Most city-dwellers avoid the Inner Harbor the same way they would avoid a quarantine camp spilling over with avian flu victims. It's a toss-up as to what's more offensive: the throngs of tourists or the overpriced and often lackluster food.
Nonetheless, I recently found myself in the Inner Harbor looking for some cheap eats. And those eats needed to be seriously cheap. A quick wallet check revealed that all I had at my disposal was a crisp Hamilton.
What could $10 possibly get me in this part of town? The imagination took over: a wobbly bar stool at a grease pit with no ventilation and a man named Burt cleaving, boiling and frying random chicken parts. When I awoke from my reverie, there it was on the horizon: McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant -- the hunger-solution for college students, the work-weary and regular happy hour warriors.
Don't believe me? Weekdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., five appetizers are available for $1.95 to $3.95. The menu includes peppered and seared cuts of skewered tuna bites, accompanied by a sweet dipping sauce ($1.95); a baker's dozen bowl of steamed mussels submerged in a savory-sweet coconut-curry broth ($3.95); and a 1/2-pound burger cooked any way you like, served with the usual burger sides and a heaping helping of fries ($1.95). You can also go south of the border and order a cheese quesadilla: lump crab meat and pico de gallo smeared between two fiery-red tortillas and topped with a generous drizzle of white ranchero sauce ($1.95).
Dish: Gluttony is the U.S. of A's middle name. No exceptions here. I got the tuna bites as an appetizer and the 1/2-pound burger as the main course. Call me a heifer and put my fat hocks in next year's state fair, I don't care. I boxed the leftovers for the next day's lunch-hour crunch.
Damage: Tuna bites: $1.95, 1/2-pound burger: $1.95. Here's a tip: fill up on McCormick & Schmick's fresh-baked bread. It's warm, delicious and free.
Decision: OK, there is a catch to this fabilicious deal: Seating for happy hour is only available at the bar, and there's a two-drink minimum. One trick to getting around the drink minimum is that that you can order a fountain drink (it comes with free refills). On a good day, the staff is agreeable and accommodating in that department. Besides, the ambience makes a visit here worthwhile. Even us locals occasionally like to kick back and enjoy the view of water taxis bound for Fells Point.
Nonetheless, I recently found myself in the Inner Harbor looking for some cheap eats. And those eats needed to be seriously cheap. A quick wallet check revealed that all I had at my disposal was a crisp Hamilton.
Don't believe me? Weekdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., five appetizers are available for $1.95 to $3.95. The menu includes peppered and seared cuts of skewered tuna bites, accompanied by a sweet dipping sauce ($1.95); a baker's dozen bowl of steamed mussels submerged in a savory-sweet coconut-curry broth ($3.95); and a 1/2-pound burger cooked any way you like, served with the usual burger sides and a heaping helping of fries ($1.95). You can also go south of the border and order a cheese quesadilla: lump crab meat and pico de gallo smeared between two fiery-red tortillas and topped with a generous drizzle of white ranchero sauce ($1.95).
Dish: Gluttony is the U.S. of A's middle name. No exceptions here. I got the tuna bites as an appetizer and the 1/2-pound burger as the main course. Call me a heifer and put my fat hocks in next year's state fair, I don't care. I boxed the leftovers for the next day's lunch-hour crunch.
Damage: Tuna bites: $1.95, 1/2-pound burger: $1.95. Here's a tip: fill up on McCormick & Schmick's fresh-baked bread. It's warm, delicious and free.
Decision: OK, there is a catch to this fabilicious deal: Seating for happy hour is only available at the bar, and there's a two-drink minimum. One trick to getting around the drink minimum is that that you can order a fountain drink (it comes with free refills). On a good day, the staff is agreeable and accommodating in that department. Besides, the ambience makes a visit here worthwhile. Even us locals occasionally like to kick back and enjoy the view of water taxis bound for Fells Point.
