Alewife Baltimore

I felt the need to write about Alewife again because it is continually losing that special place in my heart. I’ve been so many times not and it keeps getting less and less memorable. Unfortunately due to it being one of the only convenient places to get a bite/​drink before going to see a show at the Hipp, I keep finding myself coming back. Alewife is constantly out of things, wines and beers mostly. The gave up on having a big chalkboard with all their drafts I’m assuming because it was too hard to update. But when you hand me a printout of your weekly list, only to have 4 missing… it is heartbreaking. I noticed the menu has shrunk which is fine because I found they were constantly out of menu items. They do still have the best duck fat fries around but everything else is just meh… I hope it improves because the vibe of this place is great and it is in a prime location for people having dinner before or after a show!

We were there at around 7 or 7:30 on a Saturday. We sat down in an empty dining room, ordered our food, ordered our drinks, then watched four or five other parties show up in the dining room after us, get their food, eat their food, get their leftovers boxed, pay the check, and leave, all before our food ever came. I’d bet my rent that the waiter we had was high. Despite complaints we never heard anything from anyone on the management staff. The food itself was only OK-​ish. The wild boar sliders I had were a little overdone but overall pretty flavorful. The terrible service ruined what otherwise would’ve been a good meal.
Go someplace else.

Came here after a show at M&T Bank Stadium. Perfect late night spot that we would not have found without help from Unilocal!We were just looking for a bit to eat and came across much more. The beer menu was very impressive with a lot of great regional beers. The food menu had some simple dishes that we were skeptical about. But boy were they good! Great Mac and Cheese and a great Ham and Cheese sandwich. Hopefully someone else will read this review in search of some late night eats and come across this review. Great spot!

Matt and Layla at the bar were AMAZING!!! Best bartenders EVER!!! They were so friendly! We didn’t wait long for anything. They were fun and the food was absolutely fantastic!!! We are definitely coming back. Thank you! Thank you, For making our night so wonderful!!!

How the heck did I miss writing a review for Alewife?
Oh wait; now I remember.
I was having too much fun catching up with a college buddy and enjoying the delicious food and fine beer pairings.
Alewife is one serious hike from home and it still does not matter, in my book. Between out of town friends attending meetings in Baltimore and the promise of good food and cheer, the two visits I’ve made to this eclectic brew pub have both been memorable and pleasant.
I love a finely crafted beer. I work hard and I don’t often drink, so when I elect to have a beer — it has to deliver depth and complexity of flavor and also pair well with food.
The food.
Oh yes, Alewife’s kitchen is really on point here. These folks served up an amazing wild boar hotdog. The unctuous but never gamey boar had a perfect grind that was toothy without ever becoming fibrous or tough. The addition of sweet and earthy spices only heightened the umami and cut well against the deep and hoppy notes of my beer. The fries were properly salted, hot, and crisp enough to play a starring role in a culinary variant of Jenga (if the spirit so moved you).
What I’ve also come to notice is the food selection changes over time. While the culinary lens remains keenly focused on quality sourcing of eclectic local produce and meat selections, the changes make intermittent visits both welcoming and intriguing.
Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay is that my mouth is now watering just from writing this review. 40 miles from home? Hmmm… never seemed so worth it.
Oh yes, they also do trivia there. Don’t miss out, if you’ve a hanker for that sort of thing. The madam MC is clearly accustomed to wrangling good natured if slightly buzzed patrons. Steer clear of violating house rules or she will let you know with a quickness ;-)
Pub well, my friends.

