This out of the way place is somewhere you really want to like, unfortunately the food and service couldn't deliver. The food I had was stale bread and packaged butter that came out to start the meal, a mediocre crab small cake on another giant stale roll, accompanied by fingerling potatoes that were way overcooked (likely over microwaved). Then it took forever to get a second glass of wine, which I needed to get through the food. The prices are way too high for food and service at this level. I won't be back.
(2)
Leila B.
Great feel to this restaurant, narrow rooms of an old brownstone and walls hung with captivating photos and art. Fabulous food. Fried Oysters in a pernod cream sauce with wilted spinach and rabbit sausage with polenta and apple/onion reduction. The crab cake served with a red cabbage slaw was one of the best we've ever had. We also really enjoyed the Mahi dinner served over a crab and potato hash with a creamy dill sauce. Dessert was a house made peanut butter pie, good not great. Friendly staff, great service. Very happy to have eaten here.
(5)
Jenny T.
I can't even begin to tell how fun this place is. Think of the show "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives" this is the upscale version of that show! We started off with a crab cake app (per everyone's yelp review) and the escargot mushroom caps. Both were amazing. I can honestly say this is by far one of the best crab cakes in Baltimore. For our entrees we got the filet mignon and mahi mahi. Holy flavor batman! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. We loved sitting outside, the wine list was small but perfect, and of course the hilarious staff sealed the deal. The staff here, down to the owner/chef are legit locals with the heart of gold. They all introduced themselves to us, yapped for a little, even shared a good laugh about ones ridic paisley suite (and open fly) while I looking for the restroom. Basically, If you're a snooty foodie.. Please stay away. This place is way too good for your pretentious kind. This place is for the good ol' food loving, Baltimore appreciating, awesome sense of humor kind of person.
(5)
Cady K.
After reading the reviews, I couldn't wait to try this place. However, it was highly disappointing. First of all, it smells like MOLD! Not even just a hint of, it REEKS of mold. The pictures were entertaining, but quite creepy and faded. The place was rather dirty and had been dusted approximately never. They won awards back in 1990 (none since) which are still hanging and very faded. The service was slow and unfriendly. The food was actually not bad. It was priced well, and actually tasted decent. Maybe if we had sat outside the experience would have been better.
(1)
Mo F.
Sure, the food is tasty, but the main reason to visit Henninger's is the amazing ambiance. It's a fantastic date spot; quiet, warmly-lit, and lined with sexy-but-classy photos of ladies in various states of undress. Henninger's is the bar version of a dress strap that's just barely falling off your shoulder: sultry, inviting, full of promise.
(5)
Brenda K.
Frankly, the portions were very good so four courses would have been enough. They were even kind enough to write down the wines that I enjoyed with every dish. Spectacular food and service. I'd definitely eat here again!
(3)
Jackie M.
The atmosphere is amazing with a cozy comfy feel and plenty of great pics on the walls to look at! The food was spectacular. I ruined the plating before some of the pics because I was so anxious to eat it, I completely forgot about pics!
(4)
Ashley R.
Awesome experience. The atmosphere is cozy. Be patient for a table to become available. The food was delicious. I still dream of the desserts we shared!
(5)
Susan L.
I'm so torn about how to go about a rating for this place. I keep hopping back and forth between a 3* and a 2*, so I have decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and give 3 stars. I always feel a little bad about giving less than 3... But here's the explanation: I went with my fiance after work for dinner. We were starving, and our fridge was empty. It was close by to work, it was open, and it had great reviews on yelp... it was a no-brainer. We were both pleasantly surprised by how warm and friendly the service was. We sat down immediately and jumped to looking at the menu. They recommended the fried oysters, and they were good, but we personally prefer less batter on our fried foods. The oysters tasted delicious and the batter was well seasoned and cooked through. For our entrees, I got the pork chops which were delicious! It was a giant sized portion (had enough left over for a whole second meal). He ordered whole fish -- I can't remember what kind. But it was also very delicious. Here's the killer for the night, and the reason that I'm not sure that I'll go back. We were near the end of our meal, and I had drank about 3/4 of my glass of wine. But I picked up my glass to take another sip and I found a fly swimming in it! I swear it wasn't there at the beginning, and I don't know exactly when it got in there. But I immediately lost any appetite and wanted to vomit. Next time they came by to check on us, I told them they can clear that glass because there's a fly swimming in it. They took the glass, and saw the insect, but walked away and didn't offer an apology, didn't offer to comp the glass of wine, and didn't bring me a replacement pour either. Actually, while writing this review, I re-lived the desire to vomit... I don't think I'll be back. I lied... I'm down-grading the review to 2 stars. ----------------------------------- Explanation of my rating system - 5*: Epitome of something, the best I've had, would LOVE to go back 4*: Great food and happy to go back regularly, but not the best of the category 3*: Food is fine. I may spontaneously decide to go there based on convenience. But no need to go back either. 2*: If you insist, I guess I'll come along. I'll find something to eat. But I wouldn't have picked it. 1*: No plans to come back. I'll try to talk companions out of going.
(2)
Jesse L.
Don't let the "neighborhood hole in the wall" vibe sway you! This is the best food in Baltimore..... Really amazing cuisine and great staff! I can't say more......
(5)
Katy P.
We stepped in and felt like we popped into a cocktail party in someone's house. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and welcoming. We were immediately ushered to a small but comfortable table for two, and greeted by a server quickly. The menu was perfect. I hate menus that have too many options or too few. This menu gives just enough variety without being overwhelming. We started with a bottle of wine, excellently priced, around $20. For an appetizer, we went with the Texas BBQ Shrimp. They were smoky and sweet, and totally delicious. They were cooked just right; the shrimp weren't over, but the bacon was crispy, a tricky task. The crab cake was delightful, although I didn't dig the slaw that accompanied it. The winner of the evening was the mustard dill sauce on the crab hash served under the mahi-mahi. I couldn't stop stealing bites of it from my husband's plate. I would have licked the plate!!!! This place is a great hidden gem. Dudes, impress your dates by bringing them here. If you like Peter's, you'll LOVE Henningers!
(5)
Sarah J.
A cozy hideaway in Fells, away from the main, noisy area. It has a diverse medley of kitschy pictures and posters on the walls (WWI, old burlesque ladies, Jesus?, pink elephants?). To many, these images would be fun and be great topics to talk about (*cough, first/second date?), but for myself it was a tad overwhelming and made the restaurant a bit stuffy. Waitress was cheerful and attentive and food came out quicker than expected. Although not a seafood restaurant, the menu boasts many good seafood choices. Fried oysters and crab cakes were recommended, so of course I had to try: - Fried oysters dashed with pernod/fennel cream are very juicy bites that come with a mound of seasoned spinach, allowing you to feel a little more healthy and little less guilty. -Crab cakes are large, fresh, non-greasy, and moist, that can come with a clean slaw and strong aioli sauce. Very tasty. Notes: -Good alcohol selection (Found it funny to find 3 pages of alcohol, 2 pages of food on the menu!). - Parking may be difficult to find during the evening, no valet. Smart to save some time for this. - Only holds around 25-30 people, total. - Does not take reservations, so try to arrive there earlier in the evening. I was lucky when I went on a Friday around 7:15 as I was seated right away.
(4)
Stephanie J.
I struggled with this rating, while I'm definitely "a fan" I'm not quite sure it's "as good as it gets" but it's pretty darned close! Walking into Henninger's is like walking into to your Grandma's living room, it's warm, comfortable and inviting, like that old sweater you've been wearing since college. The warm smells from the kitchen combined with the vibe and feel of the house blend and almost whisper "let's stay awhile". The walls are covered with interesting memorabilia in a relevant meaningful, I'ved lived through this way rather than in a kitschy Appleby's way Then there's the friendly greeting from the host (co-owner) or server. They are friendly, there are many regulars here and they seem to be known by name. I want them to know me too, they are that nice. :) Bottom line the food here is incredible. We started with the Rabbit Sausage which is an apple-onion compote & polenta. It is delicious the sausage is well seasoned (not spicy) and blends perfectly with the apple and onion. It is a treat for the taste buds to be sure and could be a light dessert offering...seriously. I also had the mussels and my sister ordered the crabcakes both were perfection. Of course we enjoyed the desserts a tollhouse peanut butter pie and chocolate perfection and they were excellent top offs to our wonderful meal. Henniger's is the trifecta of food, service and ambiance!
(4)
Elliott P.
Loved it. The torture to find a parking spot was worth the aggravation. The leek and potato soup special was great, and the Mahi Mahi with crab and potato hash was delightful. Lots of dill. Very cozy. Very good. Not the biggest crab cakes I ever had but they were accompanied by the most eye appealing coleslaw with a tasty apple zest to compliment its great looks.
(5)
Matthew C.
Wow, this is the best meal we've had in Baltimore since we moved here 3 months ago. The rabbit sausage appetizer is a must-get; the rabbit is interesting and flavorful without being gamey and the apple/red onion glaze is deliciously tart and sweet with the perfect polenta cake that was crispy on the outside with a creamy center. For entrees we had the pork chop and Mahi. Both were excellently cooked and generously portioned. My wife's Mahi had a delicious mustard dill cream sauce and my pork had tasty marinated onions and gravy. My wife had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert, which she said was divine and came with real whipped cream. An awesome atmosphere, great staff and excellent wine topped off the whole experience. At less than $90 for a bottle of red, app, two entrees and dessert, this is our new favorite spot.
(5)
Jill A.
If there were more Zorana's bartending in Fells Point, the world would be a better place. There are many competitive restaurants with equivalent quality, portions, etc. But, if you care to venture off the beaten path and enjoy a fab evening with quality people that make you feel at home in the midst of good cocktails, great food, and even better company...come see Z-dog. She's something else.
(5)
George F.
Henninger's has the best bar food, bar none, in Baltimore. 4 or 5 choices, each a meal for between $7-$10 cooked with the same care as their table menu. That menu offers an experience in fine eating that is not over whelming in choices served outside or in a cozy dinning room papered over with an aficionado's collection of americana. Great place from the bar to watch baseball or find good conversation.
(5)
Brooke K.
Service and atmosphere are superb. Price points are good. The fried oysters were a little doughy, a disappointment as this is one of my favorite dishes. My grilled salmon was cut a bit thin and had significant over-salting issues. Wife's Cornish hen worked well as did my son-in-law's pork chop. Sadly, I'll doubt we'll return.
(3)
Christopher S.
I love this place. I asked a buddy from work where to go for a Date Night, and he threw this one my way. So glad he did. This is the perfect spot for a great meal with your partner or friends. I've never waited for a table, even at 8:00 on a Friday, you get to escape the crowds of Canton or Fells, and you grab an excellent meal. We've been a few times and the food is great. We always get the Fried Oysters with Pernod Sauce - They are the best app I've had in Baltimore so far. Nothing really JUMPS out at you on the rest of the menu - its a little bit of local Baltimore and a little bid of trendy, but everything comes out tasting delicious. If your looking for a 'Fork and Wrench' type uber meal, than this isn't your spot. The service is extremely friendly and attentive, and the drinks come with a heavy pour. You're not going to get 100 types of Craft beer or a spectacular wine on the drink menu, but there's enough choices to satiate a beer geek or wine snob. The ambiance is great - You can hear yourself talk, but there's still enough activity in the adjoining bar that you don't feel like you are at the 4 Seasons. And the decor is whimsical and fun - almost feels like a throwback to an old speakeasy with all the boxing memorabilia on the walls. Long story short: Get a date, and get the oysters.
(5)
Kevin K.
Overall: Odd. Henninger's is local and quaint, at once archaic, kitschy, and beckoning. It's also mediocre to the bone, moments of quality drowned by moments of blah. Once reviewed as "The best 2nd date in Baltimore.. if (s)he doesn't love it, (s)he doesn't have a heart". Allow me to retort (Jules Winfield): "Grow up." I live two blocks away, so I know what to expect parking-wise. Unfortunately, it's unlikely I'll try the food again even though I can walk there in less than 1 minute. _________________________________ Ambiance: 4/5. My favorite aspect of the restaurant. Definitely self-selected decorations that range from signed pictures to pink elephants, it evades description other than "quaint", especially the room outside the bathroom, oddest of them all and something of a home-library mixed with museum collection of lunch boxes. The restaurant is shaped like an O with a small bar and equally small dining room. Save a few patrons at the bar, it was empty on Tuesday at 7. Odd. _________________________________ Service: 3/5. Service is European. We were left waiting only briefly, and our server was initially awkward in the extent of necessary interaction. She lightened up after a while, but the pace only slowed. Six apps and two dinners in, the four of us checked our watches.. 2 hours later we receieved the check. Slow but attentive, unyielding yet genteel. Odd. _________________________________ Drinks: 1/5. The drink list is woefully small. A few taps of mediocre beer and no more than 10 bottles of wine. Mixed drinks.. hah! Odd. Opted for a pilsner and cut my losses. _______________________________ Food: 3/5. Small menu of rich, traditional Baltimore foods, all heavy in sauce and oil, light in flavor, complexity, and flaw. (Best-worst) 1.) Fried oysters in pernod - An amazing texture, breading with lightly sweet cream, fennel seeds accent nicely, playing the sweeter breading against the more earthy sauce, oysters tender still quite hot though the dish pales compared to the same at Peter's Inn. 2.) Crab cake appetizer- Thick and ultra moist, complete with refreshing slaw contrast to help balanced. Very delicate and juicy, as perfectly done a crab cake as I've had. The slaw is a refreshing contrast and pesto aiolli a beautiful counterpart, if a bit strong by contrast to the veggies. 3.) Escargot - Very herbaceous as a the whole. Lightly oily but pleasant mushrooms, massive earth notes as result. The escargot adds a light salty refreshing element, and the spiced broth compliments crustini nicely. 4.) Rabbit sausage with polenta- Nice texture contrast between sausage and polenta, though the meat comes off bland. Crisp and very well done polenta, lightly oily vegetable skins add contrast, but nothing here wowed me. 5.) Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Red Peppers & Grilled Heart - fresh, light brine in red pepper, nice pesto garnish, but oddly off, not mixing well which is unlike the standard for of this dish. 6.) Seafood pasta - dull. Alfredo is light diavalo, no spice or integration of tomato sweetness. The mussels are a bit gritty while the pasta is a bit undercooked, even spongy. 7.) Shrimp BBQ bacon - Very dull. The bacon seems slightly underooked, the pickled vegetables don't belong her given how spicy you. Pickled vegetable rules the flavor, not much bacon, and unfortunately a heavy shrimp finish.
(3)
Tom N.
Went here recently for dinner on a Tuesday night after getting a hint from a friend that this was a Fells Point "hidden gem". I called beforehand to make a reservation but they explained that it's first-come-first-serve with the exception of 1 large table that they typically reserve for larger parties. Anyway, I arrived around 8:20p and was sat immediately, so there were no issues there. First off, the atmosphere is fantastic and the restaurant really owns it's identity--- old school, eclectic, cozy, semi-romantic, very home-y, great mix of jazzy / older tunes, and very locals-friendly. In terms of service, we couldn't have been happier with our server --- she was kind, patient, refilled water every time that we were low, and was knowledgable about the menu, making great recommendations. Speaking of the menu, it's somewhat small but the options are great --- I enjoyed a bottle of Nelms Road Cab with the Fried Oyster app to start. For dinner I elected for their Grilled Salmon entre which was fantastic. My girlfriend ordered the Pork Loin dinner and that was equally fantastic. For dessert (which by the way is awesome because all of their options are ~$5), we opted for the Key Lime pie which we enjoyed. Overall, I would 100% recommend this place and will be going back in the future!
(4)
Ed W.
Went here on Saturday night and came away with one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I have had in recent memory. Arrived at 7:30pm and the crowd was very light and we were seated right away. Started off with a bottle of white wine and the escargot. The mushroom / snail combo was perfect and with the small baguette slices in the butter sauce rounded out an excellent appetizer. Entrees included the seafood pasta and the mahi mahi filet. The pasta was delicious and lightly sauced with an incredible amount of shrimp, clams, and mussels. The mahi mahi came over a crab and potato hash with a lemon dill sauce that might have been one of the most delicious sauces I had ever tasted in my life. I wanted to dip everything in it. And for dessert, we split a piece of the key lime pie. Just enough tart and sweet and the graham cracker crust was soft how I like it - not overly crunchy. The price was okay, but you get what you pay for it here so I have absolutely no complaints. I'll be back sooner rather than later and since I live in the neighborhood, I may have to check out the bar and have a few Pabst cans with a nice appetizer some night.
(5)
Bill R.
We've been going to Henningers on and off since 1989. After we moved from Baltimore in 2000, we don't get back so often. We did eat there last Friday with a big party at 2 tables. It was as wonderful as ever. The swordfish special was ordered in bulk and everyone was happy with how it was cooked. Wine and beer list is simple but every item is great. No crummy beers clogging the list. Service has always been great mainly because the wait staff turns over very slowly. Obviously it's a good work place. We had a big group but Henningers is even better for a intimate or romantic meal. Go. Enjoy.
(5)
Willuam B.
We love Henningers...great food... Great atmosphere...feels like a Bistro in Greenich Village...the bar and dinning areas are warm , cozy and just the right amount of Baltimore quirky ...the staff is friendly ...good wine and spirits selection... Good pours ...style of cooking us Bistro with an American and Baltimore influence ...will go back again and again
(5)
Walter B.
Great little place, food was Awesome - Mahi Mahi was amazing and Brunswick Stew was unbelievable. Very friendly staff and local crowd.
(5)
Erik N.
I have been to Henninger's a few times over the years and the food was decent and the atmosphere pleasant. In the past, I would have rated it 3 stars. This place has really gone down hill since I was there about a year ago. The last trip dropped it down to one. I was with three other guys and we wanted a simple night out. We first learned that they were out of bread. It wasn't late in the evening so this was surprising. The food was disappointing and lacked flavor. The potatoes had hard rosemary on them and the coleslaw was soaked in mayonnaise. That will be the last time I visit.
one of my favorite restaurants in baltimore and easily the best in fell's pt. this small and kitschy tavern offers up a great selection of food, beverages and visual interest. the staff and space is sort of like being in somebody's living room along with family and local history and associated tchotckes. and I'll admit, we have our own family history at henninger's. the wife and I had our first "official date" there, 14 years ago. we recetnly went back with our three kids. the steamed mussels, these are not to be missed! theirs are the BEst! mussels are tender and not chewy, the broth is where the real magic is found. ask for extra bread and sop it all up. crabcakes are really good, caesar salad is good. prices on a bottle of wine are reasonable, I suggest the cline zin (because that is how I did it 14 years ago)
(5)
Michael S.
What a hidden gem. Get the crab cake, the shellfish pasta and the veggie curry. The desserts were awesome. Get the brownie
(5)
Cherpumple F.
I love you, Henninger's! I love that your menu never changes. I love that you have the old-I-must-be-in-grandma's-house smell when I walk in. I love that my friends who meet me there for the first time get lost because it's actually a house. I love your escargot, mussels, fish dishes and rabbit sausage. I love all your pies. Especially with peanut butter. I also love that I live so close to you!
(4)
Kate P.
Great dinner! I went here for my friend's birthday tonight and had a fun time. We sat outside. The house made egg rolls were tasty. All of us enjoyed our entrees, and at $5 each we had to get desserts. They kindly comped the birthday boy's. The server was friendly and efficient. Overall would love to return!
(5)
Laura S.
This is a great hole in the wall place you should be sure to try out. The place is eclectic with their artwork and pink elephant decor but does not lack in the menu options. We were visiting from out of town and ventured to this place tonight. Glad we did. Colleen took great care of us and guided us to good menu options for dinner (although the slaw was not a party favorite). Come check it out. Get the directions from the bathroom (be sure to listen, there are more than 2 turns to the men's restroom) and take in the scenery. It will stand out!
(5)
Jeremy P.
I had a crab cake off the appetizer menu and a Brooklyn beer off the tap. The crab cake and dipping sauce was delicious! I savored every bite as slowly as I could so I could enjoy it fully. Furthermore, I had a very informative and fun conversation with the owner and the bartender at Henninger's. They gave me good tips for visiting Baltimore and pointed out places they thought were not touristy and some of the original bars and lounges around the Inner Harbor. I think I would have missed out on some of this information if I did not obtain it through them. I'll recommend visitors to go to Henninger's Tavern and enjoy the artwork, conversation, and food!
(5)
Susan E.
Haven't been here for years, but always had a great time. Wonderful food and cozy atmosphere.
(5)
Shaun T.
I have lived a block away from Henninger's Tavern for a year and never ventured inside. I'm moving to California in less than a month and decided last night, on a whim, that I would give it a shot. I walked in with my roommate at half past 8 and was promptly seated in the amazingly kitsch dining area. We were greeted promptly and everything from that point on was a little slice of heaven. As we contemplated what to drink our sever gave us some very good suggestions. Then as we talked about what we were thinking to order some neighboring patrons reached out and gave us some very welcome feedback as well. We split a Henninger's Salad, which surprised and impressed me. For an appetizer we shared an order of mussels in wine and garlic sauce. For the main course we had a perfectly pan fried set of soft shell crabs accompanied by an intense vegetable side and the single greatest food I have ever had... Jasmine Rice. I was blown away by each bite and sat quitely for a few moments in reflection on what had been the single greatest meal of my life. Then our server tried to coax us into desert. I wasn't ready to fall into that trap, and politely declined with a flourish of compliments. Very cleverly she let us know that the deserts were just as good as the meal and suggested we at least "take a peak." We did. We were impressed. We got desert. Ohmygodmymouthgasmed. We, again, split a slice of Cookie-Dough Pie. My description of which is as follows. Imagine taking half a roll of cookie dough and molding it into a pie shape. Then letting it bake for just a few minutes so that it becomes warm, but is still in the undercooked cookie stage. Fill that with chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, and some other thing... can't remember. I zoned out for a while afterwards. It was simply amazing. I haven't stopped talking about it all day. Henninger's is a little bit off the beaten path, but is a stop that I highly, HIGHLY, recommend everyone visiting or living in Baltimore make. Thanks Henninger's.
(5)
Grace C.
This was an great place to dine - great atmosphere with a neighborhood feel, very nice fun staff. We got there at 6pm on a Fri night and didn't have to wait for a place for dinner. I loved the pink elephants in the dining room. I got the filet mignon and asked if the sauce could be prepared without mushrooms. The waitress came back and offered to do a red wine or a cream sauce. I deferred to whatever the chef thought would be best. Red wine sauce won and it was an amazing sauce. Where-else would someone whip up a sauce on the fly? the potato gratin delicious. The one disappointment was that my medium filet came out well-done. The crowd was more of an older white crowd, hence the slightly high prices. The bar was definitely hopping through the night. Seems like the cheers of Baltimore.
(3)
Maria M.
Best mussels I've ever tasted, and you could kill someone with the amount of shellfish on their seafood pasta!
(5)
Robyn T.
To start, don't ask a random cabbie to take you to Henninger's because odds are low that they will know where it is at....not that it is a bad thing. It is the place with the white Christmas lights in the windows...no sign that i could see. My first thoughts was this is a neighborhood bar and every seat was taken in the bar area on a random Thursday evening. The back room, the dining room, was completely empty so we had a nice quiet dinner. The Texas BBQ shrimp were good. Barbecue sauce was not over powering, you could tell they were cooked on a grill, not rubbery but bacon-licious. The cucumber salad was okay. We shared that app with the crab soup which was like a Italian minestrone with crab, we liked it. Main course was the house salad and crab cake duet. Salad was a little over dressed with red wine vinaigrette with cucumbers, little tomato pieces, carrots, and a few peperoncinis. Crab cakes were really good (this coming from a person who hasn't eaten many crab cakes) but they didn't have much filler (mayonnaise or bread crumbs) with seasoning and pan fried enough to get a crust but not too much. They fell apart when you cut them with a fork. The sauce was more like an aioli than a tartar, it was good but thick so we didn't eat it all. The cabbage slaw and fingerling potatoes were hardly touched. Fingerlings were dry, cabbage tasted like just cabbage...maybe would just order a side of 2 cakes in the future. Overall, we liked it. Wish they would have had a cocktail menu to know what their specialties were because neither one of the cocktails turned out as we expected. The key lime pie (as highly touted in other yelp reviews) was pretty bad. Maybe frozen and reheated for the night, I don't know, maybe need better crust. If I lived here I would go back but can't say that I would come back if I came back into Baltimore.
(3)
Madeline W.
So my friend and I just picked this place because it doesn't take reservations and we were having trouble getting one at another place. We weren't sure what to expect when we ordered our food and were delighted by what we got. I had the crab cakes which had real huge pieces of crab in them which they serve with fingerling potatoes and AMAZING slaw. Seriously, this was the best slaw and crab cakes I had ever had. My friend got the whole broiled fish which was amazing also and we both got super yummy desert. The key lime pie is perfection. We also each got a glass of wine which are only $8 per glass. Overall for the quality of food we received we definitely got our money's worth and some. We arrived at like 9pm and they seated us right away and didn't complain or were rude when we were the last customers in the restaurant. The pink elephant mobiles make excellent decor.
(5)
Damian B.
*****4.5 stars **** Pulling the 5 star trigger can be so difficult. However, Henninger's is as good as it gets. It has a small menu but your torn between delicious and more delicious. The Texas shrimp App was mouth watering. The Short ribs were finger licking good. The whole fish was cooked to perfection. And my favorite part was the homemade KEY LIME PIE! wooopiee was that delicious! Will go back.
(4)
Judy C.
4.5 stars. I came back to Baltimore looking for a good meal, so I suggested to friends (who have not been there) to go there for dinner. Thinking it would get busy really quickly on a Saturday, we went early around 6 PM. Luckily for us, it wasn't busy then, and we got seated right away. I got the mozzarella with bell peppers and artichokes appetizer (good but a touch too oily) and the crab cake with Henninger's slaw (a flavorfully strong dish). Friends got the seafood pasta (big portion as expected from last time) and the pork chop, which she liked. We ended our meal with the chocolate fudge brownie with hazelnut gelato. It was divine with the hot brownie and the cold gelato combined. We devoured the dessert very quickly. The entrees are pricier but the portions are slightly bigger than some of the other restaurants. The drinks and desserts are bargains (draft for $4, bottled beer from $1.50 to $5-6 at most?, and desserts are $5 each).
(4)
D K.
Probably 4.5 stars. The ambiance is intimate and has that neighborhood bar feel where everyone knows each other. Seems like a nice place for a date. Lighting on the low side; unique decor all around. Food is very tasty albeit a bit expensive in my opinion. We had shrimp bisque (soup of the night), fried oysters, crab cake entree, and scallop entree. 2 beers. Total including tax + tip just slightly over $100. People say its one of the best crab cakes around and I can't disagree. But I've had other crab cakes in the area which taste pretty darn good as well so I guess it's like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini, which is better? Well they both are... The staff is friendly and service was efficient. We went on a weeknight about 8:30 pm and the patron volume was light. Bread basket and water glasses remained full. I would happily go back if parking weren't such a bitch and if the prices were a touch bit lower. But it sure is a nice cozy place with tasty food. I won't be a regular but perhaps check it out once in a while.
(4)
Lisa D.
Several other reviewers have gone over Henninger's decor and atmosphere in much greater detail than I have time for, so no need to reinvent the wheel there. In a nutshell, it's a tiny, local place with a fun atmosphere - relaxed and nice, not stuffy or kitschy. Went for dinner tonight on the early side (6:30pm on a Saturday) and from previous reviews thought we'd be early enough to avoid a wait. Walked in the door with my hubby and a friend, only to be greeted by a crowd of 6 standing up front and a row of folks lined up at the bar. Walked around for a minute trying to find someone who might be taking names for tables and, oddly, it turned out to be one of the people drinking with the group up front. 45 minute wait, he said. No problem... we perched on some barstools to enjoy a Flying Dog porter (yum!) and people watch. A cute older couple came in about 30 minutes later, hung up their coats and struck up a conversation. The woman asked if we were waiting for a table, and nodded knowingly when we said we'd been waiting for a while. "It's worth the wait," she said. "We're here every week." Then she leaned forward conspiratorially to let us in on a secret "I'm Jane's [the chef and owner] mom, but the food is really good and I'm not saying that just because I'm her mom." Hmmm... how do they decide who's going to cook Thanksgiving dinner in that house! We were really excited by the reviews, and charmed by the atmosphere and conversation, so when we sat down to eat we (and by we, I mean me) were really looking forward to a fantastic dinner. The menu is not overly complex... a good thing in my book. Too many options and I get stuck and make the waiter for 20 minutes while I try to figure out the perfect thing to order, which generally leads to lots of toe-tapping and annoyed looks from my husband. Thankfully, ordering was quick. You can see the full menu on their website - no changes from what was posted there, except the daily special fish was branzino. We ordered the pan fried oysters with pernod & fennel sauce and sauteed spinach as appetizers, then two of us ordered the filet with asparagus and potatoes au gratin, while one had the crab cakes with slaw and yukon gold potatoes. The oysters arrived and were delicious, tender and the sauce was amazing. I'm not even an oyster fan but loved these anyway. After a nice unrushed interlude, the main course arrived. And that's where things seemed to fall apart. The waiter suddenly seemed to turn into a whirling dervish, very efficiently delivering our plates, whipping the appetizer plates away, spinning around to fill water glasses at other tables, dropping off a plate here and there and generally being completely unavailable for any kind of questions or conversation. My steak was ordered medium rare but arrived medium, on a cold plate. The asparagus was crisp but cold, and the potatoes au gratin were on the cool side. It was as if my plate had been sitting around for a while before they brought it out. Our friend had ordered his steak rare, but it came out medium rare. I didn't ask him if his veggies were cold because I didn't want to kickstart any criticism while we were still eating. The crabcake came out warm, with a really nice slaw and delicious/unusual pesto dipping sauce. Potatoes were nice but nothing to write home about. I was especially disappointed in the steaks being overdone. Mine was so well cooked it had that liver-like tinge to it. Sigh. And this restaurant is such a friendly, small place that you HATE to make a stink or send something back. Normally my husband and friend are very effusive when they're enjoying a good meal, but they were both pretty reserved in their comments on the food so I could tell neither were really wowed by dinner. Then the waiter's unfriendly over-efficiency was such a major buzzkill, we didn't even want to stick around for dessert. In general, I would definitely go back for drinks or appetizers because of the great, local vibe. But even though prices were very reasonable, I don't think I'd choose Henninger's for dinner again. Sorry, Jane's mom (I hope you're not reading this!)
