Michael's Cafe is a neighborhood favorite. It's a little off the beaten path, but definitely worth the trip. Parking is plentiful and FREE. Upon entry, you'll be greeted by a huge, nicely appointed bar area. More formal seating is also available. Today, I stopped in for happy hour, which is from 3PM to 6PM. Quite a few food and drinks choices. I settled on a Maryland Mule (think Moscow Mule with Sagamore whiskey instead of vodka) to quench my thirst and Burger Sliders with fries and Dynamite Shrimp to satisfy my appetite. Absolutely no disappointments. Definitely add MC if you're in the area. read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Burger Sliders up front, Bang Bang Shrimp in the back - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

This elegant restaurant offers plenty of seating indoors. They also have a nice outdoor area as well. Friday morning, I went in as they were opening and they were already pretty busy. Our server was very quick and courteous. The shrimp salad sandwich was sooo good. I will definitely come be back to try more from the menu. read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Inside of restaurant - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Nice place but I've been there 3 times now and haven't been impressed with the food. Menu looks good and sounds good. You do not get what you expect. Wedge salad with Bavette steak is $38. Looks delicious on their website. Waste of money in reality. They give you 4 thick chunks of over-charred meat that does not even remotely resemble the beautifully perfectly cooked thin sliced pieces in the photo. It was a challenge to cut even with a steak knife and was like chewing rubber. Highly disappointed. read more

First the good. We had been to the Timonium location several times before but never the White Marsh location. The ambiance was good, service lovely, and food delicious. We were both pleased with our meals. Mine was the Pesto Pasta (delicious) and the other was the club sandwich (finished the whole thing). Because we were stuffed, we ordered dessert to go. BIG MISTAKE. Michael and friends should be ashamed for charging us nearly $30 and sending us home with two of the driest pieces of cake we've had in a very long time. I had the Smith Island Cake and the other was the Brookie. I had to pour half and half on mine to salvage it and even then I didn't want to eat it all. Had I been in the restaurant, I would have sent it right back...something I hate doing. I feel like a lot of restaurants nowadays know what they are doing by sending stale food home, and I wonder if Michael's did it to us tonight. We had planned to come back soon for brunch, but now I'm not so sure. We'll see. read more

Love the food and drink dislike the not so subtle racism. Temporary relocated to White Marsh for a year and found them, first couple of visits were wonderful. Then the last two times all of a sudden you have to make a reservation and reserve the booths on the side by the bar?!? Then I started noticing that the side section where we were sat was only poc the light bulb went off as to what was occurring. read more

Love this place for Brunch! Delicious expresso martini! French toast was crunchy and sweet, but not too sweet. It was perfect! Not too loud and not too quiet. Service was fantastic, friendly, and fast! read more

This was an absolutely delicious meal! I've had my eye on this place for a while, and I finally got to try it for a family dinner with my parents. We came in on a late Saturday afternoon and were seated immediately. Our server was SO kind and attentive. He gave gave us the time we needed to make decisions (but still checked in often) and was proactive in his service, giving us refills on water before we were completely empty and bringing to-go boxes for dishes that had gone untouched without us asking for them. I tried one of their specialty cocktails, the "Brand New Cadillac Margarita," and I really enjoyed it! I did not expect it to be the size of my head, but I wasn't complaining. It was just a basic margarita, but it was nice to sip on throughout our dinner. We started with the crab dip and grilled octopus appetizers, and both were delicious. The crab dip didn't have an abundance of crab meat in it, but the overall flavor and texture made up for the crab meat I'd normally be missing. It also came with baguette slices that were basically like mini garlic breads, which is enough to bring me over alone. The octopus was well-cooked (not rubbery at all!) and came with a light and fresh salsa verde. I tasted a lot of cilantro in the salsa verde, so if you are a cilantro hater, I would not recommend that dish. For my entree, I chose the Rockfish Nicholas, which came with pan-seared rockfish over jasmine rice and a lemon beurre blanc sauce. This was SO good! The rockfish was juicy and flaky, the rice was nice and fluffy, and the lemon beurre blanc was creamy and so flavorful. The lemon was just right so that it brightened up the dish, but wasn't an overwhelming flavor. It also came with crispy leeks, which I really think added that extra something and made it even better. I didn't get to try much of either the salmon or shrimp & grits, but both of my parents loved their respective meals. Everything was cooked well, flavorful, and overall absolutely delicious. We were all so stuffed after dinner, otherwise I would have gone for dessert. This is definitely a place I'd love to visit again, so I look forward to trying the dessert menu in the future! read more

