Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 2/3/09 Section: Arts & Society

Media Credit: Photos Courtesy of MCT Campus A steak from the famous chain, Ruth's Chris is pictured above. The atmosphere of the restaurant was just as appealing as the items on the Restaurant Week menu including lobster bisque, petit filet, and chocolate "sin" cake.

Baltimore restaurants participated in "Restaurant Week" this past week. For $30 ($20 for lunch at participating venues), a customer can select an appetizer, entrée and dessert from a limited menu.

This presents an opportunity to eat at pricier restaurants for a reasonable expense. Select spots have extended this offer until Sunday, Feb. 8. You can peruse menus online at baltimorerestaurantweek.com. Dinner reservations are advisable.

A penchant for Cuban food led me to Babalu Grill, located at 32 Market Place Road-close to the Inner Harbor Collegetown Shuttle stop and only an $8 cab ride to Fells Point. Making our way to the entrance was the only challenge at Babalu Grill.
Its placement next to Power Plant Live! necessitates that you maneuver through a series of checkpoints, manned by over-eager security guards (leave your ID in your wallet).

Babalu Grill occupies a large, warehouse-size space. Seating spreads a few levels, divided by stairs. Lighting was quite dim, but red-frosted votive candles created a nice ambiance.

One of the finer experiences at Babalu Grill is the bathroom service. The attendants in the restroom provide anything from hairspray to gum to deodorant.
The music tended toward the mainstream-Britney Spears graced the speakers at one point; I would have appreciated something more authentic, but perhaps the Spanish-speaking busboys and servers offset the pop music.

Once inside, we were seated immediately and served quickly. Our waiter, though attentive, made some mix-ups, serving raspberry instead of papaya sorbet and shredded flank steak instead of Palomilla steak.

My party ordered Caesar salads, chicken tortilla soup, and spring rolls for appetizers. (I intended to order the ceviche, but the restaurant was currently out-evidence of its popularity and/or Babalu Grill's unpreparedness.)
The Caesar salad was fairly standard: a heart of Romaine lettuce, intact, drizzled with some Latin variation of Caesar dressing, served with fried plantain chips-an odd choice of accompaniment that seemed like an afterthought.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools