Pen & Quill
1701 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD, 21201
Pen & Quill Menu
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Address :
1701 N Charles St
Baltimore, MD, 21201 - Phone (410) 601-3588
- Website https://penandquill.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Emily L.
ALL you need to know to try this place is that its owners also run Tapas Teatro, The Helmand and B Bistro. But in case you're unfortunate enough to never have tried any of those Baltimore favorites, here's some more praise: Swanky, modern interior and comfortable, lightweight tables outside (we opted for the latter, as the weather was nothing short of miraculous: temperatures in the 70's with a cool breeze that was almost . . . chilly?! IN JULY?! IN BALTIMORE?! Apparently the Irish weather followed me home, and boy was I grateful. My friend and I both opted for the Punch Cup, which was a bargain at $6; it came in an actual punch cup, which was sweet, but we would have preferred it in a larger glass with some ice as it was, in fact, a little too sweet. Nice whiskey punch, though, and I loved the bits of ginger sprinkled throughout. In fact, we suggested they sell it in pitchers -- it was a real winner. We started our meal with a soft pretzel, which was everything a soft pretzel should be: a glorious asymmetrical shape that boasted both crunchy and yeasty-soft bits, a buttery exterior with that unmistakable twinge of baking soda (or lye? yikes) and a cheese sauce spiked with porter beer. Entranced, I said, "I could totally do a shot of this cheese sauce," I said. "Shot?" my friend replied. "I could bathe in it!" Our entrees were no less impressive. She opted for the fried chicken with a biscuit and homemade chicken gravy. I dithered quite a bit but decided on the Boss Salad, which was very impressive: an arugula and endive base, tons of roasted asparagus, radishes and baby carrots (not the bullet-shaped kind, but actual young carrots,) sliced avocado, and crumbled feta cheese. Everything was perfectly, lightly dressed in a creamy Green Goddess dressing seasoned with anchovies. I actually couldn't finish it, which is saying a lot for a plate of vegetables. The only downside was that, I know I couldn't afford to eat here often: Cocktails average $12 each and the salad was $18. It was delicious, and they did have cheaper options (a gourmet hot dog for $12, and several Woodberry-style "snacks" under $10) but if you come hungry, you could easily drop $100 on dinner. Enjoy with caution, unless you're independently wealthy!
(4)Dawn H.
This place is the perfect "happening spot" for any occasion. The aesthetics match that of Art meets social! So pay attention and don't take your eyes of the beautiful scenery! Great eats and wallet friendly prices!
(4)Stephen S.
On the advice of a friend, I went back to Pen and Quill for dinner. Rather than being seated in the quiet room off to the side, we were seated in the main dining room and had a totally different experience. The ambiance was fantastic; the place was hopping with a growing crowd. Service and food (steak frites; yum) were excellent. A growing part of the Station North district and worthy of the Karzai food empire.
(4)Adrienne D.
Delicious food and excellent friendly service. The bone marrow was superb and the steamed bun with fried oyster was savory and the oyster fried to perfection.
(5)Morina Y.
The veggie options are delicious, as are the cocktails. The waiter was great, pretty enthusiastic in general, joked around with us a lot. Gave the experience a much more dressed-down feeling than the decor might suggest. Love all the big windows and airy feel to the place, and apparently they sometimes have live music? Stopped in one Friday night alone and sat at the bar where I had very friendly and not overly-intrusive attention from the bartender. Surrounded by couples so I was not hit on at all and could enjoy my delicious lemoncello champagne cocktail in peace. A great alternative to Tapas Theatro when it's overcrowded, and a great place to go before or after a movie.
(4)Keith K.
My visit was purely for drinks and appetizers, but that said, the apps were great, so I'm feeling that the dinner menu might follow suit. The bartender, on the other hand, was fantastic! A true mixologist, Adam knew his drinks and more importantly, knew his crowd. His was there when you needed him and always quick with a hearty laugh, it was his party and he was darn happy that you were in attendance. One of our group enjoyed Adam's, Zombie, a drink that is not only old school, but also not the kind of drink most bars even attempt. Adam made it go down easy. If only the decor had been a little less corporate cookie cutter, Pen & Quill would have gotten all five stars. I'm not saying the interior wasn't nice, just more calculated than Adam's side of the room (insert Hearty Laugh).
(4)Janet L.
I've been dying to try Pen and Quill for months and finally got to go with some friends. We were seated promptly and were promptly asked if we wanted drinks by two people. I think there was a shift change because we got several different people asking for drink orders and offering to take our order. The food started off great. Had the beef tongue steamed bun and the pretzel was absolutely delicious and buttery. I was excited to get the watermelon salad but the radicchio was burned and overall the flavor combo was not to my liking. We shared the lamb chops which were delicious. I think the mushrooms and gnocchi with the sauce made that dish great. I was confused by the pork belly and didn't think the veggie combination was the best so ended up just eating the pork and veggies separately. Overall wish the dinner had been better but the night started off great. Would recommend going for a drink and snacks.
(3)Katie P.
