Arianna made my families dining experience amazing I would recommend Michael’s cafe to anyone who is looking for amazing food and service.
Joseph Stefanski
I took a party of eight (with out of town relatives) to celebrate a family event. I chose the cafe because I thought is would be a step up in service and food. It was not.
The service was indifferent. Our server, Sean or Shawn, was not attentive, forgot things and brought an adult meal to a 5 year old. The service from the kitchen was poor. Soup was sent back for heating and an appetizer was returned for also not being warm.
I chose Michael's over the host of other resaturants in the Timonium area for a special meal. Michael's did not make it special
Tracy
The food was very good, as always. The small room we were in was extremely loud and it was hard to have a conversation. The real problem was with the server. We asked twice for water glasses to be re-filled and one drink order was never received
Maddi
We just had the most wonderful dinner tonight at Michael's cafe. Our server Mark R was so engaging and had the best recommendations. So much so we ordered the special dry aged ribeye served with shrimp scampi prepared by Santos the chef. The chef even introduced himself and checked to see how the meal was. It was one of the best dishes and experiences my boyfriend and I have had in awhile. We are big foodies and try a lot of restaurants but the service and food was unmatched tonight.
Sharon
Service was excellent. We were the first couple in a private room that was freezing. We complained and our waiter Justin turned the air off which resolved the problem. Hubby had the lamb chop special and said they were really good. I was disappointed with my seafood club because I couldn't find the crabcake on it. Must remember not to get that again. I did enjoy my arugula salad.
Kathryn
Michael's Cafe is a wonderful neighborhood staple. Food, Service & atmosphere is always great! No matter what the occasion is you will always be satisfied.
Veronica DiMatteo
We went during a Mother's Day brunch buffet so this is based on the buffet and experience and not the typical restaurant ordering experience.
There was a pretty large selection of food here. Meat for carving, egg bites, bacon, fruit, seafood; cured salmon, oyster halves, shrimps, a large selection of desserts to choose from. There are a couple of things I would be more conscious of next time. -The icecream bar could have been cleaned more frequently, like the water the scoops were kept in, and the lids didn't quite fit on the containers that the icecream and the toppings were in so they ended up being exposed and the ice cream melting. Also it was quite low, on a table, so anyones faces could be over it. -The oysters needed to be de-sanded/soaked in water to de-sand a bit better. -The fruit bar could've used different utensils or the grapes could have been separated differently, like in bunches. Otherwise, using a pair of tongs to pick up one grape at a time wasn't very efficient.
Despite that, the food was incredibly good and ample in proportion like the prime rib or any cut from the hot meat table. The coffee was also good, thankfully one of those restaurants that serves generic restaurant coffee that isn't actually that bad.
Service was good. I think there were just a couple of opportunities where we could have been checked on a bit more, however. Maybe it's just because it was busy.
I would recommend trying this place.
Chari
Food was great and our server was wonderful. The issue I had was with the bar. We placed our order for 4 alcoholic beverages and it took 30 minutes to get our drink order. Our waiter was wonderful and kept updating us but apparently there was an issue with the bartenders. Should never have to wait that long for drinks.
Patty
As always, Michael's never disappoints. They led me to my favorite table. Service was friendly & efficient. Food was excellent,
chris nico
Restaurants usually lose their flare after being in business for so many years, but it seems like Michael’s Café just keeps getting better. The food here is top-notch, with great flavors and quality. The atmosphere feels warm and welcoming, perfect for a relaxing meal.
I can only say this place just keeps going downhill. We decided to try to order from there again after a repeated history of order error, only to find out that the kitchen just can't get it right or doesn't care. We had to return the food two times to get it right in the past and this time we just got our money back! Ugh. Go to the one in White Marsh! Much better kitchen staff. The only thing nice I can say is that the front desk people have always been polite--I feel sorry for them that the kitchen has so many problems.
Carol
We enjoyed our dinner last evening. Our dinners were very good and our server, Mary, was excellent. She was professional, courteous, and attentive.
Mary Mistler
We celebrated our wedding anniversary at Michael’s last month, and it was a wonderful experience! Our server Mary was so attentive even though she was quite busy. Mary has been our server on multiple occasions, and each time she has been fantastic! Our food was excellent!! My husband got the Filet mignon and I had the Rockfish Nicholas. Both dishes were delicious! The Crème Brûlée for dessert was heavenly! Michael’s continues to be a favorite place for special occasions!
Morgan M
As we entered the restaurant, we were immediately met with what appeared to be discriminatory treatment based on our skin color. The two young women at the front, one with light brown hair and the other wearing a blonde wig and black glasses, looked at me and my nieces as though we didn’t belong. One of them informed us that there were no available tables except those behind the bar, in an area that was noticeably unkempt. The tables there were dirty, wobbly, and sectioned off from the main dining area, far from the restaurant’s more inviting and polished spaces.