(3)
Stormtrooper H.
While visiting Baltimore this was my favorite bar. It has a great menu of food and drinks with amazing memorabilia without feeling to stuffy.
(5)
Sondra L.
Stopped in at Henninger's tonight after I was referred by another out-of-towner. I sat at the bar with three friends and we all enjoyed our time. Great, homey atmosphere. The menu was also great - everything looked delicious but I couldn't resist ordering the "T.V. Dinner" which was on the bar only menu for 10 bucks. And boy it was a fun little steal - a metal tray with baked chicken, mashed potatoes and peas, fresh bread and a chocolate frosted cupcake with sprinkles! Pleasant waitstaff and well versed bartender. I will definitely go back!
(4)
Mark M.
Henninger's is one of those places that really takes you by surprise and throws you for a loop. Approaching from outside, it seems really unassuming, and you're not quite sure if it's a restaurant, a bar, or just someone's living room. Then you walk in the door and think "uh-oh" as you notice all the crazy weird kitschy crap all over the walls. "This doesn't bode well", you think to yourself...but you proceed anyway. Then you look at the menu and think "hmmm...this stuff sounds pretty high-brow for a place that looks like this". And then the food comes out...and you're blown away, and you become a fan for life. One of the other reviews referred to Henninger's as her "other living room". I can't think of a more apt way of describing this place. It felt like home. Not the home I've ever had, but the home I've always wanted. I wish they were open on Christmas, because it's totally the kind of place that would be perfect to retreat to, after you've spent the day being emotionally drained by dealing with your own family and their various & sundry neurosis...to be able to escape to here and unwind with a few Manhattans and your adopted Henningers family...it would just be ideal.
(4)
Heather S.
Every meal I have ever had there has been really good. But i keep going back for the filled to the rim martini and he whole baked fish. The restaurant is good, but seated at the bar is even better. It is a great place to have a drink and a shrimp sandwich or order off of their full menu. It is tucked away in fells point on Bank St. and one of the things i like most about Baltimore.
(5)
Paul O.
Great atmosphere with both a local flare and a nice raising the bar on bar food. I had the whole fish and while I would recommend a bit more seasoning on the fish and a little lighter on the sesame oil on the vegetables it was tasty and lett the table with only bones and the head left. Service was folksy, but excellently attentive. The shrimp appetizer was excellent and the crab cakes could have stayed in the pan a minute longer, but were very tasty.
(4)
Boyd M.
Mix great food with a neighborhood bar and you get Henninger's. When I dream of a "place", this is the kind of place I dream. Top notch fresh ingredients done well. Unpretentious. A wait staff that treats you more like you are eating at their kitchen counter. Well made drinks and service was spot on. Sounds too good to be true, but I know that some people might have a problem with a place like HT. Too many people are going to try to define the place and that is a shame. It is by no means a dive bar and it is not a high end restaurant, even if it has the food for it. It does not compute and that is what I love the most about it. In our nine months in living in Bmore... this is the best place, yet! Word of warning - this place can get crazy busy! Avoid the crowds and go early or during the week.
(5)
Andrew L.
So disappointed by the entire night. Had gone for drinks there once and had a great time. Went there for dinner and all I got was a 100$ worth of stomach aches. We got bbq grilled shrimp appetizer that was basically shrimp drowned in cold right out of the supermarket aisle crappy barbeque sauce. Combined with a completely average hen dish and off-tasting seafood pasta- I will never return or recommend to anyone.
(1)
Laurene C.
On the way here we got caught in some sort of monsoon lightning storm, but quirky cute decor and delicious food immediately made me forget about sloshy shoes and cold wet feet. Crab cakes. AWESOME. The lime aioli is deliciously tangy and red cabbage slaw is divine-esp for someone who really doesn't like mayo, it's not too creamy. The last crab cake I had was from a stand at Flowermart that tasted like a fishy sawdust patty. The one I had here was as polar opposite as can be. Large chunks of crab with a delicate, delicious flavor. I will be coming back for that appetizer alone. I had the filet mignon special with chanterelle mushrooms and potatoes au gratin. The sauce, as other reviewers have mentioned, had me wanting to lick the plate. It seems to be a special quite often. My friend got the shellfish pasta, which he said was very good-not mind blowingly unusual, but does good food always need to be? The portions are satisfying but prices are a little too much for me to be a regular. The bar menu, however, is VERY reasonable, and I plan to come in for a fancy dinner again as well as a few more fiscally responsible meals at the bar.
(5)
Jay G.
Delicious. Nice price range. Great jazz atmosphere. The mussels can't be beat. I've been eating here for years and always take friends here. I've never been disappointed. This is that great classic, hidden neighborhood treasure. You must go. Good beer, wine, music, atmosphere, and food.
(5)
Yvonne T.
The dining room half of the tavern feels pretty cozy, although have to say it felt funny to have all the portrait pictures staring at you eating dinner. We went on a weekday evening and was seated right away... the dining room is small but wasn't full. We had the mussels to share for appetizer, they tasted fresh and was very flavorful. I had the cornish hen as my main. Never had game hen before so have nothing to compare to, but the meat was juicy and tender... loved it. The leek and Gruyere cheese bread pudding (side to the hen) was very delicious... almost upstaged the hen! My friends had the rockfish special of the night, and the scallops and both enjoyed it very much. For dessert we shared a key lime pie and the lemon tartufo. Both were good / pretty standard. Overall great girls night out. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive. It was the bartender's birthday the night we went and the bar portion of the tavern was very happening... seems like this place has a lot of regulars! Would definitely go back to try other dishes. Great place for date nights or for small groups.
(4)
Bill B.
Like walking into Cheers. Quaint bar that was jammed on a Friday night by the time we left. The dining is in a cozy room behind the bar. The food was very good. The crab cakes are to die for. Best I have had in Baltimore. The Cream of Crab soup is just perfect. The wine list is nothing high falutin but it has a few acceptable wines and they are cheap. Great Place.
(4)
Laura B.
I made it to Henningers for the first time this past weekend and couldn't believe how few people were in the place at 8 p.m. on a Friday night. I'm sure all crappy dives in fells point were packed. I have to admit only have manhattans, no food. But they were TOO good. Really, the atmosphere and the waitstaff are worth the trip to the bar. Next time, I'm coming for dinner. I may never leave.
(5)
Gerald G.
Can't go wrong if Jackie is behind the bar! Another hidden secret of Baltimore. Sad to see TV tray dinners are no more, but the brownie sundae makes up for the loss. By the end of the night you'll know everyone at the bar. Atmosphere, food and service makes this one of Baltimores best places!
(5)
Carrie Z.
The joke between me and a bunch of my crazy friends for the last 15+ yrs, is that Henninger's is our "other living room". A few of us lived on Bank St. around the time Kenny and Jayne Vieth bought the place from Chuck Henninger in the early 1990's, and although it was a stretch for us to pool our nickels together to afford the filet, we were always able to eat and drink well. (Rolling Rock never tasted so good!) As my salary went up, so did my feasting options. Jayne has never disappointed me! From a perfectly cooked filet mignon (just a hint over medium), to a tender, poached halibut over a bed of sauteed spinach, to my favorite crab cakes in the world (big lumps, very little filling!)! Then there was the coriander encrusted tuna... oh, my! And, frankly, I don't like mussels, but I'll happily lap up the white wine broth with hunks of fresh, soft bread. The limited menu rotates a few new dishes along with the popular staples, and the bar always features a few specialties of its own (the TV dinner is comfort-food heaven!). When Kenny gets out the smoker, watch out! - You'll always find fresh, seasonal ingredients used, and Jayne whips up her own desserts. This is not a vegetarian restaurant, so don't expect vegetarian dishes, but in the past, they have fixed a beautiful plate of sides for my non-meat eating friends. So be nice when you ask. -- For something light, order a nice glass of wine and one or two of the appetizers (the fried oysters in Pernod sauce or the barbequed shrimp, always get my vote.). Perfect for romantic dates. Dress up or go casual (but not sloppy). Call ahead for reservations or to see if it's a busy evening. I've seen this place packed to the gills! Or just get there early enough for some bar real estate and eat dinner there while Kenny entertains you with some of the funniest true stories you'll ever hear. I don't give them 5 stars because, after all these years, they're close friends of mine, I give them 5 stars because I still consider it "my other living room" complete with consistently wonderful food, intimate ambiance and great service! Sorry, but parking is a nightmare down in Fells Point now, especially on Bank St. Best advice if you can't find a spot close by, park elsewhere and walk or take a cab! Well worth the hassle!
(5)
Eric N.
This was old school Baltimore. The meal was excellent as a whole. We had the crab cake sandwich and the grouper filet. Both were very fresh, and more than adequate portions. The prices were reasonable, but were higher than a casual restaurant. We were very pleased, and will be back.
(5)
Joe A.
The coolest joint in all of Baltimore. Amazing food and charm to boot! This place is a real Baltimore treasure.
(5)
Jason Y.
A great taste of Baltimore seafood. While Henninger's might first strike you as one of those restaurants "with all the crazy crap on the walls," but it's really a subtle, cozy place. Try anything from the ocean, because it all tastes like it was pulled from the water just before you arrived. The pan fried breaded oysters, lump crab cakes, and especially the shellfish pasta are all big winners. It's a little small, so don't be afraid to call ahead for reservations.
(5)
jan a.
Henningers is a wonderful place to just hang. The clientele are mostly locals and the conversation is always lively. The terrific ambiance is facilitated by Kenny, the owner, along with his wife Jane who is the Chef. The ambiance is enriched by the knowledgeable, humorous, convivial bar staff. Great drinks! Jack, one of the bartenders, creates a Martini or Old Fashion that are unbeatable. The wine offerings are average, but generous. Henningers' menu is limited but imaginative and smart. Delicious food at reasonable prices. Sit at the bar and order a drink and an appetizer and let the place absorb you into its friendly magic. I love this place.
(5)
Natasha R.
I must confess.... I have bean coming here for well over 12 years. Just like a fine love affair, there are ups and there are downs. But for the most part, I truly looove Henniger's. From the genuine staff (I miss Jeff) to the amazing seasonal menu, the perfect jazzy sounds, and the cozy eclectic decor, I can't stay away. Kenny and his wife own the place (I think), and it shows that it's not corporate because of the regulars congregating at the bar and the vibe of the place in general. The chef JR is creative and his wife Kate is a server. It works well when you ask any questions or make requests with the dishes. Must get the fried oysters over a bed of spinach in Pernod sauce. Major craving and what keeps me addicted. I rarely give 5 stars, but in this case I wish I could give more.
(5)
David S.
Great ambience. Great food. Very reasonable price/value. Simple gets elegant style. Takes you back to Baltimore in the "speakeasy" days. Try the crab cakes and slaw. Some of the best in town!
(5)
Christopher H.
my favorite little bar in baltimore.
(5)
annie z.
Been going to Henninger's for over 10yrs. Doesn't matter if you are sitting the to dinning room or bar whatever you order will be amazing. The fish is always cooked perfectly...the sauces are excellent and the soups, although they are somewhat over salty they are sooooo fricken good. If you are in the bar and don't want a heavy meal try the chili with a glass of wine "elegant bar food". Never had the tv dinner but we finally saw one and it really looked like one, only bigger and cheaper than a hungryman. Always great service, the owners are always on premise, and the staff is so friendly. We highly recommend!
(5)
bobby s.
great little rowhome turned restaurant. definitely a place someone has to introduce you to. its not that easy to find and I doubt they advertise. the food and atmosphere are great. good crab cakes, whole fish, filet mignon. wasnt so excited about the lamb. expect a crowd, its not that big
(5)
Kevin S.
This out of the way place is somewhere you really want to like, unfortunately the food and service couldn't deliver. The food I had was stale bread and packaged butter that came out to start the meal, a mediocre crab small cake on another giant stale roll, accompanied by fingerling potatoes that were way overcooked (likely over microwaved). Then it took forever to get a second glass of wine, which I needed to get through the food. The prices are way too high for food and service at this level. I won't be back.
(2)
Leila B.
Great feel to this restaurant, narrow rooms of an old brownstone and walls hung with captivating photos and art. Fabulous food. Fried Oysters in a pernod cream sauce with wilted spinach and rabbit sausage with polenta and apple/onion reduction. The crab cake served with a red cabbage slaw was one of the best we've ever had. We also really enjoyed the Mahi dinner served over a crab and potato hash with a creamy dill sauce. Dessert was a house made peanut butter pie, good not great. Friendly staff, great service. Very happy to have eaten here.
(5)
Heather S.
Every meal I have ever had there has been really good. But i keep going back for the filled to the rim martini and he whole baked fish. The restaurant is good, but seated at the bar is even better. It is a great place to have a drink and a shrimp sandwich or order off of their full menu. It is tucked away in fells point on Bank St. and one of the things i like most about Baltimore.
(5)
Paul O.
Great atmosphere with both a local flare and a nice raising the bar on bar food. I had the whole fish and while I would recommend a bit more seasoning on the fish and a little lighter on the sesame oil on the vegetables it was tasty and lett the table with only bones and the head left. Service was folksy, but excellently attentive. The shrimp appetizer was excellent and the crab cakes could have stayed in the pan a minute longer, but were very tasty.
(4)
Boyd M.
Mix great food with a neighborhood bar and you get Henninger's. When I dream of a "place", this is the kind of place I dream. Top notch fresh ingredients done well. Unpretentious. A wait staff that treats you more like you are eating at their kitchen counter. Well made drinks and service was spot on. Sounds too good to be true, but I know that some people might have a problem with a place like HT. Too many people are going to try to define the place and that is a shame. It is by no means a dive bar and it is not a high end restaurant, even if it has the food for it. It does not compute and that is what I love the most about it. In our nine months in living in Bmore... this is the best place, yet! Word of warning - this place can get crazy busy! Avoid the crowds and go early or during the week.
(5)
Andrew L.
So disappointed by the entire night. Had gone for drinks there once and had a great time. Went there for dinner and all I got was a 100$ worth of stomach aches. We got bbq grilled shrimp appetizer that was basically shrimp drowned in cold right out of the supermarket aisle crappy barbeque sauce. Combined with a completely average hen dish and off-tasting seafood pasta- I will never return or recommend to anyone.
(1)
Laurene C.
On the way here we got caught in some sort of monsoon lightning storm, but quirky cute decor and delicious food immediately made me forget about sloshy shoes and cold wet feet. Crab cakes. AWESOME. The lime aioli is deliciously tangy and red cabbage slaw is divine-esp for someone who really doesn't like mayo, it's not too creamy. The last crab cake I had was from a stand at Flowermart that tasted like a fishy sawdust patty. The one I had here was as polar opposite as can be. Large chunks of crab with a delicate, delicious flavor. I will be coming back for that appetizer alone. I had the filet mignon special with chanterelle mushrooms and potatoes au gratin. The sauce, as other reviewers have mentioned, had me wanting to lick the plate. It seems to be a special quite often. My friend got the shellfish pasta, which he said was very good-not mind blowingly unusual, but does good food always need to be? The portions are satisfying but prices are a little too much for me to be a regular. The bar menu, however, is VERY reasonable, and I plan to come in for a fancy dinner again as well as a few more fiscally responsible meals at the bar.
(5)
Kevin K.
Overall: Odd. Henninger's is local and quaint, at once archaic, kitschy, and beckoning. It's also mediocre to the bone, moments of quality drowned by moments of blah. Once reviewed as "The best 2nd date in Baltimore.. if (s)he doesn't love it, (s)he doesn't have a heart". Allow me to retort (Jules Winfield): "Grow up." I live two blocks away, so I know what to expect parking-wise. Unfortunately, it's unlikely I'll try the food again even though I can walk there in less than 1 minute. _________________________________ Ambiance: 4/5. My favorite aspect of the restaurant. Definitely self-selected decorations that range from signed pictures to pink elephants, it evades description other than "quaint", especially the room outside the bathroom, oddest of them all and something of a home-library mixed with museum collection of lunch boxes. The restaurant is shaped like an O with a small bar and equally small dining room. Save a few patrons at the bar, it was empty on Tuesday at 7. Odd. _________________________________ Service: 3/5. Service is European. We were left waiting only briefly, and our server was initially awkward in the extent of necessary interaction. She lightened up after a while, but the pace only slowed. Six apps and two dinners in, the four of us checked our watches.. 2 hours later we receieved the check. Slow but attentive, unyielding yet genteel. Odd. _________________________________ Drinks: 1/5. The drink list is woefully small. A few taps of mediocre beer and no more than 10 bottles of wine. Mixed drinks.. hah! Odd. Opted for a pilsner and cut my losses. _______________________________ Food: 3/5. Small menu of rich, traditional Baltimore foods, all heavy in sauce and oil, light in flavor, complexity, and flaw. (Best-worst) 1.) Fried oysters in pernod - An amazing texture, breading with lightly sweet cream, fennel seeds accent nicely, playing the sweeter breading against the more earthy sauce, oysters tender still quite hot though the dish pales compared to the same at Peter's Inn. 2.) Crab cake appetizer- Thick and ultra moist, complete with refreshing slaw contrast to help balanced. Very delicate and juicy, as perfectly done a crab cake as I've had. The slaw is a refreshing contrast and pesto aiolli a beautiful counterpart, if a bit strong by contrast to the veggies. 3.) Escargot - Very herbaceous as a the whole. Lightly oily but pleasant mushrooms, massive earth notes as result. The escargot adds a light salty refreshing element, and the spiced broth compliments crustini nicely. 4.) Rabbit sausage with polenta- Nice texture contrast between sausage and polenta, though the meat comes off bland. Crisp and very well done polenta, lightly oily vegetable skins add contrast, but nothing here wowed me. 5.) Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Red Peppers & Grilled Heart - fresh, light brine in red pepper, nice pesto garnish, but oddly off, not mixing well which is unlike the standard for of this dish. 6.) Seafood pasta - dull. Alfredo is light diavalo, no spice or integration of tomato sweetness. The mussels are a bit gritty while the pasta is a bit undercooked, even spongy. 7.) Shrimp BBQ bacon - Very dull. The bacon seems slightly underooked, the pickled vegetables don't belong her given how spicy you. Pickled vegetable rules the flavor, not much bacon, and unfortunately a heavy shrimp finish.
(3)
Willuam B.
We love Henningers...great food... Great atmosphere...feels like a Bistro in Greenich Village...the bar and dinning areas are warm , cozy and just the right amount of Baltimore quirky ...the staff is friendly ...good wine and spirits selection... Good pours ...style of cooking us Bistro with an American and Baltimore influence ...will go back again and again
(5)
Bill R.
We've been going to Henningers on and off since 1989. After we moved from Baltimore in 2000, we don't get back so often. We did eat there last Friday with a big party at 2 tables. It was as wonderful as ever. The swordfish special was ordered in bulk and everyone was happy with how it was cooked. Wine and beer list is simple but every item is great. No crummy beers clogging the list. Service has always been great mainly because the wait staff turns over very slowly. Obviously it's a good work place. We had a big group but Henningers is even better for a intimate or romantic meal. Go. Enjoy.
(5)
Jenny T.
I can't even begin to tell how fun this place is. Think of the show "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives" this is the upscale version of that show! We started off with a crab cake app (per everyone's yelp review) and the escargot mushroom caps. Both were amazing. I can honestly say this is by far one of the best crab cakes in Baltimore. For our entrees we got the filet mignon and mahi mahi. Holy flavor batman! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. We loved sitting outside, the wine list was small but perfect, and of course the hilarious staff sealed the deal. The staff here, down to the owner/chef are legit locals with the heart of gold. They all introduced themselves to us, yapped for a little, even shared a good laugh about ones ridic paisley suite (and open fly) while I looking for the restroom. Basically, If you're a snooty foodie.. Please stay away. This place is way too good for your pretentious kind. This place is for the good ol' food loving, Baltimore appreciating, awesome sense of humor kind of person.
(5)
Cady K.
After reading the reviews, I couldn't wait to try this place. However, it was highly disappointing. First of all, it smells like MOLD! Not even just a hint of, it REEKS of mold. The pictures were entertaining, but quite creepy and faded. The place was rather dirty and had been dusted approximately never. They won awards back in 1990 (none since) which are still hanging and very faded. The service was slow and unfriendly. The food was actually not bad. It was priced well, and actually tasted decent. Maybe if we had sat outside the experience would have been better.
(1)
Mo F.
Sure, the food is tasty, but the main reason to visit Henninger's is the amazing ambiance. It's a fantastic date spot; quiet, warmly-lit, and lined with sexy-but-classy photos of ladies in various states of undress. Henninger's is the bar version of a dress strap that's just barely falling off your shoulder: sultry, inviting, full of promise.
(5)
Brenda K.
Frankly, the portions were very good so four courses would have been enough. They were even kind enough to write down the wines that I enjoyed with every dish. Spectacular food and service. I'd definitely eat here again!
(3)
Jackie M.
The atmosphere is amazing with a cozy comfy feel and plenty of great pics on the walls to look at! The food was spectacular. I ruined the plating before some of the pics because I was so anxious to eat it, I completely forgot about pics!
(4)
Susan L.
I'm so torn about how to go about a rating for this place. I keep hopping back and forth between a 3* and a 2*, so I have decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and give 3 stars. I always feel a little bad about giving less than 3... But here's the explanation: I went with my fiance after work for dinner. We were starving, and our fridge was empty. It was close by to work, it was open, and it had great reviews on yelp... it was a no-brainer. We were both pleasantly surprised by how warm and friendly the service was. We sat down immediately and jumped to looking at the menu. They recommended the fried oysters, and they were good, but we personally prefer less batter on our fried foods. The oysters tasted delicious and the batter was well seasoned and cooked through. For our entrees, I got the pork chops which were delicious! It was a giant sized portion (had enough left over for a whole second meal). He ordered whole fish -- I can't remember what kind. But it was also very delicious. Here's the killer for the night, and the reason that I'm not sure that I'll go back. We were near the end of our meal, and I had drank about 3/4 of my glass of wine. But I picked up my glass to take another sip and I found a fly swimming in it! I swear it wasn't there at the beginning, and I don't know exactly when it got in there. But I immediately lost any appetite and wanted to vomit. Next time they came by to check on us, I told them they can clear that glass because there's a fly swimming in it. They took the glass, and saw the insect, but walked away and didn't offer an apology, didn't offer to comp the glass of wine, and didn't bring me a replacement pour either. Actually, while writing this review, I re-lived the desire to vomit... I don't think I'll be back. I lied... I'm down-grading the review to 2 stars. ----------------------------------- Explanation of my rating system - 5*: Epitome of something, the best I've had, would LOVE to go back 4*: Great food and happy to go back regularly, but not the best of the category 3*: Food is fine. I may spontaneously decide to go there based on convenience. But no need to go back either. 2*: If you insist, I guess I'll come along. I'll find something to eat. But I wouldn't have picked it. 1*: No plans to come back. I'll try to talk companions out of going.
(2)
Jesse L.
Don't let the "neighborhood hole in the wall" vibe sway you! This is the best food in Baltimore..... Really amazing cuisine and great staff! I can't say more......
(5)
Katy P.
We stepped in and felt like we popped into a cocktail party in someone's house. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and welcoming. We were immediately ushered to a small but comfortable table for two, and greeted by a server quickly. The menu was perfect. I hate menus that have too many options or too few. This menu gives just enough variety without being overwhelming. We started with a bottle of wine, excellently priced, around $20. For an appetizer, we went with the Texas BBQ Shrimp. They were smoky and sweet, and totally delicious. They were cooked just right; the shrimp weren't over, but the bacon was crispy, a tricky task. The crab cake was delightful, although I didn't dig the slaw that accompanied it. The winner of the evening was the mustard dill sauce on the crab hash served under the mahi-mahi. I couldn't stop stealing bites of it from my husband's plate. I would have licked the plate!!!! This place is a great hidden gem. Dudes, impress your dates by bringing them here. If you like Peter's, you'll LOVE Henningers!
(5)
Sarah J.
A cozy hideaway in Fells, away from the main, noisy area. It has a diverse medley of kitschy pictures and posters on the walls (WWI, old burlesque ladies, Jesus?, pink elephants?). To many, these images would be fun and be great topics to talk about (*cough, first/second date?), but for myself it was a tad overwhelming and made the restaurant a bit stuffy. Waitress was cheerful and attentive and food came out quicker than expected. Although not a seafood restaurant, the menu boasts many good seafood choices. Fried oysters and crab cakes were recommended, so of course I had to try: - Fried oysters dashed with pernod/fennel cream are very juicy bites that come with a mound of seasoned spinach, allowing you to feel a little more healthy and little less guilty. -Crab cakes are large, fresh, non-greasy, and moist, that can come with a clean slaw and strong aioli sauce. Very tasty. Notes: -Good alcohol selection (Found it funny to find 3 pages of alcohol, 2 pages of food on the menu!). - Parking may be difficult to find during the evening, no valet. Smart to save some time for this. - Only holds around 25-30 people, total. - Does not take reservations, so try to arrive there earlier in the evening. I was lucky when I went on a Friday around 7:15 as I was seated right away.
(4)
Stephanie J.
I struggled with this rating, while I'm definitely "a fan" I'm not quite sure it's "as good as it gets" but it's pretty darned close! Walking into Henninger's is like walking into to your Grandma's living room, it's warm, comfortable and inviting, like that old sweater you've been wearing since college. The warm smells from the kitchen combined with the vibe and feel of the house blend and almost whisper "let's stay awhile". The walls are covered with interesting memorabilia in a relevant meaningful, I'ved lived through this way rather than in a kitschy Appleby's way Then there's the friendly greeting from the host (co-owner) or server. They are friendly, there are many regulars here and they seem to be known by name. I want them to know me too, they are that nice. :) Bottom line the food here is incredible. We started with the Rabbit Sausage which is an apple-onion compote & polenta. It is delicious the sausage is well seasoned (not spicy) and blends perfectly with the apple and onion. It is a treat for the taste buds to be sure and could be a light dessert offering...seriously. I also had the mussels and my sister ordered the crabcakes both were perfection. Of course we enjoyed the desserts a tollhouse peanut butter pie and chocolate perfection and they were excellent top offs to our wonderful meal. Henniger's is the trifecta of food, service and ambiance!
(4)
Elliott P.
Loved it. The torture to find a parking spot was worth the aggravation. The leek and potato soup special was great, and the Mahi Mahi with crab and potato hash was delightful. Lots of dill. Very cozy. Very good. Not the biggest crab cakes I ever had but they were accompanied by the most eye appealing coleslaw with a tasty apple zest to compliment its great looks.
(5)
Matthew C.
Wow, this is the best meal we've had in Baltimore since we moved here 3 months ago. The rabbit sausage appetizer is a must-get; the rabbit is interesting and flavorful without being gamey and the apple/red onion glaze is deliciously tart and sweet with the perfect polenta cake that was crispy on the outside with a creamy center. For entrees we had the pork chop and Mahi. Both were excellently cooked and generously portioned. My wife's Mahi had a delicious mustard dill cream sauce and my pork had tasty marinated onions and gravy. My wife had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert, which she said was divine and came with real whipped cream. An awesome atmosphere, great staff and excellent wine topped off the whole experience. At less than $90 for a bottle of red, app, two entrees and dessert, this is our new favorite spot.
(5)
Jill A.
If there were more Zorana's bartending in Fells Point, the world would be a better place. There are many competitive restaurants with equivalent quality, portions, etc. But, if you care to venture off the beaten path and enjoy a fab evening with quality people that make you feel at home in the midst of good cocktails, great food, and even better company...come see Z-dog. She's something else.
(5)
George F.
Henninger's has the best bar food, bar none, in Baltimore. 4 or 5 choices, each a meal for between $7-$10 cooked with the same care as their table menu. That menu offers an experience in fine eating that is not over whelming in choices served outside or in a cozy dinning room papered over with an aficionado's collection of americana. Great place from the bar to watch baseball or find good conversation.
(5)
Brooke K.
Service and atmosphere are superb. Price points are good. The fried oysters were a little doughy, a disappointment as this is one of my favorite dishes. My grilled salmon was cut a bit thin and had significant over-salting issues. Wife's Cornish hen worked well as did my son-in-law's pork chop. Sadly, I'll doubt we'll return.
(3)
Laura S.
This is a great hole in the wall place you should be sure to try out. The place is eclectic with their artwork and pink elephant decor but does not lack in the menu options. We were visiting from out of town and ventured to this place tonight. Glad we did. Colleen took great care of us and guided us to good menu options for dinner (although the slaw was not a party favorite). Come check it out. Get the directions from the bathroom (be sure to listen, there are more than 2 turns to the men's restroom) and take in the scenery. It will stand out!
(5)
Christopher S.
I love this place. I asked a buddy from work where to go for a Date Night, and he threw this one my way. So glad he did. This is the perfect spot for a great meal with your partner or friends. I've never waited for a table, even at 8:00 on a Friday, you get to escape the crowds of Canton or Fells, and you grab an excellent meal. We've been a few times and the food is great. We always get the Fried Oysters with Pernod Sauce - They are the best app I've had in Baltimore so far. Nothing really JUMPS out at you on the rest of the menu - its a little bit of local Baltimore and a little bid of trendy, but everything comes out tasting delicious. If your looking for a 'Fork and Wrench' type uber meal, than this isn't your spot. The service is extremely friendly and attentive, and the drinks come with a heavy pour. You're not going to get 100 types of Craft beer or a spectacular wine on the drink menu, but there's enough choices to satiate a beer geek or wine snob. The ambiance is great - You can hear yourself talk, but there's still enough activity in the adjoining bar that you don't feel like you are at the 4 Seasons. And the decor is whimsical and fun - almost feels like a throwback to an old speakeasy with all the boxing memorabilia on the walls. Long story short: Get a date, and get the oysters.
(5)
Ashley R.
Awesome experience. The atmosphere is cozy. Be patient for a table to become available. The food was delicious. I still dream of the desserts we shared!
(5)
Tom N.
Went here recently for dinner on a Tuesday night after getting a hint from a friend that this was a Fells Point "hidden gem". I called beforehand to make a reservation but they explained that it's first-come-first-serve with the exception of 1 large table that they typically reserve for larger parties. Anyway, I arrived around 8:20p and was sat immediately, so there were no issues there. First off, the atmosphere is fantastic and the restaurant really owns it's identity--- old school, eclectic, cozy, semi-romantic, very home-y, great mix of jazzy / older tunes, and very locals-friendly. In terms of service, we couldn't have been happier with our server --- she was kind, patient, refilled water every time that we were low, and was knowledgable about the menu, making great recommendations. Speaking of the menu, it's somewhat small but the options are great --- I enjoyed a bottle of Nelms Road Cab with the Fried Oyster app to start. For dinner I elected for their Grilled Salmon entre which was fantastic. My girlfriend ordered the Pork Loin dinner and that was equally fantastic. For dessert (which by the way is awesome because all of their options are ~$5), we opted for the Key Lime pie which we enjoyed. Overall, I would 100% recommend this place and will be going back in the future!
(4)
Susan E.
Haven't been here for years, but always had a great time. Wonderful food and cozy atmosphere.
(5)
Ed W.
Went here on Saturday night and came away with one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I have had in recent memory. Arrived at 7:30pm and the crowd was very light and we were seated right away. Started off with a bottle of white wine and the escargot. The mushroom / snail combo was perfect and with the small baguette slices in the butter sauce rounded out an excellent appetizer. Entrees included the seafood pasta and the mahi mahi filet. The pasta was delicious and lightly sauced with an incredible amount of shrimp, clams, and mussels. The mahi mahi came over a crab and potato hash with a lemon dill sauce that might have been one of the most delicious sauces I had ever tasted in my life. I wanted to dip everything in it. And for dessert, we split a piece of the key lime pie. Just enough tart and sweet and the graham cracker crust was soft how I like it - not overly crunchy. The price was okay, but you get what you pay for it here so I have absolutely no complaints. I'll be back sooner rather than later and since I live in the neighborhood, I may have to check out the bar and have a few Pabst cans with a nice appetizer some night.
Great little place, food was Awesome - Mahi Mahi was amazing and Brunswick Stew was unbelievable. Very friendly staff and local crowd.
(5)
Paul S.
one of my favorite restaurants in baltimore and easily the best in fell's pt. this small and kitschy tavern offers up a great selection of food, beverages and visual interest. the staff and space is sort of like being in somebody's living room along with family and local history and associated tchotckes. and I'll admit, we have our own family history at henninger's. the wife and I had our first "official date" there, 14 years ago. we recetnly went back with our three kids. the steamed mussels, these are not to be missed! theirs are the BEst! mussels are tender and not chewy, the broth is where the real magic is found. ask for extra bread and sop it all up. crabcakes are really good, caesar salad is good. prices on a bottle of wine are reasonable, I suggest the cline zin (because that is how I did it 14 years ago)
(5)
Michael S.
What a hidden gem. Get the crab cake, the shellfish pasta and the veggie curry. The desserts were awesome. Get the brownie
(5)
Cherpumple F.
I love you, Henninger's! I love that your menu never changes. I love that you have the old-I-must-be-in-grandma's-house smell when I walk in. I love that my friends who meet me there for the first time get lost because it's actually a house. I love your escargot, mussels, fish dishes and rabbit sausage. I love all your pies. Especially with peanut butter. I also love that I live so close to you!
(4)
Kate P.
Great dinner! I went here for my friend's birthday tonight and had a fun time. We sat outside. The house made egg rolls were tasty. All of us enjoyed our entrees, and at $5 each we had to get desserts. They kindly comped the birthday boy's. The server was friendly and efficient. Overall would love to return!
(5)
Shaun T.
I have lived a block away from Henninger's Tavern for a year and never ventured inside. I'm moving to California in less than a month and decided last night, on a whim, that I would give it a shot. I walked in with my roommate at half past 8 and was promptly seated in the amazingly kitsch dining area. We were greeted promptly and everything from that point on was a little slice of heaven. As we contemplated what to drink our sever gave us some very good suggestions. Then as we talked about what we were thinking to order some neighboring patrons reached out and gave us some very welcome feedback as well. We split a Henninger's Salad, which surprised and impressed me. For an appetizer we shared an order of mussels in wine and garlic sauce. For the main course we had a perfectly pan fried set of soft shell crabs accompanied by an intense vegetable side and the single greatest food I have ever had... Jasmine Rice. I was blown away by each bite and sat quitely for a few moments in reflection on what had been the single greatest meal of my life. Then our server tried to coax us into desert. I wasn't ready to fall into that trap, and politely declined with a flourish of compliments. Very cleverly she let us know that the deserts were just as good as the meal and suggested we at least "take a peak." We did. We were impressed. We got desert. Ohmygodmymouthgasmed. We, again, split a slice of Cookie-Dough Pie. My description of which is as follows. Imagine taking half a roll of cookie dough and molding it into a pie shape. Then letting it bake for just a few minutes so that it becomes warm, but is still in the undercooked cookie stage. Fill that with chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, and some other thing... can't remember. I zoned out for a while afterwards. It was simply amazing. I haven't stopped talking about it all day. Henninger's is a little bit off the beaten path, but is a stop that I highly, HIGHLY, recommend everyone visiting or living in Baltimore make. Thanks Henninger's.
(5)
Grace C.
This was an great place to dine - great atmosphere with a neighborhood feel, very nice fun staff. We got there at 6pm on a Fri night and didn't have to wait for a place for dinner. I loved the pink elephants in the dining room. I got the filet mignon and asked if the sauce could be prepared without mushrooms. The waitress came back and offered to do a red wine or a cream sauce. I deferred to whatever the chef thought would be best. Red wine sauce won and it was an amazing sauce. Where-else would someone whip up a sauce on the fly? the potato gratin delicious. The one disappointment was that my medium filet came out well-done. The crowd was more of an older white crowd, hence the slightly high prices. The bar was definitely hopping through the night. Seems like the cheers of Baltimore.
(3)
Maria M.
Best mussels I've ever tasted, and you could kill someone with the amount of shellfish on their seafood pasta!
(5)
Robyn T.
To start, don't ask a random cabbie to take you to Henninger's because odds are low that they will know where it is at....not that it is a bad thing. It is the place with the white Christmas lights in the windows...no sign that i could see. My first thoughts was this is a neighborhood bar and every seat was taken in the bar area on a random Thursday evening. The back room, the dining room, was completely empty so we had a nice quiet dinner. The Texas BBQ shrimp were good. Barbecue sauce was not over powering, you could tell they were cooked on a grill, not rubbery but bacon-licious. The cucumber salad was okay. We shared that app with the crab soup which was like a Italian minestrone with crab, we liked it. Main course was the house salad and crab cake duet. Salad was a little over dressed with red wine vinaigrette with cucumbers, little tomato pieces, carrots, and a few peperoncinis. Crab cakes were really good (this coming from a person who hasn't eaten many crab cakes) but they didn't have much filler (mayonnaise or bread crumbs) with seasoning and pan fried enough to get a crust but not too much. They fell apart when you cut them with a fork. The sauce was more like an aioli than a tartar, it was good but thick so we didn't eat it all. The cabbage slaw and fingerling potatoes were hardly touched. Fingerlings were dry, cabbage tasted like just cabbage...maybe would just order a side of 2 cakes in the future. Overall, we liked it. Wish they would have had a cocktail menu to know what their specialties were because neither one of the cocktails turned out as we expected. The key lime pie (as highly touted in other yelp reviews) was pretty bad. Maybe frozen and reheated for the night, I don't know, maybe need better crust. If I lived here I would go back but can't say that I would come back if I came back into Baltimore.
(3)
Madeline W.
So my friend and I just picked this place because it doesn't take reservations and we were having trouble getting one at another place. We weren't sure what to expect when we ordered our food and were delighted by what we got. I had the crab cakes which had real huge pieces of crab in them which they serve with fingerling potatoes and AMAZING slaw. Seriously, this was the best slaw and crab cakes I had ever had. My friend got the whole broiled fish which was amazing also and we both got super yummy desert. The key lime pie is perfection. We also each got a glass of wine which are only $8 per glass. Overall for the quality of food we received we definitely got our money's worth and some. We arrived at like 9pm and they seated us right away and didn't complain or were rude when we were the last customers in the restaurant. The pink elephant mobiles make excellent decor.
(5)
Damian B.
*****4.5 stars **** Pulling the 5 star trigger can be so difficult. However, Henninger's is as good as it gets. It has a small menu but your torn between delicious and more delicious. The Texas shrimp App was mouth watering. The Short ribs were finger licking good. The whole fish was cooked to perfection. And my favorite part was the homemade KEY LIME PIE! wooopiee was that delicious! Will go back.
(4)
Judy C.
4.5 stars. I came back to Baltimore looking for a good meal, so I suggested to friends (who have not been there) to go there for dinner. Thinking it would get busy really quickly on a Saturday, we went early around 6 PM. Luckily for us, it wasn't busy then, and we got seated right away. I got the mozzarella with bell peppers and artichokes appetizer (good but a touch too oily) and the crab cake with Henninger's slaw (a flavorfully strong dish). Friends got the seafood pasta (big portion as expected from last time) and the pork chop, which she liked. We ended our meal with the chocolate fudge brownie with hazelnut gelato. It was divine with the hot brownie and the cold gelato combined. We devoured the dessert very quickly. The entrees are pricier but the portions are slightly bigger than some of the other restaurants. The drinks and desserts are bargains (draft for $4, bottled beer from $1.50 to $5-6 at most?, and desserts are $5 each).
(4)
Lisa D.
Several other reviewers have gone over Henninger's decor and atmosphere in much greater detail than I have time for, so no need to reinvent the wheel there. In a nutshell, it's a tiny, local place with a fun atmosphere - relaxed and nice, not stuffy or kitschy. Went for dinner tonight on the early side (6:30pm on a Saturday) and from previous reviews thought we'd be early enough to avoid a wait. Walked in the door with my hubby and a friend, only to be greeted by a crowd of 6 standing up front and a row of folks lined up at the bar. Walked around for a minute trying to find someone who might be taking names for tables and, oddly, it turned out to be one of the people drinking with the group up front. 45 minute wait, he said. No problem... we perched on some barstools to enjoy a Flying Dog porter (yum!) and people watch. A cute older couple came in about 30 minutes later, hung up their coats and struck up a conversation. The woman asked if we were waiting for a table, and nodded knowingly when we said we'd been waiting for a while. "It's worth the wait," she said. "We're here every week." Then she leaned forward conspiratorially to let us in on a secret "I'm Jane's [the chef and owner] mom, but the food is really good and I'm not saying that just because I'm her mom." Hmmm... how do they decide who's going to cook Thanksgiving dinner in that house! We were really excited by the reviews, and charmed by the atmosphere and conversation, so when we sat down to eat we (and by we, I mean me) were really looking forward to a fantastic dinner. The menu is not overly complex... a good thing in my book. Too many options and I get stuck and make the waiter for 20 minutes while I try to figure out the perfect thing to order, which generally leads to lots of toe-tapping and annoyed looks from my husband. Thankfully, ordering was quick. You can see the full menu on their website - no changes from what was posted there, except the daily special fish was branzino. We ordered the pan fried oysters with pernod & fennel sauce and sauteed spinach as appetizers, then two of us ordered the filet with asparagus and potatoes au gratin, while one had the crab cakes with slaw and yukon gold potatoes. The oysters arrived and were delicious, tender and the sauce was amazing. I'm not even an oyster fan but loved these anyway. After a nice unrushed interlude, the main course arrived. And that's where things seemed to fall apart. The waiter suddenly seemed to turn into a whirling dervish, very efficiently delivering our plates, whipping the appetizer plates away, spinning around to fill water glasses at other tables, dropping off a plate here and there and generally being completely unavailable for any kind of questions or conversation. My steak was ordered medium rare but arrived medium, on a cold plate. The asparagus was crisp but cold, and the potatoes au gratin were on the cool side. It was as if my plate had been sitting around for a while before they brought it out. Our friend had ordered his steak rare, but it came out medium rare. I didn't ask him if his veggies were cold because I didn't want to kickstart any criticism while we were still eating. The crabcake came out warm, with a really nice slaw and delicious/unusual pesto dipping sauce. Potatoes were nice but nothing to write home about. I was especially disappointed in the steaks being overdone. Mine was so well cooked it had that liver-like tinge to it. Sigh. And this restaurant is such a friendly, small place that you HATE to make a stink or send something back. Normally my husband and friend are very effusive when they're enjoying a good meal, but they were both pretty reserved in their comments on the food so I could tell neither were really wowed by dinner. Then the waiter's unfriendly over-efficiency was such a major buzzkill, we didn't even want to stick around for dessert. In general, I would definitely go back for drinks or appetizers because of the great, local vibe. But even though prices were very reasonable, I don't think I'd choose Henninger's for dinner again. Sorry, Jane's mom (I hope you're not reading this!)
(3)
Stormtrooper H.
While visiting Baltimore this was my favorite bar. It has a great menu of food and drinks with amazing memorabilia without feeling to stuffy.
(5)
D K.
Probably 4.5 stars. The ambiance is intimate and has that neighborhood bar feel where everyone knows each other. Seems like a nice place for a date. Lighting on the low side; unique decor all around. Food is very tasty albeit a bit expensive in my opinion. We had shrimp bisque (soup of the night), fried oysters, crab cake entree, and scallop entree. 2 beers. Total including tax + tip just slightly over $100. People say its one of the best crab cakes around and I can't disagree. But I've had other crab cakes in the area which taste pretty darn good as well so I guess it's like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini, which is better? Well they both are... The staff is friendly and service was efficient. We went on a weeknight about 8:30 pm and the patron volume was light. Bread basket and water glasses remained full. I would happily go back if parking weren't such a bitch and if the prices were a touch bit lower. But it sure is a nice cozy place with tasty food. I won't be a regular but perhaps check it out once in a while.
(4)
Sondra L.
Stopped in at Henninger's tonight after I was referred by another out-of-towner. I sat at the bar with three friends and we all enjoyed our time. Great, homey atmosphere. The menu was also great - everything looked delicious but I couldn't resist ordering the "T.V. Dinner" which was on the bar only menu for 10 bucks. And boy it was a fun little steal - a metal tray with baked chicken, mashed potatoes and peas, fresh bread and a chocolate frosted cupcake with sprinkles! Pleasant waitstaff and well versed bartender. I will definitely go back!
(4)
Mark M.
Henninger's is one of those places that really takes you by surprise and throws you for a loop. Approaching from outside, it seems really unassuming, and you're not quite sure if it's a restaurant, a bar, or just someone's living room. Then you walk in the door and think "uh-oh" as you notice all the crazy weird kitschy crap all over the walls. "This doesn't bode well", you think to yourself...but you proceed anyway. Then you look at the menu and think "hmmm...this stuff sounds pretty high-brow for a place that looks like this". And then the food comes out...and you're blown away, and you become a fan for life. One of the other reviews referred to Henninger's as her "other living room". I can't think of a more apt way of describing this place. It felt like home. Not the home I've ever had, but the home I've always wanted. I wish they were open on Christmas, because it's totally the kind of place that would be perfect to retreat to, after you've spent the day being emotionally drained by dealing with your own family and their various & sundry neurosis...to be able to escape to here and unwind with a few Manhattans and your adopted Henningers family...it would just be ideal.
(4)
Jay G.
Delicious. Nice price range. Great jazz atmosphere. The mussels can't be beat. I've been eating here for years and always take friends here. I've never been disappointed. This is that great classic, hidden neighborhood treasure. You must go. Good beer, wine, music, atmosphere, and food.
(5)
Yvonne T.
The dining room half of the tavern feels pretty cozy, although have to say it felt funny to have all the portrait pictures staring at you eating dinner. We went on a weekday evening and was seated right away... the dining room is small but wasn't full. We had the mussels to share for appetizer, they tasted fresh and was very flavorful. I had the cornish hen as my main. Never had game hen before so have nothing to compare to, but the meat was juicy and tender... loved it. The leek and Gruyere cheese bread pudding (side to the hen) was very delicious... almost upstaged the hen! My friends had the rockfish special of the night, and the scallops and both enjoyed it very much. For dessert we shared a key lime pie and the lemon tartufo. Both were good / pretty standard. Overall great girls night out. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive. It was the bartender's birthday the night we went and the bar portion of the tavern was very happening... seems like this place has a lot of regulars! Would definitely go back to try other dishes. Great place for date nights or for small groups.
(4)
Bill B.
Like walking into Cheers. Quaint bar that was jammed on a Friday night by the time we left. The dining is in a cozy room behind the bar. The food was very good. The crab cakes are to die for. Best I have had in Baltimore. The Cream of Crab soup is just perfect. The wine list is nothing high falutin but it has a few acceptable wines and they are cheap. Great Place.
(4)
Gerald G.
Can't go wrong if Jackie is behind the bar! Another hidden secret of Baltimore. Sad to see TV tray dinners are no more, but the brownie sundae makes up for the loss. By the end of the night you'll know everyone at the bar. Atmosphere, food and service makes this one of Baltimores best places!
(5)
Erik N.
I have been to Henninger's a few times over the years and the food was decent and the atmosphere pleasant. In the past, I would have rated it 3 stars. This place has really gone down hill since I was there about a year ago. The last trip dropped it down to one. I was with three other guys and we wanted a simple night out. We first learned that they were out of bread. It wasn't late in the evening so this was surprising. The food was disappointing and lacked flavor. The potatoes had hard rosemary on them and the coleslaw was soaked in mayonnaise. That will be the last time I visit.
(1)
Jason Y.
A great taste of Baltimore seafood. While Henninger's might first strike you as one of those restaurants "with all the crazy crap on the walls," but it's really a subtle, cozy place. Try anything from the ocean, because it all tastes like it was pulled from the water just before you arrived. The pan fried breaded oysters, lump crab cakes, and especially the shellfish pasta are all big winners. It's a little small, so don't be afraid to call ahead for reservations.
(5)
Laura B.
I made it to Henningers for the first time this past weekend and couldn't believe how few people were in the place at 8 p.m. on a Friday night. I'm sure all crappy dives in fells point were packed. I have to admit only have manhattans, no food. But they were TOO good. Really, the atmosphere and the waitstaff are worth the trip to the bar. Next time, I'm coming for dinner. I may never leave.
(5)
jan a.
Henningers is a wonderful place to just hang. The clientele are mostly locals and the conversation is always lively. The terrific ambiance is facilitated by Kenny, the owner, along with his wife Jane who is the Chef. The ambiance is enriched by the knowledgeable, humorous, convivial bar staff. Great drinks! Jack, one of the bartenders, creates a Martini or Old Fashion that are unbeatable. The wine offerings are average, but generous. Henningers' menu is limited but imaginative and smart. Delicious food at reasonable prices. Sit at the bar and order a drink and an appetizer and let the place absorb you into its friendly magic. I love this place.
(5)
Carrie Z.
The joke between me and a bunch of my crazy friends for the last 15+ yrs, is that Henninger's is our "other living room". A few of us lived on Bank St. around the time Kenny and Jayne Vieth bought the place from Chuck Henninger in the early 1990's, and although it was a stretch for us to pool our nickels together to afford the filet, we were always able to eat and drink well. (Rolling Rock never tasted so good!) As my salary went up, so did my feasting options. Jayne has never disappointed me! From a perfectly cooked filet mignon (just a hint over medium), to a tender, poached halibut over a bed of sauteed spinach, to my favorite crab cakes in the world (big lumps, very little filling!)! Then there was the coriander encrusted tuna... oh, my! And, frankly, I don't like mussels, but I'll happily lap up the white wine broth with hunks of fresh, soft bread. The limited menu rotates a few new dishes along with the popular staples, and the bar always features a few specialties of its own (the TV dinner is comfort-food heaven!). When Kenny gets out the smoker, watch out! - You'll always find fresh, seasonal ingredients used, and Jayne whips up her own desserts. This is not a vegetarian restaurant, so don't expect vegetarian dishes, but in the past, they have fixed a beautiful plate of sides for my non-meat eating friends. So be nice when you ask. -- For something light, order a nice glass of wine and one or two of the appetizers (the fried oysters in Pernod sauce or the barbequed shrimp, always get my vote.). Perfect for romantic dates. Dress up or go casual (but not sloppy). Call ahead for reservations or to see if it's a busy evening. I've seen this place packed to the gills! Or just get there early enough for some bar real estate and eat dinner there while Kenny entertains you with some of the funniest true stories you'll ever hear. I don't give them 5 stars because, after all these years, they're close friends of mine, I give them 5 stars because I still consider it "my other living room" complete with consistently wonderful food, intimate ambiance and great service! Sorry, but parking is a nightmare down in Fells Point now, especially on Bank St. Best advice if you can't find a spot close by, park elsewhere and walk or take a cab! Well worth the hassle!
(5)
Eric N.
This was old school Baltimore. The meal was excellent as a whole. We had the crab cake sandwich and the grouper filet. Both were very fresh, and more than adequate portions. The prices were reasonable, but were higher than a casual restaurant. We were very pleased, and will be back.
(5)
Joe A.
The coolest joint in all of Baltimore. Amazing food and charm to boot! This place is a real Baltimore treasure.
(5)
Jeremy P.
I had a crab cake off the appetizer menu and a Brooklyn beer off the tap. The crab cake and dipping sauce was delicious! I savored every bite as slowly as I could so I could enjoy it fully. Furthermore, I had a very informative and fun conversation with the owner and the bartender at Henninger's. They gave me good tips for visiting Baltimore and pointed out places they thought were not touristy and some of the original bars and lounges around the Inner Harbor. I think I would have missed out on some of this information if I did not obtain it through them. I'll recommend visitors to go to Henninger's Tavern and enjoy the artwork, conversation, and food!
(5)
Natasha R.
I must confess.... I have bean coming here for well over 12 years. Just like a fine love affair, there are ups and there are downs. But for the most part, I truly looove Henniger's. From the genuine staff (I miss Jeff) to the amazing seasonal menu, the perfect jazzy sounds, and the cozy eclectic decor, I can't stay away. Kenny and his wife own the place (I think), and it shows that it's not corporate because of the regulars congregating at the bar and the vibe of the place in general. The chef JR is creative and his wife Kate is a server. It works well when you ask any questions or make requests with the dishes. Must get the fried oysters over a bed of spinach in Pernod sauce. Major craving and what keeps me addicted. I rarely give 5 stars, but in this case I wish I could give more.
(5)
David S.
Great ambience. Great food. Very reasonable price/value. Simple gets elegant style. Takes you back to Baltimore in the "speakeasy" days. Try the crab cakes and slaw. Some of the best in town!
(5)
Christopher H.
my favorite little bar in baltimore.
(5)
annie z.
Been going to Henninger's for over 10yrs. Doesn't matter if you are sitting the to dinning room or bar whatever you order will be amazing. The fish is always cooked perfectly...the sauces are excellent and the soups, although they are somewhat over salty they are sooooo fricken good. If you are in the bar and don't want a heavy meal try the chili with a glass of wine "elegant bar food". Never had the tv dinner but we finally saw one and it really looked like one, only bigger and cheaper than a hungryman. Always great service, the owners are always on premise, and the staff is so friendly. We highly recommend!
(5)
bobby s.
great little rowhome turned restaurant. definitely a place someone has to introduce you to. its not that easy to find and I doubt they advertise. the food and atmosphere are great. good crab cakes, whole fish, filet mignon. wasnt so excited about the lamb. expect a crowd, its not that big
(5)
bobby s.
great little rowhome turned restaurant. definitely a place someone has to introduce you to. its not that easy to find and I doubt they advertise. the food and atmosphere are great. good crab cakes, whole fish, filet mignon. wasnt so excited about the lamb. expect a crowd, its not that big
(5)
Jeremy P.
I had a crab cake off the appetizer menu and a Brooklyn beer off the tap. The crab cake and dipping sauce was delicious! I savored every bite as slowly as I could so I could enjoy it fully. Furthermore, I had a very informative and fun conversation with the owner and the bartender at Henninger's. They gave me good tips for visiting Baltimore and pointed out places they thought were not touristy and some of the original bars and lounges around the Inner Harbor. I think I would have missed out on some of this information if I did not obtain it through them. I'll recommend visitors to go to Henninger's Tavern and enjoy the artwork, conversation, and food!
(5)
Susan E.
Haven't been here for years, but always had a great time. Wonderful food and cozy atmosphere.
(5)
Erik N.
I have been to Henninger's a few times over the years and the food was decent and the atmosphere pleasant. In the past, I would have rated it 3 stars. This place has really gone down hill since I was there about a year ago. The last trip dropped it down to one. I was with three other guys and we wanted a simple night out. We first learned that they were out of bread. It wasn't late in the evening so this was surprising. The food was disappointing and lacked flavor. The potatoes had hard rosemary on them and the coleslaw was soaked in mayonnaise. That will be the last time I visit.
(1)
Jason Y.
A great taste of Baltimore seafood. While Henninger's might first strike you as one of those restaurants "with all the crazy crap on the walls," but it's really a subtle, cozy place. Try anything from the ocean, because it all tastes like it was pulled from the water just before you arrived. The pan fried breaded oysters, lump crab cakes, and especially the shellfish pasta are all big winners. It's a little small, so don't be afraid to call ahead for reservations.
(5)
Bill B.
Like walking into Cheers. Quaint bar that was jammed on a Friday night by the time we left. The dining is in a cozy room behind the bar. The food was very good. The crab cakes are to die for. Best I have had in Baltimore. The Cream of Crab soup is just perfect. The wine list is nothing high falutin but it has a few acceptable wines and they are cheap. Great Place.
(4)
Gerald G.
Can't go wrong if Jackie is behind the bar! Another hidden secret of Baltimore. Sad to see TV tray dinners are no more, but the brownie sundae makes up for the loss. By the end of the night you'll know everyone at the bar. Atmosphere, food and service makes this one of Baltimores best places!
(5)
Yvonne T.
The dining room half of the tavern feels pretty cozy, although have to say it felt funny to have all the portrait pictures staring at you eating dinner. We went on a weekday evening and was seated right away... the dining room is small but wasn't full. We had the mussels to share for appetizer, they tasted fresh and was very flavorful. I had the cornish hen as my main. Never had game hen before so have nothing to compare to, but the meat was juicy and tender... loved it. The leek and Gruyere cheese bread pudding (side to the hen) was very delicious... almost upstaged the hen! My friends had the rockfish special of the night, and the scallops and both enjoyed it very much. For dessert we shared a key lime pie and the lemon tartufo. Both were good / pretty standard. Overall great girls night out. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive. It was the bartender's birthday the night we went and the bar portion of the tavern was very happening... seems like this place has a lot of regulars! Would definitely go back to try other dishes. Great place for date nights or for small groups.
(4)
Laura B.
I made it to Henningers for the first time this past weekend and couldn't believe how few people were in the place at 8 p.m. on a Friday night. I'm sure all crappy dives in fells point were packed. I have to admit only have manhattans, no food. But they were TOO good. Really, the atmosphere and the waitstaff are worth the trip to the bar. Next time, I'm coming for dinner. I may never leave.
(5)
jan a.
Henningers is a wonderful place to just hang. The clientele are mostly locals and the conversation is always lively. The terrific ambiance is facilitated by Kenny, the owner, along with his wife Jane who is the Chef. The ambiance is enriched by the knowledgeable, humorous, convivial bar staff. Great drinks! Jack, one of the bartenders, creates a Martini or Old Fashion that are unbeatable. The wine offerings are average, but generous. Henningers' menu is limited but imaginative and smart. Delicious food at reasonable prices. Sit at the bar and order a drink and an appetizer and let the place absorb you into its friendly magic. I love this place.
