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B&O American Brasserie
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
2 N Charles StBaltimore, MD 21201
Neighborhood: City Center
(443) 692-6172
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 10 am
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
The main objective of our kitchen is to serve innovative twists on classic pub fare that stress quality and freshness with every recipe, and every… read more »
111 reviews for B&O American Brasserie
Review Highlights
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"The duck fat fries were heavenly." In 11 reviews -
"Best B&O Appetizer- Smoked Pork Belly." In 5 reviews -
"Awesome happy hour and foursquare specials." In 12 reviews
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111 reviews in English
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Review from Dimitrios D.
New York, NY
5/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's a swanky looking place with a sky-high ceiling. The waitstaff was polite and helpful.
I got two cocktails, both of which were tasty (though admittedly, not too strong).
The first was a special of the day: an Americano (vermouth, Campari and club soda).
The next was the 'queen bee'... to be honest I don't even know what was in it- the waitress recommended it. It was sweet and citrusy.
I'll be back one day to try the snacks. -
Review from Amanda F.
Chicago, IL
4/11/2012
Baltimore needs more B&O Brasseries! Swanky, spacious, and scrumptous (most of the time). I've been to B&O for Dinner, Drinks, and Brunch. Dinner is by far its forte, the happy hour specials are good but limited, and the Brunch has a way to go.
B&Os decor is a rarity in Baltimore. The first floor bar area is dark and sexy, yet casual and inviting. My friend and I felt very comfortable just ordering the $5 happy hour drink special at the bar. The second floor dining area is stately, spacious, and plush. Its actually very good for groups. I love the vibe that they have going here. Unfortunately, the younger foodies living downtown might not flock to $25+ entrees and the lack of music won't attract any of the later crowd.
Dinner can add u,p but its worth it for a special occasion. The best meals are the heartier meat selections. Make sure to order the Queen Bee Martini.
My family and I recently patroned B&O for an Easter Brunch. The weekend brunch menu definitely has room for improvement. While the $4 fruit cups were a rip off, the $10 bottomless mimosas were a steal. The Fried Oyster Hash lacked spice, but was still very tasty. B&Os only "healthy option," the egg white scramble was flavorless, sadly. I thought that the salsa verde would have dominated the the B&O Omelet, but the overall flavor comes from the pork belly, so it pretty heavy and rich. The Quiche received positive reviews, but nothing too memorable. The B&O Benedict substitutes crab cakes for english muffins, and was probably the best dish at the table. The worst dish at the table was one of only two "sweet" options offered. The Sweet Potato French Toast was covered in burnt molasses syrup that makes it nearly impossible to eat more than a few bites. The generous portion of roasted potatoes that comes with nearly every egg option on the menu is a bit too starchy for my liking. They take a diner's Brunch experience from pleasantly satisfied to uncomfortably heavy.
I don't normally comment on the wait staff, but I think that they need to step it up a notch to take B&O to the next level. While very pleasant, all of our waiters have been on the slow side and seem younger and more inexperienced than I would expect for a $$$ restaurant. In general, I don't think our party should have to ask for water, extra silverware, sugar, etc.
B&O needs to work out the kinks fast to fill the need in Baltimore for a swanky downtown hotel bar/restaurant that also serves as a local foodie favorite. Unfortunately, the wait staff needs to get it together, and the menu needs some editing and balancing before its on of the best in Baltimore. I believe though! -
Review from Tim R.
3/22/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The outstanding, perfectly executed, simple yet creative food is let down by an understaffed front of house.
Staying in the adjoining Hotel Monaco, and feeling a little under the weather, I decided to call for room service. 30 minutes, three calls, and several apologetic switchboard operators later, I gave up trying to reach the restaurant, and went downstairs to eat.
I was greeted at the front door and offered a seat at the "pizza bar", a part of the kitchen where two cooks were assembling salads and small plate dishes. I waited a full 20 minutes before anyone arrived to discuss the menu, offer me a drink, or take my order (during which one of the cooks felt sorry for me being ignored and offered me a sample of the duck prosciutto -- nice guy). First contact with your server should not take more than a few minutes after you're seated. 5+ minutes, and it gets awkward. 15+ minutes, and I was ready to leave. The cook's gesture came just in time as I was about to walk out. I watched several tables nearby be seated and have similar painful waits.
The area where I was seated was uncomfortably cold. I understand the kitchen staff requires the AC to be running, but if you have a bar set up alongside, you need better directional vents so your customers aren't blasted with the same icy chill which is keeping your staff comfortable while they work.
The server, when she did arrive, was charming and professional, and like all the other staff, immaculately presentable. It just seemed like she was working two or three times as many tables as she should have been.
I started with the smoked pork belly (banana puree / beluga lentils / chili caramel / peanuts) which was delicious, melting, and with interesting and playful, but perfectly balanced, flavor accompaniments.
