Great service, excellent cocktail and mocktail selection, and delicious island-fusion cuisine! I visited The Duchess during Restaurant Week and had a wonderful experience. The ambiance is beautiful, with a vintage yet elegant feel, a cozy fireplace, and stunning chandeliers. Tessa, the general manager, was warm and welcoming, and our server, Zoe, was kind, attentive, and very helpful in guiding us through the menu. The food was fantastic! I highly recommend the Short Rib Kare Kare, the broccolini, and the award-winning Crispy Shrimp & Corn Patties. For dessert the chocolate Namalaka was a fave! read more

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We came here for the Mother's day course - overall pretty good but not impressive. Appetizers were okay, not impressive. Arepa was not that good, corn flatbread wasn't good and very dry. The crispy shrimp and corn patties were like a crispy takoyaki so actually pretty good and the Mac and caviar was like a cold macaroni salad also pretty good just not impressive for a nice dinner. Was really looking forward to trying their duck confit chilakiles, but they ran out unfortunately. A little surprising since it's many hours before they close. I was considering coming again to try the duck confit, but after trying everything else I'm not sure it's worth the drive here since I'm not from the baltimore area. Their grilled ahi tuna was done well and the sauce was really good. The garlic soy shrimp pancit had good textures and flavour as well. The nori butter tteokbokki was lacking in flavour a little. Missed a bit of acidity to balance out the cream. Desserts were also just okay. I'm usually a sweets person, but I was kind of disappointed. The carrot mochi cake was strange, the texture was good, but the flavours did not mesh well together and I was confused what I was eating. The latiya was dry. The shaved ice was pretty refreshing but not impressing. The Ube flan was good though! read more

The Duchess - Wine Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I wish I could give this place 4.5 stars because it really has almost everything we wanted and we will be back, but it didn't quite reach the level of "I need to get back here as soon as possible." We had a 630pm reservation and by the time we got there things were already busy, but that made for a warm and cozy atmosphere on a damp Friday night - good start. We were seated promptly and soon after our waiter arrived, went through the specials, etc. For our food we split the Crispy Shrimp & Corn Patties, Pork Lumpia, Typhoon Fries, Gochujang Tteokbokki, and the Grill Duck Tonbori. The shrimp & corn patties stole the show - get them; unfortunately, they outclassed the rest of the food which probably contributes to this rating. The pork lumpia was great, but we both felt the serving size was a tad small (even for tapas). Fries were also good but we screwed up by not including any add-ons - will change that next time. The duck was perfectly cooked, and yet underwhelming. I can't point to why - maybe it was just a personal preference. Gochujang Tteokbokki reminded me of one of my favorite DC plates (shoutout Roses Luxury) and I only wish it had more of that delicious duck bacon. You should go here - this place rocks - and it feels so so close to being a truly remarkable experience. We're going to keep an eye on the menu and will look to head back in a few months. read more

Great spot!!! Super lively and warm atmosphere inside, complimentary valet service is such a huge almost necessary plus that they offer, service is super efficient, quick, attentive, and pleasant. And the food - excellent. Everything we ordered was so good, flavors and textures were great, portions maybe a little smaller than expected but overall a fantastic place to have dinner. Seems to be super bustling and busy, we placed a reservation ahead of time which worked out well. read more

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My actual new fav in Baltimore!!!!!! This is such an interesting concept for a restaurant, and the chef absolutely brings it. I highly recommend getting several apps before the entree, there are some gems: specifically the corn patties, the steam buns, and the spam musubi! Also, I have been wanting to try tteokbokki for a while now, and I'm so glad my first experience was here. Suchhhh an incredible comfort food dish--the soft pillowy rice cakes mixed with the slightly spicy sauce and the salty duck bacon + mushrooms was 1000/10. Also, the cocktails are fun! I especially like the Kala Mule and the Moneypenny. Service is great and knowledgeable, and the vibes are incredibly cozy and intimate. Love!!! read more

