We were staying in the area for a couple of nights and were looking for an interesting casual frestaurant for dinner and saw the good reviews for MadChef. We called for a last minute reservation and when we arrived we opted for a hightop in the lively bar area. Our friendly waitress took our drink orders while we explored the menu. I ordered their sloppy mushroom burger medium rare with fries. The burger was perfectly done and the Old Bay seasoned fries were tasty. My wife got the salmon in a teriyaki glaze with a couscous and corn side. The salmon was done to her request of medium rare and the side dish was different and very good. Being a birthday dinner they comped our dessert of a cranberry bread pudding in a caramel sauce - delicious. The prices were reasonable. A big thumbs up! read more

Beautifully rustic decor so loved the style/vibe. Server Joey was very friendly and made decent recommendations. Crab and artichoke dip was tasty (preferred with chips as opposed to pretzel bites) the corn and crab bisque was an absolute miss (way too watery with a fishy flavor) shrimp tacos were decent as well (would have preferred blackened seasoning) but the pineapple salsa was a great addition. Yummy fries. I would be willing to try once more as they had a large menu including brunch on the weekends. read more

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I wish we took pictures! The food was amazing! We both had the Shrimp Tacos, then we split the Quesabirra and Fries without Malt. They fully accommodated our Gluten Free needs. Now, all the food was amazing, but the Quesabirra was out of this world! Go for the rustic atmosphere, go for the drinks, but definitely go and get the food. You won't be disappointed! read more

Such a cute and dainty spot for you and the family. It was a bit expensive for a small group of 4 adults and 2 young teenagers. We each ordered 1 entree, 1 drink and we got 2 appetizers for the table and 2 alcoholic beverages and the bill was over $300. That's a lot for a place that's not super upscale but nonetheless the overall experience was lovely. Over waiter was very nice, he was super help in helping the teenagers too. The drinks were made really well too. Not too heavy but also not watered down . This place is great for brunch. I was actually surprised that they were packed but I'm not complaining. Will definitely be trying again for their dinner menu. read more

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The food was delicious and the service was excellent our waiter was quick fast and knowledgeable about items on the menu. read more

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The atmosphere is kind of loud but the food quality and taste make up for the loud atmosphere. Service was also very good.

Today was spa day and wanted a good lunch afterwards. So we stopped here for a late lunch. We were seated in the dining area. They also offer High top seating as well at the bar. I ordered the raspberry lemonade. I thought that was pretty high for a lemonade. Would have been nice if it included fresh raspberries. It didn't it was only a flavor for $6.00 wowww but ok. I also ordered the blackened Mahi fish sandwich. It was delicious!! Also ordered the eggplant parmesan to go. It was good as well. Also ordered the crab & artichoke dip with pretzels. The dip was just ok. Not what I expected. No artichokes and practically no crabmeat. I felt like it didn't have enough crabmeat. It also had onions in it which I'm good with because I love onions. Just FYI. If you're not a onion lover. I wouldn't order that again. Not my idea of a crab dip. Wait staff was nice. We actually had two people waiting on us. The bartender and our waiter. The ambiance is nice. My gf ordered the Short Rib Grilled cheese. That looked delicious. I probably would order that on my next visit. Overall I would rate this 3 stars for this visit but would definitely return to check out the extended menu. I hear the drinks are good but didn't get a chance to try anything. Would love to try that out on my next visit. read more

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For a group of 20+, the varied menu worked well providing plenty of options for everyone. Service was very attentive. Food arrived very quickly which leads me to consider "sandbagging" food prep and not cooking everything to order. The group enjoyed the generous portions and the bread pudding was a huge hit. Nice variety of beers on tap and their happy hour specials for drinks and food seemed to be popular. Plenty of parking in the shopping area. read more

Located in a strip/outdoor area and had outdoor seating, as well as bar area and dining room space. Nice decor and cute details that add to the atmosphere. Very friendly and helpful staff. We sat at the bar and were greeted immediately. Only ordered drinks. Came there because saw a drink on the menu online that wasn't on the actual menu when we got there. The very accommodating bartender still made it for me. Got the Broken Shaker, No Border, and the Espresso Old Fashioned. Would highly recommend the Espresso Old Fashion. The other two were meh. They do have lots of seasonal options and a great menu to pick from. Didn't order food. Nothing on the menu stood out as a must try. Overall, very nice space and great Service. read more