Came here before the Orioles game with my mom. First date I’ve had with my mom in quite some time haha. We had fun. And the Orioles won!
The craft beer selection is stellar. We got a flight of three beers (or maybe four I forget). I always appreciate when restaurants offer flights because it allows you to sample a few different kinds. They were all delicious.
The menu consisted of food sourced from local farms. I ordered the catfish tacos, which the waitress said is an invasive species, so I’m glad I helped the cause. It wasn’t too fishy, and the ingredients were top notch. Cabbage slaw and corn salsa with some sweet potato strings on top. Three good sized tacos. I liked those a lot.
Followed with some crab deviled eggs that hit the spot. My mom got the country ham melt, which was a delightful surprise. What lured her was the fact that it was country ham, which takes a long time to cure. She said it takes skill to soak and roast. Gooey pimento cheese oozing out of the sourdough bread, and generous portion of fries. We also shared an arugula salad with pecans that was fresh and tasty.
The atmosphere was kind of noisy, but that is to be expected in a bar. There was old wood all around the room. You can tell from the architecture that the building is at least 150 years old. It is in the heart of downtown, four blocks from Camden Yards. I would definitely say hit this place up before a game, whether you want food or just a couple beers. Good for any occasion.

Good food, pricy though. Friendly waiter, but really slow service. Had to wait for half an hour after ordering for a simple fish cake entrée. It was a weeknight and they were not very crowded either. It is especially irritating to wait so long for food to arrive when ur stomach is growling and the metered parking is expiring.

We came here last night before seeing a show at the Hippodrome; we usually go to Forno, but it was all booked up. We decided to check this place out since they have pretty good reviews and, being right across the street from the show, is the best option for my limited-​mobility grandmother. However, this place proved to be more difficult for my grandmother than if we had gone someplace else. The elevators were broken (we practically had to carry my 86 year old Joma up 6 or 7 stairs) and the ladies room was on the 2^nd floor up some winding stairs so that was out of the question.
The food was alright; the caprese salad appetizer was bland and the deviled eggs were over-​spiced, but the egg rolls were amazing. As for entrees, my fish tacos were also bland but the mac n cheese and sliders tasted great.
Drinks were a little too complicated looking, there was nothing fresh and spring-​y, there was no wine list, and both my draft beers were warm.
All in all, I’ll stick to Forno from now on.

I went here a few weeks ago for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. Alewife is pretty easy to find (right by the Hippodrome) and there is a parking garage that is adjacent to it so you don’t have to worry about street parking.
The overall environment of Alewife is pretty cool. It has a really nice set up in the restaurant. The menu isn’t large, but there are a few good choices. My only complaint from my food experience is that I ordered the meat loaf egg rolls and they only gave us two. TWO! For two people so obviously that wasn’t enough. Two wouldn’t be enough for one person. My friends, however, ordered wings and they got a decent amount of wings. I was stuck between ordering the yard burger or the pork belly mac & cheese fries, but ended up going with the yard burger which was pretty good. My boyfriend ordered the same thing, but seemed to be disappointed because he said there used to be a smoke burger on the menu that he really liked, but it was no longer available.
Alewife has a really great selection of craft beers (which I love), that they seem to change frequently. So definitely a plus if you are a beer fan!
Our server was awesome! Very friendly and knowledgable with an awesome personality.
Overall — great food, great drink selection, and awesome service. Alewife is definitely worth going to if you are ever downtown. The food and drinks are worth it, even though the menu selection is not large.

I was excited to try this place after hearing some buzz from friends. I wasn’t blown away. My friends and I decided to get a few small food items and cocktails/​beers. I drink beer on occasion, but wasn’t in the mood to at that moment so I ordered a few cocktails. One thing I noticed is this place is centered around beer hence the name haha. If you’re a beer lover, there are tons of options! My beer loving friends had a great time picking through the variety of beers at their disposal. My cocktails were good and strong at times, perhaps a little too sweet, but I was pleased. My food was so-​so. I ordered the Blue Catfish Tacos and was bummed at the lack of flavor. The overall consensus with everyone at our table was the food was just OK. The best item that was ordered was the Mac & Cheese. Overall, I’d be willing to try this place again and see if I change my mind.

11oz burger that takes a half hour to cook– on point!
Food was good, of course it was Easter Sunday at noon so the crowd was minimal.
Decent gastropub for Bmore.

