While I'm glad that the grandson of an esteemed Baltimore hero is investing in our community, I can't help but long for the old Grand Cru ("Grand Cru reopens, with new owner and a touch of Woodberry," March 31). The experience of walking into a chaotic kitchen of a dear disorganized friend has vanished. Our friend was wonderfully warm, cozy, and most importantly had a wonderful wine selection for every palette with savory appetizers to compliment it.
Now I am left with a cold and unfriendly environment that lacks it's former charm. Awful house music that plays over the speakers drove one couple sitting near us out. The new interior finishes only add to the feeling. The white subway tile pattern is beautifully installed, but the slate behind the bar is not thought out and has no relation to the while tile; in-fact the two elements would never co-exist in the real world. The cheap white plastic looking sconces behind the bar better belong in a prison and look horribly out of place next to the pendants over the bar. The cool mint paint, a fresh tone, adds to the cold feeling of the place with the glass framed mirrors replacing the charming chalkboard that allowed artists to chalk their creations. These new mirrors ensure that one and all will never escape from the awful slate tile/prison lighting behind the bar, even when sitting with their backs to it.
My larger impression is that I feel as though I'm an afterthought sitting adjacent to a packaged goods store with the smallest selection known to man. The menu of wines has diminished by 80 percent. I'm left with an extended beer and cocktail list that dominate the menu, leaving me the wonder if it's still a wine bar. The wine and liquor shelving has been rearranged to put tables into the center of the space. This creates undesirable table locations eliminating any good seat in place, making it feel even colder, darker, and more cavernous. The lack of artwork or accessories only increase this barren frosty feeling. The warmth and hominess of the place is gone. I am a little biased, being an interior designer with a restaurant design background, truth be told. When I questioned my fellow patrons, all regulars from before the changed in ownership, we lamented the departure of one of our favorite places and all wondered where's the wine in the wine bar and who does Mr. Unitas think his clientele is?
Meghan Hoffmann
