Brookside Market - Phoenix, Maryland — Restaurant in Maryland

TLDR: Excellent Italian eats in a casual bistro setting. Come for the brick oven pizza and generously portioned sandwiches.

Vibe: 5/5. Located right on Jarretsville Pike, Brookside Market is a counter service Italian Bistro and beer/wine store all in one. When you walk in, the place is nicely laid out with the wine/beer on the left side of the market, dining room on the right and the main counter dead ahead. The ordering process is simple, you grab a menu at the counter and directly order with the staff at the register and they give you a number card for your table. The staff will then bring the food out to your table and will bus when you are finished. Fountain and chilled cooler drinks are located on the left. Decor is fitting for the restaurant, as Brookside uses your standard modern Italian wall art as well as TVs located all throughout the dining room. The building appears to have been renovated somewhat recently, as everything shows little wear and is nicely appointed. Table wise, it is first come first serve, however there are roughly a dozen + 4 tops in the dining room, so seating should not be an issue for groups both large and small.

Service: 5/5. Even with this being a counter service restaurant, we received excellent service from start to finish. My party of 3 went for Saturday lunch around 2pm. The dining room was at half occupancy when we arrived, so we had no problem securing a table. The staff gave us the rundown of how the ordering system works and we're easy to work with. Food turnaround from the time of order was impressively quick. We ordered a half dozen items ranging from pizza to apps and everything was brought out to our table at the same time in about 15 minutes from when entered into the system. They obviously have their service down pact here, which is always a breath of fresh air.

Food: 5/5. Loved everything we ordered! For lunch, my party of 3 ordered the cream of crab fries, fried mozzarella, fried pickles, the buffalo chicken pizza, a Greek salad, their blackened chicken sandwich as well as the spicy Italian hoagie. As mentioned above, everything came out quickly and all together. Porion sizes across the board were solid, especially with the sandwiches and salad. The apps, especially the fried mozzarella and pickles could have used 1-2 more pieces at their $8-9 price points, but the flavor made up for it. The cream of crab fries were excellent. The crispy fries had an entire cup of their homemade cream of crab soup poured over the top before serving. The taste of both together is a fun combo for any Marylander. The buffalo chicken pizza was also a slam dunk. Using blackened chicken, the ratio of chicken to Bleu cheese to hot sauce was balanced to the point where you could taste every ingredient. The brick oven pizza, though a little on the floppy side, had a nice chew to the dough and the great taste from the brick oven. The spicy Italian and blackened chicken sandwiches also did not disappoint. Generous portions of meats were toppled high on both which played nice with the respective accoutrements of each sando. In a last minute decision, our table decided to split one of their homemade desserts they have on display at the counter. We opted for the Italian almond cake, which has a chocolate outside encapsulating a soft, almondy rainbow layered cake interior. Soft, fudgy and loaded with almond flavor, this was the perfect ending to a great meal. Our entire meal cost us around $100, which for the amount of food ordered I found to be very reasonable. Overall, if you find yourself in the area, Brookside Market is a great choice for both...

As a self-proclaimed sandwich connoisseur, I can confidently say that Brookside Market in Maryland is an absolute treasure trove for anyone seeking sandwich perfection. From the very moment I walked through the doors, the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread had my taste buds tingling with anticipation.

Let's start with the bread. Oh, the bread! The first bite into the crispy exterior revealed a delightful crunch that gave way to a soft, fluffy interior. It was evident that Brookside Market takes immense pride in their bread, as each bite was a symphony of texture and flavor. The bread alone could have satisfied my cravings, but little did I know that the best was yet to come.

The flavor profiles at Brookside Market are nothing short of extraordinary. With a menu boasting an array of options, from classic favorites to innovative creations, there's something for every taste bud. I found myself torn between the timeless allure of their turkey and cranberry sandwich and the allure of their balsamic-glazed Portobello mushroom masterpiece. Eventually, I decided to indulge in both, and boy, was I glad I did. The flavor combinations were harmonious, with each ingredient complementing the others perfectly. Every bite was an explosion of savory, tangy, or sweet bliss, leaving me in a state of pure sandwich euphoria.

But it's not just about the food. The ambiance and customer service at Brookside Market added to the overall experience. The friendly staff greeted me with genuine warmth and helped guide me through their extensive menu, making recommendations based on my preferences. Their attention to detail and dedication to ensuring a memorable dining experience truly elevated my visit.

In conclusion, as a devoted sandwich lover, my experience at Brookside Market surpassed all expectations. The crispy bread, incredible flavors, and generous portions made it an unforgettable culinary adventure. If you find yourself in Maryland, don't miss the opportunity to visit Brookside Market. Prepare to be whisked away on a journey of sandwich perfection, where each bite will leave you yearning for more.

The only problem I had was, I inhaled my sandwich before I ever took a picture of...

Exception picking up a lunchtime sandwich, haven't been here as frequently as in months past (blame covid?) but, after a long day and the wife attending another event, I decided to pop in for a sit down dinner. The Old Fashion was great; they didn't have steak on the menu (I think that's probably "trending" as a number of restaurants seem to have forgotten us beef peeps) so I went w/ the Chicken Parmesan. It arrived quite impressively but just on the heels of my roasted caesars salad... which I'd specifically asked NOT to happen. Then my waitress sent another to take my wine order and, as a glass of red was $14 or the bottle could be had for $30, I opted for the bottle as listed on the menu. BUT the young lady explained, "there's a corkage fee of $10." I pondered this for a moment then pointed out where the menu says "if you bring wine in or buy it from our retail section, there's a $10 corking fee." To which she smiled pleasantly but stuck to her guns. Fuming at the absurdity of all (they now have a totally invalid wine list... pricing wise anyway) I ordered a glass of red. When the main server checked in I explained the absurdity of it all and, not wanting to "shoot the messenger" I asked that she sent the owner over... he'd been sitting w/ patrons just minutes earlier. Well he never materialized and by dinners end, when she brought the check, I reminded of the wine pricing and the owner not stopping by. She replied that I was correct about the wine but that he'd left ealier and simply wasn't available. As for dinner? Hate to say it but it was the usual tasteless chicken buried under a pile of cheese and ragu sauce all atop a pile of spaghetti. Which is why I almost never order Chicken Parm because it typically tastes like they all buy it from the same box. Last, they have an auto-tipping percentage scale on their checks. I like that BUT if you have the ability to automate this calculation, it should be on total of the food bill and not the final bill tab which includes sales tax + here in maryland, yet a second tax for alcoholic beverages. If/when I return to Brookside it'll be for pizza...