I've lived in Harford County for 22 years and this is my first time eating in this restaurant. I'm kicking myself for waiting so long. this place has a bar outdoor seating and indoor seating. There's also a side area where you can buy wine I believe cheese and sandwiches. Upon entering the hostess was very friendly and cordial. We were seated very quickly. The waiter came. He was very helpful. Knew the menu very well. and gave us some menu recommendations that were all spot on. The interior of the restaurant is a dark wood kind of muted bar type look. It's not a very big area, but it's very cozy. We ordered the glazed chicken dinner and the salmon dinner. They were both recommendations of the waiter and he did not disappoint. Five stars for both dishes. The only thing I did not like really was the old-fashioned that I ordered. It was hardly any bourbon in it. But other than that, I highly recommend this restaurant. The food is excellent. The service was excellent. read more

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I would say that it's a bit confusing that the Cafe is inside Pairings Bistro. More so due to the high difference in pricing. I stopped by to try the Village Market & Cafe and since it was my first time, I was confused when I was sent to the back to get a table. To my surprise, I was taken to Pairings Bistro. I missed breakfast but was glad to get the summer lunch menu that included brunch options. Ordered the avocado toast and house omelette. Considering the place was a bit empty, it took quite a long time for the food to arrive. The avocado toast was delicious. The omelette was good but the home fries were more like on the mashed home fries. Flavorful but needed to be a bit crispier. The staff were very welcoming and attentive. read more

Pairings Bistro - Lunch Menu as of 8.8.26 - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bel Air, Maryland

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It was my wedding day and we decided to rent out the patio for my friends and family. Sue (the manager who helps with event planning) was SO sweet and accommodating to our needs. We booked a 3:30 reservation and showed up at 3:15. Our server let us know it was her first time with a big party and she was nervous. She did her best and no complaints to her as she had to work the entire table by herself which made service extremely slow. We were at the restaurant for about 3 hours and the food was mediocre at best. I really do appreciate being able to allow my guests to choose what they each wanted to eat instead of having a set menu (dietary restrictions) and am aware this can also slow the kitchen down but I do believe the professionalism was lacking. As the bride and groom my family was disappointed we were not mentioned the entire service BUT we did get a congrats plate at the end. The small patio was nice for our group of 14 but the weather made it super muggy which they cannot control, the AC did not work though. The food was okay, definitely not worth what we paid (over 1,000 dollars) My husband and mother in law said the lobster mac and cheese was horrible. I think the only food my whole family enjoyed was the cream of crab soup :) Overall, our server was super sweet and Sue is great but my family and I are very disappointed and this experience made me upset on our wedding day. I will not be returning. read more

Pairings Bistro - Mousse - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bel Air, Maryland

I have reviewed this one before, but this time it was for breakfast! They just recently started breakfast service. Check their socials for days/times. We went on a Saturday at 10am and we were seated immediately. We all ordered coffee. They have lots of options like flavors, creamers (non dairy), lattes, Americanos, espressos, etc! Lots and lots of options. They also have breakfast cocktails. The food menu itself has a great selection to pick from as well. We ordered a veggie breakfast burrito (yum), a make your own omelet (delish) that came with potatoes and toast, a carnivore bowl, and two sides of bacon. All dishes were great. The sides of bacon were rather large! All of the food was good and large portions. The prices and quality are very reasonable! For sure check this place out for breakfast. Greta vibes and lovely experience. read more

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Nice place to sit at the bar for some food and drinks. The dry aged beef sliders with fries are a great meal. I loved the bacon, caramelized onions, and creamy smoked cheddar cheese that came with it. Friendly service, and all the menu items come with a recommended wine pairing, but I don't drink alcohol, so I just got a Sprite instead. read more

Pairings Bistro - Two Dry Aged Deer Creek Beef Sliders - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bel Air, Maryland

Took 1.5 hours to receive our food on a night that's not busy, can't hear the music, and what the hell is this?? (See pic) Starter salmon was a micro serving, and a nightmare to taste. The least value per calorie in town. I feel robbed :( read more

Great food, service and beautiful patio. In from Utah for lacrosse tournament and sharing with everyone.

