David graduated from Wilde Lake a decade ago, and he is back now to cover his old home town. Lunchtime, I'm mostly in Washington, but I was recently tweeting with David about lunch and thinking about Sidamo's sandwiches. Even though reporters never got paid enough to eat out every noon, it's fun to grab a bite and to show the journalistic flag.
There are good options in Columbia. Start with sandwiches -- New York Deli for corned beef, Bon Fresco for everything, and Riverside Coffee for that bulgogi panini. Consider a side trip to Maiwand Kabob , a splurge at Sushi Sono, or maybe An Loi's pho on a cold day. Work your way up to the Indian buffets. House of India is wonderful, and I have heard great things about Royal Taj on McGaw Road.
Where do you go for lunch? People talk up some Columbia delis, although I haven't tried them all.
Lunch ideas outside of Columbia will have to be for other folks. HowChow covers the entire county, but AOL has divided the world -- a separate Patch for Ellicott City and others for Savage and Elkridge. That's four journalists who need lunch ideas, although they aren't allowed to travel far. AOL actually forbids David from leaving CA's jurisdiction during business hours. Journalism jobs are so scarce that these folks agreed to implanted GPS technology that warns their editors if they veer from the hyper-local. If you leave your assigned census tract . . . you're fired.
So Elizabeth will have to eat all the tacos at Elkridge's R&R Deli. Brandie can't share her pork belly from Honey Pig on Rte 40. And Brian will be all alone at Savage's Bonaparte Bread. Since you can go anywhere, where do you crave for lunch?
22 comments:
The lunch buffet at Mango Grove!
I'm a big fan of the Crepe Cafe at Cafe de Paris.
The chicharrones platter at Lily's Mexican Market.
Charter Deli, in the Charter Medical Building, does basics very well. They've got a nice selection of sandwiches, drinks, and chips. Nothing incredibly fancy, but really good quality, and good for takeout or eating in.
The deli in the new medical building next door is pretty meh. The turkey sandwich was full of generic cold-cut turkey. :/
~Kate
This time of year I like a trip to Noodle Corner, also by Riverside (I'm no craving a bulgogi panini).
Chick'N'Friends in Long Reach is amazing.
Another great sushi spot: Narita Sushi in Hickory Ridge.
The Lakeside Deli on the lakefront is ok.
Also, does the guy with the smoker still set up outside Grandfather's Garden Center this time of year? I saw him a few times over the summer, but never when I had time to stop.
The couple who own Narita Sushi are so wonderful. I love that place!
Pit Beef at Canopy!
Oh my goodness, I'm so so so hungry. Here's a question -- I'm moving to Oella .. do they have food in Oella? Or do I have to go alllll the way down the block to Ellicott City?
How about sandwiches and milkshakes at Duchess in Ellicott City?
LOVE!
Joe's Place Deli has excellent lunch options. I like them much better then Charter Deli. It's in an office building off of Snowden past where the KFC is located.
Brandie, I don't know about lunch. The one claim to food fame at Oella is the JW Treuth and Sons Butcher Shop. HowChow posted about the shop couple of years ago. I was just there last Saturday morning and they were packed! Worth the trip, though.
I know it's not locally owned, but I love Cosi, off Old Dobbin Rd. My go to sandwich there is the fire roasted veggie with feta spread. However, yesterday they had 2 new holiday flatbread sandwhiches: ham and yam (which we saved for next time) and turkey cranberry stuffing, which was absolutely delicious and was a nice treat this first week of "Holiday Season."
Wow, folks! This is awesome...
I've eaten at Charter Deli on occasion over the years. Though I've never been blown away, it's serviceable. Done the Lakeside Deli once or twice. It must just be "ok," as it doesn't stand out in my mind.
Just tried Cosi for the first time the other week. Had the Bombay chicken salad. It was decent. What there would blow my taste buds away?
This is awesome. I'd told our good dear HowChow how much I'd loved his blog upon my return, especially as I've recently gotten more adventurous with eating (I hesitate to admit that most evenings in the past I would just make peanut butter and jelly).
Looks like I've got plenty of eating to do. And I'd love to sit down with many of you while I do to talk to you about your thoughts on Columbia/Howard County and what I should be working on.
By the way, have any of you had the firecracker penne pasta at the Hickory Ridge Grille? Love it...
Yes, it's a chain, but I have to agree w/the turkey/cranberry/stuffing sandwich at Cosi. I'm glad to read they're offering it again this season.
@Brandie -- Anon is so right about Treuth's. Search for my post or Chowhound mentions. They're a great meat market. For restaurants, you're placed nicely between Ellicott City and Catonsville -- some small ethnic places along Rte 40, Hunan Taste and the H Mart, Grilled Cheese & Co., Catonsville Gourmet, and more.
HowChow or anyone else out there know of a good Lebanese restaurant in HoCo?
Also near Oella is Dimitri's. They have excellent food and a great happy hour. Be sure to try the spinach pie. I was in Treuth's last week to get steaks. They might cost a little more, but it's well worth it. I commute between Catonsville and Columbia daily along Frederick Road and my favorite place to stop for a sandwich is Oakey's Grill next to Rita's. I love that pit beef. Yum.
How about Sorretti's in Burtonsville for Ethiopian?
I am a House of India fan but since trying Royal Taj, I haven't been back. It has a different selection of food and hot chai on the buffet and the atmosphere is quite a bit better.
The staff though is wonderful and friendly. None of my associates ever brag that about House of India though the food is wonderful. I'll be back House of India, don't get me wrong, but there's a new kid on the block.
@anonymous, a local butcher shop sounds like a dream. I had my favorite when I was in Rhode Island, but haven't found one yet here. Color me excited.
@HowChow, we had a meeting at Grilled Cheese Co. and hot damn, was that an awesome sandwich. I had what was essentially a crab dip sandwich. Fabulous!
@popcorn face, is Dimitri's a Mediterranean place? I really love spinach pies...
Nothing beats frozen yogurt for lunch- I treat myself to Yogi Castle or Tutti Frutti on Rt. 40 in place of lunch every few weeks. I pretend its healthy because it's nonfat and I cover it in kiwi and mango. Yummy!
Has anyone tried the recently opened Ellicott Lighthouse Tofu Barbeque on W Rt 40 next to Jerry's and Boston Market? There is a banner outside about Korean pancake, including seafood, so hopefully it's not all vegetarian. Not that there's anything wrong with it.
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