Awful. My family had gone to the O's/Red Sox game and wanted something nearby for dinner, so we decided to go here since i twas close and had something vegetarian friendly. The waiter took forever to come over and say hi, and when he did he said "Alright, lets go, I'll take your food and drink all at once!" Didn't even ask if we wanted apps or anything, just along the lines of lets get this show on the road. My parents ordered a bottle of wine, my sis-in-law ordered a beer, my brother didn't want a drink, I asked for a pear mojito, and he didn't even bother getting my boyfriends drink order. For food, my brother and I got mac and cheese, my boyfriend got the mac and cheese with short ribs, my father got short ribs, my mom got pizza, and the sis-in-law got crab soup and wings. Oh, and I had ordered a choppt salad. So after a while the waiter brings the drinks, but he only has the beer and wine. Before we can say anything, he's gone. A few minutes after that, he comes asking if I ordered a Cesar salad, I told him I asked for the choppt salad. He wasn't paying attention at all while we were ordering. My mother also used this time to remind him of my mojito and we had to also tell him he didn't take my boyfriends drink order. Eventually he comes back with our drinks. He didn't bring our food either, he had a bus boy bring the food. The busboy was very nice, but seemed to be struggling with English and was very confused about whose food was whose. So now on to the food. The food was just okay, and not worth the price at all. All of us who had the mac and cheese agreed it wasn't bad if you got a bite that had the cheese on it, but most of them didn't. My father and boyfriend thought the short rib was okay, but nothing special. My mother hated the pizza and said the sauce tasted like it was from a can. The Sis-in-law said the crab soup was really good and the wings were not bad. Oh, and my mojito was gross. It tasted like it was entirely lime and had no pear or mint flavoring to it at all. It didn't look like they really crushed the mint leaves either. We will not be coming back here, it is definitely not worth the food quality for the price and horrible service.
(1)
Michael M.
Didn't even sit down. The rudest hostess I've ever experienced. With a half empty restaurant & a line out the door, they refused to allow anybody to sit down because the kitchen was backed up. Probably the lamest thing I've heard all year. We just left.
(1)
Paul S.
Not sure what happened with this place. I stay at the Hilton a lot when I'm in town. The first couple of experiences I had here were pleasant, and I want to say it had a larger menu at one time (or for a particular part of the day). The last 2-3 times I was there, the menu was limited, the food was average, and I had to walk-out a couple times because my server never arrived or I had not idea what happened to the bar tender (when I sat at the bar). I don't want to dislike this place, and I've had good experiences with it in the past, but the inconsistency and recent lackluster experiences is pushing me to a lower rating.
(2)
Berry G.
I ate here during the Food Safety Summit (April 2015). Ambiance is nice. Service was good. I had the grilled chicken salad. It was OK. The chicken wasn't cooked/charred enough for me. Looked like it was barely grilled. Convenient location just across the street from the Hilton's main lobby.
(3)
Pilar P.
I would probably avoid this place, unless you're just stuck in the hotel due to snow or something. There are plenty of places within a very short walk of the Hilton and Inner Harbor area. The waiter was fantastic, so let me state that up front. A few things: 1 - the dinner rolls were obviously just some frozen rolls from Sam's club, and the "butter-like product" was frozen so solid that it was not at all spreadable on the bread or crackers. Owner/manager - you should buy some different kind of margarine/butter - that was useless, I don't care how cheap it was. it was hard, cold, and just kind of flaked off on the knife - I'm not sure it was actually in the butter or margarine family. 2 - the seafood fettuccine was blah. It wasn't gross at all, but it just reminded me of something that was like a heated-up Stouffer's meal or something. 3 - the pear martini was outstanding 4 - the bread pudding was good - a HUGE serving. Overall, I'd say they need to step it up a bit.
(2)
Larry R.
This was a disappointing meal, overall. I loved the 50/50 Caesar (kale and romaine). The seared salmon, however, was raw on the bottom. Not rare. Raw. When I mentioned it to the server, he apologized. OK then. The "molten" fudge cake was entirely solid. Nothing molten about it. So the fish was undercooked, and the dessert was over-cooked. Could have been much better.
(2)
Carolyn S.
I ate here three times - once for breakfast and twice for late-night dining. Both times, service was attentive and friendly. They had a good breakfast menu - I had a hard time deciding. In the end, I went for the vegetable frittata, which I kind of regretted, as it looked like it had just been pulled from the freezer and put into the oven. The decaf coffee was good and refills were prompt. They were also good at serving a group of around 10 people. For my late-night dining experience, the menu was more limited than during the day, but if you only go there once or twice you should be able to find something that will work for you. The first time, we shared the hummus dip, some pizza, and then I had the buffalo wings and she crab soup. The crab soup was great! Like a chowder but with a different taste. One of my friends who also had it said that it was too salty for her, but I didn't have any issues. The wings were good as well. The second time that I went for late-night dining, I had the salad with salmon, which was really good. I was starving at the time, so that may have contributed to it, but I was pleased with what I received. Both times I had drinks - beer the first time and wine the second time. They had a couple local beers, as well as the usual suspects, so that was nice. Overall, I'd say this is a standard hotel restaurant. You probably won't be disappointed but it probably won't be the best meal you've ever eaten.
(3)
Harper S.
I stayed at the Hilton this weekend and canceled my brunch reservations to come here instead because it was more conveniently located. When we walked in at noon on Saturday, there was ONE person eating there. Four staff members were standing around the bar when we came in and all looked at each other wondering who was going to approach us. Finally a woman came over, asked how many, went and got menus and brought us to a table. We sat for a few minutes, a server came over to us and said she was going to look for our server (it was empty, not sure where our server was or why she couldn't help us). She came back, said she'd take our order because she couldn't find our server. I asked what veggies were in the risotto and she said "asparagus, peppers...uhhhh.....uhhhhh" I then asked her if she could ask the chef what was in it because it was clear she had no idea. She didn't say "ok" or "sure" or "yes, I'll be right back"....she just walked away. So we left. We were quickly over it. Crappy service before we even had water on the table. No thanks.
(1)
Alex N.
Bleh. Super nice people, just SUPER slow service. After being greeted by the nice hostess, I sit my butt down in a big comfy booth. Riding solo that day, so was happy about that! So basically i waited there for 10 minutes for the server to greet me. annoying. I order my iced tea, and a shrimp ceaser salad. after ten minues i get my iced tea......ok, must be making it pretty fresh back there or something! Literally another 15 minutes go by and i get my salad. It's a ceaser salad with shrimp. Why is that difficult? It's fine. it was good food, just the service really didn't care about me. He didn't even try to engage me until I had the check in my hand, which i obviously had to get his attention to get. Seems like it's just really inconsistent, as there are plenty of great reviews, but in this biz you can't really off that many off days....
(3)
Sayantan G.
Food was ok, service was good, weak omelettea
(2)
Lisa M.
I was in Baltimore on a Wednesday night traveling on business and stumbled upon this place. Really nice modern feel and all that stuff. Then the menu, all seafood! Ofcourse, seafood is going to be the main focus of most restaurants located on a harbor. If you are looking for more of an Americana experience, which I was, this is not the place for you. In my mind, a place with tavern in it's name is going to have move variety in the menu.
(2)
Sarah H.
Business lunch of 8 on a weekday. Everything started out great but then our server must have taken a break because we waited about 45 minutes between apps and mains. One hot sandwich was sent back because it was cold. My chop salad mysteriously appeared without the dressing. Fries are good. Will give it another try for redemption.
(2)
Brian B.
Service is very good. Food is incredibly average, and over-salted. Loose Cannon Triple IPA saved the experience from being a total disappointment.
(3)
Paul C.
First off I would like to say this is a nice place for breakfast, but it can get pricey. The food is good though. It is dinner I am worried about. The few times I have been there for dinner, the food really wasn't cooked to order and if you are a high class place that advertises good food, you should know how to cook. There is a full bar and the place itself is more like a tavern and has a nice atmosphere. The staff seems to know what to do and I was there during a hurricane and even with low staff, they were slow, but took care of everyone. So I believe the problem is the cook. If they lowered their prices and got a better cook, I am sure they would have a much higher review.
(3)
A. C.
(02/21/2012) Went for a lunch outing with the boss; the Diamond Tavern is a convenient location, so it ends up being our default workplace celebration place. The usual burger satisfied, like it always does; standard beef patty, cooked to order (and they are generally on target), comes on a shiny brioche-like roll. The Reuben was beautiful to look at (wasn't my dish), was on grilled marbled rye; the corned beef looked like it was sliced off a roast rather than pre-packaged slices. The least successful dish was my Crab Cake Salad. The crab cake itself was mostly lump and back fin, not jumbo lump, had very little filler and seasoning, and was oddly stark white through and through. Flavor was mostly of a frozen, pasteurized crab product (had that weird fishy funk to it). There was plenty of arugula, but it was strangley dressed, the "Chesapeake Vinaigrette" is seasoned with Old Bay and was overpoweringly sour and salty; there were a few shreds of grilled fennel (had to hunt for them), and the "roasted" tomatoes were somewhat wan and mealy. Agree with the other reviewers about the service; it's strangely inattentive. Everyone's very nice, but they disappear, don't refill drinks, and forget things. It's surprising that such a large corporation has such lack of structure. I'm sure we'll be back, though, they do have plenty of other more appealing things on the menu, and as far as the service goes, the longer we're there, the less time we're at work :)
(3)
Bruce B.