We went to Pen & Quill on a Tuesday night. When we arrived around 6pm there were only a few people in the bar & lounge area but it filled up around 7pm. The ambience and decor was welcoming. Our booth was a bit uncomfortable for a longer dinner, but there are also plenty of other seating options in the space. Service both at the bar and at our table in the lounge was great. Wait times between courses were just a bit long at times, but nothing too worrisome. For cocktails we had a Mint Julep, an Old Fashioned, and a #TikiTuesday cocktail called The Pearl of the Antillies in honor of Bastille Day. All were refreshing and delicious. We also enjoyed a Chenin Blanc wine flight during dinner. The food was wonderful, each dish as good as the one before it. We shared a few small plates (Housemade Spam Steam Bun, Soft Pretzel with Porter Beer Cheese and the Nashville Wings) and some charcuterie and cheese (Chicken Liver Mousse with a Triple Cream). For entrees we had the Steak Frites and the Honey Fried Chicken and we finished off with the Lemon Icebox Pie and two flavors of Sorbet. I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite dish of the night because everything was great! I highly recommend Pen & Quill and look forward to going back for a visit soon!
(5)Rachel L.
In an effort to step outside of our comfort zone (Federal Hill) my roommate and I decided to head over to Station North and try the new-ish Pen & Quill. I have heard plenty of good things about Pen & Quill and I was excited to try it. In the dining area, it is laid out in such a way that even if every table was full, the restaurant would still appear spacious. After looking over the menu, many more of the appetizers stood out to us than entrees so my roommate and I decided to share a few appetizers and then an entree. The first appetizer that stood out to us was the Soft Pretzel. It came with a porter cheddar sauce for dipping. The pretzel had a nice doughy interior with a crispy exterior and the dipping sauce was delicious. It had a nice kick that complimented the pretzel nicely. Next, on our appetizer tour of Pen & Quill, we went with the Candied Bacon Popcorn. Unsurprisingly, the popcorn was insanely sweet but the salty-smoky bacon flavor tempered the sweetness. If we were following the traditional dining experience, this would have been a great way to start our meal. For our last starter, we went with the Beef Brisket Steamed Bun. The brisket was insanely tender and the bun was nice and spongy. Inside of the bun was also horseradish cream which has a nice spice that complimented the meat beautifully. I would consider ordering a few of these buns as a meal, they were that good. For our shared entree, we went with the Steak Frites. The steak was topped with Béarnais sauce and the fries were nice and crispy. Additionally the dish was served with a cajun dipping sauce which I loved as an alternative to the traditional ketchup. The steak was cooked perfectly and better than some of the other Steak Frites I've had around the city. If you're in Station North and looking for food with a lot of bold flavors, do yourself a favor and visit Pen & Quill.
(4)Jen W.
It's nice to have another fine dining option near The Charles theater. It has a hip ambience with a large bar and separate narrow wood plank bar that separates the open dining room. The plus is the natural sun light and city views, but the downside is the noise. The noise is a combination of sound bouncing off hard surfaces and loud music. I don't mind it but I just can't hold a conversation. We started with a trio of deviled eggs, heavy on the creamy, mustardy yolk, and the briny pickled green beans, mini zucchinis and peppers. The pickles helped cut the richness of the deviled eggs and a perfect accompaniment to the honey sesame fried chicken on biscuits. The biscuits were glazed with a light chicken gravy. It was a perfect dish and very tasty. The hubby's lamb meatballs on creamy grits were drizzled with a mint pesto. It was an interesting southern/Mediterranean dish. The desserts were tempting so we indulged. The lemon icebox pie was my fave. Tart, creamy and similar to a key lime pie with a contrast I texture with these crispy lemon strips. The hubby finished off his meal with the peanut butter chocolate pie. The fluffy, creamy pie was garnished with a soft peanut bark and a pool of milk chocolate sauce. It was a fun night out. The food was good. The service was decent.
(4)Tom T.
I was not impressed with this place. I was very happy that this place had opened and had read the excellent reviews, but I found the food pretty average at best. The ambiance of the place is pleasing and comfortable and the wait staff do a great job, My issue is the food, although I must admit we only had an entrée and drinks. We stopped by after a movie at the Charles and were going to just have drinks at Happy Hour, but when we decided to eat and move three feet to a table, suddenly we could not have happy hour prices for our drinks. Not a good idea for a rather new restaurant. The wine choices were excellent, but my 8 dollar glass of wine could have cost me 5 bucks if we were not going to eat. What is it with that? We both had the steak frites. I found the fries dry and tasted like that came from a Safeway frozen food box, and the steak which I ordered medium well was charred and tasteless. The sauces were bland and not very original . That did it for this guy. I will not return.
(2)Pat M.
Almost four stars, but not quite! Went for dinner on Saturday night, with my lady and a reservation in hand. It was my first time there, and I liked the vibe. Comfortable decor, and staff in hipster plaid and gingham. Very solid beer list, with craft brews priced about average. My gal got the silver lining cocktail, which was tiny but potent, and not real pleasant tasting. At least it had a single digit price tag! We split two appetizers, one small plate, and a main. The bacon fat hush puppies were nothing special, and tasted pretty much like your average, everyday hush pups. My date really liked the bbq shrimp, and I very much dug the pear salad, though it was a bit pricey and had an imbalance of a LOT of pear versus too little greenery. The spinach cavatelli was good, but really not $22 good. Our server was sufficiently attentive, and their water filling frequency borders on that typical of Chinese restaurants. Overall a good meal, but in my opinion somewhat overpriced for the good quality. Yes, the menu descriptions are pretty interesting reads, with rarely seen words (ingredients) like "giardiniera, bacon salt, morita chipolte aioli, roasted salsify, and porcini brot," but the proof is in the puddin', and that puddin' just wasn't all that great for its price tag!
