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    Ethel's Creole Kitchen

    4.4 (391 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Ethel's Creole Kitchen Photos

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    ETHEL'S CREOLE KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Ethel's Creole Kitchen

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    Collard Greens and bread

    The food was fresh and seasoned perfectly. Had shrimp and Grits and greens. Even got red beans and rice to take home.

    Kiera B.

    GO GO GO!! Never had authentic creole food but this is the place to stop since the chefs are from NOLA and you're in MD with not many other options of this nature! Got here at almost 7p on a Saturday and it wasn't so full that I had to wait (also made a reservation just in case) but once I sat down that's what triggered more patrons to come in, which is usually how it works. The place was banging! My waitress has been working here since the early 2000s and was very knowledgeable on the menu items. I decided to go with the Gumbo since I've never had it and it was one of the best dishes I've ever had! Nothing to compare it to, but the flavors were like a party in my mouth. Most importantly this bowl came out steaming! The dish definitely had some kick to it, the Andouille Sausage was so flavorful and spicyyy good, the chicken was delicious & easy to cut through (major), but I also really enjoyed the vegetables, they had just enough crunch! The rice was sucking up the stew once I got it all broke down and stirred around which helped in terms of me not using a spoon! The mini crabcakes were phenomenal. Fresh crab, thanks to those precious blue babies, & the dipping sauce was very tasty! Definitely had Old Bay in it, of course! It was such a beautiful night to be able to sit outside, I could hear the crowd of chatting from the people on the other side of the glass that were inside the restaurant, could hear the dinging of the food being ready from the kitchen, and then I got to hear a wedding party getting started up on the balcony at the tavern that is across the street. People that were inside the restaurant actually requested that the door be shut because it was just that loud and interruptive! If you want to avoid that, I was told this happens a lot in the spring/summer and of course, you could always go a little bit earlier since wedding parties are usually evenings!

    Hot Cat Stack with regular cornbread
    Nicole C.

    I went to Ethel's yesterday for my birthday as I wanted to try something/somewhere I haven't been and they did not disappoint! I don't eat red meat and the dish Hot Cat Stack comes with sausage cornbread but they made it without with no problem. Service was incredible from the host, bartender and the chef! I went pretty late so I had the restaurant to myself for majority of my time there which gave a private dining vibe. It's pretty intimate in size so I'm sure the place can get packed pretty quickly. No complaints I'll definitely be back.

    Chippepa
    Kendra H.

    Outstanding food. So tasty, and felt authentically creole with menu offerings and seasoning. The layout is a bit cozy, but you're not so close to others that it is uncomfortable. Good indoor and outdoor options. The staff is very accommodating but also very busy and constantly moving, so it does feel a little rushed but worth it.

    Shrimp and Grits
    Rhonda J.

    Absolutely AMAZING! Thank you Chefs! Everything was delicious. The service was impeccable. Jade and Haley really took care of us. I searched Yelp for the best cream of crab soup and Ethel's came up. The soup did not disappoint. The Shrimp and Grits were impressive. I can't wait to try the crab cakes the next time. For this to be our first visit we were thoroughly impressed.

    Chillee Cucumber Salad
    Jay S.

    Almost everything was 10/10 and I would fully recommend this spot for good food! Be prepared to spend more money than usual, but if we are basing everything off of what I have had, it was definitely worth it. Even though I have had jambalaya elsewhere, including in New Orleans, so far the jambalaya here is the best I have ever had. It was flavorful, abundant in quantity, well-seasoned, and had a good balance of meat, rice, and vegetables on the side. The baby back ribs were sure slow roasted because the meat was falling off the bones very easily, with a sufficient amount of ribs in some delicious sauce. There was also a good amount of roasted zucchini, squash, and carrots, so I was thoroughly satisfied. They have the ribs available in the mango chipotle sauce as well. I didn't have the cucumber salad, but I did have some of the Mom's Crab Cakes, which my friends ordered. They were not like traditional crab cakes, because the crab cakes had no filler at all. It was everything crab, which made it more worth it, which also meant that it was expensive because it was between $40 and $50 when we got it. Once again, a good amount of vegetables, and a good amount of mashed potatoes. I enjoyed it a lot as well, even if part of me wasn't really used to it. Once again, highly recommended! If I return here at any point, then I will, without a doubt, try their authentic gumbo and their Crawfish Fried Grits, which they were out of when we tried to order it today.