I liked the prime beef hotdog on the pretzel bun with duck fat fries, and a craft beer. The waiter acted like a sommelier for the beer, and it did indeed pair well. The whole thing was very hipster, and I am not ashamed to say that I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Why not five stars, then? Well, I’ve only been once, a few years ago, and though I remember it very clearly, I haven’t felt the need to go back. The location is just a little too inconvenient. It could easily be a five star if I went back and enjoyed some different dishes and beers a few different times.

Rating system:
5 stars — Must try. You’re really missing out if you don’t. I’m either a regular here, repeat patron, or would be if it wasn’t cost or distance prohibitive
4 stars — Highly recommended, but may have minor things that keep me from being a regular or from giving a higher rating
3 stars — Good most of the time but not great. Will only eat here if I have a particular craving, or am unable to eat at my 4 or 5 star choices
2 stars — Do not really like it but will only eat here if I have to (eating group overruled my veto)
1 star — Avoid. Save your money, time, and stomach
Went here with a group while visiting Baltimore for a conference. The Inner Harbor is full of pubs/​alehouses. We went to this particular one because it was on DDD. Regarding the service, between our two tables, I heard mixed reviews. This pretty much goes along with the other Unilocalers’ experience as well.
Our table had the Smoke burger, meat & potatoes, beef shortribs, fish tacos, and a salad. I personally had the wild boar sliders and crab meat deviled eggs. Everyone really enjoyed their food. But because they are not what I would call a «foodie», it is hard to interpret. The guest with the Smoke burger on the other hand, said «It is definitely worth the wait.» and made the «o-​face» as he was eating it. It certainly looked good!
Wild boar sliders — I’ve never had wild boar. I was thinking that it would be gamey since it is wild, but it wasn’t at all. In fact, I couldn’t even tell it was from a wild animal. The meat was ground and seasoned with Asian flavors. In fact, it tasted like Cantonese pork dumplings. The kind that my uncle makes at his restaurant (he trained in Boston). It was odd, to say the least, to have that flavor profile in a burger. While it was actually quite tasty, it wasn’t what I expected. The pickled vegetables and sriracha aioli rounded out the Asian vibe. Taste aside, I’m not quite convinced that this particular burger was fitting for the type of restaurant, considering it is the only Asian-​inspired item on the menu.
Crab meat deviled eggs — Pretty solid. The crab was present and you can’t go wrong with Old Bay seasoning.
The food is solid and doesn’t disappoint. However, if you are just visiting Baltimore, there are much better restaurants to try out.

1 star for the beer list, 1 star for the vibe/​décor. –3 stars for the bartender (Leslie?) who could not have been ruder or less inviting. She conveniently was super friendly all night when we were in the bar with a band who had just performed at the Hippodrome. Band leaves, we ask to stick around while we wait for über surge pricing to drop. And BAM b**** comes out. The attitude was entirely unnecessary and she was as unfriendly as the old curmudgeon neighbor in Malcolm in the middle.
To add to it — I left something on the bar, get to the door and realize what happened, go back and she tries to pretend she doesn’t know what I’m talking about and I’m just some drunk idiot. Well lady, joke is on you — 3 drinks later and you’re the one getting a bad Unilocal review and cleaning a bar while I’m sitting snugly in my bed. Never again Alewife — I don’t need that bull**** in my life.