(3)Liz J.
Even though I'm not changing the number of stars for my review, I had to give an update. We went on a Saturday night, so it was significantly more crowded than my weeknight experience a few months ago. This is definitely a place meant for groups. As a couple, we were able to find lounge seating, and had to share a coffee table with another couple during our meal. Not terrible, but if you want a table, make a reservation, and make it for a big group. The tables are very large and the place is set up for group dining. Diners beware: the menu does not accurately reflect the ingredients in the dishes. I ordered the spinach cavatelli, which was listed as "Rosemary Pesto / Roasted Salsify / Farm Spinach / Grano Padano." Imagine my surprise when my dish came with all that, plus mushrooms! I can't eat mushrooms, so I had to send it back. Our server never came back to check on us after delivering our food, so after 10 minutes of waiting, we finally got another server to flag her down. She was very apologetic and quick to take it away and to take it off our bill, so I'm not going to knock them for that. Just be sure that if you have an allergy, you ask about it before ordering so you're not surprised.
(3)Wendy G.
I was really excited to try this new restaurant in the neighborhood but was very disappointed. We ordered the gnocchi as an appetizer and it was just alright, not great not horrible. I little dry and missing complex flavors. I got the burger as my entree which was also just alright. Certainly doesn't compare to the delicious burgers at Brewers Art down the street. The french fries were delicious though. My fiance got the catfish sandwich and it came out almost completely raw. When we sent it back, it came back as an overdried cornmeal patty with almost no fish served on a dry bun with dry, flavorless coleslaw. The environment was great and the staff were friendly, but they really need to improve their food.
(2)Jazz B.
I was close to hating P&Q... After waiting 10 minutes for service at the bar (LONG DAY I NEEDED MY WINE!!!), I was crabby as hell. Then I had oysters. Suddenly much happier. I had two of each variety- choptanks, malpeques, and one other that I no longer recall. The wine was okay, there was a decent selection. After a few more moments at the bar, our table was made ready- a booth with the most comfortable bench ever known to a restaurant EVER. I never wanted to leave. Seriously we were there for 3 hours. Anyway, the moment my BBQ shrimp arrived at the table, my life pretty much changed. I don't love grits, but these were something transcendent. The sauce was just perfectly sweet and spicy. I ordered the pork cheek app as well- so rich. Things escalated quickly. I had the steak frites... better than any of the much more expensive steaks that I've eaten. Expertly cooked, and just lightly salted (do I detect butter?). I can't even describe how awesome this steak was, and I am a steak person. The fries were perfectly cooked, but I barely noticed them next to the steak of my dreams. They were out of the creme brulee, but the toffee pudding was incredible! The head chef, is clearly working very hard, managing the kitchen as well as shucking oysters and greeting customers. On top of a wonderful meal, she was quite personable. I will definitely be back here!
(5)MtVmouse B.
We came for happy hour on a freezing cold Thursday night. There were only 5-6 other people when we arrived, but it steadily grew to a comfortable crowd. Most things were a hit with only a couple of minor misses. The beef tongue buns were great, not undercooked as some have complained about. They're twice the size of a traditional steamed bun and well worth the $4 happy hour price. The deviled eggs were solid, but a little more bacon would have been nice (happy hour price was per half egg FYI). The gnudi, chicken liver mousse, and terrine were also winners, although a small piece of bread to soak up the remaining cream sauce from the gnudi would have made it a bit more satisfying. We also had to ask for more crostini for the charcuterie. Both the liver and terrine are too rich to spread on just 5 thin crisps. The only big food disappointment was the beer nuts. They would be better described as soft peanut brittle that sticks to your teeth so much that it actually interrupts conversation. As for service, everyone was very friendly except for our main bartender (we sat at the bar). He never cracked a smile and didn't check with us too often. Another bartender/bar manager more than compensated. The remodel for the transition from the Chesapeake to P&Q is a big improvement. We'll definitely be back for happy hour and movies at the Charles.
(4)Daniel C.
Pen & Quill is the new place in the old Chesapeake space on the corner near the Charles Theater. It's great that there are more dining choices in the area, which are really needed, but I don't know how I feel about this place. It certainly is very nice inside, sparsely decorated to emphasize open space and a relaxed atmosphere. There is a long bar with a hightop seating bar across from it, which is nice to belly up to for a drink but makes it hard to socialize if there are more than two in your party. Happy Hour pricing is also available at the nice lounge areas and outside, which would have been nice to know from the start but we could have asked, nit that Happy Hour is that much of a deal here. There are many local drafts to choose from, and the attentive bartenders can help you pick something out if need be. We did order some steamed buns from the HH menu ($4 each), and the tongue and oyster buns were great if a little filling due to the heavy fluffy bun. The banh mi vegetarian bun was no great shakes though. I was please to see they offered bone marrow on the menu, but found it a little odd that it was served cut vertically instead of horizontally. This may have kept it hot but made it a little difficult to spoon out. The liquid did pour out nicely onto the crispy bruschetta bread it came with. This is a nice place to eat nice food, but a little pricy for the area.
