Tabrizi's

 

4

97

K Sera S.

Columbia, MD

Ditto on the challenging parking comment. Also, rather poor signage on Key Highway (you go into Harborview). I can see how this might be a challenging location.

Went for a late supper on a Tuesday. Was delighted to hear a live piano and base combo, but disappointed when they packed up a few minutes later. I'm sure they would have been a nice complement to the meal.

A pretty and chic yet vaguely sterile setting is offset by a lovely view of the harbor. The patio wasn't open yet, but I'm told by a resident of the Harborview that "there is no better place to spend a warm summer's evening." Strong praise, that!

The octopus and calamari app is yummy. Fresh without a hint of rubbery, and the surprisingly snappy sauce works well (watch for the flakes of red pepper if you'd rather not have it quite so spicy). Babaganough (sp?) was okay, but somewhat too salty for my taste. A Gorgonzola ravioli with duck meatballs was a heady combination, although the duck balls (sorry...) seemed a bit over-cooked. Decent wine selection (glass and bottle).

I'll be intrigued to see how this place fares. The location is so odd--it's almost like the Harborview residents' private restaurant. Yet the fare and setting is (arguably) too upscale for the boat crowd or the "live-aboards" (folks who live in their boats at the docks). Perhaps the patio is what crosses the formal/informal boundary.

I'll be back...assuming it's still around.

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6

26

JO' G.

Baltimore, MD

We were at this venue once before during the short life of the former Lily's, an unfortunate Greek-inspired tapas joint that seemed doomed before it even started dishing out overcooked calimari and fried this and that. Thankfully, Tabrizi's has now taken its place, complete with a creative menu and an exciting open kitchen layout.

I was skeptical coming in, given our bad experience at Lily's, but starters of fresh hummus and spicy, warm octopus salad cheered me immediately (not to mention our fantastic server and a glass of the house merlot).

Although Tabrizi's offers a broad array of creative Mediterranean entrees, we opted to order four smaller plates. I had some lovely grilled eggplant with goat cheese and some kibbeh, with delicious burghul shells stuffed with ground meat and spices over a bed of chopped organic vegetables and tahini sauce. The hubby had a similar salad and a burger of ground beef and lamb and spiced with something called "Stardust"... for a burger, pretty darned magical.

We ended our meal by sharing a small plate of baklava (one piece for each of us), thankfully devoid of the soupy, sappy honey that -- to me -- weighs down an otherwise yummy dessert. Perfect size, and a great finisher for a lovely meal.

One important note: Tabrizi's is located within a community of harborside condos. The restaurant offers free parking (yay!), but the signage at the gate of the residents' shared lot is a bit confusing. Keep an eye out for the tiny "Tabrizi's" sign over a button that will give you access to the lot.

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