Solid 3 star typical pub. I was very thankful that they were open during the blizzard of 2016 because I had a serious case of cabin fever. Arrived Monday night around 8pm and was obviously seated immediately due to everyone still being stuck at home and thankfully not at Alewife. Unbeknownst to me Mondays is also trivia night and that made the night more entertaining and fun. They were out of a few items because of the blizzard so they were unable to receive deliveries. Idc, I’m just here for the smoke burger and duck fat fries. Ordered the Thai fries for an appetizer and they weren’t my favorite. I’ve had better wings. The could’ve been baked a little more crispy and they would’ve been perfect. However the pickled carrots that they were topped with was pretty good. Now to the main event. Just as my fellow Unilocalers said, the smoke burger does take a little longer than a usual burger to be prepared so if you’re hungry an appetizer is a must or you’ll be agitated because of the wait and then leave an unfair review. However, it was worth the wait. I could definitely taste the smokiness of the burger and the cheese added an extra kick to it. It was rather large so I only ate half and the other half the next day. It taste just as good as a leftover. In the future I’ll ask if they can leave the bun un toasted because it was to hard for my liking. With every bite it scraped the roof of my mouth just like the good olé Cap’n Crunch does. For some reason I expected more from the duck fat fries and they were just ok. I do prefer my fries with the skin remaining on them so that was a plus. The service was just ok but I have to give the waiter (long bearded guy) the benefit of the doubt because it appeared that he was the only waiter there that night. And due to the blizzard he probably was so he was as attentive as he could be. My main gripe though is the women’s bathroom is upstairs and the men’s is downstairs. It seems that should be the other way around. And where is the women’s handicap accessible restroom? Idk. Didn’t notice any happy hour specials which sucks considering I work across the street and wouldn’t mind dragging the coworker’s there a couple times a month.
Long story short, I’ll be back anyway.

A group of us came here for drinks and some food late on a Friday night. It was pretty dead and we had the tables area to ourselves. The waitress was really nice and accommodating and the food and drinks were pretty good.

The glorious experience of dining includes many stages, however, it’s the ordering process that causes me the most excitement and anxiety. Some menu’s have that one dish that jumps out at you, while other menus cause you to have to flip a coin. At Alewife’s, there was one dish that I couldn’t look away from… The Chicken and Waffle Sliders.
These sliders consisted of fried chicken, candied maple bacon, apple jam and goat cheese, garnished with a side of glazed strawberries. The flavors worked very well together, without having an overwhelming maple or apple flavor, and the waffles were toasted, yet soft. The plate looked as though I had licked it clean when the meal was over… not one crumb was left behind.
Alewife’s has a fantastic atmosphere with an outstanding beer and cocktail list. Located in the heart of downtown Baltimore, this would be a great place for a happy hour get together after work, date night or just grabbing dinner with some friends. I highly recommend this restaurant!

The variety of beers is outstanding. The variety of meals is great too. We had the snakehead and wild boar sliders!

I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Alewife. Our waiter, Rowen was very pleasant and efficient. My husband, himself a certified chef by trade, especially loves the idea behind the menu. They take predatory and invasive species in Maryland and turn them into beautiful, hearty meals. Genius! The restaurant is dark, cozy and moody– Very Baltimoresque. So, skip across the street to check them out after your next trip to the Hippodrome– you won’t regret it!

Coulda swore I already reviewed this place but don’t see it. Maybe I’ve been sabotaged. Anyway …
Are you in the area? Do you like great beer? Then quit looking at all the freakin’ reviews of other places (like I did) and just come here already!
I will say, the beer list is top tier. Great selection of draughts. Not the largest in the world but outstanding quality. Had a St. Bernardus Christmas ale but the show stopper was the Allagash Interlude. I’m sure many of their beers rotate but if you see this one on the list, get it. Freakin’ fantastic. Tried it in a bottle later and still excellent but not as good as it was here.
Wasn’t super hungry and the smoke burger sounded good but too much so I actually just opted for the lonely hot dog. But hey, this thing was excellent. Good bun, good temperature on the dog and the chili on top turned out to be fantastic. Usually overlooked but after the dog was gone, I kept picking up leftover beans and meat to eat. Portion size was decent so this along with the fries could satisfy a smaller stomach. The duck fries overall were very tasty as well but there were several that were a bit undercooked. The rest were nice and crispy with pillowy potato inside.
Sat at the bar per my MO when I’m traveling. Service was fine. They even had trivia the night I was there but I had to meet a friend so I left after entering a team name. The lady working the trivia actually came outside after I left to ask if I was still playing. Nice touch.
If I’m ever in the area again, I will definitely be back!