I mentioned to the waiter that the table was unstable and pointed out the visible food under the table. He appeared indifferent and offered no assistance. This was my third visit to the restaurant, and I had looked forward to surprising my nieces with a special dinner at a place I had come to really enjoy.
I asked two other staff members if we could be seated elsewhere, but both declined, stating that the other available tables were reserved. However, during the nearly two hours we were there, only one group was seated at those reserved tables. Meanwhile, several white guests, many of whom did not appear to have reservations, were seated promptly in the main dining room and the outdoor seating area.
Throughout our visit, our drinks and food nearly fell several times due to the instability of the table. It was also hard to ignore a troubling pattern. Nearly every Black patron who entered was seated in areas that were less visible or tucked away. One Black man came in with a white family member and they were seated in a better section. Another Black family was seated in the main dining area, but it felt as though the staff were making a conscious effort to limit the number of people of color in that space.
One staff member, a woman who appeared to be Latina and spoke with a strong Spanish accent, was incredibly kind to us. Her service stood out and made a big difference in our experience. My nieces, who are nine and ten, were disheartened by how we were treated, but her warmth and professionalism offered a much-needed moment of comfort.
I should’ve checked the reviews before visiting, because I now see that this kind of treatment toward Black patrons is unfortunately common at this location.
I don’t believe this experience reflects the owner or general manager personally. At least I hope it does not. On my first visit, the owner came out to greet me and my coworker and her family (who were all White) after a State Police award ceremony. He was gracious, welcoming, and genuinely attentive to our needs.
This recent experience, however, was deeply disappointing. I had grown to love this restaurant and had recommended it to many friends and colleagues. To be treated this way, especially in front of my young nieces, was heartbreaking.
Joe
We were a group of 4 and were waited on by one of the original servers. The service was attentive and responsive. The specials were very interesting, but overpriced at $50 and up. The alcohol selection was extensive and prices were similar to those in a bar. Two of us ordered the Lobster and Fried Zucchini, which we highly recommend as both delicious and unique. The flavors ranged from savory to sweet and struck a good balance. The others ordered the crab cake and french onion soup and the shrimp sandwich. Everyone was pleased with both quality and quantity. Dessert was a generous portion of creme brulee. Although the experience was pleasant, the cost was high. Dinner for 4 with a total of 5 beers and 1 wine, came to $230. After tip it was $280. While enjoyable, $70 per person for dinner at Michael's seems excessive, especially when there were no pricy drinks or bottles of wine.
Arianna made my families dining experience amazing I would recommend Michael’s cafe to anyone who is looking for amazing food and service.
I took a party of eight (with out of town relatives) to celebrate a family event. I chose the cafe because I thought is would be a step up in service and food.
It was not.
The service was indifferent. Our server, Sean or Shawn, was not attentive, forgot things and brought an adult meal to a 5 year old.
The service from the kitchen was poor. Soup was sent back for heating and an appetizer was returned for also not being warm.
I chose Michael's over the host of other resaturants in the Timonium area for a special meal. Michael's did not make it special
The food was very good, as always. The small room we were in was extremely loud and it was hard to have a conversation. The real problem was with the server. We asked twice for water glasses to be re-filled and one drink order was never received
We just had the most wonderful dinner tonight at Michael's cafe. Our server Mark R was so engaging and had the best recommendations. So much so we ordered the special dry aged ribeye served with shrimp scampi prepared by Santos the chef. The chef even introduced himself and checked to see how the meal was. It was one of the best dishes and experiences my boyfriend and I have had in awhile. We are big foodies and try a lot of restaurants but the service and food was unmatched tonight.
Service was excellent. We were the first couple in a private room that was freezing. We complained and our waiter Justin turned the air off which resolved the problem. Hubby had the lamb chop special and said they were really good. I was disappointed with my seafood club because I couldn't find the crabcake on it. Must remember not to get that again. I did enjoy my arugula salad.
Michael's Cafe is a wonderful neighborhood staple. Food, Service & atmosphere is always great! No matter what the occasion is you will always be satisfied.
We went during a Mother's Day brunch buffet so this is based on the buffet and experience and not the typical restaurant ordering experience.
There was a pretty large selection of food here. Meat for carving, egg bites, bacon, fruit, seafood; cured salmon, oyster halves, shrimps, a large selection of desserts to choose from. There are a couple of things I would be more conscious of next time.
-The icecream bar could have been cleaned more frequently, like the water the scoops were kept in, and the lids didn't quite fit on the containers that the icecream and the toppings were in so they ended up being exposed and the ice cream melting. Also it was quite low, on a table, so anyones faces could be over it.
-The oysters needed to be de-sanded/soaked in water to de-sand a bit better.
-The fruit bar could've used different utensils or the grapes could have been separated differently, like in bunches. Otherwise, using a pair of tongs to pick up one grape at a time wasn't very efficient.
