Hats off to the folks at the Wren one of the oldest pubs in the city of Baltimore (and maybe even the country). This spot has a rotating menu outlined on a chalkboard. While menu items are constantly changing, the quality and flavors remain top tier. Fresh and locally sourced food prepared in house. Tried a few menu items while sitting at the bar. Chorizo and Egg and the smoked trout. The chorizo was excellent but I'm still raving about that trout. This is a classic scotch bar with original motifs of solid wood throughout the Wren. The people were lovely. Very talkative, game historical context about the city. Go for food and also go thirsty. read more

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A menu scribbled on the chalkboard,that changes every day. And not a very extensive menu. But to be honest I believe that's an advantage because I'd rather a place do a few things extremely well than flounder over a menu that meanders all over the place. That is the Wren for you. I've been eyeing this place for a bit and due to the nature of walk ins hadn't been able to make it in. They recently opened up reservations on Tock so I snapped one up. Even if you don't really drink this pub is still a nice dinner/date night outing. Will say some of the seating was a little uncomfortable (both my bf and the gentlemen next to us are over 6 feet tall but sat on tiny chair/stools) but that might have been the only negative. We were not super hungry so we decided to share a lighter plate and an entree. While the menu does change almost day to day sometimes I do believe the cheese and chutney plate is a constant. Two cheeses, some chutney, butter, spicy brown english mustard and rye bread. So simple but so delicious. I could have eaten that by myself. For the entree we split a half poussin (a quail?) which was served with borlatti beans and an aioli. Again everything was really yummy. I'd come back to the Wren again. We had a nice time and even though we don't really drink (it is primarily a pub and I am sure people there to grab drinks only love their experience) I enjoyed the food. I understand why this place is so highly regarded. read more

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Holy sh!t, where do I start? The ever-evolving menu featuring Irish staple foods that are delivered to perfection? The perfectly intimate bar and back room fire that feels like you are in a place and time far away? The attentive staff that takes great pride in the food and the service that they provide? The quality of the ingredients in combination with the chef's master mind? The perfectly paired whiskey (or is it whisky?) and beer list - that was poured with patience and finesse? You must go here. When we went, we enjoyed a couple pints, the sourdough bread, the eggs, the rabbit salad, and the fish pie. We were floating on high after that meal. Thank you, Wren, for such an amazing experience. read more

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Quirky spot. Front half is an Irish pub. Back half is a laid back, fine dining area. Limited menu of seasonal, fresh ingredients written on a chalk board. Everything is made in house. (Except the bread). Our server was exceptional. It was obvious he came from a fine dining background. The food was pretty good, though I would most likely not revisit, but I would definitely recommend to others. It's a curious dining experience. read more

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About a month ago, I had a plate of ham at The Wren which essentially changed my life. It was the best piece of ham I've ever had. I felt like I died and went to heaven. Based on the other reviews, I feel like some people just don't "get" what The Wren is doing. If you've never been to Ireland or the U.K and found yourself in a proper pub, I can see how The Wren would maybe go over your head. Not trying to sound stuck up here, but it's just that this is the closest thing to a REAL pub Baltimore has ever seen and if you've yet to experience the real thing overseas, then The Wren probably seems strange to you. Yes, they have food. No, you can't eat it in the back. Yes, they have traditional Irish music on certain nights. No, you shouldn't talk while the musicians are singing. Yes, they have Guinness and hell yes, it will probably be the best pint you've ever had. Is there table service? Sure, but don't expect to be babysat. This is a pub, people! Not a fine dining establishment. Grab a drink, put in your food order, sit back, and relax for God's sake. For a place with a kitchen that is essentially two hot plates, I was blown away. The deviled eggs, the salad, the potatoes, and oh yeah... THE HAM. Chef's kiss. The menu changes weekly. Check their Instagram for updates. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for a while, and it did not disappoint. We ordered their freshly baked bread with homemade butter, and it was delicious, unlike anything I've had before. Then we tried the rabbit salad, which was on the menu this week. Lastly, we tried their apple cake with custard, which was amazing. read more