This is basically a decent bar that serves good food. They carry a lot of craft beers of high quality as well. The location is terrific as it is across the street from the Hippodrome and around the corner from the Everyman theater. There is a nice parking garage just around the corner as well.
I only give the place three stars because, like some places, it has become a victim of its own success. It is often so crowded that you can’t sit down to eat or even get within 15 feet of the bar. Forget about trying this place anywhere near peak hours in the evening or weekends.

Came here with a bunch of friends as a surprise meal. I would not call myself a frequenter of the area, however Alewife did not disappoint. It’s got a pub feel with obscure art on the walls. However, it’s a fantastic place to grab a drink or get some good bar food if you’re in the area. Most of all, the hours are very flexible and you can come for late night meals if you wish!
I highly recommend the Smoke Burger. Out of the group of 20 I was with, 19 of them go it (and the one who did not, only did not order it because he was vegetarian). You will not be disappointed by this delicious, excellent cooked and created specimen of awesomeness. Most of all, you can pair it with one of the many drinks and local brews they have available in their multi-​page drink menu.
Bottom line: Alewife smoke burgers are awesome! I’ll definitely be back!

My boyfriend and I came here before the Hippodrome, and we had a nice experience here.
I have come to this restaurant before, only it wasn’t Alewife. In fact, I have been to this location several times and almost each time it was a different restaurant. None of them were any good and couldn’t stay in business as a result. I was happy to learn that Alewife had been in business for several years. It’s about time.
We did not think we needed to make a reservation, and boy were we wrong about that. Every inch of this place was absolutely packed, and the host told us that we would not be able to get a table. We didn’t mind sitting at the bar, however, so we managed to find two stools at a countertop in the bar area. Because we were sitting here, we didn’t have a server. Perhaps the restaurant could assign one of two serves aside from the bartenders to this packed area. To order, we had to fight our way up to the bar and place our orders. I give them a lot of credit, however. We never had an issue with service because our drinks and food came to us correctly, and everything we ordered was on our bill.
We heard that Alewife makes amazing burgers, so that’s what my boyfriend ordered. He enjoyed it, but he wasn’t overly wowed. It also was not as rare as it could have been. I ordered the snakehead cakes, which came with a corn and bacon salad and in a delicious dill avocado purée. The fish cakes had a nice, mild flavor and mixed very well with the sauce and salad. They were also very light, so I was able to leave the restaurant feeling full, but not stuffed.
I would definitely come back here before seeing a show. But for future reference, I’ll make a reservation.

So… let me tell you about Alewife. I went twice in one day, like a pig. Both times, I had the burger which was phenomenal and to date, still the BEST burger I’ve ever had.
I bragged about this burger for a full year so my friend and I visited before the Prince concert – this was slightly annoying… the bar was full, maybe 4 or 5 tables were seated, the rest of the place was empty and the hostess told us they were «booked for the night.» I get it, people with reservations take priority BUT we finally found seats at the bar and for the entire 1.5 hours we were there, still, only about ¹⁄₃ of the tables were taken.
I kind of feel like (just my opinion) those with reservations should be given a 10 – 15 minute window before their tables are let go. We stood for about 30 minutes before finding seats at the bar and tables (outside the bar) were still empty. Several parties, that were turned away, were there for the Prince concert, meaning all of us were/​would be in and out, yet tables were reserved for people who’d yet to show up when we were leaving. Just my two cents. I found it obnoxious (on behalf of those who reserved and Alewife for not releasing the res).
With that said, the bar service is not set up for a busy, full capacity bar. The bar was FULL! Like FULL!!! Standing room only, all the tall tops were taken as well as all the seats at the bar… there were TWO bartenders. Not only was there a sold out Prince concert taking place that night but there was also a Simon and Garfunkle (I think, don’t quote me) concert happening at the same time. (Maybe Crosby, Stills and Nash — regardless, it doesn’t matter-​TWO sold out concerts were taking place within two blocks of this place and TWO bartenders were working.) It took maybe 15 – 20 minutes to get a drink and even longer to place a food order.
Now, the good stuff: my friend agreed and stated that I did «not oversell it» it being Alewife — the burger was the best she’d ever had. We both cleaned our plates, fries and all. Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned… still (despite the service the night of the Prince concert) the best burger we’ve ever had.
(Sidenote: The two previous times I visited were during the week and both times I sat at the bar, had the same bartender and service was fantastic! I was only disappointed on this one night which I think could have been prevented with a bit of foresight and just a smidge management planning. Seriously, how can you NOT staff your place based on the sold out events happening within two blocks of your establishment? Really?)
Go get the burger!!! Don’t let this stop you from visiting. The beer list is also phenomenal! They have EVERYTHING!

