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Golden West Cafe
Category: Restaurants Cafes Cafes [Edit]
1105 W 36th StBaltimore, MD 21211
Neighborhood: Medfield
(410) 889-8891
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
178 reviews for Golden West Cafe
Review Highlights
"Personal favorite is banana pancakes with coconut syrup."
(in 4 reviews)
"Now I have a new favorite in Hampden."
(in 23 reviews)
"Huevos Montulenos - The Fried Banana ROCKS."
(in 6 reviews)
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178 reviews in English
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Review from Nicholette P.
Brooklandville, MD
1/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
My boyfriend has been trying to get me yo go here for over a year..finally I gave in. For some reason I did not think it was the place it is....
So cute and creative!
Our friends got to Hampden before us so, luckily as the 20 minute wait went by we were just finding a parking spot!
I had the breakfast polenta. I really enjoyed it, except for the overwhelming cilantro in the salsa fresca- like way too much, push to the side, ew. Besides that the polenta was delish and the eggs and chorizo were SO good!
The three boys I was with all ate the... chile cheese burger- so, guys thats a safe bet they all loved it... With tots- for an extra $2.. whatev who dosen't want some tots!
Next time I think I am going to try some lunch! -
Review from Melody C.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm not big on overly hipster bars in Hampden even though I love the area. Take it for what you will. Golden West is a lot bigger than I thought it was. 10+ of my friends and I gathered here this past Friday for a friends birthday and we had plenty of room to ourselves in the front area where the tables are. We had a nice time. The bathrooms are really cool; decorated with old album covers on all the walls and the writing isn't covered up.
Several of us got food, but of course everyone got drinks. A big downer is the bartender chick with glasses/strange haircut. She's probably the worst bartender I've ever experienced. (I'd like to go back to maybe bump this up to "she kinda sucks", but so far.. yeah) She was completely rude to my boyfriend, then my friend.. and I just watched this all go down. You can't answer a simple question whether or not you have a certain liquor? Don't be a bartender. You can't be polite to your patrons? DON'T BE A BARTENDER. Ugh.
Anyway. Decent drinks, decent prices. Nothing to write home about. I've heard the food is good, more veggie type stuff than I'm into but I would like to try some. I definitely would not be back here on a weekend to drink though. The bar area is crazy crowded and it's NOT worth it to stand there and get a bitch ass attitude from a girl working for your tips. I guess I really have to try the food to 'get' this place, but so far there is no real draw to ever go back. -
Review from Samantha S.
Baltimore, MD
1/15/2012
Golden West is that place in Baltimore that no matter what i'm doing or who i'm with i always seem to end up here. The food is always satisfying and the staff has always been friendly with me so no complaints there either. I tend to get the tilapia tacos (i loooove their homemade spicy salsa), lightly fried brussel sprouts (especially good), tater tots, or apple-brie burger. I went for brunch today for the first time and was really impressed with the breakfast polenta (which was massive and waaaay filling.)
The shows here are always fun as well.
Annnnd my mom also loves it here for whatever it's worth :) -
Review from M. V.
Baltimore, MD
2/1/2012
I have to admit I've had a love-hate relationship with Golden West for the past 7 years or so, and it all depends on the staff members who are working there at the time. The food is outstanding, but depending on who's working, or how busy it is, you can order the same dish multiple times, and it'll vary each time. One time, you might have a lot of one thing, and another time, it suddenly is no longer a part of that dish, then you come back again, and it's there, but this time, there's only half as much as the first time.
I would highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys fresh, slow-food, vegetarians, vegans, and anyone who loves spicy pork!
While this isn't Golden West's fault, I do want to make any parents aware that although the restaurant is a great, family-friendly establishment, please keep your fucking kids out of the goddamn bar area! I don't have children for a reason, and one of those reasons is so that I can frequent children-free bars. And, stop letting them run amok while you and your college friends reminisce about the good old days of the '90s! -
Review from Samantha G.
Hampden, MD
12/12/2011 ROTD 1/4/2012
I love Golden West so much. I'd eat here for every meal if I could. There are so many options, and although it is tex-mex themed, there are plenty of choices that don't fit into that category.
I've been coming here for years and used to get breakfast every single time. Even if I had already had breakfast and it was lunch or dinner time. I just love that I can walk in and order a mimosa and one blueberry pancake at any time. I've been branching out recently though. My new fave is the apple, brie, pesto sandwich.
