Ahhhh... The muffins that Cindy Bennington sends home with all of the diners who come to Cynthia's in Severna Park. If I'm lucky, I save it until morning. most times I just gobble it up as soon as I get home.

But very tasty. One of the things we love most about dining there.

Lime on Fort Ave gives you half a lime w/ a little tequila poured into it (mini Margarita shot) when you sit down!

I know I commented earlier about their open kitchen, but when I ate at the Black Olive last week (for the first time since last year) I was pleasantly surprised to find that they now offer a complimentary amuse bouche along with their fabulous marinated olives. The amuse bouche when we went was some sort of roasted red pepper & Greek yogurt mixture on a cucumber slice - small but delicious and best of all, free!

Pickles at Chick & Ruth's in Annapolis. Find me another place that does that - I dare ya!

Todd Conner's in Fell's gives you a pile of freshly fried potato chips. Be aware, they are addicting, and they also sell a wonderful french onion dip to go with it. The bad part is that only the first batch of chips is free.

Regarding Serious Eats comment about "Fake" Mexican restaurants serving bottomless chips and salsa, the better ones also serve chips and salsa. Its just that they are usually housemade and taste better, especially if you ask for the hotter salsas. I make my own salsa at home and have developed a taste for spicier things, "beyond those of mortal men" as the old Superman show used to say.

I like the little plate they give you at Oceannaire- the celery, olives, pickled herring-it's so retro.

Dr. Erlenmeyer Cantaloupe wrote: Pickles at Chick & Ruth's in Annapolis. Find me another place that does that - I dare ya!

I have eaten at several delicatessens that have brought out a plate of assorted pickles and pickled vegetables when you sat down. One was in Costa Mesa, CA, another was in Scottsdale, AZ, although that one has since closed. Both tried to emulate New York delis, with varying degrees of success.

Emily - I think the Sunset restaurant in Glen Burnie does the same thing ... and on a lazy Susan, no less. You're right about the retro - all the way back to the 60s at least.

If you get brunch at City Cafe on the weekends, they give you a small-ish cinnamon roll. So tasty!

Snyder's Deli in the strip mall on Reisterstown Road with the Valley Center 9 movie theater - not only a dish of different kind of cucumber pickles, but green tomato pickles as well.

amuse bouche - the chef at Tio Pepe's sends out the most delicate, thin puffed potato "chips," perfectly salted

(calling them chips doesn't seem to do them justice, but not sure what else comes closer)

The chips and fish sauce at Baltimore Pho were certainly addictive. I just wish the pho was on par with those two places in Columbia: Pho Dat Thanh and An Loi.

mmmmm...the sunflower seed crackers at Pazo. I always warn the server when they bring them that we need more. Many baskets more. If you google them you can get the recipe. Yum.

While the rest of the food is so so, I frequent J Pauls in the harbor area just for the free soft pretzels in place of traditional bread.

Ixia does or did offer free hors d'oeuvres.