The Duchess - Wine Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

An amazing Asian fusion with great ambiance and service. All the dishes were amazing and after ordering - my friends and I started looking at the menu again for what to order for next time! The crispy corn and shrimp patties are a MUST - the top dish of the night for us. The typhoon fries with spam were delicious - a good fix when you want fries with some Japanese okonomiyaki flavors. The pork lumpia was our least favorite dish - we felt there could be more depth in flavors. The gochujang tteokbokki reminded us of a vodka sauce and felt rich - something worth trying if you love tteokbokki but will not be ordering again. And finally had the TJ's fish business MP, it was a Skate dish and I've never had Skate (kinda like a scallop!) but it was so good! The blackened miso sauce was a beautiful pairing with the fork tender Skate! And the POG!!! I used to love in Hawaii and love a POG and they had it in a cute little spam container - dangerously good and would highly recommend getting it. And our server Paul was great - good jokes, attentive and good recommendations! read more

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Came here for brunch and was blown away by the food and how delightfully beautiful the interior is - will definitely be back soon. We started with cucumber salad and pork lumpia for the table - both amazing. I got the Steak Loco Moco for a main - perfectly cooked steak with a delicious mushroom sauce. Street parking on 36th street is a pain but we were able to make a whole morning of our visit with lots of great shops nearby. read more

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Absolutely love the interior design of this place. Its gorgeous and comfortable. They have complimentary valet so it makes parking easy. We made a reservation online, most people had reservations but the take walk-ins at the bar. The service was great. The food was delicious. The prices are fair but the portion sizes are a bit smaller than what i'm used to. The fish and chips felt a little heavy but everything was fresh and nice. I would definitely recommend. The drinks are also 11/10 read more

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The Duchess has been on my list to try for some time and finally got to check it out! First, the service is top notch and unbeatable - everyone was so friendly and welcoming. They offer free valet parking which is a huge plus to me. The restaurant is pretty large with a bar area when you first walk in and tables off to the left side. It has a British pub feel, dark and moody, which I loved. The drink menu has a lot of really interesting cocktails - our server was helpful in explaining the order of drinks and offering suggestions. The cocktails have a tiki-esque lean to them which was fun and funky. They were delicious. For food, we tried the spam musubi, pork lumpia, Brussels sprouts, fish and chips, beef skewers, an cucumber salad. The food was good - it came out quickly and hot. The spam musubi had a little bit of a charred taste to the seaweed wrapper which I have not experienced before, and found a touch odd. The Brussels were delicious (I love Brussels in almost any preparation) and the pork lumpia were good as well. The entree portion of the menu is a little light - they did have 3 fish specials but the regular menu only has 4 entrees on it. The fish and chips were good but not amazing. The beef skewers were good, as was the cucumber salad. Overall, I enjoyed our meal here but it wasn't mind blowing. The drinks and service are both top notch though so I would come back to try brunch. read more

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Came with a few friends this weekend and happened to experience extended restaurant week. Our server was friendly and attentive. We tried multiple dishes: kimchi fried rice, pancit, spam and egg donburi, karaage and waffle, ube flan. Every dish was super flavorful, well cooked, unique in taste, and we loved them all. The venue itself was gorgeous, bright, warm, and so cute in decoration. Highly recommend! read more

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Came in for the last night of restaurant week, and was so happy I made it out! The restaurant was very busy at first, but I waited for a seat at the bar to open up (most people grabbed a drink before their tables were ready so it didn't take long). The bartenders greeted me and I started my night with the South Pacific cocktail, which is very close to a mojito. The glassware was gorgeous and the drink was delicious. For restaurant week I ordered the Lotus root stir fry and the Gochujang Tteobokki after asking the bartender for his recommendations. Timing wise it took a little while to get each course, but I didn't fault them because they were pretty busy. Both of these dishes came out hot and delicious, it's exactly what I wanted. Another recommendation for dessert gave me the chocolate namalaka which was a delicious chocolate pudding (basically but way better) with the crunchy sesame on top. I'd highly recommend checking this place out. The bar was lovely, the place is cozy, they have seating in the front and on the side (but still get a reservation as they get packed!). read more

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We had such a great meal at The Duchess! Our 1:30 Sunday reservation was perfect--not crowded but still lively, and the place has such beautiful vibes and aesthetics. The staff were super friendly and attentive. I got the waffle and crunchy fried chicken--the togarishi maple syrup was so good I wiped the plate clean! My husband and daughter had the Steak Loco, tender and full of flavor, and my other daughter loved her Spam and Egg Donburi--perfect portions and great mix of flavors. The apple cider shaved ice was the perfect not-too-sweet finish. We'll definitely be back! but for dinner - as recommended read more