    View from our table to back kitchen
    Gretchen B.

    Overall a 5 star experience! Small, cozy restaurant located in the "Village" at Mount Washington. Set between other shops and eateries which I've had the opportunity to eat at over the years, Ethels def stands out. Service was good, our waitress explained the specials in detail. I had the NOLA chicken with creole sauce over mashed potatoes and fresh veggies. The sauce was delightful, red peppers with a slight tang of vinegar and seasonings. My husband had the short ribs which were fall off the bone good.....but the real winner was the special my brother had which was the smoked Mac/cheese with pieces of brisket. It truly was the best mac/cheese I've ever had. The menu is not large but what they do have is done well. Many traditional dishes I'd like to try next time such as the gumbo and jambalaya.

    Authentic Gumbo
    Tiffany D.

    This time around, I was very pleased with my experience at Ethel's GLOWS: - I didn't have a reservation, but was seated at the bar until a table was shortly ready. Although my friend was a few minutes late, the hostess seated me without an issue. - They have some daily specials, which sounded pretty good----a nice addition to the menu. -The shrimp boat is tasty and very light. I ate almost the entire dish and did not feel sluggish afterward. - The chef forgot to put crabmeat in my shrimp boat entree but easily rectified the situation which was greatly appreciated - They have unsweetened tea- which might only be a plus for me!---- but also hot tea and coffee to pair with dessert - We got the strawberry bread pudding for dessert which was very delicious. It seems like they rotate their desserts, so I hope they always have something just as good to offer. GROWS: -My friend enjoyed her Gumbo, but noted that flavors would be more potent if every ingredient was marinated together. You can tell that some ingredients are added to the base after. - The cornbread was not really notable. I loved the complimentary bread better and would just order another serving of that in the future. -The lunch menu seems to have more variety, including sandwiches and po' boys. It would be nice to have those options at dinner too.

    Fried catfish
    Kyra J.

    Visited here for dinner with my family. Made a reservation and was seated right away and offered water and bread. Looked over the menu along with the specials and had trouble deciding what to try because everything seemed like a good option. Started our meals with lemon drops and they were so tasty we ordered another round. Ordered the half rack of ribs- tender and seasoned well Fried catfish- delicious, cooked perfectly and the cornbread and sauce were a great accompaniment Seafood Jambalaya-lots of shrimp and mussels Cornbread-melts in your mouth Collard greens-seasoned perfectly The restaurant is kind of small but has a great vibe. Also the staff is top notch! Definitely a great spot.

    Lemon Drop cocktail
    Mike F.