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Horrible service! The waitress kept forever to come around and check on us. Food was super basic, bland! To top it off there was a 20% automatic gratuity applied to our table, a party of 3. Makes no sense! And the music was soooo loud and the temperature was very uncomfortable in there smh. read more

food was very good!! service was awesome too! very chill and nice atmosphere. loved it will definitely be visiting again

Food looks good from pictures and menu descriptions. Slightly disappointed on the freshness of the food. Brisket was hard strips on sauce and chicken francese had good flavors but not pounded. read more

Had Baltimore Hot chicken sandwich and was really good. The sauce inside the sandwich made the sandwich 10/10. Must try!! Usually the dish comes with chips but we upgraded to truffle fries. Truffle fries were average. Also we tried their Three cheese pizza, which was super cheesy and soft. Also we had their Caprese Chicken sandwich which has basil pesto in it, has mild taste and is one of my favourite sandwiches I ever had. And the Crab Cake Sandwich was delicious. The crab cake was really soft, fresh and tastes great. Though this place is bit expensive it was worth the price. Went to the cafe twice and both the times the cafe was crowded. Also just for knowledge - If there are 8 or more people and after 8:30 pm they add 20% for gratuity. Food - 9/10 Service - 8/10 Ambiance - 8/10 read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Baltimore Hot Chicken - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

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We visited Michael's to celebrate a friend's 50th birthday. The food overall was fine. Two of us ordered the tuna bowl, which was good. Our friend had the seafood club, which was huge and looked appealing, while another in our group ordered the lobster roll and said it was good. However, I cannot give a positive rating because the experience was overshadowed by the behavior of the manager. As the designated driver, I wasn't drinking alcohol and instead ordered from the mocktail menu. My first drink, the Tickled Pink, was fine, though heavy on grapefruit flavor, so for my second round I decided to try the Pellinore Punch. Unfortunately, it tasted terrible. The others at my table tried it as well and all agreed it was unpleasant. When our server returned, I let her know I couldn't drink the punch, and she kindly offered to check with the manager about removing it from the bill since I had barely touched it. She later returned to say the manager refused because of "the way it is made," though that explanation made little sense to me. We decided not to argue and continued enjoying our meal. Then, out of nowhere, the manager came to our table and abruptly placed a new Pellinore Punch in front of me, asking me to taste it. The situation felt awkward and embarrassing, but I reluctantly took a sip and explained that I still didn't like it. Others at the table confirmed they had also tasted the original and disliked it. The manager responded that there was "nothing wrong with the drink" and that it must just be my personal taste. She even offered the replacement drink to others at the table, who all declined, before marching away. I have never experienced anything like this before -- it was rude, embarrassing, and unprofessional. Sadly, this interaction has ruined Michael's for me, and I am unlikely to return. read more

Great lunch; we sat at the bar and had great service. Perfect bar to sit and have a meal. Had a crab cake sandwich with house made chips and would definitely recommend both. Can't wait to go back! read more

The waiter was cool. I ordered a Moscow mule and it tasted like ginger beer on ice, maybe they forgot the vodka. The food was decent. read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

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I have been to a Michael's owned establishment entirely too many times in my life and what I can tell you, unequivocally, is that their cream of crab soup is legitimately the best there is!! Unfortunately, like everything they sell, you can only have it at a ridiculously expensive price. Your family can easily spend hundreds of dollars for dinner but the one standard for Michael's is that you'll be treated as if you came in off the street. This opinion is formed over many years and for entirely too long I have been dissatisfied with the service. As a result, I refuse to return. This is so true that a stranger I met yesterday legitimately said "I hate Michael's because their service sucks." Never have those words been truer than tonight. read more

I give Michael's Cafe a 4 star for everything. The food is phenomenal- you will never have a bad meal here. The service is outstanding the waiters are very knowledgeable of the menu and polite. The ambiance is great! The place is spotless, from the booths to the bathrooms. Even the music is unique and fitting to the ambiance- they have a great playlist. I visit Middle River for outpatient physical therapy at the Kennedy Kreiger Spinal Center- my visits range from 1-week to 6-weeks. There are days when I eat at Michael's Cafe multiple times. I love this place. To consistently have great food, service and ambiance means the team is on observant and care greatly about what the do. A++++ across the board. read more