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We came here on weekday for a small celebration. I was surprised by their quality of food and service. Our sever was very attentive although we sat in the corner. Paella was surprisingly good and not salty. Pork chop was perfectly. Definitely worth to visit again. read more

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I came for happy hour and really enjoyed myself. The service is great. It's so many good choices for happy hour. The sliders were my absolute favorite. This is a really nice spot for a date night. read more

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Another great experience! A special "Thank you" to our waiter Logan and the staff. They can customize drinks to your liking. The bronzino skin was crispy and the meat flaky and flavorful. Sides complimented it well. The french onion soup was very good as well. The winner for the evening was the key lime pie and french press coffee. read more

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Disappointing first experience. We ordered paella and street corn and had to repeatedly ask for basic things like napkins, silverware, and service after our food arrived. Our waitress passed us off to the bartender, and we often had to rely on busboys for help. The worst part was being handed back the same dirty bowl after asking for a clean one for my seafood shells. Other mistakes included incorrect drink service, cold garlic butter, forgotten to-go dessert, and missing utensils for the paella. The overall tone from staff felt short and uninterested. Unfortunately, the poor service and lack of attention overshadowed the meal. We won't be returning. read more

I went to Mad Chef on a Sunday afternoon for brunch. It was a lovely outing. I chose to sit in the main dining area. I was promptly greeted by my waiter, Logan. He provided excellent customer service. He was attentive and checked in multiple times. I chose to order the Mediterranean omelette which came with home fries, and wheat toast. My sis ordered the devil eggs and a side of the sugar bacon. It took about 15 minutes for the food to arrive. My food was cooked to perfection. The bacon my sis ordered wasn't cooked hard enough but she enjoyed the taste and she enjoyed the devil eggs. Overall, I would give the restaurant a 8/10 based on the service, location, food, and price. I would definitely recommend. read more

All around great experience for our first visit to Mad Chef after a long work day. The rustic-industrial decor greeted us with a cozy yet modern vibe. Our server was fantastic! She had a great personality and offered friendly conversation. The food was delicious. Our party of five really enjoyed the Mexican Street Corn and Fried Calamari and Jalapeno apps. Everybody loved their meal, which included three of the burgers from the menu - the OG, the Fifty-Fifty bacon burger, and the Sloppy Mushroom Burger. The burgers were huge and the Old Bay fries got high praise from everyone. The cold couscous salad was flavorful and plentiful for a meal with added blackened chicken. A very pleasant dinner, we will return. The minus one star is only because the price point for a burger and fries was a few dollars too high. read more

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Hey Friends, My husband was craving the OG Burger and just like that, we were in heaven!! The Brussels are new to the menu and it's an Asian fusion delight!!! I love it here! So warm, cozy, and excellent service! read more

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Met some friends or lunch. I've dined here before but guess I forgot to review. I ordered the Mahi sandwich, which was disappointing. A small section was quite salty and the rest was bland, there was no flavor. The service was good, our server was great about checking up on us. read more

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Mad Chef Kitchen & Bar delivers a brunch experience that feels more like an audition for social status than a welcoming meal. The cost was reasonable and the food is undeniably well-crafted, with flavors that deliver in dishes like the crunchy French toast and breakfast tacos, but the service is as cold as the marble countertops. There was a solid Sunday brunch crowd and the decor is like a hipsters take on the Cheesecake Factory with artist portraits of Anthony Bourdain and Bob Marley. We left feeling full and judged which is not a great way to start a Sunday morning. read more

