But seriously folks ...
Three word review aside, The Hill (1017 S. Charles St.) is a pretty sweet new South Baltimore spot.
And for a bar/restaurant that just opened a few weeks ago, it certainly wasn't under the radar. The bar area was full and most of the tables occupied when we went last week. And that was on a Thursday night.
The gals in my group split a bottle of malbec, and the guys each ordered Clipper City Loose Cannon Hop3 drafts, which cost $5 each.
The Hill has a big martini list, and I was tempted to try one. But instead of detailing what each martini was made of, the menu had these ambiguous descriptions.
For example, if I remember correctly, the menu described the Apple Pie Martini as "fresh-baked" ...
A fresh-baked drink? What does that mean?
Does it have chunks of apple and crust floating in it?
At first, I brushed off this blog post as being nit-picky. But I was actually considering a martini, until I read the drink descriptions. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I believe that a drink list should, to some extent, list the ingredients of its drinks.
Otherwise, I had no complaints about the place. The food was good (I'll leave food descriptions to Mrs. Large), and the service was decent.
With plenty of wood and brick (but thankfully not too many TVs), The Hill looks like your average American bar/restaurant.
(Sun photo of a random martini by Doug Kapustin)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Another post that I wasted my time slogging through just to find that yet again it features a non-review of a drink you did not taste. Bravo. How did the martini compare to the limoncello you didn't try? I understand phoning in your work, but it seems like you're phoning in your life now, at least a wee bit. Oh well, marriage does that sometimes. ;-)
P.S. "Fresh baked" was obviously meant to be amusing, not literal.
Posted by: ceramic kitty | June 8, 2009 8:18 AM
Sue Hopper, Sam needs you!
Posted by: Anon | June 8, 2009 10:39 AM
Funny thing - I thought this blog was obviously meant to be amusing, not literal.
I actually liked this review. Told me what I needed to know:
- Food was good
- Bar was full on a Thursday which bodes well for a new place
- Clipper City was $5
- There aren't too many TVs
- Service was decent
- If you're hesitant to order a martini when you don't know what exactly will be in it, you probably shouldn't order one here unless you want to chat up the bartender first to find out exactly what "fresh baked" ingredients are used.
Thanks Sam! I may actually check this place out now!
Posted by: AJW | June 8, 2009 2:34 PM
Personally, knowing that there are drinks with descriptions like that provides enough information for me to decide whether or not I will be going there. Thanks Sam!
Posted by: orangetinny | June 8, 2009 2:41 PM