Michael’s Cafe Raw Bar and Grill
2119 York Rd, Timonium, MD, 21093
Michael’s Cafe Raw Bar and Grill Menu
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Appetizers
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Homemade Soups
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Salads
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Sandwiches And Burgers
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House Specialties
Healthy Meal suggestions for Michael’s Cafe Raw Bar and Grill
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Appetizers
-
Homemade Soups
-
Salads
-
Sandwiches And Burgers
-
House Specialties
Visit below restaurant in Timonium for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Timonium for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2119 York Rd
Timonium, MD, 21093 - Phone (410) 252-2022
- Website https://www.michaelscafe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 10:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Nicholette P.
I have been here for drinks, dinners, and just to sit at the bar. It's a nice place to do all three!! You can have a nice night out for drinks and dinner and enjoy their crab cakes! YUM! The espresso martinis are very good too! Sunday football, the bar gets busy at times, get there early and grab some wings! The sandwiches are also something to consider! I like the hot turkey open faced with gravy and fries... Everyone working is very pleasant !
(4)Alli R.
Had some recent bad experiences here. They just can't seem to get it right. Dinner was not good, but went for brunch and it was excellent. I would rate higher if the customer service were better. Attention to detail is not their forte. I don't think I would return because of all the oversights.
(2)C M.
Who let the dogs out?! Half/half crab soup is less than ok. Thin& not many vegges or crab pieces. Dogs (not service) outside sitting on furniture with guest/employee off the clock. Employees petting dogs and not washing hands before touching glasses and plates of those dining. Yuck.
(2)Brandon H.
Love the food and love the atmosphere here. It is a little pricier than most places around, but worth the extra few bucks. The food is delicious, the staff is very friendly, and it has comfortable outdoor seating with a lively but relaxed setting.
(5)Lisa B.
Stopped by here for lunch after leaving my doctors office. It was very nice (even though they have construction going on) and the parking lot was packed (typically a good sign of good food). My husband and I both ordered crab cake sandwiches, no appetizers, no alcohol and by the time you factored in a tip it was a $100 lunch. Overall it was pretty good food, if going for dinner though I'd recommend reservations because judging from the size of the lunch crowd; I'm sure there'll be a wait come dinner.
(3)Kathy H.
We went here with friends last night. Made an RSVP and felt like a rock star when we were seated right away (They had a line out the door). We were seated in one of their smaller rooms with 4 other tables. The waiter greeted us right away and brought us drinks. Unfortunately that's where the good time ended. We received our appetizers (friend green tomato stack and crab pretzel) about 2 minutes later before we even ordered. We proceeded to then wait 20+ minutes until our waiter checked back in with us. We were about 2 seconds from walking out. Apparently another table knocked over a wine glass and he was trying to clean it up (although he never told us why). The entire time he seemed to pay attention to the two tables with older people (60yrs+) at them which was frustrating. We finally got drink refills and the food came out quickly after that. Between the four of us we sampled a variety of dishes from the menu (scallops, lobster & crab cake, blackened chicken Caesar, cream of crab soup, chicken Chesapeake) and all were pretty good. It was clear that the kitchen had it together but the service was severely lacking. We even saw the manager walking around to check on tables but never made it to ours. I wish we had talked to him upon hind sight. This place has potential but unfortunately for the price of the entrees and poor service we won't be back. We should have trusted Yelp's rating and encouraged our friends to pick another place. I do not recommend it unless you aren't hungry and have the patience of a saint because the food is pretty good.
(2)Ross E.
Food always good. Service is always great!! The food is always great!!/Excellent lobster and fish and steak!!
(5)Karim H.
I wanted some good crabcakes so I went here with my mom based on a family recommendation. It was a Wednesday afternoon and the place was packed. We had to sit at one of the high tables, and although my chair was busted, the overall experience was great. Our waitress Susan(?) was terrific. Not only was she a cutie, but she really was very attentive. I appreciate when someone takes their job seriously and does it well. Great work. I love her, but my mom can be a bit of a handful from a server's standpoint and she handled her with grace. The crabcakes were really good and not at all what I was expecting. I got the platter and decided to get one broiled and the other fried. I liked both equally... although the difference in taste was slight. Fresh lumps of crabmeat that could have used a bit more seasoning. But simplicity is a virtue and this place does one hell of a crabcake (or two). Fries and coleslaw are great. Maryland crab was disappointingly average. They serve a pathetic excuse for lemonade. Next time I'll get a beer!
(4)Joanne S.
Labor Day came in at 4:30 for happy hour. We were the only two at their outdoor /inside patio bar. Waitress Lauren seemed attentive at 1st but never cleaned our table after we ate appetizers or asked if we would like anything else. Finally after asking where our burger was she informed us she put in after the appetizers. Appetizers were really good. Burger was good. Service was just fair at best for having next to no patrons beside us.
(3)Angela A.
With an 8 pm reservation and arriving twenty minutes early we were still seated 10 minutes later than our reservation. On a Saturday night before 8:30 pm three fresh fish menu items were already sold out. All four of us ordered seafood of some sort and after several tries we finally found something we could order. The waitress only brought bread to the table after asking for it twice and with half of the appetizers. Even after telling the waitress we were on a tight schedule, it took a half an hour just to get the appetizers which were lukewarm. When our meals arrived, two of four of them were not hot. Several of the dishes were bland without any seasoning. Overall, the food was disappointing. Service is slow and sometimes with attitude. The food is overpriced and not much above pub food. The owner might want to rethink the focus of the business. Maybe Michael's Pub and Grille would be more appropriate and the prices could come down from fine dining prices to match the quality of the food.
(1)Mindy M.
Came here with the 1/2pint in tow so we got a booth at the bar. This sounds worse typed than it actually was - the bar area was more like extra seating around a bar versus a mega standing-room-only drinkfest bar. The bar area has the same menu as the nicer area of the restaurant. The nicer area is white tablecloth/ jacket and tie sort of place. One of the hostesses was very helpful and accommodating seeing that we had a child, the other (and markedly more 'surgically altered') hostess was actually slightly curt with us. Our waitress was nice and asked for our order very quickly but we weren't quite ready- I wish we were though as it then took her almost 15 minutes to come back to us to get our order - not a huge deal, but when you are out with a child, 15min can make the difference between a nice/quiet and horrible/screamfest meal. Atmosphere = B (A+ if we were in the nice area) Service = B Food = A- only because what we got, with 1 exception, was pretty unimaginative. ~Fried Green Tomato Stack $12.00 - Fried green tomatoes topped with crab meat and lemon beurre blanc. I really didn't think I was going to like this, but on the waitresses' suggestion we got it. I could have eaten 2 of these myself. It is absolutely wonderful - not too heavy and an amazing balance of flavors. GET IT ~Seafood Platter $27.00 - Crabcake (5 oz), jumbo shrimp, scallops, and orange roughy filet; broiled or fried. I got mine broiled. The food was good, nothing that was like "WOW, this is great". Fresh seafood, but nothing original or interesting per se. ~ Soft shell crab - my husband liked it - same comments as my seafood platter - good but nothing inventive.
(4)Chris V.
They've made amazing leaps and bounds! New back bar opened, new bartenders and new wait staff with new attitudes all VERY GOOD! I'm now a fan. I've been here twice since I stopped coming to be sure and am VERY impressed!
(5)Lauren G.
