I really wanted to like this restaurant. It was highly recommended by many critics. But I was disappointed, starting with the lukewarm service and following the mediocre food. For a restaurant like this, I would expect a more attentive service.
Winne’s Delectable Mac & Cheese
It might sound silly but I did not like the plating. I guess I was looking for a cozy feeling on a cold night when I ordered Mac & Cheese. I was hoping it would be bubbling in a casserole dish with a little burnt cheese.
Bone Marrow Bread Pudding - brioche bread pudding, mushrooms & herbs topped with marrow bone & garlic marrow butter
This dish was unique and good.
Bacon Wrapped Meat Loaf - Smoked Gouda mashed potatoes, braised greens, mushroom-rye gravy
Again, I was not sure if it was the plating but the food just felt "cold."
Game Balls - Duo of duck & venison meatballs, clementine coriander sauce, cherry-ancho sauce, Smoked Gouda mashed, spinach
The meat was tough and was not enjoyable.
The only extra point of this place was that it had a play area for kids.
For more information, visit http://www.clementinebaltimore.com.
Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop
Located in the heart of Little Italy, this bakery has been here since 1956 offering mouthwatering pastries.
Cannoli were made to order.
For more information, visit https://www.vaccarospastry.com.
Jimmy's Famous Seafood
Amazing food, great service and nice ambiance.
The Famous Roll - Shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, scallop, cream cheese, avocado, corn, crab mix and Hawaiian BBQ
This sushi roll was above and beyond amazing. How much seafood could they have crammed in there?! No wonder it was the FAMOUS roll.
Soft Crabs - Twin whale soft crabs lightly dusted and pan-fried
This was a dream come true. I always liked soft shell crabs but they were hard to find. The seasoned coating was just right and they were pan-fried perfectly. I really enjoyed this dish.
Seafood Combination - A feast to satisfy all your seafood taste buds. An assortment consisting of a 5 oz. crab cake, fillet of tilapia, fried oysters, scallops, shrimp, and steamed shrimp
For more information, visit http://jimmysfamousseafood.com.
Miss Shirley's Cafe
Considering the restaurant was in the middle of a tourist spot, the food was very good. The dishes had a Southern root plus unique combination of ingredients.
Maryland Omelet - Jumbo lump crab meat, tomatoes & Swiss cheese, dusted with Old Bay
This was Baltimore, of course you needed to have Old Bay on everything. Served with Shredded Potato & Onion Hash Browns and Cheddar, Pimento & Chive Biscuit.
Benne Seed Chicken 'N Waffles - Fried boneless breast of chicken pieces & a honey mustard aioli drizzle on cheddar green onion waffles with peppadew-jalapeño butter, dusted with cajun spice
Chicken was a little dry but waffles were nice with the house made butter.
For more information, visit https://www.missshirleys.com.
Blue Moon Cafe
It was a really small and funky cafe but the food was out of this world. I was not a fan of cinnamon roll or french toast but I enjoyed both dishes thoroughly.
Homemade Cinnamon Roll
YUMMY! You could smell the cinnamon. They really used a decent amount of cinnamon in this roll and put cinnamon front and center (instead of the dough).
Sweet Baby Jesus - layers of hash brown and crab meat, topped with eggs and hollandaise sauce
The two most famous dishes (this one and the Captain Crunch French Toast) were not on the regular menu. All the ingredients in this dish blended very well together and every bite was tasty.
Captain Crunch French Toast
Oh my goodness! I never tasted french toast quite like this one. I became a fan of french toast but only of this one! It was crunchy yet chewy at the same time. So good!
For more information, visit http://bluemoonbaltimore.com.
Dangerously Delicious Pies
I knew about this place for years and always wanted to try it. I finally got a chance to.
Pork BBQ - We slow roast pork butt with onions, red and green bell peppers, and our homemade barbecue sauce then pull the pork and bake it in a pie
The meat was a little dry. The crust was buttery and perfect.
Baltimore Bomb - This pie has quickly climbed to a top selling position. It's loaded with Berger Cookies (a local specialty) that melt down and swirl into a sweet, vanilla chess filling.
This was a bit too sweet for my taste but hey it was still very good. I really liked the crust.
Just a note, both Blue Moon Cafe and Dangerously Delicious Pies served Baltimore's local coffee, Zeke's. Too bad, I did not get a chance to try it.
For more information, visit http://dangerouspiesbalt.com.
Joe Squared
The topping combinations were interesting and adventurous. They had chicken, Corn and Apple and Cumin Braised Lamb. I tried Bacon and Clam.
Bacon and Clam Pizza - Roasted garlic cream, clams, maple smoked bacon, sweet onion, fresh mozzarella, romano, asiago and oregano
The crust was different, very airy and light. Not a fan of clam. If I had ordered the topping I liked, I would have most likely enjoyed the pizza more.
Crab Artichoke Risotto - Crab, artichoke, bacon, arugula, Swiss, parmesan, parsley and paprika
I enjoyed it except that I thought the rice could be cooked down more.
For more information, visit http://joesquared.com.
Did I eat enough crab on this trip?
See previous post about Baltimore – part 1 and part 2.