The day's special entree was fried chicken, honey dipped served with mashed potatoes and asparagus. The chicken, despite being just breast meat, was tender and flavorful, and the crunchy coating, with honey and some chili flakes, was perfect.
The only negative comment on the food is that it was served luke-warm. I suspect this is also a result of the dramatic under-staffing situation, reflected in the other long waits. -
Review from Meredith J.
Baltimore, MD
3/16/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Hands down one of my favorite places in Baltimore for cocktails!
They change their menu pretty often but everything I have eaten here has been excellent. I really enjoyed the flatbreads and the steak. Last time I was here, our food took a while coming out and we were treated to a complimentary flatbread which we regretted eating (we were SO full when we left!)
The service here is impeccable, though. Our waiter took care of us and I could tell him the type of drink I usually have and he made sure I was served something new that I would enjoy. LOVE IT!Listed in: I'll Meet you for Cocktails
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Review from Richelle M.
Philadelphia, PA
5/1/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Usually leery when it comes to hotel restaurants but we had a great evening at B&O. We sat downstairs, had great service and the food was delicious.
We ordered in stages off of the small plates and bar menu. Venison bratwurst and house made pretzels to start paired with a local brew. We followed that up with the mushroom ravioli duck confit with a nice glass of red wine. For dessert, we got the lemon pudding cake and white chocolate brownie. Our server made some great drink suggestions and my ice Riesling was a nice way to end the meal.
Good service, great drinks, tasty food...all in a hotel. -
Review from Julia R.
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am a big fan of B&O so far. I first tried the food during restaurant week and it was really delicious and - thank goodness! - featured things from their actual menu. Our waiter was informative and helpful. I've been back a few times for happy hour and it's really great. I love the creative cocktails - specifically the gin fizz - and really appreciate that the bartenders (or is it mixologists here? I really can't keep up with which is appropriate title where and always seem to pick the wrong one) are helpful and listen to what you're looking for. I wish I lived closer because this would definitely be my go-to place.
The happy hour menu is also pretty great - I think we all loved the flatbreads, deviled eggs, pretzel bites and pancetta dates. I wasn't very into the grilled cheese.
All in all, I have yet to find someone that hasn't enjoyed B&O and I look forward to going back in the future. -
Review from Michael H.
Baltimore, MD
5/14/2012
I don't give out 5 stars that often, but B&O earned it. I must disclose that I dined her with a friend who's a travel and leisure writer, and they were expecting her visit. We got first class treatment, including wine pairings, special dishes, etc. I hope that's the same foot they put forward all the time, because it was spectacular. I highly recommend the B&O manhattan; I don't drink cocktails all that often (usually just straight bourbon on the rocks), but it was delicious. They are known as the best mixologists in the city, and they are not bashful about telling you this. But that's OK, because they've earned that right. Among the dishes we tasted, the soft shell crab (seasonal) was the best, but everything was fantastic. Difficult to find fault in anything we tasted. Dark but swanky decor, and ideal date spot. Prices seemed reasonable, too. My only complaint was that the bathroom was outside of the restaurant; typical for hotel restaurants. Also, be sure to ask for a table upstairs.
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Review from Daniel D.
Baltimore, MD
4/23/2012
Strange hours. Great food, but a little over-priced. I had fantastic service, a little pushy maybe... apparently apps and salad isn't a big enough check... she (waitress) REALLY tried to sell more, just wasn't in the mood... just wasnt' I that hungry. I'd visit again if I thought it was a better value.
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Review from K B.
Baltimore, MD
4/5/2012
My fiance and I decided to try out B&O for date night as we are fairly new to Baltimore and trying to explore the food scene. We made reservations for 8:30 on a Saturday night. When we arrived we were directed to the hostess stand where we stood waiting, while the hostess already had taken our name to check for our reservation. We waited while she engaged in a conversation back and forth with a disgruntled guest who didn't have a reservation.
Once we were taken to our table I was impressed with the ambiance. We had our own private area, not crowded in like many other busy restaurants. However, the real trouble started when our waitress arrived. She was awful! It's my opinion that she saw us and assumed we would be low-paying customers and therefore spent as little time at our table as possible. She didn't explain any dishes or drinks, reached over my face multiple times without excusing herself and just generally seemed to have a horrible attitude the whole night. She wouldn't even look at us when we were ordering - like we were putting her at an inconvenience!
We ordered two small plates to start; the radicchio salad I would pass on but the quail was pretty solid. When my meal arrived (rockfish) you could tell it had been sitting under the heat lamp for a while. If this weren't the case I think it would have been much better. My fiance's main course was much better. He got the duck.
I decided to order dessert, which I totally regretted. I got the roasted pear baba, only to find out the pear actually composed a baked treat, not plated itself, and the ice cream was half melted on the plate when it got to me.