If you're going for breakfast, don't bother with the bagels. They are horrible. Otherwise, breakfast was OK. Usual inflated hotel restaurant prices.
(2)
Cezaro L.
This place is totally, totally underrated on Yelp. Two stars for only serving seafood? The seafood itself is FANTASTIC (plus, they serve chicken and steak too). And every detail of every dish was a complete pleasure. I'm serious. It's kind of weird how empty this place is. It's pricey, but the food itself is creative and perfectly executed, and the service was friendly and very attentive (that's what you get when about 10% of tables are seated, I guess). I went with 8 people and everything we ordered blew our minds. We went in mostly because we could get a reservation, expecting average food, the sort of tourist trap/convenience thing you'd find smack dab in the middle of Camden Yards and the convention center. But yeah, we were wrong about Diamond Tavern. Things that were extraordinary: 1) Thai Chili Shrimp Appetizer. May not be the most inventive, but a dish that hits the spot every time, and they do an excellent job with this one. 2) Crab cakes. Basically no filler, great flavor, just barely crispy, on a bed of fresh, delicious spinach. Very, very nice. 3) Rockfish. Great flavor, great texture. Comes with grilled asparagus, the most delicious rice ever, and juicy, perfect tomatoes. See 6) and 7). 4) The CHICKEN. Don't know how, but they managed to make a pretty ordinary entree a total standout. My (very sophisticated, probably-disappointed-in-me) grandparents were in disbelief. 5) The rice that came with the Rockfish. You just have to try it. Lemony (and like everyone else, I normally hate that Pine-Sol taste--this is not it) with a touch of something I couldn't identify. Foodies, please let me know what this is so I can attempt to replicate this side at home. 6) The tomatoes. They just came on the side, but they were awesome. 7) The free bread. Again, just leaps and bounds better than the rest, with a delicious garlic butter taste. The prices aren't crazy expensive, but they're not cheap. I would recommend this specifically for a family gathering, in that there's a lot of space and a pretty varied menu that will please everyone. But yes, I would enthusiastically recommend this restaurant. Keep some good people in business!
(5)
julia m.
Went here for a quick drink before a ravens game and wont be going back. The place was pretty empty, service was average, and our drinks were super mediocre. Would have been satisfied enough with the experience but we got our bill and saw our 2 rather small drinks were $25.. Couldn't believe it was cheaper to drink at the game! We will be skipping this joint next time we're making our walk to M&T Bank Stadium.
(1)
Mick O.
I was in Baltimore attending a trade show . I had breakfast two days in a row . The service was very good , and they were very attentive . The fellow I was with had the buffet both mornings and he enjoyed it , I has a bagel and cream cheese both mornings . The cost was what you would expect at a hotel restaurant .
(2)
Kelly G.
Diamond Tavern is actually a part of the Hilton Convention Center complex. It charges hotel restaurant prices. It has you cornered, so it can. It was the only place open/within a short walk of the conference rooms/ballrooms on the Hilton side of the Baltimore Convention Center complex. I trudged over there during a break in the meeting. Cups of coffee were on the house. But when I wanted a muffin or a bagel, they charged me. Yes, my cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese set me back a whopping $5.30! Yes, FIVE DOLLARS AND THIRTY CENTS FOR A CINNAMON RAISIN BAGEL WITH CREAM CHEESE. Yikes. They didn't even have any plastic knives for me to spread the cream cheese onto the bagel with. They gave me a plastic spoon instead. Dang. I'll bring my own snacks next time I go to a meeting there.
(2)
Nate R.
After a horrendous flight on Air Tran where we missed the Sox game completely we stopped here for some food and a much needed drink. The service was extremely friendly and accommodating, personally making us some nachos that were not on the late night menu. The turkey club was great and hit the spot after sitting in a plane the entire day. It was nice to see a classier bar/restaurant by the park which was a nice change of pace from the chaos by Pickles Pub. I would definitely come here again during our trip to Baltimore next year.
(4)
Sonya T.
A little pricey, but the service is excellent and the food delicious. As far as hotel restaurants go, this one is excellent.
I've been here about 6 times before Raven's games (mostly preseason or night games) because it's convenient to the Hilton. I've sat at the bar once (decent service), at an indoor table twice (ok service) and outside three times (very weak service). I've only seen if full once before a PITT game. I had the pregame buffet inside last year and it was ok. Not horrible, but overpriced like all the entrees. The shrimp appetizer is pretty decent. Calamari is ok. Crab bisque had crab in it but was an odd flavor. Maybe too much old bay for a bisque. The wings were pretty good. They were fall off the bone (as advertised) but maybe it's because they overcook them (which is fine with me). The menu online looks pretty decent with a good variety of lesser priced sandwiches and such, but this wasn't the menu they gave us at 5PM on a THU. Our menu had about 6-7 eclectic apps and some $32 entrees. Not much in between. Maybe the did this because it was before the game and they didn't want the chef to get overwhelmed but there couldn't have been 4 other tables filled the whole time we were there (5-6:30P). Got the spaghetti/meatballs off the kids menu for my son which came out cold after about 45 min. It was basically Chef Boy R Dee that wasn't microwaved all the way through because the meatballs were cold on the inside. Asked them to microwave it a little bit more and it took about 20 min. We were there about 90 min and were able to get one beer and a couple appetizers in the 3 time we saw our server. I've finally learned my lesson and won't go back.
(1)
adam o.
here for drinks, ordered an old fashioned that was positively terr-i-ble. undissolved sugar (should be simple syrup), over bittered, and too much ice. oh, and the bartender was rude. if youre downtown and looking for a drink, keep walking.
(1)
Eric J.
Went here for breakfast after spending a night at the hotel. We ordered off the menu rather than coughing up $19 for the buffet, which didn't look all that great. The menu listed "New York Bagels" as a side option. I ordered an omlette with an onion bagel as a side rather than toast. The waitress was confused by my request for an onion bagel and said "I don't think we have those." So then I requested an "everything" bagel and she said that she didn't think they had those, either. She said that she would check and asked for a third option in case they didn't have those. I then requested a "plain" bagel. Well, after about 30 minutes waiting for our food (the place wasn't that crowded) I indeed got my omlette and the everything bagel. Food was decent, but for what we paid for our meal, you'd expect a lot more. Waitress wasn't very attentive to our table, either. I'd probably pass on this place in the future if we stay at this hotel again. It's probably worth it to drive or walk somewhere else since its downtown.
(2)
Tracey M.
It was "fine." Just okay. I liked the hummus and the spicy rock shrimp. Don't go to Maryland and not get the crab. The crab was good. They tried very hard but it is mediocre at best. Its next to the convention center so....you always get medicore near a convention center.
(2)
Charley C.
Well, I wanted a late night snack after arriving in town and each for the surrounding big name hotels had closed restaurants. But not the Diamond Tavern at the Hilton!!! They made a fantastic club sandwich. Big Fat Meaty and HOT frys. Well it was so good I came back the next day for a late lunch and loved it again. The is a great spot for a before game snack as the Camden Yard is across the street!
(5)
Jess T.
We ended up at the Diamond Tavern by accident while in town for Yankees/Orioles. I was surprised the place was as dead as it was seeing as we were there a few hours before the game. I'm usually more of a pub/loud dirty sports bar kind of girl, so clearly I had already given Pickles a shot last time I was in the area. In an attempt to broaden horizons, enjoy some apps and catch a pregame buzz, we elected to try out the Diamond Tavern. The prices were a little higher than Pickles, but money is no object when it comes to a baseball pregame. My ladies and I ordered hummus and the spinach and artichoke dip...throw in some cold drafts, and we were ready to rock Camden. Also, the service here was impeccable. The servers and staff were friendly, funny, and happy. I wish Boston had a place like this.
(3)
Elmer S.
I will reserve judgement of Diamond until I return (if ever)! Although the Happy Hour menu is pretty slim, it is packed full of deliciousness. The Chicken Tostada was amazing, the Ciabatta Pizza has the nostalgic look and taste of high school cafeteria pizza. (Now that we look back, not so great, but at the time it was the best pizza you'd ever had). The thing that really turned me off on this restaurant is the seemingly uppity nature of its bar tending staff. I sat directly in front of the beer tap in so every bartender definitely saw that I was without food or drink and sitting at the bar awaiting service. After the two bartenders passed me for about 8 mins without as much as a hello or here's a menu, finally some one else who looked like a manager, ask the people surrounding me if they were ok...I took that opportunity to ask for their Happy Hour menu. The lady next to me was in shock that they actually had one of those as it had not been offered to the guests that were already there. It took me another 10 minutes to flag down the bartenders so I could order the Tostadas and a Heavy Seas Loose Cannon. While ordering the bartender again never spoke. As my food and cup ran low the bartender never asked if I wanted a refill or more food. I once again had to flag him down and ask for another beer and the Ciabatta Pizza. I eventually finished the pizza and finally the bartender asked if I wanted to have anything else. (This is the first time he had spoke directly or for the matter indirectly to me, the other bartender was definitely a "no call, no show") I then ordered the Crab Fritters which are perfection anywhere else except Baltimore #weknowcrabcakes. All in all, Diamond definitely has the potential to be an amazing staple in the Baltimore Happy Hour scene, the staff needs more training!