I'm rather surprised at the reviews for this place, but I note the poor reviews are mostly service oriented...which I do get. Had I read the reviews before stepping in the door, I don't know if I would have gone. So, this is how I ended up at this place - I was trying to make a turn into the McDs across the street so I could make a U turn to go to the sushi place next to REI. I like that place, and since I'm not on this side of 695 often, I usually go for the good stuff I know. But, I'm truly addicted to raw food. Oysters, clams, sashimi...it's all so freaking good. So as I'm in the turning lane and looking at a wall of traffic, I look up and see the sign for Michael's...and underneath it says "raw bar". Great marketing, because...I'm sold. I turn from the middle lane into Michael's. I walk in, and the hostess looks at me like she's puzzled why I'm there. Stupid aloofness like this really ticks me off. I'm here to eat...WTF? Give me a table? She seats me, and from here the experience is divine. I order the seared tuna appetizer - extra rare. It was probably the best seared tuna I've had. It was seared perfectly for me, and the fish was fresh. The wasabi sauce was good too. Then I got a Caesar salad. The dressing...omg, the dressing. Now, I've only started eating salads, so I'm not a dressing connoisseur, but it's probably the best Caesar dressing I've had thus far in my salad adventures. I think it was house made, but I'm hoping it's store bought so I can buy some too. Next my raw order, 6 oysters, 8 clams. Heaven. I ordered 8 more clams. My server was great. She dealt with my 3 year old's meal indecision great. All in all, I'd definately go here again. I'm wondering what their happy hour's like.
(5)Angelica Jayne T.
I've eatten here many times, mostly for Sunday brunch. I'm not into crab, but everyone says their crab cakes are delicious. The wait staff is wonderful. One night I had a part of 14. We were seated in a back room which was great. Our waiter took each persons order without writing it down, and everything was delivered perfectly and deliciously! This is my go to place for a delightful brunch, or for guests.
(5)Paul S.
Upon arriving the dining room was too cold, they claimed they turned it down which lasted about a minute then the cold air started blasting again. Next, I order a Sprite, I got a flat drink which tasted horrible, probably the worst thing I ever tasted. I asked for another in case something went wrong. The waitress said "That's how we make our sprite here." Do yourself a favor and never order a sprite here. So I order a root beer instead but she says they only have it by the bottle? What bar and grill doesn't have draft root beer? Most if not all bars offer it and usually refills are free but here you are charged by the bottle. Next I order the short rib. For such an expensive meal it was a few chunks of meat and 90 percent bone. Delicious yes but the serving size could have been bigger. Came with a spoonful of mashed potatoes and a big ear of corn and spicy onion straws. I asked for corn without the cob but the waitress refused to put in the request, all they had to do was saw it off whats the big deal? We are paying a lot for the meal so customer service should be kept in mind. They were also out of the fish dish that was ordered. Overall even though the food tasted nice it wasn't anything I hadn't tasted before, and the customer service could have been way better.The menu wasn't anything special either.
(2)Joe G.
This restaurant was recommended by the hotel I stayed at and was overall excellent. Unusual decor with lots of sports memorabilia, flat screen TV's and a huge bar area. Dining room itself was nice with linen tablecloths. They serve top shelf liquor sand the martini's were great. I highly recommend the Jumbo Crab Cake dinner which is a full 10 oz of Solid Back Fin crab meat! Almost no breading at all. The two sides I had- cauliflower and brockolini were tasty but were a bit cool ( I like it hot!). Other seafood of note is Orange Roughy, oysters on the half shell, mussels, Clams Casino etc. this is a real sea food paradise! Great service- very professional and fast. The desert menu looked excellent but I did not partake. Overall - highly suggest you visit Michaels.
(4)Devon M.
Crabcakes are the best in Timonium! You're always assured quality and a good special.
(5)Aly M.
This place was weird. From when we entered until we tried to leave. They wouldn't let us wait at the bar for our table, but made us wait by the back entrance. We were completely in the way and it was uncomfortable. Then, they started to seat us, getting us halfway to our table, and then changed their mind, seating a group that came after us (we had a reservation earlier than theirs, too!). Finally they seated us. Our waitress was also odd. She stood far away from the table and repeated the same things over and over. She started to take our main course orders, but then stopped because our appetizers came out. It was a strange transition. The food was ok, but nothing sensational. I ate at another restaurant in the area known for seafood/etc. for around the same price and enjoyed my food much more. The service also really pulled this place down. I would not choose to eat here again. Oh, and to end it . . . it took us holding the check above our heads for her to come and take the card so we could pay and leave. We had the book for about 20 minutes before she came. We just wanted to escape!
(2)Sharon F.
Went here yesterday for a lunch meeting. The ambiance of the restaurant was excellent- dark woods & crisp white table cloths. We were seated immediately and the waitress was very friendly but that is where the good service ended. Our drinks sat empty more time than they were filled. The food however was great! I got the split level soup- half Maryland crab & half cream of crab. I wanted to get it again for dinner!! I also ordered the crab cake sandwich which came with chips & a pickle. All the chips were crushed into little pieces. Overall the experience was good. I would go back for the soup & to check out the raw bar but hopefully I would get a different waitress.
(4)Z N.
I'm surprised to see so many not-so-great reviews...I guess I've been lucky? I eat here usually a few times a month, more carry-out than eat-in, and I've always found the food to be good all-around. Mind you, I generally order steak and chicken dishes but the fish I've had has always been good as have the crabs on the few occasions I have had them. I can't comment on eat-in service as I am almost always doing carry-out but for a mid-level joint, I've always found it to satisfy. The review that mentioned there are a lot of Boomers is spot on...if you are looking to meet someone in that age range, it is a great place to go for that too.
(5)Kyaw M.
Been here a few times over the past 6 years...it was a solid bar/pub restaurant until recent renovations....I agree with the other reviewer that now the portion sizes are severely limited..also, the sides are 'a la carte' which is a fancy way of saying you are getting nothing on the side with your entree except chips and a pickle unless if you pay extra, which really makes this joint very classy. This place seem to have spruced up cosmetically, but the quality of the food doesn't really live up to the pricing model. It is a solid 3 star restaurant that was ruined by the greed of the owners. For the prices I am paying, I'd rather go to Bluestone grille around the corner for much better seafood and classy entrees.
(2)Melissa W.
Moved away from Baltimore last year. While visiting family last week, made sure to get a crabcake at Michael's. They really have the best crabcakes (second only to Friendly Farms unique ones in my humble opinion). Chose a Friday night, place was like a zoo! Service was slow, but pleasant. Our waitress was really doing her best to keep up with the mob scene going on there. It was a bit too loud on the bar side for us to really have a conversation but the crabcake platter and sides certainly didn't disappoint. I was amazed at the crab prices (somewhere around $2.- $3. more than my last visit) but after dinner, stopped at Gibby's to get some crabmeat to take home and noticed their prices have also increased about the same amount. When I get back to Baltimore there are two must haves...1) a crabcake from Michael's and 2) a burger at Hamilton Tavern (ask for Kate). Maryland............my Maryland! ;)
(4)Jen M.
I was quite surprised with some of the negative reviews, as I've had a consistently positive experience here over the course of several years. I like that they have a little something for everyone. If you want casual with tvs, you got it. You want formal and intimate? They got that too. The atmosphere of the several separate 'zones' within Michael's is warm and comfortable, with Baltimore nostalgia, dark wood, sports memorabilia, and soft dark tones highlighting the walls. The menu is to the point, high quality, and consistent. He had the steak and cake, one of the bet pairings you can find anywhere around, and she had the tuna wellington. Yeah, tuna-freaking wellington with pureed spinach, and foie gras. It was succulent. The menu and the specials aren't out to change gastronomy. They exist as delicious classic dishes with a few creative options here and there. The service is usually energetic and attentive, though the busboys can take their time clearing your finished tableware. (may be a bit nit picky, but I don't need an empty appetizer plate and used cocktail glass piling up while my entree is being served). We've had the weekend brunch as well, and it was flavorful and a great guilty indulgence of breakfast meats and cheeses, with strong brunch cocktails. Great food to work of a hangover. This is a fine spot if you're out in the county. It's more formal than The Still or Hightops, and has a bit more of the older crowd as well.
