Top 10 Best Restaurants With Fireplaces
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...Oh, sorry. How about a nice New York strip and a baked potato eaten next to an open fire? Does that sound better?
This week's Top 10 Tuesday should get you in the holiday spirit: The top 10 restaurants with fireplaces. As a bonus, most of these come with Christmas decorations and holiday-themed cocktails.
I tried to select a range of places, and not just make it a list of wonderful historic homes an hour's drive from Baltimore where dinner will cost you an arm and a leg.
If you aren't a regular Top 10 reader, please read this first.
Here's my list: ...
* Ambassador Dining Room in Homewood has two fireplaces and is festively and beautifully decorated. Faithful readers know this is where my family and close friends go for our annual Christmas get-together and Indian food.
* Brasserie Tatin in Homewood is one of those restaurants you probably don't even think about as having a fireplace because the decor is modern. Its Christmas decorations are up now, surrounding the stone-manteled fireplace that's turned on every night.
* Elkridge Furnace Inn in Elkridge. This 18th century mansion on the Patapsco River has six working fireplaces and loads of period charm. The menu offers French and New American cuisine.
* Kings Contrivance in Columbia is at its best this time of year, with six working fireplaces. It's closed Christmas Day but has a special a la carte menu on Christmas Eve from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
* Milton Inn in Sparks. The charming dining rooms all have fireplaces, but they are electric except for the one in the Hearth Room, the hostess told me when I called. Request to be seated there when you make your reservation.
* Oregon Grille in Cockeysville offers a classic Christmas experience with festive decorations inside and out, fires blazing in four fireplaces inside and one outside on the terrace. Fine-dining steaks and seafood.
* Petit Louis in Roland Park. There are several tables near this French bistro's fireplace, but if there are only two of you request the cozy table just to the right of it. The place is noisy and crowded, but it still manages to be romantic this time of year.
* Red Maple in Mount Vernon proves that you don't have to go to an historic inn to have dinner by a fire. The fireplaces in the lounge are contemporary, and you'll be eating Asian-inspired tapas basically on your knees, but you'll have fun.
* Treaty of Paris in Annapolis has been recently renovated, but the basement dining room of the 1773 Maryland Inn still has two working fireplaces. The food can be described as Continental, with an emphasis on seafood.
* Ze Mean Bean in Fells Point is a small and cozy charmer with Eastern European comfort food and some more gourmet fare. The small dining room has a large fireplace, and there's live music on the weekends.
(Kenneth K. Lam/Sun photographer)
Comments
It's not as "upscale" as the places on your list, but The Still in Timonium has a HUGE, welcoming fireplace in the main dining room. In the dead of winter there's nothing like sitting near that crackling fire with some Irish comfort food (Irish stew, Shepherd's Pie, Bangers and Mash) and a draft black & tan...
Posted by: Flipkid | December 9, 2008 7:27 AM
Doesn't Scotto's in Bel Air (my favorite under appreciated restaurant) have a fireplace? And what about Ryan's Daughter in Belvedere Square?
Posted by: MD Canon | December 9, 2008 8:11 AM
Elkridge Furnace Inn is one of the best places in the state, fireplace or not.
How about (not quite as fancy) the upstairs bar at the Waterfront Hotel?
Thanks for the suggestion. I would love more of these, in all price ranges. EL
Posted by: Brian Carmen | December 9, 2008 8:54 AM
There's always a warm place in my heart for the hearth at The Dizz. Order something with honest to god turkey (not pressed loaf), squint real hard, maybe avail yourself of a stiff cocktail, and you can almost imagine you're at the Milton Inn.
No, really.
Posted by: Mike | December 9, 2008 9:39 AM
Bertha's and John Stevens in Fells Pt also have lovely fireplaces, and of course the estimable Brass Elephant is fireplace heaven.
Posted by: B More Sweet | December 9, 2008 10:04 AM
Brewer's has one in the more casual area. Also, agree Ambassador is quite nice, but definitely over priced relative to what you are getting.