(3)
Art C.
I'm being generous by giving this one star. Food was cold, service was slow, wine was cheap. The price too high for all the above. I hit sent too soon. They did come back and heat up the meal. The food was good.
(2)
Dave I.
Empty on Xmas time weekend, so we thought it'd be not so good, but we were pleasantly surprised. Nice wine, good beer, an excellent chicken entree and good pulled pork sandwich with great sides.
(4)
Art A.
This is an average of two visits, rounded up to the nearest star. First time I was here for a late dinner. This was my second time to Baltimore and it was too late (and I was too hungry) to go too far away from the convention center for dinner. I ordered crab cakes because thats what all good tourists to Baltimore do- and I wasn't disappointed; they were plump, delicious and generous with the crab. The server was attentive and polite and I ended dinner with a proper shot of espresso. My second visit I ate at the bar, a jack and coke on one hand and an old bay buffalo wing in the other. The drink was appropriately portioned, not too strong nor too weak but the wings were meh; I've definitely had better coming from a college town. Still, the ambiance leans towards upscale, the service is good, the patrons are maybe classy? (yours truly included). Its convenient to the Hilton and convention center and serves very decent food late(r) at night. Maybe not the best option under ideal conditions but certainly not a poor one.
(4)
Gary R.
We didn't receive all the items we ordered. The manager fixed the issue and gave the item to us for free, but we were in a rush, and had to leave most of it.
(2)
Chris W.
Was in town for a few days, staying at the Hilton to which this place is attached. Being a hotel restaurant, we weren't expecting much, and those expectations were met. The decor is lame- it reminded me more of a hotel lobby than a tavern. It's a sterile and cheap-looking take on sophistication, with big TVs everywhere. Service was sloooooooow. We waited 10 minutes for our drinks. How long does it take to pour bourbon into a glass? The water guy was almost aggressively attentive, and stood way too close to us while watching a basketball game on the TV above my date. The saving grace that earned my two stars was the food. My burger was tasty, if a little overcooked. My date had the she crab soup which was delicious. French fries were excellent. Don't be tempted just because it's in your hotel. There are better places to eat in the neighborhood. Better yet, take an Uber to Little Italy or Fells Point for $10 and eat somewhere great.
(2)
Don S.
Extremely slow service. Came for breakfast on Sunday morning and waited forever for a waitress and a bowl of oatmeal
(1)
Howard B.
Nothing exceptional about this hotel restaurant, and I thought it was below average given today's standards. Food and service were average and indoor summer dining was almost intolerable given an air conditioner that felt like it was set to 65. I would skip it next time.
(2)
Steve S.
We took advantage of the breakfast bar here this morning before checking out of the Hilton. Bottom line, I have a love/hate relationship with hotel breakfast buffets. I'm convinced most of them are all the same. This one, it had a little something to it. The food tasted fresh and well prepared. The basic eggs, bacon, sausage, and potatoes all were a notch above what I'm used to getting at hotel buffets. Now the service... Our waiter, Donnell, treated us like we were friends from out of town. I liked that. He even offered to give us coffee to go at the end without us asking for it. That's above and beyond in my book. The gentleman making our omelets, I didn't get his name, but he was also quite friendly. Plus he made a mean omelet. I was quite happy. Kudos for a great experience. The staff here is top notch.
(4)
Bob N.
Great place to grab a beer before the game. Not as crowded as other places near camden yards. Great view of the stadium and easy walking distance to light rail and Marc train
(5)
Miriam B.
Just had dinner with my baby and my husband. My food was really on point. I had the roasted chicken with crossiant stuffing. My husband ordered off the happy hr menu. They make a mean Cosmo too. I would have given five stars but our service was less than stellar then the manager took over and we had a great meal
(3)
Christin Y.
I'm usually not impressed by hotel restaurants, but Diamond Tavern is an exception. I went for breakfast and had a great meal and impeccable service. I went with the vegetable frittata, and it was delicious and served with breakfast potatoes and toast. My waiter was friendly, attentive and helpful with the menu. They also offer a breakfast buffet with an omelet station.
(4)
J E.
If I could give "negative" stars I would! Waited forever for someone to come over to our table. Then when the food came out we only got lettuce in what should have been a Caesar salad and a beet salad with goat cheese! When we mentioned something they gave us free drinks! Ice tea! Wow, thanks. Never again.
(1)
Brent D.
Worst experience. Ok the food is good but the management of the restaurant is terrible. Unorganized and take ten years to get the food. The only employee to get us a drink was the hostess. Points to her. Oh and we watched two tables leave as they suffered from the same experience as we did. Why did I stay and not leave? Well the hostess saved the day.
(1)
Mitchell R.
I was staying at the adjoining Hilton and since the weather was poor, I thought I would try this restaurant and honestly had low expectations. The food lived down to those expectations. My impression is that they have a microwave oven and a freezer. The food was not palatable and cold. The service was surly and indifferent. I think if I sat naked no one would have noticed. My recommendation is go elsewhere.
(2)
Sean P.
The tavern is connected to the convention center's Hilton and does room service for both the pub and the hotel. Service at the tavern was slow despite not being packed. Food was good overall (with some exceptions). She crab soup. Definite win. Thick, home made and surprisingly excellent as a dipper for the fries. Speaking of, their fries are seriously good. Their tavern burger? Lackluster. It's a bar, and bars should be known for that perfect greasy burger -- the kind you chase with a beer and violently regret two hours later, but man is it good going down. Sadly, the Diamond's burger was bland, dry and lacking seasoning. Meh. Skip the burger and go straight for the turkey sandwich. It's damned tasty. The 30 cheese macaroni (okay, it's not 30 cheese, but I don't remember how many kinds of cheese there were) is actually really good though the portion size is kind of smallish for a meal. We didn't try it with short rib. Could be great, but I'm not willing to spend $30 on "could be". All in all, it's good overall, but expensive. They charge hotel restaurant prices (about 50% higher than they should be charging) even though it's not in the hotel. The prices really hold the Diamond Tavern back. It could be better, but as it is... it's really just average/above average. You expect a bit more for the money. Not bad, not great. There's better options out there.
(3)
John K.
I was staying at the Hilton and came here for breakfast I have to "oh boy". I finally got my waiters attention he was busy watching the news while he was scratching his back on the furniture. The restaurant was freezing because they had to opening the door for a Dunkin' Donuts delivery. My food came out cold and it was 22.00.
(1)
Janey R.
I came here as a birthday dinner for a dear friend of mine and I was also photographing her dinner for the event. I have a few complaints because I visually could see everyone's different plates and of course I don't like to waste money so I do eat all of my food. Yet, I needed to make sure I set a review. This review is specifically for individuals in search of a dinner party area, especially if there are a mix of people economically from college students to wealthy full time workers. First, they gave us a little room that fit all 24 of us VERY TIGHTLY. Meaning it was very hard to even sit down properly in my seat and the spaces in between seats were so narrow many of us ended up standing up most of the time rather than sitting. Second, the service was nice, but we asked for them to make the room brighter so that photographs could come out better. Who ever went to go fix the lights had no clue what they were doing, and turned all the lights off several times. I would suggest them to train and make sure that at least someone understand the lighting controls. Third, the food proportions to the price lacks. I ordered a shrimp and penne pasta and I was lucky to get a good amount of shrimp, but for 20 dollars I expected more flavor. I had a surprising amount of heat which was nice but I was kind of disappointed in what I thought would have been an amazing dish. I didn't want to order anything else on the menu since it was something I felt I personally could cook to my liking. My friend who is a chef also agreed, and ordered the pulled pork. Pulled pork and french fries? I am still trying to figure out how that got the menu. Another friend of mine ordered the salmon and it looked surprisingly good and a nice portion and well priced. Yet, sadly one of the party members ordered the mac-and-cheese and was very disappointed. His proportion seemed as much as what you would get in an easy-mac microwaveable container and he was very unhappy. The break down of my stars goes as follows, 1 for food, since it did not leave me wanting for more and there were many more complaints. 3 for service since the waitress and bus boy was extremely nice and kept a smile no mater what. They also stayed very calm under pressure. It would have been 4 stars for service if the lighting situation didn't happen. I give them 2 stars total. I recommend this for a party of 15 and under if you are having a dinner party. It is a nice place and gives a nice atmosphere, yet if you have more than 15 I would find some place different. If you have also people who don't mind spending 30 dollars on mediocre dinner then I would definitely go for this since the service is pretty good. Yet I have had better at other restaurants at a cheaper price.
