Diablita Executive Chef Russell Braitsch (Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock Taylor) |
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I was afraid when I reviewed Baltimore's Tsunami, a pan-Asian restaurant at 1300 Bank St., that it wasn't going to make it. And, indeed, it closed less than a year after it opened, "merging" with its sister restaurant, Lemongrass, next door. At the time, one of its Annapolis owners told me they were planning to have either an Australian pub or a Latino restaurant there eventually.
So I wasn't surprised to hear that Diablita, a Mexican restaurant, had finally opened in the space after almost a year.
What did surprise me, when I called to find out more, is that the owner of Red Star in Fells Point has taken over both restaurants. I spoke to the executive chef, Russell Braitsch, who has been connected to the now-closed Gardel's, Salt, Corks, Red Star and Noah's on the Side in Ellicott City. Not exactly the person you'd expect to be running the kitchen of a Mexican cantina.
"It's modeled after Red Star," says Braitsch. "Red Star is an upscale burger place; this is an upscale burrito place, with appetizers and entrees."
Braitsch says that the food isn't Tex-Mex, although the menu may sound that way; he's using authentic Mexican ingredients and techniques. Besides the expected burritos, fajitas and quesadillas, dinner entrees include dishes like braised lamb shank, red snapper and chicken mole. Prices for main courses range from $17 to $26.
The space has been renovated and looks something like the Red Star but with a Mexican twist, Braitsch says, that includes barnwood and sliding barn doors, hardwood floors and ranch chandeliers.
I asked about the plans for Lemongrass, the Thai restaurant next door. Braitsch says once Diablita gets settled in, the owners plan to redo Lemongrass' kitchen, rename the place, and probably turn it into a pan-Asian restaurant. This wouldn't happen until January at the earliest.
Diablita, which means "little devil woman," is open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for Sunday brunch, then open till 9 p.m.
FIT FOR A KING: Recently I've been hearing good things about a Middle Eastern restaurant in Hampden, King's Grilled Kabob at 907 W. 36th St., opened by the Egyptian owner of the pizza and sub place next door. Usually I don't do mini-reviews in this column, but I had carryout from the place, and I was impressed.
I would have eaten there if I had realized before I went that it was a sit-down place as well. It's cute as a button, and BYO. The food - classics such as falafel, grape leaves, babaganush, hummus and kebabs - is good and the prices are great. The most expensive dinner is a seafood kebab for $12.99.
Be warned: You have to like garlic; the cook does.
King's has an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $6.99 seven days a week.
The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
VEGAN VENTURE: Baltimore will be getting a new vegan cafe, Emily's Cafe & Desserts, set to open Sunday. It's in the Stone Mansion, built in the 1800s, at 4901 Springgarden Drive. The space is quaint, with a six-foot fireplace and a porch where the cafe will have outdoor seating in the spring.
Owner Emily Mainquist also has a company that supplies vegan desserts to Wegman's, Whole Foods, Roots Market, and the Health Concern, among others.
The cafe will serve hot breakfast and lunch, mostly sandwiches and salads. You can find the menu at EmilysDesserts.com.
COMING OR GOING?: The latest news about Dogwood in Hampden, which readers continue to ask me about, isn't good. Although the Web site says the socially conscious, fine-dining, farm-to-table restaurant still hopes to reopen, its Plates cafe in the Woman's Industrial Exchange abruptly closed last week - presumably for good.
Although I've left messages, as of this writing I haven't heard from Dogwood's owners for an update.
The Deals: $20 wine list of "old stock" bottles the restaurant is trying to burn through
$15 steak and martini night Tuesdays
$10 pasta night Wednesdays
$15 crab cake and cocktail night Thursdays
Call: 410-962-1212
So I wasn't surprised to hear that Diablita, a Mexican restaurant, had finally opened in the space after almost a year.
What did surprise me, when I called to find out more, is that the owner of Red Star in Fells Point has taken over both restaurants. I spoke to the executive chef, Russell Braitsch, who has been connected to the now-closed Gardel's, Salt, Corks, Red Star and Noah's on the Side in Ellicott City. Not exactly the person you'd expect to be running the kitchen of a Mexican cantina.
"It's modeled after Red Star," says Braitsch. "Red Star is an upscale burger place; this is an upscale burrito place, with appetizers and entrees."
Braitsch says that the food isn't Tex-Mex, although the menu may sound that way; he's using authentic Mexican ingredients and techniques. Besides the expected burritos, fajitas and quesadillas, dinner entrees include dishes like braised lamb shank, red snapper and chicken mole. Prices for main courses range from $17 to $26.
The space has been renovated and looks something like the Red Star but with a Mexican twist, Braitsch says, that includes barnwood and sliding barn doors, hardwood floors and ranch chandeliers.
I asked about the plans for Lemongrass, the Thai restaurant next door. Braitsch says once Diablita gets settled in, the owners plan to redo Lemongrass' kitchen, rename the place, and probably turn it into a pan-Asian restaurant. This wouldn't happen until January at the earliest.
Diablita, which means "little devil woman," is open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for Sunday brunch, then open till 9 p.m.
FIT FOR A KING: Recently I've been hearing good things about a Middle Eastern restaurant in Hampden, King's Grilled Kabob at 907 W. 36th St., opened by the Egyptian owner of the pizza and sub place next door. Usually I don't do mini-reviews in this column, but I had carryout from the place, and I was impressed.
I would have eaten there if I had realized before I went that it was a sit-down place as well. It's cute as a button, and BYO. The food - classics such as falafel, grape leaves, babaganush, hummus and kebabs - is good and the prices are great. The most expensive dinner is a seafood kebab for $12.99.
Be warned: You have to like garlic; the cook does.
King's has an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $6.99 seven days a week.
The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
VEGAN VENTURE: Baltimore will be getting a new vegan cafe, Emily's Cafe & Desserts, set to open Sunday. It's in the Stone Mansion, built in the 1800s, at 4901 Springgarden Drive. The space is quaint, with a six-foot fireplace and a porch where the cafe will have outdoor seating in the spring.
Owner Emily Mainquist also has a company that supplies vegan desserts to Wegman's, Whole Foods, Roots Market, and the Health Concern, among others.
The cafe will serve hot breakfast and lunch, mostly sandwiches and salads. You can find the menu at EmilysDesserts.com.
COMING OR GOING?: The latest news about Dogwood in Hampden, which readers continue to ask me about, isn't good. Although the Web site says the socially conscious, fine-dining, farm-to-table restaurant still hopes to reopen, its Plates cafe in the Woman's Industrial Exchange abruptly closed last week - presumably for good.
Although I've left messages, as of this writing I haven't heard from Dogwood's owners for an update.
The Deals of the Week
Where: Pazza Luna, 1401 E. Clement St., Locust PointThe Deals: $20 wine list of "old stock" bottles the restaurant is trying to burn through
$15 steak and martini night Tuesdays
$10 pasta night Wednesdays
$15 crab cake and cocktail night Thursdays
Call: 410-962-1212
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It's nice to know that there's a new vegan cafe, Emily's Cafe & Desserts. Please keep letting us consumers and readers know about vegan resources. We want to adopt the healthy vegan lifestyle and appreciate the support from the media and business owners to make it easier for us. Thanks a million! Good luck, Emily.
BVegan (10/28/2009, 12:40 PM )