Cured 18th & 21st

Given the remarkable number of five star reviews, I'm not sure there is much point in posting this, but here goes. This place is trying to be a sophisticated high-end restaurant, but doesn't have all the elements in place (we know - we lived in Boston, New York City, and Baltimore for over 20 years combined). The food is fine, but not remotely worth the money (e.g., the $60 ribeye was no better than what you might get at Outback), and if you want fine you can go somewhere 1/3 the price. Our server was extremely nice... when she was with us. But she was tough to find when she wasn't. I struggled to find her on three occasions (something a patron should not experience at a high-end restaurant). As an example, I had to flag her down to ask if we could have wine with our entree's 10 minutes after they arrived. All we had up until that point were a cocktail each and water. Asking if we wanted drinks with our entrees should be absolutely standard. With respect to the cocktail, I ordered their "smoky" old fashioned, which apparently is their special recipe with smoked bitters. There was not the slightest evidence of smokiness to it and it was instead a fair boring drink (I drink old fashioneds all the time). They did bring me another one made the standard way, which was appreciated. They might want to stick with that or get a better mixologist for any "special" drinks. In general, I'd suggest going someplace else, unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket. At least the dining room was nice and the musicians added to the experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 2

Service: 3

Great atmosphere and excellent service. I can’t take anything away from the vibe. However, it's not worth the price tag. The experience was one of a high-end restaurant with a child-size portion of food. Expect to pay a minimum of $100 for three items.

The best part was the brussels sprouts.

Again, the service was excellent, but I was hungry afterward.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Food was extremely underwhelming. Ordered the three course for valentines.
The mussels in tomato sauce appetizer was decent but had sand in it. The presentation for the steak looked like it was tossed on the plate, no thought. Steak and potatoes were not seasoned. Sent back my strawberry shortcake dessert because it tasted like the fridge.

Aside from the three course meal, Manicotti was flavorless and bolognese that accompanied it was way too salty. The crab pizza was more of a crab and cheese toast with micro greens. The fresh oysters were good though and I liked the creme brulee (it’s a bit sweeter than it used to be)

Only things we enjoyed genuinely were the drinks, the fresh oysters, and the atmosphere/ambiance. For $69 per person, instead of the advertised $54 per person as advertised on their instagram, this revisit was extremely disappointing and I’ll be hesitant to come back again. Sad to know the chefs there now are not the same as the ones that used to be here

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Classic Créme Brûlée

Food was a barely average for the price point. Service was superb and ambiance was great. Filet mignon, what I had, wasn't flavorful as I expected, nor bristling hot like it just came from the grill. Had to substitute my potato au gratin for mashed potatoes, as it was a poorly made and presented side. Not creamy/cheesy at all. Wife's red snapper was not tasty. Ruth's Chris steaks are more what I expected as far as heat/presentation and flavor. The 8 Oz filet was higher than any filet on Ruth's menu. Oh...and be prepared for an AUTOMATIC 20% tip being added

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 2

Service: 5

This was my second time coming to Cured. A girlfriend & I decided to come back because we had these envelopes from a month prior stating to return with it unsealed. It ended up being a free cocktail for the both of us which was nice! The only thing that was not very pleasant was the way we both felt after eating there. We came on Saturday 1/18 early afternoon & both ordered the Smoked Salmon Flatbread. I came after my girlfriend so she was eating hers first and when I tried hers, I got the same because it tasted pretty good. Unfortunately, we both experienced similar symptoms of (I’m sure you can imagine) whether it was coming from one end or both ends. Lasting up until about this morning actually (starting that evening). I eat poke, raw tuna/oysters, salmon and sushi quite often, as does she, and I never have any bowel movement issues or projectile vomiting. I found it a bit odd that once I ordered my Flatbread, it took quite some time to come out, although my friend was eating hers after 10-15 minutes of being at the restaurant. I hope the salmon wasn’t left out prior to, causing both of our physical discomfort for the past 2 days. We didn’t order anything else aside from a couple of cocktails and a very small pastry puff dessert to split.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 3

Nice atmosphere

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Avocado Salad

Employees were very helpful and friendly.I went on a Friday and the 18&21 area had live jazz music.
The drinks were very good.
The vibe was smooth.
The presentation of the plates were very fancy.
The taste of the food was not in accordance with the price. A New York steak was $58 and the flavor was like an Outback steak. For that price I was expecting more like a Ruth’s Chris flavor. For the price we pay I prefer a more quality flavor place. I would not repeat the spot.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 5

The only reason I gave this restaurant 4 stars is that we only had appetizers. We were there for a party. I will definitely give it another try!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

i tried Cured, and the restaurant is cozy with a huge bar. The braised short rib empanadas were tasty! The meat was flavorful and the empanadas were flaky. I tried the blackened salmon Caesar wrap, and it was just ok. There wasn’t a ton of salmon and the salmon was overly salty. The service was slow, they were not very attentive.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 3

Good atmosphere and service at this location. The options are a bit limited but the food is tasty and the cocktails are delicious. We ordered a variety of dishes and left happy. Only comment is that the food feels very heavy but other than that, this place is a good alternative to the traditional spots in Columbia.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Brussels Sprouts

Menu includes an odd combination of dishes; some items were great and others not so much. The service and atmosphere are exceptional so it’s worth a try. I suggest trying multiple menu options to explore the selection available.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Catfish Fingers, Philly Cheese Steak Eggroll, Avocado Salad

Cozy and romantic atmosphere. The jazz pianist was a nice touch. Excellent, attentive service.

Been there twice now. The food was good both times- just not over-the-top great in my view. We’ve tried appetizers (tacos- well seasoned) and Brussel sprouts (too saucy, not crispy or charred). And salads ( crisp with good flavor).

Have ordered the short ribs (fatty, small portions, not nearly as delish as Blackwell Barn and Lodge), diver scallops (nicely prepared) rockfish special (pretty meh), and rack of lamb (not meaty, tough, although perfectly seasoned).

Liked the vibe and enjoyed the great service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Yesterday was my first time at this restaurant. The food was so good and the server was attentive. I knocked off a star due to a portion of my red snapper being undercooked and at that point I immediately stooped eating it and called the server over. The server took care of me and ordered a replacement. Management, please make sure all food is cooked appropriately. Someone could get very sick. This is crucial!

20% gratuity added to all checks

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 3

We frequent 18th & 21st and are never disappointed. Most recently we celebrated my wife’s birthday with friends. The service is always great, especially Shelly who is an outstanding server! She always makes our experiences special. The food is always very good and the music and atmosphere keeps us coming back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5