(2)
Adrienne S.
Ate here on a Sunday morning, while in town attending a conference. They have your average breakfast buffet containing standard breakfast fare. I ordered the Crab Benedict from the menu - it was fabulous!
(4)
Gail C.
I had two breakfasts and a lunch at the restaurant. All the food I ordered was the best I have ever eaten. Which was quite the big surprise. I suspect it may have been more about my choices and less about the entire menu. For example, I did not have the breakfast buffet. It looked dry and completely unappealing, especially at 19.00. What I got was the Eggs Beni one day and the Protein Egg White Omelet the next. Both were the best I have ever had. For lunch I had soup. It too was fantastic. However, my friend had pizza and it looked terrible. The wait staff was friendly and efficient.
(4)
Jack S.
Just had a way above average burger for lunch. They should warn you about how juicy it is before taking the first bite. Convenient to convention center. Good atmosphere for business or social. I watched some World Cup from my table. TV's everywhere (sound off ). No complaints here.
(4)
Branfa B.
Way overpriced. I came here to have lunch twice in a row during a conference held at the Hilton. I ordered the grilled chicken salad, which was decent enough, though nothing great. When I came back the following day and ordered exactly the same thing, they brought me a sad looking salad with only cranberries and pine nuts -- no corn and no dates, which are listed as ingredients. Weird. The staff is sweet but I would not go back.
(2)
Andrew C.
I've been to the Diamond Tavern twice now, and had an exceptional experience both times. The atmosphere and decorum are neat. The waiters were very friendly and hospitable, more so than most restaurants. And to top it all off, both of my meals were wonderful. The steak was delicious, and the sherbet I ordered for desert was top quality. The pizza I ordered during my second visit was great too, and there were so many options and toppings to choose from. As expected with restaurant hotels, the prices were high. But unlike many, the quality of the food matched the price, and all the servings were big. I must mention again how accommodating the staff were- one of the times after waiting a little longer for my drink, my kind waitress offered to remove it from the bill. The service and food at the Tavern should serve as a model for all hotel restaurants.
(5)
Eric R.
Went from one star (and that was generous) to three stars the following day so that averages out to two stars: Day One: I came here for lunch (the company took over downtown Baltimore for a convention) and it wound up taking close to 40 minutes for a burger and fries. I was not a happy camper because it cause me to be late for my division's champagne toast. Thanks to this debacle I was only able to get one glass of bubbly instead of four. DON'T GET BETWEEN ME AND MY ALCOHOL!!!!! The place was not that crowded it just seemed like the folks in the kitchen did not have it together. I was ready to leave when my server Kevin asked me to wait while he spoke with a manager about my situation. They did the right thing by comping me my lunch. However it took an extra few minutes for the fries to be finished and although I asked for the meal to go since it was so late, it finally came out on a dish. It probably would have taken another 10 minutes for them to box it up so I bit the bullet and ate it there. Additionally I had asked for a medium rare burger but mine was served medium. Again, if I had sent it back I would probably still be waiting for it. I was prepared to give one star because they did comp my meal, that fact that it took so long, was not prepared to my liking or served to go all added up to a not good experience. In these situations if too many bad things add up, it gets harder to overlook things that I would normally let slide. Move on to Day Two: I met a friend here this morning for breakfast before flying home. After my experience yesterday it was with great reluctance that I came back here. I was not surprised that, upon arriving at 11:25am, we were SOL for breakfast. However a manager, seeming to sense that we wanted brekkie, allowed us to partake in breakfast even though they were closing up the buffet. So I left Diamond Tavern satisfied this morning because I felt looked after and everything was served up (as in my special order eggs since it was a buffet) in a timely manner. I can't in good conscience recommend this place but the food, once you get it, is not bad. Just give yourself PLENTY of time and then some if you decide to eat here and have lots of patience and a sense of humor.
(2)
Nancy M.
Came here before the Ravens first preseason game on Thursday night. Not bad, kind of pricey. I had seared scallops on potato risotto, which was kind of like risotto hash browns. My friend had a burger I think. I don't pay attending to others good. Server was very pleasant. When you consider how expensive really junky food costs, this was a better alternative. The scallops were delicious.
(4)
Barb K.
Just rude. Huge ballgame traffic. Bartenders get rude and snide during busy times. There are fun places with great deals within two minutes walk.
(1)
Francesca L.
Came in kinda late--after 10pm on a Friday and the place was deserted. My friends and I just wanted apps, desserts, and drinks, and it was close by so we decided to check it out. The service was quite awkward, as if they weren't used to actually having customers, but we dealt with it. I had the brioche bread pudding with caramelized pineapple and cassis. Yum! It was warm and delicious. Exactly what I look for in a bread pudding. Overall the food was good, but the service left something to be desired.
(3)
Michael F.
I agree with the previous Yelper, this place is seriously underrated. I had dinner here with a friend and his daughter during a break from Grand Prix viewing. But first I had lunch which then hooked me in for dinner... Rejecting a vendor who had the audacity to try to serve me a pit beef sandwich on a freaking hot dog roll and then wanted to charge me 9 bucks for it, I asked him if he was joking.. I'll pass thanks. With the smell of smoke in the air I turned toward the Diamond Taverns patio, they had pit beef and thick hamburgers cooking out there. The burgers looked really good but I wanted pit beef and boy did they deliver. The pit beef was in the top 5 pit beef sandwiches I've ever eaten.Tender, piled high seasoned perfectly and juicy. Look at me, look at me harder..As you can see I've eaten quite a few pit beef sandwiches in my day friend, trust me this was awesome. And only..wait for it...6 bucks. Yea 6 bucks compared to 9 the crappy vendor next to Mothers was trying to serve me.(still bitter yes) So later when we were looking for a place to sit down and chow down I suggested the Diamond Tavern. We were seated behind the bar on the second level. I really love the decor, it's modern American with a splash of Mediterranean with the blue lighting and molded wall patterns, very pleasing to the eye. The menu isn't large by any means but what they lack in quantity Diamond tavern makes up in quality. For starters we shared a crab and spinach dip ($11). It was parmesan crusted as promised but the chips were needing a little more old bay. Never the less It was very good. I decided on the Tavern Burger ($12) (yea I luv me beef) which is at least 6oz of juicy beef topped with grilled sweet onions,beefsteak tomato,pancetta, and local cheddar all in between a gourmet egg washed buttery roll. I couldn't put it down, It looked even better then it sounds as the presentation and plating of every dish was thought out and pleasing. I devoured it completely with no remorse. The hand cut fries with skin on were great as well. They suffered the same fate as my burger. I also tried the mac n cheese. Creamy swirly noodles in a light cheesy sauce, could use a bit more salt for my taste. For desert I tried their creme brulee. It was just ok, I've had better. Two adults and one child ate for about 50 bucks minus the tip. Not bad. Good service Great food Awesome presentation And cool decor Two big thumbs up for the Diamond Tavern !
(4)
Monique M.
House salad: yum. Crab corn bisque: yum. French toast: yum!! 3 cheese Mac n cheese: yum. Empty both times I've been in, but fast friendly service. Waiter replaced a dessert drink I wasn't thrilled with. All around solid service. $100 for two. A little steep, but almost worth it.
(4)
Rose S.
Does in a pinch like a heat wave where you don't want to walk too far. the omelet bar overcooked, he is trying to do too much at once. Breakfast buffet was sad. The apple pie - who told them that was apple pie?! Where is Gordon Ramsey when you need him? Understaffed - waits when there are visibly tables set and ready to go. Hostess that doesn't understand what a hostess does like not disappearing to the point that ppl are writing their own names on the list or sitting themselves at the bar where there is no service and suddenly someone is needed to cover it. The high protein breakfast was okay & water service was spotty. My suggestion would be to call Gordon, Joe or Graham ASAP. Maybe Robert Irvine something cause this place needs a revamp.
(1)
Mike B.
Diamond Tavern was visited last week while in town for a conference for lunch. The prices reflect the "hotel" type of pricing, thus more expensive than if you left the hotel. I had the crab cake sandwich ($17.50) with fries. The crab cake was excellent and the bun was also tasty. Several of the group had the fish and chips, which was good size serving. The service was good and was respectful of the lunch time meeting we were having among the 6 of us.
(3)
Dave R.
It's a dump and a tourist trap. They should rip the whole building down. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else.
(1)
Lexie T.
really good food! try the steak ciabatta sandwich - it's so good! not too expensive but very classy (I got it twice in two days:-). staff are all very nice and helpful. the crab cake salad is also so very good! for breakfast: go for the "make your own omelet" !
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Emmy M.