I expected much more and let the hostess know on our way out. We received an email from the assistant manager later that night with his regrets saying they would like us to come back in to experience what B&O was really all about. He asked for our address to send a comp card. Still waiting on that (2+ weeks)...
Overall for the price there are many places I would try over here. Service is a vital part of a restaurant experience and that certainly is lacking at B&O. -
Review from Lauren H.
Baltimore, MD
4/9/2012
I recently made a job switch that landed me smack in the middle of Downtown Baltimore. This was one of the first restaurants I had the priveledge of dining at for a lunch meeting. Since then, I have gone back twice, which in itself a compliment.
So here is the low down on the B&O. Try the soup! Whatever it is that day, it's most likely worth the creamy calories you are ingesting because the soups there are lip smaking good. Pass on the pork belly - the sauce was fantastic but the texture of the pork was, well, rubber. Their flatbreads are great, very rustic with fresh ingredients. Ther service has been GREAT every time, however, who ever was responsible for ordering the glassware here gets an 'F'. The glasses are tiny, and have a bubble in the bottom, purposefully, and it's a great inconveinence to both the patron and the waiter how extremely small they are (I know, I intentionally mentioned their smallness more then once). -
Review from Pam C.
Woburn, MA
4/16/2012
This place was good -with great potential! I really liked the atmosphere,it was modern and sheik with a nice bar area. There were interesting, creative choices on the menu, which I appreciated. It was a nice change from all the traditional steakhouses in the area.
I started with the beet and tuna tartare....was ok-but not even a spoonful of tuna- all beets! My husband got the brown butter perogis-they were delicious. Our waitress was a bit clueless..brought us tap water right after she asked us if we wanted sparkling to which we had said yes. Also I ordered one of the flatbreads and she gave me a pile of greens on a plate-she did acknowledge the mistake when it was pointed out and eventually brought the correct dish. The flat bread was pretty good had veggies with a pesto sauce and what i guess was " truffled" cheese (couldn't detect any truffle)-it was kind of bland. Dessert was fair-we split the "blondie" which turned out to be two small dry cookies with about a teaspoon of hazlenut ice cream in the middle. -
Review from Josh A.
Baltimore, MD
2/16/2012
I've been wanting to try B&O Brasserie for some time, and finally got the chance when I took advantage of Restaurant Week. Boy, am I glad I made it there! The food was excellent, the service impeccable, and the ambiance was perfect. I'll start with the decor. I loved the ModVic (modern Victorian) vibe of the lofty space. The screen dividers between the booths upstairs were an especially nice touch. They give you the feeling of privacy without making you feel boxed in.
The service was also very impressive. The hostess was friendly and warm, and our waitress was extremely charming. The other wait staff (server and bus boy) was also very polite and friendly.
As nice as all the trappings were, however, the food was the main attraction. We started with the smoked pork belly with turnip kimchi and the cauliflower bouillon with foie gras, roasted cauliflower and beef broth. The pork belly was perfect. Crispy on the outside, creamy and rich inside. The spicy kimchi was the ideal accent. The bouillon was much more subtle, but filled with delicate umami flavors.
For our main course, we had the diver scallops with celery root, chick-pea cakes, brussels sprouts and lobster-bacon emulsion, and braised pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon with red chili potatoes, red chard and a mole verde. Everything was well-seasoned, perfectly cooked and delicious, although, strangely enough, the chard was the stand-out of this course. The brussels sprouts were also perfectly caramelized.
For dessert we had the roasted pear baba with macadamia nuts, rum syrup and caramel ice cream. It was as fun to eat as it was to say. We also got the Chocolate & Cherries, which is chocolate doughnuts with cherry panna cotta and a tarragon cherry compote. It was amazing.
It's also worth mentioning that they have an impressive drink menu of creative house specialty mixed drinks as well as a great beer selection.
Definitely a great experience. I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Ed G.
Yorba Linda, CA
2/19/2012
We tried B&O for restaurant week. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, but the food was not good. The hanger steak was so tough we had to get a sharper knife just to cut it. Duck was good, but the other two meals were poor.
Maybe they just don't take restaurant week seriously due to price ... who knows. I seem to be in a minority given all of the positive reviews, so I'll just assume it was a bad night. But I won't come back. -
Review from Edward L.
1/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Came here for dinner as part of our weekend getaway at the Hotel Monaco to celebrate our 2-year wedding anniversary. All the good reviews were spot on. Since it was an early dinner seating (5:00pm), we were the only diners for about half an hour when another couple came in. I liked that the hostess sat them on the other side of the dining area so that each table would have privacy. It felt like we were in our own private dining experience. Food was superb and service was outstanding.