This is a great place for vegetarians and vegans but will also please the meat lovers. Don't shy away from the fake meat here if you're into that-- I've had the veggie sausage with breakfast, tofu chorizo on the taco salad, veggie riblet on a bun and it's all been great.
As if you won't already be overwhelmed enough with the menu, they have great specials. I recently had some sort of vegan pumpkin coconut curry soup that was awesome. And not a pancake. So I gave myself a pat on the back for that one.
When they bring your bill, you get a York peppermint patty. You should put it in your pocket for later though, because Golden West makes a mean banana cupcake.Listed in: I love my neighborhood!
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Review from Liz C.
Bel Air, MD
12/18/2011
Service: 1/5
The service was absolutely terrible. I came with a large group (12), and we were told it would be a 45 minute wait. Well, that was ok, since I understand it can be difficult to accommodate so many. We even offered that we were willing to split up.
Well 45 minutes passed, then an hour. I noticed that they had pushed two tables together in the back, but then someone else separated them and seated others there. We were also told that we had a table but the kitchen couldn't accommodate us yet. So we waited. Definitely a lack of communication among the staff.
After an hour and a half, we'd pretty much had it, especially since the hostess flippantly told us she'd try to seat us "whenever." So we were about to leave when magically, there was a table! Well it took another 15 minutes yet to seat two groups of 6.
The complete lack of service continued. The waiter took our drink orders, then our food orders, and never came back. Our food got dropped off and no one ever checked on us. Why even bother giving service when you're guaranteed an automatic 20% tip?
Food: 3/5
I had the Drew special (black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, hash browns, tortillas), and it was fine. My boyfriend had a burrito which he complained was quite bland. It was hot, but it didn't really have any flavor besides just being spicy.
So, in conclusion, the food was alright but not mind-blowing, but the experience was really soured by the terrible service. I guess we don't meet the pretentious hipster standards to dine here. -
Review from Sam S.
Baltimore, MD
12/8/2011
I have been here several times and it is hit or miss.
This last time was last night for the beau's birthday. He chose to go there because, being from New Mexico, he missed the green chiles and this place sure has them! The service was terrible, we waited for someone to greet us, we waited on someone to take our drink orders, our food orders, and then the server seemed almost annoyed that we wanted to try a dessert. Don't you want us to get more stuff?!
I ordered the Granny smith apple and brie burger with bacon, the flavors were really good except my burger was cooked well done, instead of medium like I had ordered. The side of garlic fries were such a disappointment, they were a soggy pile of smushy potatoes. The boy ordered sopapillas enchiladas con carne with pinto beans. It was nothing short of amazing amazing.
I do not think we will be going back for lunch or dinner, we will keep it to the weekend brunch. Brunch is very good, the vegetarian biscuits and gravy is to die for!
Sitting at the long bar gets you much better service. -
Review from MissEasy T.
Tarpon Springs, FL
1/24/2012
The table service is great. I enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and the fact that GW has the highest percentage of skinny white men waiters in skinny jeans that I've seen anywhere. Bar service is pretty much on par with what you get all over Baltimore--sweet young folk behind the counter who have no idea what it takes to be a real bartender but are incredibly earnest. The food is wildly inconsistent and I've actually had 2 meals that I could not eat. I recommend eating the brussel sprouts, fries and nachos--not much else (well, maybe a burrito). Why then, do I give it 4 stars? Well, everyone is SO nice and the atmosphere is bright and wonderful. I go to the bar, order fries and b sprouts and a pretty respectable craft beer and chill in the fun atmosphere. It's uncomplicated.
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Review from Ria S.
Washington, DC
Updated - 12/25/2011
Had an awesome brie-apple burger. The burger was moist and tasty, and came with their garlic fries. The service was 100x's better than in the past--the staff were very friendly and accommodating, and even comped our drinks because we waited about 40-60 min. to be seated. Also, seems to be the most kid-friendly and welcoming environment/restaurant in the area.
Only complaint is that their beers are a bit pricey--$6 for a bottle (when a whole pack retail, e.g., Flying Dog Beer, costs only $2 more).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/12/2010
I used to loveeee Golden West. But it has been on a steep decline, in my opinion, for a while now.… Read more »
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Review from David M.
Windsor Mill, MD
12/1/2011
So... we were looking for a "hipster" type of place to get breakfast and we succeeded. This is another one-of-a-kind place you'll find sprinkled around the city with their own spin on things.
