Woodberry Kitchen Review

Woodberry Kitchen Overall Review

First we would like to thank Tameka for making a special request for 2 Soul Sisters to review Woodberry Kitchen.  This one is for you Meka!  Woodberry Kitchen is one of Baltimore’s most popular eateries.  Woodberry Kitchen is a restaurant located in the Clipper Mill section of Baltimore City. Clipper Mill is now an upscale, bohemian, renovated part of town which used to house a Grist Mill, aka a corn or flour mill.  The use of organic and sustainable cuisine is one of its calling cards.  The menu is updated daily depending on what’s fresh from the local farmers each morning.  The chef’s creativity and absolute mastery of food is evident by both its taste and presentation.  The restaurant remained at a constant hum throughout the evening.  Every table was incessantly full.  One has to be comfortable with being seated very close to others at this restaurant.  Occasional elbow bumping is not out of the norm.  This restaurant is great for foodies and folks looking for a unique dining experience.  This is not a romantic spot so we do not recommend it for date night.  There is free valet parking available.  Overall we give Woodberry Kitchen ♪♪ and a half note. 

2010 Clipper Park Road, #126

Baltimore, MD 21211

410-464-8000

Mason Dixon Oysters

These small plump wonders were perfectly cooked.  They had a mild flavor and the fish pepper was just spicy enough to give the oysters a bit of a kick.  The spice did not detract from the flavor and there were aromatic herbs used to enhance this dish.  Melissa is not a cooked oyster fan, however these were perfectly undercooked.  

Diva Cucumber Spears

These cucumbers were fresh and light with a perfect note of spice added by chili flakes.  We were so pleased by the chef's choice to add chive blossoms which added a refreshing and delightful onion flavor that reminded us of spring.   A dash of sea salt brought out their flavor.

Farmstead Cheeses

This adorable presentation of 3 distinct cheeses and crackers were very well paired.  One was a double whipped creamy cheese with a light, fluffy and tangy flavor.  The 2nd possess a smoky and aged taste.  The 3rd was a mild unassuming and non memorable cheese.  The pairing of jams, honey and crackers was a perfect touch.  

WK Butcher's Board

 This meat tray consisted of a salami, a pancetta, a bresaolo, pork cracklin, and a coppa.  Translation: a homemade bacon which had a gentle smokiness.  The yummy bacon fat melted in your mouth.  The air dried beef had a rich earthy flavor and a ton of salt.  Its presentation was amazing.  It's bright red color was reminiscent of rose petals.  The cured pork had a rich full bodied flavor with a nice bite to it.  The fat gave it a buttery finish.  The salami had a peppery flavor reminiscent of Chorizo.  The pork cracklings were light and fluffy with a fabulous crunch.  These were gourmet pork rinds on steroids.  There was a bread on the plate that was like none we have ever tasted.  It had been smoked with chunks of fat baked right in the bread, which gave it a smoky meaty flavor.  

She Crab Soup

We really enjoyed the presentation of this dish, whereby a shallow bowl with a mound of she-crab was placed on the table and a small pitcher of soup poured over it. It would have been good if the soup had been hot, which would have complimented it's yummy flavor. The crab meat in this dish had a heavy lemon flavor which was just the slightest bit off putting to us as we like our food light on the lemon, but perhaps this would appeal to some.

Smoked VA Rockfish

This rockfish was flaked over a salad. The greens had a slight licorice flavor. The rockfish itself had a great smokey flavor. The texture was a tad bit firmer than crabmeat.

Chocolate Bomb      

This chocolate bomb was a little different from others we have had... In a good way. It was soft and fluffy. The chocolate covering was a glaze that had a bit of a gelatinous consistency instead of being hard. The 2nd layer consisted of a marshmallow mousse which was lovely. This dish was accompanied by a wonderful salty pretzel and a home-made fresh cream ice cream. Yummy!

Melissa’s Review

Imagine rustic country having dinner with urban chic…that’s my snapshot of Woodberry Kitchen.   The use of wood and greenery lends itself to the rustic countryside while the brick walls and semi-loft interior screams urban industrial.  This juxtaposition of rural and urban danced on our plates as comfort foods waltzed with trendy cuisine.  The chef clearly has an inspired pallet and can cook anything to perfection.  Everything we ate we enjoyed.  The problem came in when we were half way through the meal and our waiter abandoned us.  Yes, Angela and I were left high and dry…no goodbyes, no see you laters, no money left on the bedside. It took 45 minutes for us to see our waiter again, and when he appeared his attention was completely focused two young phillies at the table next to us.  We were completely ignored until I yelled “EXCUSE ME!”  This left a bitterness that is still too hard for me to swallow.  I give Woodberry Kitchen ♪♪ and a half note. 

Angela’s Review

The décor of Woodberry Kitchen seems not to disturb the natural lines and bones of the original space. The “skeleton” of the old Mill has been kept pretty much intact and the restaurant built around it. There is lots of brick and exposed steel. The top floor of the restaurant is more of a balcony than a whole second floor. This establishment is always packed, which speaks to its popularity. Now as for the food, as a whole I would describe it as very inventive but in a fresh, close to the earth sort of way. The ingredients used are grown locally and change seasonally, a thing which seems to have caught on big lately and which I always enjoy in a restaurant.  I do not know how long the trend will continue but will enjoy it while it lasts. The only criticism I have is that, perhaps, due to the volume of business they do (I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say that this is the reason) they have a tendency to start out strong service-wise, and then taper off. Our waiter left us alone for far too long at one point, despite the fact that he was paying close attention to the table of women next to us who had just come in (and I DO mean RIGHT next to us, as the admittedly limited space is very closely packed and it is no easy feat for either the wait staff OR the patrons to slide in and out of each table, on the 2^nd floor, without practically hitting the people next to you). It got so bad that at one point we were prepared to call the manager over regarding it, but were saved from having to do so, by the return of his attentiveness. All In all, there are things I like very much about Woodberry kitchen, as well as things I think could definitely be improved upon. I give this restaurant ♪♪ and a half note.