Next Sunday's review: Ullswater
I've gone against the natural order of things here. I was too tired to write a review preview last night. (Sunday night is its regular slot.) Then there was no Monday Morning Quarterbacking this morning because I was on vacation yesterday, or rather my column was. So the review preview will have to stand in its place.
I'll be writing about Ullswater in Riverside next Sunday. This is the new place opened by the former Bicycle owners, Nicholas and Saundra Batey. I tried to review it on its own terms, and not get into the whole complications and mess that the sudden closing of Bicycle created.
To see what I thought, please check out my review in the A & E section next Sunday. ...
The photo caption, by the way, provided me with some information I hadn't known when I visited the restaurant. I totally missed the nautical theme, which is very subtle (actually pretty much nonexistent in our dining room):
"This is Ullswater Restaurant and Wine Bar at 554 E. Fort Ave, new Italian restaurant in Riverside (near Locust Point). ...Chef/owner Nick Batey and his wife bought a variety of landscape pictures and added matching stones for each to highlight the nautical theme of the restaurant, and in the process, created another piece of art."
(Algerina Perna/Sun photographer)
Comments
Looking at that photo makes me feel a tad seasick ...
Posted by: Dahlink | January 11, 2010 7:23 PM
I've been there once. The food is good and not expensive, but its Italian, right? You can't really screw that up!!?? I wanted to walk in the back of the kitchen and ask the chef for some "Bicycle food" but decided against it. Conclusion: its good, but if I want Italian, probably going to a Little Italy fave.
Posted by: Michael S | January 12, 2010 12:38 PM
"I'll be writing about Ullswater in Riverside next Sunday"
Riverside???
Fort Avenue???
Ahhh... yes gentrification I forget sometimes!!
OK, where is it? It seems like last time I said Locust Point, someone corrected me. EL
Posted by: Hue | January 13, 2010 10:46 AM
Riverside and Fort Avenue are actually names that were used before gentrification when Federal Hill and now Locust Point started to sprawl. Ullswater is not in Locust Point which starts after Key Highway and probably not until Woodall St. I appreciate you trying to use the older but more accurate neighborhood names. Ullswater falls into the bounds of the Riverside Community Association. http://www.riversideactiongroup.org/ Thanks EL.
Posted by: Meghan | January 13, 2010 3:08 PM
Hey, hey hey!
If we're going to have territorial pissings, it must be scrawled out in a handwritten note with questionable syntax and spelling!
Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2010 3:51 PM
d'oh! on the anon. i'll own up to it.
Posted by: Odie B | January 13, 2010 3:55 PM
Thanks for the laugh, Odie (it was even funny as Anonymous)!
I'll never understand this neighborhood thing in Baltimore, and I've lived here all my life. But, Mayor William Donald Schaefer totally got it. That's why the city thrived with him at the helm.
Posted by: Joyce W. | January 13, 2010 5:30 PM
The United Neighborhoods of Baltimore. Say no more.
Posted by: Odie B | January 13, 2010 7:35 PM
seeing the picture of that old Highlandtown note when it arrived was great- I especially enjoyed the emphatic underlining.
Posted by: Kristen | January 13, 2010 7:52 PM
Apologies all around, I have lived in and around Baltimore
for 50+ years and have never heard that area referred to as Riverside. Mea Culpa
Captcha all placid..I hope so
Posted by: Hue | January 13, 2010 9:08 PM
I grew up in Baltimore and part of my job now is to work with community associations. So it's kind of a pet peeve of mine when people expand areas beyond their borders. I was happy to hear the name Riverside used. I didn't mean to sound mean or righteous or scold anyone.
Don't apologize. I was grateful someone was defending me. :-) EL
Posted by: Meghan | January 14, 2010 12:03 PM
I called Ullswater at 8:30 tonight and no one answered the phone. Someone else reported that they were dark on Friday and no one answered the phone on Saturday.
Vini vidi fini
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | April 11, 2010 9:18 PM
N.B.: If you are bored call Ullswater. The message on the voice mail is completely incomprehensible Bawlmorese. I genuinely had no idea what the guy was saying.
443-563-1620
Maybe their next venture will be an English pub called Mamma Mia's Scungili & Eel Bistro.
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | April 11, 2010 9:29 PM
Ullswater has been dark all weekend. Nothing posted on the doors, but it doesn't look good.
Also, Luca's in Locust Point closed for good tonight - a definite loss for the community.
Posted by: LGood | April 12, 2010 12:44 AM
Luca's closed, really? I was there just a week ago and they had a fairly large brunch crowd.
Posted by: Jon Parker | April 12, 2010 9:17 AM
Ullswater might have finally been shut down by the Taste Police for those jauntily positioned naturescapes filled with matching rocks.
Posted by: Addie Post Issu | April 12, 2010 9:44 AM