Wine Market Bistro

This is my first time here. The atmosphere is great as is the service. Their wine selection is pretty extensive. The food was great. For starters, we got the salmon deviled eggs and the brussel sprouts, both so good! For our main courses I got the scallops and my husband got the fillet. Again, delicious. We moved to the bar and they great service continued. There I got the coffee cake bread pudding. I’m glad I did. Everything was so good, I forgot to take pictures! I would definitely recommend thi

Best aspects of this restaurant: full selection of wine shop that you can bring to the table (with a corking fee but still cheaper than ordering off the menu), great wine flights, 15% off wine purchases at the store on nights you eat, knowledgable wait staff that give great and honest suggestions, daily specials and deals, and (of course) DELICIOUS FOODS. I’m honestly surprised that this restaurant doesn’t have a higher rating on Unilocal.
A group of friends and I decided to trudge through Blizzard 2016 to visit wine market bistro for restaurant week because we live in the area and we were getting a little stir crazy — we’re so glad we did!
I’ve been to this restaurant a bunch of times and am always pleased with the food and service, and that held true even in the storm.
For restaurant week, since the storm and created a few complications, they allowed us to choose an appetizer, entrée, and dessert each from the full menu for $ 35 a person. I added up my food costs, and it was easily $ 50 worth of food — so what a deal!
The restaurant was a little understaffed, but our waiter was great and told us that right off the bat, promising the best service possible, but just keeping us informed which is always appreciated.
Our party of 6 ordered a bunch of different items off of the menu, and everyone was pleased!
I got the dumplings to start which were cooked perfectly, and my boyfriend got the mussels which we split. The portions were more than generous!
For our meals, we split the filet bistro steak and the scallops. Scallops are my favorite food so I can be picky, but these were great an unique. They were crusted with some bread crumbs which added some nice texture, and garnished with thin slices chorizo. The steak was cooked perfectly — really flavorable and came with these awesome little latkes (which warmed my Jewish heart) and the best kale ever! Even my friends that don’t like kale liked this kale.
For dessert, we got the bread pudding and pot de crème — both were fantastic but the pot de crème was my favorite. The chocolate was rich and the whipped cream wasn’t too heavy — a perfect dessert.
Will definitely be back!

Wow. I am in disbelief of how awful my experience was. Customer service was fine, but the food was just horrible. I went in today to grab something to go, and asked the host if he could recommend anything. He recommended the Brisket sandwich, and stated that it is served with gruyère, slaw and a few other things. When I got the food, everything was cold, the meat was cold, and the fries were cold, nor was there any gruyère or anything else that he mentioned would be on the sandwich. It is very rare when I return anything, typically I just make a mental note not to go back. But this was so horrible, I had to return it. The host asked me if I want something else. I was leery, as I hate to complain, and really hate to aggravate the kitchen staff while I’m they are handling my food, but I decided to give them another shot. Ic asked the host if there is anything else that he recommends. He said that the lamb burger was one of the most popular dishes on the menu, so I decided to try that. When I got into my vehicle, and checked my food, I noticed that the lamb was well seasoned, but was RAW, not rare, but completely raw inside. I just decided to leave, and take it as a loss. Right now, the lamb is heating up in my oven. Leery of still eating it, but I will give it a shot. It could have at least been rare. That I would have understood. But RAW? Really? I’m assuming this place was once a gem, but the chef that they have there now has no clue what he/​she is doing.

I’m between a 3 and a 4 so I’ll round up for the sake of this being a regular spot for one of my good friends! Some friends and I are in town for the new year and those we are visiting suggesting wine market for the NYE dinner… Sounded amazing, menu looked great and we were sold! Here are my thoughts:
We were seated 35 minutes after our reservation. Which, I get it– things happen! Then there was one lobster appetizer left, so the 8 of us pretty much drew straws. I’m not pleased with a pre fixed menu, and a super late seating, to then be told one of the items was no longer available.
–The lobster was delicious (I was the lucky one!)
–The frisée salad was pretty great!
–The hanger steak was ok. I felt the broccoli rabe could have used some serious seasoning.
— the truffles were more like hard as a rock chocolates but yummy at the same time!
— the dinner for the two of us came to $ 200… That’s where I feel a bit surprised. For the table of 8 it was in total $ 780.00. I’ve had some amaaaaazing meals for under this cost where I’ve walked out with leftover sides at the very least…
It was good, just don’t know that I’d go Back for such a special occasion