I think I got the Elvis or something like that (it's been a while since I've been). Everything was prepared well, but the peanut butter was a bit much. It's very overpowering and not really necessary in my opinion.
I think the other disk we got was something on the specials menu... like pumpkin pie pancakes or something. Those were good.
Funny thing, we were discussing how some waiters and waitresses don't write anything down but still get the orders 100% correct. This was what happened with our waiter during our visit. The funny part is, he kinda looked like Jesus. Very much like Jesus. In a Bill Cosby sweater. He floated around the restaurant super casually like he was floating on clouds. When asked if we needed more drinks, we were waiting for him to do some kind of last supper magic trick... but he didn't. He was still pretty awesome though. -
Review from Carolyn P.
Baltimore, MD
12/17/2011
The place a very cool urban feel as soon as you walk in the door. The folks are all really casual and laid back. The food is really good overall. However, when they get busy, it reflects in the cuisine. It tastes just as rushed as they are.
My recommendation is the green apple and Brie burger with a piece of their banana cake to follow. -
Review from Lauren G.
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sat at the bar on a Thursday afternoon. We got waited on promptly and without an attitude. The bartender in a nut shell was a cool dude. My French toast was pretty awesome, and I paid around $10, so pretty reasonable too. I'll be back, I can't help but now love this place.
Listed in: OM NOM NOM
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Review from Elsa M.
If you are going to break you diet after you swore that this time would be different, you better damn sure make sure that it's worth it. Ladies and gentlemen- it was indeed worth it! Golden West Cafe's Bison Burger (w/ jack) is a killer - made to perfection! Through some extra pickles on it (you have to ask - doesn't come standard) and wooooohooo: LIFE IS GOOD! It's served with a "field of greens." If you order balsamic vinaigrette, be advised that it is creamy vinaigrette has a higher sugar content. It's not bad, just not the light vinaigrette you would think of.
The place is awesome - definitely worthy of my "hipster chic" Yelp list, which eclectic art and a bar the size of Noah's Ark choc full of a ton of beers, etc. The service is stellar and just enough - no one is too pushy, nor are they so hands off that you feel forgotten about. Joe was my waiter and he was great. He even helped me decide between four (yes, four!) different menu options that I had "narrowed" my choices down to. SERIOUSLY FOLKS - there are sooooooo many great-sounding meals on this menu, you will loose your mind! I agonized over the menu for almost 15 minutes before I got it down to the four. It was THAT serious.
Super unassuming from the outside, you wouldn't guess that Golden West was so bomb until you take a look at the menu. However, once you taste the food, it's no longer a guess - it's a firm confirmation: DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS! Screw your diet and go out with a bang! lol! -
Review from Allison L.
Owings Mills, MD
10/29/2011
Eating here made me want to really, finally, learn how to parallel park so I can come back more often!
I came a few weeks ago with a friend, whose a regular, subbing for her husband on their regular date night here. Perhaps that's why our service was particularly good and nothing like some of the previous reviews have described. We started off at the bar and I ordered a screwdriver, with peach schnaps, since I feel like a 70 year old woman ordering a fuzzy navel. It was strong and I was pretty tipsy by the time we sat down to order.
They had hush puppies listed for their specials and I heart hush puppies so I got those. They didn't disappoint. I got the Golden West BLT for dinner because I'll pretty much eat anything with bacon or avocado and combining both is always a plus. An even bigger plus is the fact that this was the most awesome bacon everrr. Also, garlic fries = tiny mouth orgasm but also required multiple sticks of gum afterwards.
They were having Super Nintendo night when we were there, and I seriously wanted to play. The various games in the bar area were a nice touch. And, I wasn't nearly as overcome with annoyance by too many hipsters (it did not seem completely hipster-y that night) so yay for that.
So once I learn how to parallel park an SUV, or I make someone else drive, I'll be back! -
Review from Will S.
Baltimore, MD
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Usually slow and not very friendly, this morning's service was exceptional for the place. Still over-priced, a good place for breakfast.
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Review from Gerry S.
11/8/2011
Two words: Brussels Sprouts
Lord, their brussels sprouts are good. I mean, there are other good things on the menu, and I have to admit I probably eat their Frito pie more often than I should. And, by the way, I think this is the only place in Baltimore to even GET Frito pie, so props to them for that.
But the brussels sprouts. OMG.