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Would highly recommend a stop here, everything was fabulous. I took my time, tonight was a date night with myself and I never felt rushed. I started with a deviled egg (you can order them by the egg!) and the bread and butter. Classic Irish feels, the butter with some flaky salt on top was a perfect way to start. I was sitting at the bar next to "kitchen" which for the food that you see they make, would be surprised by the very small size. They do a chalkboard menu and run out of things by the end of the night, so you know it's going to be good. Decided to go with the ham plate and cheese and crackers after I saw the amazing Gorgonzola that would come with the cheese plate. That plus a Guinness made dinner Irish perfection. The bartender Sierra was amazing, always checking on you at the right times and so sweet. Finally I couldn't resist the apple pie with a whiskey dessert, which was absolutely the right choice. I'll be back to try whatever is next on the chalkboard! read more

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Went in on a rainy day and was able to grab the last bar top seat by the door. Fresh baked bread with house made butter and a braised duck! This meal and the cold rainy weather made me feel more at home at The Wren. Overall, a good experience. Service staff was very attentive and could answer all questions about the menu. Olde English Wood Pub styling on the inside. They do not take reservations, so be patient or be willing to take the last bar seat as soon as it's available. read more

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From the owners of Le Comptoir du Vin in station north comes this pub with Irish influence at the former Birds of a Feather scotch bar. Now name the wren after the "king of birds", this pub serves up amazing food with Will Mester co-owner and chef cooking up food - think omelette made ready, Madelines baked to order. The Irish beers and ciders are the popular drink categories think a perfect Guinness pour along with the scotch inventory they inherited from the previous location and Irish whiskey. They also do have one natural red, and one natural white available on rotation. I really like the rusty nail cocktail, which is Scotch, drambuie, and citrus cocktail. It's a very strong because it's booze forward. The bartenders can also make you whatever cocktail you want. It is a little bit on the higher end price wise because it's excellent food. Their food menu rotates and you have to note this is a pub style so you can only eat in the main bar - it only seats 18, and if it's full you have to wait around. There is no hostess. There is also an amazing fireplace back room only for drinking. I'm so incredibly happy they have opened here in Fells point and this will definitely become my regular spot. read more

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Authentic Irish pub feel in Fells! Efficient service, cozy environment. The food was high quality, and the menu is constantly rotating and very unique. Overall enjoyed our hearty meal, though occasionally surprised by some of the more pungent flavors (anchovy, ox tongue). High quality place! read more

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Wanted to try after a suggestion from a friend. We heard they do not take reservations and that it's hard to get into so we decided to wait until later in the evening. On Google it clearly states that the business is open until 11:30 PM (on a Saturday night mind you), when we walked in at 10:15 PM barstools were already up on the bar and we were told that they have already made last call. We planned on having dinner there. I also called multiple times in the night to double check to see how late their kitchen was open and nobody ever answers the phone. Very frustrating when there is little information and no customer service on top of the incorrect information on google. read more

The Wren - Pubs Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I'd had Birds of a Feather on "my list" previously and unfortunately was unable to visit before they closed. When I heard the space was being acquired and reopened by the team responsible for Le Comptoir Du Vin, I decided to get over there and experience it right away! There are a few touches at The Wren that will seem familiar to those who've dined at LCDV, for instance, the signature chalkboard menu with a limited albeit ever-changing menu. Another touch from the LCDV handbook is the incredibly high quality of the food. I was so impressed with the simplicity and flavor of everything. We opted for the chicken liver mousse with pickled prunes and the roasted pork and borlotti. This meal determined for me that pickled prune is the best match for smooth, whipped chicken liver mouse on fresh, crusty bread (the ultimate pairing!) The green sauce on the pork and beans was phenomenal! We cleaned our plates. Everything paired quite well with a freshly drawn Guiness. The space itself is quaint. The front bar room is reserved for dining (and drinking), while the back area is drinking only. There is mostly bar seating in the front dining space, it can be pretty cramped and scooped up quite quickly. If you're looking to eat, come early or come prepared to wait. Hopefully they'll open up reservations in the future (and maybe expand dining to the back room)? read more

