I wish I was a fan of Motorkats, and not sure why the restaurant receives such great reviews. The food is just okay. Both times I’ve eaten here I found the food that is cooked on the grill or in the oven charred and the presence of gas strong. The drinks are just so so. Husband thought his bloody Mary had too much worcheshire sauce in it. I had the quiche and side salad. It was a bit bland and was served cool and not hot like I’m use to. Days like today, I really miss Republic.
Darcey Dinh
Food is excellent, service is hit or miss.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Scottie Chapman
Four of us decided to try Motorkat tonight. We ordered the pork belly and sunchokes because they seemed to be really popular based on reviews, the seafood stew, the short rib pasta, and another pasta dish that was kind of like a pasta primavera. The sun chokes were the best item of what we ordered. If give them a full 5 stars... Definitely worth trying! The next best thing was the seafood stew, which is based on Thai flavors. I'd give it 4 stars. It has a nice assortment of seafood, but could have used a little less salt and more curry flavor. The short rib pasta was also decent and flavorful. The pork belly was very disappointing to all of us. It tasted like a ham steak covered in ketchup. We didn't even finish it. And the other pasta dish was very bland.We did have the Paloma cocktails, and they were good. Service was good, too.The atmosphere is average. They do have a nice patio, but it was too cold to sit outside. It would be nice in the summertime, though.I wish I had ordered the curry fried chicken, and I might give this place another try someday for that reason, but we really were expecting more based on the ratings and reviews here.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Roasted Sunchokes
Erica V
This place is a gem.. def lives up to neighborhood bar vibes.. it feels like family, every time.. the food hasn't missed and drinks do what needs to be done.. I recommend the oysters, ceviche, cubano, and banoffee.. I have to try more things but im sure it won't disappoint
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Robert Geils
Great drinks great food great vibes !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken
Claire Liu
Cute place with some amazing brunch food, particularly the French toast! Our server was very kind and attentive too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mia Michele J.
Motorkat is a Cheers kinda place. The bar staff is approachable and relaxed but certainly skilled. The Happy Hour Menu is perfect - wings & fries are my fave - but that Motorkat Dog is decadent. Grab a drink. Chat with the folks.
Jennifer B.
Stopped in for brunch on a Sunday after the market. Lots of the community in having a great time in a comfortable atmosphere.
Kevin A.
Helmand doesn't need my review to remain at the top of the list in Baltimore. Great as ever. I hope it's here 40 more years!
Maria Y.
My daughter and I had a great time!! Our new favorite place, we can't wait to go back!
I've been here three times. The first time I came with a friend and had drinks and a light dinner. The restaurant had just recently opened and despite some hiccups with slow service and some very fatty short ribs I vowed to give it another try since they were probably still working out kinks. The second time I came with a group of women and just had a drink. That turned out to be my most positive experience as both the service and my drink were good. The final visit was several months later. I took my husband there and it was like we were ghosts and no one could see us. We were seated among several tables that were steadily being attended to yet we hadn't gotten water or a server. After about 15 minutes we flagged someone down who told us our server would be with us shortly. After another 5 minutes we got water and had to wait again to order. When we finally ordered we had to wait for what seemed an unusually long time (probably 20-25 minutes which wouldn't have seemed long if we hadn't been waiting for almost a half hour before that). And when the food finally came out their fried chicken dish tasted like it had too much salt. I really wanted to love this place in the neighborhood but after three tries it's a no for me.
Sara W.
Fantastic find! We shared the burrata, which was very good. My husband had oysters, which he loves and eats frequently. These were fresh and just the right amount of briny. I had the seafood chowder - tasty and spicy without too much heat to enjoy. Sizeable portion - I brought half home. We shared a creme brûlée- terrific. But what set this place apart was the service - attentive, incredibly polite and highly competent, like the level of service you get at a Michelin starred restaurant. We were lucky to get a walk-in table at 5:30. I'd get a reservation. I can see why it's so busy - great place.
Davida W.
I am super-impressed with Motorkat. Their food is innovative, tongue surprising, beyond what the average home-cook would produce - in other words, worthy of dining out. While at the same time, unpretentious, born of the clever combination of a few quality ingredients, familiar dishes with a welcome twist, and done extraordinarily well. I have twice been thrilled by the Katfish and Chips, with its extraordinary sides of home made tartar sauce and pickled onion and red chili condiment. The brisket burger (sadly no longer on the happy hour menu) is one of the best burgers around. The vegetarian dishes - I have tried the Japanese eggplant and the Autumn salad - are pleasing. Another standout is the burrata, served with show-stopping toasted garlic bread (how do they elevate it so??!!) and sweet and sour cherry tomatoes. There have been some disappointments too: the pressed sandwiches that now appear on the happy hour menu - we sampled all of them - will not be ordered again. And the oysters, supposedly a specialty of the house, were over-chilled and not too tasty. Any chance of reviving the divine oyster sliders from the Republic days? Desserts are not a high point. But eat your way around the menu, and you are guaranteed to find a dish to die for. Prices are reasonable given the quality: not cheap eats, but not budget-blowing either. High marks for service and ambience too. All in all, a place I have been returning to. Reservations recommended.
