Bookmakers Cocktail Club

My husband’s wonderful cousin had very generously given him a gift card for his birthday to this place.
Conveniently located in Fedral hill is this amazing place. Roadside metered parking. The place was almost empty when we went for dinner on a sunday. Hostess and waitress was friendly and helped me pick a drink after asking abt my likes and dislikes. We ordered the following
DRINK — bees knees was perfect. I loved it somuch that i ordered another one during our meal.
FROG LEGS — crispy and done well.
PORK BELLY — a bit too sweet for my taste. I prefer the korean spicy grilled belly. The slaw that came with it was refreshing.
BISCUIT — was dry. I prefer the one at Miss.Shirleys. the tomato and berry jam was amazing though
SHRIMP AND GRITS — seasoned and cooked to perfection was 7 large shrimps and delicious grits. The portion was generous.
COFFEE GROUND CRUSTED STEAK– it tasted divine. Poems should be written about good food like that. The portion was a way too tiny though. i finished it in under 5 mnts. The roated vegetables that came along with it was wonderful.
All in all OK starters, DELICIOUS entrée and drink. A bit too pricey, i would think, but cant complain when we used giftcard. Many thanks to wonderful cousin and husband.

I came to this place for a happy hour event hosted by a company. Although I did not get a chance to explore the full menu, if you have an appreciation for craft cocktails, this is worth a stop. The bartender was an absolute artist and kept things moving swift. The appetizers were amazing, including the Mac and cheese balls. I’ll definitely be making a second trip.

Wow what a great place! Food was absolutely amazing. Who ever the chef is, he knows how to cook. They have a great selection of drinks. Want to try some different kinds of bourbon, this is the place to be. Good crowd, friendly place. Definitely coming back!!!

Good drinks, good music and good sprouts. Overall a great, cool Monday night. This would be my regular spot if I lived in Baltimore.

I was walking down Cross Street with my girlfriend, took once glance inside this place and new that I would be a fan. Although I figured I’d probably have to come back with my friends for a happy hour considering we differ in our appreciation for whiskey. The décor and atmosphere is amazing. It was nice that we didn’t have to fight for a place to sit considering we came during happy hour. It kind of felt like we had the place all to ourselves.
I felt it was only right to get a cocktail and the house old fashioned lived up to the hype. I went with the French dip for dinner and it was one of the best I’ve ever had. The bartenders were very friendly and willing to assist. This place is a little pricier and they don’t really have the best happy hour specials but I don’t want to take away from how good of an experience everything else was. I highly recommend.

Excellent food, creative cocktails, amazing space. Can’t believe this used to be Nevins! Highly recommend making a reservation on weekends. A little pricey for the entrees but big portions so easy to share one and get some small plates for starters. Definitely a younger vibe, but that’s typical for Fed Hill.

Took my boyfriend here for his birthday and it was absolutely amazing. Everything from the décor to the fried cookie dough and oreo coffee icecream dessert. Our server was very VERY knowledgeable about pretty much everything they have to offer. I got what was on special, potato leek soup and corned beef and cabbage. The soup was perfectly seasoned, not too salty, but it had a lot of flavor. My main course had a good helping but it wasn’t too much either, I was neither full or hungry after eating the entire meal. I highly recommend for any special date.