(5)
Natasha R.
I must confess.... I have bean coming here for well over 12 years. Just like a fine love affair, there are ups and there are downs. But for the most part, I truly looove Henniger's. From the genuine staff (I miss Jeff) to the amazing seasonal menu, the perfect jazzy sounds, and the cozy eclectic decor, I can't stay away. Kenny and his wife own the place (I think), and it shows that it's not corporate because of the regulars congregating at the bar and the vibe of the place in general. The chef JR is creative and his wife Kate is a server. It works well when you ask any questions or make requests with the dishes. Must get the fried oysters over a bed of spinach in Pernod sauce. Major craving and what keeps me addicted. I rarely give 5 stars, but in this case I wish I could give more.
(5)
David S.
Great ambience. Great food. Very reasonable price/value. Simple gets elegant style. Takes you back to Baltimore in the "speakeasy" days. Try the crab cakes and slaw. Some of the best in town!
(5)
Christopher H.
my favorite little bar in baltimore.
(5)
annie z.
Been going to Henninger's for over 10yrs. Doesn't matter if you are sitting the to dinning room or bar whatever you order will be amazing. The fish is always cooked perfectly...the sauces are excellent and the soups, although they are somewhat over salty they are sooooo fricken good. If you are in the bar and don't want a heavy meal try the chili with a glass of wine "elegant bar food". Never had the tv dinner but we finally saw one and it really looked like one, only bigger and cheaper than a hungryman. Always great service, the owners are always on premise, and the staff is so friendly. We highly recommend!
(5)
Jenny T.
I can't even begin to tell how fun this place is. Think of the show "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives" this is the upscale version of that show! We started off with a crab cake app (per everyone's yelp review) and the escargot mushroom caps. Both were amazing. I can honestly say this is by far one of the best crab cakes in Baltimore. For our entrees we got the filet mignon and mahi mahi. Holy flavor batman! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. We loved sitting outside, the wine list was small but perfect, and of course the hilarious staff sealed the deal. The staff here, down to the owner/chef are legit locals with the heart of gold. They all introduced themselves to us, yapped for a little, even shared a good laugh about ones ridic paisley suite (and open fly) while I looking for the restroom. Basically, If you're a snooty foodie.. Please stay away. This place is way too good for your pretentious kind. This place is for the good ol' food loving, Baltimore appreciating, awesome sense of humor kind of person.
(5)
Cady K.
After reading the reviews, I couldn't wait to try this place. However, it was highly disappointing. First of all, it smells like MOLD! Not even just a hint of, it REEKS of mold. The pictures were entertaining, but quite creepy and faded. The place was rather dirty and had been dusted approximately never. They won awards back in 1990 (none since) which are still hanging and very faded. The service was slow and unfriendly. The food was actually not bad. It was priced well, and actually tasted decent. Maybe if we had sat outside the experience would have been better.
(1)
Mo F.
Sure, the food is tasty, but the main reason to visit Henninger's is the amazing ambiance. It's a fantastic date spot; quiet, warmly-lit, and lined with sexy-but-classy photos of ladies in various states of undress. Henninger's is the bar version of a dress strap that's just barely falling off your shoulder: sultry, inviting, full of promise.
(5)
Brenda K.
Frankly, the portions were very good so four courses would have been enough. They were even kind enough to write down the wines that I enjoyed with every dish. Spectacular food and service. I'd definitely eat here again!
(3)
Jackie M.
The atmosphere is amazing with a cozy comfy feel and plenty of great pics on the walls to look at! The food was spectacular. I ruined the plating before some of the pics because I was so anxious to eat it, I completely forgot about pics!
(4)
Bill R.
We've been going to Henningers on and off since 1989. After we moved from Baltimore in 2000, we don't get back so often. We did eat there last Friday with a big party at 2 tables. It was as wonderful as ever. The swordfish special was ordered in bulk and everyone was happy with how it was cooked. Wine and beer list is simple but every item is great. No crummy beers clogging the list. Service has always been great mainly because the wait staff turns over very slowly. Obviously it's a good work place. We had a big group but Henningers is even better for a intimate or romantic meal. Go. Enjoy.
(5)
Susan L.
I'm so torn about how to go about a rating for this place. I keep hopping back and forth between a 3* and a 2*, so I have decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and give 3 stars. I always feel a little bad about giving less than 3... But here's the explanation: I went with my fiance after work for dinner. We were starving, and our fridge was empty. It was close by to work, it was open, and it had great reviews on yelp... it was a no-brainer. We were both pleasantly surprised by how warm and friendly the service was. We sat down immediately and jumped to looking at the menu. They recommended the fried oysters, and they were good, but we personally prefer less batter on our fried foods. The oysters tasted delicious and the batter was well seasoned and cooked through. For our entrees, I got the pork chops which were delicious! It was a giant sized portion (had enough left over for a whole second meal). He ordered whole fish -- I can't remember what kind. But it was also very delicious. Here's the killer for the night, and the reason that I'm not sure that I'll go back. We were near the end of our meal, and I had drank about 3/4 of my glass of wine. But I picked up my glass to take another sip and I found a fly swimming in it! I swear it wasn't there at the beginning, and I don't know exactly when it got in there. But I immediately lost any appetite and wanted to vomit. Next time they came by to check on us, I told them they can clear that glass because there's a fly swimming in it. They took the glass, and saw the insect, but walked away and didn't offer an apology, didn't offer to comp the glass of wine, and didn't bring me a replacement pour either. Actually, while writing this review, I re-lived the desire to vomit... I don't think I'll be back. I lied... I'm down-grading the review to 2 stars. ----------------------------------- Explanation of my rating system - 5*: Epitome of something, the best I've had, would LOVE to go back 4*: Great food and happy to go back regularly, but not the best of the category 3*: Food is fine. I may spontaneously decide to go there based on convenience. But no need to go back either. 2*: If you insist, I guess I'll come along. I'll find something to eat. But I wouldn't have picked it. 1*: No plans to come back. I'll try to talk companions out of going.
(2)
Jesse L.
Don't let the "neighborhood hole in the wall" vibe sway you! This is the best food in Baltimore..... Really amazing cuisine and great staff! I can't say more......
(5)
Katy P.
We stepped in and felt like we popped into a cocktail party in someone's house. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and welcoming. We were immediately ushered to a small but comfortable table for two, and greeted by a server quickly. The menu was perfect. I hate menus that have too many options or too few. This menu gives just enough variety without being overwhelming. We started with a bottle of wine, excellently priced, around $20. For an appetizer, we went with the Texas BBQ Shrimp. They were smoky and sweet, and totally delicious. They were cooked just right; the shrimp weren't over, but the bacon was crispy, a tricky task. The crab cake was delightful, although I didn't dig the slaw that accompanied it. The winner of the evening was the mustard dill sauce on the crab hash served under the mahi-mahi. I couldn't stop stealing bites of it from my husband's plate. I would have licked the plate!!!! This place is a great hidden gem. Dudes, impress your dates by bringing them here. If you like Peter's, you'll LOVE Henningers!
(5)
Sarah J.
A cozy hideaway in Fells, away from the main, noisy area. It has a diverse medley of kitschy pictures and posters on the walls (WWI, old burlesque ladies, Jesus?, pink elephants?). To many, these images would be fun and be great topics to talk about (*cough, first/second date?), but for myself it was a tad overwhelming and made the restaurant a bit stuffy. Waitress was cheerful and attentive and food came out quicker than expected. Although not a seafood restaurant, the menu boasts many good seafood choices. Fried oysters and crab cakes were recommended, so of course I had to try: - Fried oysters dashed with pernod/fennel cream are very juicy bites that come with a mound of seasoned spinach, allowing you to feel a little more healthy and little less guilty. -Crab cakes are large, fresh, non-greasy, and moist, that can come with a clean slaw and strong aioli sauce. Very tasty. Notes: -Good alcohol selection (Found it funny to find 3 pages of alcohol, 2 pages of food on the menu!). - Parking may be difficult to find during the evening, no valet. Smart to save some time for this. - Only holds around 25-30 people, total. - Does not take reservations, so try to arrive there earlier in the evening. I was lucky when I went on a Friday around 7:15 as I was seated right away.
(4)
Stephanie J.
I struggled with this rating, while I'm definitely "a fan" I'm not quite sure it's "as good as it gets" but it's pretty darned close! Walking into Henninger's is like walking into to your Grandma's living room, it's warm, comfortable and inviting, like that old sweater you've been wearing since college. The warm smells from the kitchen combined with the vibe and feel of the house blend and almost whisper "let's stay awhile". The walls are covered with interesting memorabilia in a relevant meaningful, I'ved lived through this way rather than in a kitschy Appleby's way Then there's the friendly greeting from the host (co-owner) or server. They are friendly, there are many regulars here and they seem to be known by name. I want them to know me too, they are that nice. :) Bottom line the food here is incredible. We started with the Rabbit Sausage which is an apple-onion compote & polenta. It is delicious the sausage is well seasoned (not spicy) and blends perfectly with the apple and onion. It is a treat for the taste buds to be sure and could be a light dessert offering...seriously. I also had the mussels and my sister ordered the crabcakes both were perfection. Of course we enjoyed the desserts a tollhouse peanut butter pie and chocolate perfection and they were excellent top offs to our wonderful meal. Henniger's is the trifecta of food, service and ambiance!
(4)
Elliott P.
Loved it. The torture to find a parking spot was worth the aggravation. The leek and potato soup special was great, and the Mahi Mahi with crab and potato hash was delightful. Lots of dill. Very cozy. Very good. Not the biggest crab cakes I ever had but they were accompanied by the most eye appealing coleslaw with a tasty apple zest to compliment its great looks.
(5)
Matthew C.
Wow, this is the best meal we've had in Baltimore since we moved here 3 months ago. The rabbit sausage appetizer is a must-get; the rabbit is interesting and flavorful without being gamey and the apple/red onion glaze is deliciously tart and sweet with the perfect polenta cake that was crispy on the outside with a creamy center. For entrees we had the pork chop and Mahi. Both were excellently cooked and generously portioned. My wife's Mahi had a delicious mustard dill cream sauce and my pork had tasty marinated onions and gravy. My wife had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert, which she said was divine and came with real whipped cream. An awesome atmosphere, great staff and excellent wine topped off the whole experience. At less than $90 for a bottle of red, app, two entrees and dessert, this is our new favorite spot.
(5)
Jill A.
If there were more Zorana's bartending in Fells Point, the world would be a better place. There are many competitive restaurants with equivalent quality, portions, etc. But, if you care to venture off the beaten path and enjoy a fab evening with quality people that make you feel at home in the midst of good cocktails, great food, and even better company...come see Z-dog. She's something else.
(5)
George F.
Henninger's has the best bar food, bar none, in Baltimore. 4 or 5 choices, each a meal for between $7-$10 cooked with the same care as their table menu. That menu offers an experience in fine eating that is not over whelming in choices served outside or in a cozy dinning room papered over with an aficionado's collection of americana. Great place from the bar to watch baseball or find good conversation.
(5)
Brooke K.
Service and atmosphere are superb. Price points are good. The fried oysters were a little doughy, a disappointment as this is one of my favorite dishes. My grilled salmon was cut a bit thin and had significant over-salting issues. Wife's Cornish hen worked well as did my son-in-law's pork chop. Sadly, I'll doubt we'll return.
(3)
Christopher S.
I love this place. I asked a buddy from work where to go for a Date Night, and he threw this one my way. So glad he did. This is the perfect spot for a great meal with your partner or friends. I've never waited for a table, even at 8:00 on a Friday, you get to escape the crowds of Canton or Fells, and you grab an excellent meal. We've been a few times and the food is great. We always get the Fried Oysters with Pernod Sauce - They are the best app I've had in Baltimore so far. Nothing really JUMPS out at you on the rest of the menu - its a little bit of local Baltimore and a little bid of trendy, but everything comes out tasting delicious. If your looking for a 'Fork and Wrench' type uber meal, than this isn't your spot. The service is extremely friendly and attentive, and the drinks come with a heavy pour. You're not going to get 100 types of Craft beer or a spectacular wine on the drink menu, but there's enough choices to satiate a beer geek or wine snob. The ambiance is great - You can hear yourself talk, but there's still enough activity in the adjoining bar that you don't feel like you are at the 4 Seasons. And the decor is whimsical and fun - almost feels like a throwback to an old speakeasy with all the boxing memorabilia on the walls. Long story short: Get a date, and get the oysters.
(5)
Ashley R.
Awesome experience. The atmosphere is cozy. Be patient for a table to become available. The food was delicious. I still dream of the desserts we shared!
(5)
Tom N.
Went here recently for dinner on a Tuesday night after getting a hint from a friend that this was a Fells Point "hidden gem". I called beforehand to make a reservation but they explained that it's first-come-first-serve with the exception of 1 large table that they typically reserve for larger parties. Anyway, I arrived around 8:20p and was sat immediately, so there were no issues there. First off, the atmosphere is fantastic and the restaurant really owns it's identity--- old school, eclectic, cozy, semi-romantic, very home-y, great mix of jazzy / older tunes, and very locals-friendly. In terms of service, we couldn't have been happier with our server --- she was kind, patient, refilled water every time that we were low, and was knowledgable about the menu, making great recommendations. Speaking of the menu, it's somewhat small but the options are great --- I enjoyed a bottle of Nelms Road Cab with the Fried Oyster app to start. For dinner I elected for their Grilled Salmon entre which was fantastic. My girlfriend ordered the Pork Loin dinner and that was equally fantastic. For dessert (which by the way is awesome because all of their options are ~$5), we opted for the Key Lime pie which we enjoyed. Overall, I would 100% recommend this place and will be going back in the future!
Went here on Saturday night and came away with one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I have had in recent memory. Arrived at 7:30pm and the crowd was very light and we were seated right away. Started off with a bottle of white wine and the escargot. The mushroom / snail combo was perfect and with the small baguette slices in the butter sauce rounded out an excellent appetizer. Entrees included the seafood pasta and the mahi mahi filet. The pasta was delicious and lightly sauced with an incredible amount of shrimp, clams, and mussels. The mahi mahi came over a crab and potato hash with a lemon dill sauce that might have been one of the most delicious sauces I had ever tasted in my life. I wanted to dip everything in it. And for dessert, we split a piece of the key lime pie. Just enough tart and sweet and the graham cracker crust was soft how I like it - not overly crunchy. The price was okay, but you get what you pay for it here so I have absolutely no complaints. I'll be back sooner rather than later and since I live in the neighborhood, I may have to check out the bar and have a few Pabst cans with a nice appetizer some night.
(5)
Walter B.
Great little place, food was Awesome - Mahi Mahi was amazing and Brunswick Stew was unbelievable. Very friendly staff and local crowd.
(5)
Kevin K.
Overall: Odd. Henninger's is local and quaint, at once archaic, kitschy, and beckoning. It's also mediocre to the bone, moments of quality drowned by moments of blah. Once reviewed as "The best 2nd date in Baltimore.. if (s)he doesn't love it, (s)he doesn't have a heart". Allow me to retort (Jules Winfield): "Grow up." I live two blocks away, so I know what to expect parking-wise. Unfortunately, it's unlikely I'll try the food again even though I can walk there in less than 1 minute. _________________________________ Ambiance: 4/5. My favorite aspect of the restaurant. Definitely self-selected decorations that range from signed pictures to pink elephants, it evades description other than "quaint", especially the room outside the bathroom, oddest of them all and something of a home-library mixed with museum collection of lunch boxes. The restaurant is shaped like an O with a small bar and equally small dining room. Save a few patrons at the bar, it was empty on Tuesday at 7. Odd. _________________________________ Service: 3/5. Service is European. We were left waiting only briefly, and our server was initially awkward in the extent of necessary interaction. She lightened up after a while, but the pace only slowed. Six apps and two dinners in, the four of us checked our watches.. 2 hours later we receieved the check. Slow but attentive, unyielding yet genteel. Odd. _________________________________ Drinks: 1/5. The drink list is woefully small. A few taps of mediocre beer and no more than 10 bottles of wine. Mixed drinks.. hah! Odd. Opted for a pilsner and cut my losses. _______________________________ Food: 3/5. Small menu of rich, traditional Baltimore foods, all heavy in sauce and oil, light in flavor, complexity, and flaw. (Best-worst) 1.) Fried oysters in pernod - An amazing texture, breading with lightly sweet cream, fennel seeds accent nicely, playing the sweeter breading against the more earthy sauce, oysters tender still quite hot though the dish pales compared to the same at Peter's Inn. 2.) Crab cake appetizer- Thick and ultra moist, complete with refreshing slaw contrast to help balanced. Very delicate and juicy, as perfectly done a crab cake as I've had. The slaw is a refreshing contrast and pesto aiolli a beautiful counterpart, if a bit strong by contrast to the veggies. 3.) Escargot - Very herbaceous as a the whole. Lightly oily but pleasant mushrooms, massive earth notes as result. The escargot adds a light salty refreshing element, and the spiced broth compliments crustini nicely. 4.) Rabbit sausage with polenta- Nice texture contrast between sausage and polenta, though the meat comes off bland. Crisp and very well done polenta, lightly oily vegetable skins add contrast, but nothing here wowed me. 5.) Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Red Peppers & Grilled Heart - fresh, light brine in red pepper, nice pesto garnish, but oddly off, not mixing well which is unlike the standard for of this dish. 6.) Seafood pasta - dull. Alfredo is light diavalo, no spice or integration of tomato sweetness. The mussels are a bit gritty while the pasta is a bit undercooked, even spongy. 7.) Shrimp BBQ bacon - Very dull. The bacon seems slightly underooked, the pickled vegetables don't belong her given how spicy you. Pickled vegetable rules the flavor, not much bacon, and unfortunately a heavy shrimp finish.
(3)
Paul S.
one of my favorite restaurants in baltimore and easily the best in fell's pt. this small and kitschy tavern offers up a great selection of food, beverages and visual interest. the staff and space is sort of like being in somebody's living room along with family and local history and associated tchotckes. and I'll admit, we have our own family history at henninger's. the wife and I had our first "official date" there, 14 years ago. we recetnly went back with our three kids. the steamed mussels, these are not to be missed! theirs are the BEst! mussels are tender and not chewy, the broth is where the real magic is found. ask for extra bread and sop it all up. crabcakes are really good, caesar salad is good. prices on a bottle of wine are reasonable, I suggest the cline zin (because that is how I did it 14 years ago)
(5)
Michael S.
What a hidden gem. Get the crab cake, the shellfish pasta and the veggie curry. The desserts were awesome. Get the brownie
(5)
Cherpumple F.
I love you, Henninger's! I love that your menu never changes. I love that you have the old-I-must-be-in-grandma's-house smell when I walk in. I love that my friends who meet me there for the first time get lost because it's actually a house. I love your escargot, mussels, fish dishes and rabbit sausage. I love all your pies. Especially with peanut butter. I also love that I live so close to you!
(4)
Kate P.
Great dinner! I went here for my friend's birthday tonight and had a fun time. We sat outside. The house made egg rolls were tasty. All of us enjoyed our entrees, and at $5 each we had to get desserts. They kindly comped the birthday boy's. The server was friendly and efficient. Overall would love to return!
(5)
Laura S.
This is a great hole in the wall place you should be sure to try out. The place is eclectic with their artwork and pink elephant decor but does not lack in the menu options. We were visiting from out of town and ventured to this place tonight. Glad we did. Colleen took great care of us and guided us to good menu options for dinner (although the slaw was not a party favorite). Come check it out. Get the directions from the bathroom (be sure to listen, there are more than 2 turns to the men's restroom) and take in the scenery. It will stand out!
(5)
Jay G.
Delicious. Nice price range. Great jazz atmosphere. The mussels can't be beat. I've been eating here for years and always take friends here. I've never been disappointed. This is that great classic, hidden neighborhood treasure. You must go. Good beer, wine, music, atmosphere, and food.
(5)
Eric N.
This was old school Baltimore. The meal was excellent as a whole. We had the crab cake sandwich and the grouper filet. Both were very fresh, and more than adequate portions. The prices were reasonable, but were higher than a casual restaurant. We were very pleased, and will be back.
(5)
Joe A.
The coolest joint in all of Baltimore. Amazing food and charm to boot! This place is a real Baltimore treasure.
(5)
Shaun T.
I have lived a block away from Henninger's Tavern for a year and never ventured inside. I'm moving to California in less than a month and decided last night, on a whim, that I would give it a shot. I walked in with my roommate at half past 8 and was promptly seated in the amazingly kitsch dining area. We were greeted promptly and everything from that point on was a little slice of heaven. As we contemplated what to drink our sever gave us some very good suggestions. Then as we talked about what we were thinking to order some neighboring patrons reached out and gave us some very welcome feedback as well. We split a Henninger's Salad, which surprised and impressed me. For an appetizer we shared an order of mussels in wine and garlic sauce. For the main course we had a perfectly pan fried set of soft shell crabs accompanied by an intense vegetable side and the single greatest food I have ever had... Jasmine Rice. I was blown away by each bite and sat quitely for a few moments in reflection on what had been the single greatest meal of my life. Then our server tried to coax us into desert. I wasn't ready to fall into that trap, and politely declined with a flourish of compliments. Very cleverly she let us know that the deserts were just as good as the meal and suggested we at least "take a peak." We did. We were impressed. We got desert. Ohmygodmymouthgasmed. We, again, split a slice of Cookie-Dough Pie. My description of which is as follows. Imagine taking half a roll of cookie dough and molding it into a pie shape. Then letting it bake for just a few minutes so that it becomes warm, but is still in the undercooked cookie stage. Fill that with chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, and some other thing... can't remember. I zoned out for a while afterwards. It was simply amazing. I haven't stopped talking about it all day. Henninger's is a little bit off the beaten path, but is a stop that I highly, HIGHLY, recommend everyone visiting or living in Baltimore make. Thanks Henninger's.
(5)
Grace C.
This was an great place to dine - great atmosphere with a neighborhood feel, very nice fun staff. We got there at 6pm on a Fri night and didn't have to wait for a place for dinner. I loved the pink elephants in the dining room. I got the filet mignon and asked if the sauce could be prepared without mushrooms. The waitress came back and offered to do a red wine or a cream sauce. I deferred to whatever the chef thought would be best. Red wine sauce won and it was an amazing sauce. Where-else would someone whip up a sauce on the fly? the potato gratin delicious. The one disappointment was that my medium filet came out well-done. The crowd was more of an older white crowd, hence the slightly high prices. The bar was definitely hopping through the night. Seems like the cheers of Baltimore.
(3)
Maria M.
Best mussels I've ever tasted, and you could kill someone with the amount of shellfish on their seafood pasta!
(5)
Robyn T.
To start, don't ask a random cabbie to take you to Henninger's because odds are low that they will know where it is at....not that it is a bad thing. It is the place with the white Christmas lights in the windows...no sign that i could see. My first thoughts was this is a neighborhood bar and every seat was taken in the bar area on a random Thursday evening. The back room, the dining room, was completely empty so we had a nice quiet dinner. The Texas BBQ shrimp were good. Barbecue sauce was not over powering, you could tell they were cooked on a grill, not rubbery but bacon-licious. The cucumber salad was okay. We shared that app with the crab soup which was like a Italian minestrone with crab, we liked it. Main course was the house salad and crab cake duet. Salad was a little over dressed with red wine vinaigrette with cucumbers, little tomato pieces, carrots, and a few peperoncinis. Crab cakes were really good (this coming from a person who hasn't eaten many crab cakes) but they didn't have much filler (mayonnaise or bread crumbs) with seasoning and pan fried enough to get a crust but not too much. They fell apart when you cut them with a fork. The sauce was more like an aioli than a tartar, it was good but thick so we didn't eat it all. The cabbage slaw and fingerling potatoes were hardly touched. Fingerlings were dry, cabbage tasted like just cabbage...maybe would just order a side of 2 cakes in the future. Overall, we liked it. Wish they would have had a cocktail menu to know what their specialties were because neither one of the cocktails turned out as we expected. The key lime pie (as highly touted in other yelp reviews) was pretty bad. Maybe frozen and reheated for the night, I don't know, maybe need better crust. If I lived here I would go back but can't say that I would come back if I came back into Baltimore.
(3)
Judy C.
4.5 stars. I came back to Baltimore looking for a good meal, so I suggested to friends (who have not been there) to go there for dinner. Thinking it would get busy really quickly on a Saturday, we went early around 6 PM. Luckily for us, it wasn't busy then, and we got seated right away. I got the mozzarella with bell peppers and artichokes appetizer (good but a touch too oily) and the crab cake with Henninger's slaw (a flavorfully strong dish). Friends got the seafood pasta (big portion as expected from last time) and the pork chop, which she liked. We ended our meal with the chocolate fudge brownie with hazelnut gelato. It was divine with the hot brownie and the cold gelato combined. We devoured the dessert very quickly. The entrees are pricier but the portions are slightly bigger than some of the other restaurants. The drinks and desserts are bargains (draft for $4, bottled beer from $1.50 to $5-6 at most?, and desserts are $5 each).
(4)
Damian B.
*****4.5 stars **** Pulling the 5 star trigger can be so difficult. However, Henninger's is as good as it gets. It has a small menu but your torn between delicious and more delicious. The Texas shrimp App was mouth watering. The Short ribs were finger licking good. The whole fish was cooked to perfection. And my favorite part was the homemade KEY LIME PIE! wooopiee was that delicious! Will go back.
(4)
Madeline W.
So my friend and I just picked this place because it doesn't take reservations and we were having trouble getting one at another place. We weren't sure what to expect when we ordered our food and were delighted by what we got. I had the crab cakes which had real huge pieces of crab in them which they serve with fingerling potatoes and AMAZING slaw. Seriously, this was the best slaw and crab cakes I had ever had. My friend got the whole broiled fish which was amazing also and we both got super yummy desert. The key lime pie is perfection. We also each got a glass of wine which are only $8 per glass. Overall for the quality of food we received we definitely got our money's worth and some. We arrived at like 9pm and they seated us right away and didn't complain or were rude when we were the last customers in the restaurant. The pink elephant mobiles make excellent decor.
(5)
D K.
Probably 4.5 stars. The ambiance is intimate and has that neighborhood bar feel where everyone knows each other. Seems like a nice place for a date. Lighting on the low side; unique decor all around. Food is very tasty albeit a bit expensive in my opinion. We had shrimp bisque (soup of the night), fried oysters, crab cake entree, and scallop entree. 2 beers. Total including tax + tip just slightly over $100. People say its one of the best crab cakes around and I can't disagree. But I've had other crab cakes in the area which taste pretty darn good as well so I guess it's like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini, which is better? Well they both are... The staff is friendly and service was efficient. We went on a weeknight about 8:30 pm and the patron volume was light. Bread basket and water glasses remained full. I would happily go back if parking weren't such a bitch and if the prices were a touch bit lower. But it sure is a nice cozy place with tasty food. I won't be a regular but perhaps check it out once in a while.
(4)
Lisa D.
Several other reviewers have gone over Henninger's decor and atmosphere in much greater detail than I have time for, so no need to reinvent the wheel there. In a nutshell, it's a tiny, local place with a fun atmosphere - relaxed and nice, not stuffy or kitschy. Went for dinner tonight on the early side (6:30pm on a Saturday) and from previous reviews thought we'd be early enough to avoid a wait. Walked in the door with my hubby and a friend, only to be greeted by a crowd of 6 standing up front and a row of folks lined up at the bar. Walked around for a minute trying to find someone who might be taking names for tables and, oddly, it turned out to be one of the people drinking with the group up front. 45 minute wait, he said. No problem... we perched on some barstools to enjoy a Flying Dog porter (yum!) and people watch. A cute older couple came in about 30 minutes later, hung up their coats and struck up a conversation. The woman asked if we were waiting for a table, and nodded knowingly when we said we'd been waiting for a while. "It's worth the wait," she said. "We're here every week." Then she leaned forward conspiratorially to let us in on a secret "I'm Jane's [the chef and owner] mom, but the food is really good and I'm not saying that just because I'm her mom." Hmmm... how do they decide who's going to cook Thanksgiving dinner in that house! We were really excited by the reviews, and charmed by the atmosphere and conversation, so when we sat down to eat we (and by we, I mean me) were really looking forward to a fantastic dinner. The menu is not overly complex... a good thing in my book. Too many options and I get stuck and make the waiter for 20 minutes while I try to figure out the perfect thing to order, which generally leads to lots of toe-tapping and annoyed looks from my husband. Thankfully, ordering was quick. You can see the full menu on their website - no changes from what was posted there, except the daily special fish was branzino. We ordered the pan fried oysters with pernod & fennel sauce and sauteed spinach as appetizers, then two of us ordered the filet with asparagus and potatoes au gratin, while one had the crab cakes with slaw and yukon gold potatoes. The oysters arrived and were delicious, tender and the sauce was amazing. I'm not even an oyster fan but loved these anyway. After a nice unrushed interlude, the main course arrived. And that's where things seemed to fall apart. The waiter suddenly seemed to turn into a whirling dervish, very efficiently delivering our plates, whipping the appetizer plates away, spinning around to fill water glasses at other tables, dropping off a plate here and there and generally being completely unavailable for any kind of questions or conversation. My steak was ordered medium rare but arrived medium, on a cold plate. The asparagus was crisp but cold, and the potatoes au gratin were on the cool side. It was as if my plate had been sitting around for a while before they brought it out. Our friend had ordered his steak rare, but it came out medium rare. I didn't ask him if his veggies were cold because I didn't want to kickstart any criticism while we were still eating. The crabcake came out warm, with a really nice slaw and delicious/unusual pesto dipping sauce. Potatoes were nice but nothing to write home about. I was especially disappointed in the steaks being overdone. Mine was so well cooked it had that liver-like tinge to it. Sigh. And this restaurant is such a friendly, small place that you HATE to make a stink or send something back. Normally my husband and friend are very effusive when they're enjoying a good meal, but they were both pretty reserved in their comments on the food so I could tell neither were really wowed by dinner. Then the waiter's unfriendly over-efficiency was such a major buzzkill, we didn't even want to stick around for dessert. In general, I would definitely go back for drinks or appetizers because of the great, local vibe. But even though prices were very reasonable, I don't think I'd choose Henninger's for dinner again. Sorry, Jane's mom (I hope you're not reading this!)