(3)Kristy A.
I've been following them on Instagram for months and finally decided to have dinner there. They did not disappoint. The cocktails were reasonably priced and packed a punch. We had the fries and gravy as an appetizer and I wanted to lick the plate afterwards. Amazing selections for cheese and charcuterie. The house marinated olives were to die for! M6 boyfriend and I shared the chickpea falafel was share worthy. Loved this place and will come again and again. Ask for Billy and Samantha they were great!
(4)Laura P.
Great atmosphere, the bar is amazing. You must try a Oaxacan Girlfriend, it is too die for. Small plates are great, scallop foie, steam buns, mushrroms, burrata, all excellent. And the desserts are not to be missed. The toffee pudding and opera torte are both amazing! Will definitely be going back.
(5)Christina O.
First of all, our server was amazing with all her suggestions. The grilled salad was wonderful. The warmth of the lettuces with the soft cheese made the bites melt in my mouth. The steak frites entree was delicious and the banana pudding dessert was the perfect end. I really commend our server because all of her recommendations were delicious and she even wrote down all the grapes used in the wine we enjoyed. We will definitely be returning!
(4)B G.
Ambiance is nice. We ordered our steak for two, medium and it ended up very rare. So that was disappointing. We also had a huge draft and are meal was cold in seconds. The service wasnt great. It took us over an hour to get our food. It was a big group but the restaurant wasn't crowded, so no exec uses. The food was okay, nothing to write home about. Won't be returning.
(1)Kirk S.
Pen & Quill is like an incredibly attractive woman with a horrible laugh: there's a lot to like, but also some really glaringly bad stuff. Pen & Quill is a new entrant in a long line of semi-rustic, hipster type fine dining places in Baltimore. It, like its peers, has exposed brick, nice art, exposed antique looking light bulbs, and rustic tile in the bathroom. It's exactly what you think it is: people with beards and suspenders work here. The food is a truly mixed bag. The beef tongue steamed buns were honestly far from tasty - they were far too acidic and wet. The Oaxacan Girlfriend, a cocktail made of Mezcal, was WAY too strong to the point of being intolerable. The Chicken Maryland was good, but far from exemplary and a bit simple given the price. The breading made the chicken a bit bland tasting, though the sauce and corn bread helped immensely. The clear winner was the Miso Glazed Pork Cheek, which was superb in every possible way. Incidentally, the plating here is superb. Doesn't save some of the dishes, but still. All in all, there are many better places in Baltimore that are better, cheaper, or some combination thereof.
(3)Patricia A.
Pros: great location, hip and comfortable decor, have always been able to get a table or seat at the bar. Cons: consistently weak and pricey cocktails, limited menu that needs a few more winners. I keep wanting to really like this place, but 5/5 times I've been there, it came up short in some way.
(3)Ryan S.
Set up a reservation for my wife and I, for New Years Eve dinner at 7:30. She had to work the next morning, and didn't want to be out too late. That day, we found out a friend was around and had no plans. I called the restaurant, and they were extremely nice about allowing us to add an additional seat. The thing that impressed me so much was that we had a 2-top, and were basically asking for a 4-top but only wanted 3 of those seats. They graciously granted our request with no issue or delay. Now, on to dinner -- we were seated right away. The place seemed pretty crowded, from our perspective. The service was prompt, but not pushy, and allowed us ample time to review the menu and make our decisions. We shared a selection of cheeses, and they were all very good. For the main course, I went with the steak frites, and it was delicious, and cooked perfectly. My wife went with the Chicken Maryland, and was very pleased. I didn't even get a bite! Our friend went the seafood route, with the Bouillabaisse and was pleased at the time, but had some sickness the following day. Could be a complete coincidence, though, so no points subtracted for that one. Overall, we were all very pleased with Pen & Quill, and my wife an I are happy to have a walkable option, as we have warn out most of Mt Vernon's eateries over the past 2.5 years.
(5)Nicole J.
I had high hopes for Pen and Quill. The menu is interesting and the decor/ambience is unique. Unfortunately the execution wasn't quite there and fell short of my expectations. I had their famous beef brisket steamed buns. The buns, while homemade, weren't fully cooked and tasted a bit doughy. Overall, eating beef brisket on half cooked dough was a rough start to the night. My next small place was the miso glazed pork cheek and that was fantastic. It renewed my hopes for the dinner with the interesting popcorn puree flavor with the tender pork cheek and balanced shishito peppers. I was looking forward to my entree once more. For dinner I had the roasted whole bronzino. I loveeeee whole fish and had high hopes for this. The fish was overall okay, however the tapenade was overwhelmingly salty and made it difficult to enjoy the fish. In the end, it felt I was eating pan fried fish that happened to be sitting on top of a mountain of olive tapanade. The meal didn't quite come together and I couldn't finish the dish. In the end, I left $50 less in my wallet with the taste of disappointment.
(3)Robert W.