This is the place I learned to not just stop hating, and not just like, but to LOVE brussels sprouts. I have made entire dinners out of just a plate of their brussels sprouts. And when there are fried pickles and tater tots on the menu, and I'm skipping over them for the sprouts? THAT'S saying something.
If I'm feeling like I need some protein with my green nuggets of tastiness, I go for the skirt steak entree. It comes with brown rice and, of course, brussels sprouts. Be warned: They tend to run out of this entree, it's so popular. I've been known to pout when this happens.Listed in: My Top Ten Baltimore…
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Review from Bella S.
Gaithersburg, MD
1/11/2012
Golden West has some good, even outstanding at moments, cuisine but sometimes I wonder whether it's worth the wait (no reservations) or the hipster staff's glare - don't be jealous. Especially compared to the rest of the food found on that street, Golden West is pretty good. We brought guests from Arlington who were very impressed with all of their dishes, drinks and especially the decor ("So Baltimore!"). I would highly recommend the tots, the teriyaki brussel sprout side and the sopapilla with spicy carne.
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Review from Jen W.
Where can you take 5 childhood friends from all over the East Coast for Saturday brunch that serves big food with mimosas, and show them the fun & funky side of Baltimore? Golden West! We were that loud, obnoxious table, but the great thing is that they sat us along the far wall so that the laughter and talking mixed in with the regular din at the Golden West.
Our server was awesome this time. She greeted us with waters, then coffees and of course, the long awaited mimosas, which tasted fresh squeezed, too. Since we were a large group, we started off with the tater tots with a ranch and spicy, creamy dipping sauce. Score! Once our plates arrived, we chowed down on Huevos Monulenos (my favorite here), Breakfast Polenta, French Toast, and a couple of egg platters. It was all delicious, huge food (thank goodness I parked 6 blocks away). I love that you have choices of meat or vegetarian and sauce accompaniments. I love that the kitchen is willing to accommodate special dietary needs.One of our friends even ordered her plate gluten free. I thought that was awesome, so she didn't have to sip on tea while we ate our gluten heavy dishes.
I usually never have room after the main plate, but we made room for dessert. We enjoyed Taharka Brothers coffee chip ice cream, banana cupcakes and a blueberry cake with lemon frosting. This was the dessert we kept passing around. It was soft and moist, studded with fresh blueberries and had this fresh, tart lemon frosting/icing. I can't get this cake out of my mind!
The food is awesome but so is the funky/eclectic decor. Make sure you pop into the bathroom to see the retro LP covered walls...nothing like feeling the comfort of Angus Young of AC/DC joining me in the stall. -
Review from Laryssa W.
Jersey City, NJ
9/29/2011
I don't live in Baltimore, but every time I visit Baltimore, I must brunch at Golden West because it consistently remains in my Official Top 5 Brunches.
Both a die-hard meateater and a strict vegan can eat at Golden West and be completely satisfied. With so many ways to customize each dish, no one is allowed to leave sad and unsatisfied.
Every dish I've tried is fresh and flavorful, and the creative menu brightens even the dullest mornings.
However, I deduct one star for the waitstaff and their hisptertude. The bartenders act like they're way too cool to be pouring drinks, and the waitstaff makes it seem like waiting tables is just something to do when you're too emotionally exhausted to do anything else. -
Review from Erica M.
Baltimore, MD
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I heard about this place from my roommate, who stated that she had recognized a lot of the diners in there as fellow MICA students and faculty. I figured it must have good food, price, and atmosphere to attract this crowd, so I gave it a shot.
The decor was busy, colorful, and pretty spastic. Naturally, I thought it was wonderful! Definitely my kind of place. I asked the waitress what the more popular dishes were, and upon her suggestions we ordered a BBQ burger and the aztec burrito. The burrito, my boyfriend's mom tells me, was amazing. I only got one bite, but I think she was right. My burger was mediocre, and the bun was stale. Overall I think the food was overpriced, especially for the burger I got.
The service was pretty quick and very polite, however, so it wasn't a terrible experience. I would go back for the burrito if it was cheaper. With the receipt we got 2 York Peppermint Patties, which was a nice touch. I think instead of returning, I'll try out something else new on the Avenue next time. -
Review from Tracey P.
Baltimore, MD
1/7/2012
I read some of the other reviews and I think they all have it right...what? Yeah....totally hit or miss...if it is a hit, you give a rave review, if it is a miss...then a pretty poor review. I will return to Golden West. I know they are inconsistent, much of the staff think they're too cool for school, yet I have always been there in such great company that I never really cared.