We had the bison tartare and carpaccio for starters. It was delicious. The chef welcomed us with some chicken liver pate with rhubarb chunks and watercress. The pate was delicious by itself but even better with the other components spread over the piece of warm rye bread included. Our entrees were the venison special which was great and the duck which was also quite delicious. My wife had the Queen Bee cocktail which our server suggested and said won some award. I had their bourbon and homemade cola. Our dessert was the creme brulee which I thought looked and tasted a little too burnt. They included a half slice of strawberry with it which made it taste better but more fruit pieces would've been better (like at Ruth's Chris). A little less caramelization would've been good.
Should note that a table of 4 arrived near the end of our dinner and they were kind of loud. The hostess even sat them at the table right next to us. Not sure why she did that when there were plenty of tables elsewhere. That was a downer for me but we weren't going to let it ruin our evening. Their gift of free dessert and champagne was a lovely touch to end our anniversary dinner there. -
Review from B R.
Chapel Hill, NC
3/11/2012
The food was good (not great), but the staff was not pleasant. We waited for 40 minutes for just our appetizers (just salads)! We received no apologies from staff....it was not a busy night at the restaurant either. Overall, I suggest going somewhere else for dinner in Baltimore. There are much better restaurants in the immediate area than the B&O. What a disappointment.
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Review from Anna K.
Baltimore, MD
Updated - 12/13/2011
We recently revisited B&O with a group of friends and overall we had a nice experience but some things were lacking.
I immediately noticed that it took a while for the drink menu to surface and once it did, we only got one for 8 of us which was not ideal.
We started with some appetizers which were great:
clam and poblano fritters (I thought these were an A+ but they weren't the group favorite)
pork belly (A- ... a little underwhelming in the flavor department)
bison tartare and carpaccio (A). The carpaccio was the star here.
roasted figs (B/B+) I thought these would be a bigger hit with the table so people are either afraid of fruit or they didn't care for it much.
slow cooked pork ribs (A-) the sauce was great and they were prepared nicely but served a little cooler than I would have prefered.
We also enjoyed some cocktails - I don't remember everyone else's but I had the botanist's elixir and it was a solid A.
Entree choices for a restaurant of this size were a little limited and I didn't like that they didn't have a good selection of vegetarian options but here's what we had:
The gnocchi - i think this was one of the better and more surprisingly successful dishes of the evening.
Rockfish - my friend enjoyed this dish but preferred the style at Woodberry kitchen
Duck breast - I thought the duck was nicely prepared, if not a little sweet for my taste.
Lamb shank - Two people ordered this but I didn't get to taste it so I can't honestly say; they seemed to enjoy it well enough.
Market flat bread and beet salad - The vegetarian with us had this combo; the beet salad came out too early but it was tasty and the flat bread was a win also!
Because we were headed to a dinner party we didn't have desert.
I give it three stars because as a whole the meal was good but not memorable and the service was OK but not great. We live so close that this is an OK option but I don't think we'll be heading back unless they mix up the menu in a major way.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/29/2011
I had a very nice experience here. We opted to go for small plates instead of traditional entree.
… Read more »
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Review from Josh C.
Edgewater, MD
1/9/2012
The food and drinks were incredible with one caveat. I ordered the Confit Duck special (Saturday) and it was perfectly cooked but one of the legs was too salty, likely a slip by the cook as the other was alright. We had the Pumpkin Bisque and Pork Belly to begin with and both were great. The Pork Belly was actually quite incredible, perfectly cooked and paired with a bourbon apple puree and very thin slices of fresh apple. It may have been one of the single best dishes I've ever eaten. For the main course, my wife ordered the farm chicken and she loved it. We left no room for dessert sadly.
We sat up stairs with an early, 5:30 seating as recommended by others and it a very nice and much quieter, perfect for my wife's birthday dinner. We will definitely be back -
Review from Tinny L.
Silver Spring, MD
1/22/2012 7 photos
Visited B&O for Baltimore Restaurant week (and to celebrate sister's birthday) and we were pleased. The ambience was nice and the staff was overall very charming and welcoming.
First course, I had the smoked pork belly with turnip kimchi. The pork belly had a nice smokiness to it which was delicious, however was a bit on the saltier side. The kimchi was more salty than spicy as well. So, even though the pork belly had the nice smokey flavors, the dish tasted like a gallon of salt.
Second course, I ordered the hanger steak with a root vegetable gratin and green beans. The steak was cook and seasoned perfectly. The only problem was that they provided us with steak knives that could barely cut through the steak. To an extent this somewhat ruined the dish for me. My sister order the scallops with celery root puree and chickpea cakes. Not a fan of chickpeas, but the scallops were on point!
Third course, I ordered the roasted pear baba. It was decent, not too memorable. Boyfriend had the chocolate with cherries doughnuts - very rich and decadent, he enjoyed it a lot.
Probably would visit here again, would like to try the general dinner menu at some point. -
Review from Ji Y.