(3)
Stormtrooper H.
While visiting Baltimore this was my favorite bar. It has a great menu of food and drinks with amazing memorabilia without feeling to stuffy.
(5)
Sondra L.
Stopped in at Henninger's tonight after I was referred by another out-of-towner. I sat at the bar with three friends and we all enjoyed our time. Great, homey atmosphere. The menu was also great - everything looked delicious but I couldn't resist ordering the "T.V. Dinner" which was on the bar only menu for 10 bucks. And boy it was a fun little steal - a metal tray with baked chicken, mashed potatoes and peas, fresh bread and a chocolate frosted cupcake with sprinkles! Pleasant waitstaff and well versed bartender. I will definitely go back!
(4)
Mark M.
Henninger's is one of those places that really takes you by surprise and throws you for a loop. Approaching from outside, it seems really unassuming, and you're not quite sure if it's a restaurant, a bar, or just someone's living room. Then you walk in the door and think "uh-oh" as you notice all the crazy weird kitschy crap all over the walls. "This doesn't bode well", you think to yourself...but you proceed anyway. Then you look at the menu and think "hmmm...this stuff sounds pretty high-brow for a place that looks like this". And then the food comes out...and you're blown away, and you become a fan for life. One of the other reviews referred to Henninger's as her "other living room". I can't think of a more apt way of describing this place. It felt like home. Not the home I've ever had, but the home I've always wanted. I wish they were open on Christmas, because it's totally the kind of place that would be perfect to retreat to, after you've spent the day being emotionally drained by dealing with your own family and their various & sundry neurosis...to be able to escape to here and unwind with a few Manhattans and your adopted Henningers family...it would just be ideal.
(4)
Heather S.
Every meal I have ever had there has been really good. But i keep going back for the filled to the rim martini and he whole baked fish. The restaurant is good, but seated at the bar is even better. It is a great place to have a drink and a shrimp sandwich or order off of their full menu. It is tucked away in fells point on Bank St. and one of the things i like most about Baltimore.
(5)
Paul O.
Great atmosphere with both a local flare and a nice raising the bar on bar food. I had the whole fish and while I would recommend a bit more seasoning on the fish and a little lighter on the sesame oil on the vegetables it was tasty and lett the table with only bones and the head left. Service was folksy, but excellently attentive. The shrimp appetizer was excellent and the crab cakes could have stayed in the pan a minute longer, but were very tasty.
(4)
Boyd M.
Mix great food with a neighborhood bar and you get Henninger's. When I dream of a "place", this is the kind of place I dream. Top notch fresh ingredients done well. Unpretentious. A wait staff that treats you more like you are eating at their kitchen counter. Well made drinks and service was spot on. Sounds too good to be true, but I know that some people might have a problem with a place like HT. Too many people are going to try to define the place and that is a shame. It is by no means a dive bar and it is not a high end restaurant, even if it has the food for it. It does not compute and that is what I love the most about it. In our nine months in living in Bmore... this is the best place, yet! Word of warning - this place can get crazy busy! Avoid the crowds and go early or during the week.
(5)
Andrew L.
So disappointed by the entire night. Had gone for drinks there once and had a great time. Went there for dinner and all I got was a 100$ worth of stomach aches. We got bbq grilled shrimp appetizer that was basically shrimp drowned in cold right out of the supermarket aisle crappy barbeque sauce. Combined with a completely average hen dish and off-tasting seafood pasta- I will never return or recommend to anyone.
(1)
Laurene C.
On the way here we got caught in some sort of monsoon lightning storm, but quirky cute decor and delicious food immediately made me forget about sloshy shoes and cold wet feet. Crab cakes. AWESOME. The lime aioli is deliciously tangy and red cabbage slaw is divine-esp for someone who really doesn't like mayo, it's not too creamy. The last crab cake I had was from a stand at Flowermart that tasted like a fishy sawdust patty. The one I had here was as polar opposite as can be. Large chunks of crab with a delicate, delicious flavor. I will be coming back for that appetizer alone. I had the filet mignon special with chanterelle mushrooms and potatoes au gratin. The sauce, as other reviewers have mentioned, had me wanting to lick the plate. It seems to be a special quite often. My friend got the shellfish pasta, which he said was very good-not mind blowingly unusual, but does good food always need to be? The portions are satisfying but prices are a little too much for me to be a regular. The bar menu, however, is VERY reasonable, and I plan to come in for a fancy dinner again as well as a few more fiscally responsible meals at the bar.
(5)
Carrie Z.
The joke between me and a bunch of my crazy friends for the last 15+ yrs, is that Henninger's is our "other living room". A few of us lived on Bank St. around the time Kenny and Jayne Vieth bought the place from Chuck Henninger in the early 1990's, and although it was a stretch for us to pool our nickels together to afford the filet, we were always able to eat and drink well. (Rolling Rock never tasted so good!) As my salary went up, so did my feasting options. Jayne has never disappointed me! From a perfectly cooked filet mignon (just a hint over medium), to a tender, poached halibut over a bed of sauteed spinach, to my favorite crab cakes in the world (big lumps, very little filling!)! Then there was the coriander encrusted tuna... oh, my! And, frankly, I don't like mussels, but I'll happily lap up the white wine broth with hunks of fresh, soft bread. The limited menu rotates a few new dishes along with the popular staples, and the bar always features a few specialties of its own (the TV dinner is comfort-food heaven!). When Kenny gets out the smoker, watch out! - You'll always find fresh, seasonal ingredients used, and Jayne whips up her own desserts. This is not a vegetarian restaurant, so don't expect vegetarian dishes, but in the past, they have fixed a beautiful plate of sides for my non-meat eating friends. So be nice when you ask. -- For something light, order a nice glass of wine and one or two of the appetizers (the fried oysters in Pernod sauce or the barbequed shrimp, always get my vote.). Perfect for romantic dates. Dress up or go casual (but not sloppy). Call ahead for reservations or to see if it's a busy evening. I've seen this place packed to the gills! Or just get there early enough for some bar real estate and eat dinner there while Kenny entertains you with some of the funniest true stories you'll ever hear. I don't give them 5 stars because, after all these years, they're close friends of mine, I give them 5 stars because I still consider it "my other living room" complete with consistently wonderful food, intimate ambiance and great service! Sorry, but parking is a nightmare down in Fells Point now, especially on Bank St. Best advice if you can't find a spot close by, park elsewhere and walk or take a cab! Well worth the hassle!
(5)
Kevin S.
This out of the way place is somewhere you really want to like, unfortunately the food and service couldn't deliver. The food I had was stale bread and packaged butter that came out to start the meal, a mediocre crab small cake on another giant stale roll, accompanied by fingerling potatoes that were way overcooked (likely over microwaved). Then it took forever to get a second glass of wine, which I needed to get through the food. The prices are way too high for food and service at this level. I won't be back.
(2)
Leila B.
Great feel to this restaurant, narrow rooms of an old brownstone and walls hung with captivating photos and art. Fabulous food. Fried Oysters in a pernod cream sauce with wilted spinach and rabbit sausage with polenta and apple/onion reduction. The crab cake served with a red cabbage slaw was one of the best we've ever had. We also really enjoyed the Mahi dinner served over a crab and potato hash with a creamy dill sauce. Dessert was a house made peanut butter pie, good not great. Friendly staff, great service. Very happy to have eaten here.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kevin S.
This out of the way place is somewhere you really want to like, unfortunately the food and service couldn't deliver. The food I had was stale bread and packaged butter that came out to start the meal, a mediocre crab small cake on another giant stale roll, accompanied by fingerling potatoes that were way overcooked (likely over microwaved). Then it took forever to get a second glass of wine, which I needed to get through the food. The prices are way too high for food and service at this level. I won't be back.
(2)Leila B.
Great feel to this restaurant, narrow rooms of an old brownstone and walls hung with captivating photos and art. Fabulous food. Fried Oysters in a pernod cream sauce with wilted spinach and rabbit sausage with polenta and apple/onion reduction. The crab cake served with a red cabbage slaw was one of the best we've ever had. We also really enjoyed the Mahi dinner served over a crab and potato hash with a creamy dill sauce. Dessert was a house made peanut butter pie, good not great. Friendly staff, great service. Very happy to have eaten here.
(5)Jenny T.
I can't even begin to tell how fun this place is. Think of the show "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives" this is the upscale version of that show! We started off with a crab cake app (per everyone's yelp review) and the escargot mushroom caps. Both were amazing. I can honestly say this is by far one of the best crab cakes in Baltimore. For our entrees we got the filet mignon and mahi mahi. Holy flavor batman! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. We loved sitting outside, the wine list was small but perfect, and of course the hilarious staff sealed the deal. The staff here, down to the owner/chef are legit locals with the heart of gold. They all introduced themselves to us, yapped for a little, even shared a good laugh about ones ridic paisley suite (and open fly) while I looking for the restroom. Basically, If you're a snooty foodie.. Please stay away. This place is way too good for your pretentious kind. This place is for the good ol' food loving, Baltimore appreciating, awesome sense of humor kind of person.
(5)Cady K.
After reading the reviews, I couldn't wait to try this place. However, it was highly disappointing. First of all, it smells like MOLD! Not even just a hint of, it REEKS of mold. The pictures were entertaining, but quite creepy and faded. The place was rather dirty and had been dusted approximately never. They won awards back in 1990 (none since) which are still hanging and very faded. The service was slow and unfriendly. The food was actually not bad. It was priced well, and actually tasted decent. Maybe if we had sat outside the experience would have been better.
(1)Mo F.
Sure, the food is tasty, but the main reason to visit Henninger's is the amazing ambiance. It's a fantastic date spot; quiet, warmly-lit, and lined with sexy-but-classy photos of ladies in various states of undress. Henninger's is the bar version of a dress strap that's just barely falling off your shoulder: sultry, inviting, full of promise.
(5)Brenda K.
Frankly, the portions were very good so four courses would have been enough. They were even kind enough to write down the wines that I enjoyed with every dish. Spectacular food and service. I'd definitely eat here again!
(3)Jackie M.
The atmosphere is amazing with a cozy comfy feel and plenty of great pics on the walls to look at! The food was spectacular. I ruined the plating before some of the pics because I was so anxious to eat it, I completely forgot about pics!
(4)Ashley R.
Awesome experience. The atmosphere is cozy. Be patient for a table to become available. The food was delicious. I still dream of the desserts we shared!
(5)Susan L.
I'm so torn about how to go about a rating for this place. I keep hopping back and forth between a 3* and a 2*, so I have decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and give 3 stars. I always feel a little bad about giving less than 3... But here's the explanation: I went with my fiance after work for dinner. We were starving, and our fridge was empty. It was close by to work, it was open, and it had great reviews on yelp... it was a no-brainer. We were both pleasantly surprised by how warm and friendly the service was. We sat down immediately and jumped to looking at the menu. They recommended the fried oysters, and they were good, but we personally prefer less batter on our fried foods. The oysters tasted delicious and the batter was well seasoned and cooked through. For our entrees, I got the pork chops which were delicious! It was a giant sized portion (had enough left over for a whole second meal). He ordered whole fish -- I can't remember what kind. But it was also very delicious. Here's the killer for the night, and the reason that I'm not sure that I'll go back. We were near the end of our meal, and I had drank about 3/4 of my glass of wine. But I picked up my glass to take another sip and I found a fly swimming in it! I swear it wasn't there at the beginning, and I don't know exactly when it got in there. But I immediately lost any appetite and wanted to vomit. Next time they came by to check on us, I told them they can clear that glass because there's a fly swimming in it. They took the glass, and saw the insect, but walked away and didn't offer an apology, didn't offer to comp the glass of wine, and didn't bring me a replacement pour either. Actually, while writing this review, I re-lived the desire to vomit... I don't think I'll be back. I lied... I'm down-grading the review to 2 stars. ----------------------------------- Explanation of my rating system - 5*: Epitome of something, the best I've had, would LOVE to go back 4*: Great food and happy to go back regularly, but not the best of the category 3*: Food is fine. I may spontaneously decide to go there based on convenience. But no need to go back either. 2*: If you insist, I guess I'll come along. I'll find something to eat. But I wouldn't have picked it. 1*: No plans to come back. I'll try to talk companions out of going.
(2)Jesse L.
Don't let the "neighborhood hole in the wall" vibe sway you! This is the best food in Baltimore..... Really amazing cuisine and great staff! I can't say more......
(5)Katy P.
We stepped in and felt like we popped into a cocktail party in someone's house. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and welcoming. We were immediately ushered to a small but comfortable table for two, and greeted by a server quickly. The menu was perfect. I hate menus that have too many options or too few. This menu gives just enough variety without being overwhelming. We started with a bottle of wine, excellently priced, around $20. For an appetizer, we went with the Texas BBQ Shrimp. They were smoky and sweet, and totally delicious. They were cooked just right; the shrimp weren't over, but the bacon was crispy, a tricky task. The crab cake was delightful, although I didn't dig the slaw that accompanied it. The winner of the evening was the mustard dill sauce on the crab hash served under the mahi-mahi. I couldn't stop stealing bites of it from my husband's plate. I would have licked the plate!!!! This place is a great hidden gem. Dudes, impress your dates by bringing them here. If you like Peter's, you'll LOVE Henningers!
(5)Sarah J.
A cozy hideaway in Fells, away from the main, noisy area. It has a diverse medley of kitschy pictures and posters on the walls (WWI, old burlesque ladies, Jesus?, pink elephants?). To many, these images would be fun and be great topics to talk about (*cough, first/second date?), but for myself it was a tad overwhelming and made the restaurant a bit stuffy. Waitress was cheerful and attentive and food came out quicker than expected. Although not a seafood restaurant, the menu boasts many good seafood choices. Fried oysters and crab cakes were recommended, so of course I had to try: - Fried oysters dashed with pernod/fennel cream are very juicy bites that come with a mound of seasoned spinach, allowing you to feel a little more healthy and little less guilty. -Crab cakes are large, fresh, non-greasy, and moist, that can come with a clean slaw and strong aioli sauce. Very tasty. Notes: -Good alcohol selection (Found it funny to find 3 pages of alcohol, 2 pages of food on the menu!). - Parking may be difficult to find during the evening, no valet. Smart to save some time for this. - Only holds around 25-30 people, total. - Does not take reservations, so try to arrive there earlier in the evening. I was lucky when I went on a Friday around 7:15 as I was seated right away.
(4)Stephanie J.
I struggled with this rating, while I'm definitely "a fan" I'm not quite sure it's "as good as it gets" but it's pretty darned close! Walking into Henninger's is like walking into to your Grandma's living room, it's warm, comfortable and inviting, like that old sweater you've been wearing since college. The warm smells from the kitchen combined with the vibe and feel of the house blend and almost whisper "let's stay awhile". The walls are covered with interesting memorabilia in a relevant meaningful, I'ved lived through this way rather than in a kitschy Appleby's way Then there's the friendly greeting from the host (co-owner) or server. They are friendly, there are many regulars here and they seem to be known by name. I want them to know me too, they are that nice. :) Bottom line the food here is incredible. We started with the Rabbit Sausage which is an apple-onion compote & polenta. It is delicious the sausage is well seasoned (not spicy) and blends perfectly with the apple and onion. It is a treat for the taste buds to be sure and could be a light dessert offering...seriously. I also had the mussels and my sister ordered the crabcakes both were perfection. Of course we enjoyed the desserts a tollhouse peanut butter pie and chocolate perfection and they were excellent top offs to our wonderful meal. Henniger's is the trifecta of food, service and ambiance!
(4)Elliott P.
Loved it. The torture to find a parking spot was worth the aggravation. The leek and potato soup special was great, and the Mahi Mahi with crab and potato hash was delightful. Lots of dill. Very cozy. Very good. Not the biggest crab cakes I ever had but they were accompanied by the most eye appealing coleslaw with a tasty apple zest to compliment its great looks.
(5)Matthew C.
Wow, this is the best meal we've had in Baltimore since we moved here 3 months ago. The rabbit sausage appetizer is a must-get; the rabbit is interesting and flavorful without being gamey and the apple/red onion glaze is deliciously tart and sweet with the perfect polenta cake that was crispy on the outside with a creamy center. For entrees we had the pork chop and Mahi. Both were excellently cooked and generously portioned. My wife's Mahi had a delicious mustard dill cream sauce and my pork had tasty marinated onions and gravy. My wife had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert, which she said was divine and came with real whipped cream. An awesome atmosphere, great staff and excellent wine topped off the whole experience. At less than $90 for a bottle of red, app, two entrees and dessert, this is our new favorite spot.
(5)Jill A.
If there were more Zorana's bartending in Fells Point, the world would be a better place. There are many competitive restaurants with equivalent quality, portions, etc. But, if you care to venture off the beaten path and enjoy a fab evening with quality people that make you feel at home in the midst of good cocktails, great food, and even better company...come see Z-dog. She's something else.
(5)George F.
Henninger's has the best bar food, bar none, in Baltimore. 4 or 5 choices, each a meal for between $7-$10 cooked with the same care as their table menu. That menu offers an experience in fine eating that is not over whelming in choices served outside or in a cozy dinning room papered over with an aficionado's collection of americana. Great place from the bar to watch baseball or find good conversation.
(5)Brooke K.
Service and atmosphere are superb. Price points are good. The fried oysters were a little doughy, a disappointment as this is one of my favorite dishes. My grilled salmon was cut a bit thin and had significant over-salting issues. Wife's Cornish hen worked well as did my son-in-law's pork chop. Sadly, I'll doubt we'll return.
(3)Christopher S.
I love this place. I asked a buddy from work where to go for a Date Night, and he threw this one my way. So glad he did. This is the perfect spot for a great meal with your partner or friends. I've never waited for a table, even at 8:00 on a Friday, you get to escape the crowds of Canton or Fells, and you grab an excellent meal. We've been a few times and the food is great. We always get the Fried Oysters with Pernod Sauce - They are the best app I've had in Baltimore so far. Nothing really JUMPS out at you on the rest of the menu - its a little bit of local Baltimore and a little bid of trendy, but everything comes out tasting delicious. If your looking for a 'Fork and Wrench' type uber meal, than this isn't your spot. The service is extremely friendly and attentive, and the drinks come with a heavy pour. You're not going to get 100 types of Craft beer or a spectacular wine on the drink menu, but there's enough choices to satiate a beer geek or wine snob. The ambiance is great - You can hear yourself talk, but there's still enough activity in the adjoining bar that you don't feel like you are at the 4 Seasons. And the decor is whimsical and fun - almost feels like a throwback to an old speakeasy with all the boxing memorabilia on the walls. Long story short: Get a date, and get the oysters.
(5)Kevin K.
Overall: Odd. Henninger's is local and quaint, at once archaic, kitschy, and beckoning. It's also mediocre to the bone, moments of quality drowned by moments of blah. Once reviewed as "The best 2nd date in Baltimore.. if (s)he doesn't love it, (s)he doesn't have a heart". Allow me to retort (Jules Winfield): "Grow up." I live two blocks away, so I know what to expect parking-wise. Unfortunately, it's unlikely I'll try the food again even though I can walk there in less than 1 minute. _________________________________ Ambiance: 4/5. My favorite aspect of the restaurant. Definitely self-selected decorations that range from signed pictures to pink elephants, it evades description other than "quaint", especially the room outside the bathroom, oddest of them all and something of a home-library mixed with museum collection of lunch boxes. The restaurant is shaped like an O with a small bar and equally small dining room. Save a few patrons at the bar, it was empty on Tuesday at 7. Odd. _________________________________ Service: 3/5. Service is European. We were left waiting only briefly, and our server was initially awkward in the extent of necessary interaction. She lightened up after a while, but the pace only slowed. Six apps and two dinners in, the four of us checked our watches.. 2 hours later we receieved the check. Slow but attentive, unyielding yet genteel. Odd. _________________________________ Drinks: 1/5. The drink list is woefully small. A few taps of mediocre beer and no more than 10 bottles of wine. Mixed drinks.. hah! Odd. Opted for a pilsner and cut my losses. _______________________________ Food: 3/5. Small menu of rich, traditional Baltimore foods, all heavy in sauce and oil, light in flavor, complexity, and flaw. (Best-worst) 1.) Fried oysters in pernod - An amazing texture, breading with lightly sweet cream, fennel seeds accent nicely, playing the sweeter breading against the more earthy sauce, oysters tender still quite hot though the dish pales compared to the same at Peter's Inn. 2.) Crab cake appetizer- Thick and ultra moist, complete with refreshing slaw contrast to help balanced. Very delicate and juicy, as perfectly done a crab cake as I've had. The slaw is a refreshing contrast and pesto aiolli a beautiful counterpart, if a bit strong by contrast to the veggies. 3.) Escargot - Very herbaceous as a the whole. Lightly oily but pleasant mushrooms, massive earth notes as result. The escargot adds a light salty refreshing element, and the spiced broth compliments crustini nicely. 4.) Rabbit sausage with polenta- Nice texture contrast between sausage and polenta, though the meat comes off bland. Crisp and very well done polenta, lightly oily vegetable skins add contrast, but nothing here wowed me. 5.) Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Red Peppers & Grilled Heart - fresh, light brine in red pepper, nice pesto garnish, but oddly off, not mixing well which is unlike the standard for of this dish. 6.) Seafood pasta - dull. Alfredo is light diavalo, no spice or integration of tomato sweetness. The mussels are a bit gritty while the pasta is a bit undercooked, even spongy. 7.) Shrimp BBQ bacon - Very dull. The bacon seems slightly underooked, the pickled vegetables don't belong her given how spicy you. Pickled vegetable rules the flavor, not much bacon, and unfortunately a heavy shrimp finish.
(3)Tom N.
Went here recently for dinner on a Tuesday night after getting a hint from a friend that this was a Fells Point "hidden gem". I called beforehand to make a reservation but they explained that it's first-come-first-serve with the exception of 1 large table that they typically reserve for larger parties. Anyway, I arrived around 8:20p and was sat immediately, so there were no issues there. First off, the atmosphere is fantastic and the restaurant really owns it's identity--- old school, eclectic, cozy, semi-romantic, very home-y, great mix of jazzy / older tunes, and very locals-friendly. In terms of service, we couldn't have been happier with our server --- she was kind, patient, refilled water every time that we were low, and was knowledgable about the menu, making great recommendations. Speaking of the menu, it's somewhat small but the options are great --- I enjoyed a bottle of Nelms Road Cab with the Fried Oyster app to start. For dinner I elected for their Grilled Salmon entre which was fantastic. My girlfriend ordered the Pork Loin dinner and that was equally fantastic. For dessert (which by the way is awesome because all of their options are ~$5), we opted for the Key Lime pie which we enjoyed. Overall, I would 100% recommend this place and will be going back in the future!
(4)Ed W.
Went here on Saturday night and came away with one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I have had in recent memory. Arrived at 7:30pm and the crowd was very light and we were seated right away. Started off with a bottle of white wine and the escargot. The mushroom / snail combo was perfect and with the small baguette slices in the butter sauce rounded out an excellent appetizer. Entrees included the seafood pasta and the mahi mahi filet. The pasta was delicious and lightly sauced with an incredible amount of shrimp, clams, and mussels. The mahi mahi came over a crab and potato hash with a lemon dill sauce that might have been one of the most delicious sauces I had ever tasted in my life. I wanted to dip everything in it. And for dessert, we split a piece of the key lime pie. Just enough tart and sweet and the graham cracker crust was soft how I like it - not overly crunchy. The price was okay, but you get what you pay for it here so I have absolutely no complaints. I'll be back sooner rather than later and since I live in the neighborhood, I may have to check out the bar and have a few Pabst cans with a nice appetizer some night.
(5)Bill R.
We've been going to Henningers on and off since 1989. After we moved from Baltimore in 2000, we don't get back so often. We did eat there last Friday with a big party at 2 tables. It was as wonderful as ever. The swordfish special was ordered in bulk and everyone was happy with how it was cooked. Wine and beer list is simple but every item is great. No crummy beers clogging the list. Service has always been great mainly because the wait staff turns over very slowly. Obviously it's a good work place. We had a big group but Henningers is even better for a intimate or romantic meal. Go. Enjoy.
(5)Willuam B.
We love Henningers...great food... Great atmosphere...feels like a Bistro in Greenich Village...the bar and dinning areas are warm , cozy and just the right amount of Baltimore quirky ...the staff is friendly ...good wine and spirits selection... Good pours ...style of cooking us Bistro with an American and Baltimore influence ...will go back again and again
(5)Walter B.
Great little place, food was Awesome - Mahi Mahi was amazing and Brunswick Stew was unbelievable. Very friendly staff and local crowd.
(5)Erik N.
I have been to Henninger's a few times over the years and the food was decent and the atmosphere pleasant. In the past, I would have rated it 3 stars. This place has really gone down hill since I was there about a year ago. The last trip dropped it down to one. I was with three other guys and we wanted a simple night out. We first learned that they were out of bread. It wasn't late in the evening so this was surprising. The food was disappointing and lacked flavor. The potatoes had hard rosemary on them and the coleslaw was soaked in mayonnaise. That will be the last time I visit.
(1)Bob L.
Imagine you're walking down the street. It's about dinner time and you spot a random house. This one looks interesting. You decide to walk in. Upon opening the doors you see 6 people seated, embroiled in conversations. The strange thing is none of them even turn to acknowledge the fact that you just walked into their house. Should you slowly back out? Do you interrupt them? That's how it felt when we walked into Henninger's Tavern on a Thursday at 5:50pm. After reading the reviews of this Baltimore eatery I couldn't help but be intrigued. After all, there aren't many places in the city that can boast a 5-star Yelp! rating. They had to be the best of the best, right? Unfortunately, this is a case of expectations being sorely mismatched with reality. Henninger's is shoved into a tiny, old house at the corner of South Durham and Bank Street in the neighborhood of Upper Fells Point . The building itself, at least from the outside, isn't much different than most turn of the century Baltimore construction. It's got the brick, it's got the stained glass transom windows. If you didn't know any better, you'd probably walk right past it without a second thought. Since they don't start serving dinner until 6, we had some time to kill. We took a seat at the very well-worn bar (all 10ft of it). The bartender was sporting a blaze orange hunting cap and sunglasses. He too was busy chatting away with the other patrons, all of which were at least 20 years older than us, so it took him about 5 minutes to come over and ask us what we wanted to drink. At this point, we both felt like we were crashing a party where everyone except us knew everyone else. Awkward. As for beer, there are three taps and some bottle options. Interestingly enough, they had Evolution Craft Brewing's Rise Up Stout on tap. Something for the wife; points for that. The décor. I'm having a hard time deciding where to start with this one. To say that Henninger's Tavern is kitschy is like saying Gary Busey is eccentric. Every square inch of the walls is covered with something. There are framed and autographed pictures of B-list celebrities (Kato Kaelin, Eric Estrada, Jim Nabors), bumper stickers, photos of 1920's burlesque dancers in various stages of undress...I could go on and on. There's even a print of Jesus with his arms around the pope and JFK and a war mural of some sort. It felt a little like getting thrown into the basement of an 80 year-old hoarder. It was about 6:30 and we finally asked the bartender if we could move to a table for dinner. The place was basically empty at this point save for a group of women seated at a table toward the front of the bar area. We walked ourselves to the dining area which is around the corner from the bar and noticed two people seated at the far end having a conversation. One of them looks over her shoulder and asks if we were coming in for dinner. I nod and she informs us we can have our pick of tables. Speaking of which, there are only about 10 tables in the place. We sit down and our server brings us some menus. One of the first things I noticed was that our server was not terribly pleasant. She was friendly enough, albeit a bit forced, but rarely smiled and trudged through the list of specials like she was reading an eye chart. I'm not saying you have to paint on a Joker-like grin and laugh at everything we say, but c'mon. Make us feel like we're not just a pain in your ass. To start we went with their Texas BBQ Shrimp app. Another thing about Henninger's, they are slow. From start to finish we were there for two hours. Be prepared to wait. Anyway, the shrimp, covered in a sweet smoky sauce (reminded me of KC Masterpiece) and wrapped in bacon, was a bit overcooked. It was served on top of a warm cucumber and onion slaw. Interesting, but not necessary. For our dinner, I went with the filet special and my wife the grouper sandwich. Apparently, the filet special has quite a history. It's mentioned in several reviews dating back a couple years. I ordered the filet cooked medium and it actually came out medium well. The filet came with a side of potatoes, green beans and a mushroom/onion mixture. The sauce on the steak was actually quite tasty and seasoned well. My wife's grouper sandwich, which she thought was cooked well and flavorful, was also served with potatoes, whole, roasted Yukon Golds. We decided to go with the Tollhouse pie for dessert. Following the theme of the meal, it was just OK. Clearly microwaved, the spottily-heated slice tasted like one of those cookies you get at the mall food court only a bit drier. For us, Henninger's was just OK. I guess it's one of those places you either get or you don't. The atmosphere was not our thing, we didn't get the friendly neighborhood vibe that others have talked about and the food, while good, was not something that would have us coming back for more. Our bill, with tip, $70.