Evan Price
Went for Valentine’s Day. They had amazing service, friendly staff and the food and cocktails/mocktails were really good. They have above and beyond vegetarian options(not just substitutes, menu items that were thought out to be vegetarian) as well as extremely good seafood and steak.I really like this place. I’ve gone 3 or 4 times and ordered many different things and everything has been amazing. The happy hour oyster deal is incredible too. this is a really good restaurant and worth a visit when you're in takoma park.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Raw Oysters, Dry Aged Burger with Bacon, Steak, Pumpkin Risotto
I wish I was a fan of Motorkats, and not sure why the restaurant receives such great reviews. The food is just okay. Both times I’ve eaten here I found the food that is cooked on the grill or in the oven charred and the presence of gas strong. The drinks are just so so. Husband thought his bloody Mary had too much worcheshire sauce in it. I had the quiche and side salad. It was a bit bland and was served cool and not hot like I’m use to. Days like today, I really miss Republic.
Food is excellent, service is hit or miss.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Four of us decided to try Motorkat tonight. We ordered the pork belly and sunchokes because they seemed to be really popular based on reviews, the seafood stew, the short rib pasta, and another pasta dish that was kind of like a pasta primavera. The sun chokes were the best item of what we ordered. If give them a full 5 stars... Definitely worth trying! The next best thing was the seafood stew, which is based on Thai flavors. I'd give it 4 stars. It has a nice assortment of seafood, but could have used a little less salt and more curry flavor. The short rib pasta was also decent and flavorful. The pork belly was very disappointing to all of us. It tasted like a ham steak covered in ketchup. We didn't even finish it. And the other pasta dish was very bland.We did have the Paloma cocktails, and they were good. Service was good, too.The atmosphere is average. They do have a nice patio, but it was too cold to sit outside. It would be nice in the summertime, though.I wish I had ordered the curry fried chicken, and I might give this place another try someday for that reason, but we really were expecting more based on the ratings and reviews here.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Roasted Sunchokes
This place is a gem.. def lives up to neighborhood bar vibes.. it feels like family, every time.. the food hasn't missed and drinks do what needs to be done.. I recommend the oysters, ceviche, cubano, and banoffee.. I have to try more things but im sure it won't disappoint
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great drinks great food great vibes !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken
Cute place with some amazing brunch food, particularly the French toast! Our server was very kind and attentive too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Motorkat is a Cheers kinda place. The bar staff is approachable and relaxed but certainly skilled. The Happy Hour Menu is perfect - wings & fries are my fave - but that Motorkat Dog is decadent. Grab a drink. Chat with the folks.
Stopped in for brunch on a Sunday after the market. Lots of the community in having a great time in a comfortable atmosphere.
Helmand doesn't need my review to remain at the top of the list in Baltimore. Great as ever. I hope it's here 40 more years!
My daughter and I had a great time!! Our new favorite place, we can't wait to go back!
Restaurantji Recommends
I've been here three times. The first time I came with a friend and had drinks and a light dinner. The restaurant had just recently opened and despite some hiccups with slow service and some very fatty short ribs I vowed to give it another try since they were probably still working out kinks. The second time I came with a group of women and just had a drink. That turned out to be my most positive experience as both the service and my drink were good. The final visit was several months later. I took my husband there and it was like we were ghosts and no one could see us. We were seated among several tables that were steadily being attended to yet we hadn't gotten water or a server. After about 15 minutes we flagged someone down who told us our server would be with us shortly. After another 5 minutes we got water and had to wait again to order. When we finally ordered we had to wait for what seemed an unusually long time (probably 20-25 minutes which wouldn't have seemed long if we hadn't been waiting for almost a half hour before that). And when the food finally came out their fried chicken dish tasted like it had too much salt. I really wanted to love this place in the neighborhood but after three tries it's a no for me.
Fantastic find! We shared the burrata, which was very good. My husband had oysters, which he loves and eats frequently. These were fresh and just the right amount of briny. I had the seafood chowder - tasty and spicy without too much heat to enjoy. Sizeable portion - I brought half home. We shared a creme brûlée- terrific. But what set this place apart was the service - attentive, incredibly polite and highly competent, like the level of service you get at a Michelin starred restaurant. We were lucky to get a walk-in table at 5:30. I'd get a reservation. I can see why it's so busy - great place.
I am super-impressed with Motorkat. Their food is innovative, tongue surprising, beyond what the average home-cook would produce - in other words, worthy of dining out. While at the same time, unpretentious, born of the clever combination of a few quality ingredients, familiar dishes with a welcome twist, and done extraordinarily well. I have twice been thrilled by the Katfish and Chips, with its extraordinary sides of home made tartar sauce and pickled onion and red chili condiment. The brisket burger (sadly no longer on the happy hour menu) is one of the best burgers around. The vegetarian dishes - I have tried the Japanese eggplant and the Autumn salad - are pleasing. Another standout is the burrata, served with show-stopping toasted garlic bread (how do they elevate it so??!!) and sweet and sour cherry tomatoes. There have been some disappointments too: the pressed sandwiches that now appear on the happy hour menu - we sampled all of them - will not be ordered again. And the oysters, supposedly a specialty of the house, were over-chilled and not too tasty. Any chance of reviving the divine oyster sliders from the Republic days? Desserts are not a high point. But eat your way around the menu, and you are guaranteed to find a dish to die for. Prices are reasonable given the quality: not cheap eats, but not budget-blowing either. High marks for service and ambience too. All in all, a place I have been returning to. Reservations recommended.
Went for Valentine’s Day. They had amazing service, friendly staff and the food and cocktails/mocktails were really good. They have above and beyond vegetarian options(not just substitutes, menu items that were thought out to be vegetarian) as well as extremely good seafood and steak.I really like this place. I’ve gone 3 or 4 times and ordered many different things and everything has been amazing. The happy hour oyster deal is incredible too. this is a really good restaurant and worth a visit when you're in takoma park.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Raw Oysters, Dry Aged Burger with Bacon, Steak, Pumpkin Risotto
Delicious food, lovely
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Banoffee Trifle