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came here for my birthday dinner and I'm so glad I did! We were greeted promptly upon arrival, and the host was very friendly. It wasn't too busy since it was a weekday, and while we waited for a cozier table with lounge chairs (as he recommended), we enjoyed some drinks at the bar. The short wait was definitely worth it -- the table and overall atmosphere were perfect. Their drink menu offers a great variety, and everything we tried was creative and delicious. We decided to order several small plates instead of main entrées, and every dish was excellent. My favorites were the fried balls, the spam, and the shrimp with coconut bread -- all packed with flavor. Dessert was the perfect ending to the night. I couldn't choose between the ube and the chocolate mousse, so we ordered both -- and even got one on the house! Both were delicious, but if I had to pick one, the ube is a must-try. I can't wait to come back! read more

The Duchess - Wine Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Visited there for restaurant week which is great way to try different restaurants . The short rib was amazing that sauce that comes with it 10/10. The dessert was absolutely amazing . The buns and the Pork Lumpia were also good . My favorite was the short rib and the dessert . It is very nice inside and spacious . The servers were nice and keep checking on us . I would go there again read more

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Tasty Asian fusion! We visited The Duchess on a Sunday evening, and it was about a quarter full. The interior is styled like an English pub, and the televisions showed different natural scenes during our visit. I tried the smokey wahine to drink, the typhoon fries as a starter, and the gochujang tteokbokki as a main. The food arrived at the same time and before our drinks. The cocktail had a good balance of flavors. The typhoon fries were solid and had a scrumptious sauce, but there wasn't much sauce on the dish. The tteokbokki was delicious with a delicious sauce and perfectly cooked noodles. Overall, I had a good experience at The Duchess and would recommend them for dinner in Baltimore. read more

Came here for dinner and enjoyed the whole experience! A cross between Filipino, Korean, and island food, enjoyed the various flavors. Also enjoyed the ambiance. The service was excellent. Food comes fast so not a long lingering dinner, but enjoyable-in the future might try to come with friends so we can try more things. read more

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Came with a friend to check out the new place and it was so beautiful on the inside! The service was fantastic and speedy. I enjoyed my kimchi fried rice. I prefer more spice but this was still delicious. read more