This spot is a hidden gem! I can't tell you how many times I've drove past here and had no idea it was there, upon entrance, I definitely didn't think it looks the way that it does. The fact that on one side you can order ice cream and other finger foods, you can also purchase honey, etc, then the other side is a fully functioning bat included restaurant. It has this five dining vibe ... I haven't had the food, but it looks really good. Their drinks and service is awesome and it gives off very chill vibes! read more

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Arrived to the restaurant 15 minutes before reservation time, not including an earlier arrival, we waited about 10 minutes to be seated. When seated, it was pretty empty. Near the patio doors there was a band playing on the side the bar faced. We enjoyed that you are able to order 3 ounce pours, almost like making your own wine flights. Had the Chef special arancini, not much flavor. My husband ordered the golden beats salad add chicken. An absolute rip off to charge $11 for a salad then $28 for a small chicken breast. (apparently, you're paying for just the protein from any entrée if you want protein on a salad) I ordered the mussels- a big mess; you want the broth (Cape Code) to develop depth and flavor. Didn't taste like anything special. I think we would just return for wine. read more

We made reservations for a wonderful planned evening. Our reservation was originally in the spacious dining area(s), but we grabbed a spot at the bar so we could also enjoy some great acoustic tunes! (Duo) We decided to get the 4 course (non wine pairing option), and we enjoyed a delicious bottle of wine. Service is fantastic! From the servers, to the bartenders, to the management, everyone is very nice! The best part about doing the 3 or 4 course meal, is that you can order as you go! (If you like) So we both started off each with Whipped Feta with hot honey and pita bread, along with Hickory Smoked Salmon ~ Next we had French Onion Soup and a Fried Chickpea Salad - And then we had the Steak with Truffle Fries, and Scallops with Corn Bacon Jalapeño Hash - For dessert we went with the ever so rich and delicious Caramel Peanut Butter Cheesecake and Crème Brûlée. Finished the evening off with an Espresso along with an Espresso Martini. Everything was fantastic! We enjoy our evenings at Pairings, and I hope this review helps you to go check it out! read more

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Happy Valentines! I typically only go to Pairings for special occasions and for dinner this was our 4th visit. We weren't impressed. First, Pairings has renovated and the place is stunning. As for seating the old barrel room seems to be still the coveted spot as there are tables inside, outside, at the bar and throughout the skinny main room. For us this evening we were lined up on the wall of the dining room and our impression was much like a vacation resort where you can't help but hear the neighboring tables conversation. Aside from the jam packed restaurant the food was lacked the luster of Pairings as we remembered and tonight was missing the wow experience. Our server did well but overall the food was mediocre with cream of crab and the beet salad being the best. Oysters Rock and bistro steak were very average. The Caesar grilled was half inedible salad core. Wine portions during the pairing were poured lightly. Will try again when the restaurant isn't in the weeds scrambling, tonight simply was missing overall quality. read more

Pairings Bistro - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bel Air, Maryland

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We visited pairings on a date night per a recommendation. I made a reservation in advance so we were seated right away. There was a nicely lit room and a bigger "family style" looking room with lesser ambiance. They tried to seat us in the more family friendly room with screaming kids and I immediately asked to sit in the other room, which they seemed to not have a problem with. I wondered the whole meal why we were initially sat in the first room when the only people in there were a large family with screaming kids. Once seated, service was a bit sporadic. The server we had was very helpful in explaining how things worked and was patient in answering my questions. I did an a la carte with wine and my husband did a 3 course meal with wine. I ordered the cheese and charcuterie and he had crab soup. Both were good. The cheese board (pictured) was nicely put together and sufficient. For entrees we had sliders (pictured) and venison tenderloin (pictured). Sliders came with a large helping of very salty fries, which I enjoyed, husband doesn't like salt like that. His venison was cooked well but for the price, the portion was lacking. Since he hunts and grills his own venison, in my opinion that meal fell a bit short. For dessert, he refused to share with me so we each had our own cheesecake which he regretted because it was very filling (and so good)! Overall, the place was good. The only thing that was lacking in my opinion was the sporadic service. We didn't see our server as much as I expected and the courses each took a decent while to come out. It was a Saturday night though so... Lastly, the wine we had was excellent. Even the moscato with dessert. Our favorite was the Noble Vines and we bought a bottle for 10% off! The guy at the counter offered to show us the other part of the restaurant but the whole experience was 2.5 hours and I need a nap so we politely declined. We would definitely like to come back and do this again though! read more

