right in between! If you know where the Captain James Restaurant is (you can't really miss it), it's a block from there. Your only option for parking is the street or valet (not complimentary).

{Absolutely gorgeous outside}

Prices: Our total bill was only about $70 but we decided to do a couple of appetizers and some drinks rather than a normal dinner where we would split an appetizer and each get an entree.

Each appetizer was $12-$15 and the proportions were large. In fact Jon got the pork belly appetizer and it looked like an entree! 

Food: We started out splitting the fried oysters which were just okay... we've had better. We weren't a fan of the lemon aioli because we thought the lemon flavor was too strong. The pickled chiles were great with it though (and not spicy). 

Jon got the pork belly which was delicious! Served on top of a bed of mashed potatoes and some marinated grapes. He thought the grapes would be too sweet but he ended up loving them! And I did too! He got so full from this that we didn't get anything else to eat like we planned.

I got the cheese board (because I thought we were going to get something else after that lol). It was a generous size... I've been to places where they only give small portions of cheese but this wasn't the case. I had 3 to choose from with a yummy jam, olives, and toasted bread. I enjoyed the cheese but the blue cheese was a bit strong for my liking. I'm sure others would disagree.

Ambiance: A cute eclectic place... very small! It was hard to get a drink at the bar while we waited for our table because I felt like I was in the way- servers were trying to get to their tables. We were seated upstairs in a little side room where it was actually pretty dark. I didn't mind but it was hard to get good pictures! Tables were set with linen napkins and a candle. Our server brought us water right away and was very attentive the entire time but I thought he could have been a little friendlier. I noticed that the employees all help each other and seem to have a good comradery. No complaints as far as service goes! And I can say we will probably be back next Spring or Summer to try out the new menu since it changes seasonally :)

{The cute booths on the main floor... see how close they are to the bar? No standing room}

{The view from our table}

 

XoXo