Secret menus
Good Eater Marty was telling me about someone he knows who loves Tio Pepe because the restaurant always makes her favorite off-menu items without being asked when she shows up. I remember Tio used to have a wonderful seafood-and-fruit plate at lunch you had to know about. It wasn't on the menu.
My kid, on a somewhat different level, told me about the West Coast Chain's In-n-Out Burger's "secret" menu, also known as its "animal menu." (You can actually find it on its Web site, although not in the franchises, so it's not that secret.)
Anyway, Marty came up with this link to an article on other secret menus -- well worth taking a look at.
Other Baltimore restaurants besides Tio Pepe must have dishes you won't find on the menu, but that regulars know to ask for. I just don't know about them. If you do, please post below.
(Elizabeth Malby/Sun Photographer)
Comments
The cold seafood platter at Tio's used to be displayed in the restaurant for all to see...expensive, but worth every penny. They will however make almost any item that can be made from a combination of anyything on the menu.
Posted by: Alan | August 3, 2007 5:51 PM
My family has been going to Tio's ever since they opened, it was my Grandfather's favorite restaurant. Ever time we would go the chef, who we are friend's with would send out a plate of papas/ potatos, an off the menu dish. However our waiter misunderstood and must have given our papas to another tabling. When we were leaving the chef came out and was asking about the meal and my Grandmother said something about missing his papas and we would have to come back soon to eat them. When he realized that we never got them he would not let us leave and ran back into the kitchen and made me a large batch to take home.
Posted by: Lauren | August 3, 2007 9:19 PM
San Sushi Too/Thai One On will make any of its previous maki specials, so don't be afraid to ask for your favorite (even if it's not the special for that evening).
My favorites are the Terp Roll, Sarah Roll, Blondie, Jamaica Roll and the Mitch Roll.
Posted by: Tim Thomas | August 4, 2007 8:36 AM