    I throw the word "authentic" around a lot in my reviews, but this time I mean it. Ethel's Creole Kitchen is LEGIT authentic Louisiana cuisine up here in the north east. Crazy I know. So, how could I tell? It's all in the roux, man. When it's that rich and that dark and can permeate an entire dish with such a small amount... that potency is simply unmatched. It's acute, bona fide flavor. Before we get into the food, let's start with the cocktails. Lots to choose from, including the New Orleans classic, the Sazerac (rye, absinthe, bitters, and a lemon twist). They have all the usual staples as well, like their Prohibition Perfect Manhattan, Seasonal Sangria, and Lemon Drop. For whatever reason, I was feeling something sweet, so I went with the Lemon Drop. It was, uh, very lemony. Sugar rim, lemon twist. Very pleasing to the eye. Simple yet elegant. If you're a fan of Sour Patch Kids, this is for you. As for the food - holy crap, everything was a home run. Started with the Chippepa (fire roasted red bell pepper stuffed with Andouille sausage, mozzarella, and peppers and onions). Very unique appetizer. Comes out looking like a giant Italian meatball. And it really is giant. This may be intended for one person, but it's great for splitting up two ways. Just slice that baby in half and you're good to go. For my main, I couldn't pass up on the gumbo. When I think of New Orleans cooking, that's the first dish that always comes to mind. And I even love that boxed gumbo by Zatarain's (as well as their jambalaya). You can choose your proteins - I went with chicken and Andouille, but you could sub shrimp in as well. Gumbo, of course, starts with the dark roux. And Ethel's hits the nail on the head. You get a wonderfully rich broth that explodes with flavor. The other standout has got to be the Creole Shrimp Boat. Not sure if many people order it here, but it's not something to be overlooked. You get sauteed shrimp, mussels, jumbo lump crab meat, and fish du jour simmered in fire roasted red bell pepper sauce, creole rice, and vegetables du jour. Speaking of vegetables "du jour," they are the same every day. Every day forever. It's squash and carrots. Perfectly fine, but if you frequent this place, don't expect anything different. Ever. That's what we got, and looking back through years of reviews and photos, that's what everyone else got as well. Wonderful experience overall. Clean, comforting dining room. Wood floors, wood table tops, wood stools at the counter. Polished look all around. Ethel's gives me that rare feeling about a restaurant... that feeling of... "Thank god you exist." Definitely don't feel that way about a lot of places. But being able to have a truly authentic creole dining experience in the northeastern part of the US... gosh, I just feel so fortunate. One day I may make it down to New Orleans to taste their fabled fare, but until then, Ethel's will fill that bayou-sized void.

    Mom's Crab cakes
    Taylor H.

    I visited Ethel's for the first time yesterday with 5 friends and for the most part, had a lovely dinner experience. Two people from the group frequent the restaurant and highly recommended the cornbread. Needless to say, I had an insane amount of cornbread, ciabatta bread, and mini crab cakes. Everything was top of the line. Once the entrees arrived, we sampled from each other's plate and literally everything I tasted was delicious - from the jambalaya, to the rockfish, also the collard greens were flavorful and melted in your mouth. I ordered Mom's crab cakes which was exactly as advertised, no filler. The crab cakes were cooked perfectly and I loved the remoulade sauce served alongside it. Now about the service. Service started off really great, fast and friendly until it was time to pay for the bill. Among 6 people, half of us had cash, whereas the other half of us was paying with a card. The waitress was visibly flustered and upset once we provided her with the payment. We were even kind enough to write the card numbers and amount due for the 3 cards we hard. Honestly, this was the only large disappointment with this being my first experience here, but I will definitely be back very soon, just with less people and and less payment methods next time.

    Jambalaya

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    5 months ago

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    18 hours ago

    Food excellent, chef and owner nice and personable. Location is great! Haven't been in a while but I'm definitely going back soon.

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    7 months ago

    Very small and intimate restaurant with large portions. Very tasty greens and jambalaya. Love the cornbread too. Only has street parking.

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    Raffy's on 36th

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    We are always looking for some good pizza and Raffy's has made the list. We got artichokes,…read morepepperoni pizza, the goat pizza, a side of spicy ranch as well as some drinks. The artichokes were nothing special, I'd skip those next time. The pizza was delicious. Thin, crispy, and very nice sauce flavor and toppings. The side of spicy ranch had a kick to it. We were the only ones there at the time but the service was on top of it. She was nice and attentive. Id definitely come back and try other flavors. They do specials and offer a thursday date night deal.

    Checked out the menu outside and saw their date night special for Thursday - it was Thursday! An…read moreappetizer, a pizza, and two cocktails for $45! We were greeted quickly and told to sit anywhere we waited. The restaurant was very well lit and decorated. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The server was newer but very nicem she greeted us with a pitcher of water, concerning it was a very hot day this certained earned some points! We had some questions about out the menu and she asked the nearby bartender which was really helpful. We got the cocktail of the month and the brown derby. Both excellent and well made. Next we ordered the honey old bay wings. They were very salty, we asked for more honey and that helped a lot. Lastly we got the mushroom onion pizza. This was delicious and full of shrooms. A really great date night, I'm excited to return to try more!