Awful. My family had gone to the O's/Red Sox game and wanted something nearby for dinner, so we decided to go here since i twas close and had something vegetarian friendly. The waiter took forever to come over and say hi, and when he did he said "Alright, lets go, I'll take your food and drink all at once!" Didn't even ask if we wanted apps or anything, just along the lines of lets get this show on the road. My parents ordered a bottle of wine, my sis-in-law ordered a beer, my brother didn't want a drink, I asked for a pear mojito, and he didn't even bother getting my boyfriends drink order. For food, my brother and I got mac and cheese, my boyfriend got the mac and cheese with short ribs, my father got short ribs, my mom got pizza, and the sis-in-law got crab soup and wings. Oh, and I had ordered a choppt salad. So after a while the waiter brings the drinks, but he only has the beer and wine. Before we can say anything, he's gone. A few minutes after that, he comes asking if I ordered a Cesar salad, I told him I asked for the choppt salad. He wasn't paying attention at all while we were ordering. My mother also used this time to remind him of my mojito and we had to also tell him he didn't take my boyfriends drink order. Eventually he comes back with our drinks. He didn't bring our food either, he had a bus boy bring the food. The busboy was very nice, but seemed to be struggling with English and was very confused about whose food was whose. So now on to the food. The food was just okay, and not worth the price at all. All of us who had the mac and cheese agreed it wasn't bad if you got a bite that had the cheese on it, but most of them didn't. My father and boyfriend thought the short rib was okay, but nothing special. My mother hated the pizza and said the sauce tasted like it was from a can. The Sis-in-law said the crab soup was really good and the wings were not bad. Oh, and my mojito was gross. It tasted like it was entirely lime and had no pear or mint flavoring to it at all. It didn't look like they really crushed the mint leaves either. We will not be coming back here, it is definitely not worth the food quality for the price and horrible service.
(1)Michael M.
Didn't even sit down. The rudest hostess I've ever experienced. With a half empty restaurant & a line out the door, they refused to allow anybody to sit down because the kitchen was backed up. Probably the lamest thing I've heard all year. We just left.
(1)Paul S.
Not sure what happened with this place. I stay at the Hilton a lot when I'm in town. The first couple of experiences I had here were pleasant, and I want to say it had a larger menu at one time (or for a particular part of the day). The last 2-3 times I was there, the menu was limited, the food was average, and I had to walk-out a couple times because my server never arrived or I had not idea what happened to the bar tender (when I sat at the bar). I don't want to dislike this place, and I've had good experiences with it in the past, but the inconsistency and recent lackluster experiences is pushing me to a lower rating.
(2)Berry G.
I ate here during the Food Safety Summit (April 2015). Ambiance is nice. Service was good. I had the grilled chicken salad. It was OK. The chicken wasn't cooked/charred enough for me. Looked like it was barely grilled. Convenient location just across the street from the Hilton's main lobby.
(3)Pilar P.
I would probably avoid this place, unless you're just stuck in the hotel due to snow or something. There are plenty of places within a very short walk of the Hilton and Inner Harbor area. The waiter was fantastic, so let me state that up front. A few things: 1 - the dinner rolls were obviously just some frozen rolls from Sam's club, and the "butter-like product" was frozen so solid that it was not at all spreadable on the bread or crackers. Owner/manager - you should buy some different kind of margarine/butter - that was useless, I don't care how cheap it was. it was hard, cold, and just kind of flaked off on the knife - I'm not sure it was actually in the butter or margarine family. 2 - the seafood fettuccine was blah. It wasn't gross at all, but it just reminded me of something that was like a heated-up Stouffer's meal or something. 3 - the pear martini was outstanding 4 - the bread pudding was good - a HUGE serving. Overall, I'd say they need to step it up a bit.
(2)Larry R.
This was a disappointing meal, overall. I loved the 50/50 Caesar (kale and romaine). The seared salmon, however, was raw on the bottom. Not rare. Raw. When I mentioned it to the server, he apologized. OK then. The "molten" fudge cake was entirely solid. Nothing molten about it. So the fish was undercooked, and the dessert was over-cooked. Could have been much better.
(2)Carolyn S.
I ate here three times - once for breakfast and twice for late-night dining. Both times, service was attentive and friendly. They had a good breakfast menu - I had a hard time deciding. In the end, I went for the vegetable frittata, which I kind of regretted, as it looked like it had just been pulled from the freezer and put into the oven. The decaf coffee was good and refills were prompt. They were also good at serving a group of around 10 people. For my late-night dining experience, the menu was more limited than during the day, but if you only go there once or twice you should be able to find something that will work for you. The first time, we shared the hummus dip, some pizza, and then I had the buffalo wings and she crab soup. The crab soup was great! Like a chowder but with a different taste. One of my friends who also had it said that it was too salty for her, but I didn't have any issues. The wings were good as well. The second time that I went for late-night dining, I had the salad with salmon, which was really good. I was starving at the time, so that may have contributed to it, but I was pleased with what I received. Both times I had drinks - beer the first time and wine the second time. They had a couple local beers, as well as the usual suspects, so that was nice. Overall, I'd say this is a standard hotel restaurant. You probably won't be disappointed but it probably won't be the best meal you've ever eaten.
(3)Harper S.
I stayed at the Hilton this weekend and canceled my brunch reservations to come here instead because it was more conveniently located. When we walked in at noon on Saturday, there was ONE person eating there. Four staff members were standing around the bar when we came in and all looked at each other wondering who was going to approach us. Finally a woman came over, asked how many, went and got menus and brought us to a table. We sat for a few minutes, a server came over to us and said she was going to look for our server (it was empty, not sure where our server was or why she couldn't help us). She came back, said she'd take our order because she couldn't find our server. I asked what veggies were in the risotto and she said "asparagus, peppers...uhhhh.....uhhhhh" I then asked her if she could ask the chef what was in it because it was clear she had no idea. She didn't say "ok" or "sure" or "yes, I'll be right back"....she just walked away. So we left. We were quickly over it. Crappy service before we even had water on the table. No thanks.
(1)Alex N.
Bleh. Super nice people, just SUPER slow service. After being greeted by the nice hostess, I sit my butt down in a big comfy booth. Riding solo that day, so was happy about that! So basically i waited there for 10 minutes for the server to greet me. annoying. I order my iced tea, and a shrimp ceaser salad. after ten minues i get my iced tea......ok, must be making it pretty fresh back there or something! Literally another 15 minutes go by and i get my salad. It's a ceaser salad with shrimp. Why is that difficult? It's fine. it was good food, just the service really didn't care about me. He didn't even try to engage me until I had the check in my hand, which i obviously had to get his attention to get. Seems like it's just really inconsistent, as there are plenty of great reviews, but in this biz you can't really off that many off days....
(3)Sayantan G.
Food was ok, service was good, weak omelettea
(2)Lisa M.
I was in Baltimore on a Wednesday night traveling on business and stumbled upon this place. Really nice modern feel and all that stuff. Then the menu, all seafood! Ofcourse, seafood is going to be the main focus of most restaurants located on a harbor. If you are looking for more of an Americana experience, which I was, this is not the place for you. In my mind, a place with tavern in it's name is going to have move variety in the menu.
(2)Sarah H.
Business lunch of 8 on a weekday. Everything started out great but then our server must have taken a break because we waited about 45 minutes between apps and mains. One hot sandwich was sent back because it was cold. My chop salad mysteriously appeared without the dressing. Fries are good. Will give it another try for redemption.
(2)Brian B.
Service is very good. Food is incredibly average, and over-salted. Loose Cannon Triple IPA saved the experience from being a total disappointment.
(3)Paul C.
First off I would like to say this is a nice place for breakfast, but it can get pricey. The food is good though. It is dinner I am worried about. The few times I have been there for dinner, the food really wasn't cooked to order and if you are a high class place that advertises good food, you should know how to cook. There is a full bar and the place itself is more like a tavern and has a nice atmosphere. The staff seems to know what to do and I was there during a hurricane and even with low staff, they were slow, but took care of everyone. So I believe the problem is the cook. If they lowered their prices and got a better cook, I am sure they would have a much higher review.
(3)A. C.
(02/21/2012) Went for a lunch outing with the boss; the Diamond Tavern is a convenient location, so it ends up being our default workplace celebration place. The usual burger satisfied, like it always does; standard beef patty, cooked to order (and they are generally on target), comes on a shiny brioche-like roll. The Reuben was beautiful to look at (wasn't my dish), was on grilled marbled rye; the corned beef looked like it was sliced off a roast rather than pre-packaged slices. The least successful dish was my Crab Cake Salad. The crab cake itself was mostly lump and back fin, not jumbo lump, had very little filler and seasoning, and was oddly stark white through and through. Flavor was mostly of a frozen, pasteurized crab product (had that weird fishy funk to it). There was plenty of arugula, but it was strangley dressed, the "Chesapeake Vinaigrette" is seasoned with Old Bay and was overpoweringly sour and salty; there were a few shreds of grilled fennel (had to hunt for them), and the "roasted" tomatoes were somewhat wan and mealy. Agree with the other reviewers about the service; it's strangely inattentive. Everyone's very nice, but they disappear, don't refill drinks, and forget things. It's surprising that such a large corporation has such lack of structure. I'm sure we'll be back, though, they do have plenty of other more appealing things on the menu, and as far as the service goes, the longer we're there, the less time we're at work :)
(3)Bruce B.
If you're going for breakfast, don't bother with the bagels. They are horrible. Otherwise, breakfast was OK. Usual inflated hotel restaurant prices.