Despite that, the food was incredibly good and ample in proportion like the prime rib or any cut from the hot meat table.
The coffee was also good, thankfully one of those restaurants that serves generic restaurant coffee that isn't actually that bad.
Service was good. I think there were just a couple of opportunities where we could have been checked on a bit more, however. Maybe it's just because it was busy.
I would recommend trying this place.
Food was great and our server was wonderful. The issue I had was with the bar. We placed our order for 4 alcoholic beverages and it took 30 minutes to get our drink order. Our waiter was wonderful and kept updating us but apparently there was an issue with the bartenders. Should never have to wait that long for drinks.
As always, Michael's never disappoints. They led me to my favorite table. Service was friendly & efficient. Food was excellent,
Restaurants usually lose their flare after being in business for so many years, but it seems like Michael’s Café just keeps getting better.
The food here is top-notch, with great flavors and quality. The atmosphere feels warm and welcoming, perfect for a relaxing meal.
Restaurantji Recommends
I can only say this place just keeps going downhill. We decided to try to order from there again after a repeated history of order error, only to find out that the kitchen just can't get it right or doesn't care. We had to return the food two times to get it right in the past and this time we just got our money back! Ugh. Go to the one in White Marsh! Much better kitchen staff. The only thing nice I can say is that the front desk people have always been polite--I feel sorry for them that the kitchen has so many problems.
We enjoyed our dinner last evening. Our dinners were very good and our server, Mary, was excellent. She was professional, courteous, and attentive.
We celebrated our wedding anniversary at Michael’s last month, and it was a wonderful experience! Our server Mary was so attentive even though she was quite busy. Mary has been our server on multiple occasions, and each time she has been fantastic!
Our food was excellent!! My husband got the Filet mignon and I had the Rockfish Nicholas. Both dishes were delicious! The Crème Brûlée for dessert was heavenly! Michael’s continues to be a favorite place for special occasions!
As we entered the restaurant, we were immediately met with what appeared to be discriminatory treatment based on our skin color. The two young women at the front, one with light brown hair and the other wearing a blonde wig and black glasses, looked at me and my nieces as though we didn’t belong. One of them informed us that there were no available tables except those behind the bar, in an area that was noticeably unkempt. The tables there were dirty, wobbly, and sectioned off from the main dining area, far from the restaurant’s more inviting and polished spaces.
I mentioned to the waiter that the table was unstable and pointed out the visible food under the table. He appeared indifferent and offered no assistance. This was my third visit to the restaurant, and I had looked forward to surprising my nieces with a special dinner at a place I had come to really enjoy.
I asked two other staff members if we could be seated elsewhere, but both declined, stating that the other available tables were reserved. However, during the nearly two hours we were there, only one group was seated at those reserved tables. Meanwhile, several white guests, many of whom did not appear to have reservations, were seated promptly in the main dining room and the outdoor seating area.
Throughout our visit, our drinks and food nearly fell several times due to the instability of the table. It was also hard to ignore a troubling pattern. Nearly every Black patron who entered was seated in areas that were less visible or tucked away. One Black man came in with a white family member and they were seated in a better section. Another Black family was seated in the main dining area, but it felt as though the staff were making a conscious effort to limit the number of people of color in that space.
One staff member, a woman who appeared to be Latina and spoke with a strong Spanish accent, was incredibly kind to us. Her service stood out and made a big difference in our experience. My nieces, who are nine and ten, were disheartened by how we were treated, but her warmth and professionalism offered a much-needed moment of comfort.
I should’ve checked the reviews before visiting, because I now see that this kind of treatment toward Black patrons is unfortunately common at this location.
I don’t believe this experience reflects the owner or general manager personally. At least I hope it does not. On my first visit, the owner came out to greet me and my coworker and her family (who were all White) after a State Police award ceremony. He was gracious, welcoming, and genuinely attentive to our needs.
This recent experience, however, was deeply disappointing. I had grown to love this restaurant and had recommended it to many friends and colleagues. To be treated this way, especially in front of my young nieces, was heartbreaking.
We were a group of 4 and were waited on by one of the original servers. The service was attentive and responsive. The specials were very interesting, but overpriced at $50 and up. The alcohol selection was extensive and prices were similar to those in a bar. Two of us ordered the Lobster and Fried Zucchini, which we highly recommend as both delicious and unique. The flavors ranged from savory to sweet and struck a good balance. The others ordered the crab cake and french onion soup and the shrimp sandwich. Everyone was pleased with both quality and quantity. Dessert was a generous portion of creme brulee. Although the experience was pleasant, the cost was high. Dinner for 4 with a total of 5 beers and 1 wine, came to $230. After tip it was $280. While enjoyable, $70 per person for dinner at Michael's seems excessive, especially when there were no pricy drinks or bottles of wine.
Loading...