Oh, how the mighty has fallen… I just remember 3 years ago this was a little gem I use to love going to. Food was good /​cork fee ($ 11) reasonable with a great selection. Now, not so much. I recently visited their with a friend of mine we both did the 3 course tasting menu. The parsnip apple soup was lumpy and under seasoned. The bistro filet was «okay» but the side item kale was over seasoned (salty) couldn’t take more than a bite or two. The potato croquettes was awful, just awful. But the Gnocchi was the worst of the bunch. Dry and with no flavor, I felt bad for my friend who I took their for dinner and watch her eat it. After few bites we decided to stop eating. I hope they can bounce back… but I suspect I won’t be visiting wine market any time in the near future.

Overall a great meal!
Was not impressed with the cornmeal fried oysters.
Lady in the wine store helped us pick out a tasty and affordable bordeaux.
Bistro filet was amazing. It came with a butternut squash bread pudding which was very unique.
The waiter was very friendly and helpful.
My friend ordered the banana pudding for desert, which I never would have picked out, but it was fantastic.

Here’s my interaction with owner and coward Chris Spann, who wasn’t brave enough to tell me who he was at the time. As some of you know, they’ve created a rewards program in their wine store for regular buyers. Here’s how our conversation went.
Me: hi, last time I think I checked out with you and I bought 2 bottles of wine. I don’t think you asked me for my rewards card.
Chris: it’s not my job to ask YOU for YOUR rewards card. Our system for rewards is down. I’ll give you a receipt for this bottle and bring it back and I’ll give you credit for this bottle.
Me (taken aback by this answer, and kind of laugh): well thats not good customer service.
Chris: why are you getting upset.
Me: I’m not upset, I just want my credit and I’m afraid I’ll lose my receipt.
Chris: ok, I’ll keep this receipt and write down the two bottles and put it in later.
So now I think, everything is fine, no big deal. He was rude but I figured he might just be having a rough day, but it was over… oh no it was not over for Chris!
Chris: have a nice night.
Me with a genuine smile: you too.
Right as I walk out the door this coward says under his breath in front of two other customers: I’ll have a nice night now.
I walk back in and say: I heard what you said, what’s your name.
Chris: my name is Chris, I’ll let the owner know.

Limited but delicious menu and a nice wine list. If you don’t see what you want, the entire wine shop is behind you to select a bottle to drink with a modest corking fee.
I had the steak salad «medium rare» and it seemed ok, then they stopped over and said they had accidentally given me «medium» and that they would swap it out for me. They took it away no questions asked and immediately replaced it. Very classy
The waitstaff is knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Ambiance cozy but not too dark.
They have a little parking, not an issue for us. I suppose if the lot was full you could probably park in the nearby shoppers lot with impunity

Came with a group of six last night, 2 being from out of town. We always have enjoyed our visit to this restaurant in the past. The food was excellent as usual. 3 stars is my review based on our server. She had zero personality, made no attempt to interact with us and seemed either overwhelmed or just not interested. Drinks took forever and she blamed the bartender (don’t worry Aaron, we weren’t falling for that). When our entrée ’ s came, my husband’s was missing. The food runner seemed not to notice and after a full 5 minutes I had to wave her down and ask about it. Someone then brought out a soup to placate us while the kitchen was furiously trying to whip up his order. I thought it was just a bad night on her part but saw her named in another review and dug out our receipt to see if it was the same server and sure enough it was. We were totally embarrassed in front of our guests.

Mediocre and pricy. The ambiance was nice but the wait staff was pretentious and snooty. Don’t need to bother. If you are going to go, go for the wine shop up in front. Unique wines at decent prices.

I only had the brunch so based on a limited menu and easier to cook food but the meal was excellent.
Space is nice and bright as large windows look out on to outdoor seating and the foundry building. Place is fairly large as off the main eating area is another room perfect for large group meals.
My blt was good though would like more bacon but I usually can say that about almost anything with bacon. Trust the spicy in their crab soup as could strain it and make a very good Bloody Mary. Might be too spicy for some and did overpower the. Crab.
Service was good and bill was reasonable since have a prix fix brunch that includes app, entrée and a cocktail for 19.

Very nice spot. The restaurant is located in the rear of the wine shop. Plenty of off street parking and a small private room for gatherings along with outside dining.
We came for Happy Hour. They had a great selection of food and wine to select from and we ordered brussel sprouts, Mac and Cheese and fried oysters.
The food was delicious, the atmosphere was casual, sophisticated and friendly staff.
Would I come back? Yep!