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Service was excellent... Food was mediocre.... Portions were small for price.... Never saw any other place that had a sign for tipping cooks..... Hopefully it's been removed..... read more

I've been to Pairings once before almost 3 years ago and I remember liking the ambiance of the place and their wine list. I went there this time with a group of 6, which we had reserved a table in their covered patio. Ambiance: I recommend dressing up a bit when you dine here, it has a fancy/classy vibe. It's a perfect spot for celebrating anniversaries/valentines/dinning with people visiting from out of town. They have great service. The waiters are very attentive and very formally friendly! Food: We went at dinner time so we chose from the 4 course menu (picture of menu added). Salads: I got the golden Beets for my salad: this was actually Ana amazing salad, I'm not a big fan of beets but the combination of the goat cheese and walnuts with the golden beets had perfect harmony. Soups: I had the cream of crab soup, came with a side of dry sherry, It was not bad at all but I wasn't a big fan, other cream of crab soups have that flavor that pops in your mouth, and this was lacking that flavor. Entree: I got the steak which came over a bed of truffle frites. The truffle frites were crispy and delicious, the steak on the other hand, which I done medium, was a bit chewy. Maybe if I had gotten it cooked differently, it would have been better. Steak was seasoned well. Dessert: I got the flourless chocolate cake. I love dessert that does not fill your mouth with taste of sugar so this chocolate cake was perfect for me. It had the right amount of sweetness and the right amount of creaminess. Definitely would get this cake again. Overall, Pairings is a really cute spot to visit. I only gave it 4 stars because my entree wasn't too impressive! read more

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My husband and I checked Pairings Bistro out for our 30th anniversary. They went out of their way to make our lunch special for us. Thank you! And the food was very good! A wonderful experience I would recommend to foodie friends. read more

Pairings food and drinks are amazing! I love the espresso martini!!! The lunch specials are a great deal!

Went on a Friday with my husband for our anniversary. Our server did not seem to care, we had a 3 course with wine pairings. She didn't explain anything about the wine, it was also different than what was listed. The wine is cheap, not worth it. The busboy was amazing and very kind. The food was mediocre at best, our salads were warm and the chickpeas burnt. We got a laugh out of the whole thing but it was pretty disappointing. The cocktails redeemed the bad wine! We were on the heated patio which was comfortable. read more

Just tried this new find. Can't wait to go back. Dinner was excellent, and being able to choose courses as well as pairing was great. Very friendly, and we're great about changing wine pairings. read more

We came here for my husband's birthday. I highly recommend making a reservation, as this place appears pretty popular. The ambiance inside is very warm and inviting. You can either order a la carte or price fixe with or without wine pairings that they select. I like how they allow you some flexibility with price fixe, for instance, you can order two appetizers and an entree if you don't want a dessert (which is what I did). Since my husband prefers red wine in general over white wine, they also allowed this so all the wine pairings with his dishes were different red wines. I was a little disappointed by the golden beet salad. It consisted of arugula, golden beets, grapes, and some goat cheese. I feel like they could have added something additional or perhaps use something different than grapes to make the salad stand out more. My husband likes his lobster mac and cheese appetizer and it did contain chunks of lobster. I had the baked brie as my second appetizer, which may be seasonal. It came with some French bread and cranberry jam, with candied walnuts on top. I thought the combination of the baked brie and the jam was very tasty. I got the scallops for my entree. It came with 5 medium to large ones, cooked very well, with celeriac which apparently is celery root puree. Tasted great. My husband got the bistro steak. He didn't complain about it except to ask for salt and pepper but I thought it seemed overcooked since he asked for medium rare. Finally, we got the creme brulee for dessert. Overall, we had a wonderful experience here. Our server was good and I felt our questions were addressed adequately. It's not cheap so I would save this for a special occasion. My only gripe was the plainness of the salad and the steak tasting overcooked and a bit lacking in taste. read more

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Wonderful atmosphere. We very much enjoyed our appetizers and entrees. French onion soup did not have a hearty base but there was plenty of crab meat in cream of crab and oysters and shrimp were excellent. Nice options in the flatbread department. Drinks were pricey as was coffee. Don't waste your money on the desserts. read more

Do not judge a book by its cover. This place is so cool inside. It is in a plaza but deserves to be a free standing place! We went at an off time like 2 pm so it wasn't all that busy. The bartender was our server. We had whipped goat cheese crab soup and a blackened chicken salad. The salad had fried capers. They were amazing. The food was the best! Will def be going back in July! read more