(4)Amy W.
Great bar atmosphere...my husband and I love it here...we tend to go in the afternoon before it gets real busy....they have REALLY good burgers and the fries are yummy. We went yesterday for a late lunch...food was great...our waiter, can't remember his name....was very friendly and attentive. Oh - and the carrot cake with fresh toasted coconut sprinkled on top was DIVINE.
(4)Jessie H.
This place was packed on a Friday afternoon in December! I drove around for almost 10 minutes looking for a parking spot. Never did find one, so I had to settle on valet. At least once I got inside the food was great. We were there for a work lunch, of 8 of us. Great service and very efficient. The calamari was probably some of the best I have ever had and side dipping sauce is awesome. For lunch, I tried the seafood club with sweet potato fries. I really liked both of them. I didn't even bother with with the bread on the sandwich but loved the lump crab & shrimp salad. Everyone else at the table really enjoyed their dishes - turkey burger, regular burger, crab cakes, & chicken Chesapeake. Some opted for dessert, I was disappointed they ran out of the vanilla bean creme brulee :-( Some of the co-workers moved to the bar for some afternoon drinks. Felt the wine was a little expensive ($10 for a so-so glass of Sauvignon Blanc). Also the bartender was a little overwhelmed when we asked him to split the check between two cards. He ended up re-running separate checks and complaining about how he asked us early on how we wanted it. Sorry, didn't realize using 2 cards for 3 of us would be a big deal?!?! We would return for sure, but would probably skip the bar.
(4)Crystal P.
Had friends in town that were doing shows at the Fairgrounds across the street and they always meet here afterwards - but it was my first time here. It was an enjoyable evening, with just minor mishaps. We were told the IPA on special was 2.50, but were charged 4.00. Then they ran out of them and offered to give us something else for the same price, but when the bill arrived, it was priced wrong. They were out of a lot of the speciality drinks, but that wasn't a big deal. Our server was nice, but seemed overrun and a bit frenzied. Everyone enjoyed all of their meals, which ranged from chicken dishes to the seafood platters. It seemed a bit overpriced, but I only ordered an appetizer and enjoyed it. It's a good place - but felt more like a chain atmosphere in a way to me and not necessarily my pick for places to go, but in the end, the party of 7 we had left satisfied. It was a weekend, so the bar was packed and appeared to be a fun little place to catch drinks and watch the game (lots of TV and packed bar).
(3)Jess B.
Food is terrible...tastes frozen or old. Yuck.
(1)Sam F.
Much better than 3 star. I had the soft shell crabs which were prepared very well and very tasty served with fresh Brussels sprouts steamed and treated with butter. Perhaps a little lacking on homemade desserts, the menu was enticing and other wells looked very well done and in good taste.
(4)Ken H.
Finally able to get a Friday night off and met some buds at Michaels Cafe'. We had a blast. I've been there before years ago, but really was knocked out this time. FRiendly staff and lots of fun. The music was awesome too.....Charm City?? WE will return!
(4)Michelle H.
Michael's must be doing something right - we came for dinner on a Saturday evening and the restaurant was packed. Granted we were the youngest diners there by decades, but the noise level was bearable, considering the full dining room, and made for a comfortable atmosphere. Our friends, who we dined with, rave about this place and their seafood; they actually drive up from Columbia on a regular basis to dine here. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong items, but I've certainly had better. I started with the cream of crab soup, which had decent flavor but I couldn't get past all the shells I found. One or two shells here and there are bound to happen, but when it was almost every other spoonful...that's just too many for me. I then ordered the seared ahi tuna over a mixed green salad - pretty simple, right? Well, when the greens are completely wilted because the salad is literally swimming in balsamic dressing, it makes it difficult to eat. My taste buds were shot because of the excessive balsamic that I couldn't even enjoy the tuna. Again, maybe I just ordered the wrong items off the menu. Our friends loved their entrees - the fried seafood platter. But then again, I guess you can't really screw up deep fried anything.
(3)Ford L.
I have been going to Michael's Café for many many years. It has been through a major addition and outdoor patio and the debt service must be pinching the owners. It was always a comfortable place for some pub-grub. Nothing exotic or fancy. One could count on generous portions. I just went back a few days ago and noticed that the menu was new. Same old offerings, just new format. What had CHANGED was the portion size. I had shrimp salad sandwich and my wife had the tuna salad sandwich. Previously they were literally two-handed sandwiches, piled high like a New York Deli would. Now both the shrimp and the tuna were laughably "thin." Basically a smear, not a scoop, of filling. My wife commented that she got a lettuce sandwich with a bit of tuna instead of mayo. We mentioned the change to our waitress, thinking there was probably a new fellow in the kitchen but she said that there were new and strict portion controls in effect. Customers have complained and I am sure her tips have suffered. Bottom line, prepare to pay the same, but you'll leave hungry.
(2)Marney K.
I have eaten here a number of times and never had a bad meal! They are best known for their crabcakes and they are delicious! Family owned and run, they take pride in their restaurant. They used to have a tented area outside for parties off the back bar, but they recently got rid of that. It was a great area -- I think that is going to end up a mistake!
(4)Erin M.
Solid traditional menu, but the food was bland and less than exciting for the price.
(3)Bob R.
I used to go here quite often over the years but haven't been in a little over a year. Took my daughters for lunch and we all ordered sandwhiches of different kinds. All of the sandwhiches were served with stale rolls and 1 even had mold on it. On top of that, the lettuce on all the sandwhiches looked like it was sitting out for a week and mine was brown. I couldn't believe someone in the kitchen let this garbage go out to a table. Unexcusable. I'll never go back
(1)Allison L.
I'm surprised no one has reviewed this place before, it's been here like 20 years. Anyway, went here today with a friend, it was really good. It doesn't look terribly exciting from outside but the inside is pretty tastefully done. We weren't really coming for the decor though, we were coming for the seafood. Michael's is famous for their crabcakes, so I went for the crabcake platter with french fries (the fries are SOOO good) and the house salad. The crabcake was really basically just crab, very little filler. You can get it fried or broiled, the waiter said broiled was best so I went for that. You can ether get one 5 oz. or two, or one 10 oz, and I just went for the one 5 oz... that along with the fries and salad was incredibly filling, I can't even imagine eating the 10 oz of crabcake. My friend had the shrimp salad wrap and the house salad and she was happy with hers as well. The one crab cake platter will set you back $16.5 and the shrimp wrap with chips and a house salad was $14.5. Most of the entree's seem to be in the $15-$30 range. Appetizers cost between $6 and $15. Sandwiches/burgers $6-$15 We were there at lunch so I'm not sure how it is at dinner, but our food came really quickly, less than 10 minutes after ordering. The food was good, service was good, the location and parking are convenient... I'd definitely come again.
(4)Lola W.
This was a very pretty place, but nothing special food-wise. I also wish they had a better selection of beer on draft. One of the people I was with ordered a salad with chicken and the chicken was mostly inedible due to gristle. I had the lobster crab sandwich and while it wasn't bad, I wouldn't recommend it.
(2)Adam S.