Why did I not know this place existed??? Fed usually comes to mind when I want to go out to bars late at night and run into lots of college kids or recent grads… Not find an awesome spot for a nice dinner and cocktails. Wow, Bookmakers is a welcome addition!
As several people have said, it has that swanky, speakeasy type feel which is becoming so popular. It was pretty dark in there but had beautiful décor. I was meeting up with a few out of town friends so they had the table when I arrived. I ordered the Oh Johnny which was a gin based, apple flavored drink. I’m not usually one to complain about strong drinks but this tasted like nothing but alcohol. Too overpowering for the likes of me. I did not go for an appetizer, but my friends got the fried octopus and really enjoyed it. My entrée was soooooo tasty, really well done. It was the Fish of the Day, which our server said was halibut. She said it was a very light dish… I don’t tend to consider lobster mashed potatoes light, but hey, I’m not complaining because they were delicious!!! The halibut was perfectly cooked, and blackened on top. It was over the mashed potatoes and all of that was topped with a nice little citrus salad. It was one of the better meals I’ve had out in a long time. But, and it’s a big BUT, I found not one but TWO pin bones in my halibut. That really sucks. How can you make such a good dish and not properly butcher the fish??? Also, it’s my fault for not asking but that Market Price got me, it was $ 32 I believe.
I reeeeally like Bookmakers and I’m glad it’s in Fed Hill. But one star off for making an *almost* undrinkable drink, and one star off for the pin bones.

Great service, knowledgeable bartenders, phenomenonal selection! Nice vibe & good people. Making it a regular spot

My boyfriend and I went here for our three-​year anniversary at the very high recommendation of my mother, a huge foodie and chef. The atmosphere was interesting, it was intimate and different, but still cute. The lights were really dim which even as a twenty-​something I can not understand why we were basically eating in the dark but I guess it added romance?
We had already gotten drinks prior to coming so I opted just to get a light dinner and forgo drinks. I decided to make a risky move and get the chipotle lobster mac & cheese. A move that absolutely did not pay off. I typically do not eat meat or fish more than every few months but I figured that mac and cheese would not have a great quantity of lobster and it wouldn’t be a huge deal. I was so wrong. The mac and cheese was wonderful except for the fact that I spent my entire anniversary throwing up. Within an hour of eating I was reliving my meal and was up all night. I could not eat anything for the next two days because the lobster made me so sick. I have never, ever, had a reaction like this food before. If you are to go here I would stay clear of the seafood because the little bit I had incapacitated me for days.
I really wish I did not have the experience that I did because my boyfriend and parents both loved the experience that they had at Bookmakers and I did too, until my food came back to haunt me.

I’ve been wanting to check this place out for some time, and finally went here to get drinks with a friend. We went on a Wednesday, but it was quite busy. We didn’t have a reservation, so the only available seating was at the bar, which worked for us.
The bartender was very knowledgable and helpful with recommendations. I got the bees knees and she got the heart shaped box for our first round, and we also ordered the cheeseburger deviled eggs and chipotle lobster mac & cheese. We both really enjoyed our drinks — both were light and spritzy — a great spring drink. The deviled eggs were amazing — a yummy cheeseburger in a bite! The lobster mac & cheese was also good, but it could have used more lobster. For our next cocktails round, I got the diamondback and she got the bittersweet October. Really good drinks again. Many of the cocktails were gin and rye based, which generally isn’t my liquor of choice, but with the bartenders expert help, we were able to find drinks we liked.
The ambience and environment is quite dark and intimate. They have smaller tables, but also have communal tables — so you could sit next to a stranger. Somewhat on the fancy side, so don’t look like a schmuck when you go. A great date night spot too! I want to go back with my boyfriend. If you are going for a full meal, it is a tad on the pricey side (entrees were high $ 20s to mid $ 40).

Stopped in for drinks. Fantastic service and fantastic cocktails! The drinks are very unique and the bartenders have mastered them. Impressed!
Stopped in for drinks and dinner tonight. The drinks and bar service was just as fantastic as it was before. I ordered the southern fried chicken, which was very delicious but a bit cold on the plate, and the pieces of chicken were skimpy; the potato side was quite salty. I would definitely come back though, but hope they address the food temperature and chicken portion.

Bookmakers is just what Federal Hill needed; an upscale place where you can hear your friends and don’t have to worry about it being packed with college kids and twenty-​somethings barely old enough to drink.
I believe Bookmakers has some of the best food in the area. I had the venison ragu and scraped my plate clean; it was a unique dish executed perfectly. My server made the perfect drink recommendation for my sweet tooth and we enjoyed the up scale atmosphere. This is a great place to hang out with friends to grab appetizers and drinks. I normally don’t like rye liquors, but I have tried a few of the rye cocktails and they are drinkable (my taste buds are still maturing).
You may want to make a reservation for weekend nights. I can’t wait to go back to try other dishes! I have heard the burger is amazing.

