Ixia

 

6

24

Lynne P.

Baltimore, MD

I can't imagine anything more pretentious than this place. The food came nowhere near to justifying the level of snobbery.

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4

44

Caitlin S.

Baltimore, MD

Okay, I am embarassed to admit that it has taken me so long to check out Ixia.  Once I got there and saw how beautiful the decor is, I felt like I've really been missing out.  There are so many big, comfy chairs and sofas, not to mention bar stools, that finding a place to sit is not a challenge.  The light fixtures, artwork, and upholstery make for a very interesting and cozy theme.  

The speciality coctail list is ultra yummy, but dangerous.  After a fruity punch served in a glass the size of my head, my common sense evaporated and I moved on to scotch - not a good idea, of course.

The music was a good mix of loungy downtempo and popular songs by artists similar to and including Justin Timberlake.  

I'm actually shocked that this isn't a popular locals haunt, like Brewer's Art.  I was there with a small group of friends, so didn't really check out the rest of the crowd, but I'm sure if they were annoying, I would have noticed.  My fear is that if more people don't head out to Ixia, it will go out of business.  

Please please give it a go!

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Elite '08

115

215

Ina K.

Silver Spring, MD

This is a beautiful restaurant -- more towards funky/eclectic than elegant. I've never seen such detail with a restaurant's decor - all the way down to the bathrooms. I felt like I was on the set of Moulin Rouge or something.

Ixia is fantastic for a GNO (girls' night out. Trust me - the acronym is making its way around) or just a unique dining/drinking experience. The bar ROCKS because there's plenty of room to sit - at the bar and on couches. It brings out a cool crowd (20s and 30s), except for the weird scientist guys that cornered me & my friends on our GNO! =\ I don't think they frequent Ixia often, so don't be afraid.

My experience at Ixia is limited to the bar, but I've heard fantastic things about the food.

Ixia also looks like a great place for a special occasion. They have a second floor tier kind of thing that is separate from the entire rest of the restaurant - perfect for a private party??

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0

10

Adam O.

Baltimore, MD

I can't even guess how many times I have walked passed Ixia without giving much consideration to trying it.  From the outside it is fairly non-descript and what little I could see through the tinted window struck me as too modern and overly trying hard to be trendy.  I can't overemphasize how disappointed I am in myself for not trying this place sooner!!!

Ixia is one of the most beautifully decorated restaurants in Baltimore.  The artwork was gorgeous especially the Andy Warhol style painting of Jackie O.  The flatware and stemware were very high-end.  I went on a Thursday night, so the crowd was a bit subdued, but I can imagine the place would be a lot more crowded and boisterous on a weekend.

Now down to the nitty gritty.  The food was spectacular.  I have to say the menu choices themselves were a bit unexceptional.  However, my scallops over risotto and my friends short ribs were done to perfection.  There is a great dessert selection and the wine list seemed to be well rounded.

The service was very good too.  Like I said it was a bit of a slow night, but the waitstaff struck me as being very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu.

Regardless of price, which is reasonable, I honestly have a difficult time determining many restaurants in Baltimore that can top Ixia.  I will definitely be returning soon and often.

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2

39

Andrew W.

Baltimore, MD

Went here last night and had a great time. It is moderately priced... 177 for 5 course, bottle of wine, and 20% tip. Overall the price was definitely worth it. The service was great with the exception of our waiter being very soft spoken.

We had an issue with the Valet as the Valet driver drove my car up on to the curb but the management quickly  handled the issues

The Food was great and well presented. A lot of variety and different flavors. We had the Tuna and Scallops for entrees, both were well prepared and the risotto  the came with the Scallops was awesome.

All in all a great place, one of a kind in Baltimore. We will be going back

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6

26

JO' G.

Baltimore, MD

I've been meaning to go to Ixia for years based on friends' glowing reviews...and I'm so glad I finally did. This place scores high in so many ways:

First impressions -- The decor is amazingly creative...whimsical (like its sister restaurant, the Papermoon Diner) yet somehow much more upscale and less art school dropout. Do yourself a favor and check out the bathrooms...wow.

Food -- How many places still serve amuse bushes? Ixia. (What an awesome surprise.) How many places cook your meat exactly right? Ixia. And how many restaurants in this day and age actually offer multiple unique desserts? Ixia! Yum yum.

Service -- For such a modern-looking restaurant, Ixia is incredibly old school when it comes to service. The multiple servers attending our table saw to every detail before we even thought of them. Plus, they do this without being snooty. Yay!

As expected, with great service and food comes a slightly larger bill...but for a special night out on the town, Ixia serves the purpose and then some.

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1

7

Jessica B.

Baltimore, MD

After having experienced both the blind tasting menu on Wednesday  and the grand tasting menu on Thursday,   I have experienced gastronomic nirvana.   Each dish was not only beautifully presented but breathtaking.  The lobster was cooked to perfection with a citrus butter and edamame paste.   Foie Gras hit the nail as once again, from Hudson Valley it is duck Foie that melts like butter in you mouth each bite.

For the next two weeks you can still eat the Hudson Valley Foie Gras (which is the best in the city IMHO) and starting the third week of September Ixia will change to its Fall Menu.  