Went there with my wife and mother-in-law for dinner. The service was quick and friendly. The atmosphere inside is pretty nice, we sat in the dining room. The tables are a little close together so expect to have people walking between your chair and the chair behind you. The prices are about mid-range with most of the entrees being around $20-30. My wife had a seafood platter which included shrimp, scallops, orange roughy and a crab cake. The crab cake was pretty good. Lots of crab, very little fillers. The roughy was way overcooked and dry. The shrimp were slightly overcooked as well, but tasted pretty good. The scallops were very large and cooked properly. Overall, the plate was good, but not as good as it could have been. I had the asian tuna entree. The tuna was supposed to be seared and served rare, but came out medium well to well done. None-the-less, the flavor was quite nice and the sauce was quite good. The tuna portion was a little on the small side, but came with several shrimp. My shrimp were overcooked as well. My mother-in-law had the crab cake platter. Her crab cake was the same as my wife's. Lots of crab, not a lot of filler. The cocktail sauce served was very good too, not sure if it is house-made or not. We ordered a brownie sundae desert to finish our meal. It was pretty lousy to be honest. I am pretty sure none of the deserts are made in house based on the menu. This had a brownie that probably came out of a plastic wrapper and was simply doused in half a bottle of hershey's syrup and covered in whipped cream from a can. All in all, the experience was middle of the road. The service was very good, the food was OK. For the price, I'll look elsewhere next time.
(3)Jen K.
My husband and I had gone to Michael's a couple of times and sat in the bar area. The waiters were pretty good and the food was decent. One Sunday we decided to take our two daughters in for an early dinner. One of the worst mistakes I've made as a parent. We sat in the bar area in a booth so we could watch the football games on TV (my daughters are big football fans.). While sitting there we heard some yelling from a man sitting at the bar. He had gotten into a screaming argument with a customer over the Ravens football team. The other customer didn't raise his voice back and just put his hands up in a calm down type of gesture. Come to find out the man who was screaming was the owner. He began yelling the "F" word over and over again insulting the customer and yelling a slew of curse words. He looked over at our table and saw my 8 and 10 year old daughters staring at him but that never deterred him. He continued to scream, curse and show physical aggression towards the customer. It was obvious the owner was highly intoxicated. I became so upset I began to cry. There was a another family sitting in the booth behind us with even younger children that also witnessed this totally unprofessional behavior. Our waitress finally came over to apologize. She acted as if this was not the first time this had occurred. We asked to see a manager. He came over and all he said was "We are really sorry about this. Dessert is on us." That was all they said. I could not believe the owner behaved in this manner especially with very young children around him. He looked directly at us numerous times, but maybe he was so drunk he didn't realize those we're children starring and listening to his obscenities. From reading other reviews I doubt he would even care if children heard him. I'm really surprised people even go in there at all. I don't recommend you ever go in there if you care about a good peaceful meal. If you are looking for an MMA ring this might be your place!
(1)Jonathan G.
The reviews at 3-3.5 stars are accurate. While the service and ambience are great, the food is just slightly better than average. I wouldn't say that they can compete, culinarily, with Bluestone or Christopher Daniel, but they still charge the same pricing. The crowd here is typically later in years.
(3)Brian M.
First off, the food was delicious. I really enjoyed the food. I had the coconut shrimp appetizer and the crabcake platter. Both were really good. The service was spotty. It seems that the bartender was more interested in watching the ESPYs than waiting on his customers. It also seems that the restaurant is cutting corners. For instance, the menu said that shrimp came with 15 pieces, while I got 12. Additionally, the "5 oz." crabcake was smaller that the 4 oz. one I had at the Green Turtle at the airport. All in all, I go back without hesitation.
(3)Jim M.
Great food, highly recommended!!!!
(4)George T.
Good food, thrown on a cafeteria plate, with bent silverware, no style. On top of that many of the customers are in hoodies and sneakers. You expect more class from a restaurant with $30 entrees. A night out is more than just good food, hon.
(1)A. C.
(08/07/2011) Had a private function at Michael's for a mix of family and older friends. Food is Continental and was pretty much your standard banquet fare, not exciting, or original. The menu was crabcake or steak, salad, and a potato, and a scoop of melted ice cream for dessert. For the price, can only say it was not a lot of food, and it was only OK at that. Waitstaff was efficient, but were not all that friendly. Not sure it's such a great place for a large party, the table arrangement is probaby best for no more than a party of 12 or else you're divided into separate coves. Might one day go back to try the regular menu, but need to overcome an overwhelming amount of apathy I feel for the place.
(2)Allison C.
My husband and I went to Michael's last night for dinner. After being seated we had to wait almost 10 minutes to be greeted by our waitress, and the restaurant was not crowded. The draft beer my husband ordered was spilled on our table as it was delivered. It was also flat and had to be returned for a bottled beer. It took our waitress almost 20 minutes to take our order after we were seated and we were never read the specials. Then my husband's dinner arrived with a giant hair in it. At this point we were ready to leave. We told the staff about the hair and asked for our check. We were charged for our one beer, one glass of wine, my entree (which went untouched and remained on the table), and even $3 for the salad which came before and was included with my husband's entree. I was shocked by this. It was unbelievably the worst restaurant experience we have ever encountered. I would never return to Michael's cafe.
(1)Craig D.
Very good Crab Cakes!
(4)Chris L.
I frequented Michaels on several occasions and have never left disappointed. The food is always on point and the staff are very welcoming. The crab cakes are always worth the visit.
(5)Aaron B.
Went this evening for a quiet dinner with the wife - was seated early and had very good waiter - ordered a club sandwich and turkey burger - when after the first bite of the burger my wife said i think there is mold on the bread - put it down on a plate and yes there was mold on the roll. Waiter came over after flagging him down and said let me take and get you another which came out after a very long wait and was better. At no point did the manager or chef come out to apologize or to check on us - when we paid our bill and tipped our waiter who was embarrassed about the situation and asked to see the manager - he came over and said we were wrong that it was just parsley and the first burger was fine. We said that would be fine if the mold was not embedded in the roll and he said that he thought someone else should handle the issue. So we left never to return again and we shall make sure that we tell everyone about the moldy bread that we were served and how it was our fault that we said something about it
(1)miss b.
Went here with a friend and I was definitely pleased. It was a good to try something different. I went here years and years ago and thought I'd return to try it out. The hostess sat us in a back room which was quiet and out of the hustle and bustle of the restaurant. I had a shrimp salad wrap which was excellent...the shrimp weren't too spicy Iike I've had at other places. I also had a small side salad that had great honey mustard dressing (if you know me, you know I LOVE my honey mustard and yes, you can go very wrong with it at some places). My friend had the crab cake and a salad and really enjoyed hers. I thought they had a great selection of food...anything you wanted. Next time I go back I'll probably try the Shrimp, Tomato & Feta Salad or maybe I'll just get the shrimp salad wrap again :) They have happy hour and food specials and a late night happy hour. You can check out their website for specials.
(4)Nick C.
Outstanding food, drink and service every time we visit Michaels. Great selection of craft beers and very warm atmosphere. Both bars are very cozy and inviting and the formal dining is excellent as well. The valet is a nice touch as sometimes parking can be tough. My wife and I are always pleased and leave content. We will visit again!
(5)Beth G.
Friends and I had appetizers and drinks on the outdoor patio on Saturday, 9/5/15. Gill R. was our server (and has been several times prior). He is always super friendly and attentive. Both the food and service were great! Also, the patio is beautiful. Because of the high walls and pretty setting, it never feels like it's right on York Road. Other friends and I had dinner and drinks on the patio on Friday, 9/11/15. Jack S. was our server and he was as awesome as Gill! It took us a while to even look at the menu. Jack was patient and didn't make us feel rushed. Like Gill, he was friendly and attentive. He knew we were there celebrating my friend's birthday and, without being asked, he brought her a piece of cake with a candle. So thoughtful! The food and service were excellent, once again! Outstanding service has a huge impact on the "experience". Thanks to Gill and Jack for going above and beyond! No doubt my friends and I will be back to Michael's soon!
