CHANGE MY LOCATION
Mark Burlet
Baltimore Drink Examiner
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Speak To Me
Yes, Pirates 3 is 6th on the list of top grossing movies of all time. And rounding out the top 50 is that instant classic, Bruce Almighty, just ahead of some little movie called Raiders of the Lost Ark.
However, some of the most amazing places remain under appreciated, the most amazing movies relatively unseen. I mean, did anyone actually see that great Irish indie flick, Once, which actually won the Oscar for Best Song? Or how many of you have eaten at Peter's Inn... one of my personal favorite hole-in-the-wall fine dining establishments here in Baltimore, if there really is such a thing? These are just a few of many excellent examples of things that may be overlooked in the rush to follow the highest number of people, or possibly in fear of the unknown. One of my personal favorite examples, however, lies hidden in plain sight... on the corner of Linwood and O'Donnell on Canton's O'Donnell Square. I'm talking about Speakeasy Saloon and Dining House.
Fans of the Square, and residents of Canton, probably already know about the bar. But it sometimes seems like few go out of their way to patronize the place, or even realize that its restaurant serves some of the most consistently delicious food in Canton, if not all of Baltimore. Yes, the bar is a little small, and can get crowded quickly on a weekend night, but rare are the nights when I look forward to being one of a thousand random numbers in the eyes of my bartender. I like being able to walk in on a quiet Thursday night and still find a spot at the bar, where I can order a tall, cool vodka and tonic, or a nice glass of Malbec. If that's not for you, there's still the bigger, louder places like Claddagh or Coburn's which would love to have you. And while I'm as big a fan of skating around on bathroom floors in a pool of vomit as the next guy, there are sometimes, such as when I'm wearing flip-flops, that I prefer to avoid that...
So for my part, I'll stick with Speakeasy... especially if we're talking about somewhere to grab a nice meal in Canton. It's definitely a boon to live in a neighborhood with such a large number of dining establishments to choose from. But my default, when I want something more classy than a giant, gut-busting quesadilla from Nacho Mama's, is the Speakeasy. They've got some of the best seafood in the area (with the crab cake a special treat), and for a city like Baltimore which prides itself on crabs and other fruits de mer, that is no idle compliment. But that doesn't mean the other dishes suffer in comparison. Just try the lamb chops... or the recurring special, Filet Neptune, topped with shrimp, scallops and crab meat and you'll see what I mean. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it... especially since I'm sitting across the street at the Canton Daily Grind as I write this. Maybe I'll swing in and talk to Bill, show him the review and see what I can get for it... gotta be worth at least one free meal, right? ;)
And that brings me to probably my favorite thing about this place... or any place I name a favorite for that matter... which is the personal touch that goes into their service. The owners, brothers Bill and Gus, are always hanging around, making sure everything goes well. The bartenders, many of whom know me by name (is it wrong to admit that?) are excellent and attentive, as is the wait staff. And the chef makes his appearance from time to time, just to greet a regular customer who can't get enough of the damned fine food he dispenses from the kitchen. Not sure I can really ask for more from a neighborhood bar and restaurant three blocks from my house...
So there you have it. Another completely unbiased review and suggestion from the Drunken Intellectual. Feel free to swing by and say hi sometime if you're in the Canton area. But don't be surprised if I'm not there... I do occasionally spend nights at home you know...
Just kidding. I'll see you there later this week!
Mark Burlet
Drunken Intellectual
Topics: bars , restaurants , Speakeasy , Canton , O'Donnell Square
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