(3)Paul S.
one of my favorite restaurants in baltimore and easily the best in fell's pt. this small and kitschy tavern offers up a great selection of food, beverages and visual interest. the staff and space is sort of like being in somebody's living room along with family and local history and associated tchotckes. and I'll admit, we have our own family history at henninger's. the wife and I had our first "official date" there, 14 years ago. we recetnly went back with our three kids. the steamed mussels, these are not to be missed! theirs are the BEst! mussels are tender and not chewy, the broth is where the real magic is found. ask for extra bread and sop it all up. crabcakes are really good, caesar salad is good. prices on a bottle of wine are reasonable, I suggest the cline zin (because that is how I did it 14 years ago)
(5)Michael S.
What a hidden gem. Get the crab cake, the shellfish pasta and the veggie curry. The desserts were awesome. Get the brownie
(5)Cherpumple F.
I love you, Henninger's! I love that your menu never changes. I love that you have the old-I-must-be-in-grandma's-house smell when I walk in. I love that my friends who meet me there for the first time get lost because it's actually a house. I love your escargot, mussels, fish dishes and rabbit sausage. I love all your pies. Especially with peanut butter. I also love that I live so close to you!
(4)Kate P.
Great dinner! I went here for my friend's birthday tonight and had a fun time. We sat outside. The house made egg rolls were tasty. All of us enjoyed our entrees, and at $5 each we had to get desserts. They kindly comped the birthday boy's. The server was friendly and efficient. Overall would love to return!
(5)Laura S.
This is a great hole in the wall place you should be sure to try out. The place is eclectic with their artwork and pink elephant decor but does not lack in the menu options. We were visiting from out of town and ventured to this place tonight. Glad we did. Colleen took great care of us and guided us to good menu options for dinner (although the slaw was not a party favorite). Come check it out. Get the directions from the bathroom (be sure to listen, there are more than 2 turns to the men's restroom) and take in the scenery. It will stand out!
(5)Jeremy P.
I had a crab cake off the appetizer menu and a Brooklyn beer off the tap. The crab cake and dipping sauce was delicious! I savored every bite as slowly as I could so I could enjoy it fully. Furthermore, I had a very informative and fun conversation with the owner and the bartender at Henninger's. They gave me good tips for visiting Baltimore and pointed out places they thought were not touristy and some of the original bars and lounges around the Inner Harbor. I think I would have missed out on some of this information if I did not obtain it through them. I'll recommend visitors to go to Henninger's Tavern and enjoy the artwork, conversation, and food!
(5)Susan E.
Haven't been here for years, but always had a great time. Wonderful food and cozy atmosphere.
(5)Shaun T.
I have lived a block away from Henninger's Tavern for a year and never ventured inside. I'm moving to California in less than a month and decided last night, on a whim, that I would give it a shot. I walked in with my roommate at half past 8 and was promptly seated in the amazingly kitsch dining area. We were greeted promptly and everything from that point on was a little slice of heaven. As we contemplated what to drink our sever gave us some very good suggestions. Then as we talked about what we were thinking to order some neighboring patrons reached out and gave us some very welcome feedback as well. We split a Henninger's Salad, which surprised and impressed me. For an appetizer we shared an order of mussels in wine and garlic sauce. For the main course we had a perfectly pan fried set of soft shell crabs accompanied by an intense vegetable side and the single greatest food I have ever had... Jasmine Rice. I was blown away by each bite and sat quitely for a few moments in reflection on what had been the single greatest meal of my life. Then our server tried to coax us into desert. I wasn't ready to fall into that trap, and politely declined with a flourish of compliments. Very cleverly she let us know that the deserts were just as good as the meal and suggested we at least "take a peak." We did. We were impressed. We got desert. Ohmygodmymouthgasmed. We, again, split a slice of Cookie-Dough Pie. My description of which is as follows. Imagine taking half a roll of cookie dough and molding it into a pie shape. Then letting it bake for just a few minutes so that it becomes warm, but is still in the undercooked cookie stage. Fill that with chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, and some other thing... can't remember. I zoned out for a while afterwards. It was simply amazing. I haven't stopped talking about it all day. Henninger's is a little bit off the beaten path, but is a stop that I highly, HIGHLY, recommend everyone visiting or living in Baltimore make. Thanks Henninger's.
(5)Grace C.
This was an great place to dine - great atmosphere with a neighborhood feel, very nice fun staff. We got there at 6pm on a Fri night and didn't have to wait for a place for dinner. I loved the pink elephants in the dining room. I got the filet mignon and asked if the sauce could be prepared without mushrooms. The waitress came back and offered to do a red wine or a cream sauce. I deferred to whatever the chef thought would be best. Red wine sauce won and it was an amazing sauce. Where-else would someone whip up a sauce on the fly? the potato gratin delicious. The one disappointment was that my medium filet came out well-done. The crowd was more of an older white crowd, hence the slightly high prices. The bar was definitely hopping through the night. Seems like the cheers of Baltimore.
(3)Maria M.
Best mussels I've ever tasted, and you could kill someone with the amount of shellfish on their seafood pasta!
(5)Robyn T.
To start, don't ask a random cabbie to take you to Henninger's because odds are low that they will know where it is at....not that it is a bad thing. It is the place with the white Christmas lights in the windows...no sign that i could see. My first thoughts was this is a neighborhood bar and every seat was taken in the bar area on a random Thursday evening. The back room, the dining room, was completely empty so we had a nice quiet dinner. The Texas BBQ shrimp were good. Barbecue sauce was not over powering, you could tell they were cooked on a grill, not rubbery but bacon-licious. The cucumber salad was okay. We shared that app with the crab soup which was like a Italian minestrone with crab, we liked it. Main course was the house salad and crab cake duet. Salad was a little over dressed with red wine vinaigrette with cucumbers, little tomato pieces, carrots, and a few peperoncinis. Crab cakes were really good (this coming from a person who hasn't eaten many crab cakes) but they didn't have much filler (mayonnaise or bread crumbs) with seasoning and pan fried enough to get a crust but not too much. They fell apart when you cut them with a fork. The sauce was more like an aioli than a tartar, it was good but thick so we didn't eat it all. The cabbage slaw and fingerling potatoes were hardly touched. Fingerlings were dry, cabbage tasted like just cabbage...maybe would just order a side of 2 cakes in the future. Overall, we liked it. Wish they would have had a cocktail menu to know what their specialties were because neither one of the cocktails turned out as we expected. The key lime pie (as highly touted in other yelp reviews) was pretty bad. Maybe frozen and reheated for the night, I don't know, maybe need better crust. If I lived here I would go back but can't say that I would come back if I came back into Baltimore.
(3)Madeline W.
So my friend and I just picked this place because it doesn't take reservations and we were having trouble getting one at another place. We weren't sure what to expect when we ordered our food and were delighted by what we got. I had the crab cakes which had real huge pieces of crab in them which they serve with fingerling potatoes and AMAZING slaw. Seriously, this was the best slaw and crab cakes I had ever had. My friend got the whole broiled fish which was amazing also and we both got super yummy desert. The key lime pie is perfection. We also each got a glass of wine which are only $8 per glass. Overall for the quality of food we received we definitely got our money's worth and some. We arrived at like 9pm and they seated us right away and didn't complain or were rude when we were the last customers in the restaurant. The pink elephant mobiles make excellent decor.
(5)Damian B.
*****4.5 stars **** Pulling the 5 star trigger can be so difficult. However, Henninger's is as good as it gets. It has a small menu but your torn between delicious and more delicious. The Texas shrimp App was mouth watering. The Short ribs were finger licking good. The whole fish was cooked to perfection. And my favorite part was the homemade KEY LIME PIE! wooopiee was that delicious! Will go back.
(4)Judy C.
4.5 stars. I came back to Baltimore looking for a good meal, so I suggested to friends (who have not been there) to go there for dinner. Thinking it would get busy really quickly on a Saturday, we went early around 6 PM. Luckily for us, it wasn't busy then, and we got seated right away. I got the mozzarella with bell peppers and artichokes appetizer (good but a touch too oily) and the crab cake with Henninger's slaw (a flavorfully strong dish). Friends got the seafood pasta (big portion as expected from last time) and the pork chop, which she liked. We ended our meal with the chocolate fudge brownie with hazelnut gelato. It was divine with the hot brownie and the cold gelato combined. We devoured the dessert very quickly. The entrees are pricier but the portions are slightly bigger than some of the other restaurants. The drinks and desserts are bargains (draft for $4, bottled beer from $1.50 to $5-6 at most?, and desserts are $5 each).
(4)D K.
Probably 4.5 stars. The ambiance is intimate and has that neighborhood bar feel where everyone knows each other. Seems like a nice place for a date. Lighting on the low side; unique decor all around. Food is very tasty albeit a bit expensive in my opinion. We had shrimp bisque (soup of the night), fried oysters, crab cake entree, and scallop entree. 2 beers. Total including tax + tip just slightly over $100. People say its one of the best crab cakes around and I can't disagree. But I've had other crab cakes in the area which taste pretty darn good as well so I guess it's like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini, which is better? Well they both are... The staff is friendly and service was efficient. We went on a weeknight about 8:30 pm and the patron volume was light. Bread basket and water glasses remained full. I would happily go back if parking weren't such a bitch and if the prices were a touch bit lower. But it sure is a nice cozy place with tasty food. I won't be a regular but perhaps check it out once in a while.
(4)Lisa D.
Several other reviewers have gone over Henninger's decor and atmosphere in much greater detail than I have time for, so no need to reinvent the wheel there. In a nutshell, it's a tiny, local place with a fun atmosphere - relaxed and nice, not stuffy or kitschy. Went for dinner tonight on the early side (6:30pm on a Saturday) and from previous reviews thought we'd be early enough to avoid a wait. Walked in the door with my hubby and a friend, only to be greeted by a crowd of 6 standing up front and a row of folks lined up at the bar. Walked around for a minute trying to find someone who might be taking names for tables and, oddly, it turned out to be one of the people drinking with the group up front. 45 minute wait, he said. No problem... we perched on some barstools to enjoy a Flying Dog porter (yum!) and people watch. A cute older couple came in about 30 minutes later, hung up their coats and struck up a conversation. The woman asked if we were waiting for a table, and nodded knowingly when we said we'd been waiting for a while. "It's worth the wait," she said. "We're here every week." Then she leaned forward conspiratorially to let us in on a secret "I'm Jane's [the chef and owner] mom, but the food is really good and I'm not saying that just because I'm her mom." Hmmm... how do they decide who's going to cook Thanksgiving dinner in that house! We were really excited by the reviews, and charmed by the atmosphere and conversation, so when we sat down to eat we (and by we, I mean me) were really looking forward to a fantastic dinner. The menu is not overly complex... a good thing in my book. Too many options and I get stuck and make the waiter for 20 minutes while I try to figure out the perfect thing to order, which generally leads to lots of toe-tapping and annoyed looks from my husband. Thankfully, ordering was quick. You can see the full menu on their website - no changes from what was posted there, except the daily special fish was branzino. We ordered the pan fried oysters with pernod & fennel sauce and sauteed spinach as appetizers, then two of us ordered the filet with asparagus and potatoes au gratin, while one had the crab cakes with slaw and yukon gold potatoes. The oysters arrived and were delicious, tender and the sauce was amazing. I'm not even an oyster fan but loved these anyway. After a nice unrushed interlude, the main course arrived. And that's where things seemed to fall apart. The waiter suddenly seemed to turn into a whirling dervish, very efficiently delivering our plates, whipping the appetizer plates away, spinning around to fill water glasses at other tables, dropping off a plate here and there and generally being completely unavailable for any kind of questions or conversation. My steak was ordered medium rare but arrived medium, on a cold plate. The asparagus was crisp but cold, and the potatoes au gratin were on the cool side. It was as if my plate had been sitting around for a while before they brought it out. Our friend had ordered his steak rare, but it came out medium rare. I didn't ask him if his veggies were cold because I didn't want to kickstart any criticism while we were still eating. The crabcake came out warm, with a really nice slaw and delicious/unusual pesto dipping sauce. Potatoes were nice but nothing to write home about. I was especially disappointed in the steaks being overdone. Mine was so well cooked it had that liver-like tinge to it. Sigh. And this restaurant is such a friendly, small place that you HATE to make a stink or send something back. Normally my husband and friend are very effusive when they're enjoying a good meal, but they were both pretty reserved in their comments on the food so I could tell neither were really wowed by dinner. Then the waiter's unfriendly over-efficiency was such a major buzzkill, we didn't even want to stick around for dessert. In general, I would definitely go back for drinks or appetizers because of the great, local vibe. But even though prices were very reasonable, I don't think I'd choose Henninger's for dinner again. Sorry, Jane's mom (I hope you're not reading this!)
(3)Stormtrooper H.
While visiting Baltimore this was my favorite bar. It has a great menu of food and drinks with amazing memorabilia without feeling to stuffy.
(5)Sondra L.
Stopped in at Henninger's tonight after I was referred by another out-of-towner. I sat at the bar with three friends and we all enjoyed our time. Great, homey atmosphere. The menu was also great - everything looked delicious but I couldn't resist ordering the "T.V. Dinner" which was on the bar only menu for 10 bucks. And boy it was a fun little steal - a metal tray with baked chicken, mashed potatoes and peas, fresh bread and a chocolate frosted cupcake with sprinkles! Pleasant waitstaff and well versed bartender. I will definitely go back!
(4)Mark M.
Henninger's is one of those places that really takes you by surprise and throws you for a loop. Approaching from outside, it seems really unassuming, and you're not quite sure if it's a restaurant, a bar, or just someone's living room. Then you walk in the door and think "uh-oh" as you notice all the crazy weird kitschy crap all over the walls. "This doesn't bode well", you think to yourself...but you proceed anyway. Then you look at the menu and think "hmmm...this stuff sounds pretty high-brow for a place that looks like this". And then the food comes out...and you're blown away, and you become a fan for life. One of the other reviews referred to Henninger's as her "other living room". I can't think of a more apt way of describing this place. It felt like home. Not the home I've ever had, but the home I've always wanted. I wish they were open on Christmas, because it's totally the kind of place that would be perfect to retreat to, after you've spent the day being emotionally drained by dealing with your own family and their various & sundry neurosis...to be able to escape to here and unwind with a few Manhattans and your adopted Henningers family...it would just be ideal.
(4)Heather S.
Every meal I have ever had there has been really good. But i keep going back for the filled to the rim martini and he whole baked fish. The restaurant is good, but seated at the bar is even better. It is a great place to have a drink and a shrimp sandwich or order off of their full menu. It is tucked away in fells point on Bank St. and one of the things i like most about Baltimore.
(5)Paul O.
Great atmosphere with both a local flare and a nice raising the bar on bar food. I had the whole fish and while I would recommend a bit more seasoning on the fish and a little lighter on the sesame oil on the vegetables it was tasty and lett the table with only bones and the head left. Service was folksy, but excellently attentive. The shrimp appetizer was excellent and the crab cakes could have stayed in the pan a minute longer, but were very tasty.
(4)Boyd M.
Mix great food with a neighborhood bar and you get Henninger's. When I dream of a "place", this is the kind of place I dream. Top notch fresh ingredients done well. Unpretentious. A wait staff that treats you more like you are eating at their kitchen counter. Well made drinks and service was spot on. Sounds too good to be true, but I know that some people might have a problem with a place like HT. Too many people are going to try to define the place and that is a shame. It is by no means a dive bar and it is not a high end restaurant, even if it has the food for it. It does not compute and that is what I love the most about it. In our nine months in living in Bmore... this is the best place, yet! Word of warning - this place can get crazy busy! Avoid the crowds and go early or during the week.
(5)Andrew L.
So disappointed by the entire night. Had gone for drinks there once and had a great time. Went there for dinner and all I got was a 100$ worth of stomach aches. We got bbq grilled shrimp appetizer that was basically shrimp drowned in cold right out of the supermarket aisle crappy barbeque sauce. Combined with a completely average hen dish and off-tasting seafood pasta- I will never return or recommend to anyone.
(1)Laurene C.
On the way here we got caught in some sort of monsoon lightning storm, but quirky cute decor and delicious food immediately made me forget about sloshy shoes and cold wet feet. Crab cakes. AWESOME. The lime aioli is deliciously tangy and red cabbage slaw is divine-esp for someone who really doesn't like mayo, it's not too creamy. The last crab cake I had was from a stand at Flowermart that tasted like a fishy sawdust patty. The one I had here was as polar opposite as can be. Large chunks of crab with a delicate, delicious flavor. I will be coming back for that appetizer alone. I had the filet mignon special with chanterelle mushrooms and potatoes au gratin. The sauce, as other reviewers have mentioned, had me wanting to lick the plate. It seems to be a special quite often. My friend got the shellfish pasta, which he said was very good-not mind blowingly unusual, but does good food always need to be? The portions are satisfying but prices are a little too much for me to be a regular. The bar menu, however, is VERY reasonable, and I plan to come in for a fancy dinner again as well as a few more fiscally responsible meals at the bar.
(5)Jay G.
Delicious. Nice price range. Great jazz atmosphere. The mussels can't be beat. I've been eating here for years and always take friends here. I've never been disappointed. This is that great classic, hidden neighborhood treasure. You must go. Good beer, wine, music, atmosphere, and food.
(5)Yvonne T.
The dining room half of the tavern feels pretty cozy, although have to say it felt funny to have all the portrait pictures staring at you eating dinner. We went on a weekday evening and was seated right away... the dining room is small but wasn't full. We had the mussels to share for appetizer, they tasted fresh and was very flavorful. I had the cornish hen as my main. Never had game hen before so have nothing to compare to, but the meat was juicy and tender... loved it. The leek and Gruyere cheese bread pudding (side to the hen) was very delicious... almost upstaged the hen! My friends had the rockfish special of the night, and the scallops and both enjoyed it very much. For dessert we shared a key lime pie and the lemon tartufo. Both were good / pretty standard. Overall great girls night out. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive. It was the bartender's birthday the night we went and the bar portion of the tavern was very happening... seems like this place has a lot of regulars! Would definitely go back to try other dishes. Great place for date nights or for small groups.
(4)Bill B.
Like walking into Cheers. Quaint bar that was jammed on a Friday night by the time we left. The dining is in a cozy room behind the bar. The food was very good. The crab cakes are to die for. Best I have had in Baltimore. The Cream of Crab soup is just perfect. The wine list is nothing high falutin but it has a few acceptable wines and they are cheap. Great Place.
(4)Laura B.
I made it to Henningers for the first time this past weekend and couldn't believe how few people were in the place at 8 p.m. on a Friday night. I'm sure all crappy dives in fells point were packed. I have to admit only have manhattans, no food. But they were TOO good. Really, the atmosphere and the waitstaff are worth the trip to the bar. Next time, I'm coming for dinner. I may never leave.
(5)Gerald G.
Can't go wrong if Jackie is behind the bar! Another hidden secret of Baltimore. Sad to see TV tray dinners are no more, but the brownie sundae makes up for the loss. By the end of the night you'll know everyone at the bar. Atmosphere, food and service makes this one of Baltimores best places!
(5)Carrie Z.
The joke between me and a bunch of my crazy friends for the last 15+ yrs, is that Henninger's is our "other living room". A few of us lived on Bank St. around the time Kenny and Jayne Vieth bought the place from Chuck Henninger in the early 1990's, and although it was a stretch for us to pool our nickels together to afford the filet, we were always able to eat and drink well. (Rolling Rock never tasted so good!) As my salary went up, so did my feasting options. Jayne has never disappointed me! From a perfectly cooked filet mignon (just a hint over medium), to a tender, poached halibut over a bed of sauteed spinach, to my favorite crab cakes in the world (big lumps, very little filling!)! Then there was the coriander encrusted tuna... oh, my! And, frankly, I don't like mussels, but I'll happily lap up the white wine broth with hunks of fresh, soft bread. The limited menu rotates a few new dishes along with the popular staples, and the bar always features a few specialties of its own (the TV dinner is comfort-food heaven!). When Kenny gets out the smoker, watch out! - You'll always find fresh, seasonal ingredients used, and Jayne whips up her own desserts. This is not a vegetarian restaurant, so don't expect vegetarian dishes, but in the past, they have fixed a beautiful plate of sides for my non-meat eating friends. So be nice when you ask. -- For something light, order a nice glass of wine and one or two of the appetizers (the fried oysters in Pernod sauce or the barbequed shrimp, always get my vote.). Perfect for romantic dates. Dress up or go casual (but not sloppy). Call ahead for reservations or to see if it's a busy evening. I've seen this place packed to the gills! Or just get there early enough for some bar real estate and eat dinner there while Kenny entertains you with some of the funniest true stories you'll ever hear. I don't give them 5 stars because, after all these years, they're close friends of mine, I give them 5 stars because I still consider it "my other living room" complete with consistently wonderful food, intimate ambiance and great service! Sorry, but parking is a nightmare down in Fells Point now, especially on Bank St. Best advice if you can't find a spot close by, park elsewhere and walk or take a cab! Well worth the hassle!
(5)Eric N.
This was old school Baltimore. The meal was excellent as a whole. We had the crab cake sandwich and the grouper filet. Both were very fresh, and more than adequate portions. The prices were reasonable, but were higher than a casual restaurant. We were very pleased, and will be back.
(5)Joe A.
The coolest joint in all of Baltimore. Amazing food and charm to boot! This place is a real Baltimore treasure.
(5)Jason Y.
A great taste of Baltimore seafood. While Henninger's might first strike you as one of those restaurants "with all the crazy crap on the walls," but it's really a subtle, cozy place. Try anything from the ocean, because it all tastes like it was pulled from the water just before you arrived. The pan fried breaded oysters, lump crab cakes, and especially the shellfish pasta are all big winners. It's a little small, so don't be afraid to call ahead for reservations.
(5)jan a.
Henningers is a wonderful place to just hang. The clientele are mostly locals and the conversation is always lively. The terrific ambiance is facilitated by Kenny, the owner, along with his wife Jane who is the Chef. The ambiance is enriched by the knowledgeable, humorous, convivial bar staff. Great drinks! Jack, one of the bartenders, creates a Martini or Old Fashion that are unbeatable. The wine offerings are average, but generous. Henningers' menu is limited but imaginative and smart. Delicious food at reasonable prices. Sit at the bar and order a drink and an appetizer and let the place absorb you into its friendly magic. I love this place.
(5)Natasha R.
I must confess.... I have bean coming here for well over 12 years. Just like a fine love affair, there are ups and there are downs. But for the most part, I truly looove Henniger's. From the genuine staff (I miss Jeff) to the amazing seasonal menu, the perfect jazzy sounds, and the cozy eclectic decor, I can't stay away. Kenny and his wife own the place (I think), and it shows that it's not corporate because of the regulars congregating at the bar and the vibe of the place in general. The chef JR is creative and his wife Kate is a server. It works well when you ask any questions or make requests with the dishes. Must get the fried oysters over a bed of spinach in Pernod sauce. Major craving and what keeps me addicted. I rarely give 5 stars, but in this case I wish I could give more.
(5)David S.
Great ambience. Great food. Very reasonable price/value. Simple gets elegant style. Takes you back to Baltimore in the "speakeasy" days. Try the crab cakes and slaw. Some of the best in town!
(5)Christopher H.
my favorite little bar in baltimore.
(5)annie z.
Been going to Henninger's for over 10yrs. Doesn't matter if you are sitting the to dinning room or bar whatever you order will be amazing. The fish is always cooked perfectly...the sauces are excellent and the soups, although they are somewhat over salty they are sooooo fricken good. If you are in the bar and don't want a heavy meal try the chili with a glass of wine "elegant bar food". Never had the tv dinner but we finally saw one and it really looked like one, only bigger and cheaper than a hungryman. Always great service, the owners are always on premise, and the staff is so friendly. We highly recommend!
(5)bobby s.
great little rowhome turned restaurant. definitely a place someone has to introduce you to. its not that easy to find and I doubt they advertise. the food and atmosphere are great. good crab cakes, whole fish, filet mignon. wasnt so excited about the lamb. expect a crowd, its not that big
(5)Kevin S.
This out of the way place is somewhere you really want to like, unfortunately the food and service couldn't deliver. The food I had was stale bread and packaged butter that came out to start the meal, a mediocre crab small cake on another giant stale roll, accompanied by fingerling potatoes that were way overcooked (likely over microwaved). Then it took forever to get a second glass of wine, which I needed to get through the food. The prices are way too high for food and service at this level. I won't be back.
(2)Leila B.
Great feel to this restaurant, narrow rooms of an old brownstone and walls hung with captivating photos and art. Fabulous food. Fried Oysters in a pernod cream sauce with wilted spinach and rabbit sausage with polenta and apple/onion reduction. The crab cake served with a red cabbage slaw was one of the best we've ever had. We also really enjoyed the Mahi dinner served over a crab and potato hash with a creamy dill sauce. Dessert was a house made peanut butter pie, good not great. Friendly staff, great service. Very happy to have eaten here.
(5)Heather S.
Every meal I have ever had there has been really good. But i keep going back for the filled to the rim martini and he whole baked fish. The restaurant is good, but seated at the bar is even better. It is a great place to have a drink and a shrimp sandwich or order off of their full menu. It is tucked away in fells point on Bank St. and one of the things i like most about Baltimore.
(5)Paul O.
Great atmosphere with both a local flare and a nice raising the bar on bar food. I had the whole fish and while I would recommend a bit more seasoning on the fish and a little lighter on the sesame oil on the vegetables it was tasty and lett the table with only bones and the head left. Service was folksy, but excellently attentive. The shrimp appetizer was excellent and the crab cakes could have stayed in the pan a minute longer, but were very tasty.
(4)Boyd M.
Mix great food with a neighborhood bar and you get Henninger's. When I dream of a "place", this is the kind of place I dream. Top notch fresh ingredients done well. Unpretentious. A wait staff that treats you more like you are eating at their kitchen counter. Well made drinks and service was spot on. Sounds too good to be true, but I know that some people might have a problem with a place like HT. Too many people are going to try to define the place and that is a shame. It is by no means a dive bar and it is not a high end restaurant, even if it has the food for it. It does not compute and that is what I love the most about it. In our nine months in living in Bmore... this is the best place, yet! Word of warning - this place can get crazy busy! Avoid the crowds and go early or during the week.
(5)Andrew L.
So disappointed by the entire night. Had gone for drinks there once and had a great time. Went there for dinner and all I got was a 100$ worth of stomach aches. We got bbq grilled shrimp appetizer that was basically shrimp drowned in cold right out of the supermarket aisle crappy barbeque sauce. Combined with a completely average hen dish and off-tasting seafood pasta- I will never return or recommend to anyone.
(1)Laurene C.
On the way here we got caught in some sort of monsoon lightning storm, but quirky cute decor and delicious food immediately made me forget about sloshy shoes and cold wet feet. Crab cakes. AWESOME. The lime aioli is deliciously tangy and red cabbage slaw is divine-esp for someone who really doesn't like mayo, it's not too creamy. The last crab cake I had was from a stand at Flowermart that tasted like a fishy sawdust patty. The one I had here was as polar opposite as can be. Large chunks of crab with a delicate, delicious flavor. I will be coming back for that appetizer alone. I had the filet mignon special with chanterelle mushrooms and potatoes au gratin. The sauce, as other reviewers have mentioned, had me wanting to lick the plate. It seems to be a special quite often. My friend got the shellfish pasta, which he said was very good-not mind blowingly unusual, but does good food always need to be? The portions are satisfying but prices are a little too much for me to be a regular. The bar menu, however, is VERY reasonable, and I plan to come in for a fancy dinner again as well as a few more fiscally responsible meals at the bar.
(5)Kevin K.