(2)Cezaro L.
This place is totally, totally underrated on Yelp. Two stars for only serving seafood? The seafood itself is FANTASTIC (plus, they serve chicken and steak too). And every detail of every dish was a complete pleasure. I'm serious. It's kind of weird how empty this place is. It's pricey, but the food itself is creative and perfectly executed, and the service was friendly and very attentive (that's what you get when about 10% of tables are seated, I guess). I went with 8 people and everything we ordered blew our minds. We went in mostly because we could get a reservation, expecting average food, the sort of tourist trap/convenience thing you'd find smack dab in the middle of Camden Yards and the convention center. But yeah, we were wrong about Diamond Tavern. Things that were extraordinary: 1) Thai Chili Shrimp Appetizer. May not be the most inventive, but a dish that hits the spot every time, and they do an excellent job with this one. 2) Crab cakes. Basically no filler, great flavor, just barely crispy, on a bed of fresh, delicious spinach. Very, very nice. 3) Rockfish. Great flavor, great texture. Comes with grilled asparagus, the most delicious rice ever, and juicy, perfect tomatoes. See 6) and 7). 4) The CHICKEN. Don't know how, but they managed to make a pretty ordinary entree a total standout. My (very sophisticated, probably-disappointed-in-me) grandparents were in disbelief. 5) The rice that came with the Rockfish. You just have to try it. Lemony (and like everyone else, I normally hate that Pine-Sol taste--this is not it) with a touch of something I couldn't identify. Foodies, please let me know what this is so I can attempt to replicate this side at home. 6) The tomatoes. They just came on the side, but they were awesome. 7) The free bread. Again, just leaps and bounds better than the rest, with a delicious garlic butter taste. The prices aren't crazy expensive, but they're not cheap. I would recommend this specifically for a family gathering, in that there's a lot of space and a pretty varied menu that will please everyone. But yes, I would enthusiastically recommend this restaurant. Keep some good people in business!
(5)julia m.
Went here for a quick drink before a ravens game and wont be going back. The place was pretty empty, service was average, and our drinks were super mediocre. Would have been satisfied enough with the experience but we got our bill and saw our 2 rather small drinks were $25.. Couldn't believe it was cheaper to drink at the game! We will be skipping this joint next time we're making our walk to M&T Bank Stadium.
(1)Mick O.
I was in Baltimore attending a trade show . I had breakfast two days in a row . The service was very good , and they were very attentive . The fellow I was with had the buffet both mornings and he enjoyed it , I has a bagel and cream cheese both mornings . The cost was what you would expect at a hotel restaurant .
(2)Kelly G.
Diamond Tavern is actually a part of the Hilton Convention Center complex. It charges hotel restaurant prices. It has you cornered, so it can. It was the only place open/within a short walk of the conference rooms/ballrooms on the Hilton side of the Baltimore Convention Center complex. I trudged over there during a break in the meeting. Cups of coffee were on the house. But when I wanted a muffin or a bagel, they charged me. Yes, my cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese set me back a whopping $5.30! Yes, FIVE DOLLARS AND THIRTY CENTS FOR A CINNAMON RAISIN BAGEL WITH CREAM CHEESE. Yikes. They didn't even have any plastic knives for me to spread the cream cheese onto the bagel with. They gave me a plastic spoon instead. Dang. I'll bring my own snacks next time I go to a meeting there.
(2)Nate R.
After a horrendous flight on Air Tran where we missed the Sox game completely we stopped here for some food and a much needed drink. The service was extremely friendly and accommodating, personally making us some nachos that were not on the late night menu. The turkey club was great and hit the spot after sitting in a plane the entire day. It was nice to see a classier bar/restaurant by the park which was a nice change of pace from the chaos by Pickles Pub. I would definitely come here again during our trip to Baltimore next year.
(4)Sonya T.
A little pricey, but the service is excellent and the food delicious. As far as hotel restaurants go, this one is excellent.
(4)Trevin P.
Inside the new Hilton Hotel. DS and I had Valentine's dinner here , they had a special menu for $85/couple. Overall the food was very good, but with a few issues. Expected a little better for the $. The setting was nice- the dining area was relaxing and not too stuffy with a nice view of the pretty sports museum building by Camden Yards. First Course: Ahi Tuna Carpaccio - very tasty and nicely presented. Entree: Grilled Lobster and Beef Wellington - tasted great, but the beef wasn't hot enough. Lobster ok, on the small side. Other entree: Stuffed Duck Breast with Morels and Foie Gras - really good, the portion of foie gras was VERY small. Duck very tasty. Dessert: Chocolate Soufflé, Mixed Berry Coulis and Valentine Heart shortbread - Souffle was good, the shortbread was basically a couple small cookies with dollop of whip cream, disappointing. Service was average, could have been more attentive and clearing unused dishes. Had to ask for coffee with dessert, and the coffee was lukewarm. I would come back, but maybe only for lunch or before a baseball game. The location is right next to Camden Yards and bar area looked nice.
(3)Mike M.
I've been here about 6 times before Raven's games (mostly preseason or night games) because it's convenient to the Hilton. I've sat at the bar once (decent service), at an indoor table twice (ok service) and outside three times (very weak service). I've only seen if full once before a PITT game. I had the pregame buffet inside last year and it was ok. Not horrible, but overpriced like all the entrees. The shrimp appetizer is pretty decent. Calamari is ok. Crab bisque had crab in it but was an odd flavor. Maybe too much old bay for a bisque. The wings were pretty good. They were fall off the bone (as advertised) but maybe it's because they overcook them (which is fine with me). The menu online looks pretty decent with a good variety of lesser priced sandwiches and such, but this wasn't the menu they gave us at 5PM on a THU. Our menu had about 6-7 eclectic apps and some $32 entrees. Not much in between. Maybe the did this because it was before the game and they didn't want the chef to get overwhelmed but there couldn't have been 4 other tables filled the whole time we were there (5-6:30P). Got the spaghetti/meatballs off the kids menu for my son which came out cold after about 45 min. It was basically Chef Boy R Dee that wasn't microwaved all the way through because the meatballs were cold on the inside. Asked them to microwave it a little bit more and it took about 20 min. We were there about 90 min and were able to get one beer and a couple appetizers in the 3 time we saw our server. I've finally learned my lesson and won't go back.
(1)adam o.
here for drinks, ordered an old fashioned that was positively terr-i-ble. undissolved sugar (should be simple syrup), over bittered, and too much ice. oh, and the bartender was rude. if youre downtown and looking for a drink, keep walking.
(1)Eric J.
Went here for breakfast after spending a night at the hotel. We ordered off the menu rather than coughing up $19 for the buffet, which didn't look all that great. The menu listed "New York Bagels" as a side option. I ordered an omlette with an onion bagel as a side rather than toast. The waitress was confused by my request for an onion bagel and said "I don't think we have those." So then I requested an "everything" bagel and she said that she didn't think they had those, either. She said that she would check and asked for a third option in case they didn't have those. I then requested a "plain" bagel. Well, after about 30 minutes waiting for our food (the place wasn't that crowded) I indeed got my omlette and the everything bagel. Food was decent, but for what we paid for our meal, you'd expect a lot more. Waitress wasn't very attentive to our table, either. I'd probably pass on this place in the future if we stay at this hotel again. It's probably worth it to drive or walk somewhere else since its downtown.
(2)Tracey M.
It was "fine." Just okay. I liked the hummus and the spicy rock shrimp. Don't go to Maryland and not get the crab. The crab was good. They tried very hard but it is mediocre at best. Its next to the convention center so....you always get medicore near a convention center.
(2)Charley C.
Well, I wanted a late night snack after arriving in town and each for the surrounding big name hotels had closed restaurants. But not the Diamond Tavern at the Hilton!!! They made a fantastic club sandwich. Big Fat Meaty and HOT frys. Well it was so good I came back the next day for a late lunch and loved it again. The is a great spot for a before game snack as the Camden Yard is across the street!
(5)Jess T.
We ended up at the Diamond Tavern by accident while in town for Yankees/Orioles. I was surprised the place was as dead as it was seeing as we were there a few hours before the game. I'm usually more of a pub/loud dirty sports bar kind of girl, so clearly I had already given Pickles a shot last time I was in the area. In an attempt to broaden horizons, enjoy some apps and catch a pregame buzz, we elected to try out the Diamond Tavern. The prices were a little higher than Pickles, but money is no object when it comes to a baseball pregame. My ladies and I ordered hummus and the spinach and artichoke dip...throw in some cold drafts, and we were ready to rock Camden. Also, the service here was impeccable. The servers and staff were friendly, funny, and happy. I wish Boston had a place like this.
(3)Elmer S.