Went here with a group of people on a self guided bar crawl of Fed Hill. The staff were great and super attentive. Helpful on pointing you in the right direction for drinks. The French 75 was excellent and would definitely recommend it. We had the short rib French dip that was amazing as were the homemade chips. We also had the fried cookie dough which was amazing!
The ambience was really nice. Great place for date, drinks or hanging out with friends. Feels definitely upscale. Prices are a touch higher than normal, but definitely worth it.
Will be back for sure. However parking in Fed Hill is always annoying and the traffic cops sit by your car and write you a ticket the minute the ticket expires! 2 minutes late to my car and it was ticketed!

I have been here quite a few times and the drinks are always really good, but I just can’t with this place. The last time I stopped in was with my boyfriend after his birthday dinner. I ordered a Heart Shaped Box and it was very good (and pretty). The boy ordered the Casablanca and really enjoyed it.
Now when I say I can’t with this place, let me explain. My bf and I exchanged a lot of «wtf is happening right now» glances while watching our bartender make our drinks. I understand that these are handcrafted cocktails and these dudes are passionate about what they are doing, but when you light cinnamon on fire with a freakin’ blowtorch while doing some weird jig and put thyme between your hands and smack it so hard it causes me to jump and other people to look up from their own conversations, I just can’t take you seriously. My previous bartender wasn’t so theatrical, so maybe it’s just this particular guy, but I’m liable to laugh so hard I spit up my $ 11 drink in your face so calm down.

We ordered up three different cocktails: the Thyme Collins, the extremely popular Heart Shaped Box, and What Is and What Should Never Be. All three were solid. The Collins had a solid lemon backbone with just a touch of the promised herbal character. The Heart Shaped Box perfectly blended its cassis, lime, and prosecco with another touch of thyme and a subtle vodka kick. And the third combined subtle peach with brandy, rum and citus in a balanced combination of sweet and tart — garnished with Laphroiag-​soaked sultanas for a smoky touch. The bar filled orders quickly, too. Full points for cocktail service.
The food was also very good. The kitchen is handling its ingredients nicely. Avocado deviled eggs combined the classic bar snack’s seasoned yolks with a guacamole-​ish touch of avocado, citrus, and smoked ham. A good start so far. The beet and watermelon salad (with feta and flash-​fried basil leaves) was a beautiful plate of vivid pinks, greens, and creamy white and also served as a pretty sizable portion of a small-​plate mains course. The calamari that was ordered alongside was also reasonably good, with a lemon buerre-​blanc that complimented the lightly seasoned squid. Some, however, might take issue with the thinner slices and slightly chewier texture than what has become the norm.
The fish special of the evening was a grilled Corvina, a firm-​fleshed white fish served as a thick half-​steak. The fish was cooked perfectly — crispy skin, hot all the way through, but still with moist and tender flesh. It’s served with smoked potato gnocchi, sauteed beet tops and snap peas, and a corn «purée» that reads as a thin polenta or hominy grits. But, the whole plate wanted seasoning — either some sea salt crusted on the skin of that lovely fish, or some citrus acidity splashed over the filet and the greens. Neither, unfortunately, was provided. A shame, as a little bit of salt would make the whole plate pop.
The dining room is open with lots of wood and concrete, but the noise level stays manageable. At no point did we feel we had to shout across the table to be heard. Our server (Jess) was on point with everything — she answered all questions, made good recommendations, and kept courses and drinks coming at a comfortable pace.
There is a sizeable bar that dominates one side of the space, along with two very large communal tables. Tables and banquettes are arranged in a cluster opposite the bar, and they’re placed a bit awkwardly for the room. If you put in a reservation, request a table that isn’t the deuce at the far end by the column. It sits in the traffic pattern of food coming from the kitchen, drinks coming from the bar, and patrons heading to the restroom. It’s kinda like eating in the middle of a busy intersection.
Still, most of that is nitpicky. Bookmakers is worth going to for the drinks alone. The cocktails really are some of the best in the area. The competent kitchen is a major plus, along with a reasonably seasonal menu and good presentation. Staff and service were also excellent.