(5)Jordan Z.
UPDATE! After seeing my review, Steven contacted me and sincerely apologized for the poor service. He also let me know that the girl who waited on me was no longer an employee of Michaels. He asked me to stop by the hostess station the next time I was in for a gift card. This evening, we hosted my coworker's retirement party in the bar area and it was lovely! The setup was perfect, the food was delicious, and the servers were more than delightful! I am very happy to say that I will be back very soon and am looking forward to it!
(5)RANDALL H.
Hello, My wife & I dine at Michaels at least two times a week & we enjoy your menu immensely. Especially your cream of crab soup (all crab meat dishes), shrimp salad sandwich (all shrimp dishes), & scallops ala Michael. My wife says we could go on and on with what we enjoy, but I'll stop there. We also want to commend one of your servers who always goes above & beyond to make sure we are pleased with the food & service while we visit your establishment. She has been with you for a long time and should be recognized as an extreme benefit to your business. We and several other customers know her by "Miss. Mary". When I first met her, I wasn't sure if I liked her or not. She has a bit of a dry personality, but also an extremely professional manor about her. She is extremely quick with her service & proficient, which can be misconstrued for being short, or dry. I now can say that I really appreciate her professionalism & preciseness with her customer service. I hope that she continues to be a part of your customer service program for years to come. Thanking you in advance, Randall L. Hill
(5)Jeff K.
I've been back again and the overall experience was good. The server was friendly and attentive. Food was good.
(4)Jesse S.
Awesome crab and shrimp dip, excellent cream of crab, and amazing crab cakes! No filler and huge chunks of crab! Live music outside made a great atmosphere!
(5)Rosamaria S.
I went yesterday, food was good and the waiter very knowlegment of The food. Very profesional. I will go again.
(5)Sara E.
Since my first review, I've been back several times and had no problem with service. In fact, we just canceled our anniversary dinner at a restaurant in the city to come back here for the millionth time! I still haven't tried half the things I'd like to. Their seared tuna, something I order EVERYWHERE, is the best here. Their crab cakes are also delicious, and their split level soup is heavenly, and their chicken noodle (I know) is tasty, too. They also have this Black Russian cake that's crazy good. Zana is a great server. We've had her twice, and she gives great recommendations and takes good care of you. The only bad thing about this place is that there are so many delicious options, it's hard to decide what to order. Tip: restaurant week is a great deal here: you get an appetizer, salad, an entree (I had a crab cake and soft shell with mashed potatoes and a veg) and a dessert for $35. Can't beat that!
(5)Lorraine B.
Have not visited Michaels for a long time due to many bad meals and bad service. Thought I would give it another shot. Bad move Salad was limp and warm. Macaroni and cheese was cold and soupy and there was an extra charge for this as a side. Why? Rest of meal was ok, certainly not great Waitress was argumentative as soon as we were seated. When requesting check mentioned that Mac and cheese was soupy and cold but I do not like to send food back as it is such a hassle. Also said I was not making a big deal out of it but she could mention it to chef Kept saying why did you not complain earlier. Repeated that I only wanted her to mention it to chef. Not a big deal Again argumentative and not caring. Guess I will stay away from Michaels again for a very long time
(2)Kelly H.
Though I had been to Michael's many times for dinner with my family, I had never even known they served brunch until my friend noticed they were featured in Baltimore Magazine. Anything Baltimore Magazine promotes (especially food-wise) is normally a sure thing, so that being said, my friend and I had a relaxing and leisurely Sunday brunch experience at Michael's Cafe. The strongest aspect of our Michael's brunch outing was their cocktails. We both got the Sunrise Margarita to start, and not only was it beautiful, but it was delicious--a great balance of citrus and tequila. I also tasted the Grapefruit Crush, which was delicate and light with a little bit of fizz. My friend ordered the Jameson Crush, and although it was a little stronger than someone might prefer on a Sunday at noon, she still enjoyed it. I ordered the Chicken and Biscuit Sliders and my friend got the Captain Crunch French Toast. Both were pretty good, however the sliders were a bit lackluster and seemed like something I could have gotten anywhere--I wish I would have chosen something a little more unique to the brunch experience. My friend seemed to enjoy her selection of the french toast, as she was initially stuck deciding between the Captain Crunch and the Creme Brulee. We finished the meal with lattes--each of us got two because they were so delicious, but they were also in tiny glasses, so there's that. We wound up spending quite a bit of money (and time) for two young college girls on a brunch outing, but it was worth it. We took our time sipping our cocktails and lattes between bites of breakfast foods and bursts of gossip, and all was right in the world. I recommend Michael's brunch for anyone who wants to relax and forget about the clock for awhile, as it's not a in and out type of endeavor.
(4)Louise B.
Gave it a second chance. So irritated. Sat forever with no waiter. Finally went and asked someone after 10 minutes if I could place an order. Ordered shrimp salad sandwich and asked waiter if I could get a small house salad as my side. He said yes. While we were waiting for our food the waiter was taking an order at the table next to us. He was leaned over and the table was so close he actually bumped me with his butt. I had to put my hand up to move him away from my face. When my sandwich arrived it had no lettuce, no tomatoes and barely any shrill salad. See picture. I then asked waiter if it came with anything on it and he said no. My wilted side salad should have been an embarrassment to the kitchen. I then get the bill and got charged $4.50 for the side salad. Won't be back for a very long time.
(2)John S.
Alex was spectacular server at bar, couldn't get in restaurant. Fried green tomatoes with crab has to be tried, I stay away from fried but this is unbelievable combination of flavor. Colossal crab meat cocktail, outstanding. Oysters of 3 varieties, $2 each and all as fresh and tasty and different as they come, had to try another round! Soft shell crab, stuffed shrimp, Maryland crab soup (like homemade vegetable with lots of crab), crab cakes, filet (as good as it gets), all excellent. Creme brûlée always good. Service excellent with Danielle our server tonight, a 5-star experience tonight. This is still my favorite restaurant this side of Baltimore.
(5)Michael G.
Michael's Cafe offers food and service that attempts to be a cut above the norm in quality and service. Most nights it achieves this goal. They recently added a new bar to compliment their older bar area, and they have two main dining areas. A noisy side and a quiet side (as I call them). What I Like: - Creative drink menu with new ideas you won't see elsewhere. They keep it fun and fresh. - Slightly larger portion sizes than you might expect. Good place to bring an appetite. This statement holds true for appetizer quantities too. - Large menu with tons of options, while each night features 2-3 specials. Vast options for munching! - Decor. I'm a big decor guy. The place feels a bit more regal than your "Bertucci's" experience. This place looks the role they aspire to play. What I Don't Like: - Parking is atrocious. They have a complimentary valet, but the scene on a Friday/Saturday night is still a "Cluster-F." - Filet mignon is a bit tough, even when cooked medium. C'mon guys. It's your priciest piece of meat! - Drinks are good, but they are $10-$12 a pop. Those are Harbor East prices hanging out in Timonium where "Flow" takes your order with a stained uniform. The bill can explode if you start killin' em... My experience there feels above average because the service is generally really good and the decor is meaningful and relaxing. But when I really scrutinize the food, it's subpar for what the prices imply. For a higher rating, raise the standards of the meat, or keep it rubbery and drop drink prices a tad. Overall, a great place to bring out of town guests and a local institution that has a following best described as "impervious" to my or your negative criticism of Michael's Cafe.