Overall: Odd. Henninger's is local and quaint, at once archaic, kitschy, and beckoning. It's also mediocre to the bone, moments of quality drowned by moments of blah. Once reviewed as "The best 2nd date in Baltimore.. if (s)he doesn't love it, (s)he doesn't have a heart". Allow me to retort (Jules Winfield): "Grow up." I live two blocks away, so I know what to expect parking-wise. Unfortunately, it's unlikely I'll try the food again even though I can walk there in less than 1 minute. _________________________________ Ambiance: 4/5. My favorite aspect of the restaurant. Definitely self-selected decorations that range from signed pictures to pink elephants, it evades description other than "quaint", especially the room outside the bathroom, oddest of them all and something of a home-library mixed with museum collection of lunch boxes. The restaurant is shaped like an O with a small bar and equally small dining room. Save a few patrons at the bar, it was empty on Tuesday at 7. Odd. _________________________________ Service: 3/5. Service is European. We were left waiting only briefly, and our server was initially awkward in the extent of necessary interaction. She lightened up after a while, but the pace only slowed. Six apps and two dinners in, the four of us checked our watches.. 2 hours later we receieved the check. Slow but attentive, unyielding yet genteel. Odd. _________________________________ Drinks: 1/5. The drink list is woefully small. A few taps of mediocre beer and no more than 10 bottles of wine. Mixed drinks.. hah! Odd. Opted for a pilsner and cut my losses. _______________________________ Food: 3/5. Small menu of rich, traditional Baltimore foods, all heavy in sauce and oil, light in flavor, complexity, and flaw. (Best-worst) 1.) Fried oysters in pernod - An amazing texture, breading with lightly sweet cream, fennel seeds accent nicely, playing the sweeter breading against the more earthy sauce, oysters tender still quite hot though the dish pales compared to the same at Peter's Inn. 2.) Crab cake appetizer- Thick and ultra moist, complete with refreshing slaw contrast to help balanced. Very delicate and juicy, as perfectly done a crab cake as I've had. The slaw is a refreshing contrast and pesto aiolli a beautiful counterpart, if a bit strong by contrast to the veggies. 3.) Escargot - Very herbaceous as a the whole. Lightly oily but pleasant mushrooms, massive earth notes as result. The escargot adds a light salty refreshing element, and the spiced broth compliments crustini nicely. 4.) Rabbit sausage with polenta- Nice texture contrast between sausage and polenta, though the meat comes off bland. Crisp and very well done polenta, lightly oily vegetable skins add contrast, but nothing here wowed me. 5.) Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Red Peppers & Grilled Heart - fresh, light brine in red pepper, nice pesto garnish, but oddly off, not mixing well which is unlike the standard for of this dish. 6.) Seafood pasta - dull. Alfredo is light diavalo, no spice or integration of tomato sweetness. The mussels are a bit gritty while the pasta is a bit undercooked, even spongy. 7.) Shrimp BBQ bacon - Very dull. The bacon seems slightly underooked, the pickled vegetables don't belong her given how spicy you. Pickled vegetable rules the flavor, not much bacon, and unfortunately a heavy shrimp finish.
(3)Willuam B.
We love Henningers...great food... Great atmosphere...feels like a Bistro in Greenich Village...the bar and dinning areas are warm , cozy and just the right amount of Baltimore quirky ...the staff is friendly ...good wine and spirits selection... Good pours ...style of cooking us Bistro with an American and Baltimore influence ...will go back again and again
(5)Bill R.
We've been going to Henningers on and off since 1989. After we moved from Baltimore in 2000, we don't get back so often. We did eat there last Friday with a big party at 2 tables. It was as wonderful as ever. The swordfish special was ordered in bulk and everyone was happy with how it was cooked. Wine and beer list is simple but every item is great. No crummy beers clogging the list. Service has always been great mainly because the wait staff turns over very slowly. Obviously it's a good work place. We had a big group but Henningers is even better for a intimate or romantic meal. Go. Enjoy.
(5)Jenny T.
I can't even begin to tell how fun this place is. Think of the show "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives" this is the upscale version of that show! We started off with a crab cake app (per everyone's yelp review) and the escargot mushroom caps. Both were amazing. I can honestly say this is by far one of the best crab cakes in Baltimore. For our entrees we got the filet mignon and mahi mahi. Holy flavor batman! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. We loved sitting outside, the wine list was small but perfect, and of course the hilarious staff sealed the deal. The staff here, down to the owner/chef are legit locals with the heart of gold. They all introduced themselves to us, yapped for a little, even shared a good laugh about ones ridic paisley suite (and open fly) while I looking for the restroom. Basically, If you're a snooty foodie.. Please stay away. This place is way too good for your pretentious kind. This place is for the good ol' food loving, Baltimore appreciating, awesome sense of humor kind of person.
(5)Cady K.
After reading the reviews, I couldn't wait to try this place. However, it was highly disappointing. First of all, it smells like MOLD! Not even just a hint of, it REEKS of mold. The pictures were entertaining, but quite creepy and faded. The place was rather dirty and had been dusted approximately never. They won awards back in 1990 (none since) which are still hanging and very faded. The service was slow and unfriendly. The food was actually not bad. It was priced well, and actually tasted decent. Maybe if we had sat outside the experience would have been better.
(1)Mo F.
Sure, the food is tasty, but the main reason to visit Henninger's is the amazing ambiance. It's a fantastic date spot; quiet, warmly-lit, and lined with sexy-but-classy photos of ladies in various states of undress. Henninger's is the bar version of a dress strap that's just barely falling off your shoulder: sultry, inviting, full of promise.
(5)Brenda K.
Frankly, the portions were very good so four courses would have been enough. They were even kind enough to write down the wines that I enjoyed with every dish. Spectacular food and service. I'd definitely eat here again!
(3)Jackie M.
The atmosphere is amazing with a cozy comfy feel and plenty of great pics on the walls to look at! The food was spectacular. I ruined the plating before some of the pics because I was so anxious to eat it, I completely forgot about pics!
(4)Susan L.
I'm so torn about how to go about a rating for this place. I keep hopping back and forth between a 3* and a 2*, so I have decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and give 3 stars. I always feel a little bad about giving less than 3... But here's the explanation: I went with my fiance after work for dinner. We were starving, and our fridge was empty. It was close by to work, it was open, and it had great reviews on yelp... it was a no-brainer. We were both pleasantly surprised by how warm and friendly the service was. We sat down immediately and jumped to looking at the menu. They recommended the fried oysters, and they were good, but we personally prefer less batter on our fried foods. The oysters tasted delicious and the batter was well seasoned and cooked through. For our entrees, I got the pork chops which were delicious! It was a giant sized portion (had enough left over for a whole second meal). He ordered whole fish -- I can't remember what kind. But it was also very delicious. Here's the killer for the night, and the reason that I'm not sure that I'll go back. We were near the end of our meal, and I had drank about 3/4 of my glass of wine. But I picked up my glass to take another sip and I found a fly swimming in it! I swear it wasn't there at the beginning, and I don't know exactly when it got in there. But I immediately lost any appetite and wanted to vomit. Next time they came by to check on us, I told them they can clear that glass because there's a fly swimming in it. They took the glass, and saw the insect, but walked away and didn't offer an apology, didn't offer to comp the glass of wine, and didn't bring me a replacement pour either. Actually, while writing this review, I re-lived the desire to vomit... I don't think I'll be back. I lied... I'm down-grading the review to 2 stars. ----------------------------------- Explanation of my rating system - 5*: Epitome of something, the best I've had, would LOVE to go back 4*: Great food and happy to go back regularly, but not the best of the category 3*: Food is fine. I may spontaneously decide to go there based on convenience. But no need to go back either. 2*: If you insist, I guess I'll come along. I'll find something to eat. But I wouldn't have picked it. 1*: No plans to come back. I'll try to talk companions out of going.
(2)Jesse L.
Don't let the "neighborhood hole in the wall" vibe sway you! This is the best food in Baltimore..... Really amazing cuisine and great staff! I can't say more......
(5)Katy P.
We stepped in and felt like we popped into a cocktail party in someone's house. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and welcoming. We were immediately ushered to a small but comfortable table for two, and greeted by a server quickly. The menu was perfect. I hate menus that have too many options or too few. This menu gives just enough variety without being overwhelming. We started with a bottle of wine, excellently priced, around $20. For an appetizer, we went with the Texas BBQ Shrimp. They were smoky and sweet, and totally delicious. They were cooked just right; the shrimp weren't over, but the bacon was crispy, a tricky task. The crab cake was delightful, although I didn't dig the slaw that accompanied it. The winner of the evening was the mustard dill sauce on the crab hash served under the mahi-mahi. I couldn't stop stealing bites of it from my husband's plate. I would have licked the plate!!!! This place is a great hidden gem. Dudes, impress your dates by bringing them here. If you like Peter's, you'll LOVE Henningers!
(5)Sarah J.
A cozy hideaway in Fells, away from the main, noisy area. It has a diverse medley of kitschy pictures and posters on the walls (WWI, old burlesque ladies, Jesus?, pink elephants?). To many, these images would be fun and be great topics to talk about (*cough, first/second date?), but for myself it was a tad overwhelming and made the restaurant a bit stuffy. Waitress was cheerful and attentive and food came out quicker than expected. Although not a seafood restaurant, the menu boasts many good seafood choices. Fried oysters and crab cakes were recommended, so of course I had to try: - Fried oysters dashed with pernod/fennel cream are very juicy bites that come with a mound of seasoned spinach, allowing you to feel a little more healthy and little less guilty. -Crab cakes are large, fresh, non-greasy, and moist, that can come with a clean slaw and strong aioli sauce. Very tasty. Notes: -Good alcohol selection (Found it funny to find 3 pages of alcohol, 2 pages of food on the menu!). - Parking may be difficult to find during the evening, no valet. Smart to save some time for this. - Only holds around 25-30 people, total. - Does not take reservations, so try to arrive there earlier in the evening. I was lucky when I went on a Friday around 7:15 as I was seated right away.
(4)Stephanie J.
I struggled with this rating, while I'm definitely "a fan" I'm not quite sure it's "as good as it gets" but it's pretty darned close! Walking into Henninger's is like walking into to your Grandma's living room, it's warm, comfortable and inviting, like that old sweater you've been wearing since college. The warm smells from the kitchen combined with the vibe and feel of the house blend and almost whisper "let's stay awhile". The walls are covered with interesting memorabilia in a relevant meaningful, I'ved lived through this way rather than in a kitschy Appleby's way Then there's the friendly greeting from the host (co-owner) or server. They are friendly, there are many regulars here and they seem to be known by name. I want them to know me too, they are that nice. :) Bottom line the food here is incredible. We started with the Rabbit Sausage which is an apple-onion compote & polenta. It is delicious the sausage is well seasoned (not spicy) and blends perfectly with the apple and onion. It is a treat for the taste buds to be sure and could be a light dessert offering...seriously. I also had the mussels and my sister ordered the crabcakes both were perfection. Of course we enjoyed the desserts a tollhouse peanut butter pie and chocolate perfection and they were excellent top offs to our wonderful meal. Henniger's is the trifecta of food, service and ambiance!
(4)Elliott P.
Loved it. The torture to find a parking spot was worth the aggravation. The leek and potato soup special was great, and the Mahi Mahi with crab and potato hash was delightful. Lots of dill. Very cozy. Very good. Not the biggest crab cakes I ever had but they were accompanied by the most eye appealing coleslaw with a tasty apple zest to compliment its great looks.
(5)Matthew C.
Wow, this is the best meal we've had in Baltimore since we moved here 3 months ago. The rabbit sausage appetizer is a must-get; the rabbit is interesting and flavorful without being gamey and the apple/red onion glaze is deliciously tart and sweet with the perfect polenta cake that was crispy on the outside with a creamy center. For entrees we had the pork chop and Mahi. Both were excellently cooked and generously portioned. My wife's Mahi had a delicious mustard dill cream sauce and my pork had tasty marinated onions and gravy. My wife had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert, which she said was divine and came with real whipped cream. An awesome atmosphere, great staff and excellent wine topped off the whole experience. At less than $90 for a bottle of red, app, two entrees and dessert, this is our new favorite spot.
(5)Jill A.
If there were more Zorana's bartending in Fells Point, the world would be a better place. There are many competitive restaurants with equivalent quality, portions, etc. But, if you care to venture off the beaten path and enjoy a fab evening with quality people that make you feel at home in the midst of good cocktails, great food, and even better company...come see Z-dog. She's something else.
(5)George F.
Henninger's has the best bar food, bar none, in Baltimore. 4 or 5 choices, each a meal for between $7-$10 cooked with the same care as their table menu. That menu offers an experience in fine eating that is not over whelming in choices served outside or in a cozy dinning room papered over with an aficionado's collection of americana. Great place from the bar to watch baseball or find good conversation.
(5)Brooke K.
Service and atmosphere are superb. Price points are good. The fried oysters were a little doughy, a disappointment as this is one of my favorite dishes. My grilled salmon was cut a bit thin and had significant over-salting issues. Wife's Cornish hen worked well as did my son-in-law's pork chop. Sadly, I'll doubt we'll return.
(3)Laura S.
This is a great hole in the wall place you should be sure to try out. The place is eclectic with their artwork and pink elephant decor but does not lack in the menu options. We were visiting from out of town and ventured to this place tonight. Glad we did. Colleen took great care of us and guided us to good menu options for dinner (although the slaw was not a party favorite). Come check it out. Get the directions from the bathroom (be sure to listen, there are more than 2 turns to the men's restroom) and take in the scenery. It will stand out!
(5)Christopher S.
I love this place. I asked a buddy from work where to go for a Date Night, and he threw this one my way. So glad he did. This is the perfect spot for a great meal with your partner or friends. I've never waited for a table, even at 8:00 on a Friday, you get to escape the crowds of Canton or Fells, and you grab an excellent meal. We've been a few times and the food is great. We always get the Fried Oysters with Pernod Sauce - They are the best app I've had in Baltimore so far. Nothing really JUMPS out at you on the rest of the menu - its a little bit of local Baltimore and a little bid of trendy, but everything comes out tasting delicious. If your looking for a 'Fork and Wrench' type uber meal, than this isn't your spot. The service is extremely friendly and attentive, and the drinks come with a heavy pour. You're not going to get 100 types of Craft beer or a spectacular wine on the drink menu, but there's enough choices to satiate a beer geek or wine snob. The ambiance is great - You can hear yourself talk, but there's still enough activity in the adjoining bar that you don't feel like you are at the 4 Seasons. And the decor is whimsical and fun - almost feels like a throwback to an old speakeasy with all the boxing memorabilia on the walls. Long story short: Get a date, and get the oysters.
(5)Ashley R.
Awesome experience. The atmosphere is cozy. Be patient for a table to become available. The food was delicious. I still dream of the desserts we shared!
(5)Tom N.
Went here recently for dinner on a Tuesday night after getting a hint from a friend that this was a Fells Point "hidden gem". I called beforehand to make a reservation but they explained that it's first-come-first-serve with the exception of 1 large table that they typically reserve for larger parties. Anyway, I arrived around 8:20p and was sat immediately, so there were no issues there. First off, the atmosphere is fantastic and the restaurant really owns it's identity--- old school, eclectic, cozy, semi-romantic, very home-y, great mix of jazzy / older tunes, and very locals-friendly. In terms of service, we couldn't have been happier with our server --- she was kind, patient, refilled water every time that we were low, and was knowledgable about the menu, making great recommendations. Speaking of the menu, it's somewhat small but the options are great --- I enjoyed a bottle of Nelms Road Cab with the Fried Oyster app to start. For dinner I elected for their Grilled Salmon entre which was fantastic. My girlfriend ordered the Pork Loin dinner and that was equally fantastic. For dessert (which by the way is awesome because all of their options are ~$5), we opted for the Key Lime pie which we enjoyed. Overall, I would 100% recommend this place and will be going back in the future!
(4)Susan E.
Haven't been here for years, but always had a great time. Wonderful food and cozy atmosphere.
(5)Ed W.
Went here on Saturday night and came away with one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I have had in recent memory. Arrived at 7:30pm and the crowd was very light and we were seated right away. Started off with a bottle of white wine and the escargot. The mushroom / snail combo was perfect and with the small baguette slices in the butter sauce rounded out an excellent appetizer. Entrees included the seafood pasta and the mahi mahi filet. The pasta was delicious and lightly sauced with an incredible amount of shrimp, clams, and mussels. The mahi mahi came over a crab and potato hash with a lemon dill sauce that might have been one of the most delicious sauces I had ever tasted in my life. I wanted to dip everything in it. And for dessert, we split a piece of the key lime pie. Just enough tart and sweet and the graham cracker crust was soft how I like it - not overly crunchy. The price was okay, but you get what you pay for it here so I have absolutely no complaints. I'll be back sooner rather than later and since I live in the neighborhood, I may have to check out the bar and have a few Pabst cans with a nice appetizer some night.
(5)Bob L.
Imagine you're walking down the street. It's about dinner time and you spot a random house. This one looks interesting. You decide to walk in. Upon opening the doors you see 6 people seated, embroiled in conversations. The strange thing is none of them even turn to acknowledge the fact that you just walked into their house. Should you slowly back out? Do you interrupt them? That's how it felt when we walked into Henninger's Tavern on a Thursday at 5:50pm. After reading the reviews of this Baltimore eatery I couldn't help but be intrigued. After all, there aren't many places in the city that can boast a 5-star Yelp! rating. They had to be the best of the best, right? Unfortunately, this is a case of expectations being sorely mismatched with reality. Henninger's is shoved into a tiny, old house at the corner of South Durham and Bank Street in the neighborhood of Upper Fells Point . The building itself, at least from the outside, isn't much different than most turn of the century Baltimore construction. It's got the brick, it's got the stained glass transom windows. If you didn't know any better, you'd probably walk right past it without a second thought. Since they don't start serving dinner until 6, we had some time to kill. We took a seat at the very well-worn bar (all 10ft of it). The bartender was sporting a blaze orange hunting cap and sunglasses. He too was busy chatting away with the other patrons, all of which were at least 20 years older than us, so it took him about 5 minutes to come over and ask us what we wanted to drink. At this point, we both felt like we were crashing a party where everyone except us knew everyone else. Awkward. As for beer, there are three taps and some bottle options. Interestingly enough, they had Evolution Craft Brewing's Rise Up Stout on tap. Something for the wife; points for that. The décor. I'm having a hard time deciding where to start with this one. To say that Henninger's Tavern is kitschy is like saying Gary Busey is eccentric. Every square inch of the walls is covered with something. There are framed and autographed pictures of B-list celebrities (Kato Kaelin, Eric Estrada, Jim Nabors), bumper stickers, photos of 1920's burlesque dancers in various stages of undress...I could go on and on. There's even a print of Jesus with his arms around the pope and JFK and a war mural of some sort. It felt a little like getting thrown into the basement of an 80 year-old hoarder. It was about 6:30 and we finally asked the bartender if we could move to a table for dinner. The place was basically empty at this point save for a group of women seated at a table toward the front of the bar area. We walked ourselves to the dining area which is around the corner from the bar and noticed two people seated at the far end having a conversation. One of them looks over her shoulder and asks if we were coming in for dinner. I nod and she informs us we can have our pick of tables. Speaking of which, there are only about 10 tables in the place. We sit down and our server brings us some menus. One of the first things I noticed was that our server was not terribly pleasant. She was friendly enough, albeit a bit forced, but rarely smiled and trudged through the list of specials like she was reading an eye chart. I'm not saying you have to paint on a Joker-like grin and laugh at everything we say, but c'mon. Make us feel like we're not just a pain in your ass. To start we went with their Texas BBQ Shrimp app. Another thing about Henninger's, they are slow. From start to finish we were there for two hours. Be prepared to wait. Anyway, the shrimp, covered in a sweet smoky sauce (reminded me of KC Masterpiece) and wrapped in bacon, was a bit overcooked. It was served on top of a warm cucumber and onion slaw. Interesting, but not necessary. For our dinner, I went with the filet special and my wife the grouper sandwich. Apparently, the filet special has quite a history. It's mentioned in several reviews dating back a couple years. I ordered the filet cooked medium and it actually came out medium well. The filet came with a side of potatoes, green beans and a mushroom/onion mixture. The sauce on the steak was actually quite tasty and seasoned well. My wife's grouper sandwich, which she thought was cooked well and flavorful, was also served with potatoes, whole, roasted Yukon Golds. We decided to go with the Tollhouse pie for dessert. Following the theme of the meal, it was just OK. Clearly microwaved, the spottily-heated slice tasted like one of those cookies you get at the mall food court only a bit drier. For us, Henninger's was just OK. I guess it's one of those places you either get or you don't. The atmosphere was not our thing, we didn't get the friendly neighborhood vibe that others have talked about and the food, while good, was not something that would have us coming back for more. Our bill, with tip, $70.
(3)Walter B.
Great little place, food was Awesome - Mahi Mahi was amazing and Brunswick Stew was unbelievable. Very friendly staff and local crowd.
(5)Paul S.
one of my favorite restaurants in baltimore and easily the best in fell's pt. this small and kitschy tavern offers up a great selection of food, beverages and visual interest. the staff and space is sort of like being in somebody's living room along with family and local history and associated tchotckes. and I'll admit, we have our own family history at henninger's. the wife and I had our first "official date" there, 14 years ago. we recetnly went back with our three kids. the steamed mussels, these are not to be missed! theirs are the BEst! mussels are tender and not chewy, the broth is where the real magic is found. ask for extra bread and sop it all up. crabcakes are really good, caesar salad is good. prices on a bottle of wine are reasonable, I suggest the cline zin (because that is how I did it 14 years ago)
(5)Michael S.
What a hidden gem. Get the crab cake, the shellfish pasta and the veggie curry. The desserts were awesome. Get the brownie
(5)Cherpumple F.
I love you, Henninger's! I love that your menu never changes. I love that you have the old-I-must-be-in-grandma's-house smell when I walk in. I love that my friends who meet me there for the first time get lost because it's actually a house. I love your escargot, mussels, fish dishes and rabbit sausage. I love all your pies. Especially with peanut butter. I also love that I live so close to you!
(4)Kate P.
Great dinner! I went here for my friend's birthday tonight and had a fun time. We sat outside. The house made egg rolls were tasty. All of us enjoyed our entrees, and at $5 each we had to get desserts. They kindly comped the birthday boy's. The server was friendly and efficient. Overall would love to return!
(5)Shaun T.
I have lived a block away from Henninger's Tavern for a year and never ventured inside. I'm moving to California in less than a month and decided last night, on a whim, that I would give it a shot. I walked in with my roommate at half past 8 and was promptly seated in the amazingly kitsch dining area. We were greeted promptly and everything from that point on was a little slice of heaven. As we contemplated what to drink our sever gave us some very good suggestions. Then as we talked about what we were thinking to order some neighboring patrons reached out and gave us some very welcome feedback as well. We split a Henninger's Salad, which surprised and impressed me. For an appetizer we shared an order of mussels in wine and garlic sauce. For the main course we had a perfectly pan fried set of soft shell crabs accompanied by an intense vegetable side and the single greatest food I have ever had... Jasmine Rice. I was blown away by each bite and sat quitely for a few moments in reflection on what had been the single greatest meal of my life. Then our server tried to coax us into desert. I wasn't ready to fall into that trap, and politely declined with a flourish of compliments. Very cleverly she let us know that the deserts were just as good as the meal and suggested we at least "take a peak." We did. We were impressed. We got desert. Ohmygodmymouthgasmed. We, again, split a slice of Cookie-Dough Pie. My description of which is as follows. Imagine taking half a roll of cookie dough and molding it into a pie shape. Then letting it bake for just a few minutes so that it becomes warm, but is still in the undercooked cookie stage. Fill that with chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, and some other thing... can't remember. I zoned out for a while afterwards. It was simply amazing. I haven't stopped talking about it all day. Henninger's is a little bit off the beaten path, but is a stop that I highly, HIGHLY, recommend everyone visiting or living in Baltimore make. Thanks Henninger's.
(5)Grace C.
This was an great place to dine - great atmosphere with a neighborhood feel, very nice fun staff. We got there at 6pm on a Fri night and didn't have to wait for a place for dinner. I loved the pink elephants in the dining room. I got the filet mignon and asked if the sauce could be prepared without mushrooms. The waitress came back and offered to do a red wine or a cream sauce. I deferred to whatever the chef thought would be best. Red wine sauce won and it was an amazing sauce. Where-else would someone whip up a sauce on the fly? the potato gratin delicious. The one disappointment was that my medium filet came out well-done. The crowd was more of an older white crowd, hence the slightly high prices. The bar was definitely hopping through the night. Seems like the cheers of Baltimore.
(3)Maria M.
Best mussels I've ever tasted, and you could kill someone with the amount of shellfish on their seafood pasta!
(5)Robyn T.
To start, don't ask a random cabbie to take you to Henninger's because odds are low that they will know where it is at....not that it is a bad thing. It is the place with the white Christmas lights in the windows...no sign that i could see. My first thoughts was this is a neighborhood bar and every seat was taken in the bar area on a random Thursday evening. The back room, the dining room, was completely empty so we had a nice quiet dinner. The Texas BBQ shrimp were good. Barbecue sauce was not over powering, you could tell they were cooked on a grill, not rubbery but bacon-licious. The cucumber salad was okay. We shared that app with the crab soup which was like a Italian minestrone with crab, we liked it. Main course was the house salad and crab cake duet. Salad was a little over dressed with red wine vinaigrette with cucumbers, little tomato pieces, carrots, and a few peperoncinis. Crab cakes were really good (this coming from a person who hasn't eaten many crab cakes) but they didn't have much filler (mayonnaise or bread crumbs) with seasoning and pan fried enough to get a crust but not too much. They fell apart when you cut them with a fork. The sauce was more like an aioli than a tartar, it was good but thick so we didn't eat it all. The cabbage slaw and fingerling potatoes were hardly touched. Fingerlings were dry, cabbage tasted like just cabbage...maybe would just order a side of 2 cakes in the future. Overall, we liked it. Wish they would have had a cocktail menu to know what their specialties were because neither one of the cocktails turned out as we expected. The key lime pie (as highly touted in other yelp reviews) was pretty bad. Maybe frozen and reheated for the night, I don't know, maybe need better crust. If I lived here I would go back but can't say that I would come back if I came back into Baltimore.
(3)Madeline W.
So my friend and I just picked this place because it doesn't take reservations and we were having trouble getting one at another place. We weren't sure what to expect when we ordered our food and were delighted by what we got. I had the crab cakes which had real huge pieces of crab in them which they serve with fingerling potatoes and AMAZING slaw. Seriously, this was the best slaw and crab cakes I had ever had. My friend got the whole broiled fish which was amazing also and we both got super yummy desert. The key lime pie is perfection. We also each got a glass of wine which are only $8 per glass. Overall for the quality of food we received we definitely got our money's worth and some. We arrived at like 9pm and they seated us right away and didn't complain or were rude when we were the last customers in the restaurant. The pink elephant mobiles make excellent decor.
(5)Damian B.
*****4.5 stars **** Pulling the 5 star trigger can be so difficult. However, Henninger's is as good as it gets. It has a small menu but your torn between delicious and more delicious. The Texas shrimp App was mouth watering. The Short ribs were finger licking good. The whole fish was cooked to perfection. And my favorite part was the homemade KEY LIME PIE! wooopiee was that delicious! Will go back.
(4)Judy C.
4.5 stars. I came back to Baltimore looking for a good meal, so I suggested to friends (who have not been there) to go there for dinner. Thinking it would get busy really quickly on a Saturday, we went early around 6 PM. Luckily for us, it wasn't busy then, and we got seated right away. I got the mozzarella with bell peppers and artichokes appetizer (good but a touch too oily) and the crab cake with Henninger's slaw (a flavorfully strong dish). Friends got the seafood pasta (big portion as expected from last time) and the pork chop, which she liked. We ended our meal with the chocolate fudge brownie with hazelnut gelato. It was divine with the hot brownie and the cold gelato combined. We devoured the dessert very quickly. The entrees are pricier but the portions are slightly bigger than some of the other restaurants. The drinks and desserts are bargains (draft for $4, bottled beer from $1.50 to $5-6 at most?, and desserts are $5 each).
(4)Lisa D.
Several other reviewers have gone over Henninger's decor and atmosphere in much greater detail than I have time for, so no need to reinvent the wheel there. In a nutshell, it's a tiny, local place with a fun atmosphere - relaxed and nice, not stuffy or kitschy. Went for dinner tonight on the early side (6:30pm on a Saturday) and from previous reviews thought we'd be early enough to avoid a wait. Walked in the door with my hubby and a friend, only to be greeted by a crowd of 6 standing up front and a row of folks lined up at the bar. Walked around for a minute trying to find someone who might be taking names for tables and, oddly, it turned out to be one of the people drinking with the group up front. 45 minute wait, he said. No problem... we perched on some barstools to enjoy a Flying Dog porter (yum!) and people watch. A cute older couple came in about 30 minutes later, hung up their coats and struck up a conversation. The woman asked if we were waiting for a table, and nodded knowingly when we said we'd been waiting for a while. "It's worth the wait," she said. "We're here every week." Then she leaned forward conspiratorially to let us in on a secret "I'm Jane's [the chef and owner] mom, but the food is really good and I'm not saying that just because I'm her mom." Hmmm... how do they decide who's going to cook Thanksgiving dinner in that house! We were really excited by the reviews, and charmed by the atmosphere and conversation, so when we sat down to eat we (and by we, I mean me) were really looking forward to a fantastic dinner. The menu is not overly complex... a good thing in my book. Too many options and I get stuck and make the waiter for 20 minutes while I try to figure out the perfect thing to order, which generally leads to lots of toe-tapping and annoyed looks from my husband. Thankfully, ordering was quick. You can see the full menu on their website - no changes from what was posted there, except the daily special fish was branzino. We ordered the pan fried oysters with pernod & fennel sauce and sauteed spinach as appetizers, then two of us ordered the filet with asparagus and potatoes au gratin, while one had the crab cakes with slaw and yukon gold potatoes. The oysters arrived and were delicious, tender and the sauce was amazing. I'm not even an oyster fan but loved these anyway. After a nice unrushed interlude, the main course arrived. And that's where things seemed to fall apart. The waiter suddenly seemed to turn into a whirling dervish, very efficiently delivering our plates, whipping the appetizer plates away, spinning around to fill water glasses at other tables, dropping off a plate here and there and generally being completely unavailable for any kind of questions or conversation. My steak was ordered medium rare but arrived medium, on a cold plate. The asparagus was crisp but cold, and the potatoes au gratin were on the cool side. It was as if my plate had been sitting around for a while before they brought it out. Our friend had ordered his steak rare, but it came out medium rare. I didn't ask him if his veggies were cold because I didn't want to kickstart any criticism while we were still eating. The crabcake came out warm, with a really nice slaw and delicious/unusual pesto dipping sauce. Potatoes were nice but nothing to write home about. I was especially disappointed in the steaks being overdone. Mine was so well cooked it had that liver-like tinge to it. Sigh. And this restaurant is such a friendly, small place that you HATE to make a stink or send something back. Normally my husband and friend are very effusive when they're enjoying a good meal, but they were both pretty reserved in their comments on the food so I could tell neither were really wowed by dinner. Then the waiter's unfriendly over-efficiency was such a major buzzkill, we didn't even want to stick around for dessert. In general, I would definitely go back for drinks or appetizers because of the great, local vibe. But even though prices were very reasonable, I don't think I'd choose Henninger's for dinner again. Sorry, Jane's mom (I hope you're not reading this!)