Went there last night and had a beautiful dinner with my fiancé. The dishes are original, vibrant and full of flavor.
So why only three stars? The service was subpar at best. Our waitress Kim had no personality and really was not interested in any type of small talk. Just felt like here’s the menu, not going to read you the specials, what do you want?
It’s a shame because we usually have great experiences there. Food was excellent and perfect weather outside. Service to us goes a lot further than food.

It has been ages since I have been to the Wine Market. I am SO GLAD that we decided to visit this week! Our server was incredible and I loved her honesty about the wines and dishes. She expertly picked our wine pairings and we loved every one of them. We tried the 3 courses for $ 35 menu and were really impressed. The garganelli pasta, ricotta gnocchi, and the black cherry semi freddo were fabulous! I will be making more frequent visits!

Went to the liquor store half of the operation and asked about a specific brand and label of liquor for special order (greater than $ 100). I was assured that it would be researched and followed through with a phone call.
TWO WEEKS LATER… No phone call or contact. I happened to walk in and ask if there was any update with my request. The employee at the counter looked it up in their «written binder» (which, in my opinion is 1990s) and it was unattended and not followed up. She said, «Oh, I’m sorry, no one has made a call.» I was extremely disappointed to say the least because of their attention to detail in the restaurant and the seemingly directionally opposite service I received from the retail portion.
Bottom line… Forget making a special request for a specific liquor at The Wine Market. It won’t be ordered.

This was my second trip to Wine Market and my last. My first visit, a year ago, was satisfactory which is why I returned, however this meal was quite disappointing.
To start we had the scallops crudo– which had quite possibly the worst flavor combination of jalapeño and clementines– albeit they were quite bland.
For dinner I had the tuna conserva. The tuna was the best part, however the lemon and vinegarette was extremely overwhelming and the vegetables took on a pickled flavor that prohibited me from finishing– very acidic. For what the scallops lacked in flavor, this dish overcompensated.
I feel that they may still have some other wonderful dishes, and my pescetarian diet limits the selection, however I was very disappointed.

I have been to Wine Market Bistro twice. Once early this past summer and once at the end of this past summer. The first time, I went with my better half on a bright sunny day. We scored a wonderfully picturesque little table outside in Wine Market Bistro’s courtyard. There were two beautiful butterflies swarming around, the sun was shining, and I was drinking a splendid glass of pinot noir. He ordered the grilled steak salad with blue cheese crumble and I ordered the salmon. The food came out promptly and both were very tasty. Nothing out of this world great but then again, we ordered some pretty average, non-​risky dishes. I enjoyed the wine recommendations, the scenery, and the overall experience.
Then came visit #2 about 3 months later. This time, I came with my better half and my best friend for dinner. We were seated indoors, as it was raining that evening. The ambiance of the indoor dining space was warm, rustic, and charming. We all decided to do the specialty wine flights, which was a grand decision. For food, I decided to go for the pan-​seared diver scallops. I do not really recall what my two comrades got, mostly because I was so completely and utterly disappointed in my dish. I am, by no means, cheap. Especially when it comes to food. If the food is good, I’m more than willing to pay its price. But for $ 30, all I got were THREE pathetic scallops scattered across a rectangular dish with a smear of sauce and a little pile of field greens. The THREE scallops with of average size and lacked a sear! I honestly cannot even speak to the quality of the sauce since there was virtually NOTHING on my plate to even accompany the sauce into my mouth. I really could not believe it. I am not sure if they are the same exact scallops currently offered on Wine Market’s dinner menu since it was impossible to discern the sauce and its seasoning… since I had nothing with which to pair the sauce. The scallops were OK. But really… I expected more.
I was pretty bummed about this experience, especially after I had convinced my friend who accompanied me how fantastic the place was. Perhaps I found my first visit so delightful because of the outdoor scenery and relatively «safe» food choices I had made. Perhaps the first experience just wasn’t all-​too-​telling of the real quality of the place. Or maybe the chefs just «accidentally» skimped me on the scallops…
Either way, I left extremely disappointed and reluctant to ever return for anything more than wine and perhaps a «safe» salad.