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Recently I was at Pairings restaurant and ordered the smoked salmon sandwich. I've had this before and really liked it. But the last two times that I ordered this, it had no flavor and was smaller than a playing card. I sent the manager a message about it-never requesting nor expecting any recompense. I was just trying to make sure this wasn't consistently going to happen and they'd lose customers. The manager thanked me and said he was going to mail a gift card to me to make up for the bad meal (asking for my mailing address). This was 3 weeks ago and still no gift card. He keeps telling me the gift card is "in the mail". But, obviously the gift card is NOT "in the mail". I'll continue going to this restaurant because the rest of the menu is typically good. But I now question the manager's (Sean) integrity. read more

Went tonight for our anniversary. Service was a bit slow but the staff was super friendly and attentive. Started off with the french onion soup and charcuterie board. The soup was great and the board was good - would have been nice if the olives were pitted but other than that, no complaints. For our entrees we had the steak and the chicken. I'd say the steak and fries were a bit under-salted for my tastes, but they weren't bad. The chicken was fabulous, but again, I think the risotto was a bit under-seasoned. Overall, I'd get the chicken again for sure, it was very tender and moist. For dessert we had the apple fritter and cheesecake. Both of these were great! I also had a wine flight and my husband had several cocktails. Got a bottle of wine to take home too. We got a nice small champagne toast on the house since our opentable reservation said it was our anniversary, which I thought was super sweet. I went a few years ago with my mom and got the paired menu that time, I'm remembering the pours as generous and it was definitely too much for us to drink, thus not getting it this time. Anyhow, overall, I'd definitely recommend the place if you're fancying an upscale night out, I probably just wouldn't get the steak au poivre. read more

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My partner and I came to the Pairings Bistro for the first time and really enjoyed our experience. When entering the team was friendly and welcoming. We were seated in the dining area which had a Napa Valley kind of atmosphere, clean, cozy, natural yet refined. The ceiling is really cool, duplicating the look of a wine barrel. We both had a cocktail, I with an old fashioned which was good not great. Nothing out of the ordinary. My partner had a citrus gin drink (can't remember the name) and she seemed to be very happy with the drink. Not too sweet but not bitter or too strong. You have the option to pick off the menu or create your own fixed menu (3 or 4 course) She started with shrimp cocktail which was good and not rubbery in any way. I started with the fried mozzarella which was very good. Good full flavor without being greasy. Another course I had was a flash grilled Caesar Salad which was great and had just enough char. The main event was the filet steak made to medium rare and was done correctly, tender, and full of flavor. It was atop of a mixed vegetable mix and I had a side of mushrooms which were very tasty. If I were to find an area to improve, add something else to the mushrooms to break up the one note taste a little. That is being picky though. The server was good and attentive and had a good personality. The prices are higher than most places in the area but the quality of the food is worth it for sure. Next time we will be going with wine pairing option so we can enjoy this place in a different way. Looking forward to it! read more

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Went in for a small snack today and was pleased with what we got. The mushrooms in the salmon app were delicious. I also appreciated the fact that they serve the cream of crab soup with the sherry on the side since I don't prefer it. Both were delicious even with the small portions. Great ambiance and friendly staff. I will probably get wine and an entree next time as the menu was very extensive with a lot to choose from! read more

Pairings Bistro - Cream of Crab and Salmon appetizer - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bel Air, Maryland

Tasty meal and complementary champagne for birthday celebrations! Cozy spot with knowledgeable owners that I would definitely go to again! read more

Pairings Bistro - Golden Beet Salad Rosemary Truffle Fries - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bel Air, Maryland

The execution and composition of my meal at Pairings was mediocre. I ordered a golden beet salad, which really did not showcase the beets, lacked enough cheese or crunch, and overplayed on bitter greens. The fried chicken sandwich was also mediocre. The chicken was a bit tough and fatty, the batter was not crispy enough, and the toppings were plain and uninteresting. At least I had good company and conversation for the meal. read more

Tonight's dining experience was out of this world! The beet salad was perfect. The chicken with risotto was scrumptious!! The chocolate mousse was to die for!!! Eric, our server, was awesome!! read more