Yeah, maybe a 3.5. The location and atmosphere are good. A very open space with good lighting, but a little loud. The service was good, but our waitress seemed stretched a bit thin. Water was refilled in a timely manner, but food took a little bit longer than anticipated. Overall, the food was good. But, I think each dish lacked something to make it great. The mushrooms with egg- maybe a little truffle oil? scallop/foie: nicely cooked scallop, but I'm not sure the foie added to the dish as a seared piece (I love foie, but this could have worked differently) the lamb steamed buns- bun was soft, lamb was tender ( I will prefer pork belly) pear salad- I liked the poached pear, but the rest of the salad was a disaster burger with bacon/egg- I asked for med and without fail I got a medium well burger. The patty was also too small for the bun pork cheek- nicely braised quite a good dish overall This place has potential, but for the quality of food, go to Hershs, Maggies Farm, Bottega, Thames St.. @ the same price point.
(3)Kaylee Z.
Everything about this visit was decadent. We even had the pleasure to meet the young and vibrant chef/owner, Bella, who was an absolute gem. Ordered all sorts of deliciousness including the deviled eggs, bbq shrimp, hush puppies to start. We all ordered steak for our entrees, my sister and I the smaller and then my father and boyfriend spilt the NY Strip - they devoured the whole thing and were extremely pleased with everything on the plate including the mushrooms and veggies. Our steaks cut like butter and the temperature was immaculate. It melted in your mouth. Our waitress was funny and the perfect mix of present when you need her and absent when you want to be left alone. I think our entire dining experience lasted over two hours and we enjoyed ourselves very much.
(5)Nayoung L.
We wanted to check out a new restaurant in North Station area. We were lured into the restaurant by its chic decor. Our server was very nice and informative about the menu. We started with a dozen of oysters - fresh and delicious. The menu sounded very promising and we tried the following: -pork cheek with shishito peppers: I am a big fan of shishito peppers. I highly recommend the shishito pepper dish at Ra sushi. The peppers served here were nothing in comparison. Pork cheek and potato puree was very heavy. It was more like pot roast with cream of mushroom soup to me. I love the veal cheek dish at Fork and Wrench and maybe my expectation was too high. -scallop with foie gras: The scallops were cooked well but I didn't enjoy the foie gras. Overall, I feel like I can get better food for the similar price in Canton or Harbor East.
(3)Brad W.
Really good cocktails. Local rye and other liquor. Scrumptious din din. You should check out this place. Do it! Put it on a regular rotation. The Karzais did it again.
(5)Josh A.
I had heard mostly good things about Pen and Quill, so I was happy for the chance to finally try it out for myself. I wasn't disappointed. A friend and I went before a theater engagement. The staff was friendly and proficient, the space beautiful and welcoming, if perhaps trying a little too hard to be hipster trendy. We were seated in the main dining room, which has large windows facing south. I ordered the curried beet soup and the steak frites, while my friend ordered a salad and the ox tail bolognese with gnocchi. Everything was delicious. The soup was the highlight of my meal, well balanced and seasoned. I wanted more when I finished it. My friend's salad was very generous. Perhaps a little too generous. Or as he put it, being an Englishman, it was a very American-sized portion. But he enjoyed it. The steak was, again, well-seasoned and cooked perfectly, melt-in-your-mouth tender. My only criticism was that while the Béarnaise sauce was very tasty, there was far too much of it, both under and on top of the steak. It became much too rich, and this is coming from someone who loves butter. I had to scrape as much of it off as possible. As an aside, we were watching the clock carefully because of the show's start time, so when the staff was a little overly considerate about not rushing our meal (since my friend had not finished his large salad, they didn't bring out the entrees), we let them know about our time crunch, and they fired our entrees and had them out within minutes. Alas, we didn't have time for dessert, but that just means I'll have to go back again soon.
(4)A. C.
(4/30/2015) went to a work HH at P&Q, during the riots of 2015. Had to be in an out before curfew and martial law set in. They were very glad to have is there, and ran HH as long as we were there. Service was professional, food was really delicious. We pretty much have every snack available. Love the Marinated Sardines, slightly sweet and pickled like Saba, can't go wrong with an oozy quail egg for some creamy richness to cut the fish oil and vinegar. Pretzels were a total hit, scooped out the Orr cheddar sauce with our fingers, that good. Roasted Crab dip is heavy on celery seed and chopped fresh celery, tasty, but not Maryland-style (not necessarily a bad thing). Raw Bar served up some pristine, ice cold, shard-free VA and RI raw oysters with cocktail sauce and mignonette. Def get a Pork Belly Steam Bun in whatever permutation they have and DON'T share. Looking forward to the next, less "interesting" times as the old Chinese saying goes.
(5)K C.
I went to Pen & Quill for the first time with a friend on a Saturday night. While the place was packed, the layout was such that it still managed to feel spacious and open. Great atmosphere, and friendly staff. We ate dinner at the bar - we both had beers (solid beer selection). I had the catfish sandwich, and he had the cornbread hotdog/kraut. My catfish sandwich was phenomenally done, I have no idea how they managed to fry a piece of fish and manage to keep it delicate and tender inside. My friend said the hotdog/kraut was awesome as well. We had deviled eggs to start - they're a classy and tasty twist on a fairly basic dish. Overall, really enjoyed my experience and will likely return next time I find myself in Baltimore.
(4)Amy R.
