We dropped in with an old friend at Matthew's 1600 on Frederick west of downtown Catonsville (Apr…read more2026). This is a familiar place that updates the look and menu now and then, yet still feels like home. We often get a beet salad when it's available. Matthew's is scrumptious, with tender sweet juicy roasted beets, tasty grilled chicken, red onion slices and fresh spinach, tangy crumbled bleu cheese, and delightful candied walnuts, complimented by tart raspberry vinaigrette. By the way, it's gluten-free. We loved the rich cream of crab soup du jour, full of crab lumps and full of flavor, with a little spice from good old Old Bay. Delicious and dreamy. Their quesadillas were served a la carte as an appetizer, loaded with savory roasted chicken, heavy with a mild cheese and a lightly spicy flavorful thick red sauce, rolled in tender lightly seared flour tortillas. Generous and satisfying. Matthew's building dates from around 1862 as a station and hotel at the end of a horse-car line, before electricity! It's been through around 5 names over the years, and has been the Parsons family's Matthew's 1600 since 2004. We've felt comfortable and welcomed here for decades. It has plenty of free parking in their own lot. By the way, many of their already reasonable prices are discounted a little if you pay cash. That's a endearing way of keeping it real in Catonsville, only charging when it costs them.

First time visiting Matthew's 1600. It was packed when we visited but we didn't have a hard time…read moregetting seated. It seemed like a local favorite place. I for sure thought because of the business, the food had to be good! And it was!! I got the egg roll sampler and loved it. The pasta was recommended and I was not disappointed. The salmon Victoria was supposed to come with a chèvre cheese on it but it was forgotten. We were able to flag down our waiter and inform him of the error and he went to the kitchen to get some on the side. It wasn't on it as it was intended but it was still good. I would come back--especially for the eggroll sampler.

Our favorite restaurant. Chef Dan and Donna are wonderful hosts and the food is excellent.read more

What a great place for an elegant dinner or date night. I felt underdressed as I did have on a…read moredress but my 3 year old granddaughter had on shorts and sneakers. Nevertheless we felt VERY WELCOMED. The hostess was friendly and accommodating and Michael, Jason and Sam took great care of us. Michael gave us history; Jason gave is food knowledge and Sam was just an excellent Beverageter. love love love this place. I am a big fan of farm to table. I will be back. Oh also the chef came out to say hello - loved that too. And how could I almost forget the dessert. I had the strawberry cheesecake and I could have eaten 2 more if I didn't stop myself because I had consumed enough calories.

Really cool bar in downtown Ellicott City! They have a good selection beers and also a full bar for…read morethose that might not like beer. The bartender was friendly and the space was cool with a small outdoor area downstairs. They also have upper floors, but we just stayed downstairs on this visit. They serve food, but we'd just eaten, so next time! Overall, it's a great little spot and I'll definitely return next time I'm in the area!

Let me just say it is NOT The Judge's Bench of days past. The food selections are extremely limited…read moreand consist basically of mediocre frozen food. I would equate it to cafeteria food. If you are with a handful of friends and you are looking for a casual place to sit, gab, and drink, Judge's Bench might be ok. Otherwise, I'd take the short walk to The Manor Hill or several other Old Ellicott City offerings. The Bench has seen better days.

The food is always delicious here, sandwiches are piled high with a meat of your choice, cheese,…read moreslaw, tomato, and fries. Onion rings are super crispy and stay together well. The drinks were HUGE but not very strong. I did get a little plastic duck with my cocktail which was very cute, though. Despite being a Pittsburgh sandwich and bar restaurant, you would expect to see Steelers memorabilia, but the Linthicum MD location is full of Baltimore Ravens gear! The service was attentive and always around if you needed something. Food comes out quickly, I didn't wait more than 10-15 minutes for anything to come out. Overall, Food and Drinks: 8.5/10 Service: 8/10 Atmosphere: 7/10

