So great to be back and check out the reconfigured space at Woodberry. They now have an events space (Gatherings by WL) and a tavern restaurant. Same great food and drinks and great service. We started with the oysters which were plump and fresh, and had a nice touch of chili oil which we loved. We also got to try their charcuterie board which was a nice mix. For our mains we had the rainbow trout that was fresh and dressed with nuts. The pie I had was also tasty but I did think it makes for a great lunch instead of dinner...this is more of a personal preference tho. The service was very attentive from our server to the host which refilled our waters a few times. Overall, still one of the best places to dine in Baltimore. Glad I came back for a visit!
John B.
The renovated version of this restaurant is spectacular, but the space reserved for general dining is actually quite small, while there is an event space nearby. The food was as good as promised. Service was not, and after being seated it was a struggle to figure out who might be willing to take an order and we spent ten or fifteen minutes casually talking and trying to flag someone down, listening to other tables get a warm introduction in the meantime, before someone got to us. This is one of the places that adds a service charge and makes tipping optional, and I was not so inclined. Notably, getting a brunch reservation was easier than getting a dinner reservation, which surprised me because it's a great brunch. The Carolina rice and beans dish they offered was resplendent, with fragrant rice, fresh vegetables, and a strong chili crisp complementing the robustly flavored beans. I've spent a fair amount of time in the Lowcountry but I've never had the distinctive rice varieties from that region prepared so well, including my own efforts. The salad waited until the beans were gone, but it was a fantastic set of greens with shoots and flowers and a delightful buttermilk dressing. Our search for something sweet yielded a board of pastries which provided delicious variety. The place has a variety of items that I wouldn't eat, but as a vegetarian I didn't struggle for choice. Returning for dinner would be a welcome event, but I could reasonably expect more attentive service if I did.
T F.
This is a great place to go and celebrate special moments. Ambience and food is wonderful.
Jasmine M.
Woodberry brunch it back!!! Seems like right now it's on sundays. This is my first time in their new space which is SO cute! It's very cozy and comfortable. Everyone was kind and hospitable. We were late to our reservation, but they kindly sat us! Got the pear waffles and Turkish eggs which were both so good! Loved having the sweet and savory options.
Michael Ison
A night of hit and misses @woodberrykitchen last night. The space is beautiful and warm although the seats are very tight (people often bumped into seats as they moved around, including the staff). The food was generally very good - the Welsh rarebit was flawless and super delicious. The scrapple egg had a tasty but salty scrapple shell but the rest, including the egg, was bland. The roast oysters were super yummy and perfectly cooked. The savory oyster pie had a tasty and flaky crust, smoky oysters but the filling needed some salt and/or acid to brighten it up. The trout was good and pecans grew on us with each bit.Sadly, service was a total disaster and soured the entire evening. The four top table next to us almost left as they had no service until well after we ordered and complained of service throughout the meal. Our experience was much the same. We didn’t get any food or beverages other than water (which took 15 min to arrive) for 30 minutes. The first 2 rounds of appetizers came relatively quickly with about 10-15 min between courses. Dinner took over 30 minutes. Our server never really check in with us (or her other tables). We sat without water for long stretches and Ken was ready for a second drink for over 30 min before he flagged someone down. The cocktails took forever to- first round 15 min after order and 22 min for his martini. You will notice no dessert - we ordered it 15 min after sitting around with the menu. After we ordered, not even the coffee arrived. After 23 minutes, we flagged down our server to cancel our sundae and cheese plate. No real reason given just they were working on the finishing touches - the room was half empty so unclear why. The coffee, a French press was dropped off with our bill that included the 23% gratuity. They definitely didn’t deliver anywhere close to service at any point worth the tip, particularly inexcusable at the price point of the restaurant. Sadly, lack of hospitality again ruined a potential good meal.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Brooke G
The atmosphere was great. The cocktails were very good. The food was hit or miss. Cooked Oysters we good but maybe would have benefitted from some bread to have with them. Chicken and waffles were flavorful but maybe slightly overpriced. The clam and grits were disappointing. The clams were good but the grits were soupy with way too much broth and lacking flavor...I've had much better at most places. The desserts were great though and I loved the baked alaska, which was needed as I was still hungry after barely eating the grits. The service was ok and the servers were pleasant, but we had a lot of waiting to get our orders taken, getting drinks, ordering desserts and getting the check. I wanted to love the place more as I've heard good things and maybe if I tried something different, it may have been better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Josh Roumple
Food was okay. Service was okay but not amazing. They never brought one item. Atmosphere was really nice. Music could have been a quieter so that we could hear each other easier. The steak was more red than described, chewey and NOT mouth-watering as you'd hope a steak to be. My partner's scallops had bites that seemed "sandy." I would go back to try other dishes. Everyone was really nice. It had the right amount of fanciness for the occasion.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Sarah J.