The menu is exceptional and changes seasonally (winter spring summer and fall) providing our palates with the freshest ingredients. The third week of September Ixia will be changing from summer to Fall and creating new experiences for your palate pleasure.  

Not many people are aware that on Saturdays and Fridays the bar area offers a a liquid nitrogen cocktail menu- which is a real treat and exemplifies the creativity of Ixia.

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Elite '08

23

148

Orlando E.

New York, NY

The big X sign caught our attention as we walked down the street from the Washington monument.  As usual, the menu was on the window for easy inspection. At the time though, the restaurant was not open. One of the waiters was fixing or arranging some stuff for the night and seeing our curious look at the menu, told us they would open at 5pm for dinner.

We came back at 8pm. Were greeted by a very pleasant and warm hostess who took us to our table. I have say from the time we walked in i felt we were at a special place. Beautiful and fun decor with white curtains and pop paintings on the walls.  Seats and tables are white. It so happened that the waiter who greeted us earlier in the day was the one to serve our table. Very cordial and helpful with the food and wine decisions.  

I think at this point in my eating life i have become quite adventurous with my selections. I'm happy for that as it allows me to try new and exciting items in the menu.  Ixia had many delectable and culinary combinations i had not considered before. While i was going through my usual indecisions as many items looked good. We were presented with the chef's tasting menu option.  As it happens, Thursday is Tasting menu day. Wednesday is blind menu day.

We agreed with the tasting menu with wine pairing. Wow. I have not been impressed or amused much by food lately, but this was something. The kind waiter in his friendly conversation asked us if we were there for any special occasion. We were not celebrating much but the whim of going away, and walking into an interesting restaurant. Or so we realized while we were there.

All the dishes served were from excellent, amazing or good.  Butter fish on sake marinated cucumbers, pork loin with a side of apple slaw. Rock fish on a bed of corn and lobster foi gras filled figs ... it was all very good. Oh, yes, the fillet Mignon. We walked out very satisfied and amazed at the good stuff on the table.

The service, the setup, decor and all was great! I have to admit that while i love eating good, i have been to other places that have similar looks, as in trying to look too good, and ostentatious, this one seemed at first one of those. But like every good artist if you are good, you are allowed some level of eccentricity. Ixia did it for me. It looked great, it tasted amazing and it made us feel even better.

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0

138

John S.

Mount Airy, MD

This is a really fun place to go. We have been a few times for special events. (Birthday and Anniversary) The decor is out there. For dinner, ask to be seated in the front of the restaurant. You can look out on the street plus check the rest of the restaurant out. Food is wonderful. I love the food, but service has been a little lacking the last time we went here. The waiter gave us a couple of complimentary glasses of champagne, but end up charging us and then arguing about it. In addition, he served my wife the wrong dinner and we had to wait twenty minutes for hers to appear. A call to the restaurant's owner the following Monday, corrected the issue with a complimentary  dinner and wine.

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0

5

Grace A.

San Francisco, CA

Wow. Ixia is a phenomenal find. If you're from DC and getting tired of the same restaurants, same scene, long wait -  the drive is worth it. If you're from Baltimore - short drive, no excuses.  I work in Baltimore on occasion, but never really gave the local fare much thought. Good thing I pulled it together.

The restaurant has a nice, open feel with a lounge in the background. Specialty drink list consisted mainly of martinis and mojitos. My friends and I had the tasting menu which consisted of 6 courses  (small/medium sized plates ) that covered the gamut from rockfish to fillet to duck.

The meal was good overall, a couple of courses were only so-so (swordfish a bit tough, and pineapple upside down cake was on the dry side). Despite that, very strong points for a unique and balanced menu that was reasonably priced ($69 for 6 courses - take that DC).

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1

8

Sarah T.

Baltimore, MD

Love this place! The decor is amazing! The drinks are great. The food is very very very good.

I went here first for dinner with my mom before a show and both of us enjoyed our meals greatly. The service is very good, what you would expect in an upscale restaurant. We both ordered appetizers, entrees and desserts and were delighted with all. Not to mention the amuse bouche that was served with our drinks. I've been back a couple of times and never am I disappointed.

They have a great chef's tasting menu on Wednesdays, $55/$80(with wine).

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11

273

Merrill F.

Silver Spring, MD

I'd go here more for the decor (and martinis) than the food. While the food is good, it's good in that "pretentious, different for the sake of taste" type way. I had the lemon pepper lasagna, and it was very disappointing. My friend's steak, however, was excellent. But if you want a good steak, go to Ruth's Chris.
I liked the trendy atmosphere, and the decor is just fun. It's worth a try, although maybe go here for the drinks before dinner and do dinner elsewhere.

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42

134

Josiah L.

New York, NY

this nice little restaurant, situated a block away south of the monument, offers a really nice dinner menu. they also have some extremely comfortable couches in the lounge area. either before or after dining, goto the bar and ask for the martini list, i recommend to try all of them

updated: 9/11
appetizers are available till pretty late, but you HAVE TO try the lobster mac&cheese, it's soooooooooooooooo goooooooooooooooooooood

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