2/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here with a bunch of my cousins for a girl's night out. The waiter we had was very friendly and helped us deciding on what we wanted to eat. He was knowledgable with the food that was being served and the food choices were good. My favorite part of the meal was the fried oyster. It was so tender and had a very nice taste to it. Loved it! I ended up having a fish special and it wasn't the most flavorful fish I had but it wasn't bad. We all spent the night enjoying their wine selection and had a good time. I would love to return again and try the brunch.
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Review from Jenny H.
9/2/2011 5 photos
This place has a nice ambience and creative food.
I got their butternut squash soup with foie gras foam and smoked pork belly. It had a unique taste to it, like a hearty, woodsy flavor which was unique. I didn't think the soup was very good, and the foam didn't add much flavor, although the pork belly was nicely smoked.
The duck leg was DELICIOUS, perfectly crispy skin, and moist, flavorful meat. It was served with a nice mustardy vinaigrette and light greens- SO GOOD!!! My husband got ribeye with a green vinaigrette and microgreens on top. It was served with skinny fries and ketchup- a pretty good soft steak. My other friend got their porkchop on top of rice and beans in a delicious broth.
For dessert, we got a tiramisu like dessert, with cream in between thin chocolate layers and ice cream. Great place, I want to visit again! -
Review from Anna A.
Tucson, AZ
4/22/2012
Great atmosphere and fantastic service. This place has amazing, simple and fresh food that manages to pack in the flavor. There's nothing boring about the food though it seems simple on paper. Would have given it 4.5 if I could...the prices are a little much even for downtown Bmore.
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Review from Maureen C.
San Diego, CA
8/30/2011
I was in town - at the Hotel Monaco - for business, and it was already 9pm before I had a chance to even think about where to go for a bite solo in a new city. So, downstairs to B&O it was.
So glad it was!
Sat down at the bar, because that's the only way I can enjoy eating out on my own. Snagged the last seat available, and proceeded to enjoy the next couple of hours immensely.
Brendan - mixologist extraordinaire - was fantastic, and really made the evening. I scanned the wine list, thinking I was playing it slow even though his specialty cocktails looked amazing (and were, read on). Ordered a glass of Pinot since I didn't know what I was going to order, and it seemed like a good bet. Then I saw the oysters, and there was no way I wasn't going to treat myself to a few, so I ordered 3, and thought "mmmm.....now champagne sounds lovely..." - Brendan poured a 1/2 glass of Chandon and I don't remember seeing this on the receipt - love this man!
After the oysters, and chatting with a few of the other bar patrons (restaurant was bustling on a Thursday evening), I still couldn't decide what I wanted to eat, so I asked Brendan to choose a couple of small dishes and surprise me. Good choice by me I must say :-)
There was a grilled peach salad with duck bacon and foie gras dressing, amazing wild mushroom with truffle oil flatbread, and a champagne/espresso cocktail to follow. Absolutely everything was excellent. The service was attentive without being stifling, the presentation was beautiful, the flavours fresh and well-balanced, and the pricing was reasonable.
If I am ever back in the area again, I will definitely be back! -
Review from Jasmine W.
Baltimore, MD
8/1/2011
I went to B&O for happy hour and I found it to be quite nice. It had a very comfortable, laid back, upscale vibe to it. The waitress was very attentive without being annoying, and it was nice to watch the food being prepared from my table. I also liked how they dimmed the lights at one point which created a more intimate atmosphere.
I decided on getting the burger with fries, a raw oyster, sparkling wine, and a midnight mimosa.
-Burger with duck fries: I feel like the duck fat fries are overrated, but it's probably because I don't like shoe-string fries. They did have a unique taste to them though. The burger itself was interesting. The bacon spread was good and added an interesting taste to an otherwise standard burger. The ingredients used on the burger (buns, tomatoes, lettuce, etc) were very fresh.
-Drinks: My favorite part about the meal was the drinks. The $3 house sparkling wine was very good. I especially liked the cocktail of the day which was the midnight mimosa. It was delicious.
-Raw oyster: It was my first time having it so I didn't know what to expect. It wasn't bad. I did enjoy the sauces that came with it, even though I don't know what they were.
Overall, I enjoyed this restaurant. In the future, I'm looking forward to coming back again for happy hour. -
Review from Shelby N.
Bowie, MD
8/6/2011
Ive only been to the B&O once for brunch and left it thrilled. i ordered a omlett with toasted heat bread (side note: ive never had wheat bread that tasted as delicious as the kind served at b&o) it came with home fries but they weren't worth writing home about. my omlett though was really flavorful and just overall great. the atmosphere was laid back and not too crowded at all. the prices for my brunch were already pretty cheap but i got my food extra cheaper because my best fried works for the Monaco hotel. can you say employee discount :)
the only issue was that it took so long before i got seated because the hostess was off doing what i assume were hostess things?
i will definitly be back to try out dinner someday soon. -
Review from Tailee J.
Washington, DC
2/16/2012
The one star is for the poor waiter and bartender that I feel sorry for!