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I've been torn about Mad Chef for a while, which is why it's taken multiple visits for me to finally write this. The food has always been solid. Sometimes very good. I've never had a bad meal here, and the kitchen clearly knows what it's doing. The service, however, has been consistently poor. This isn't about one bad night or one inattentive server. Across multiple visits and different servers, our table has often been effectively forgotten. Long gaps without check-ins, delays in ordering or follow-ups, and a general lack of attention have been common. More than once, it was the bus staff, not our server, who noticed the issue and apologized for the wait. This doesn't feel personal. It feels systemic. When the same thing happens repeatedly with different staff, it points to a front-of-house culture problem rather than an individual issue. What makes this more frustrating is how competitive the area is. There are plenty of nearby restaurants offering comparable food with far better service. At this price point, guests shouldn't feel like an afterthought or like they're inconveniencing the staff by dining there. I've kept giving Mad Chef chances because the food is good, but the service has never improved. At this point, there are too many better options nearby to justify coming back. read more

Party of 6 for brunch, everyone loved their meal. MC Omelet was one of the best omelets I have ever had. Great brunch location. My non brunch go to is the Mahi mahi sandwich which is also great! read more

This is our go to spot in the area and it never disappoints. On our last visit, I had the braised short ribs and the cranberry white chocolate bread pudding and both were absolutely delicious. The short ribs was incredibly tender and tasted fresh. The bread pudding was rich, and honestly more than generous in portion, not a bad problem to have. We sat at the bar and the service and ambiance were easily a 10 out of 10. read more

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Love love love this place! We go quite often & the vibes, food, & drink are always great! Recommend the drunken mussels (BANGING!), the cheesesteak tacos, shrimp tacos, calamari, beef sliders, seafood mafaldine (AMAZING!) - none of these will disappoint you. I'll tell you though, the one item that I do not like are the deviled eggs. They are just very underwhelming. But that is my only critique - seriously! We sit at the bar & the bartenders are all so nice & make great drinks. 10/10 recommend! read more

Mad Chef Kitchen And Bar - Drunken Mussels - New American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

We came here to celebrate our 13th anniversary, and once again, this place did not disappoint. It wasn't our first visit, but it continues to be one of our favorite spots...beautiful ambiance, incredible food, and amazing service every time. The interior is stunning and makes you forget you're in the suburbs. We started with the mussels, which were perfectly cooked and so flavorful and our server kindly brought out extra bread, which was a much-appreciated touch. The calamari was equally delicious and the crispy fried jalapeño chips that came with it were a standout for me! I had the passionfruit jalapeño margarita (are you seeing a theme here?) and it was absolutely incredible - bright, balanced, with just the right amount of heat. My husband had the Piña Colada Crush (I think that's the name!) and it was like drinking a summer day at the beach. Perfection. For entrées, I had the Ahi tuna, and it was truly exceptional. I consider myself a bit of an Ahi tuna snob, and this one was prepared perfectl - fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented My husband had the citrus salmon, which was absolutely amazing, I'm already planning on ordering it next time. For dessert, we shared the Key lime pie cheesecake and the crème brûlée cheesecake, and both were heavenly. I wish I remembered our server's name because he was fantastic - so warm, attentive, and thoughtful. He's going to go places, such a bright, kind person (and a fellow dog lover, which made us like him even more!) Everything about the evening was perfect. We're already planning to come back for brunch or happy hour soon. Can't recommend it enough. read more

Mad Chef Kitchen And Bar - Pina colada crush and passionfruit jalepeno margarita = amazing! - New American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

What a wonderful gem located in Turf Valley, Ellicott City. The food is to die for. My partner and I went on a Monday which was an all day happy hour which we did not know ahead of time. Reduced price apps (limited item choices). I had a fantastic mint cucumber vodkatini. Light refreshing tastiness is a glass! We started with beef sliders. Perfect. We could have had them for dinner because they were certainly enough but we ordered dinner. Fish and chips with malt vinegar fries. The fish and fries were both crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. Served with fresh cole slaw and salad greens, it was delicious. The pork chop with porcini risotto was absolutely wonderful. Dessert. Key lime pie. OMG. It was a culinary delight. Absolutely fantastic. The service was spot on. The restaurant is beautiful. Highly recommended. There are not enough good things to say. We will go back. read more