The Duchess - Wine Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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TLDR: clashing themes and unclear concept with undereducated staff, subpar service, yet striking highlights like the lumpia and the cocktails, specifically one du jour of a tequila and yellow chartreuse. A better drink and appetizer spot than for a birthday meal. We were rushed, which I hate! I am the first to admit I had a lot of biases going in. I was really excited for The Duchess to open when they first announced it 2 to 3 years ago after the restaurant group (formerly the Foreman Wolf), bought the Cafe Hon spot a few years ago. It was announced as an English pub, and as an Asian girl I love nothing more than bangers and mash and adore London so much. But then I started reading about the menu and was immediately turned off, not because I dislike fusion but because it read like colonialism. Again the concept is really unclear, and it is clashing trying to bring in the Mariana Islands pieces to an existing British Pub. I love that Kiku has the opportunity to be a co-owner and head chef of this massive restaurant in Hamden. But it feels like they're trying way too hard to bring something together, and it's clear it's not cohesive. Somebody within the now rebranded Tony Foreman + Co group also explained to me that it was an English pub with food from the Mariana Islands, which to me screams colonialism. Now I have nothing against this restaurant group in fact, Petit Louis and Cinghiale are two of my absolutely favorite restaurants in the city. I had heard that the Dutchess was not very good which is why it's taken me a minute to go. This restaurant sits right in the heart of the avenue and provides valet parking which is also an oddity in an of itself, it is $10 which is not bad for valet. For the interior - it's nicer than what the outside night suggest, but it lacks cohesion, there are nice elements like the entry outdoor sign which a pretty well known woodworker made, but when you step it, you are immediately greeted by three GIANT TVs playing soccer, yet everyone in there is dressed like a Vineyard Vines commercial. It's just SO confusing on a lot of levels. Now at the main entrance they have an amazing wooden beamed ceiling here and the cool pub-like benches but then by the hostess stand there's this totally clashing "Hafa adai" neon sign which honestly using a 2020 word is CHEUGY and clashes. It's almost like they already had a theme and tried to put cultural elements that clearly don't work for a British pub theme. We were seated in the back room which is MASSIVE in the corner booth by the restrooms. It honestly feels like two different restaurants. The cute booths slowly lost its cute intimacy when I realized no server could reach any item on the other side of the table. It seems really odd to me that everyone that works in this restaurant feels like a newby. Like have they worked at other restaurants before? First of all, when I say undereducated staff I mean they have no idea what they're trying to sell food wise. Our waitress tried to explain tteokboki to me, and she said, it's like gnocchi and then stumbled around and then ended it like saying it's like mac and cheese. I was absolutely floored. I feel like I worked during this dinner service, I've never had service where the staff literally waited for me to make room on our table to set things down. I'm always cognizant and try to help but this was blatant waiting until we had to move our dishes and set them down. With the four of us, we love to eat at restaurants so ordered pretty much 85% of the menu, including specials. That said, during our entrees, which we got four, they started to ask if we wanted boxes. We were still eating! I. ABSOLUTELY. HATE. BEING. RUSHED without communication, when there is no set dining hours or restrictions on tables. There is a graceful way to ask your patrons to leave. I don't understand why this happens, and I think it's because they're trying to make money and turn over tables quickly, but we were celebrating my birthday, and we didn't even finish eating. We also had ordered a round of cocktails and a massive amount of food. They asked if we wanted boxes three times in the span of five minutes. Outrageous. I will say they did bring me out a free complimentary glass of prosecco for my birthday, which was very kind but it was awkward as I was the only one drinking it by the end of the meal. They did put a candle on our shaved ice we ordered. All in all, I wish they would've sold this as a Chamorro restaurant because the food is pretty good, especially for the area. There are misses like the majority of the meat dishes, the cuts of meat were dry, and the short rib was an absolute travesty, I couldn't taste a single element, I think there was peanut? I hope they will read this review and take the service elements to heart and adapt, as I would love to be a regular here, but I will forever be floored with the lack of service and rushing. read more

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Dinner at The Duchess was an absolute joy. Food: 7.5-8.5/10 Beef, Chicken & Pork Skewers All the skewers were nicely roasted and very juicy--a must at The Duchess. Our group liked the beef best; it was tender and super satisfying. We even ordered another round. Shrimp Kelaguen & Tatiyas We loved the Tatiyas--slightly milky and gently sweet. We were obsessed. My friend who planned to skip carbs ended up eating two slices. The shrimp was fresh, but the bread stole the show. Red Snapper (special) The snapper was very fresh and lightly marinated, so you really get the clean, natural umami with no fishiness. The flavor is on the lighter side--skip this if you prefer bolder, punchier dishes. Crispy Shrimp & Corn Patties Simple deep-fried comfort--well-seasoned and satisfying. Shaved Ice A lovely dessert, fragrant with coconut and nuts. Rich flavor and a wonderful finish to the meal. The space is beautiful, with stylish furniture and art. Staff were friendly and attentive. Overall, a comfy, pleasant spot to dine or grab a drink with friends. read more

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Thanks Shelby! A good waitress or waiter can make a huge difference. Shelby explained the "concept", history and menu which made the experience much more enjoyable. South Pacific cuisine with lumpia, port fat and fusion with American taste. Small appetizer plates. Definitely different. read more

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The meal we had was delicious. I had heard mixed reviews and wasn't sure what to expect, but the experience exceeded my expectations. The decor and mood were eclectic and intimate without being romantic. Think high end, candlelit thrift shop. The service was friendly and attentive. The lumpia and pork belly skewers were great little bites to start the meal with, and the duck breast donburi was truly special. It was a great balance of savory, sweet, and sour, with pickled daikon and ginger. Also, the chocolate flan was very unexpected. It even won over my partner, who doesn't even like flan. The pan roasted chicken was less successful; it was good, but not particularly special (except for the sauce, which was outstanding). This is a great addition to the Avenue. read more