(3)A T.
My experience here was terrific. Food - A+ I had the blackened tuna with cucumber/jalapeno slaw and rice. Simply fantastic. Blackened perfectly. Big piece of tuna. My associate had a crab cake that was perfect. Drinks: A Good selection of craft/draft beer. Service: A+ Our server was great. He made recommendations, double checked on us often, and didn't forget a thing. We sat in the bar area on a Tuesday night. The place was packed like fudge. Loud in the bar area, which didn't bother us but if you were looking for a quiet dinner, you wouldn't want to sit in the bar area. The hostess was very helpful in securing us a table when the normal wait would have been 20++ minutes.
(5)Qionah B.
I found my way back to Michael's after about a year or so. They added a new bar section which looked nice. If you haven't been here this is a place to unwind, bring your family, go on a date, happy hour, or what ever, it's a good atmosphere and the menu is diverse. The waiters are hit or miss. I wasn't so lucky to have a nice guy but he was accurate so what the heck. I started with the half pound jumbo shrimp hold the onions. They were all that! I then ordered the Scallops as my entree. Big mistake. No taste drenched in sauce... The broccolini lacked flavor as well. The best part of meal was the baked potato. It was soooooo good. I swapped the scallops out for a small New York strip. Nothing to write home about. I would still return because I've had more good food here than bad.
(3)Maggi R.
What a delightful evening to be seated on the patio and getting the chance to hear Pat O'Brennan sing. Our party of 5 had a great time. Rusty, our server, was terrific - seeing to our every need. Everyone tried something different and was pleased with their appetizers and dinners. I especially enjoyed the Combo Favorite - potato skins, Buffalo wings and coconut shrimp (4 of each) - all filling and satisfying. Thanks for a fun evening....
(5)dane h.
Michael's is a classic, North of Baltimore fixture. I've been here a few times over the years and usually enjoyed it. You get the feeling they have been doing things the same way for a long time, and generally killing it from a business perspective. But it is beginning to feel a bit stale and over-priced to me. For apps we tried the fried green tomato stack (WAY overpriced at $14, paltry amount of lump crab) and the calamari (ok, but a bit greasy). I had the double crab cake entree. The crabcakes were very good, as usual. I got one broiled, one fried. I preferred the fried, as the texture of the meat was better, and the temperature was better (warm to hot, unlike the broiled one, which was served room temp) My sweet potato fries were burnt. The cole slaw was good. Overall, it was a decent meal, though for the price, I'd like to see better execution and a more exciting menu. Service was good.
(3)DJ P.
Michael's finally haa a young, perky and polite bartender. Although I didnt get dressing on the side as ordered, she was delightful
(4)Jalisa J.
Yesterday, I went to Michael's Cafe for the the first time with a friend. I had heard so many great things about Michael's and had driven past it so many times, that I was excited to finally see what the hype was about. My friend and I went there for brunch (both of our favorites) and we both enjoyed our meals. I ordered the half cream of crab, half maryland crab soup as an appetizer and it was amazing! It was the perfect blend of both the cream of crab and the maryland crab soup. The soup also had some veggies in it, such as corn, tomatoes, and chunks of potatoes in it, which I thought really added some flavor to the soup. I usually never finish soup, but I finished all of my soup from Michael's! For my first beverage, both my friend and I ordered the sunrise margarita, which was both agreed was one of the best margaritas we ever had. It was perfect and there was just enough tequila. It was also only $5! Which was a great price considering that the glass was a pretty good size. For my entree, I ordered the captain crunch french toast with bacon on the side. The captain crunch french toast also comes with strawberries and whipped cream, which was amazing and added some sweetness to my meal. The captain crunch added texture to the French toast. I'm pretty picky about my French toast, and this French toast was amazing! My friend ordered the chicken and biscuit sliders, which she said was really good. It actually looked like a fancier, upgraded version of a chick fil a breakfast slider. For my second drink, I ordered the Jameson crush, which was basically an orange crush made with Jameson instead of vodka. Initially, I thought it was a bit strong, but it actually ended up tasting fine overall, though I would still prefer a traditional orange crush. My friend ordered the grapefruit crush, and she didn't have any complaints about her drink. Finally, for the last round, we both ordered lattés, and we both actually ordered two of them! We were told they just started using a new brewing machine, and the latté proved that their new machine is amazing! One of the best lattés I've had. Our server was awesome also! She had a lot of suggestions, and was really personable. Our bill ended up being a bit higher than expected, but it was worth it! I definitely would like to return to Michael's Cafe sometime. I also looked at their dinner menu, and it looked equally as delicious as their weekend brunch menu! I will definitely recommend Michael's to my friends and family.!
(5)Marci T.
From the second you arrive, Michael's ignites your senses with everything from the atmosphere right down to the food. Every time my family and I visit this location we are left with a fantastic experience. My husband and I both ordered the crab cakes because let's be honest it wouldn't be a trip to Michael's if you aren't getting the crab cakes- am I right? Haha if you haven't had them make that your next priority. Rather drop everything you're doing and go get them right now. This location should absolutely be on the top of your list for a delightful evening out with your family or romantic evening out with your love. The wait is never too long, but just long enough to allow for conversation to build with your dinner guests. I have waited and waited to do a review but after another home run experience, it seemed necessary. Great job by this team :) my husband and I can't wait for our next visit!
(5)Ray B.
There were 4 of us. We were seated. After about 20 minutes our waitress took our order. Only one appetizer - from the raw bar and it came about 10 minutes later. Then we waited and waited and waited. Fonally after an hour - our waitress went MIA for 30 minutes - we asked where are two salards were. Simple garden salads. She made an excuse about the kitchen being backed up - we did not believe it since we saw other tables who came in after us get their salads and entrees in this one hour period. She quickly brrought them out and again said the kitchen was backed up. 5 minutes later she brought our 4 entrees - claimed she broke the rules and plated them herslef. Did not buy that excuse. All of them were stone cold. My checken francaise was so cold the lemon butter wine sauced had totally congealed. We ate it any way. Horrible. Will never go to Michael's again. Service is pathetic. Not the first time servrice here has stunk.
(1)Steven I.
I asked to sit in a specific place to accommodate my disability (even though I didn't disclose I had one), and they sat me in the perfect place. The crab cake was first rate, and the vegetables were plentiful, if a touch on the cool side. The oysters were fresh and succulent. The service person was sweet, helpful and attentive. I asked directions to a local golf course, and the manager had one of the kitchen staff who caddies there come give them to me. If in the Baltimore area, I would make a special trip to Michael's.
(5)Olivia L.
My fiancé and I had dinner here for Valentine's Day...there was a fixed menu and all the entrees were relatively expensive around 25-35$. We both got the steak and saffron cheesy risotto which was so good! But by the time we got to the restaurant 60% of their options were already gone...so it was very limited. Not sure about their regular menus but from the atmosphere/service/ and food I think it's a bit over priced.
(3)Rianna O.
Fantastic upgrades have been made to the bar & patio areas as well as the menu! I've been to Michaels on a few occasions over the past three years, before & after renovations. While in the Patio area & outdoor bar, you forget you are right off of York Rd. Weekend brunch menu was transformed and is now my husband & I's fav brunch spot to share with out of town guests. Be prepared, with so many great options, it'll take awhile to decide! Thankfully they kept bottomless mimosas too!
(5)Christopher B.
Waaaay overpriced...fair sub par cuisine....overlooked seafood....semi-oblivious staff...gruff ownership...problems among staff and management obvious and unprofessionally openly discussed....