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Review from Marshall L.
Baltimore, MD
10/24/2011
When you go to Golden West, you're paying more for the ideals and aesthetic of the place more than you are for quality or service. I've been several times, and my visit this past weekend is what prompted me to finally write a review. Put simply, I'd never go back here by choice.
Every time I've gone to Golden West, the service was bad. This past weekend when our server came back to ask if my fiance wanted a second mimosa, it took about 20 minutes before it finally made its way back to our table. The first 10 minutes of which, we could see it sitting at the server's station. Aside from this incredibly bad instance of service, the server was practically nonexistent throughout the meal. This has been the case every time I've been to this place. They either consistently have too few people scheduled at any given time, or the people they hire as servers are really bad at their job. In any case, I've had enough and won't go back unless I'm in a group that outvotes the idea of going somewhere else.
As for the food, I think Golden West puts more money and resources into providing vegetarian, vegan, and local foods, at the detriment of providing quality items across the board. If you're a vegetarian or vegan, you'll be happy, but if you're not, the quality of the regular food you receive isn't nearly good enough to justify the price.
The other bad part about this place is that it's one of those snobby places that thinks they can impose arbitrary rules on their patrons. They have something on their menu about prohibiting cell phones in the restaurant. They have no legal basis to prohibit cell phone use in this kind of establishment, so I'm guessing they just choose to give poor service to patrons using their phones. Either way, it's really obnoxious and I'll do everything in my power to not come to this place again. If I'm paying to eat in their restaurant, it's not their place to tell me I'm not allowed to use my phone when I'm there. -
Review from Sean H.
9/15/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Truth be told, and in a way it pains me to say this, this place is god damn delicious. If a bar/restaurant can get me to like Southwestern food, it's amazing. And, to top that off, the few folks from the Southwest that I've taken here have thoroughly enjoyed the chow and they are not easy to please. Southwesterners are on par with if not worse then New Yokers with how unbelievably biased they are about their local cuisine. This place also has some damn good beer and outdoes most of the other Hampden bars with it's selection.
This place always reminds me of a Wes Anderson movie, but, I have gotten over it and in fact crave this place sometimes. Go here, suck it up, and enjoy the chow. There is no reason not to. -
Review from Brian A.
Baltimore, MD
8/19/2011
This place is much hipper than it is delicious.
The staff is always friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming.
But the food is sub par. I have tried this place several times each time thinking it will be better and each time the food falls flat. The lunch is definitely better than the breakfast. Ultimately it is not worth the price.
For breakfast try Clementine instead for a great farm to table experience. -
Review from Kathy P.
Altamonte Springs, FL
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Golden West was recommended by a friend so I went for brunch one day while visiting the area. I had a couple Bloody Marys and the breakfast quesadilla, both of which were delicious. I love that they have vegetarian meat substitutes, big plus for me!
Cute place, good food, friendly service. -
Review from Shannon L.
Baltimore, MD
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Golden West has grown on me. Like so many others, I too was more than miffed at the service the first time I dined here, and again when I sat at the bar. But, I'm a little older and wiser now, and damn if I'm not willing to just wait and smile politely at this point. I always manage to get served that way.
The interior of Golden West (G-Wiz to a friend of mine) is adorably Baltimore. From the antlers in the bar to the walls of the bathroom, festooned with record album covers, I appreciate being in this place. It's got such a great vibe. The board games in the back: a lazy game of Scrabble over brunch. The big windows in the front: an afternoon spent watching the Hampden crowd go by.
A perfect spot for everyone to find something they like: from carnivores (BBQ Burger) to pescitarians (Tilapia Fish Tacos) to veggies (Soy Chorizo Burrito). Everything on the menu is worth trying at least once in my opinion. I do wish they had some lighter fair for the summers, my only real complaint. It's very hearty food here for the most part.
It's also worthwhile to check out their events page, and come see a show or two late night. I recently attended a Nintendo 64 Mario Kart competition here, which they hope to make a regular once-a-month thing. Drinks, food and video games on a giant projector in one of my favorite bars? Brings a tear to the eye.Listed in: Napoleon, Give Me One of Your…
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Review from Nicky R.
Washington, DC
12/13/2011
Never eaten here, but have gone to shows. Ideal venue for people that love house shows, they even have a couch. Jump on it if you dare!