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Service was excellent , but the food was very sub par. We ordered 4 courses with pairings and the food was bland, steak had so much fat it was inedible. The total was close to $200 for two of us so we expected excellent food. Texas Roadhouse has a much better steak for less- save yourself the money and disappointment. read more

I left a message on the web site as I had the lobsters Mac and cheese dish today which only had a few very minuscule pieces of lobster. Panera bread at least had solid claw meat for the same price. I should have sent it back but obviously there is a quality control issue and was not acceptable. The reviews have been good so I ordered it but a very unsatisfactory dish. read more

Pairings meals never disappoints. The cocktails might however...it is hit or miss depending on the person tending bar. If you stick with the wine pairings you will be just fine. read more

Pairings Bistro - A party - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bel Air, Maryland

Date night was a huge success as we enjoyed ourselves at Pairings. Everything was exceptional. The food, customer service, and cocktails were phenomenal. I highly recommend. read more

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Enjoyed DELICIOUS drinks at the bar. I ordered something that was not on their cocktail menu and they mastered it. We ordered mussels and really enjoyed them with our drinks. It was an enormous serving!!! We planned on having dinner but were full after the mussels. At no point were we pressured to order anything or rushed out of the bar. We had a blast and will be back. read more

Date night at Pairings Bistro!! What a classy atmosphere with the wonderful Fred Moss performing live solo acoustic in the background. The waitstaff were accommodating, pleasant to talk to, and checked in often to see how we were doing. We started out with the rosemary truffle fries and the cream of crab soup. Both were delish. For our meal I opted to try the dry aged beef sliders, while Michael Myers went for the lobster Mac n cheese. The presentation was a work of art and made us excited to dig in. We weren't disappointed As the meal was outstanding and packed full of flavor. If you are reading this review to decide on if you want to try this place out.... We highly recommend you do. Michael says when you do, be sure to dress to impress. They enjoyed his blue jump suit. (Just kidding lol) All in all, we give this place a 10 out of 10. read more

Pairings Bistro - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bel Air, Maryland

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So it was my best friend's 5 year anniversary & he picked Pairings to celebrate with us. Let me start off by saying the place is amazing. We had a great time it's located in a little shopping center so the parking isn't bad at all. It was a little chilly so we elected not to dine outside & enjoy the scenery. But the inside made up for it greatly. Our server was named Andrew & he did a great job. They have a awesome deal called the three for one where you get a appetizer, main, & dessert for $65. I went with the cream of crab for my appetizer which as you know if you follow me isn't an easy dish to make. But theirs was make perfectly it away so good i almost requested one to go. My main dish was the steak & truffle fries with some kind of sauce that made the steak that much better. Lastly they had this world famous cheesecake that I just had to try & i swear it didn't disappoint. But the best part of Pairings & the 3 for 1 theme is each dish comes with a wine themed to match the dish you've selected. I was almost disappointed by the first 2 wines that were attached to my dishes cause I'm not that big of a dry drinker. But the sweet wine that came out with my cheesecake put all of my issues to bed. This is definitely a must visit if you are ever trying to celebrate at special occasion or trying to score points with your significant other. Once again before I go shout out to Andrew for the excellent service. read more

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Excellent little bistro and wine bar. I stopped in for some coffee and a croissant while walking in the area. I was immediately greeted by a very friendly waitress and seated at the bar. Only a couple tables and a bar area for seating. I had a chocolate croissant and coffee. The croissant was warm and tasty. Definitely hit the spot. The coffee was equally excellent. Total bill for both was only around $6. Excellent food and coffee at a very reasonable price with great service in a quiet atmosphere. Loved it! Definitely worth a visit. Next time I'll sample some wines. read more

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The food is great, the concept is good. The prices are over the top! I would love to go there more often, but just can't seem to justify the cost. The atmosphere is very pleasant, but I found it a bit close for comfort when I last went there. Maybe things have changed since then, I am not sure. read more

Pairings has an outstanding chef. It's the perfect place to celebrate a special event. Food, service and wine selection is above outstanding! read more

Food,service and atmosphere all great!!!! Try it, it's great!!!! You will not be disappointed. Some would say pricey but if you are satisfied then it's alright with me. read more

Food and drinks are amazing! Service is tired...felt like I was imposing when I asked for dessert pairings. Thank you Google for advise! read more

Pairings Bistro - Tapas Bars Near Me - Bel Air, Maryland