(2)Irina G.
Came for brunch as I've heard good things. Hubby ordered Capt Crunch French Toast which was delicious. He's not a fruit person so we skipped the fresh fruit and raspberry drizzle but it didn't matter. That was a solid 4.5. However their bacon was horrid and tasteless. Coffee was very watered down. Very disappointing. I ordered the Shrimp and Grits, upon the waiters suggestion, and was underwhelmed. The description suggested shrimp and goat cheese grits with fried green tomatoes in an andouille creole sauce. What I got was a beautifully arranged plate of three fried green goat cheese tomatoes each topped with grits, a nice size shrimp, and a thick tomato based sauce. Looked amazing... tasted eh. The goat cheese spread into the fried green tomatoes was too thick and overtook the dish. The grits on their own lacked flavor. The sauce needed a kick in spice and a tastier andouille. All in all I would go back and try some of the other dishes that looked delish like the hash or Benedicts. The service was fabulous.
(3)Ericka T.
Horrible service .. Had a rock fish dish that I didn't like .. Was told by restaurant manager "there's nothing I can do , you'll just have to eat it or I can wrap it up and you can take it home with you " I wound up having to calm the POLICE to help me resolve my dispute .. I refused to pay for a meal that I did not eat because of the poor quality ...
(1)Allison H.
Everything about Michael's Cafe was superb. We arrived a day early for our reservation (note to self: put on glasses). Luckily, the wonderful Reservation Person seated us at a high table at the bar. It was a great choice on a very busy Friday night. The oysters on the half shell were plump and briny and perfect. The grilled calamari took us back to a trip to the Mediterranean. They were tender, grilled to perfection and seasoned with a lemon aioli that enhanced each morsel. Have the Lobster Crab Cake Platter! There was not a bit of unnecessary filler in this crab cake. The lobster and crab were both delicate and ample, accompanied by the best sweet potato fries and small house salad! Our waiter Saroj was professional and helpful and contributed to the entire experience. We will return for sure. This place was bouncing, inside and out, with the very happy sounds of content patrons. Consider making a reservation-it does get crowded.
(5)Jay S.
I've been reading Yelp reviews for years and find them very helpful; however, I never created my own account to post reviews. I finally had enough bad experiences at Michael's in Timonium that I signed up for an account to ensure that everyone is aware of what you're getting into when you go to Michael's. The place has quite a history in Lutherville-Timonium. It has a great location on York Rd (although parking is miserable) and it is easy to give friends directions to meet you there. The exterior is nice (especially with the 2013 remodel), but again, you will get confused easily trying to find the parking lot...if there are even spaces available. However, aesthetics aside (including the amazing 2013 updates), my wife and I have never had pleasant experience at Michael's. Over about a five-year period (2010-2014), we've been there 5-6 times....and each time we say we'll never go back. After each negative experience, we give it about 9-12 months and try again...and yet we are let down each time. So what's wrong with the place? Why are we so down on this institution? Please remember, we are basing this on 5-6 visits AND we realize we are generalizing. There are probably staff members that are great that we haven't had the pleasure of experiencing. - ATTITUDE of HOSTESSES/WAITSTAFF - We have rarely seen staff smile and they seem to have very little energy...almost like they just don't want to be there and/or have very little passion regarding their position or the business in general. People can have a bad day but this has been a consistent observation. (Today, the guy bringing our food, after asking if he had the right table, said, "Thank goodness, I've already checked a bunch of other tables". So this guy was putting out plates down at countless other tables. Why even say that to us, especially now that our plates are no longer warm?!) Why would we want to go somewhere when the staff seems to display an attitude that they would prefer to be elsewhere. - SLOW SERVICE - Every time we've been to Michael's, some aspect of our meal (drinks and/or food) have been delayed. Today the excuse was, "our computers are down". That could have been the case, but every time we go there something is wrong and they have some reason to send wait staff out to let customers know that there is a problem. I understand that a business can have issues, but seriously...every time we are there, there is a delay of some sort. - FOOD QUALITY/UNIQUENESS - The food is very generic. There is NOTHING special about it at all. A lot of the items seem to be frozen and reheated/deep fried. I don't know if it is SYSCO but I get the feeling that it is. If someone has insider info and believes they make everything fresh, I'll be happy to edit this part of the review. And for all the people saying that they have the greatest crab cakes they've ever tasted...those people don't get out much...at least not much past the 21093 ZIP code. - OVERPRICED - Again, the food is nothing special and yet you pay 10-15% more than you would for the same dishes at other similar area restaurants. I guess that management expects you to pay a premium to sit in their "amazing" establishment. Based on our experiences, there is no reason to pay a premium to receive sub-par service and frozen, reheated food. With all that said, the place seems to be packed whenever we pass by on a Friday or Saturday evening, so they're doing something right. My guess is that there are so few restaurant/bars to go in Timonium despite the abundance of disposable income in the area...so people are stuck going to places like Michael's despite being an extremely underwhelming place. I really have no idea why so many people go there (or High Topps for that matter, I'll write that review next). Listen, we understand any place can have a bad day, you can have a bad server, the cook may have had a bad day, maybe we had a bad day, etc. However, we feel that the consistently poor experiences that we've had (with different servers and bartenders) is enough to justify posting this review. I really wish Michael's could live up to its billing, but they never have and they have given us no reason to try again.
(1)Hannah S.
I recently went to michaels after hearing great things from a friend. I got the fried green tomatoes which were incredible, and a very good cream of crab soup. Staff was friendly and attentive and the food was great and reasonably priced. I will definitely be going back!
(4)Keejoo L.
Went here for dinner last night, had made a reservation for 545 earlier in the day. Entering the restaurant we were greeted warmly and quickly. The place was just starting to fill up for their Saturday evening crowd. Our waitress came around quick too to take drink orders and read the specials for the evening. After the drink orders was the last of the timely service.. I saw other tables getting baskets of bread while our waitress said they were cooking them in the oven and be patient, 15-20 min of patience we were finally brought only 2 pieces of bread for our three person party... she said she would bring more and never did. I ordered the california turkey club sandwich.. all I have to say is when eating it, something didnt taste right and I wish I never finished the whole thing to avoid getting sick later into the night. The burger was soggy and lazily put together. The sweet potato fries that came with it were super soggy as well...no love for the food being cooked or any attention to detail whatsoever. For a place with such low quality food I wonder why so many people come here to eat. .. over priced and super slow By the time we got our entrees over an hour had passed by sitting at our table. Avoid this place for your own health and if you want a decent meal rather than something tasting like it was microwaved and thrown on a plate.
(1)Andrew C.
Only three stars?! That shocks me, because my experience here was great. We were in town for Preakness week, and the place was hopping. Everyone I came with had crab cakes and really enjoyed them. I'm not much of a seafood guy, so I had the ribeye, but that was a very, VERY good steak. The place can get a little noisy, especially by the bar, and service, while not bad, was a little strange. They had two waitresses tending to us instead of one, although both were very nice and hospitable. Still, we had a great time here, and chances are we'll be back when we fly east again next year.
(4)Pam D.
I had not been to Michael's for several years because the last few times we were there the food was awful. Hubby and I decided to give it another try on a recent Saturday night. The restaurant was packed. Our server seemed a bit harried but given how busy the restaurant was, that was understandable. She was courteous and friendly. Hubby and I ordered onion rings as an appetizer. They were hot and good. I ordered a club sandwich. Hubby ordered chicken francaise. My club sandwich was fine - nothing special but fine. Hubby was happy with his chicken francaise. Portions were reasonable. The recent renovations are lovely. The restaurant and bar area are bright, cheerful and appealing. Prices are a little high. Overall experience was fine - not great but not bad.