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Unsure about this place but enjoyed it enough to be willing to check it out again. On a Friday evening the place was very busy. FOOD: There is a front room and background. If you want food you can only in the front. Order the Guinness pudding but wasn't impressed. Dry and lacking of much flavor to the point I didn't finish. But the other food I saw being eaten and prepared looked delicious so want to check it out again. SERVICE: Bartenders were very friendly and very fast. VIBE: Though the food was lacking the vibe was great. Really had the feel of a true Irish pub. The back room had a small fire going. People huddled around small tables chatting. A dart board in the corner. Definitely enjoyed finishing my Guinness back there and definitely want to bring others to enjoy read more

The Wren - Dart Board - Pubs Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I visited The Wren with a friend for dinner a week or so ago, and I was expecting to love it, because I am very, very obsessed with their other business (Le Comptoir du Vin in Station North). However, some things about the Wren didn't make a ton of sense to me and affected my first visit. The Wren is an Irish/Scottish-focused pub. It's two rooms (both pretty narrow, in typical Baltimore style). The first room has a wooden bar with a few barstools and then some stools along two other walls, with a very shallow countertop above the stools (exactly what I remember from pubs in Dublin). I don't think they could have more than 12 stools in that room (which is important, since you can only eat in this room). The back room has a ton of charm - a fireplace, carpeting, wood tables and chairs. We had come thinking it was a bit more of a restaurant but were told when we walked up to the bar that you can only eat in the front room. There weren't two seats at the bar at that point, so we got a couple glasses of wine that we took to the back room. When we finished our glasses, we wandered back to the front room, hoping to find barstools so we could eat. We lucked out and two barstools were then available at the bar. We ordered two dishes: a cold smoked trout and the duck cassoulet, as well as two more drinks (an Irish whiskey for me and a cocktail for her). The food was great (as I would expect from the people behind Le Comptoir, where I've never had a bad bite of food), but it was just so inconvenient to eat it. For our two dishes, we were brought two rolls of silverware, two small plates, one plate with bread, and then our two dishes. Unfortunately, the bar is narrow and to fit those dishes, they had to move some things around for the bartender (he couldn't make drinks at that section of the bar while we were eating). I've eaten in spaces with not a lot of table space or counter space, but this was more limited than most. I really appreciate The Wren's vibes. It really felt like I was back in Dublin: traditional, cozy, completely non-fussy. And I really liked their extension variety of Scotch and Irish whiskeys. They also pour a really expert Guinness. But eating at The Wren was just not very comfortable, regardless of how good the food was. The space probably calls for simpler food that can be served on small dishes or that don't require silverware or smaller plates, but I get that they are talented with food and menu creation and wanted to offer something special here. It just didn't work for me, and when I return (I'm sure I will), I think I'll stick with drinks to enjoy a more casual, comfortable, relaxed vibe at The Wren. read more

Highly recommended this cozy pub . Ambiance was lovely , food was delicious and made me feel like I am having a meal at my grandmas house . Very rustic and comforting and soothing on a cold night . The bartender was friendly and gave us some good recommendations. read more

The Wren - Glazed Ham, Deviled Eggs - Pubs Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Great service. Wonderful food. Very European. Very small, with limited space to eat. Ordered the anchovies with lardo on toast, cured beef with tomato and caper sauce, and the deviled eggs. One of the best meals I have ever had! read more

We started with drinks and sun teas were excellent. I hope they can stay year round or nearly. We ordered the deviled eggs (amazing!!) and the turkey po boy (very good!) as part of the po boy popup. We wanted to try a few other items and take them to go but the containers weren't available to do so. We will come back before the pop up ends. read more

Been there twice. First time food was good and service was good. Second time the service was lousy and the gumbo I ordered was served tepid and bland. I also ordered a sandwich which had one whole slice of bread on one side, and pieces of bread on the other side! Place is tiny, and seating was pretty cramped. At least the scotch was decent. read more

The Wren is by far the best restaurant i have been to in Baltimore. The best quality food and amazing service. Hard to come by restaurants that really deliver on the food and have an authentic atmosphere and the Wren nailed it. Really feels like an Irish pub with great quality food as well. read more

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The best proper pub I've been to in the US. Outstanding food and service. Wonderful atmosphere. I wholeheartedly recommend it.