I will reserve judgement of Diamond until I return (if ever)! Although the Happy Hour menu is pretty slim, it is packed full of deliciousness. The Chicken Tostada was amazing, the Ciabatta Pizza has the nostalgic look and taste of high school cafeteria pizza. (Now that we look back, not so great, but at the time it was the best pizza you'd ever had). The thing that really turned me off on this restaurant is the seemingly uppity nature of its bar tending staff. I sat directly in front of the beer tap in so every bartender definitely saw that I was without food or drink and sitting at the bar awaiting service. After the two bartenders passed me for about 8 mins without as much as a hello or here's a menu, finally some one else who looked like a manager, ask the people surrounding me if they were ok...I took that opportunity to ask for their Happy Hour menu. The lady next to me was in shock that they actually had one of those as it had not been offered to the guests that were already there. It took me another 10 minutes to flag down the bartenders so I could order the Tostadas and a Heavy Seas Loose Cannon. While ordering the bartender again never spoke. As my food and cup ran low the bartender never asked if I wanted a refill or more food. I once again had to flag him down and ask for another beer and the Ciabatta Pizza. I eventually finished the pizza and finally the bartender asked if I wanted to have anything else. (This is the first time he had spoke directly or for the matter indirectly to me, the other bartender was definitely a "no call, no show") I then ordered the Crab Fritters which are perfection anywhere else except Baltimore #weknowcrabcakes. All in all, Diamond definitely has the potential to be an amazing staple in the Baltimore Happy Hour scene, the staff needs more training!
(3)Art C.
I'm being generous by giving this one star. Food was cold, service was slow, wine was cheap. The price too high for all the above. I hit sent too soon. They did come back and heat up the meal. The food was good.
(2)Dave I.
Empty on Xmas time weekend, so we thought it'd be not so good, but we were pleasantly surprised. Nice wine, good beer, an excellent chicken entree and good pulled pork sandwich with great sides.
(4)Art A.
This is an average of two visits, rounded up to the nearest star. First time I was here for a late dinner. This was my second time to Baltimore and it was too late (and I was too hungry) to go too far away from the convention center for dinner. I ordered crab cakes because thats what all good tourists to Baltimore do- and I wasn't disappointed; they were plump, delicious and generous with the crab. The server was attentive and polite and I ended dinner with a proper shot of espresso. My second visit I ate at the bar, a jack and coke on one hand and an old bay buffalo wing in the other. The drink was appropriately portioned, not too strong nor too weak but the wings were meh; I've definitely had better coming from a college town. Still, the ambiance leans towards upscale, the service is good, the patrons are maybe classy? (yours truly included). Its convenient to the Hilton and convention center and serves very decent food late(r) at night. Maybe not the best option under ideal conditions but certainly not a poor one.
(4)Gary R.
We didn't receive all the items we ordered. The manager fixed the issue and gave the item to us for free, but we were in a rush, and had to leave most of it.
(2)Chris W.
Was in town for a few days, staying at the Hilton to which this place is attached. Being a hotel restaurant, we weren't expecting much, and those expectations were met. The decor is lame- it reminded me more of a hotel lobby than a tavern. It's a sterile and cheap-looking take on sophistication, with big TVs everywhere. Service was sloooooooow. We waited 10 minutes for our drinks. How long does it take to pour bourbon into a glass? The water guy was almost aggressively attentive, and stood way too close to us while watching a basketball game on the TV above my date. The saving grace that earned my two stars was the food. My burger was tasty, if a little overcooked. My date had the she crab soup which was delicious. French fries were excellent. Don't be tempted just because it's in your hotel. There are better places to eat in the neighborhood. Better yet, take an Uber to Little Italy or Fells Point for $10 and eat somewhere great.
(2)Don S.
Extremely slow service. Came for breakfast on Sunday morning and waited forever for a waitress and a bowl of oatmeal
(1)Howard B.
Nothing exceptional about this hotel restaurant, and I thought it was below average given today's standards. Food and service were average and indoor summer dining was almost intolerable given an air conditioner that felt like it was set to 65. I would skip it next time.
(2)Steve S.
We took advantage of the breakfast bar here this morning before checking out of the Hilton. Bottom line, I have a love/hate relationship with hotel breakfast buffets. I'm convinced most of them are all the same. This one, it had a little something to it. The food tasted fresh and well prepared. The basic eggs, bacon, sausage, and potatoes all were a notch above what I'm used to getting at hotel buffets. Now the service... Our waiter, Donnell, treated us like we were friends from out of town. I liked that. He even offered to give us coffee to go at the end without us asking for it. That's above and beyond in my book. The gentleman making our omelets, I didn't get his name, but he was also quite friendly. Plus he made a mean omelet. I was quite happy. Kudos for a great experience. The staff here is top notch.
(4)Bob N.
Great place to grab a beer before the game. Not as crowded as other places near camden yards. Great view of the stadium and easy walking distance to light rail and Marc train
(5)Miriam B.
Just had dinner with my baby and my husband. My food was really on point. I had the roasted chicken with crossiant stuffing. My husband ordered off the happy hr menu. They make a mean Cosmo too. I would have given five stars but our service was less than stellar then the manager took over and we had a great meal
(3)Christin Y.
I'm usually not impressed by hotel restaurants, but Diamond Tavern is an exception. I went for breakfast and had a great meal and impeccable service. I went with the vegetable frittata, and it was delicious and served with breakfast potatoes and toast. My waiter was friendly, attentive and helpful with the menu. They also offer a breakfast buffet with an omelet station.
(4)J E.
If I could give "negative" stars I would! Waited forever for someone to come over to our table. Then when the food came out we only got lettuce in what should have been a Caesar salad and a beet salad with goat cheese! When we mentioned something they gave us free drinks! Ice tea! Wow, thanks. Never again.
(1)Brent D.
Worst experience. Ok the food is good but the management of the restaurant is terrible. Unorganized and take ten years to get the food. The only employee to get us a drink was the hostess. Points to her. Oh and we watched two tables leave as they suffered from the same experience as we did. Why did I stay and not leave? Well the hostess saved the day.
(1)Mitchell R.
I was staying at the adjoining Hilton and since the weather was poor, I thought I would try this restaurant and honestly had low expectations. The food lived down to those expectations. My impression is that they have a microwave oven and a freezer. The food was not palatable and cold. The service was surly and indifferent. I think if I sat naked no one would have noticed. My recommendation is go elsewhere.
(2)Sean P.
The tavern is connected to the convention center's Hilton and does room service for both the pub and the hotel. Service at the tavern was slow despite not being packed. Food was good overall (with some exceptions). She crab soup. Definite win. Thick, home made and surprisingly excellent as a dipper for the fries. Speaking of, their fries are seriously good. Their tavern burger? Lackluster. It's a bar, and bars should be known for that perfect greasy burger -- the kind you chase with a beer and violently regret two hours later, but man is it good going down. Sadly, the Diamond's burger was bland, dry and lacking seasoning. Meh. Skip the burger and go straight for the turkey sandwich. It's damned tasty. The 30 cheese macaroni (okay, it's not 30 cheese, but I don't remember how many kinds of cheese there were) is actually really good though the portion size is kind of smallish for a meal. We didn't try it with short rib. Could be great, but I'm not willing to spend $30 on "could be". All in all, it's good overall, but expensive. They charge hotel restaurant prices (about 50% higher than they should be charging) even though it's not in the hotel. The prices really hold the Diamond Tavern back. It could be better, but as it is... it's really just average/above average. You expect a bit more for the money. Not bad, not great. There's better options out there.
(3)John K.
I was staying at the Hilton and came here for breakfast I have to "oh boy". I finally got my waiters attention he was busy watching the news while he was scratching his back on the furniture. The restaurant was freezing because they had to opening the door for a Dunkin' Donuts delivery. My food came out cold and it was 22.00.
(1)Janey R.
I came here as a birthday dinner for a dear friend of mine and I was also photographing her dinner for the event. I have a few complaints because I visually could see everyone's different plates and of course I don't like to waste money so I do eat all of my food. Yet, I needed to make sure I set a review. This review is specifically for individuals in search of a dinner party area, especially if there are a mix of people economically from college students to wealthy full time workers. First, they gave us a little room that fit all 24 of us VERY TIGHTLY. Meaning it was very hard to even sit down properly in my seat and the spaces in between seats were so narrow many of us ended up standing up most of the time rather than sitting. Second, the service was nice, but we asked for them to make the room brighter so that photographs could come out better. Who ever went to go fix the lights had no clue what they were doing, and turned all the lights off several times. I would suggest them to train and make sure that at least someone understand the lighting controls. Third, the food proportions to the price lacks. I ordered a shrimp and penne pasta and I was lucky to get a good amount of shrimp, but for 20 dollars I expected more flavor. I had a surprising amount of heat which was nice but I was kind of disappointed in what I thought would have been an amazing dish. I didn't want to order anything else on the menu since it was something I felt I personally could cook to my liking. My friend who is a chef also agreed, and ordered the pulled pork. Pulled pork and french fries? I am still trying to figure out how that got the menu. Another friend of mine ordered the salmon and it looked surprisingly good and a nice portion and well priced. Yet, sadly one of the party members ordered the mac-and-cheese and was very disappointed. His proportion seemed as much as what you would get in an easy-mac microwaveable container and he was very unhappy. The break down of my stars goes as follows, 1 for food, since it did not leave me wanting for more and there were many more complaints. 3 for service since the waitress and bus boy was extremely nice and kept a smile no mater what. They also stayed very calm under pressure. It would have been 4 stars for service if the lighting situation didn't happen. I give them 2 stars total. I recommend this for a party of 15 and under if you are having a dinner party. It is a nice place and gives a nice atmosphere, yet if you have more than 15 I would find some place different. If you have also people who don't mind spending 30 dollars on mediocre dinner then I would definitely go for this since the service is pretty good. Yet I have had better at other restaurants at a cheaper price.