(3)Elizabeth F.
Ate here for the first time since the renovations were completed. The patio seating area is very nice - with lounge seats, dining tables, high top tables, and a bar. Brunch was fantastic, with a great selection of menu items. Corned beef hash was REAL corned beef, served in a mini cast iron. Fried green tomato eggs benedict was likely the best eggs benedict I've ever had. With gruyere and good sized chunks of crab meat - a perfect brunch alongside my bloody mary. We'll absolutely be back, and not just for brunch.
(5)Xavia R.
Will mever go again. Nice embiance but food not that good. Had run in with manager Mark. I told him i didnt like my rockfish dish and he told me nothing he could do about it. Pushed my food back to me and said ill wrap it up for you. I asked for alternative and he said no and i wont offer u anythimg else. I did nothing to this man and dont know why he targeted me. This was on Valentones day 2015. I told him i would pay for everything except the dish and he said i will pay for the dish, he served over 400 patrons that day and no one else complained. I paid for all except the dish amd was chased to my car buly the staff. I called the police to let them know what happened. Let alone the restaurant did as well. Whe i returned to let them know the cops would be there and asked for a receipt for what did pay, they refuse, yet kept my money. Antoher manager Christina was present as well. Mark refuse to address me said he didnt have to. Christina automatically accused me of a wrong doing yet when she went to Mark to get his side he was clearly wrong and out of polocy compliance. Neither if the managers extended apologies frm themselves nor Michaels. When i called the next day to speak with the owners manager Lowan stayes they dont't cone there often and to try back in a MONTH. What. im a black woman faced with all these white managers who don't know a thing about customer service or the business. Sorry maybe this isnt a race thing but Im not dumb and the comments, facial expressions and non verbal and verbal cues said it all. I also nted them seating another african american couple at a table that had not fully been cleaned and the unused flatware that was not used remained at the table. That's unsanitary and a violation. I left the complimentary rose and eveything right at the table. Why could this have been settled at the level of the restaurant and no police involvement. That ill. Likr i've always been taught u cant argue ignorance with intelligence. Micheals you have surely disappointed me. I would give them no stars but i guess i had to give at least obe.
(1)Marie S.
I enjoyed everything I had. Fried green tomatoes with crab meat appetizer, Oysters with broccolini vegetable, Caesar salad, good beer selection .. Nice cute waiter named 'Fez'. Very good. Must try their crab cakes some time.
(5)Dixon N.
Food was excellent and service was even better. We will be going back on a regular basis.
(5)Lindsey G.
Meagan our server was awesome. Ahi salad was delicious! Calamari was also really tasty.
(5)Nancy H.
Called for a Saturday reservation for 6 and was offered a table in either the bar or new indoor patio room. The bar was a no go as we were dining with 2 relatives in their 80s so we reserved in the patio room -- a major mistake. The patio room is really a section of the bar, where the standard, loud pop music is played. That alone, would have been tolerable, except that a singer was performing live on the outdoor patio. With the door to the outdoor patio right near us and wide open, we were in the unbearable position of sitting smack in the center of blaring bar music (think Michael Jackson) and a live, very loud singer. What a din! Even a 21 year old at our table said the noise was driving her crazy. The manager seemed surprisingly unsympathetic when we asked for help. Offering no apology, he claimed he'd lowered the volume on the outdoor singer's sound system, which none of us had noticed. When I asked him to come sit at our table to hear the noise from two competing sources of music, he brusquely declined saying "let's solve your problem" (actually it was a problem of Michael's making, but I digress). He offered to move our party to a high-topped community table in the bar, which we declined. I asked the manager if he could at least keep the door to the outside patio closed. He said yes, and closed the door. But a few minutes later, the waiters re-opened it and the din started up again. Since it was clear that the cacophony was going to continue, we prayed that our food would come quickly. The food was decent but hard to enjoy with all the noise. Thank goodness our waiter was attentive, personable and kind. While eating, we did notice that the volume of both music sources had been lowered but it was still maddening to hear each pounding from either side of our table. Miraculously, the live singer stopped at 8:30, and for a brief time, before we paid our check, we enjoyed pleasant conversation. No one was in the mood for dessert at Michael's as we all just wanted to get the hell out. Final advice? First, steer clear of Michael's indoor patio room. It's really just part of the noisy bar, which they don't bother to tell you. And if a singer is performing on the outdoor patio, you will be smack in the middle of a very special hell. Second, don't depend on Michael's manager for any kind of empathy or customer service. Any restaurant that doesn't even tell you that the indoor patio room is really the bar clearly isn't concerned about its customers.
(2)Ruth C.
I grew up on steaks that were marked down because they're about to turn. As a result, I have a stomach of steel and a sensitive nose to anything nearing nostalgia. If I can't keep this meal down, I'm dropping another star off the rating. A piping hot "split level": cream of crab soup ladled over Maryland crab soup, with a rounded spoon and a single package of saltines. Why there was some shredded turf meat mixed in, I'll never know. Lump crab meat was nice. Three fragments of shrimp shell found in one cup. While I'm all about eating fried shell, I consider it a faux pas when you can't strain your soup stock properly. Toast options are white, wheat, or rye. "Sausage links" turned out to be a sausage patty. Filet Benedict was a hot mess. Eggs themselves were overdone; one was cooked solid, and one was only half-runny. The English muffin was only toasted on the open face and had that unpleasant texture of having sat in a refrigerated bag with condensation. Slice of Gruyere was fine. Ultimate fried potatoes were fried hard with diced peppers without being burnt, giving an exterior crunch that was a pleasant surprise. The 3 oz filets were cooked perfectly medium rare, but tasted faintly rancid. My hollandaise sauce was quickly tainted by contact with the meat, driving bile up my esophagus. I tasted fresh sauce from one of my companion's classic eggs Benedict and it was much less offensive. I didn't come anywhere close to finishing my plate, that's how quickly my body rebelled. Bathrooms were unisex and single occupancy. The one I went into had two nonfunctional locks (toilet is nested within a stall), empty seat liner dispenser, and a paper towel dispenser with a broken spring so you had to crank it in both directions. While bathrooms don't factor into my ratings, their luxury items were the feminine product machine, the diaper-changing station, and the motion-activated faucets. Large percentage of their customer base are the local geriatrics. Service was fine. Clearly I should've tried the strawberry margarita pancakes or the creme brulee French toast instead.
(2)Cath P.
The food was delicious. The setting was bright and comfortable. The server was miserable. My advice to server: If you do not want to be in customer service, get another job.
(4)Marco E.
FYI, don't go to Michael's Cafe on York Rd in timomium. We made reservations for 8pm and arrived 15 minutes early but we weren't seated until 815pm. We were served food on a dirty plate and something was stuck to the glass of water. 14 years ago I was crazy about this place but not now. Unfortunately dinner was poor as well.
(1)John F.
My wife and I traveled 7 hours for a meeting on Saturday. This restaurant was recommended. I found the directions on Yelp and we walked in with no reservation. We were immediately seated and had a very good and well-paced dinner. I would highly recommend
(4)Nick P.
Unfortunately, the oyster sauce which usually is delicious and so easy to make, was the worst we have ever had. The salad wedge was chopped and swimming in the blue cheese dressing. I seriously thought I needed four times as much lettuce, as then the quantity of dressing would still have been too much. The crab soup would have been much better without the cream. The broccoli I was good and the lobsters delicious. The ambiance was good, service excellent
(3)