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Right in the heart of Hampden, the take on an English-styled pub with a Chamorran cuisine is not something to pass up. This place is not just bold, it is quaint and inviting. The staff are kind and attentive. Now the food, while most people probably aren't familiar with the cuisine.. give it a shot, you will not be disappointed. The Spam Musubi I could rave about forever. Don't think you like spam? I promise just try it. The crispy shrimp & corn patties are flavor packed, and the Gem salad is light and fresh. The short rib kare kare is well balanced with a nice depth of flavor. Now the Ube flan is another level, I could actually eat 5 of them. Amazing, incredible, phenomenal. The melon shaved ice is also a complete delight. The only thing I had a difficult time adjusting to was the cocktails, they were a bit too sweet for my taste buds but were nonetheless beautifully presented. Lastly, the atmosphere is truly gorgeous, they did an outstanding job renovating the old cafe hon. You'll just have to see it for yourself! Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu. read more

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We came on a Sunday at 1:50 pm as a party of 2 and they were able to seat us (the kitchen closes at 2 so we just had to place our orders before then). The interior is very nicely decorated and the ambiance is great. For food, the pork lumpia was yummy especially dipped in the sauce. The shrimp kelaguen & tatiyas were very light and fluffy - we dipped it in our leftover lumpia sauce and it was great. The steak loco moco was pretty salty, but I really liked the mushrooms. The breakfast buttie was solid and the linguica sausage had a lot of flavor. The POG juice was a nice and refreshing drink. We also ordered all 3 baked goods for $10 - the matcha mochi muffin was my favorite!! The texture and flavor were incredible. The morning glory muffin tasted like cornbread, the server told us that there was coconut and mango in it but it was difficult to taste. The miso turnover was nice and flaky. If I had to reorder, I'd probably just get the matcha mochi muffin. Overall, I loved getting to try these dishes with fun twists and definitely want to come back for dinner! read more

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I actually thought the food and drinks were decent but the service was CRAZY. And there's a few things that can be tightened or cleaned up to get to a flawless dining experience. I came with a friend at 5:30pm on a Friday so that we could catch the end of Happy Hour. Unfortunately, they do not offer HH in the dining room. Where does it say that on the website? Additionally, the food on the happy hour menu didn't have special prices, the point of HH is to have some cheaper options to get people in the door. The cucumber salad is $8 on HH and the main menu. What's the point of that? So, don't get taken advantage of. I thought the menu was fun, innovative, and unique. Lots of options of plates to split. My friend and I split 4 little dishes and each got a drink, our bill was about $100, so I thought the price was a bit exorbitant. Our drinks were just okay. I got the delta dawn, Which was licoricey (which I like!) but that's about the only flavor in it. No lychee taste at all. Underwhelmed. We split the watermelon salad (special), ahi tuna, gochujang tteokbokki, and musubi. The Tteokbokki was the standout for sure, I'd recommend this. The main issue was the bussing service. The millisecond you put a fork or plate down - 2 waiters would SPRINT to you - "are you done with that plate? You finished with that plate?"Every second. We had about 12-15 interruptions to collect dishes... sometimes we were not done, during dinner. It was truly insane and became a running joke. I tested it out a few times just tapping my silverware down to see if someone would come... and they did!!! One time they didn't even ask if we were done and took a plate with some food still on it! I need to know why the rush? Why such excessive bussing? It was truly insane I've never experienced anything like it. Not sure if they were overstaffed or what but they really need to figure that out. Last but not least, while most tables had chairs, some had what appeared to be poof cushions to sit on without backs. I cannot imagine anyone wants to sit at dinner without a back to their chair. Overall, the food was ok, it's a pretty restaurant but I think they still need time to figure everything out because as it was, we had a ton of anxiety eating and feeling like we were rushed. I did try to call to talk to a manager about our experience but no one answered the phone. read more