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Review from Lauren C.
9/7/2011
I really want a christmas breakfast burrito. Its the best breakfast burrito ever. Really. Its huge and delicious. The red sauce is hot, and is best eaten along with the green chile sauce.
They import green chiles from New Mexico, and then mix them with butter, and voila! Green Chile sauce.
Menu is focused, but both vegans and carnivores can eat together happily. -
Review from Rebecca Y.
Baltimore, MD
7/18/2011
Years ago I had a not so great breakfast with a not so nice guy (ugh, he knew I thought we were dating but apparently we weren't, egads) -- so for years I irrationally associated this place with a fat, porn-addicted weirdo.
Well, last night a gal pal and I wanted to celebrate that she had just played a great gig at Artscape, so we went to Golden West for dinner.
OMFG - we had the best meal ever! We threw back a few Moosehead lager pints (which were under $4 each - yeh!) and got the requisite buffalo tofu for a starter. Oh my lord -- we were starving and the the way the tofu is cubed and fried -- it is quite filling; with the celery and dip really complementing the buffalo sauce (which there could have been a bit more of). Then we each got a burger (local organic meat - yes!), a red chili one and a barbecue one, each coming with garlic fries. For $9.99, this rather large plate of organic burger and seasoned fries seemed like a particularly good value. For dessert, we shared a vanilla/brownie cake.
Service: It was fine. It took them a while to take our drink order, but that may have been because it was pretty crowded. I thought the drinks and food came out reasonably quick.
Hipster thing: Normally I am pretty sensitive to this and hate holier than thou/over it vibes, but I did not pick up on this either.
In short, I cannot wait to go back, even though today is day 1 of Slim Fast. ;) -
Review from JERROLD T.
Baltimore, MD
8/20/2011
Always had decent food, and the clientele is cool...good place to people watch. Staff is friendly, and even when the place is bugged-out busy, they are still pretty decent on getting your food out. I love the turkey brie and chutney sandwich....and don't miss the guac and homemade chips...EXCELLENT!
Dessert can be hit or miss...but they serve Zeke's coffee. Good stuff. -
Review from Holly N.
Baltimore, MD
5/29/2011
I love the chabby chic, collectioner artsy feel of this place. Everything is mismatched and fun.
The menu is adorable- we went there for breakfast and I loved that they have a wide array of vegetarian options. I personally found the food a bit underseasoned, but it had exceptional texture.... between the polenta, the homemade tortillas, the meat, eggs and beans it was a texture heaven but kinda bland. Needed salt and hot sauce.
I found the staff to be attentive but a bit on the cold side. They tried prematurely to clear the table and right after we finished our meal the waiter asked us how we wanted the check then kept coming up to ask if there was anything else we needed or wanted. How about now? Anything else? like, GET OUT YOU"RE CAMPING AND I'M TRYING TO TURN THIS TABLE.
I would go back though, it's true. I love their menu, the atmosphere and their focus on fresh and local. Just add salt, don't pay attention to the pushy waiter and enjoy a good breakfast. -
Review from Mickey L.
Jenkintown, PA
8/4/2011
Glorious open air space, with eclectic design and decoration elements.
Very much an artsy crowd - tattooed and cooler than you and me. But not pretentious.
Food is a contemporary and creative flair on the standard bar/restaurant menu. I had glorious homemade tortilla chips and the greatest guacamole I've ever had. My friend had a burger (he raved about it, and I'm kicking myself for not remember what toppings he ordered. What made the menu particularly unique is the robust and delicious-sounding breakfast food selection - served all hours of the day.
Highlight : towards the back of the bar, there's comfy couches with board games. Including scrabble - and not a single tile was missing! -
Review from Jonathan G.
Nottingham, MD
6/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Golden West is a pretty Baltimore-y place. The restaurant itself is part of a building older than your dad, there's a myriad of beer to choose from, the stylishly unkempt wait staff wear too-tight secondhand clothing, the menus are made from kitschy vinyl record albums, the tables were bought at yard sales, the bar is made of pounded copper, the food choices are mostly combinations that people wouldn't logically make, and so on.
At the bar are board games, and they often have buffet specials (pancakes, tacos, etc.) for bar patrons. Again, I can't say enough good things about the drink selection.