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    Crispy Parmigiano Potatoes
    Crispy Parmigiano Potatoes
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    Melanie’s at Griffith's Tavern

    Melanie’s at Griffith's Tavern

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    This bar has a vibe that is unlike any other place in the area. It's a little off the beaten path,…read morea few blocks from the Avenue, so it gets a lot of locals and a lot of regulars. It's a mix of old school dive bar and upscale cocktail bar. Like, you can get a Boh here, but you can also get a $16 craft cocktail that will rival anything you can buy at more classic cocktail lounge or speakeasy. It is small, so you will be forced to get to know your neighbors at the bar. They will undoubtedly be cool, though, because this place attracts a fun crowd. The only downside, really, is that it is so dark inside I can never read the menu, which is written in colored marker on the mirror behind the bar.

    It has been a minute since I've been to Melanie's at Griffiths and this is the most iconic dive bar…read morein Hamden. The friendliness here is something to be desired. I did go on a Monday night, but the bartender was extremely off putting, and just gave off really negative energy but the service itself wasn't horrible. She just was kind of mean. That's said the cocktails here are stupidly good. The old-fashioned here used to be $10 but now it's $14 but it's still so excellent and worth it. It rivals cocktails of really good places and unexpected for this divey place. There is no food, but they do have chips that they sell that are clothpinned along the door and the plantain chips were really delicious. The lighting is really really low towards the back end of the bar, but to the front where they have the TV there's always something interesting. This is a must visit for anyone that is local or visiting, and hopefully the staff is friendlier this time.

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    Menu
    Menu
    Menu
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    Melanie’s at Griffith's Tavern

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    I want to like this place but it honestly gives more overhyped DC energy than a quality Baltimore…read morecocktail bar. The drinks are fine, the food is mediocre. But my issues is the staff. It can be completely hit or miss depending on who your bartender is. And last night I witness a truly disrespectful interaction between my friend who is a WOC and one of the bartenders. I understand having a limited drink menu, but each time my friend asked for a recommendation she was responded to as if she had just spit in that woman's face. The final straw was when my friend said, "I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with most of these drinks. What do you have that is sweet?" asking for a recommendation. The bartender looked at her and said "sugar" then rolled her eyes so hard I'm surprised they didn't get stuck in the back of her head. I understand being over your job, but my friend did nothing wrong. Was not rude, and in return got spoken to like a child. I don't know what the chip on this person's shoulder was, but if you absolutely HAVE to to be vile to everyone you speak to, try a back of the house position because you are actively damaging your bar's reputation.

    My best friend's younger sister had a milestone birthday party here and it was perfect. She rented…read morethe space and the layout was wonderful -- with a perfect balance of open standing space, tables, bar seats, and a photo booth. There was a preset menu for cocktails, mocktails, wines, and beer. Some of the mocktails were sweeter than my liking, but it was fine. The staff were awesome. The bartender was solo up until it turned into a cash bar -- she was working really hard! The music was at a great volume, and food was being passed around regularly. It's really a great space for having a private party. And on top of that, while it can fill up quickly, there's free street parking outside. I do wish the bathroom was lockable -- the stall within there is, but otherwise things could get awkward. Pro tip -- it's behind the stage.

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    A promotional poster of the Django jazz on Mondays
    A promotional poster of the Django jazz on Mondays
    The bar from a different angle
    The bar from a different angle
    The bar and the stage

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    The bar and the stage
    Clandestino

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    Write what you want
    Write what you want
    Music posters
    Music posters
    Tequila!!!!

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    Tequila!!!!

    Ethel's Creole Kitchen - cajun - Updated July 2026

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