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3.5 but rounding up. I was pleasantly surprised to see a menu celebrating Hawaiian and Guam cuisine in Baltimore, felt like I was back in SF! They executed many of their plates well: - pork lumpia (perfectly crispy) - pancit (well seasoned and packed with umami) - pickles (light and refreshing) - heirloom tomatoes (fresh meaty tomatoes with a cool avocado sauce) - fish and chips (fried just how you would find in an English pub) - duck donburi (duck was seared medium well with delightful pickles) - chicken and pork skewers (juicy!!) - shaved ice (house made syrup hit the spot) - pirate princess cocktail (perfect blend of savory and sweet) A few definitely need some work: - shrimp kelaguen (shrimp ceviche was well executed but I don't think it matched the sweet flour tatiyas) - special chicken kelaguen (lacked juice/sauce) - shrimp and corn patties (a bit too thick for our liking) - beef skewers, flank steak buns (both a bit too chewy) - short rib kare kare (the most disappointing dish, the short rib was lacking seasoning and the peanut sauce was lacking depth, it might have been better if cooked with the peanut sauce) What brought my rating down was the decor and service. The restaurant is promoted as a blend of an English pub with Chamorro cuisine, but the execution of the ambience leans confusing and lacking identity rather than fusion and eclectic. The decor is no doubt beautiful but it doesn't quite match the menu, which is heavily Chamorro cuisine with just one English dish (fish and chips). The service was also lacking. We had to move and set dishes from the waiters onto the table ourselves and towards the end of the meal we were indiscretely nudged out of our table though there was no expectation of a time restriction to our table on booking. All that being said, I love the vision of the restaurant and with a few of these kinks worked out, it has the potential to really make a name for itself here in Baltimore! read more

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Food: Everything was good. I liked the Asian flavors that are featured the through out the menu. However for the butter mochi, it had strawberries and peach which tasted a bit sour since the mochi was much sweeter than them so I think the idea was better than the execution in this case. Service: Great, he was accommodating of requests (like substituting the regular waffle for a mochi waffle). Ambiance: Nice. The decor is very unique: rustic, European, lots of different wood. read more

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I'd been wanting to dine here and finally came for dinner. We had a reservation and were seated in the dining area. It's a fun set up inside as the chairs and tables are all a little different. The menu consists of mainly small plates and we ordered several to share along with a main plate. We got their Cucumber Salad, Spam Musubi, Shrimp & Corn Patties, Pancit, and the Duck Breast as the main dish. They came out as they were ready. I loved the aioli with the patties and the spam musubi was so tasty. The duck was cooked to my liking of medium well and had such great flavor. Not too gamey and not too chewy. Everything was so good! Even the drinks were really good - I had gotten the Puddle Jumper mocktail with vodka added and my partner got The Iron Lady. We also ordered the Lilikoi Butter Mochi and shared the port wine for dessert. The consistency of the mochi was harder than ones I've had but really good with the caramel and toasted coconut on it. read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner yesterday and had a good experience! Service was great, our server gave us a rundown of the menu and suggested new and popular items. The restaurant has beautiful decor and ambiance. We got a variety of apps which are tapas style - our favorites were the Brussel sprouts, chicken skewers and pancit. We got the duck breast and tf's fish business as our entrees. Everything came out promptly and tasted great. I wish the Duck was cooked a little more, would recommend getting medium or medium well. The chocolate namelaka was a great dinner - very light and perfect sweetness. Would definitely come back! read more

The Duchess - Wine Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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My mom and I decided to try The Duchess for dinner last minute this past week and we're so glad we did! We truly had the best experience. We came on a weeknight so easily found street parking right by the restaurant but they have complimentary valet parking available which is a must for weekends. The inside is so cute and cozy with really fun furniture. The service from the manager to our waiter was excellent. The menu is so large and unique we had a tough time making decisions! We really enjoyed the aloha cooler, short rib, beet salad, and tteokbokki, as well as the chocolate pudding for dessert! We already can't wait to come back and try more of the dinner and brunch menus! read more

Ive stopped in the duchess a few times for drinks and food and every time Ive been pleased. Im always welcomed warmly by staff, greeted and seated right away. The vibes of the place are cozy, just the way I like it and the menu is inventive without being weird. They have fun cocktails on menu but can still make classic cocktails with no issue. The food, omg the food!! I recommend trying the buns and the crispy chicken sando, you will not be dissapointed! read more

Love, love, loved our dinner at The Duchess! I made reservations here to celebrate a birthday and initially made it for three but easily was able to change it to four without any hassle. Initially service was a little rocky-- really busy on a Friday night, so we had three different staff members ask if we wanted still or sparkling. We asked for sparkling three times and ultimately got still. Totally fine, it was actually comical when we did get water. But the delicious cocktails and great food made up for it! We all tried so many drinks, my personal favorite was the Queen of Hearts. As for food, the style is kind of like tapas-- we got a lot of small plates and shared with each other. You really cannot go wrong-- everything we selected was so good! Cannot wait to come again! read more