The high ceiling industrial vibe with is off set by warm colors and decor. My favorite part is the portraits of Maryland celebrities on the wall. They also have outdoor seating, It wasn't exactly a fast lunch, but the staff was very friendly and attentive. I got the shrimp salad sandwich with truffle fries and a side order of coleslaw and a coke.. The shrimp salad was incredible. I would probably go with the rye bread next time - but I was concerned it would mute the shrimp flavor. No worries - it was a very robust, fresh shrimp salad that would pair well with a stronger flavored bread. House chips come standard with the sandwich... but I hate house chips, so I upgraded to truffle fries (I know, what is it 2010?) - which was some great nostalgia for what that swept the restaurant scene. They still do it here, and they do a pretty good job. The coleslaw was a generous portion (nothing worse than spending $4 for a to-go sized tablespoon- this was a solid cup of it) and pretty good- just the right amount of tang and crispy. My boss got the shrimp salad platter - which came with coleslaw, two deviled eggs and the same amount of shrimp salad as the sandwich. I might try that next time. So - very solid offering in a non-descript strip, slightly modernized strip mall area. I don't think this would be a destination, but if my work keeps me coming out this way, I'll be going back. read more

Fantastic food and drinks all around. Interior is smaller than the Timonium location, but much more upscale in my opinion. Service was fast and friendly on a Friday night. read more

So I have found out about this place, via a Facebook ad and was intrigued. So I planned a brunch outing with four of my good girlfriends. The brunch menu has a plethora of things, from raw bar items, soups and salads, sandwiches, steak and eggs, you name it they go it. Since we were sitting at the bar having a few cocktails, while we waited for another person in our party to arrive, we just decided to stay at the bar and have brunch as well. For cocktails we did the grapefruit crushes as well the paloma. Their paloma's are really good. For starters we did the cream of crab soup, the split level( Maryland crab and cream of crab), the bacon trifecta. I love all things bacon and, and I was like who doesn't wanna try three types of bacon on a plate. The trifecta is a smorgasbord of Applewood, jalapeno and maple sesame bacon. So delicious. For breakfast we got various entrees from the lemon ricotta pancakes, the hungry man breakfast( classic 2 eggs your way breakfast), and the market catch( pan seared or blackened fish) served with grits. This place exceeded my expectations, good portions, great prices, great service. The bathrooms are gender neutral, and very clean. I highly recommend that you make a reservation so that you are not waiting. There is ample of enough parking, also during the week, they have great weekly specials, such as 1/2 priced bottle of wine on Wednesdays, Taco and Tequila on Tuesdays, and nice happy hour specials as well. So if you are in the White Marsh/Middle River corridor, please stop in, even if its for a quick drink. You will not be disappointed read more

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Waited on hold for over 6 minutes to place an order today. Hung up and bought my food somewhere else. Perhaps they were understaffed today. read more

This was a recommendation from a friend who lives in the area and it didn't disappoint. We came on a Monday night and got to watch the game. I enjoyed my meal and drink! I love the Mocktails option, you don't see that too often. read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Moules Frites - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

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I saw how high Michael's was rated on Yelp so I had to check it out. The vibe and bar service are great here. The bartender gave me some samples of free beer as I told her it was my first time at the restaurant and first time eating in the area. She recommended the Split Level Soup (half Crab and half Cream of Crab). I have to admit it was quite good. I was hankering for the Tuna Bowl but they have a brunch menu on Sunday so it wasn't available. The menu is great overall. The Tuna Wrap was absolutely gigantic so I could only eat half. They give you a large side of Kettle Chips which are delicious. I had my first Orange Crush experience as well and it was quite good. Overall, my experience was great. Bring sure to bring a very large appetite. I had to box half my stuff as it was just too much for me to handle. read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Tuna Wrap - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

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So the Manhattan is great, the burger good and the the fish and chips Are excellent. Sat at the bar two nights in a row. The staff was good but Quickly lost focus. Not excellent but good. The chips were frozen fries but cooked correctly. The tartar sauce I liked. read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Michael's is a great spot if you want something a little fancier without the pomp. It's still fairly casual but has great food and an impressive bar selection. It's a good addition for the area and makes the little shopping center a little nicer. We came here for brunch on Father's Day and it was packed so we sat at the bar. I got the crab Benedict which was good and hit the spot, but wasn't the best I've ever had. I also got a watermelon crush which was also good, but not sure I need to get it again. Overall a good spot with a really cool atmosphere. I'd love to come back to try dinner. read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Watermelon crush - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Excellent crab dip and garlic bread app! Innovative crab club sandwich. Good service.