oh this was fun. The inside is somehow rustic and urban simultaneously, the bar looks well stocked with a menu that features a variety of interesting cocktails.
The market itself is extremely well organized and well stocked, also FYI, if you eat at the bistro and then make a wine purchase, you get 10% off your to-​go alcohol.
For the food, it doesn’t seem like there are really many bad choices on the menu.
The sides of brussels sprouts and mac and cheese seem really worth trying, and all of the actual dishes were well portioned and very tasty. What can I say, I can’t really point at something terrible and be like — «BAD, MINUS A STAR». I wasn’t totally blown away but it was a really fantastic meal, and I would definitely return. You can tell that thought is put into every component of the dish.
Also their fries are thin, the way I like them.
(I was not the hugest fan of the salad I got, just cause they werent really all that great at making crispy chicken skin, but hey, the salad had pickled eggs, and you know what? they were kind of amazing)
The service was really attentive, they kept coming back to refill my mint lemonade, so that’s always a great sign.

Oh, this place. Wine Market Bistro reminds me of Waterfront Kitchen, where the food is average in taste and above average in price. I haven’t even had a chance to get to the service yet — which drags this place down. We are at a «Meh.»
For starters, we arrived at the bar around 6 hoping to get some happy hour deals. The bar was full, but not packed and the bartender seemed in the weeds. It took her about 10 minutes to give us a menu and another 10 minutes to get our wine order. I think it was about another 10 minutes before we got the food menus and she never did tell us the happy hour specials. Once our fourth arrived and we still couldn’t get her attention we opted for a table.
The service improved — but please be forewarned… They cannot transfer your check with happy hour prices, even if you have been sitting at the bar during happy hour for your drinks. Pay before you move — I mean if you can get the bartenders attention. Apparently 12 folks are too much…
The server for the table was more attentive than the bartender… at least while he was waiting for us to order. We started with the Brussels Sprouts; this place used to be my favorite — I liked the way they hit all the flavors. There is sweetness with the red grapes, saltiness with the bacon and a little spice from the walnuts. This time though, the star — the sprouts — were a little underdone. I like them to be a little crispy, but I want to taste the sweetness, not the cabbage.
For dinner, I went with the Crispy Calamari Salad. It was good. Calamari was cooked well, crispy and not gummy. They serve it on top of a bed of bibb lettuce mixed with a salsa verde and shaved celery. I liked the addition of the sliced pepperoncini and the marinated chickpeas. They both added to the texture and flavor profile. I’d order this again, but I would still be sad about paying $ 17.

Mother of God, Wine Market is one of the best things in Baltimore.
The Wine Market, as the name implies, is both a wine market and a restaurant. The wine selection is, as one might expect, varied and excellent. But the real treat is the restaurant: it is, by far, one of the best restaurants in all of Baltimore.
Over the course of numerous visits, I have tasted their farm chicken, their cornmeal oysters, their flatbread, and numerous other dishes — and all were absolutely amazing. The food is flavorful, fresh, and pairs well with wine also available. The ambiance is spectacular, as it feels both a little bit like a warehouse (exposed brick, rough edges, etc.) and a bit like a wine cellar (white linens, good quality dining sets, etc.).
Needles to say, this is one of my favorite restaurants on the entire East Coast.

Went here last night for Restaurant Week and I have to say this place has excellent food! The service was a little slow but that just helped us enjoy more wine and cocktails!
So before walking into the restaurant we grabbed a bottle of wine from the market and took it to our table. There is a $ 10 corkage fee charge which in my opinion is a bit expensive, if you are dining in I think it should be $ 5 but oh well. They started off with giving us some bread with roasted tomato oil which was very good.
I got the raw ahi tuna appetizer… yes it is very small but so delicious! You get about 3 pieces and it came with shaved baby carrots & celery, pickled white cucumbers, cured lemon vinaigrette, green olives, herb chips. I used the bread to try and soak up the vinaigrette. I’m not sure where the green olives were? I don’t like olives and could not taste them so good for me!
Entrée:
crispy confit pork — creamy local corn, tomato jam, baby fennel, speck jus. The top part was super crispy and the pork was very tender. The waiter recommended this and I’m so glad I went with it. The creamy local corn underneath was cooked to perfection and was very crisp.
Add ons: We got 2 for the table
Truffle and scallion mac n cheese — OMG! Please get this! It is by far one of the best I’ve ever tried!
Crispy brussel spouts — Good but I wish the bacon was crispy as well.
Dessert:
Taharka brothers honey graham ice cream! Delicious!!! loved the little piece of graham crackers in it
I can’t wait to come back again!