Four stars for cocktails and service. Three stars for food.
The cocktails were perfect. I would love to try more next time.
The food was presented nicely but lacked flavor. We shared the frog legs for an appetizer and they were decent. We enjoyed the spicy sauce they came with. However, they had bones, which was a first for me. We ate them like wings. I ordered the vegetable risotto because it was the only veggie entrée. It was filling but otherwise just fell flat. As my date summed it up, «it tastes like ketchup». They nailed the risotto part of it at least. My date had the sea bass and loved it. He said it was worth the $ 27. We were too full for dessert.
The service was fantastic. Our waters were constantly being topped off (without being annoying) and the ordering was prompt and friendly.

Love love love the interior design. Like the name, the bar/​restaurant are mimics an old school library/​book store. And the dim lighting gives it a nice, romantic feel.
Went by for drinks and their fancy cocktails are $ 2 off till 7 pm. The Milano Mule is a must, and yes, they serve it in a copper mug so the drink is refreshingly cool till the very last sip. Definitely planning another trip to try their food.

Walking in, it was hard to believe that it used to be dirty ol’ Nevins! This place is gorgeous! Great atmosphere & lovely furnishings.
We were well-​attended to by the hostess/​waitress, and she made several suggestions upon our request.
Hubs was the winner with his ordering, me– definitely second place…
I got the watermelon & beet salad, which I found to be very blah. Very small portion size & not much flavor going on. I also chose the Pot Roast, upon our server’s suggestion. It was good, but not knock my socks off great. I did not care for the rabini/​broccoli rabe, and the carrots could have been cooked a little longer. The meat was tender & tasty, but seemed like a small portion.
Hubs started with the Pork Belly appetizer, which was outstanding. Nice portion size & had a ton of flavor. I even recommended it to the table next to us. For his entrée, he opted for the Lamb Ragu Ravioli’s. The lamb ragu was phenomenal! SO much tastiness in a stew like bowl, with several large ravioli’s, also with lamb inside. I asked for several bites of his ;)
For dessert, we shared the donuts, which may have been made onsite, but could have also been Entenmann’s. Tasty, but not outstanding.
We will definitely return & I will get the brussel sprouts that the table next to us ordered, and I had food envy over!

Bookmakers Cocktail Club is one of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore — What a gem! The ambiance is very speak-​easy, but the service is nothing close to elitist. What really stole the show at Bookmakers is the food and cocktails.
We started off with one of their specials, the Buffalo Polenta. Wow, the crispy shell and the crunch vegetables, combined with the steaming hot polenta provided the perfect texture. The Buffalo sauce sitting beneath was the perfect balance of acidity, heat, and salt. Next, I tried their shrimp and grits. Mind you, shrimp and grits is possibly my favorite dish of all time — I’ve ordered it at Langerman’s, Founding Farmer’s, Warehouse, Iron Bridge– nothing’s come close to the shrimp and grits at Bookmakers. The grits are so creamy and the cajun seafood flavors come through like I’ve never experienced before. I ordered the What is and What Should Never Be cocktail which really lived up to its name — Definitely a cocktail to try.
The only thing that fell short and made me waver between 4 and 5 stars was the dessert. We ordered the Small Sweets which is composed of 2 different types of cookies, fudge, brownie, and cookie nutella sandwich. The texture was a bit off, as though there weren’t enough eggs, which made the desserts taste like it was gluten-​free. Also, the flavors were lacking (not enough sugar too?), which made it taste like carbs without the sugar.
Overall, a wonderful experience with a great deal of potential. Definitely worthy of a second visit.