Came here on Valentine's Day for a quick appetizer and drink at the bar with my boyfriend before a show. While our drinks were quite good and came out quickly, our pretzel bite appetizer took forever! At first we thought it was a kitchen mix up, but the bartender explained that there was an issue with the consistency of the cheese sauce... Come on, it's just cheese sauce! We told the bartender that we couldn't wait any longer because we had to get to a show so he comped the appetizer. He still bought us the pretzel bites though. They were gross! Wayyy over salted and the cheese sauce that needed so much time to prepare had no taste at all. We were not impressed, but not completely turned off until the next morning...
Hotel Monaco provided us with free breakfast vouchers to the restaurant so on our way out of the hotel, we thought we'd gave them another try. I ordered apple juice, my boyfriend ordered orange juice. We watched the waiter run around for 15 minutes "looking for orange juice". Another waiter easily went behind the bar and got OJ for another guest so why was it so difficult for our waiter to find the juice? But I digress... We ordered two bagels and fruit. Quick and easy right? WRONG!! We waited over 20 minutes for 2 bagels and 2 bowls of fruit. As we got up to leave dissatisfied again, the waiter went to the kitchen to speed up the process. He emerged with our bagels and fruits and to go containers for us to carry it out. At this point, we just wanted out of B&O!! Good thing breakfast was free as well.
While the bartender and waiter tried to make up for the super slow kitchen, I won't be back. Don't come here if you're hungry or have somewhere to be. You'll likely starve or be late before you get your food. -
Review from Russel S.
Baltimore, MD
2/16/2012
I love this place. The food is amazing, the lighting is perfect. I particularly enjoyed the staff. I think her name was Kait? I'll definitely be back again. Whether you're looking for a place to have a few drinks over a business meeting or taking a date out for one Baltimore's best kept secrets, B&O will not disappoint I guarentee!
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Review from Alec W.
Baltimore, MD
Updated - 12/22/2011 11 photos
Ever since Chef Michael Reidt left last year, I feel as if B&O's food just isn't there. The menu isn't nearly as innovative as prior years, and most tellingly, the execution just doesn't cut it. An order of duck breast comes out overcooked and ends up with the consistency of ham. Foie gras torchon is over salted; consequently, the delicate and complex flavor of foie is lost. The market flatbread, which used to be a killer dish, doesn't satisfy like it used to - even the egg is overcooked! A sad state of affairs as I've always been rooting for this place.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/22/2010
When we went, the restaurant was crowded because of a Black Eyed Peas concert at the Arena. Noise… Read more »
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Review from Jinsoo L.
New York, NY
8/8/2011 Seated via OpenTable
The food was creative and interesting. It really looked like they took their time selecting every ingredient. My girlfriend and I decided to go the small plates route so we can get an opportunity to try more of the menu.
First, we got some cocktails. GF ordered the morning dew which was the cucumber infused Gin which was DELICIOUS! The server recommend that I drink a Queen Bee and that was a little odd since it was a very fruity/girly cocktail but whatever. I ended up switching to the Morning Dew.
Now I will break down each item:
Grilled Summer Peaches
-As Andrew Zimmern would describe it... "Gamey, chewy, sweet". Duck bacon with Foie Gras dressing. Came very highly recommended from the server but I did not like it at all.
Decadent Deviled Eggs
-It was good but nothing special. The truffled crab was a nice touch. Didn't blow us away.
Slow Cooked Pork Ribs
-AWESOME! So tender and fatty, melted in your mouth and fell right off the bone. The sauce was extremely smoky and had a kick to it without being too sweet like bbq sauce.
Four Cheese Flatbread
-Delicious! It was so simple, tasted like a pizza but sometimes you don't have to reinvent the wheel to create a good classic dish. Bread was just crunchy enough without it tasting burnt and there was a good balance of cheeses.
Brick Oven Roasted Prawns
-YUM! Our second favorite dish next to the ribs. Shrimps were huge. Bubba gump size. And the sausages were interesting but went well with the shrimps.
Lemon Grass Creme Brulee
-Awesome finishing touch to the meal You really can't go wrong with crème brulee. I never had a bad one.
All in all, a great meal, that had enough surprises to keep it interesting. The ambiance and service was top notch. There were misses but more hits.. I recommend it. -
Review from Jae J.
5/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Let's keep this short and simple:
-Order the duck fat fries.
-Try one of the interesting twists on a classic cocktail(I love their B&O manhattan, but that's only if you actually like Bourbon. I love it).
-Try their flatbread. My favorite is the House made Duck Chorizo one with an egg on top.
-Anson Mills grits are great. All Anson Mills products are really good.
-Oxtail ravioli is amazing, but portion is small.Listed in: My Favorite Bars
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Review from Dan A.
I've only been here for happy hour so this review is in reference only to that. Although B&O's happy hour isn't as cheap as many other places in Baltimore, they have great food and atmosphere.