P is for Primanti Bros., representing 2024 in alphabet series:…read more I was familiar with Primati Bros. when I visited my parents in Lancaster. They live very close to a location there, and we got pizza to go when I was visiting them one time maybe in 2022. The pizza was very good as I recall. Then, I saw there was a location of Primanti Bros. opening in Linthicum Heights near BWI Airport, the first location in the Baltimore-DC area. They were having a grand opening on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, where the 1st 100 customers were going to get free sandwiches for year. I live about 13 miles from here, and I toyed with the idea of trying to be one of the first 100. But I opted against as even if I got there at 6 AM for the 10 or 10:30, whatever grand opening time, and there's still no guarantee I'd be the 1st 100. And I'd be pissed that I drove all the way there and stood there for hours to get nothing in the end. Not to mention, I had work too (although on average probably slower due to also Juneteenth holiday), which I could do from out there to a certain extent. Ultimately, I had emailed them, and they said the 100th customer got there at approximately 4 AM that morning! That's insane. This place really has a cult following! A friend, who knew I lived in AA County, loves this place and mentioned the idea of meeting up with me one Sunday to watch a Ravens game, and him and his fiancée (wife as of March 2025) went up there a few times to watch game or other reasons they went that way. On Thursday, October 3, 2024, like Juneteenth the holiday Primanti Bros. opened, it was Rosh Hosannah, and that friend who had off (as he works in a school & they get the Jewish holiday) off invited me to lunch with another friend of ours. My work was slow that day, and I needed to eat lunch somewhere anyway. I probably would've eaten lunch at home or close to home if they hadn't thought to invite me. So, I drove the 13 miles from home to meet up with them. Those two friends were kind of high. Well sure, it was a holiday they were off work. And they were hungry too! I was hungry too because well it was lunchtime. Service was prompt & friendly answering our questions. However, server was a bit of a klutz as she accidentally spelled some water got a bit on one friend. Geez, was she the one who was high?!...just kidding, it's just one of those accidents that can happen being a server. She was apologetic. My friend took it with stride having a positive attitude. I believe I got a pastrami sandwich, but could've been corned beef. Their sandwiches are big, pilled high with lots of meat & delicious too. I can really see why the following for this place with the quantity but also the high quality. Fries were plentiful too, which were also delicious. I ate well that day for lunch and was quite full. I went to an event that evening, and I think I just ate something small/snack for dinner that night after I got home around 9 PM. This was a great service with excellent plentiful sandwiches & fries and nice service.

This is a cute neighborhood bar with good food…read more We had crab dip with pretzel bites and celery. It was a good crab dip!! Then we weren't that hungry after the app so just wanted soup. We asked the waitress which soup she would recommend and she said the French Onion Soup. It was delicious. The cheese was well done and stretchy! We shared the Smith Island Cake for dessert and the frosting was very fudgy!! Would definitely come back!

Jennings is fine. It's a down-home comfortable sports bar. Having lived in the area for a few…read moreyears, I finally had a chance to check them out. The inside is a little cramped, and may be overstimulating for some with the TVs and lots of staff and customers (it's a slightly divey sports bar, what do you expect?). We ate outside, which despite the cool wind the night we were there, was much more pleasant. Our waitress was friendly and happy answered out questions about the menu. My kiddos got some items from the children's menu - sliders and tenders - and seemed to enjoy them. The whole family split some fried pickle appetizers. They were a little thick, but not too thick, and nicely fried with a tasty dipping sauce; I'd get this again. I got the Maryland crab soup. It was pretty standard; I've had better and I've had worse - nothing to write home about. My wife got the hot turkey sandwich, which was smothered in gravy. On a cool night, it was just what she wanted. There are some pretty standard cocktails as well as about a dozen beers on tap that included some local and some domestic brews. My waitress graciously let me see the whole list and snap a picture since I was being a bit indecisive at first. Overall, it didn't blow my socks off but nothing was bad either. The prices were fair and the service friendly.