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This place is a nice spot in a strip of stores and other restaurants - it's clean with standard decor. It has a large bar with a lot of space and plenty of table seating. There were a lot of people there around 6 on a Sunday so my partner and I opted to sit at the bar. Service was great - both bartenders checked on us frequently and were friendly. What we ordered: Refashion cocktail MC French 75 cocktail Kale Waldorf salad with medium rare steak Paella The cocktails were both well made. We both enjoyed ours and would order them again. The paella was outstanding and a huge portion, definitely big enough for two to share. My partner rated it a 4 out of 5 for flavor and said he would definitely order it again. My salad was satisfying and the flavors were light and fresh. The steak was cooked perfectly to temperature but could have used a bit more flavor. I would order it again as a light lunch. Overall, based on what we ordered, a solid choice for a decently prepared and priced lunch or dinner. read more

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I like this neighborhood restaurant. They have really good margaritas and yummy food. They have awesome lunch specials so I try to come on the weekdays for it. The parking in front is limited so I usually try to park in the parking lot that is a block away. read more

When we visited, the restaurant was very busy. The staff were friendly but service was average. As we waited only about half of the tables got food in about a half hour (there were only 6 tables occupied where we sat). The waitress offered substitutions to accommodate my need for gluten free - a side salad instead of fries. What I got was a cup of lettuce with dressing. She offered cut vegetables while my husband had his appetizer. I got cut celery. The food was okay but not what we expected and overpriced. It seems to be very popular in the area but I'm not sure we'll be back. read more

Went here with friends and family......I wasn't ready! Food was on point and the drinks were drank! Can go wrong with this place

Overall: The food was all done extremely well. I was nothing wrong nor special about the service or ambiance. They have multi-stall gendered restrooms. We went to celebrate Father's Day and had an excellent meal. We made a reservation and were seated right away. I was impressed with all the food. The menu didn't stand out to me as anything super exciting, but every dish was done so well. My favorites were the ceviche, the calamari, and the sweet potato gnocchi. The ambiance can definitely swing upscale or casual based on what you're looking for. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The prices are on the higher side, but I do think the food was worth it. read more

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summary - no complaints here. Visited for a family meal on a relatively busy day/hour and everything was good. Service was kind, food was tasty, and the ambiance - albeit nothing particularly unique, was quaint and inviting. Great spot for an elevated meal or outing. The average prices on the menu are on the higher side, but everything that we ordered was tasty, well-balanced, and had good portion sizes. I believe they are under the same ownership umbrella as Grille 620 across the street and the experience is very similar to there if you are familiar. The drink menu is pretty large and so is the food menu. I believe there are items on the menu for most dietary restrictions (but definitely check beforehand as a precaution). All in all, I would recommend for a solid meal! read more

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For the price of everything, I was expecting way more in service and food. Service: Our waiter was super nice. He didn't come around to our table as much as I would have liked though. Ambiance: The bar set up looks nice but then the rest of the restaurant looks like your average like BJs Drafthouse lol. I also felt like the youngest person there and we were surely getting looks. Food: I read a lot of reviews for the crab dip. It was not worth it. Had barely any crab or artichoke. Just was eating straight cream it felt like. The pretzel bites are also soooooooo thick. My short rib was eh, not the best. They didn't let the wine reduce so it was very acidic. The mashed potatoes weren't as creamy as i expected. My girlfriend said her salmon was alright. We decided to skip dessert. Price: We paid around $120 for this meal. I definitely dont think it was worth it . Would I come back again? No. read more

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3.5 stars. Mad Chef is a nice to place to have some familiar options with a fancy twist if you're feeling it. It wasn't too busy during the weekday lunch. Our waiter was very friendly, just sort of vibing to life. Very attentive. There's a pretty impressive menu of cocktails and wines. I got a caipirinha which was pretty solid. We opted for the crab and artichoke dip. The dip was okay; I found the soft pretzel pieces to be disappointing, not too different from something pre-made in the frozen foods aisle. For our main, my wife and decided to split one of the burgers and a short rib sandwich (which I don't think is always available on the menu). The short rib was definitely the most memorable part of the meal - delicious and filling. Would get again. I'm not normally in this part of town, but I'd give it another shot if in the area. read more

Mad Chef Kitchen And Bar - Short Rib sandwich - New American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Lamb chops were great, just get that lol, drinks were good as well. Kevin the bartender was great.