Ok, so the service can be slow. And yes, it can get crowded on Hippodrome or game days. However, the food is decent, and the environment is relaxed. Dark and pub-​like, it’s great for unwinding during happy hour or dinner. They have a decent beer selection as well.
The food is hit or miss, and the menu keeps changing lately, but I personally love the smoke burger. A big, juicy burger with bacon, onions, and cheeses… yum! If you order the smoke burger, make sure you plan on sticking around for awhile though, because it has taken 45 mins to an hour to get before. Maybe even ask the waiter to bring everyone else’s food first.
The wild boar sliders are good, a bit drier than I would have liked, but an interesting option. The thai peanut wings are a decent dish to split as an app, not amazing but something to munch on during happy hour.
I don’t personally like duck fat fries, but friends love it here, which comes with a delicious aioli. They don’t seem to include duck fat fries separately on the menu anymore, but you can still order it as a side or app!

Synopsis:
Atmosphere: 3.5÷5
Service: ⁴⁄₅
Taste: ⁵⁄₅
Price: 3.5÷5
Selection: ⁴⁄₅
This place is mainly a bar with some food items. While the food may be a little low in selection, the food items are so very good to eat. The selection of beers is so very long it is crazy.
The atmosphere of this place is pretty good. Built in an old bank, and has the original interior it seems. However, when I went the music was a little loud. I was still able to talk, but it could have been turned down. I have been there other times and the music was fine, but the most recent time it was a little loud. I went in the evening, so that could have been the case.
Service wasn’t bad at all. Got the food in a very reasonable amount of time, the server was nice, and we got our beers in a quick time too.
The taste is excellent. I got the burger they have to offer and it was awesome. I have had the burger multiple times and it never fails to impress me. The fries they have are made in duck fat and are great.
The selection, as I said early, could be expanded in the food department. While the food is great, I feel like there could be more food. The drinks however are perfect. So many to choose from.
Now the price of the food is good for the quality, but the amount for the drinks is a little high. I believe this place is a microbrewery, so it is going to be high, but it seemed quite pricy for my tastes. The beers that I got were really good, but cost a pretty penny.
Overall, if you want a good burger and good beer then this place will be for you. Just be prepared to pony up a good amount of cash.

Came here with a group of 11 and we had no issues getting seated. Granted it was on a tuesday evening. We all ordered from their draught section and one of us ordered their fried oysters. In terms of the fried oysters, it was just okay. Basically it was spicy buffalo wings sauce but over oysters. It didn’t go well together. Frying oysters didnt work well either because it tasted even more soggy due to the inherent texture of oysters.
I am no expert in beers but I actually liked the beer that I got: Flying Dog Dead Rise. I liked the subtle hint of spicyness in the beer due to the old bay spice. It wasn’t too hoppy for me. They give a decent sized glass.
Service was decent. Only thing was that the table had not been wiped down before we sat down and was not wiped down throughout our time there.
I would recommend this place if you wanted to go somewhere else but still near the convention center. In terms of food, if the appetizer was any representation, I would be hesitant in recommending their food.