I had a very enjoyable experience here today. This was my first time at this restaurant. The staff were polite and the waiter was attentive and had good vibes. The atmosphere was chill and the music was nice. My food was very tasty. I ordered the sausage biscuits with gravy which came with eggs (which I ordered as scrambled) and fried potatoes. I also had a pineapple mimosa. My friend and I were there for several hours and weren't rushed out at all. Overall just a good experience. There was plenty of parking available. read more

It's a nice restaurant in a shopping center, so parking isn't an issue. I made reservations and was seated immediately upon arrival. My server recommended the crab dip, and it was really good--so good that I ate all of it by myself. I also ordered the Tuna Powerhouse with fries, took one bite, and got it to go because I was stuffed. I ate the Tuna Powerhouse the next day at home, and it still tasted great. I would definitely recommend it. The one item that really stole the show was the Jalapeño Ginger Spritz mocktail. When I tell you, if I didn't live so far away, I would have sat at the bar and ordered a few drinks. If you're in the area, this is a great restaurant to visit with friends, on a date, or, if you're like me, solo. read more

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I went here last night with some friends and I really enjoyed it! Great location, beautiful and crisp decor, and the food was really good. As some may know after reading my reviews, I always get calamari if a restaurant makes it. This one was really good! Not too much breading and not overly chewy. Plus the vinegar and the salsa (marinara?) we're good additions. I tried the special - lamp, glazed carrots, and potatoes (can't remember the exact description). Albeit small portions of lamb, which would have otherwise been disappointing, each portion of the meal was well flavored. I really enjoyed the sweet carrots that maintained a little bite to it. The potatoes were like a step up from home fries - coated nicely in seasoning, and perfectly crispy. And the lamb was seasoned well too. It was cooked well, not too chewy or tough, really really good. Not sure if worth the nearly 50 dollars though. Our server initially said she couldn't split the check among the five of us, but she could obviously see we weren't going to be complicated and she obliged. She did well to remember our orders without writing anything down, that impressed me lol. I was Uber bummed they didn't have key lime pie. So I got bread pudding to take home, which wouldn't have been my first choice. It was alright. Key lime pie would have been better. Would definitely come back again. All the menu options sounded delicious! Staff was nice, as well. Forgot about the shrimp that came with the lamb - maybe that's why it was 49 dollars. read more

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Great place for brunch, dinner, or to kick back and watch the game. The food and drinks are amazing. There is a variety of dishes to suit anyone's pallet. The servers are friendly and attentive. There is a chill vibe for relaxing or for a celebration. This is a go-to of mine because it's within walking distance of my home. read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Bar scene - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

Expect the same great quality service at both locations of Michael's cafe (White Marsh & Towson)! My friend and I met up for dinner at this location and our food was great! We ordered oysters, split level soups, buffalo wings, grits, truffle fries (delish!), and the brownie/cookie ice cream sundae. We'll definitely be back to try other items on their menu! I love their decor with all the plants :) read more

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Very good i got the full rack of ribs. Great decoration kinda like diner but like a-little more upscale. Got a delicious steak from here before as well read more

TL,DR: Get the Shrimp & Grits! But know, that it isn't traditional kind (see photo). This is the second location of Michael's Cafe. The original is in Timonium, and has grown quite the fan base since they've opened. This location sits along Rt 43, between White Marsh and Martin Airforce Base. This area is slowly being developed and has changed quite a bit over the years. Honestly, I'm surprised thay Michael's Cafe decided on this location and not something closer to the Avenue @ White Marsh. Michael's Cafe is a casual restaurant whose seafood-forward menu highlights many Southern-leaning American classics. They have very limited options for meat-lovers, and even fewer for vegetarians and vegans. The menu changes slightly between seasons, but the bulk of it remains the same. A big summertime hit is their Soft Shell Crab options! Personally, I love their Shrimp & Grits-- it has more of a vegetable and bacon medley 'sauce' than a traditional tomato-based one, which I find refreshingly tasty and unique. I've also tried a few bites of their Chicken & Waffles off of a friend's platter and it was scrumptious! My friend and I were surprised by the juiciness and strong, cohesive flavors. She left no scraps and was basically licking the plate at the end, so interpret that as you will. I've also ordered the 'Lobstah' Roll and it is okay. It definitely wasn't the best one I've ever had, or close to it. I found the lobster slightly rubbery from being overcooked (or maybe re-cooked?). The pieces aren't super large either. The savior was that there wasn't any filler, overdosing of mayo, or added things like lettuce. The lemony butter on the side was superb though. It tasted so good together with the roll. I have always had a good experience at Michael's. They can get fairly packed at peak hours, and during happy hour. As a result, service can become quite slow-- but that's to be expected. Additionally, I think the prices are a tad high for the area, but is consistent with the other location, of similar restaurants, and quality of food. Maybe, if and when, other business start coming in, it won't seem as expensive comparatively. Highly encourage people to check it out! read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Takeout Shrimp & Grits - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