This is a nice addition to the Station North area. Our server was very accommodating and helpful. We tried the Burrata and the Ricotta Gnocchi for our appetizers- they were both fantastic. I had the Maryland Chicken for my dinner. It was an interesting take on fried chicken- meat in a roulade and deep fried, served with cornbread and a banana. It had nice flavors, it was just a bit dry. My friend had the pork shank which was an enormous hunk of meat. She said that it was very tasty.
(3)Matt B.
Really really good all around. Food well prepared and thoughtful. Service was very thoughtful considering all allergies. And drinks were great too! I would definitely visit again!
(4)Julie R.
Delicious meal at P&Q. As good, if not better than Woodberry Kitchen. One to rival the Food Market. Be sure to order the, anything on the menu.
(5)Laura B.
Very nice place. Great ambiance and good service. The food was great. I had their burger and in truth it was probably one of the best I've ever had. Perfectly cooked on a fully buttered toasted bun. Really amazing. My husband has the maple glazed pork shank. Super tasty. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Dawn M.
I couldn't be happier with a place I expected nothing from. Went out to dinner here last night just based on the fact that I hadn't been yet and I kind of hadn't heard anything about the restaurant good, bad, or otherwise. So I guess coming in with no expectations really helped set up this pretty perfect dinner. The atmosphere is really cool and the wait staff was awesome, right off the bat. We started with a huckleberry pie drink for Pi day- and it was perfect, not too sweet at all, definitely a little bite on the end. Not sure what to order we asked our competent server and ended up going with his recommendations- VERY happy we did. We split the steamed bun starter and I had to order a side of pickled veggies (I almost always do). The pickled veggies I will say were nothing special at all, pretty bland and generic actually. The meat in the steamed bun (which is really more of a soft taco) was perfectly cooked and well seasoned, really played well off the flavor of the crispy shallots sprinkled in. However, the bun itself was almost overpoweringly big- they could really make them a little thinner and less bready-er and I'd have been just as happy. The BBQ shrimp was next (tails off already- which I honestly like). One of the best bbq shrimp dishes I've ever had. The shrimp weren't rubbery, texture was perfect- as was the texture of the creamy polenta. And the greens really brightened and balanced the dish- so many great flavors going on in each bite. And there was a great spice on the finish of the dish that lingered, but wasn't overpoweringly spicy so you couldn't taste all the other flavors beneath it I was already in heaven and then the chicken liver mousse with jam came out. I hate to repeat myself, but I would say this may be the best liver mousse of any kind I've ever had. The iron/gaminess was not overpowering at all, played perfectly into the sweetness of the jam, but was also just damn tasty on it's own. The texture was so lightly and fluffy yet creamy. I'm still drooling thinking about it. Then the oxtail gnocchi dish...oh man. The gnocchi- again, perfect pillowy texture, not rubbery, but solid, didn't fall apart, wasn't too soft and mushy. And the oxtail sauce- I will say I was expecting to see actual oxtail pieces, but it was just broken down so fine and incorporated into a sauce that I can only describe as decadent. Again, lots of flavors, not just single notes of cream and meat. I was surprised in general at how well flavored the steamed bun, shrimp, chicken liver mousse, and oxtail were. I usually always think something is either over or under salted or peppered. It was all perfect. My friend actually commented during dinner at how quiet I was because I just had to stop and savor every bite of this meal, it was that good. So we decided to go with two desserts since we were on a roll. The banana sticky toffee and the peanut butter pie. The banana sticky toffee bread pudding was decent, certainly better than cafeteria style, but still a little dry and not that many flavors going on. The peanut butter pie was light and fluffy, but again kind of one note and not really more than just sugary peanut butter. If we hadn't just had such an amazing dinner I might be more likely to give the desserts some slack. Again, not bad, but certainly nowhere near the stars of the show. And honestly, I thought the price for what we ordered was spot on, not cheap, but for the quality I would not say it's overpriced at all. All in all I guess I could really say 4.5 stars due to the pickles and desserts, but we'll round up again, for the amazingness of the other dishes, the great service, and great atmosphere. Definitely will be back!
(5)Matthew L.
Stopped by station north expecting to find the Chesapeake, but much to my surprise, it is now the Pen & Quill. I thought the decor was beautiful eclectic, industrial chic with just the right touches of fine finishes. The service was great as well. The food was just so so for the price. They had fresh oysters and those were very tasty. We also ordered the pork cheek. This was just okay. The sauce was a bit sweet and tasted a bit like cream of mushroom soup. The pork cheek was very tender, but lacked texture. We also ordered the scallops and foie gras with lima beans and corn. The scallops were good, but the foie gras was not clean tasting. The menu sounded great, but the delivery was just ok. Will have to give it another try.
(3)Carol C.
This is now one of my favorite go to places in Baltimore! Coming from someone who so misses the food scene in Los Angeles. Food and drinks ... are "well crafted: and serious time and energy was put into everything and how everything tastes together. I love the middle bar and seating in the middle of the bar - I'll have to bring a group here after work sometime or for a good night out. And the place has a good wine selection. I'll have to put some pictures up the next time I go and will get the correct names of some of my favorites but if you happen to go: Beef Tongue Tacos (guys will luv), Scallops, Agnolotti, Beet Salad, Chocolate Dessert. Yums.