Oddly, the burger is the worst part of the otherwise great Smoke Burger.
Hit the Alewife (incidentally the Red Line terminus in Cambridge, MA) late Preakness Saturday to soak up racetrack alcohol and winnings. Glad to see it open until two.
Got the ballyhooed Smoke Burger with duckfat fries, and the initial impression was one of terrific flavor; unfortunately, this did not hold up with extended chewing. The culprit was an altogether unseasoned beef patty. Though it was clear that it was recently broken down from a fine slab of meat, they didn’t bother to pursue beef umami Nirvanna. Basically a slab of grilled (premium) ground beef.
The thick cut bacon saved the burger, but the star should have been the beef. Next time, Alewife, finish your signature burger.

Came back to Alewife a few weeks ago on a rare date night for some drinks and dinner. My suspicions were right that we should have made reservations, but we were lucky to snag the last two seats at the bar. It was packed wall to wall by the time we left. You have to not only take into account shows at the Hippodrome, but also the Arena and Everyman Theatre.
The bartender was great, sometimes it’s just more fun sitting at the bar, so it worked out. Some changes since I wrote my last review, they have a beer menu with the prices listed, which I appreciate. We both got the black bean burger and it was delicious. I love when restaurants make their own veggie burger patties because I am so sick those frozen patties dressed up in different ways. Alewife’s burger had a little flavor kick to it and the fries were also good. Definitely will be back the next time we see a show at the arena as this is now the tradition.

I’ve heard good things about this place and I’ve been meaning to try it. We came as a group of 14 (had a 7:30 reservation) and were seated in the back room. After reading so-​so reviews of this place, I decided I wasn’t going to listen to that, because the menu looked simple and good, and the beer list was extensive!
I read someone’s review from 2012, and it was EXACTLY what I wanted to say. It seems like things haven’t changed much. But here’s my take:
Bad service — the waitress walked by us quite a few times before ever even coming over and saying anything. We were waiting for friends to trickle in to eat, but would have loved to get started with a beer. Also, she would come to half of the table and walk away before asking anyone else if they needed anything. This pretty much caused me anxiety because I felt rushed and like I always had to be on the look out for her. She would also come over to take an empty glass, or regretfully inform us that they didn’t have a beer, the keg was kicked, or they were out of that, and not ask if anyone else needed anything.
Food — Meh. Had better. Brussels, skip. Go to Rocket to Venus instead if you want some bomb ass brussels. Shrimp and Grits — the best thing I tried on their menu. The sauce that accompanies the fried grit balls with the shrimp completes the dish. Delicious. The Smoke Burger — about 6 of them ordered Medium rare to Medium range…6 of them came out well done. Who wants this «amazing» burger well done? (the menu says to please be patient when ordering this because it may take a while… maybe that’s why, because they are cooking them all well done… just saying). The Roasted Eggplant Dip — strong flavors, but salty. Not worth $ 10 bucks. The black bean burger — It’s fine. Nothing special. I couldn’t taste the difference between the regular fries and the duck fat fries. Go to Annabelle Lee’s (in Canton/​Highlandtown) for some better duck fat fries (and a good beer selection).
Drinks — Great selection, but they were out of a lot, the keg was kicked, or they just didn’t have some. Beware — the whiskeys don’t have prices — Whistle Pig Boss Hog — $ 34. I had the Burley Oak Tart Attack ($ 7) — and it was delicious. I also ordered the Bahn It To Me (Vodka, pickled carrots, cilantro, carrot tops, lemon, and cayanne). I really enjoyed this very interesting cocktail, and props to them for trying something different and ballsy, but it was served without the cilantro and carrot tops. I asked for the cilantro, and was given it on the side, I’m not sure if it was supposed to be muddled or what, but I just added it. Good flavor.
Atmosphere — Neat. Used to be an old bank. If you have a table of 4, you can sit inside one of the old vaults which is pretty cool.
So bottom line: If you work in the area and had a rough day or you are seeing a show at the Hippodrome, sure, stop in for a drink or 2. If you’re looking for dinner and drinks, go somewhere else. There are a ton of other awesome places in the city. Personally, I won’t be back.