Posted by: Sam | December 9, 2008 10:23 AM
B More Sweet wrote:
"... and of course the estimable Brass Elephant is fireplace heaven."
**********************
Amen. And the tiled surround, translated from German, says, "Wherever my love is, there also is my heart."
Posted by: jamie hunt | December 9, 2008 10:59 AM
How about Antrim 1844? They have several wonderful fireplaces and the meal is a spectacular event. I prefer going there when it is cold just so I know the fireplaces will be in use. Also Chef Michael Gettier earned his local reputation in Baltimore.
Posted by: Paul | December 9, 2008 11:08 AM
Can't believe you left out The Chart House in Annapolis. Best view with a beautiful copper fireplace in the lounge
Posted by: magnew | December 9, 2008 11:33 AM
Most (not all) Pizza Huts also have fire places. Mmmm....romantic, especially with a heavy slab of their new "Tuscani Pasta"!
Posted by: Donny B | December 9, 2008 11:46 AM
Serafina's in Ellicott City has a wonderful fireplace in their resturant. They also have great food to.
Posted by: chris | December 9, 2008 11:54 AM
Hull Street Blues has one. They used to have fires, but the last time I was there, they had a bunch of pillar candles instead.
Posted by: Pigtown | December 9, 2008 12:40 PM
What about the Cracker Barrell? All of thos restaurants have huge wood burning fireplaces.
Posted by: GovOMalley | December 9, 2008 12:49 PM
Antrim 1844 has a beautiful dining room with a fireplace.
Posted by: Gabe | December 9, 2008 1:49 PM
Tis the season.....scooting away...lol!
Posted by: Regina | December 9, 2008 2:28 PM
How many of these fireplaces burn real logs?
Posted by: Owl Meat Grainfed | December 9, 2008 3:27 PM
I'm thinking about getting one of those Amish plug-in fireplaces for my dining room. I'm just deciding on whether I want the oak or cherry finish. At that point I transform the condo in a chalet.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | December 9, 2008 8:15 PM
french cuisine???
some of the wine list from specific regions..are not even correct let alone.
steak frites..that is so americanised.i can only laugh..as for the 1er cru wines...getting a grand cru would be better.as 1er cru wines are over rated..feel so sorry for unknowledgable food tasters
:(
Posted by: david | December 9, 2008 8:55 PM
Owlie, do you really care if they're real logs? Whether wood-fired or gas-fired, it's real fire, ain't it? If it's warm an' toasty, and great to sit near on a cold night, shouldn't that be enough?
Posted by: Dottie | December 9, 2008 9:10 PM
Gas fires don't smell right, and they are too well-behaved.
They also make your marshmallow taste weird. Ok, weirder. Come to think of it, I don't like toasted marshmallows. Or untoasted marshmallows.
Posted by: Lissa | December 10, 2008 6:36 AM
Dottie, my husband is also a stickler for the real thing when it comes to fires. A gas log to him is not much better than a picture of flames.
Posted by: Dahlink | December 10, 2008 6:50 AM
I was going to mention the fireplaces at Sammy's and at Mt. Vernon Stables until I realized that y'all are probably referring to working units. I'm SO out of the loop.
Has anyone tried the new deli on Charles Street across from the Stables?
Posted by: Piano Rob | December 12, 2008 9:52 AM
Welcome back, Pieano Rob. Been wondering where you were.
Posted by: Regina | December 12, 2008 10:08 AM
Yes, Piano Rob--if this blog had better search ware you could check back and see all the times we shouted out to you while you were MIA. Hope you stick around for awhile now.
Posted by: Dahlink | December 12, 2008 4:21 PM
Mama's On the Half Shell in Canton, has a fireplace on the 2nd floor, corner tables with nice views to McDonald Square. The oyster stew & a fireplace, very comfortable & cozy.
Posted by: Teri Lura Bennett | December 18, 2008 8:51 AM