- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Fernando's Salsa Grill
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- None
8 reviews for Fernando's Salsa Grill
I agree with all the good things everyone else has said. I wanted a
nice place to eat it in the immediate area. I chose Salsa Grill. My siblings have been there a couple of times and the staff remembered them. They are very friendly and warm. The Tapas apetizers were good and entree was too. I probably wouldn't order something that seems out of place because I think their forte is the traditional food. There is a
more casual area and an area in the back for a more quiet meal. I would go again. I'm not Peruvian expert so I have nothing to compare it to, but I
liked it.
I had the paella from them and it was excellent. This was a while ago before they shut down for a bit, but I wouldn't hesitiate to go back again. The staff there is very nice as well.
This is one of those hidden gems that every local frequents. Lunch time is always full. Expect to wait if you come at noon. Better to come a bit later and enjoy a sit down meal of some really good peruvian fares. The service is fast and expedient. It can get somewhat hectic during the lunch rush though.
The portions are very generous, usually big enough for dinner entrees rather than lunch. The caesar salad with grilled chicken is a good staple fare if you're not inclined to try some of the peruvian offerings. Personally, I love the empinada de carne here. It's big, stuffed full of meats and egg and spices. The escabeche de mariscos is very flavorful. The fish is nicely prepared with good mix of steamed veggies and shrimp on a bed of paella. The seco de cabrito is wonderfully gamey but not overpowering. In my opinion, the best dish here is the soft crab saltado. I get it regularly. It's a wonderful fusion of baltimore's soft shelled crab with peruvian paella.
Jay, the owner and cook likes to wander around and talk to the patrons. He grows his own ahi hot peppers. Ask for some with your meal. It'll really kick it up a notch.
well, really 3.5stars.
Went here as I had a $25 gift card.
Must start off by saying that our experience was totally enjoyable and stars/ratings aside I will definitely be back.
I tried the Empanadas for an appetizer. Per the waitress recommendation we got one of each--beef and spinach. They were both very good though i preferred the beef. They came out hot and the crust was tender. The beef was interesting filled with eggs and olives in the Peruvian tradition while the spinach was nice and cheesy, and filled with fresh spinach.
Entrees: my wife was a bit tame, ordering a cheesesteak. Not gonna win any competitions but it wasn't terrible, which these days is quite a compliment. The fries appeared to be fresh cut and had great potential. Unfortunately they seemed to have only been fried once and thus were not as cooked through in the center as they could have been.
After much debate I went with the Yellow curry chicken over rice. When it arrived i instantly regretted my decision. The sauce had a thick and gloopy texture and was also a bit grainy. It tasted ok, and was a super large portion with tons of shredded white meat chicken. Also the hard boiled egg and olives offered a unique addition to a pretty simple homecooked style curry.
Next time i will try the goat stew, or perhaps slow cooked pork ribs. something more traditionally peruvian. the staff was incredibly nice if not a bit in your face. the owner/chef wandered the dining room adding to a casual feel, kinda like eating in someone's home.
All in all, a worthwhile experience and good value for the money though I will most definitely order differently next time. I will also bring my own adult beverages as the restaurant is BYOB.
It was reasonably good food. Wonderful service. Hidden in a strip mall. We only waited about 10 minutes at lunch time, which is quite a surprise given the local employees to restaurants ratio.
I recently had the opportunity to meet Jay at Salsa Grill and head into the kitchen to see how they prepare the food as well as sample some of their dishes. The first thing I noticed was that they do not cut corners. I've worked in several restaurants and almost all cheat in some way with regards to food preparation, such as preparing massive quantities ahead of time for use during the entire day or using premade desserts or sides that just get a slight garnish. Not at Salsa Grill. EVERYTHING is made from scratch and Jay is very passionate about preparing food and serving it at it's peak freshness.
Of the foods I was able to try, the arroz con pollo was quite good, though a bit different than the dish my Colombian grandmother and great aunt make. The caesar salad was the best I've ever had and Jay talked extensively about it's preparation. Dressing and croutons are all made in house. The chocolate roll cake was quite good as well, though I not a big fan of sweets. I didn't get to try one but I was told that the crabcakes are exceptional, as seems to be supported by the previous reviewer.
The name is slightly misleading. When I went there for the first time I was expecting a generic tex-mex restaurant but it's actually an american twist on traditional Peruvian dishes. I met their "number one Peruvian customer" while I was there and he spoke very highly of its authenticity. I highly recommend this easily overlooked strip mall gem.
Yes, it's in a strip mall. Yes, the outdoor seating is about as scenic as the inside of an elevator. But if you live within 30 minutes of here and you haven't given it a shot, you are making a huge mistake. I've lived in the area all my life, close to 40 years, and this is my families go-to spot for the combination of great tasting, interesting food, reasonable prices, superb home made desserts (e.g. home made marshmallows and cakes), and BYOB policy.
The owner (Jay) grows his own tomatoes and Romaine lettuce. He has locally made corm tamales from fresh whole corn in season, makes his own crab cakes, etc. etc. He really cares about the quality of everything he and his small staff makes. It shows.
This is going to sound crazy, but their crab cake is one of the best I've had in Maryland. It's not Faidley's, and it's not made from blue crabs, but it's extremely good. The crab cake/corn tamale/ceasar salad meal is exceptional. The Peruvian pork ribs are amazing- tender and delicious. The paella is a gigantic helping of great halepeno sausage, chicken, shimp, onions and peppers on saffron rice. It's enough to fill up two people. The ceasar salad is simple but very good and the desserts are home made and always fresh.
Try it. Trust me on this one. Pick up whatever adult beverages you like and head on over. Lunch can be a real pain, as this place is really crowded by the Social Security Administration masses, so I would recommend it primarily for dinner unless you are doing take-out.
Originally submitted 1/2007, updated 8/2009. The decor is updated now, and much nicer inside. The service is better than ever. And Jay, as always, is always around making sure everyone enjoys their food. If you ever find yourself on the west side of 695, this place is two minutes off the intersection of Rt. 40 and 695. Definitely worth the drive.
totally inconspicuous gem of amazing peruvian/latin cuisine!
if you're ever anywhere near ex.17 on 695 near mealtime you owe it to yourself to stop by this hidden little restaurant. you'll completely forget that you just parked in a run down strip mall by the time your appetizer arrives. i'd recommend taking it easy on their starters since they can be a meal onto themselves. luckily, most of them can be enjoyed on top of a perfectly fresh salad as a combo. i recommend the empanadas; flaky and stuffed to bursting without being either oily or dry. the entree prices reflect the improbability that you'll finish one of these dishes alone, so bring a friend with similar tastes or get a couple plates to share family style. that said, you'll be happy to drag home a doggie bag should you commit to gluttonous full entree solitude. the owner is always out chatting up his guests and the waitresses might as well sit with you for how often they come by (though, i know it's not always so with the lunch rush). the atmosphere is intimate and the decor is excellent; the perfect place to escape the middle of your day or the end of it. bring your appetite and a bottle of wine, and you will not leave disappointed!
