Comments On New Restaurants, Kahlua Nachos, A Cocktail Served With Smoking Wood, And More

New options at the Great Wall supermarket in Catonsville

There are too many new restaurants opening for me to keep pace.  Can't get there to eat.  Can't get time to write.  So I really appreciate all the folks who have been emailing and commenting to report on meals.

AnnieRie and Deena took the lead by writing respectively about the new Facci in Turf Valley on AnnieRie Unplugged and about White Oak Tavern on Deena's Days.  But other people chimed in through comments -- from Eagle15 on Facci to rsi, JRick, Jess and Mike on White Oak to Anonymous on the Grille in Maple Lawn.

Kevlar51 reported on a Manhattan served at the new Gatsby's Bar American served under a bell jar with a piece of smoking cedar.  Jay, Anonymous and others described meals at the new Columbia restaurant.  At the same time, Travelinsnorkel reported on an early dinner at Petit Louis, and Gina says the Caffe Benne coming to Rte 40 had great hot chocolate and a cool atmosphere.

A few of Min's favorite things

Min and Anonymous both talked up the new Great Wall supermarket in Catonsville.  Anonymous comments about some Chinese items that aren't readily available at the Korean-run markets like Lotte.  Min emailed to say the Hong Kong roast pork was even better than Asian Cout's dim sum and to say they were happy to find some Taiwanese soy sauce brands, fermented black beans and other pickled items:

There's also this supposedly very yummy crispy skin duck (Pipa Ya 琵琶鴨) that my friends have been raving about. I was there around 2 pm, and they were all sold out! 

Chris and Edith both ate at Chutney, the Indian restaurant that replaced Akhbar's on Snowden River Parkway.  Chris commented on a post, and Edith emails:

I had dinner there last night and both food and service were excellent. Lots of freebies, too (although I'm not sure whether that's SOP while they're opening or if they just felt sorry for me, dining alone on Valentine's Day). 

Until now Royal Taj and Mango Grove have been my favorite Indian restaurants in Columbia but Chutney just catapulted to the top of the list.  Definitely going to visit their buffet lunch soon.

AnnieRie, Anonymous, Cindy, and Radha asked and got tentative opening dates for new spots --  Pisco (April), Buffalo Wild Wings (May 14) and Mission BBQ (June or July) and the new Royal Taj in "Restaurant Park" (8-9 months).  Adam even flagged another new restaurant -- or at least a Facebook page for BricknFire Pizza coming to Catonsville.  Looks like they're just getting their pizza oven and storing away wood for a spring opening.  Anyone know more?

Of course, it isn't just the newsplaces that get my hunger up.  I need to find Milita's Taco Truck, which Kevlar51 says is even better than R&R Taqueria.  And Jack emailed me about Pollo Feliz, the casual place next to Tere's Latin Market on Rte 40:

My wife had Peruvian chicken (which was similar to Grille Chick n'Pollo at Hickory Ridge - but sauces not quite as good).  I had tacos (including tripe which tasted like crunchy bacon bits), which were excellent. F ood and prices were good, and Tere's owner came by to check on us.  The menu has unusual mix of some different Peruvian dishes and Mexican.

On that Mexican theme, Ernesto's continues to be a mystery to me.  We haven't gotten up to Rte 40 for Tex-Mex, and the comments run hot and cold.  The latest is Anonymous who loved the chile releno, but that follows a long series where people were either really disappointed or really impressed.

As always, there are lots of great ideas in a sample of recent comments:

• Melodi is looking for an Asian buffet -- not Indian -- where you could host an open house and have guests come and go.  Can anyone recommend a place for her?
• Folks joined my effort to recognize "Storm Water Dining" -- and Adam even highlighted the Ledo Pizza in Fulton where you can look across Rte 216 at the Maple Lawn cows.
• Other folks joined my effort to find unusual items on local Indian restaurants.  Junior Barnes, Dzoey and others have made me hungry for Xacutti at Gateway Pizza, avial at Mango Grove and others.
• Anthony and Cb recommended dishes at Cha Ya Asian Bistro in Columbia -- including a house curry with pork and pineapple and a drunken noodles with ground chicken.
• Similarly, Trip Klaus and Katrina both suggested dishes -- including a green chicken soup and carne asada -- at the Grille Chick N' Pollo in Columbia.
• Love The Mac loves . . . the macaroni salad at Taste of Aloha.  Other folks chimed in with raves for the kahlua nachos and other dishes at the casual Hawaiian restaurant in Arbutus.
• SHZ gets take-out often from Curry Leaf in Laurel and recommended dishes like the egg curry and the mini paratha.  I'd loved that the menu had a bunch that didn't appear at other restaurants, and SHZ pushes towards the vegetarian dishes.
• SC and LD both had disappointing meals at Bean & Burgundy.  I think they have brought in new consultants to work on the menu.  It could be a huge friendly space if they can pull people in with good food.
• James called lunch at Lily's Mexican Market the "best deal in Columbia" -- even tongue tacos.  The Daring Librarian recommended cashew chicken at Mandarin House in Laurel and the spinach pizza at Pub Dog.
• Naomi, Jim, K8tebug and others wrote about the fried chicken at Chick N' Friends.  Jim had heard it had changed a year ago, but others continue to rave.  K8tebug wants you visit the arts center across the courtyard if you stop by for chicken.