(5)Steven B.
First time guest here and came away very impressed. We had a great server who took a gluten allergy seriously. The food itself was varied and first-rate. Loved the deviled eggs, excellent oysters, and the pork loin with lobster potato salad was outstanding. We will absolutely return.
(5)Maya K.
Our first meal at Pen and Quill was really tasty. The low down: interesting and varied menu, delicious food, nice decor, great round booths, a bit noisy, somewhat spotty service, but overall a great experience. Started with oysters - really tasty, loved every morsel of the terrine, steam bun was interesting and good, orecchiette dish was probably our favorite - rich and flavorful, rock fish was good could have been a little more interesting, and steak was great. Desserts could have been more interesting, but they were okay. Service started out great, but dropped off a little at the end as they got busier - something I hope will improve as their staff gets a bit more experienced. Also, place was noisy but not nearly as loud as the Chesapeake had been. Looking forward to seeing this place evolve, and definitely planning to go back.
(4)AC L.
First time here, everything was great! I recommend the Chicken Maryland! They have unique beer, ask to sample the beer with basil. I would recommend this place to friends who visit Baltimore. I was able park along the street next to it, it's metered and free after 6:00 pm. It's about a two 2 min walk from Penn station for those of you who travel the from D.C. Hope this review helps I provide a link to reference the menu (courtesy of the diningoutinbaltimore.com ) diningoutinbaltimore.com…
(5)Jennifer C.
They have a nice selection of cocktails and wine. Their food is interesting and flavorful. My server didn't quite understand my allergy though. I do like how spacious it is and the decor is nice.
(3)Dina B.
We had a fantastic experience at Pen & Quill. We made the reservation without having seen a menu, because we have confidence in the Karzai family as restauranteurs. What could be bad? Upon entering, you are met with original art and an interesting design aesthetic. To the back of the hostess stand, there was a cozy room with carpeting and books on the wall...as if you were dining in someone's home. We ate, instead, in the main room dining room. There are several large low couches which can be reserved but probably cater to a drop in crowd. We ate in a curved cozy booth. The place was hopping and the bar was busy. The place is loud, yes, but the crowd ebbs and flows, and I am used to frenetic places these days, so it didn't detract from my experience. We tried many items off the menu, but only one cocktail, which I did not taste, so I cannot comment. I understand it was good. We started with snacks, including the candied popcorn with bacon salt, which comes with a tonic drink to cut the sweetness of the popcorn. Interesting idea to add the tonic, but to me, unnecessary, and I don't know if it succeeded. The house made pickles were so tasty and unique. I couldn't stop eating them. And the beef tongue steam buns, which was really a taco with the yogurt reminiscent of dishes from the Helmand, were delicious. The bread and butter were top notch. There are small plates, which we passed on, and ordered several entrees. Two of us had the Truffle Orrecchiette...a super dish. The rockfish was a nice sized portion (did not taste it) and my Chicken Maryland was a unique and interesting dish. (But you must like bananas, as I do). I had no idea what to expect, but I just went with it. Moist cornbread accompanied the dish. Yum. The desserts, all made in house, should not be missed. Maybe even go for dessert after a movie if you cannot eat a whole meal. We ordered 4 and each dessert was better than the next. I hope this place can sustain the quality. Our waitress was terrific. Can't wait to return.
(4)Alexandra H.
We went for a birthday dinner for my fiancé. We arrived 20 minutes early and sat in the lounge area and had a drink but promptly at our appointment time they came and sat us. The food was just fantastic. We ordered a variety of starters including the popcorn, beer nuts and two orders of hush puppies. None of them lasted on the table long. The clear favorites were the beer nuts (although trust me when I say your dentist would not be happy) and the candied popcorn. Both the beet soup and the salad of greens were enjoyed but the main courses were major winners. Each person at the table ordered something different. I ordered the Maryland Chicken (best chicken I have ever had), my fiancée ordered the steak frites which he thoroughly enjoyed, and our friends ordered the fried catfish sandwich (I had a bite and while not as seasoned as I would like it was delish none the less), the bouillabaisse (good but not the best), and last but not least by future brother in law and his girlfriend had the strip steak for two. On all entrees the presentation was beautiful. Let me speak to the chicken for a second though as it was my main meal. The fried banana coupled with the chicken medallions, cornbread and gravy was a combination that my taste buds delighted over. The chicken was so flavorful and the mildly sweet addition of the bananas with the creaminess of the gravy led me straight to food coma. Which was disappointing since I had my heart set on a dessert...maybe next time since we for sure will be going back soon. Side note, our waiter was amazing and I wish I had gotten his name. We asked for some more detail about some items on the menu and he described them as if he was reciting a review for Bon Appetite.
(4)John P.