About the only criticism I can level is that tables near the entrance suck. On a cold/windy day, the wind from outside travels inside every time someone opens the door, hitting you in the face. They've fixed this somewhat with a new and improved entrance, but I'd still rather sit in the back or at the bar.
A lot of other folks have mentioned poor service, which I've never experienced. Try the turkey, brie and mango chutney - it's my favorite. -
Review from Robert W.
Baltimore, MD
1/2/2012
I don't wear skinny jeans (because I wouldn't fit into them), I don't listen to vinyl records and am not really into shopping at thrift stores, but this place was damn good. I don't usually venture into Hampden because of the parking situation. On a whim, we decided to try GWC for brunch today. It's located on 36th st in Hampden which is a nice and actually cute area. Inside is eclectic and fairly cozy. The service was polite, appropriate and fairly attentive. We shared the frito pie with chili. This was great. Slightly salty followed with a little kick of heat. I had the chorizo breakfast burrito and it was delicious. The chorizo may be homemade, but it had hints of cinnamon and maybe nutmeg? Overall, I was very very satisfied with my dining experience. Check it out...
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Review from Sara S.
Lewes, DE
7/13/2011
I love golden west! I take all of my out of town guests here and always recommend it to others.
My personal favorite is the BBQ un-chicken burger with a delicious side salad! I CRAVE it! They offer a great selection for vegans & vegetarians, too. It's perfect for a mixed crowd of friends.
The bar is great! They have a good selection of beer, et al. I do not recommend the whiskey and bacon shooter (many may say "duh"- but sometimes you just get caught up in the moment).
As far as the "hipster" element I've seen commented on.. Chillax! Do you want a back massage with your tater tots? Geeeez! Nice begets nice.
Love it. Crave it. Want it right now. -
Review from Katy V.
Philadelphia, PA
8/14/2011
Golden West is one of my favorite places in Baltimore. I've been dining there since they were in their old, smaller location down the street. Whenever I bring friends to Baltimore, I take them here to show off my awesome hometown.
The place has a great Baltimore-kitsch vibe, the service is always friendly, and the food is outstanding. My favorites are the Frito Pie, breakfast quesadilla, and the brussels sprouts (I tried these for the first time recently and DAMN! Grilled to perfection in a tantalizing asian sauce. The menu warns that they are addicting...what an understatement.). Although I haven't been to the bar, I have had some of their house cocktails, which were all delicious and generously poured.
There can sometimes be a long wait for a table, but that's a pretty good indication that a place is doing something right. Can't wait to go back again and again. -
Review from Victoria R.
Baltimore, MD
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Two words: Polenta. Hipsters.
I was here for lunch. The food was really amazing; chorizo and polenta - I do love my mexican sausage and corn products.
However, the snobbish hipster who sat us and waited on us would barely look at us and we could barely hear him since he was talking with the ceiling. -
Review from Gina P.
Baltimore, MD
5/28/2011
I really love the breakfast food at Golden West. The restaurant offers a range of options that will satisfy all types of palates and dietary constraints. The Buffalo Tofu is AMAZING and pretty much everything on the breakfast menu is purely fantastic (to be honest, with the exception of the buffalo tofu, I haven't been wowed by any of the non-breakfast selections).
The issue here is the service. With the exception of Bob (who is great), I have had some truly under-par service...like some of the worst service I've ever experienced. It's really unfortunate since the food is good. I would recommend that you try it for yourself--the [breakfast] food is good but the dining experience is pretty hit-or-miss. -
Review from C W.
Washington, DC
6/24/2011
I was skeptical of going after reading all of the reviews about the service. However, I was a little picky since I wanted a place that wasn't a chain and wouldn't freak out by bringing my child. Thankfully, we had a great time. Our server was very nice and attentive. He was present but not overly pushy.
For appetizer we had the White Bean Bruschetta and Guac & Chips. Both were pretty good but I'd skip the bruschetta the next time. Entrees, fish tacos, Burger with brie and apples, warm Thai salad. My burger was cooked just as I asked but it was someone bland. You'd think all of those flavors would give it a good kick but it was just ok. My friend said his salad was good and it had nice portion of shrimp.
I can't say I'd rush back but if I'm in the area and looking for a place, I wouldn't pass on it. -
Review from Andrew R.
Baldwin, MD
9/22/2011 11 Check-ins Here
This is my go-to restaurant. If you have never eaten here, take some time to study the menu. The brussel sprouts are world famous. This is one of those 'must visit' while in Hampden places.