I was there for an event most of the food seemed over salted The staff was helpful the overall look of the restaurant was nice- I just couldn't get over the salty food
Brian S
First time back with the new format. The space is cozy and the food was very good. Will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Shane Schmidt
First time back in four years. They have reduced the size of their dining room by a good chunk but the quality and creativity of the food is as good or better than it ever had been in my opinion. Fantastic drinks, creative food menu and still a welcoming atmosphere in a beautiful section of the city. Glad I had a chance to return.
The service was good and the place is cozy but the food is not very good. I ordered the chicken and waffles and it was slimy. Not crisp at all. My niece ordered fish and that was it - a fish on a plate with nothing else. Very odd, considering all the hype. Also the place is too small for live music - overwhelming and loud.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Rama S.
I've heard great things about Woodberry kitchen before they rebranded and condensed into Tavern. I was very excited to try their farm to table type menu. I made reservations a few weeks in advance and we could only make a reservation for Thursday because thats how fast the tables go. Walk-ins a bit risky here since the restaurant is very small, maybe 15-20 tables max. The service was really great. Starting off with the appetizers we got sweet potatoes and leek soup, oysters, and crispy sweet potato salad. The soup was quite literally the most flavorful dish and best soup ive ever had; there were so many textures and flavors that well went together. Oysters and salad were ok. The burger has a homemade sweet potato bun (they use alot of sweet potatoes here lol) and it takes away from the fluffiness youd normally expect. Steak was absolutely incredible on the other hand. Overall 8/10 experience, would likely come back with a new menu but the pricing is on the higher end.
Eric Kmetz
A great hidden gem off the beaten path of Hampden. Their tavern is a small, but very cozy and enjoyable space. Definitely recommend making a reservation. We particularly enjoyed their Maryland style fried chicken, the tavern board, and a rotating pork dish that was on the menu that night. Their menu does change, so don’t always expect what you see in photos or their website. Also important that they went through a revamp recently, so I’d ignore any photos older than 3 years on here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jacob W.
The ambiance was very nice. We went on a Wednesday, and they have local artists playing from 6-9, which was really fun. The service was also good. We ordered 3 things from the menu, 2 smaller plates and one larger plate. The 2 smaller plates were very good. The steak tartare was a bit finer ground than I'm used to, more akin to a hamburger grind. However, it was seasoned very nicely and went well with the Dijon mayonnaise they provided. The pork belly was also good, it was tender and the fat complemented the meat nicely. However, the beans seemed slightly undercooked. While I did like the 2 smaller plates, I found the fish underwhelming. It was cooked perfectly, but I found it unevenly seasoned, with some bites having very little flavor. Also, the fingerling potatoes seemed to lack any seasoning. Overall, I was very happy with the other 2 plates besides the fish.
So great to be back and check out the reconfigured space at Woodberry. They now have an events space (Gatherings by WL) and a tavern restaurant. Same great food and drinks and great service. We started with the oysters which were plump and fresh, and had a nice touch of chili oil which we loved. We also got to try their charcuterie board which was a nice mix. For our mains we had the rainbow trout that was fresh and dressed with nuts. The pie I had was also tasty but I did think it makes for a great lunch instead of dinner...this is more of a personal preference tho. The service was very attentive from our server to the host which refilled our waters a few times. Overall, still one of the best places to dine in Baltimore. Glad I came back for a visit!
The renovated version of this restaurant is spectacular, but the space reserved for general dining is actually quite small, while there is an event space nearby. The food was as good as promised. Service was not, and after being seated it was a struggle to figure out who might be willing to take an order and we spent ten or fifteen minutes casually talking and trying to flag someone down, listening to other tables get a warm introduction in the meantime, before someone got to us. This is one of the places that adds a service charge and makes tipping optional, and I was not so inclined. Notably, getting a brunch reservation was easier than getting a dinner reservation, which surprised me because it's a great brunch. The Carolina rice and beans dish they offered was resplendent, with fragrant rice, fresh vegetables, and a strong chili crisp complementing the robustly flavored beans. I've spent a fair amount of time in the Lowcountry but I've never had the distinctive rice varieties from that region prepared so well, including my own efforts. The salad waited until the beans were gone, but it was a fantastic set of greens with shoots and flowers and a delightful buttermilk dressing. Our search for something sweet yielded a board of pastries which provided delicious variety. The place has a variety of items that I wouldn't eat, but as a vegetarian I didn't struggle for choice. Returning for dinner would be a welcome event, but I could reasonably expect more attentive service if I did.
This is a great place to go and celebrate special moments. Ambience and food is wonderful.
Woodberry brunch it back!!! Seems like right now it's on sundays. This is my first time in their new space which is SO cute! It's very cozy and comfortable. Everyone was kind and hospitable. We were late to our reservation, but they kindly sat us! Got the pear waffles and Turkish eggs which were both so good! Loved having the sweet and savory options.
