In one corner is Thirsty Dog Pub, which offers the best non-Resurrection beers in Baltimore for the price of 2/$3, and great pizzas and salads for under ten bucks. Unfortunately, it's down in Federal Hill, which besides being a bit too frat boy for me with poor parking, is just plain far. A $12 cab ride turns into a $20 cab ride just by going to the other side of the water.
In another corner is a new place, as yet undecided, which also offers good beer and drink and food at a good price, and can also accomondate a group of 15 or so people.
I thought Arcos, the Latin restaurant/bar at Broadway and Pratt, might be the place. I've never been there, but I stopped by on the way home from the restaurant today to check it out. Seems like it could work. However, they seem to only have three beers on tap and I haven't been in the mood for margaritas since that crazy night out at Gecko's a month and a half ago. Plus, the menu just looks a little bit iffy, and not very vegetarian friendly. Normally I wouldn't care and don't even mention it, but it is my birthday.
Later, I thought about Kiss Cafe, so we could sit outside, but they don't have beers on tap.
I'm considering DuClaw, but, eh, the food was just sort of standard bar fare, nothing special, and beer prices are a little expensive because it's right on Thames. Great outside atmosphere, though, and it might be nice and uncrowded on a Tuesday.
I'd like to consider places in Midtown, like Midtown Yacht Club, but that place isn't grabbing me right now (especially since the guy I used to frequent the place frequently with, Ryan, is out of town) and it's so dark and dingy.
Hmmmm. What a quandary. Suggestions welcome. What great place in Baltimore am I missing?
A few rules:
1. It must be able to accomondate 15 or so people.
2. I'm not into crabs. I could write a whole post about how they're way too much work for what you get, and all the carcasses left on the table are nasty, but I won't. Plus, I just had to go out for crabs on Thursday - luckily I ate beforehand.
3. The more central for north Baltimore, the better.
4. I'd love somwhere where I could sit outside.
5. Need cheap. I still haven't had a paycheck in two months.
Maybe Thirsty Dog is what I should do. I happen to remember two years ago, on my birthday, it was closed for some reason, so I've never actually spent a birthday there. But it's so expected coming from me. I don't like to be predictable, and I like new places.
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I'm a nice guy, so allow me to chime in with a few notes.
- Prices for beers at Thirsty Dog--whose quality I must disagree with you about--have increased to $3.50. I noticed that on a brief visit there the other evening, and I even heard the staff telling someone else about it. Secondly, the parking thing can be made slightly easier if you are not going there during the Thursday-Saturday period. During the week, it is understandably a bit calmer. Your event is a Tuesday, so it should be easy for you.
- DuClaw--the beer is not bad, but the food leaves something to be desired in my opinion. You're indeed paying for beer and location.
- Midtown Yacht Club: Not bad, and a decent beer selection. Not quite as dingy as you might think.
- Outside Bars: This appears to be a big problem in Baltimore. We just don't have them like LA, Boston, and New York. It's disappointing, especially given this recent spate of beautiful weather.
I don't have much in the way of suggestions, as I am looking for a good pub to replace my old beer geek heaven. You have also hit upon the other difficulty: being somewhat cheap. I seem to remember Daugherty's as having a decent beer selection and being quite roomy with decent food.
And you want vegetarian-friendly too? Geez, you are worse than some of the women I know.
Jason,
I can't believe that the beer price has increased at Thirsty Dog. That's a bummer. Still a pretty good deal, though. I've often wondered how they could get away that price (as well as the prices for some of their food).
As for the vegetarian friendly thing, it's only because it's my birthday and nothing with fish or no dead animals jumped out at me on that particular menu as being something I really wanted to eat.
As for the outside seating, it definitely is an issue. I seem to remember some spats between zoning ordinances and places wanting to offer outside seating. Maybe that needs to change in order for more outside bars to come.
Frazier's on the Avenue, Mt. Washington Tavern, Dizzy Izzie's, McCabe's, Alonso's (though 15 would be hard there), Hon Bar, One World on Univ. Pkwy... but Midtown is still my favorite.
Want to see how picky I am?
Frasiers: Too smoky
Mt. Washington Tavern: Too shi-shi
Dizzy Issie's: Way too smoky
McCabe's: Never heard of it
Alonso's: Is that the place by Video Americain?
Hon Bar: Isn't that a diner?
One World: Great place to eat, not a great place to go drinking
Midtown: Yeah, it's great.
However, I think I've settled on Joe Squared.
Thanks for your help!
I've been thinking about your outside seating criterion, and the only place I can think of so far in Grand Central.
If you're into that, that is...
holy frijoles? the zodiac?
i haven't been into joe squared but have had their pizza and it is indeed otherworldly.
happy birthday, wherever you may end up!
Sounds like you have decided, but if you are open to Boston St. (I consider this the dead zone between Canton Square and Fells), you should check out Bartenders.
http://www.bartendersbaltimore.com/
It got a write up in Best of Balt. for its wine selection, which I look for in a place, while still being a bar, which my guy likes. The bartenders were great - there wouldn't be space for you downstairs, but they have an upstairs that it seems like they let people use (didn't seem like the kind of place you had to pay just for the space).
And the menu is mostly pizzas - not as many as Thirsty Dog, but a good selection. Finally, they seemed to have pretty good specials...
No outside seating, but if you are looking for this, I would strongly recommend the back deck at One Eyed Mike's (Fells). http://www.oneeyedmikes.com/AboutUs.aspx
You have to piece together veggie here (I am no meat/no fish), but there are some great appys and always amazing dessert.
Dougherty's in Mt Vernon has a huge beer selection, and is cheap, and can definitely accomodate 15 people. Holy Frioles in Hampden is good, and there is a bar section of Cafe Hon. DuClaw has a prtty good happy hour rate on their beers if you're there before 7. Mick O'Sheas? Sashas? (Both in Mt Vernon). Dionysis is kind of dark but brighter than Brewers Art, and their food is tasty. Man, if there's one thing Baltimore is not short on it's bars.
Alonso's is right next to Loco Hombre on Cold Spring, across from Video Americain. Completely non-smoking. Hon Bar is smoky.
McCabe's is on Falls Road, across from the McDonalds.
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