Spoons — Restaurant in Baltimore

I normally don’t even post reviews, but I feel like this experience was definitely out of the ordinary and not necessarily in a good way! I’ll start off with the good. The host, pleasant, inviting and competent. She explained to me that there was a 30 minute wait, which is understandable. The sign on the door said 60, so I was happy to hear that the wait wasn’t that bad. I own a restaurant so, I didn’t complain. No need to, this is normal. I gave the host my phone number for the reservation and waited by the door for my friend, It was raining outside. A second lady comes to the host stand, with irritation in her demeanor and says to me “unfortunately you cannot wait here, you have to wait outside”. Even though the delivery of the message was cold, I did not complain. It’s a small restaurant and of course we’re in a pandemic. Unnecessary bodies don’t need to be occupying the space. We went down the street to a super inviting restaurant called NOLA and had mimosas while we waited for our reservation to be called. When it was, we went back and were greeted by the host again and her not so friendly counterpart who actually seated us. She literally sat us next to the table that was open when I put my name on list. I asked her if we could sit there instead because I’m not a fan of being sat in the middle of the floor, and with the same irritation in her attitude, she states that the table is being held for a reservation. Because the table is placed next to another 2 top, I asked her, “what’s the difference in them seating here or there?”. Without a verbal response, she pulls out a chair and motions for us to sit in the seat I requested. We ordered our food. The waiter was great. Super friendly and the food came out fast and hot! 5 stars for that. The host seats a couple next to us at the table that was supposed to be held for a “reservation” and they were literally the two people who walked in after me to put their names on the waiting list. I’m not going to call the irritated worker a liar, but you can imagine my thought process. While dining I looked on google and Yelp to see if others had this experience only to find out that the irritated worker is actually the owner, Rebecca. I’ve been here several times and would have never guessed that someone as cold as her cold run such an amazing restaurant. This is not the first, nor the second time I have experienced this attitude, but it is probably indeed the last. If you want great food, I recommend you go, but don’t forget to wear your tough skin, because I can almost assure you, you’ll...

My favorite brunch buddy and I are up early on Sunday morning, I mean early like 8:00 am. We're ready to eat early too but most of the restaurants we frequent don't open until 10:00 or 11:00 am. Last Sunday, however, my friend wanted grits and I told her that I had the best cheesy grits at Spoons Café in Federal Hill, Baltimore. We googled the hours and luckily they open at 8:00 am. We arrived at Spoons around 8:45 and half of the restaurant seating was already occupied. The hostess sat us quickly towards the rear of the restaurant at a two-seat table adjacent to the kitchen. Spoons is a quaint restaurant space that looks like it could have been a house converted into a restaurant.

My friend and I order a carafe of Apple Cider Mimosas because it's October and that means you drink apple cider. That was my first time trying that flavor mimosa and I was impressed. I 'd never thought to mix apple cider with champagne, but it was a fresh Fall take on the original mimosas. We scanned the menu and decided on The Beast, Fried Oysters and Grits, Deep-Fried Stuffed French Toast and the 2-2-2 (Two Eggs, Meat of your choice and French Toast or Pancakes).

The Beast sandwich is -- well you guessed it -- A Beast. It's a biscuit sandwich with buttermilk fried chicken, fried egg, smoked bacon, American cheese topped with sausage gravy. Even though the menu describes it as a sandwich it's not meant to be handheld, you have to eat this with a fork and knife. In addition to the chicken and bacon, the sausage gravy added another meat element. The chicken was a tender cut, seasoned well and the biscuit was moist. The Fried Oysters and Grits were my favorite. The oysters had a crispy, seasoned, thick batter on them, what you would call chicken-fried, and the oyster inside was soft and fresh. The grits at Spoons are always great, even when I get them as a side with cheese, they are thick like grits should be. It also had an oyster sauce that was the consistency of soup and paired well with the oyster/seafood grits dish. The Deep-Fried Stuffed French Toast was just light and flaky on the outside and stuffed with warm sweet cream on the inside, it's the perfect portion to share.

Spoons is a great neighborhood restaurant with tasty food and great service. It's the type of place you bring family that's visiting from out of town, they'd love it. They have beer and lunch options also. And because it's in the heart of Federal Hill, you may want to stop at one of the nearby bars...

I wanted to try this place and I was excited. We noticed there was a 30 minute wait time note on the window. When my spouse went inside, the host said it was 40min. My spouse gives our name and receives a text message that it will be a 45 minute wait. We sat in the car and watched a group of 6 come in the restaurant. They knew at this point it was an hour wait; however, they were seated. They didn’t have a reservation (By the way, the restaurant said they don’t sit 6 or more.) We go find parking. At approximately 40 min later, we hadn’t received a text or call, so we walk in. The host says she just texted us. We never got it. The party of 6 that came in after us was seated and food given. Another party of two comes in and is seated right away. When I asked if they had a reservation, they said “No. She just told us many ppl canceled and the ppl they texted never texted back.” The restaurant never sent messages out. They sat who they wanted to sit. How do I come up with this?! I’m glad you asked. The party of 6 were white and Asian. A black couple came in with a stroller asking for a table for 3. The host just told them she couldnt accommodate three with a stroller. But a party of four came in and she was able to seat them right away. She does this a few times. She accommodates a couple of three with a baby in a car seat at a table of four in a space area.

Spoons workers in Baltimore are racist. Don’t you effin lie. I don’t care that your cooks are black baby. My spouse and I watch the host deny anyone being accompanied by black person, and she let anyone white come in the building. Whether your system was “down” for ppl to receive a text for their table being ready or not, we watch you choose who came into the establishment.

When I asked for the manager, just to inform her, she said she may have put in the wrong number a few times and that her mom owns the establishment. She informed me that I can email her Mom. She is the owner but that is how far it will go.

I learned a few things today. Baltimore is an interesting place. But this reminds me to go where you are celebrated, not where you are tolerated.

Review: Food Great...