A Meat Lover's Paradise

Last night I took a trip to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to check out a Brazilian restaurant called Fogo de Chao. After much hype and the huge build up from a few friends, I wanted to check it out myself. Now I must say, once I walked into the restaurant, sat down, and immediately tried some of their fresh cooked meats, I was truly blown away.

Fogo de Chao is a Brazilian restaurant that is in all you can eat format. The unique thing about it however, is that instead of you personally going out to a food station to grab your meal, servers come to you with skewers of fresh meat and cut some on a plate for you. A nice touch to this dining experience is that the servers actually have varying meat preparations. What I mean by this is that if you prefer you beef medium rare, the servers will personally go into the kitchen and bring you your meat cooked medium rare. This was very helpful, mostly because I prefer my meat medium well. Fogo de Chao also features a very impressive salad bar. With a vast selection of fresh vegetables and foreign cheeses, the salad bar will provide you with a nice alternative to the typical carnivorous fare. Overall, this restaurant resembles a five star restaurant in terms of food and service, but the fact that it’s a little more chaotic and noisy than you would expect from a fine dining establish, the restaurant seems more like an non-intimate upscale buffet.

 

 My overall experience at Fogo de Chao was very nice. The servers were attentive and the quantity and variety of meat that they brought out to you was very extensive. My personal favorite was the sausage and the filet mignon wrapped in bacon. In all honestly, almost every meat (except this pepper steak) that they brought to me was delicious.  So if you’re looking for an unlimited amount of delicious meats, fresh vegetables, foreign cheeses, and Brazilian drinks, all in a very casual yet somehow still affluent settomg, Fogo de Chao is your restaurant of choice.

College Kid Budget: $$$

Baltimore Vacations

One of the Best Chili Dogs Around

Ben’s Chili Bowl is just one of those places that I knew I would love from the moment I walked in. Appearance-wise, this restaurant isn’t too attractive. But that doesn’t matter because the amazing hotdogs and chili is the real show. The moment you walk in, you are greeted by hot, fresh, grilled “dogs” and an always packed line filled with hungry customers. You then quickly make your order without even glancing at the menu for 15 seconds. I decided to try their famous chili dog and some chili cheese fries. And I must say that I do not regret my choice one bit because it was so delicious. It was honestly the best hot dog I’ve ever had. The chili truly is what made the hotdog great. The cheese fries were just as good, primarily because it had chili on it accompanied by warm cheese sauce, and an abundance of french fries.  And the best thing about it was that this meal cost me about $7. Well worth it if you ask me. My only complaint with Ben’s is the workers. They seem to be in a huge hurry, virtually making good customer service non-existent. But other than that, this is a fantastic place to grab a delicious lunch, dinner or snack. With the close proximity to the Washington metro stop and the University of Maryland, I will definitely make as many attempts as possible to swing by Ben’s and get one of their famous chili dogs.

College Kid Budget: $

Baltimore Vacations

A Surprisingly Good Breakfast

I must say that I enjoyed a surprisingly good meal from Bob Evans this morning with my family. My previous visits to Bob’s have left me with ambivalent feelings towards my experience at Bob’s. It’s normally a hit or miss with my breakfast meal. However, today was actually a very good day. I ordered my typical Farmer’s Market breakfast with hotcakes, sausage links, scrambled eggs, and hash browns and downed it with some orange juice. The service was quick, the waiter was attentive, and the food was hot, fresh, plentiful, and delicious. Experiences like this truly make me enjoy Bob Evan’s very much. I will be returning to Bob’s in the future, hungry for more.

College Kid Budget: $$

Baltimore Vacations

A Taste of the Hawaiian Islands in Baltimore

Roy’s is one of Baltimore’s best hidden secrets. From the intimate and dim setting, to the excellent service and fresh menu, the Hawaiian themed restaurant never seems to disappoint.   I’ve personally made Roy’s my location of choice whenever celebrating my birthday. Not because of the very nice location, or the great service, or the delectable entrées, but primarily for their signature dessert. Let me tell you that this dessert is like something I have yet to experience elsewhere. Roy’s special dessert is a pineapple upside cake, baked to order, with coconut ice cream, fresh strawberries, and a palm tree shaped cookie. I love it!

The food at Roy’s is the highlight of this restaurant. The menu features a unique cuisine based on a Hawaiian and Asian fusion of food’s to recreate island favorites enjoyed by many. The glazed ribs are probably the most popular item at ribs, and I see how. Tender, fall off the bone ribs, accompanied by jasmine rice, is a fantastic combination for the meat lovers. Now whenever I go to Roy’s I choose not to get an entrée but instead get the canoe appetizer which features szechuan pork ribs, blackened ahi, sesame shrimp, spicy tempura tuna roll and lobster pot stickers. With so much variety to choose from, I just can’t not get this meal whenever I go to Roy’s.  Other menu highlights include, fresh sushi, Hawaiian fish, surf and turf meals, and fantastic meat entrées with an Asian inspired flare.

The overall atmosphere of Roy’s is very dim, highlighted by warm yellows and bamboo accents, all accompanied by subtle island music. There are two sections to sit at- the kitchen room and the dining room. If you are looking for a nice, quiet meal, then I recommend that you sit in the dining room. However, if you’re looking to emerged in all the action of an open kitchen, then I recommend that you sit in the kitchen are. Either way, you will have a great time.

Roy’s is a very nice restaurant, despite the premium prices, that allows guest to experience a little bit of the Hawaiian islands, all in the convenient location outside Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

College Kid Budget: $$$

Baltimore Vacations

One of the Inner Harbor's Best Steakhouses

Capital Grille is arguably one of the best restaurants in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. From the excellent service to the delicious gourmet meals, dining at the Capital Grille is an excellent way to relax in a comfortable and intimate dark setting while also enjoying a perfectly prepared steak. One of the best things about this restaurant is the service. The moment you walk in you are greeted by smiling hosts and your very professional waiter. You waiter for the evening is very personal as they make sure that all your needs are met. It honestly feels like this waiter is only serving you for the evening. That's how attentive the service is. Now in terms of food, their menu is a very simple one pager that features fresh seafood, signature steaks, an extensive wine list, and delicious side menu items. My suggestion is to get the dry rubbed Delmonico steak with aged vinegar accompanied by a side of creamy lobster mac and cheese. This is my personal favorite and it never seems to disappoint. Overall, if you are looking for delicious steak, excellent service, and a very intimate atmosphere in the heart of the Inner Harbor, Capital Grille is your best restaurant of choice.

College Kid Budget: $$$$