This would be my second time coming to this place due to me not really remembering if I liked or disliked the place. The lesson I learned was that there was not a reason for Alewife to make me remember liking the place.
Nothing really against the waiter that helped me, but he really was frustrating to deal with. I simply asked if I could switch the cheeses to cheddar on the burger, and his reply was that I am not allowed to change anything on the burger. I didnt really understand why. Was the burger premade? was the burger toppings not allowed to be put on the side? After a long time of talking with him, it simply came down to the fact that they did not stock any other cheeses. So I just simply asked if the cheese could be omitted and my burger cooked medium rare. Now, at this point in time I was pretty frustrated and prayed to god that the burger was kick ass because I seldomly eat burgers without cheese.
The result? terri-​bad… not only was the burger not cooked medium rare, but the patty did not have much taste to it. The really only saving grace was that the fries were good and the beer selection they had was good.
BTW, the lunch selection is very small… better to come for dinner as they do NOT serve the dinner menu during lunch time.

Inside has a nice appeal with the restaurant being a former bank. The vault and it’s big think steel door remains giving it a cool look. Once the server mentioned it, you can begin recognizing the old bank layout shell. It’s neat how they have preserved it while still giving it it’s own interior design.
They have a great selection of beer with some very good local options to try.
We started with the Shrimp Grits and Thai Chicken Wings. These are two great starters with the plates being cleared. The shrimp was cooked nicely along with the grits. It had nice flavor contrast between the two. The wings are a get-​again dish with the sauce the true star. The chicken was tender and the sauce had a great sweet and tangy flavor to draw you in for the next wing.
On the server’s recommending, they are supposed to be known for their burgers. Therefore why not try their signature Smoked Burger with Duck Fat Fries. Well, they probably could have kept both and wish I had tried something else. This place started on such a great note, but fizzled out with their so called star. The burger was cooked to my liking, but didn’t have any of the flavor I was expecting. Smoked? Not sure if the meat was supposed to have a smoked flavor or the cheese. Either way, I didn’t get any of it. For the fries, they were more of the soggy texture than a nice outer crunch and soft inside. They either were sitting around or not cooked long enough.
They started off with a few good hits in the beginning, but struck out later in the game.

On a Friday evening for dinner, my friend Nicole and I were looking to grab a burger and a beer and just catch up. If you’re looking for a burger in Baltimore, many are familiar with Abbey Burger which is constantly being written up as the best burger in Baltimore. And if you want plenty of options, that’s a great spot. But when you’re craving a a great burger, and you don’t feel like building it yourself, Alewife is worth a visit. It’s also one of the many spots in Baltimore that I have a City Dining Card for.
After sitting down and looking over the impressive drink menu, seriously this place is worth a visit for its beer list alone. My friend and I each decided to get the burger. I got it because I know how awesome it is, she probably got it because I hyped it up all day long. The Smoke Burger is 11oz of beef topped with smoked gouda, gruyère, bacon, caramelized onion, and chipotle aioli on a brioche bun. And if that burger isn’t amazing enough on its own, it comes with a side of duck fat fries. This burger is so juicy and packed with delicious smoky flavors. It’s hands down my favorite burger in Baltimore.
If you’re looking for a notable beer list and a great burger, I’d highly recommend Alewife.

Grilled goat cheddar cheese and bacon sandwich with smokey tomato jam soup. A+. Skip the Thai peanut wings– very pedestrian.
More soon– enjoying the O’s ALDS game 1 win!!!