A minor facelift of the Chesapeake Restaurant which closed over the spring. This review unapologetically follows a bunch of what I can only assume are obligatory faked 5-star reviews. I'd guess all new restaurants of course post these for themselves as free advertisements (I love the one that even mentions the owner's name!), but I'll plod past those "reviews" and give you the results of a real experience from my point of view. We arrived on a rather slow night. The bar area is wide open and has a rather cold and sterile feel that contradicts the rest of the room. It's hard to describe. The staff seems poorly trained and under experienced, I'm not sure if several of the Chesapeake staff were retained or not, but I get the impression that that is the case here. The room still suffers from the same lack of acoustic treatment which makes it extremely noisy even when it's nearly empty. Service was slow, and inefficient, and mistakes were made in our orders, which weren't rectified quickly enough or to our satisfaction. Food seemed OK, but nothing was knock-your-socks-off amazing, as it should have been for the price. This, combined with our experience and the clean but unimpressive surroundings, gives the restaurant a less than favorable review result. They are new, I'll give them that, but unless the food and service improves and they do something with the sound in that gaping cave of a room, I'm afraid I won't be back. When will new restaurants finally try to be less "hip" and focus more on value, service, and taste?
(1)Michelle B.
The atmosphere here was pretty cool. Hipster casual. The food was very good. I had the restaurante week: Pear salad, boullibase, and sorbet. The waiter was a little wishy washy on what was dairy free and vegan (or what items could be made that way). Another person at my table ordered the house pickles. They were fun.
(3)Andrea L.
Classy decor, brilliant bartender with accent, succulent happy hour oysters 5:00 to 6:30 Monday through Friday, and delicious entrees. Will definitely be back again!
(5)Elizabeth G.
My husband and I are all about trying new restaurants. Sometimes it's a miss, as was the case with Pen & Quill. Usually if we have a subpar experience at a restaurant, we give it another chance, but this is not worth it. The atmosphere is fine. There were definitely people at both the bar and tables. We sat at the bar and didn't experience any of the sound issues other reviews mentioned. The service at the bar was great. The bartenders were attentive and engaging. The two stars for the restaurant go to them. We only drank beer and there were some usually suspects on the menu, but also some ones we haven't seen - Secret Stache Stout was really really good. The food was a miss. We had the house pickles - some of which were off in flavor (in edible), the cheese plate - which was nothing to write home about, the pulled pork cheek - too much vinegar and the fries were just badly cooked, and the beet salad - dressing had no flavor and the beets were undercooked. Disappointing all around. I'm glad we didn't get any of the more expensive dishes. Overall, maybe stop in for a drink, but there were enough basic errors in the food that I don't think we'll eat there again.
(2)Matthew W.
Finally, a restaurant in Baltimore that has got me excited about food again! Went to P&Q with my wife, and we both agreed that it was one of the better dining experiences we've had in a long time. We started off with braised and shredded beef tongue steamed buns. The savoriness, tang, and that chewy goodness of the bun made this a perfect example of the style. I was so happy after that first bite that I might have danced in my seat a little. We also had the Lamb Creppinette with mint pesto. Creppinette is a flat sausage. It was perfectly seasoned. Sometimes the lamby goodness can get lost in a sausage. But not so in this case. Full on lamb town yummy-ness. The mint pesto was a great, and improved take on the mint jelly typically served with lamb. Last, but not least, we shared the Porchetta. And am I glad we did! Thing was a monster. For those that don't know porchetta, it's basically pork meat wrapped in fat, and then pork skin, and then meat, and then fat, and then skin again and slow roasted for a long time. When done right you get what the chefs at Pen and Quill created. Perfect crunch from the skin followed by the delicate fat and meat. It made my brain feel funny inside, like a post coitus delirium. And if that weren't enough the dish had perfectly seasoned and textured blood sausage, and some tangy, spicy kimchi to accompany it. If you're there sometime soon try the Oaxacan Girlfriend. Mezcal, OJ, and a house-made chili, and cocoa powder. Damn, that thing was good! Thanks to Mel, our bartender, for that recommendation. These folks are killing it right now. And they just opened! Super excited to see what their gonna bring us in the future. Clearly a talented kitchen staff is at work here. You'd be remiss in not giving this place a try. Don't be stupid. Go get some good food!
(5)Diane S.
After two visits of two, haven't had anything that wasn't unusual and superb. Strip steak was best ever, accompaniments special - stockade of crisp fries filled with whipped potatoes- great contrast of texture and flavor, lobster mushrooms, free biscotti with coffee. Leather tufted circular booths, huge bar. Will return before or after a movie at adjoining Charles.
(5)Cherpumple F.
Really awesome upgrade from the former Chesapeake. It's gorgeous inside, full with wall art, large tables, lounges and more. Sat at the bar for happy hour. They have a great selection of drafts, cocktails and wine, including local brews from Jailbreak, for ex and far away like Boulevard Brewing Co. Only downer was food--fries were meh (made in house? out of a bag? sorry, I'm a fry-fanatic and being a girl, you know how we gotta eat carbs that COUNT bwahah) Hope they do well, though--great addition to the neighborhood and will be back again to try it out encore.
(3)Joseph V.
I typically reserve my yelp activity for the establishments that exhibit exemplary qualities, but tonight is the exception. Pen & Quill is underwhelming. There is nothing spectacular about the menu nor the dining experience. I made the costly mistake of ordering the lobster roll (PSA - do not order it). The waitstaff was aloof and lackadaisical. The bread arrived 20 minutes after the appetizer and the entrees arrived an additional half hour later. Station North deserves better than this. My party was only willing to venture here because there were no tables available at P&L. Save your money and obtain a tasty meal elsewhere.
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