Super popular spot. It's also hidden in this building that's…read morea venue for dinners. The normal restaurant is really small. There's a bar for 5 people and like 5 tables. Make sure to make a reservation. Weekend reservations are impossible. On a weekday, we were able to book same day. Top notch service. Accepts credit card. Their menu changes. We showed up for a reservation but had to wait. The staff was nice and gave us a complimentary charcuterie board. Tavern board (charcuterie board) - was really good. Nice spread of salami and cheese. It's a nice precursor to the main meal Roasted oysters- tasted fresh. There's extra condiments on top, I thought was excessive Oyster pie- pretty interesting. Oyster was fresh, the crust of pie was good. I would skip next time Hog neck clams-really good. Tasted fresh. The real winner was the sauce. The complimentary bread was used to soak up the sauce. The sauce was so so good. I would get this again for the sauce. Fish and chips- cooked very well. Great presentation. Scallops - were exquisite and cooked perfectly. My friend who had this dish raved about how good it was.

My wife and I really enjoy coming to Woodberry Kitchen. It's the kind of place that feels special…read morewithout trying too hard, and every time we go, it reminds us why people hold it in such high regard. We've been here for casual date nights, Valentine's dinner, and the last time we came was for our friends renewing their vows after 10 years of marriage. That alone says a lot about the kind of place it is. It fits both everyday moments and really meaningful ones. What stands out first is the atmosphere. There's a warmth to the space that makes it feel inviting right away. It has a rustic, polished look with a lot of character, but it never feels stiff or overly formal. It's the kind of place where you can tell thought was put into every detail, but it still feels comfortable enough to settle in and enjoy yourself. For me, the experience starts before the food even hits the table. The space has a calm, intentional energy to it. It's perfect for slowing things down and actually enjoying your time, especially with someone you care about. The food is where it really separates itself. Everything feels carefully prepared and well thought out. You can tell they care about ingredients, and that always comes through in the flavor. Nothing feels thrown together or generic. The menu itself gets you excited before you even order, and the food lives up to it. What I appreciate most is that it doesn't just feel like a place serving food, it feels like a place creating an experience. The dishes have personality. There's intention behind them. It's not about being flashy, it's about doing things right. The service adds to that as well. Every time we've gone, the staff has been friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without hovering. It makes the whole experience feel smooth and relaxed. Another thing I like is that it feels distinctly Baltimore without feeling ordinary. It has a real identity to it, and that makes it memorable. My wife and I keep coming back because it feels like time well spent. Good food, great atmosphere, and the kind of place that actually stays with you after you leave. Overall, this is easily one of the more memorable dining experiences in Baltimore. Definitely worth it if you're looking for something that feels meaningful, not just another night out.

The ambience is quiet nice,…read more Service also was good. Fast and helpful and friendly... Food was ok but I was expecting the fried oysters a bit more tasty and a bit crispy... Mozeralla pearls was ok

All of the food was delicious. Each meal had good flavor, good portions, and good happy hour deals…read more Victorias is a great place for a dinner out, date night, or any kind of occasion. Prices are reasonable for the quality you get. The chocolate pecan cake was absolutely fantastic. My only complaint is that the kids menu is not for kids. Looking at the menu the options are fine, but the pizza uses spicy sauce, the chicken nuggets are overly crispy and adult-ish, and the fish and chips is just a smaller portion of the adult version. The fish is overly identifiable for a kid. Perhaps this is my picky eaters, but the kids menu is for a near adult kid in my opinion.

Great hot wings. Bartenders were pleasant. And a great feel inside. Came for a banquet and…read moreeverything was exquisite!

They serve standard bar food along with "home cooked" style specials. They have a variety of…read moredishes to choose from on the menu but the wings and tater tots are my go to. You may have to ask for a little extra sauce in the side but other than they're crispy and fried very well. Service at the bar is great.

The staff was friendly and the tuna salad sandwich with a side of crab soup was good. Can't get…read moreover the low pricing!! Look forward to being able to eat in, rather than take-out. I'll be back.

If visiting the Spring Grove grounds isn't weird enough, then try being served by and dining with…read morethe residents. Cafe on the Grove is a true gem. I didn't find out about it until a friend suggested we eat there as an alternative to the world famous Double T Diner on Route 40. It is much cheaper than TT and the clientele is just as questionable. The hours are limited but the food is homemade, fresh, and cheaply priced. There is parking adjacent to the cafe and plenty of seating inside. Although I normally get an egg sandwich for breakfast, I highly recommend the pancakes or grits.