Shannon’s Pub & Grille

I needed to kill some time so I stopped in Shannon’s for drinks and food. The Long Island I had was really good and strong. I ordered the steak for the Wednesday special and it was thick and very well seasoned. The music was country at first then someone played hip hop on the juke box, I was pleasantly surprised. This spot seems like a hidden gem that should get more attention.

Shannon’s is a small pub-​style restaurant bar in Baltimore Highlands. It’s easy to find right on Annapolis Road (which becomes B&A Blvd further south) and it’s small parking lot fills up at popular times. It’s not a very large place, half the space is taken up by the circular bar, and the other half of the room has several tables for diners. Large flatscreens are scattered throughout. They have an average beer selection, but one that’s good enough. I opted for a Shocktop draft while my wife stuck with Guinness. We arrived during happy hour, but the pricing was still odd. My tiny mugs of Shocktop were $ 2.25 while my wife’s pints of Guinness were six bucks. (They are capitalizing on their Irish heritage and serving Guinness at $ 3.17 for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.) Sizing options were not offered by our waitress, so I guess that’s just how they serve them. Every table was filled while we were there, but our waitress valiantly kept up with the room. We started with the mussels, which had a tasty but thick broth and was served with crispy garlic bread. My crabcake entrée was very large, packed with meat and just enough filling to hold it together but was light on the seasoning. My wife really enjoyed her Shannon’s sandwich, which was packed with tasty ingredients to the point that the basic Kaiser roll did it a disservice. Shannon’s is clearly a local favorite, and it’s a good place to watch a game. It’s a step up from nearby dives and if you just want a basic place to enjoy a beer, this place will fit the bill.

Well this is a first and because of it I will reconsider my review — after reviewing this establishment in 2012, I received this message from business owner Steve A. in January of 2015:
«Mr. Joe K. although you have every right to write any review you wish we would appreciate that you get your facts right before hand. We have 6 beers on tap which include (Linenkugel, Guiness, Blue Moon, Yeungling, Angry Orchard, and Natty Boh since we are a bar in Baltimore. Therefore I don’t think anyone would look at you funny for drinking anyone of them rather than a Bud Lite as you put it. We actually prefer that you drink our draft so we are able to keep carrying our signature beers on tap .We provide parking all around the building and have 51 parking spots and not only on one side as you put it. At last you were in here on a Friday Night after 9pm when the DJ comes on so you complained about the level of the music. I don’t know if this is your first venture into an establishment with DJ playing music but I can assure that it is never at a talking level!!! You are welcomed to come when he is not playing and talk and hear all you would like. I hope in the future you can write reviews based on facts and not whether or not the bartender found you irresistible when you visited this and any other establishment my friend.»
I could only reply with this:
«Hello Steve. I am not sure what you read or thought you read I wrote about your establishment in the Fall of 2012, but I am being quite honest about my feedback. In my first review I had not once mentioned the lust and desire to be approached by a member of you staff for any personal gain — it is a bar, I get that — but I am not going there for that to begin with and would not even entertain a conversation had it occurred. So, let’s get your facts straight before you begin to analyze my real feedback about your bar. Is your bar a dive, yes. I remember the aged décor and yes, in 2012 during my visit the DJ was horribly loud for the sized room you have. If you think I have never experienced a music venue you may want to read a handful of my reviews and you will clearly see I have traveled enough to know a thing about music venues, nightclubs, etcetera.
As for the count of beers you have on tap, you are right I cannot remember every detail and yes, you are right you have more than what was stated, but then again my review was in 2012 — how much does your business change? I hope a lot to test, try, or at least attempt to attract more business than your local cliente. Furthermore, when I say you need a ‘bud’ it is my perception of the clients /​location — you know the adage ‘when in Rome’ — and in no way is indicative to you, your bar, or your brand — also you think I don’t know that your business would do better if everyone was buying draught beer — seriously any business owner understands bottle /​drink costs in the restaurant business and you and I both know you are more profitable from your draught system.
Thanks for the information about the parking — it is nice to know that you can accommodate a fair share of cars on your personal lot.
Just so you know, I have never had an interest in returning and this solidifies that notion. Steve, you would be better off using your time on social networking sites, such as Unilocal (a powerful tool for FREE feedback) to change and hone in on the imperfections of your business, because if you think you are running a perfect place — you are mistaken. I did not mention that I had been to your bar multiple times and witnessed multiple fist fights, drug usage (one which you came in and personally threw two people out for alleged marijuana usage in the bathroom), and the female who went running around collecting men for her birthday surprise in the basement was one of the most disgusting things I have ever encountered anywhere — it was so shocking I remember it vividly to this day.
Best wishes.»
Right, I seriously cannot believe what I was reading from this business owner… and no, I am not looking for love at a bar… so, not sure what this owner has going on, but I am sure it is a lack of business and a lot more time on his hands that could be used to remarket his business or change things… I don’t know — 1 star.

My boyfriend always talks about their crab dip. I finally was able to go in and try some. It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve tasted but it wasn’t good either. It has a sandy grittiness to it and I think there was maybe one peice of crab in this super cheesy dip. It is pretty much cream cheese covered in more cheese. Not really my idea of a crab dip but again it wasn’t the worst thing ever.
The service however was. The bartenders treat you like crap unless you are a regular and ignore you. My boyfriend put money into the jukebox to play some songs and the bartender said **** this song and skipped it. Someone in the bar said «hey you owe me money for that song and he said IDC» I recommend not going to this bar unless you are in the mood to be ignored.

I started off with the the crab soup and it wasn’t terrible (definitely needed more old bay). They had a large menu selection but I was looking for healthier alternatives that didn’t lack on quantity because I was starving. I ordered the pork chops (2 bone in chops) and since their side choices were limited, I chose green beans and mashed potatoes (I know, not healthy. but it was that or fries). I was caught off guard when I wasn’t given the chance to ask for my pork to be cooked medium and I knew this meal was going to be… dry. And not to my surprise, the pork was so overcooked I was actually sad at the reality that I had to eat two of these hockey pucks to satisfy my hunger. My green beans tasted like they were strained from the crab soup and the mashed potatoes were. well. not real potato. I get that the meal I chose isn’t their bar food specialty, but if they can’t make it taste good, why bother putting it on the menu at all?

Definitely a neighborhood bar and you do get some lingering looks if you’re not a regular. The reason for the good review, though, is they have great bar food. We often order the cheesy crab cake pretzel for takeout. It’s an awesome comfort food!

Best crab cake around. I liked it even better than G&M’s famous crab cakes. For a neighborhood bar the food is great. I’ve never been there when there was live music, so it wasn’t too loud at all.
Note:The map shows its location in Westport. It is actually in Baltimore Highlands.