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Very cool space! They leaned into the tavern-y/b&b look of old, but waaaaay nicer and modernized. I sat at the bar briefly, and it was lovely! I wanted to stay there but a friend had made reservations for a table, so away to the table I went. We sat at a tiny table flanked by wingback chairs. Immediately I hated this, and I should have requested we move, but I didn't. Those chairs were hard to get comfortable in while in an eating setting. To eat my food I had to perch on the edge of the seat, and had no lumbar support. And the tiny table barely accommodated my entree and my friend's 3 small plates. It was just...a lot to manage. I went with the fish and chips. The fries were wonderful. The fish was tempura fried, which was fine, but there was a lack of seasoning that the sauce couldn't make up for. Anyway, I like the look of the place, but not the feel. There was a very odd juxtaposition of trad furniture and Asian fusion food that threw me off. I'd definitely like to chill at the bar because the barstools were pretty straightforward, plus there were some small plates not available in the dining room. I'm down to try new things there, up my star rating next visit. read more

The Duchess - Fish and chips - Wine Bars Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Overrated. I really wanted to love this place and I typically love small plates and tapas restaurants but this was disappointing. The portion sizes are tiny and the quality of the food is average. For example, the lumpia looked anemic with barely any filling and the short rib meat was dry and tough. The cocktails were excellent, the service was fantastic, and the overall ambiance was great. read more

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If you haven't checked out this new hot spot on the avenue yet, please book your reservation immediately. Do you get a wave of nostalgia thinking about pre-pandemic Woodberry Kitchen? The Duchess is proving that approachable, intimate, conscientious fine dining is alive and well in Hampden. Despite being located on a block corner, the entrance still feels tastefully tucked away. Walking in is like a calming breath of fresh air with lower set ceilings, warm wooden tones and soft lighting creating an intimate, welcoming setting. While busy there is a notable lack of stressful or rushed energy, with each table looking lost in their own dining moment. Our servers (we suspected one in training) amplified this environment with attentive, thoughtful interactions. Happy to provide recommendations to ease our indecision, we felt cared for throughout the night. As a radiation oncologist, I felt obligated to order my namesake cocktail--"Marie Curie"--which was a unique, exceptionally well balanced take on the classic Penicillin. The menu is perfect for sharing and as a lifelong vegetarian, I was pleased by the number and variety of options for me. We ordered the ginger miso beets, crispy brussels, glazed local carrots and pancit bihon gollai (the one dish I forgot to take a picture of!). Every dish offered something unique and memorable, progressing across the palate with sweet, savory, salty, bitter and umami elements. The dishes are beautifully plated demonstrating the care and creativity behind them. The freshness of the ingredients is undeniable and the celebration of local sources of particular emphasis. Duchess team, thank you for such a memorable first meal! I will absolutely be back. read more

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Finally had the chance to stop by the long awaited, The Duchess, Tony Foreman's newest venture located in the former Cafe Hon location. I know a lot of people had a bit of a conniption when that giant flamingo was taken down since it felt like a little piece of Baltimore history was being left behind but, I would argue that new local lore is being created at The Duchess. The place is absolutely stunning with two different sides, a barside and a dining room, and plenty of seating. The bar area features booths, a large dining table right at the front, and beautiful bar seating. The dining area features a huge communal table which can easily be converted for large groups along with many four tops and two tops and even a stage for live music. The staff seem very well trained (which is the Tony Foreman way, after all), each of them incredibly knowledgeable on the cocktail, wine, and food menus. The cocktail list is creative and the wines encompass a huge geographical radius. My boyfriend got the queen of hearts (if I'm remembering correctly) which is their play on a mai thai - he loved it, which is saying a lot since he's very picky about his cocktails. I got the parachute girl which was described as a "mango sticky rice" cocktail. I didn't get any real mango flavor from it at all and thought it would've been better suited as a rum based cocktail instead of infused gin. It noted "toasted sticky rice" in the description but that was lost for me as well. Maybe it's just not my kinda drink and I need to explore more from the menu? We didn't try any food this time around since our plan was to scope out the menu first to see how gluten free friendly it was. Soy sauce can be a bit of a challenge to overcome for me with some Asian/Pacific Islander cuisine. Much to my delight, I learned that most of the dishes use tamari, gluten free soy sauce. The bartender said when we come back for food to double check with the server since some marinades do contain soy sauce but there's still a ton of things I could enjoy thanks to the use of tamari. Amazing! I was so pleased to hear this and can't wait to come back to try the food. read more