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I have been to this location a few times and wanted to share the brunch experience I recently had. Entering the restaurant there wasn't someone at the front desk which is not usual based on my experience but we were going to the bar anyway. We sat ourselves and were greeted by the bartender quickly. She remembered us which was a nice personal touch. We ordered our drinks for brunch and then our meals. I went with eggs with jalapeño bacon with fruit. I asked for an Irish coffee (with only Jameson, coffee, and whipped cream. It was prepared well and filled to the brim! The eggs were done properly and the bacon was great! The fruit was fresh and a good mixture of fruits. I had rye toast which was a good quality bread and lightly toasted, perfect for my meal. Looking for good brunch options and great cocktails (I'll review others later) this Michaels location is a great choice! read more

You know what they say, a clean bathroom is a great sign of the cleanliness in the kitchen!!!! Well I was so excited about the bathroom and a hook to hang my purse, I totally forgot to take pics of our meal till the plates were clean. No doggie boxes or bags here! The watermelon crush, well both of them were refreshing and just enough alcohol to keep me happy. Blacken shrimp tacos oh my goodness-seasoned perfectly l, the slice of avacado was riped just enough- beans and rice were also good. Date had the wedge salad, smoked salmon toast with egg salad-interesting combo but pretty good. Shrimp and grits bursting with flavor! No desert tonite- bellies were full. Will get pics next visit. Forgot to mention-Happy hour drink specials only at the bar read more

Michael's Cafe White Marsh - Bars Near Me - Middle River, Maryland

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I really like Michael's, as I have never had a bad meal there. Yesterday, was no exception. Although our server was very friendly and attentive, she never mentioned the specials. I never realized there were any specials until I heard another server listing them to the customers he was serving at a nearby table. When I heard them, I would have definitely chosen one of those instead of what I had ordered. In addition, getting drink refills was closer than usual as well. read more

I've stopped into Michael's Cafe for brunch/lunch several times and am never disappointed. I usually keep it light with the Maryland Crab Soup and a chicken caesar salad. They have one of my favorite Maryland crab soups because it's got a nice kick to it! The salads are always fresh and are topped with a large portion of chicken. I've also had their crab balls which are very yummy. Service is always top notch here and the restaurant itself has a really nice atmosphere. I was recently gifted a gift card so I'll be back to try the dinner menu soon! read more

Food and drinks are so good. The atmosphere is really cute and modern and service is always amazing read more

This was a delicious restaurant. The decor is nice and relax. The waiter and waitress were very pleasant and the manager was kind. We got the Baltimore Hot chicken sandwich and Good 'ol Chicken Sandwich with truffle parm fries. The Baltimore Hot chicken sandwich was AMAZING. The sweet and hot of the honey hot sauce was finger licking good!!! The chicken thighs were tender and tasty. The good 'ol chicken sandwich was flavorful seasoned perfect! It was the perfect amount of meat to bread portion. The fries were pretty good, you can definitely taste the parm on the fries and the truffles had a very faint light taste. Definitely, if you can, save some of the honey hot sauce to put on the truffle parm fries to give your taste buds pure bliss! read more

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We went to the Easter buffet. It was excellent! Raw oysters, steamed shrimp, salmon, carved beef, ham and turkey. Veggies, and breakfast foods. Service was great and the restaurant itself was very pleasant! Quiet surroundings for a Sunday afternoon! read more

I use to come to this location often. But lately the service and food has been horrible,the drinks inconsistent. I only sit at the bar thinking I could get better service. February 16, 2025 I came in for brunch again at the bar. There were sadly 3 bartenders around 11:45, I wasn't greeted until almost 10 minutes later. I ordered a water, split level soup, coffee, Shirley temple and mussels. The split level was extremely watery, cappuccino machine was broken so I received a coffee. The coffee was bitter and i never received cream or sugar or offered. There were stuff floating in the Shirley temple and when I tried to tell Jason he didn't want to listen. He played the blame game. The other male bartender came over to try to assist but Jason was very over powering. The female bartender passed me several times upon seating and never once took an order or greeted( very standoffish) She wasnt very inviting was giving the guess beside me a hard time. It was very hard to watch. Finally Jason came to check on me, I was very reluctant to order another drink usually fromm him. Because his drinks aren't great and are rushed. So I ordered an espresso old fashioned with extra syrup and that was surprisingly good. The bartenders spend to much time having personal conversations instead of circling the bar. I've noticed that on several occasions with other guests and hearing comments it's very sad. This usually happens with 2 bartenders but to see it with 3 bartenders is disappointing. No need to speak to a manager they are just as worse. Unfortunately, I will try somewhere else for a while. read more