My wife & I (both retired) decided to try it as it was list as lower dollar range ($$). We went for an early dinner and place. We ordered shrimp tacos as a light meal and was basically pleased (except messy to eat). We found out that we did not get happy hour prices because we sat at a table and was informed that they only give these prices if you sit at the bar. This was not documented on their web site and should have been, deceptive advertising, even if minor, is not appreciated. Typical new building restaurants have lousy acoustics, too much hard space and open ceilings. Okay for the young set I guess. All in all, I don't feel an urge to return. read more

Stopped in today for lunch. First time here and was warmly greeted, asked if I had a reservation, asked if I'd like to sit at the bar which I declined, and was quickly seated at a 2-top. In the main dining area was about about 18-20 tables and about one-third had patrons. My waitress took just at 11-mins after seating to appear ... I was just about to get up and go ask the hostess who my server was. Ordered the Empanada's and the beet salad. - Empanadas look great but lacked any flavor. They were flaky, potatoes inside were well cooked but ... no flavor. - The Beet Salad was al almost whole beet sliced into strips like Steak Fries, wide and thick. The beets were well cooked and came with a small amount of lettuce medley underneath. The beets were good but lacked acidity and needed more cotija cheese. I asked for Balsamic Vinegar which helped out. Price wise the menu is a $25+ per person and it was rather loud inside. I'd hate to see how the sound level is when the establishment is full. Overall this was a good visit but nothing was over the top. read more

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I struggled between three and four stars and landed on three. This is the same way as I struggled for a local restaurant with quality $15 lunch options and landed on $20. Begrudgingly accepting, but not happy. My wife and I both ordered the bison burger, not without seeing the restaurant note on the menu that (apparently all) burgers are cooked "medium." Our past experience with bison in Denver was that it gets dried out easily, such that medium rare is best. Both of our burgers came out on the well-done side by any reasonable definition, when even (truly) medium might have been too dry. Still, given the intriguing menu and the excellent fried wee may come back one day, but certainly would not order the bison again. Service was pleasant enough, but not especially speedy. Allocate time, even on a day when the business seemed decidedly not busy. read more

I made reservations through open table and we got there 20 minutes early and it was no problem. The first table they took us to was in the center of the room, it was not going to work for me because it would be hard for me to hear my friend. No problem they changed our table no problem. We ordered our dinner, I ordered the French onion soup and the shrimp taco app. My friend ordered the O.G. burger with Brie, bacon and apple butter. When the food came to the table the waiter apologized because my friend's burger was given to another table. So he say my food down and gave her the side salad that came with her burger. 10 minutes later her burger came. The waiter took the burger off the bill, which was very nice. All the food was delicious. read more

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Since I'm no longer in the area I guess I can share one of my favorite places. This was my mom and I's spot for brunch, and when friends would come to visit we would always find ourselves here. The Steak and Eggs, the MC Crunchy French Toast and the Shrimp and Grits are always the highlight for me! Everything is nicely seasoned, the portions are generous and the environment is welcoming. read more

Met my sister friend here for brunch. It was my first time here. It was nice and quiet. The wait staff are very attentive. The crab dip (not pictured) was creamy and served with warm pretzel nuggets. I had the mc omelette which had shrimp and crab. The toast was a nice slice, toasted but still soft inside. The home fries were nicely seasoned, crispy with green and red peppers, onions and stayed hot. Definitely a great experience and I look forward to returning. read more

Mad Chef Kitchen And Bar - MC Omelette - New American Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

We ordered two paellas, the calamari, and crab dip - all for pickup for an early Father's Day dinner. Everything was delicious, and everyone enjoyed the meal! Crab dip only came with 3 pretzel sticks. My only complaint would be that for the price of the paella (compared to other restaurants we usually order paella from), the portion was very small!! I was very surprised when I opened the skinny trays of paella to find that they were filled only a quarter of the way up (see photos). I'm glad we ordered two because otherwise it wouldn't have been enough for everyone! The photo of the paella in the paella pan on the website (see reference photo from their website) looked more like the regular portion you would expect. It was definitely much less in the to-go order tray with less seafood and chorizo as well (could only find like 2-3 in the bottom of the pan). Nevertheless everything was still yummy. My order was ready for pickup when I arrived. read more

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