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An old coworker and I hadn't seen each other in forever and neither of us had tried The Duchess. The Duchess is the newest restaurant from my favorite Baltimore Restaurant Group, Foreman Wolfe and they have hit another one out of the park. It is billed as an English Pub with an Asian flair. The inside was beautiful in an upscale English pub way. Warm rustic furniture and we were encouraged to take a look around and notice the design details. This space was the old Cafe Hon and I can't even picture that in the place now. Now the food. Most of the menu is a section called Snacks that are meant sharing. The tuna nachos were a special and so good. I can't begin to understand how they fried those chips. I really loved the shrimp and corn patties. They were both light and full of that is possible. We jumped into some pork snacks and got another round of drinks and Typhoon Fries instead of desert. I have a video of the fries that couldn't load in this review but the toppings move. You just have to get it. The waiter tired to explain it and we didn't understand until we saw it. Next time I will try out the More than a Snack section. I will wrap this up by saying the service was amazing. It always is with Foreman Wolf. We were told they have live music and we saw the cute little stage. I can't wait to go back. read more

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A couple friends and I tried The Duchess for brunch this weekend - wow! What a great new addition to Baltimore's food scene - 4.5 stars. The ambiance was perfect for a cozy fall morning. The dining room has a sort of Victorian feel from all the dark wood and vintage touches. There is also a sports bar section with TVs that feels like more of a traditional tavern - although also nice, we appreciated that it was in a separate room to maintain a quieter vibe in the dining room. We ordered a few dishes to share so we could each try multiple menu items, and were all impressed by the unique and complex flavors. The standout items were the ube pancakes and the togarashi karaage and waffle. The pancakes were so fluffy and moist, with just the right amount of sweetness. I loved the balance of sweet and savory in the chicken and waffles, and all of the textures were so on point. We also ordered the pork lumpia, pancit bihon gollai, and each had a P.O.G. (passionfruit, orange, and guava refresher) - all were delicious. Just a few minor complaints: The drip coffee I ordered came in a tiny mug that was only about half full, so I assumed refills must be included. When I asked for more coffee, they refilled the mug (slightly more generously than the first time), then I was disappointed to see that our bill included charges for 2 separate orders of coffee. The size of the P.O.G. drink was also a bit disappointing. For $9, I expected more juice and less ice. Upon taking our order, our server offered to help us understand the menu, since he pointed out that many of the ingredients are pretty "foreign." His comment came off as insensitive/slightly prejudiced, especially considering both friends I was dining with were visibly of Asian descent. He was quite young (and slightly awkward) so I'm sure he didn't mean to be offensive, but I think the restaurant would benefit from requiring its staff to complete some sort of cultural competency training to avoid offending patrons. Overall, we had a great experience, sincerely enjoyed the food, and are all excited to return! read more

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Loved the Asian fusion cuisine in an upscale cozy setting! Great service and solid menu. Would recommend. I just wish I ordered the duck medium well instead of medium rare. read more

Aloha Baltimore! This charming restaurant takes me back to the islands! Supremely friendly staff; quick service and very tasty tapas style dishes. Really tasty food- fresh and beautifully presented.Love the valet parking, bathrooms that smell like gardenias. Only downside is the noise- once it's busy- I could only hear the person next to me! read more

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I had an absolutely lovely meal at The Duchess! The menu was a lot of small dishes, note some of them are extremely small, but the variety allowed us to try a bunch of things! All of them were unique and delicious. The cocktail menu was interesting and I was a bit skeptical about the mixes but all of the cocktails were balanced and flavorful. Towards the end of the Friday evening there was a live band and it created the perfect ambiance for post-meal drinks and snacks. I would highly recommend even if you couldn't get a reservation for dinner! I will note that because the restaurant is really popular right now we got put in a booth that was clearly made for 2 but we squeezed in as a party of 4. There was another party of 6 behind us and they had clearly squeezed in as well. I am sure this will improve over time but just be ready! read more