I had always heard that this was one of those long-standing pillars of Baltimore cuisine, so during Summer 2009 Restaurant week we decided to check it out. It was not a good experience to say the least. First, the sectio where we sat, I found to be terribly dated and blindingly white--- white walls, white table clothes, lots of lightbulb candalalabras. The first courses started out well enough, garlic shrimp and gazpacho, however, that was the high point and it was all downhill from there. Our main courses were a lesson in how to rob chicken of any and all flavour. I had no idea that BOILING chicken was a tradional Spanish method. It had all of the flavour of a wet dishcloth. The plate of saffron rice and blanched stringbeans actually was alright, and served as sustanance, since could barely eat a quarter of my chicken with a tomato based sauce. The server asked if I wanted a box and I expected my emphatic response of, "No!" to generate some sort of reaction or cause for concern, but it did not. my boyfriend's paella was slightly better, but still very blah and flavourless and suffering from gritty mussels, but mainly lack of taste. The desserts did nothing to redeem the meal, especially the nut roll which for some absurd reason had the whipped cream food-coloured yellow and had the exact colour and consistancy as Cheeze-Wiz. I could not even look at it without seeing Cheeze-Wiz. A most dismal affair. My boyfriend wants to give it another shot for their famous suckling pig, but with the prices being SO outlandish and this laxidasical experience, I'm not chomping at the bit to go back.

Truly one of my favourite restaurants in this city. Classy without being too terribly pretentious, delicious food, and the most amazing, cozy/relaxing atmosphere. Favourite menu items include: B House Ravioli (without the brown sage butter, though. Too greasy. Perfect without it.). Best marinara sauce, Margarhita Pizza (features spinach, which is nice.), Bacio (hazelnut) and Red Beet ice cream ( who would think that beet ice cream would work, let alone be amazing?). Also, awesome cappuccino and grilled chicken panini's. Plan on trying many other items, as well. If only they weren't stingy with the doling out one piece of bread thing.