The husband and I were at the soft opening at Mari Luna Bistro – Cocina Mexicana located 1225 Cathedral Street in the former Spike & Charlie/Robert Oliver location near the Meyerhoff.  If you have never made it out to the burbs for Mari Luna Mexican and Mari Luna Latin you are in for a treat.

Turquoise ceilings, yellow walls with orange trim and a black floor brighten a big space.  The sunken dining room boasts carpeting and beautifully appointed chairs and banquettes.  A sangria bar with traditional red and white versions will soon expand with a rosa and moonlight version.   The old Robert Oliver Bar with the waterfall effect is gone and replaced with neutral wood shelving.  Unfortunately, I left the trusty camera at home so no snaps my friends. 

Being local to the two other Mari Luna’s I know the menu items well. The Bistro highlights a number of dishes from Mari Luna Mexican with Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas but there are Chef Jaime Luna’s entrees, my favorite the Cordero Jalisco – melt in your mouth lamb shank simmered in a rich cascabel chili sauce.  The husband chose the Arrachera Sada, traditional grilled skirt steak with a side of chimichurri sauce. 

New to the Mari Luna menu is their Guacamole bar with various renditions.

• Traditional
• Yucatan
• Puebla
• Azteca
• Cabo San Lucas
• Tijuana
• Veracruz

We went for the traditional that arrived at the table in the Molcajete - chunky avocado, jalapeno, onion, tomato and cilantro ---mmmmm, mmmm, good! 

So congratulations downtown Baltimore – come and enjoy what people in Baltimore county have been enjoying . Now I want the guacamole bar at Mari Luna Latin in Pikesville.

Mari Luna Bistro

1225 Cathedral Street

Baltimore, MD

410 637 8013