Someone tried to put a drive through window in Miss Irene's last week.

What changed at Corks? It was already different, more casual, a year ago from its previous incarnation. Has it changed again?

Miss Irene's. I went a few months ago, and the fact that I don't remember what I ate is a bad sign. I do remember, however, the very loud and very drunk idiots at the bar who drowned out our conversation.

That was why I was surprised at the e-mail. I guess she hadn't been since it had become more casual. EL

I've been there (Miss Irene's) a few times.
They have a good beer selection (served in the 'extra glass, less beer' glasses). The food is meh and pricey. The service is usually awesome though, and it has a 'fancier' atmosphere than most places in Fells.
It's kinda like a not-quite-special-occasion place when you don't want to travel very far.

Actually, I've been to Miss Irene's for brunch a few times and really enjoyed the food ;) I can recommend the Croque Madame and the Tuna Melt, though I still can't decide whether to eat the hash brown/shoestring-fry lovechildren with my fingers or wth a fork. I see a decent number of people there for brunch, but I've gone in around dinner time for a drink and not seen a soul aside from the bartender. The $7 beer I had scarred my wallet.

First of all thank you CP for exposing that bane known as gourmet mac and cheese, I was just thinking to write something to EL about this for a possible worst trend or most overused list.

Second, I must say I have been disappointed in Miss Irene's. I didn't know the ungentrified version but the new one is all cheerleader (pretty and vapid). I don't mind the prices only the quality of the food and the poor winelist.

I've been to Miss Irene's and the food wasn't the best I've ever had, but not totally disappointing. The drinks were not strong and the price was $$$. I was a little shocked to be honest. My boyfriend did enjoy the beer selection, although he mentioned that it could have been more comprehensive.

Thanks! EL

The sandbox should offer gracious congrats to Michael Dresser on his blog win (even though we were all rooting for EL, of course). I remember when he was great on the General Assembly beat too, years ago.

I would love to be in the room when the city paper decides on the "best of".
For example, I really don't have an opinion of One Eyed Mike's either way, but how do they receive "best out door dinning" when you just sit on a deck behind the restaurant with a view of a parking lot?

I think the BOB issue is a lot like the Top 10's here - not designed to be a definitive answer, but more as the start to a conversation.

Of course, that convo tends to start out, "What?!? Are they crazy?"

A $7 beer!? That is beyond absurd, beyond insulting, and beyond stupid! A place like this should be out of business! Tommorow. Oh a recession, a bad economy? I thought I'd heard that, but I must have been mistaken.

I have to disagree with Attman's having the best hot dog with bologna. Weis, a couple of doors down, has the best hot dog with fried bologna. Also, you don't have to stand in line for an hour to get waited on.

I have lived in Odenton for over 10 years and have never been to Grace Garden. It probably should have been voted "Best Chinese Restaurant Where You Need to Pack Heat". I avoid that area, mainly due to the high volume of crime in the neighborhood; but especially now after the shooting that took place at the bar near Grace Garden a few months ago. Though, I understand that area is suppossed to get cleaned up "if and when" the Odenton Town Center is completed.

Roddie,
They do have some specialty beers that are in the $7-8 range (Rogue Dead Guy Ale as of late). Things like Flying Dog and Dogfish Head are around $4-5. Can't tell you about the Buds or Millers though.
Seems pretty standard to me.

Why does a $7 premium beer scar the wallet, but a $7 mediocre glass of table wine is ok? I will gladly go to a place with a great beer list and not think of the price. It is usually still cheaper than my fiances wine.

Seems like some folks have some pretty strong opinions about awards. Just look what happened with the City Paper's Best of Baltimore list!

Shocking. That man needs to apologize.

what a jackass

What irony.