(2)Adrienne S.
Ate here on a Sunday morning, while in town attending a conference. They have your average breakfast buffet containing standard breakfast fare. I ordered the Crab Benedict from the menu - it was fabulous!
(4)Gail C.
I had two breakfasts and a lunch at the restaurant. All the food I ordered was the best I have ever eaten. Which was quite the big surprise. I suspect it may have been more about my choices and less about the entire menu. For example, I did not have the breakfast buffet. It looked dry and completely unappealing, especially at 19.00. What I got was the Eggs Beni one day and the Protein Egg White Omelet the next. Both were the best I have ever had. For lunch I had soup. It too was fantastic. However, my friend had pizza and it looked terrible. The wait staff was friendly and efficient.
(4)Jack S.
Just had a way above average burger for lunch. They should warn you about how juicy it is before taking the first bite. Convenient to convention center. Good atmosphere for business or social. I watched some World Cup from my table. TV's everywhere (sound off ). No complaints here.
(4)Branfa B.
Way overpriced. I came here to have lunch twice in a row during a conference held at the Hilton. I ordered the grilled chicken salad, which was decent enough, though nothing great. When I came back the following day and ordered exactly the same thing, they brought me a sad looking salad with only cranberries and pine nuts -- no corn and no dates, which are listed as ingredients. Weird. The staff is sweet but I would not go back.
(2)Andrew C.
I've been to the Diamond Tavern twice now, and had an exceptional experience both times. The atmosphere and decorum are neat. The waiters were very friendly and hospitable, more so than most restaurants. And to top it all off, both of my meals were wonderful. The steak was delicious, and the sherbet I ordered for desert was top quality. The pizza I ordered during my second visit was great too, and there were so many options and toppings to choose from. As expected with restaurant hotels, the prices were high. But unlike many, the quality of the food matched the price, and all the servings were big. I must mention again how accommodating the staff were- one of the times after waiting a little longer for my drink, my kind waitress offered to remove it from the bill. The service and food at the Tavern should serve as a model for all hotel restaurants.
(5)Eric R.
Went from one star (and that was generous) to three stars the following day so that averages out to two stars: Day One: I came here for lunch (the company took over downtown Baltimore for a convention) and it wound up taking close to 40 minutes for a burger and fries. I was not a happy camper because it cause me to be late for my division's champagne toast. Thanks to this debacle I was only able to get one glass of bubbly instead of four. DON'T GET BETWEEN ME AND MY ALCOHOL!!!!! The place was not that crowded it just seemed like the folks in the kitchen did not have it together. I was ready to leave when my server Kevin asked me to wait while he spoke with a manager about my situation. They did the right thing by comping me my lunch. However it took an extra few minutes for the fries to be finished and although I asked for the meal to go since it was so late, it finally came out on a dish. It probably would have taken another 10 minutes for them to box it up so I bit the bullet and ate it there. Additionally I had asked for a medium rare burger but mine was served medium. Again, if I had sent it back I would probably still be waiting for it. I was prepared to give one star because they did comp my meal, that fact that it took so long, was not prepared to my liking or served to go all added up to a not good experience. In these situations if too many bad things add up, it gets harder to overlook things that I would normally let slide. Move on to Day Two: I met a friend here this morning for breakfast before flying home. After my experience yesterday it was with great reluctance that I came back here. I was not surprised that, upon arriving at 11:25am, we were SOL for breakfast. However a manager, seeming to sense that we wanted brekkie, allowed us to partake in breakfast even though they were closing up the buffet. So I left Diamond Tavern satisfied this morning because I felt looked after and everything was served up (as in my special order eggs since it was a buffet) in a timely manner. I can't in good conscience recommend this place but the food, once you get it, is not bad. Just give yourself PLENTY of time and then some if you decide to eat here and have lots of patience and a sense of humor.
(2)Nancy M.
Came here before the Ravens first preseason game on Thursday night. Not bad, kind of pricey. I had seared scallops on potato risotto, which was kind of like risotto hash browns. My friend had a burger I think. I don't pay attending to others good. Server was very pleasant. When you consider how expensive really junky food costs, this was a better alternative. The scallops were delicious.
(4)Barb K.
Just rude. Huge ballgame traffic. Bartenders get rude and snide during busy times. There are fun places with great deals within two minutes walk.
(1)Francesca L.
Came in kinda late--after 10pm on a Friday and the place was deserted. My friends and I just wanted apps, desserts, and drinks, and it was close by so we decided to check it out. The service was quite awkward, as if they weren't used to actually having customers, but we dealt with it. I had the brioche bread pudding with caramelized pineapple and cassis. Yum! It was warm and delicious. Exactly what I look for in a bread pudding. Overall the food was good, but the service left something to be desired.
(3)Michael F.
I agree with the previous Yelper, this place is seriously underrated. I had dinner here with a friend and his daughter during a break from Grand Prix viewing. But first I had lunch which then hooked me in for dinner... Rejecting a vendor who had the audacity to try to serve me a pit beef sandwich on a freaking hot dog roll and then wanted to charge me 9 bucks for it, I asked him if he was joking.. I'll pass thanks. With the smell of smoke in the air I turned toward the Diamond Taverns patio, they had pit beef and thick hamburgers cooking out there. The burgers looked really good but I wanted pit beef and boy did they deliver. The pit beef was in the top 5 pit beef sandwiches I've ever eaten.Tender, piled high seasoned perfectly and juicy. Look at me, look at me harder..As you can see I've eaten quite a few pit beef sandwiches in my day friend, trust me this was awesome. And only..wait for it...6 bucks. Yea 6 bucks compared to 9 the crappy vendor next to Mothers was trying to serve me.(still bitter yes) So later when we were looking for a place to sit down and chow down I suggested the Diamond Tavern. We were seated behind the bar on the second level. I really love the decor, it's modern American with a splash of Mediterranean with the blue lighting and molded wall patterns, very pleasing to the eye. The menu isn't large by any means but what they lack in quantity Diamond tavern makes up in quality. For starters we shared a crab and spinach dip ($11). It was parmesan crusted as promised but the chips were needing a little more old bay. Never the less It was very good. I decided on the Tavern Burger ($12) (yea I luv me beef) which is at least 6oz of juicy beef topped with grilled sweet onions,beefsteak tomato,pancetta, and local cheddar all in between a gourmet egg washed buttery roll. I couldn't put it down, It looked even better then it sounds as the presentation and plating of every dish was thought out and pleasing. I devoured it completely with no remorse. The hand cut fries with skin on were great as well. They suffered the same fate as my burger. I also tried the mac n cheese. Creamy swirly noodles in a light cheesy sauce, could use a bit more salt for my taste. For desert I tried their creme brulee. It was just ok, I've had better. Two adults and one child ate for about 50 bucks minus the tip. Not bad. Good service Great food Awesome presentation And cool decor Two big thumbs up for the Diamond Tavern !
(4)Monique M.
House salad: yum. Crab corn bisque: yum. French toast: yum!! 3 cheese Mac n cheese: yum. Empty both times I've been in, but fast friendly service. Waiter replaced a dessert drink I wasn't thrilled with. All around solid service. $100 for two. A little steep, but almost worth it.
(4)Rose S.
Does in a pinch like a heat wave where you don't want to walk too far. the omelet bar overcooked, he is trying to do too much at once. Breakfast buffet was sad. The apple pie - who told them that was apple pie?! Where is Gordon Ramsey when you need him? Understaffed - waits when there are visibly tables set and ready to go. Hostess that doesn't understand what a hostess does like not disappearing to the point that ppl are writing their own names on the list or sitting themselves at the bar where there is no service and suddenly someone is needed to cover it. The high protein breakfast was okay & water service was spotty. My suggestion would be to call Gordon, Joe or Graham ASAP. Maybe Robert Irvine something cause this place needs a revamp.
(1)Mike B.
Diamond Tavern was visited last week while in town for a conference for lunch. The prices reflect the "hotel" type of pricing, thus more expensive than if you left the hotel. I had the crab cake sandwich ($17.50) with fries. The crab cake was excellent and the bun was also tasty. Several of the group had the fish and chips, which was good size serving. The service was good and was respectful of the lunch time meeting we were having among the 6 of us.
(3)Dave R.
It's a dump and a tourist trap. They should rip the whole building down. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else.
(1)Lexie T.
really good food! try the steak ciabatta sandwich - it's so good! not too expensive but very classy (I got it twice in two days:-). staff are all very nice and helpful. the crab cake salad is also so very good! for breakfast: go for the "make your own omelet" !
(5)