The few times I've came for happy hour, I've ordered the duck fat fries and the market flatbread. The duck fat fries were heavenly...probably among the best I've had. I liked how the aioli had a little spritz of lemon in it to cut through the heaviness of the duck fat.
The market flatbread is a continuously evolving flatbread that features ingredients that are in season at the time. The ingredients are layered on top of a flatbread dressed with pesto and arugula (among other things). It's really really good.
The drinks here for happy hour were reasonably priced. They were well made... not overly strong but not so weak that you can't taste the alcohol. And if mixed drinks aren't your thing, they have wine, beer, and champagne available too.
I definitely plan on coming back for future happy hours and will definitely need to check out B&O for dinner sometime as well!Listed in: Raves and Faves
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Review from Richard A.
Manchester Center, VT
1/26/2012
As an infrequent visitor to Baltimore, I was pleased to find a Kimpton Hotel in the middle of the downtown area where my client's office was located. The B&O Brasserie is located in the Hotel Monaco lobby area, but a few steps from the street. The first night of my stay, the restaurant was closed for a private function by the time I had arrived from the airport and checked in, so I visited a local pub and a had a fairly nice, if simple, meal.
The second night of my stay, I arrived at the B&O at around 9PM and although the restaurant was fairly empty at that time I saw several couples leaving as I was arriving. I was greeted and seated immediately by the hostess, and within a few minutes was apprised of the specials and handed the menu by a tall and rather stunning waitress.
I ordered a microbrew (don't remember exactly which one, but there was a nicely chosen selection of beers, wines, and mixed drinks available) and opted to order a flatbread pizza as an app and the pot roast (which was a special that day).
The flatbread pizza was absolutely superb, and was made by a chef standing directly in back of my table, which had an excellent view of the pizza oven. It was cooked perfectly with exactly the right balance of ingredients, crispiness on the bottom, and cheese just at the bubbling point. The waitress made a point to mention that most people will order the flatbread as an main rather than an app, but after a long day of consulting...
Next up was the potroast, which was served in it's own cast iron pan, along with kale and grits. Quite simply, it was the best pot roast I've ever had. Rather than being in a soupy brown sauce, it was mostly dry (in terms of sauce) but was as tender as a filet mignon! It was perfectly seasoned, with a hint of salt and perhaps cayenne. The grits and kale were amazing as well, and were a wonderful counterpoint to the meat.
All in all, the food and service were much much better than I expected (from a hotel restaurant in Baltimore) and the only disappointment I felt was that I didn't get to eat there on my first night in town. I will surely return to the B&O (and the Kimpton Monaco, which was also very nice) the next time business brings me back to Baltimore. -
Review from Rachel R.
Baltimore, MD
5/2/2011
I was a fan until this last trip. The food was always good and in the past we've had the same excellent waiter. This time however, was a failure.
For the most part the food was tasty but the portion sizes were odd. The fish dish (they didn't have the fish listed on the menu and I am not sure what they subbed in) was tasty but oddly small for a entree. The pork entree was easily 3 times the size and about the same price. The service was slow and inept. My husband's entree came out a full 30 minutes after everyone else's at the table despite ordering it very early in the evening. This meant he spent a good chunk of time eating alone while the rest of us sat waiting around. Drinks took forever to arrive and when they did were oddly ungarnished and devoid of ice when it would have been expected. The staff was slow to clear plates, deliver food and refill glasses. We had to flag down random staff to place drink orders.
The restaurant was not busy and while we were a largish party, there was no reason for the lags in service.
When we got the bill, they tried to charge us for a random entree that we didn't order. It took a while to get a new bill and then when we got home, our bank had started processing the transaction in the amount of the original bill. We had to call 3 times to get someone to discuss this with us and they made excuses that just did not make sense about bank fees etc. The manager just kept repeating the same excuses and would not abandon them even when it was pointed out the that percentages and amounts he was telling me did not add up correctly. Of course, the larger amount they charged our bank was about the same as what they tried to charge us at first, including that extra entree. Coincidence? So: okay food, bad service, eh all around. Not what I would expect from the place at all. -
Review from Charles S.
La Jolla, CA
2/13/2011
I'm hesitant to eat in restaurants that are associated with hotels. My wife and I went to the Walters Museum of Art (worth the trip from DC to visit the Walters) and the B&O was the only place nearby that was open for Sunday lunch.
When we arrived at 1:00, the B&O was near empty and the surfer dude waiter did not inspire confidence. We even considered leaving. But as the place filled up -- and the guests drank more of the unending mimosas for $5.00 -- the B&O got livelier and livelier.
R got the B&O cheeseburger with "bacon jam" and blue cheese (and pretty routine fries). R says the hamburger was the best she's ever had. Question: who invented bacon jam? Surfer boy said the jam was "gnarly." If that means very good, he's absolutely right.