A night of hit and misses @woodberrykitchen last night. The space is beautiful and warm although the seats are very tight (people often bumped into seats as they moved around, including the staff). The food was generally very good - the Welsh rarebit was flawless and super delicious. The scrapple egg had a tasty but salty scrapple shell but the rest, including the egg, was bland. The roast oysters were super yummy and perfectly cooked. The savory oyster pie had a tasty and flaky crust, smoky oysters but the filling needed some salt and/or acid to brighten it up. The trout was good and pecans grew on us with each bit.Sadly, service was a total disaster and soured the entire evening. The four top table next to us almost left as they had no service until well after we ordered and complained of service throughout the meal. Our experience was much the same. We didn’t get any food or beverages other than water (which took 15 min to arrive) for 30 minutes. The first 2 rounds of appetizers came relatively quickly with about 10-15 min between courses. Dinner took over 30 minutes. Our server never really check in with us (or her other tables). We sat without water for long stretches and Ken was ready for a second drink for over 30 min before he flagged someone down. The cocktails took forever to- first round 15 min after order and 22 min for his martini. You will notice no dessert - we ordered it 15 min after sitting around with the menu. After we ordered, not even the coffee arrived. After 23 minutes, we flagged down our server to cancel our sundae and cheese plate. No real reason given just they were working on the finishing touches - the room was half empty so unclear why. The coffee, a French press was dropped off with our bill that included the 23% gratuity. They definitely didn’t deliver anywhere close to service at any point worth the tip, particularly inexcusable at the price point of the restaurant. Sadly, lack of hospitality again ruined a potential good meal.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
The atmosphere was great. The cocktails were very good. The food was hit or miss. Cooked Oysters we good but maybe would have benefitted from some bread to have with them. Chicken and waffles were flavorful but maybe slightly overpriced. The clam and grits were disappointing. The clams were good but the grits were soupy with way too much broth and lacking flavor...I've had much better at most places. The desserts were great though and I loved the baked alaska, which was needed as I was still hungry after barely eating the grits. The service was ok and the servers were pleasant, but we had a lot of waiting to get our orders taken, getting drinks, ordering desserts and getting the check. I wanted to love the place more as I've heard good things and maybe if I tried something different, it may have been better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Food was okay. Service was okay but not amazing. They never brought one item. Atmosphere was really nice. Music could have been a quieter so that we could hear each other easier. The steak was more red than described, chewey and NOT mouth-watering as you'd hope a steak to be. My partner's scallops had bites that seemed "sandy." I would go back to try other dishes. Everyone was really nice. It had the right amount of fanciness for the occasion.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
I was there for an event most of the food seemed over salted The staff was helpful the overall look of the restaurant was nice- I just couldn't get over the salty food
First time back with the new format. The space is cozy and the food was very good. Will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
First time back in four years. They have reduced the size of their dining room by a good chunk but the quality and creativity of the food is as good or better than it ever had been in my opinion. Fantastic drinks, creative food menu and still a welcoming atmosphere in a beautiful section of the city. Glad I had a chance to return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Top notch food experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The service was good and the place is cozy but the food is not very good. I ordered the chicken and waffles and it was slimy. Not crisp at all. My niece ordered fish and that was it - a fish on a plate with nothing else. Very odd, considering all the hype. Also the place is too small for live music - overwhelming and loud.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
I've heard great things about Woodberry kitchen before they rebranded and condensed into Tavern. I was very excited to try their farm to table type menu. I made reservations a few weeks in advance and we could only make a reservation for Thursday because thats how fast the tables go. Walk-ins a bit risky here since the restaurant is very small, maybe 15-20 tables max. The service was really great. Starting off with the appetizers we got sweet potatoes and leek soup, oysters, and crispy sweet potato salad. The soup was quite literally the most flavorful dish and best soup ive ever had; there were so many textures and flavors that well went together. Oysters and salad were ok. The burger has a homemade sweet potato bun (they use alot of sweet potatoes here lol) and it takes away from the fluffiness youd normally expect. Steak was absolutely incredible on the other hand. Overall 8/10 experience, would likely come back with a new menu but the pricing is on the higher end.
A great hidden gem off the beaten path of Hampden. Their tavern is a small, but very cozy and enjoyable space. Definitely recommend making a reservation. We particularly enjoyed their Maryland style fried chicken, the tavern board, and a rotating pork dish that was on the menu that night. Their menu does change, so don’t always expect what you see in photos or their website. Also important that they went through a revamp recently, so I’d ignore any photos older than 3 years on here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The ambiance was very nice. We went on a Wednesday, and they have local artists playing from 6-9, which was really fun. The service was also good. We ordered 3 things from the menu, 2 smaller plates and one larger plate. The 2 smaller plates were very good. The steak tartare was a bit finer ground than I'm used to, more akin to a hamburger grind. However, it was seasoned very nicely and went well with the Dijon mayonnaise they provided. The pork belly was also good, it was tender and the fat complemented the meat nicely. However, the beans seemed slightly undercooked. While I did like the 2 smaller plates, I found the fish underwhelming. It was cooked perfectly, but I found it unevenly seasoned, with some bites having very little flavor. Also, the fingerling potatoes seemed to lack any seasoning. Overall, I was very happy with the other 2 plates besides the fish.