I got the flat bread with duck chorizo, gouda, candied turnips, braised greens, and an egg. The flat bread was essentially a super thin pizza crust covered with the ingredients including a sunny-side up egg and baked in the wood-fired pizza oven till the pizza was crisp. It was extraordinary.
Next time we're in Balamer at night, we're definitely going back for dinner. If it is as good as the lunch, the B&O is a five star find.Listed in: Baltimore
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Review from Katie G.
Mt Airy, MD
9/6/2011
I took my husband here for his birthday and we had a great time. We got stuck in Grand Prix traffic and therefore didn't have time to change into nicer clothes, but it seemed totally appropriate to be wearing jeans and a t-shirt. The place definitely had an upscale, yet casual and welcoming feel to it.
We started out with the deviled eggs, which neither of us really liked. Seemed as though there was way too much going on: crazy texture and an even crazier/weird mix of flavors. Then we tried the duck flatbread and mmmm... any bitter taste left over from the eggs was instantly taken away. Delicious! Our main dishes - the rabbit and brisket - were fantastic, as were the specialty drinks and dessert.
Overall it was a very unique experience. We look forward to going back! -
Review from Wendy P.
Manhattan, NY
9/14/2011
Located in the beautiful Hotel Monaco, this place serves delicious American cuisine.
Their flatbreads are yummy. We picked a couple to share as starters. The chef's daily fish special was an arctic char that was very good.
I definitely want to go back! -
Review from Susan G.
12/30/2010
I will start off with $3.00 CHAMPAGNE HAPPY HOUR! That alone is enough to bring me back in!
After hunting all over Baltimore for a late night dessert and failing time and time again we ended up here. What a wonderful accident. The Walnut tart with rosemary ice cream knocked my socks off! Delicious! The butterscotch pudding did not disappoint either. Perfect dessert place if you're looking.
Now let's talk about Happy hour.
Like I said $3 champagne, could a girl really ask for more? Yes she could...she could ask for truffle fries, roasted pork sliders with pineapple mustard, a delicious old fashioned and so much more. If that's the kind of thing a lady was looking for, more specifically a lady like me you should be taking her here. On a week night for the happy hour.Listed in: Bmore Baby
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Review from Jack S.
Washington, DC
2/21/2011
This spot is attached to the Hotel Monaco, a lovely hotel that we stayed at in Baltimore this weekend. Way above average for a hotel restaurant.
The food was five star, the concept and service was more like three. We had the oxtail ravioli with calamari, cherry sauce, and parsnip mash, scallops with some crazy crispy rice concoction, and a salad with carrot cake croutons (which are even better than they sound). The server told us that this was tapas style, snootily mentioning that that meant it "was not like anything you've ever experienced before" forgot to give us silverware until we asked after our salad came, and when we ordered, gave us the "is that all you're getting" huffy business. Listen, we're a young couple, but that doesn't mean we're going to stiff you, come on. Also, it seemed that the tapas concept was cutting the portion size by two-thirds, but the price by half. Sneaky.
But we really did enjoy the food (which is the point, right?), and if you're at the hotel, or in the neighborhood, it's worth a stop. -
Review from Andrea T.
Baltimore, MD
11/11/2011
Went here to celebrate a few big events in our family's life and was really really looking forward to enjoying a great meal. That didn't happen. The service was excellent, although we went on a Sunday night and I think there were only eight other people in the place. To start, we ordered the pumpkin bisque and the Pork Belly small plate. Both were delicious. The bisque had the perfect consistency while still allowing all of the subtle flavors to come through. We enjoyed the appetizers so much that we couldn't wait for the entrees to come, but when they did, we were quite disappointed. Only one of the entrees passed the muster and did so marginally. Even the thought I admit to being extra picky when evaluatting scallops, I can honestly say that while they were seasoned pretty well, they were under cooked and that just ruins the whole dish. I ordered a rock fish that was cooked perfectly and was tasty, but there was so much going on with the broccoli rabb and the pumpkin risotto that I pushed it all to the side of my plate and ate each component on its own. Way too much was going on with this entree and the rock fish got lost among it.
Three out of four in our party said they did not enjoy the main meal at all. So maybe just stick to the small plates. -
Review from Abe L.
What can I say - this is one of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore, hands down. The service is always excellent and attentive. The staff is friendly and helpful. The menu changes regularly - so you're always able to experience new things. Grilled peaches w/ foie gras is somehow a divinely matched pair! Make sure to try it while peaches are still in season!
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Review from Lyn P.
5/10/2011
A lovely hidden gem close to the Inner Harbor. We stuck to the small plates menu and had a great meal. Loved the pork belly and the shrimp and grits. And the red velvet donut with sweet potato shake was mind blowing.
They were out of a few things needed for some of their signature drinks when we went, which is the only reason why I am not dropping 5 stars.