(3)Stormtrooper H.
While visiting Baltimore this was my favorite bar. It has a great menu of food and drinks with amazing memorabilia without feeling to stuffy.
(5)D K.
Probably 4.5 stars. The ambiance is intimate and has that neighborhood bar feel where everyone knows each other. Seems like a nice place for a date. Lighting on the low side; unique decor all around. Food is very tasty albeit a bit expensive in my opinion. We had shrimp bisque (soup of the night), fried oysters, crab cake entree, and scallop entree. 2 beers. Total including tax + tip just slightly over $100. People say its one of the best crab cakes around and I can't disagree. But I've had other crab cakes in the area which taste pretty darn good as well so I guess it's like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini, which is better? Well they both are... The staff is friendly and service was efficient. We went on a weeknight about 8:30 pm and the patron volume was light. Bread basket and water glasses remained full. I would happily go back if parking weren't such a bitch and if the prices were a touch bit lower. But it sure is a nice cozy place with tasty food. I won't be a regular but perhaps check it out once in a while.
(4)Sondra L.
Stopped in at Henninger's tonight after I was referred by another out-of-towner. I sat at the bar with three friends and we all enjoyed our time. Great, homey atmosphere. The menu was also great - everything looked delicious but I couldn't resist ordering the "T.V. Dinner" which was on the bar only menu for 10 bucks. And boy it was a fun little steal - a metal tray with baked chicken, mashed potatoes and peas, fresh bread and a chocolate frosted cupcake with sprinkles! Pleasant waitstaff and well versed bartender. I will definitely go back!
(4)Mark M.
Henninger's is one of those places that really takes you by surprise and throws you for a loop. Approaching from outside, it seems really unassuming, and you're not quite sure if it's a restaurant, a bar, or just someone's living room. Then you walk in the door and think "uh-oh" as you notice all the crazy weird kitschy crap all over the walls. "This doesn't bode well", you think to yourself...but you proceed anyway. Then you look at the menu and think "hmmm...this stuff sounds pretty high-brow for a place that looks like this". And then the food comes out...and you're blown away, and you become a fan for life. One of the other reviews referred to Henninger's as her "other living room". I can't think of a more apt way of describing this place. It felt like home. Not the home I've ever had, but the home I've always wanted. I wish they were open on Christmas, because it's totally the kind of place that would be perfect to retreat to, after you've spent the day being emotionally drained by dealing with your own family and their various & sundry neurosis...to be able to escape to here and unwind with a few Manhattans and your adopted Henningers family...it would just be ideal.
(4)Jay G.
Delicious. Nice price range. Great jazz atmosphere. The mussels can't be beat. I've been eating here for years and always take friends here. I've never been disappointed. This is that great classic, hidden neighborhood treasure. You must go. Good beer, wine, music, atmosphere, and food.
(5)Yvonne T.
The dining room half of the tavern feels pretty cozy, although have to say it felt funny to have all the portrait pictures staring at you eating dinner. We went on a weekday evening and was seated right away... the dining room is small but wasn't full. We had the mussels to share for appetizer, they tasted fresh and was very flavorful. I had the cornish hen as my main. Never had game hen before so have nothing to compare to, but the meat was juicy and tender... loved it. The leek and Gruyere cheese bread pudding (side to the hen) was very delicious... almost upstaged the hen! My friends had the rockfish special of the night, and the scallops and both enjoyed it very much. For dessert we shared a key lime pie and the lemon tartufo. Both were good / pretty standard. Overall great girls night out. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive. It was the bartender's birthday the night we went and the bar portion of the tavern was very happening... seems like this place has a lot of regulars! Would definitely go back to try other dishes. Great place for date nights or for small groups.
(4)Bill B.
Like walking into Cheers. Quaint bar that was jammed on a Friday night by the time we left. The dining is in a cozy room behind the bar. The food was very good. The crab cakes are to die for. Best I have had in Baltimore. The Cream of Crab soup is just perfect. The wine list is nothing high falutin but it has a few acceptable wines and they are cheap. Great Place.
(4)Gerald G.
Can't go wrong if Jackie is behind the bar! Another hidden secret of Baltimore. Sad to see TV tray dinners are no more, but the brownie sundae makes up for the loss. By the end of the night you'll know everyone at the bar. Atmosphere, food and service makes this one of Baltimores best places!
(5)Erik N.
I have been to Henninger's a few times over the years and the food was decent and the atmosphere pleasant. In the past, I would have rated it 3 stars. This place has really gone down hill since I was there about a year ago. The last trip dropped it down to one. I was with three other guys and we wanted a simple night out. We first learned that they were out of bread. It wasn't late in the evening so this was surprising. The food was disappointing and lacked flavor. The potatoes had hard rosemary on them and the coleslaw was soaked in mayonnaise. That will be the last time I visit.
(1)Jason Y.
A great taste of Baltimore seafood. While Henninger's might first strike you as one of those restaurants "with all the crazy crap on the walls," but it's really a subtle, cozy place. Try anything from the ocean, because it all tastes like it was pulled from the water just before you arrived. The pan fried breaded oysters, lump crab cakes, and especially the shellfish pasta are all big winners. It's a little small, so don't be afraid to call ahead for reservations.
(5)Laura B.
I made it to Henningers for the first time this past weekend and couldn't believe how few people were in the place at 8 p.m. on a Friday night. I'm sure all crappy dives in fells point were packed. I have to admit only have manhattans, no food. But they were TOO good. Really, the atmosphere and the waitstaff are worth the trip to the bar. Next time, I'm coming for dinner. I may never leave.
(5)jan a.
Henningers is a wonderful place to just hang. The clientele are mostly locals and the conversation is always lively. The terrific ambiance is facilitated by Kenny, the owner, along with his wife Jane who is the Chef. The ambiance is enriched by the knowledgeable, humorous, convivial bar staff. Great drinks! Jack, one of the bartenders, creates a Martini or Old Fashion that are unbeatable. The wine offerings are average, but generous. Henningers' menu is limited but imaginative and smart. Delicious food at reasonable prices. Sit at the bar and order a drink and an appetizer and let the place absorb you into its friendly magic. I love this place.
(5)Carrie Z.
The joke between me and a bunch of my crazy friends for the last 15+ yrs, is that Henninger's is our "other living room". A few of us lived on Bank St. around the time Kenny and Jayne Vieth bought the place from Chuck Henninger in the early 1990's, and although it was a stretch for us to pool our nickels together to afford the filet, we were always able to eat and drink well. (Rolling Rock never tasted so good!) As my salary went up, so did my feasting options. Jayne has never disappointed me! From a perfectly cooked filet mignon (just a hint over medium), to a tender, poached halibut over a bed of sauteed spinach, to my favorite crab cakes in the world (big lumps, very little filling!)! Then there was the coriander encrusted tuna... oh, my! And, frankly, I don't like mussels, but I'll happily lap up the white wine broth with hunks of fresh, soft bread. The limited menu rotates a few new dishes along with the popular staples, and the bar always features a few specialties of its own (the TV dinner is comfort-food heaven!). When Kenny gets out the smoker, watch out! - You'll always find fresh, seasonal ingredients used, and Jayne whips up her own desserts. This is not a vegetarian restaurant, so don't expect vegetarian dishes, but in the past, they have fixed a beautiful plate of sides for my non-meat eating friends. So be nice when you ask. -- For something light, order a nice glass of wine and one or two of the appetizers (the fried oysters in Pernod sauce or the barbequed shrimp, always get my vote.). Perfect for romantic dates. Dress up or go casual (but not sloppy). Call ahead for reservations or to see if it's a busy evening. I've seen this place packed to the gills! Or just get there early enough for some bar real estate and eat dinner there while Kenny entertains you with some of the funniest true stories you'll ever hear. I don't give them 5 stars because, after all these years, they're close friends of mine, I give them 5 stars because I still consider it "my other living room" complete with consistently wonderful food, intimate ambiance and great service! Sorry, but parking is a nightmare down in Fells Point now, especially on Bank St. Best advice if you can't find a spot close by, park elsewhere and walk or take a cab! Well worth the hassle!
(5)Eric N.
This was old school Baltimore. The meal was excellent as a whole. We had the crab cake sandwich and the grouper filet. Both were very fresh, and more than adequate portions. The prices were reasonable, but were higher than a casual restaurant. We were very pleased, and will be back.
(5)Joe A.
The coolest joint in all of Baltimore. Amazing food and charm to boot! This place is a real Baltimore treasure.
(5)Jeremy P.
I had a crab cake off the appetizer menu and a Brooklyn beer off the tap. The crab cake and dipping sauce was delicious! I savored every bite as slowly as I could so I could enjoy it fully. Furthermore, I had a very informative and fun conversation with the owner and the bartender at Henninger's. They gave me good tips for visiting Baltimore and pointed out places they thought were not touristy and some of the original bars and lounges around the Inner Harbor. I think I would have missed out on some of this information if I did not obtain it through them. I'll recommend visitors to go to Henninger's Tavern and enjoy the artwork, conversation, and food!
(5)Natasha R.
I must confess.... I have bean coming here for well over 12 years. Just like a fine love affair, there are ups and there are downs. But for the most part, I truly looove Henniger's. From the genuine staff (I miss Jeff) to the amazing seasonal menu, the perfect jazzy sounds, and the cozy eclectic decor, I can't stay away. Kenny and his wife own the place (I think), and it shows that it's not corporate because of the regulars congregating at the bar and the vibe of the place in general. The chef JR is creative and his wife Kate is a server. It works well when you ask any questions or make requests with the dishes. Must get the fried oysters over a bed of spinach in Pernod sauce. Major craving and what keeps me addicted. I rarely give 5 stars, but in this case I wish I could give more.
(5)David S.
Great ambience. Great food. Very reasonable price/value. Simple gets elegant style. Takes you back to Baltimore in the "speakeasy" days. Try the crab cakes and slaw. Some of the best in town!
(5)Christopher H.
my favorite little bar in baltimore.
(5)annie z.
Been going to Henninger's for over 10yrs. Doesn't matter if you are sitting the to dinning room or bar whatever you order will be amazing. The fish is always cooked perfectly...the sauces are excellent and the soups, although they are somewhat over salty they are sooooo fricken good. If you are in the bar and don't want a heavy meal try the chili with a glass of wine "elegant bar food". Never had the tv dinner but we finally saw one and it really looked like one, only bigger and cheaper than a hungryman. Always great service, the owners are always on premise, and the staff is so friendly. We highly recommend!
(5)bobby s.
great little rowhome turned restaurant. definitely a place someone has to introduce you to. its not that easy to find and I doubt they advertise. the food and atmosphere are great. good crab cakes, whole fish, filet mignon. wasnt so excited about the lamb. expect a crowd, its not that big
(5)bobby s.
great little rowhome turned restaurant. definitely a place someone has to introduce you to. its not that easy to find and I doubt they advertise. the food and atmosphere are great. good crab cakes, whole fish, filet mignon. wasnt so excited about the lamb. expect a crowd, its not that big
(5)Jeremy P.
I had a crab cake off the appetizer menu and a Brooklyn beer off the tap. The crab cake and dipping sauce was delicious! I savored every bite as slowly as I could so I could enjoy it fully. Furthermore, I had a very informative and fun conversation with the owner and the bartender at Henninger's. They gave me good tips for visiting Baltimore and pointed out places they thought were not touristy and some of the original bars and lounges around the Inner Harbor. I think I would have missed out on some of this information if I did not obtain it through them. I'll recommend visitors to go to Henninger's Tavern and enjoy the artwork, conversation, and food!
(5)Susan E.
Haven't been here for years, but always had a great time. Wonderful food and cozy atmosphere.
(5)Erik N.
I have been to Henninger's a few times over the years and the food was decent and the atmosphere pleasant. In the past, I would have rated it 3 stars. This place has really gone down hill since I was there about a year ago. The last trip dropped it down to one. I was with three other guys and we wanted a simple night out. We first learned that they were out of bread. It wasn't late in the evening so this was surprising. The food was disappointing and lacked flavor. The potatoes had hard rosemary on them and the coleslaw was soaked in mayonnaise. That will be the last time I visit.
(1)Jason Y.
A great taste of Baltimore seafood. While Henninger's might first strike you as one of those restaurants "with all the crazy crap on the walls," but it's really a subtle, cozy place. Try anything from the ocean, because it all tastes like it was pulled from the water just before you arrived. The pan fried breaded oysters, lump crab cakes, and especially the shellfish pasta are all big winners. It's a little small, so don't be afraid to call ahead for reservations.
(5)Bill B.
Like walking into Cheers. Quaint bar that was jammed on a Friday night by the time we left. The dining is in a cozy room behind the bar. The food was very good. The crab cakes are to die for. Best I have had in Baltimore. The Cream of Crab soup is just perfect. The wine list is nothing high falutin but it has a few acceptable wines and they are cheap. Great Place.
(4)Gerald G.
Can't go wrong if Jackie is behind the bar! Another hidden secret of Baltimore. Sad to see TV tray dinners are no more, but the brownie sundae makes up for the loss. By the end of the night you'll know everyone at the bar. Atmosphere, food and service makes this one of Baltimores best places!
(5)Yvonne T.
The dining room half of the tavern feels pretty cozy, although have to say it felt funny to have all the portrait pictures staring at you eating dinner. We went on a weekday evening and was seated right away... the dining room is small but wasn't full. We had the mussels to share for appetizer, they tasted fresh and was very flavorful. I had the cornish hen as my main. Never had game hen before so have nothing to compare to, but the meat was juicy and tender... loved it. The leek and Gruyere cheese bread pudding (side to the hen) was very delicious... almost upstaged the hen! My friends had the rockfish special of the night, and the scallops and both enjoyed it very much. For dessert we shared a key lime pie and the lemon tartufo. Both were good / pretty standard. Overall great girls night out. Our waitress was very sweet and attentive. It was the bartender's birthday the night we went and the bar portion of the tavern was very happening... seems like this place has a lot of regulars! Would definitely go back to try other dishes. Great place for date nights or for small groups.
(4)Laura B.
I made it to Henningers for the first time this past weekend and couldn't believe how few people were in the place at 8 p.m. on a Friday night. I'm sure all crappy dives in fells point were packed. I have to admit only have manhattans, no food. But they were TOO good. Really, the atmosphere and the waitstaff are worth the trip to the bar. Next time, I'm coming for dinner. I may never leave.
(5)jan a.
Henningers is a wonderful place to just hang. The clientele are mostly locals and the conversation is always lively. The terrific ambiance is facilitated by Kenny, the owner, along with his wife Jane who is the Chef. The ambiance is enriched by the knowledgeable, humorous, convivial bar staff. Great drinks! Jack, one of the bartenders, creates a Martini or Old Fashion that are unbeatable. The wine offerings are average, but generous. Henningers' menu is limited but imaginative and smart. Delicious food at reasonable prices. Sit at the bar and order a drink and an appetizer and let the place absorb you into its friendly magic. I love this place.
(5)Natasha R.
I must confess.... I have bean coming here for well over 12 years. Just like a fine love affair, there are ups and there are downs. But for the most part, I truly looove Henniger's. From the genuine staff (I miss Jeff) to the amazing seasonal menu, the perfect jazzy sounds, and the cozy eclectic decor, I can't stay away. Kenny and his wife own the place (I think), and it shows that it's not corporate because of the regulars congregating at the bar and the vibe of the place in general. The chef JR is creative and his wife Kate is a server. It works well when you ask any questions or make requests with the dishes. Must get the fried oysters over a bed of spinach in Pernod sauce. Major craving and what keeps me addicted. I rarely give 5 stars, but in this case I wish I could give more.
(5)David S.
Great ambience. Great food. Very reasonable price/value. Simple gets elegant style. Takes you back to Baltimore in the "speakeasy" days. Try the crab cakes and slaw. Some of the best in town!
(5)Christopher H.
my favorite little bar in baltimore.
(5)annie z.
Been going to Henninger's for over 10yrs. Doesn't matter if you are sitting the to dinning room or bar whatever you order will be amazing. The fish is always cooked perfectly...the sauces are excellent and the soups, although they are somewhat over salty they are sooooo fricken good. If you are in the bar and don't want a heavy meal try the chili with a glass of wine "elegant bar food". Never had the tv dinner but we finally saw one and it really looked like one, only bigger and cheaper than a hungryman. Always great service, the owners are always on premise, and the staff is so friendly. We highly recommend!
(5)Jenny T.
I can't even begin to tell how fun this place is. Think of the show "Diners, Drive-ins & Dives" this is the upscale version of that show! We started off with a crab cake app (per everyone's yelp review) and the escargot mushroom caps. Both were amazing. I can honestly say this is by far one of the best crab cakes in Baltimore. For our entrees we got the filet mignon and mahi mahi. Holy flavor batman! Perfectly cooked and seasoned. We loved sitting outside, the wine list was small but perfect, and of course the hilarious staff sealed the deal. The staff here, down to the owner/chef are legit locals with the heart of gold. They all introduced themselves to us, yapped for a little, even shared a good laugh about ones ridic paisley suite (and open fly) while I looking for the restroom. Basically, If you're a snooty foodie.. Please stay away. This place is way too good for your pretentious kind. This place is for the good ol' food loving, Baltimore appreciating, awesome sense of humor kind of person.
(5)Cady K.
After reading the reviews, I couldn't wait to try this place. However, it was highly disappointing. First of all, it smells like MOLD! Not even just a hint of, it REEKS of mold. The pictures were entertaining, but quite creepy and faded. The place was rather dirty and had been dusted approximately never. They won awards back in 1990 (none since) which are still hanging and very faded. The service was slow and unfriendly. The food was actually not bad. It was priced well, and actually tasted decent. Maybe if we had sat outside the experience would have been better.
(1)Mo F.
Sure, the food is tasty, but the main reason to visit Henninger's is the amazing ambiance. It's a fantastic date spot; quiet, warmly-lit, and lined with sexy-but-classy photos of ladies in various states of undress. Henninger's is the bar version of a dress strap that's just barely falling off your shoulder: sultry, inviting, full of promise.
(5)Brenda K.
Frankly, the portions were very good so four courses would have been enough. They were even kind enough to write down the wines that I enjoyed with every dish. Spectacular food and service. I'd definitely eat here again!
(3)Jackie M.
The atmosphere is amazing with a cozy comfy feel and plenty of great pics on the walls to look at! The food was spectacular. I ruined the plating before some of the pics because I was so anxious to eat it, I completely forgot about pics!
(4)Bill R.
We've been going to Henningers on and off since 1989. After we moved from Baltimore in 2000, we don't get back so often. We did eat there last Friday with a big party at 2 tables. It was as wonderful as ever. The swordfish special was ordered in bulk and everyone was happy with how it was cooked. Wine and beer list is simple but every item is great. No crummy beers clogging the list. Service has always been great mainly because the wait staff turns over very slowly. Obviously it's a good work place. We had a big group but Henningers is even better for a intimate or romantic meal. Go. Enjoy.
(5)Susan L.
I'm so torn about how to go about a rating for this place. I keep hopping back and forth between a 3* and a 2*, so I have decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and give 3 stars. I always feel a little bad about giving less than 3... But here's the explanation: I went with my fiance after work for dinner. We were starving, and our fridge was empty. It was close by to work, it was open, and it had great reviews on yelp... it was a no-brainer. We were both pleasantly surprised by how warm and friendly the service was. We sat down immediately and jumped to looking at the menu. They recommended the fried oysters, and they were good, but we personally prefer less batter on our fried foods. The oysters tasted delicious and the batter was well seasoned and cooked through. For our entrees, I got the pork chops which were delicious! It was a giant sized portion (had enough left over for a whole second meal). He ordered whole fish -- I can't remember what kind. But it was also very delicious. Here's the killer for the night, and the reason that I'm not sure that I'll go back. We were near the end of our meal, and I had drank about 3/4 of my glass of wine. But I picked up my glass to take another sip and I found a fly swimming in it! I swear it wasn't there at the beginning, and I don't know exactly when it got in there. But I immediately lost any appetite and wanted to vomit. Next time they came by to check on us, I told them they can clear that glass because there's a fly swimming in it. They took the glass, and saw the insect, but walked away and didn't offer an apology, didn't offer to comp the glass of wine, and didn't bring me a replacement pour either. Actually, while writing this review, I re-lived the desire to vomit... I don't think I'll be back. I lied... I'm down-grading the review to 2 stars. ----------------------------------- Explanation of my rating system - 5*: Epitome of something, the best I've had, would LOVE to go back 4*: Great food and happy to go back regularly, but not the best of the category 3*: Food is fine. I may spontaneously decide to go there based on convenience. But no need to go back either. 2*: If you insist, I guess I'll come along. I'll find something to eat. But I wouldn't have picked it. 1*: No plans to come back. I'll try to talk companions out of going.
(2)Jesse L.
Don't let the "neighborhood hole in the wall" vibe sway you! This is the best food in Baltimore..... Really amazing cuisine and great staff! I can't say more......
(5)Katy P.
We stepped in and felt like we popped into a cocktail party in someone's house. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and welcoming. We were immediately ushered to a small but comfortable table for two, and greeted by a server quickly. The menu was perfect. I hate menus that have too many options or too few. This menu gives just enough variety without being overwhelming. We started with a bottle of wine, excellently priced, around $20. For an appetizer, we went with the Texas BBQ Shrimp. They were smoky and sweet, and totally delicious. They were cooked just right; the shrimp weren't over, but the bacon was crispy, a tricky task. The crab cake was delightful, although I didn't dig the slaw that accompanied it. The winner of the evening was the mustard dill sauce on the crab hash served under the mahi-mahi. I couldn't stop stealing bites of it from my husband's plate. I would have licked the plate!!!! This place is a great hidden gem. Dudes, impress your dates by bringing them here. If you like Peter's, you'll LOVE Henningers!
(5)Sarah J.
A cozy hideaway in Fells, away from the main, noisy area. It has a diverse medley of kitschy pictures and posters on the walls (WWI, old burlesque ladies, Jesus?, pink elephants?). To many, these images would be fun and be great topics to talk about (*cough, first/second date?), but for myself it was a tad overwhelming and made the restaurant a bit stuffy. Waitress was cheerful and attentive and food came out quicker than expected. Although not a seafood restaurant, the menu boasts many good seafood choices. Fried oysters and crab cakes were recommended, so of course I had to try: - Fried oysters dashed with pernod/fennel cream are very juicy bites that come with a mound of seasoned spinach, allowing you to feel a little more healthy and little less guilty. -Crab cakes are large, fresh, non-greasy, and moist, that can come with a clean slaw and strong aioli sauce. Very tasty. Notes: -Good alcohol selection (Found it funny to find 3 pages of alcohol, 2 pages of food on the menu!). - Parking may be difficult to find during the evening, no valet. Smart to save some time for this. - Only holds around 25-30 people, total. - Does not take reservations, so try to arrive there earlier in the evening. I was lucky when I went on a Friday around 7:15 as I was seated right away.
(4)Stephanie J.
I struggled with this rating, while I'm definitely "a fan" I'm not quite sure it's "as good as it gets" but it's pretty darned close! Walking into Henninger's is like walking into to your Grandma's living room, it's warm, comfortable and inviting, like that old sweater you've been wearing since college. The warm smells from the kitchen combined with the vibe and feel of the house blend and almost whisper "let's stay awhile". The walls are covered with interesting memorabilia in a relevant meaningful, I'ved lived through this way rather than in a kitschy Appleby's way Then there's the friendly greeting from the host (co-owner) or server. They are friendly, there are many regulars here and they seem to be known by name. I want them to know me too, they are that nice. :) Bottom line the food here is incredible. We started with the Rabbit Sausage which is an apple-onion compote & polenta. It is delicious the sausage is well seasoned (not spicy) and blends perfectly with the apple and onion. It is a treat for the taste buds to be sure and could be a light dessert offering...seriously. I also had the mussels and my sister ordered the crabcakes both were perfection. Of course we enjoyed the desserts a tollhouse peanut butter pie and chocolate perfection and they were excellent top offs to our wonderful meal. Henniger's is the trifecta of food, service and ambiance!
(4)Elliott P.
Loved it. The torture to find a parking spot was worth the aggravation. The leek and potato soup special was great, and the Mahi Mahi with crab and potato hash was delightful. Lots of dill. Very cozy. Very good. Not the biggest crab cakes I ever had but they were accompanied by the most eye appealing coleslaw with a tasty apple zest to compliment its great looks.
(5)Matthew C.
Wow, this is the best meal we've had in Baltimore since we moved here 3 months ago. The rabbit sausage appetizer is a must-get; the rabbit is interesting and flavorful without being gamey and the apple/red onion glaze is deliciously tart and sweet with the perfect polenta cake that was crispy on the outside with a creamy center. For entrees we had the pork chop and Mahi. Both were excellently cooked and generously portioned. My wife's Mahi had a delicious mustard dill cream sauce and my pork had tasty marinated onions and gravy. My wife had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert, which she said was divine and came with real whipped cream. An awesome atmosphere, great staff and excellent wine topped off the whole experience. At less than $90 for a bottle of red, app, two entrees and dessert, this is our new favorite spot.
(5)Jill A.
If there were more Zorana's bartending in Fells Point, the world would be a better place. There are many competitive restaurants with equivalent quality, portions, etc. But, if you care to venture off the beaten path and enjoy a fab evening with quality people that make you feel at home in the midst of good cocktails, great food, and even better company...come see Z-dog. She's something else.
(5)George F.
Henninger's has the best bar food, bar none, in Baltimore. 4 or 5 choices, each a meal for between $7-$10 cooked with the same care as their table menu. That menu offers an experience in fine eating that is not over whelming in choices served outside or in a cozy dinning room papered over with an aficionado's collection of americana. Great place from the bar to watch baseball or find good conversation.
(5)Brooke K.
Service and atmosphere are superb. Price points are good. The fried oysters were a little doughy, a disappointment as this is one of my favorite dishes. My grilled salmon was cut a bit thin and had significant over-salting issues. Wife's Cornish hen worked well as did my son-in-law's pork chop. Sadly, I'll doubt we'll return.
(3)Christopher S.
I love this place. I asked a buddy from work where to go for a Date Night, and he threw this one my way. So glad he did. This is the perfect spot for a great meal with your partner or friends. I've never waited for a table, even at 8:00 on a Friday, you get to escape the crowds of Canton or Fells, and you grab an excellent meal. We've been a few times and the food is great. We always get the Fried Oysters with Pernod Sauce - They are the best app I've had in Baltimore so far. Nothing really JUMPS out at you on the rest of the menu - its a little bit of local Baltimore and a little bid of trendy, but everything comes out tasting delicious. If your looking for a 'Fork and Wrench' type uber meal, than this isn't your spot. The service is extremely friendly and attentive, and the drinks come with a heavy pour. You're not going to get 100 types of Craft beer or a spectacular wine on the drink menu, but there's enough choices to satiate a beer geek or wine snob. The ambiance is great - You can hear yourself talk, but there's still enough activity in the adjoining bar that you don't feel like you are at the 4 Seasons. And the decor is whimsical and fun - almost feels like a throwback to an old speakeasy with all the boxing memorabilia on the walls. Long story short: Get a date, and get the oysters.
(5)Ashley R.
Awesome experience. The atmosphere is cozy. Be patient for a table to become available. The food was delicious. I still dream of the desserts we shared!
(5)Tom N.
Went here recently for dinner on a Tuesday night after getting a hint from a friend that this was a Fells Point "hidden gem". I called beforehand to make a reservation but they explained that it's first-come-first-serve with the exception of 1 large table that they typically reserve for larger parties. Anyway, I arrived around 8:20p and was sat immediately, so there were no issues there. First off, the atmosphere is fantastic and the restaurant really owns it's identity--- old school, eclectic, cozy, semi-romantic, very home-y, great mix of jazzy / older tunes, and very locals-friendly. In terms of service, we couldn't have been happier with our server --- she was kind, patient, refilled water every time that we were low, and was knowledgable about the menu, making great recommendations. Speaking of the menu, it's somewhat small but the options are great --- I enjoyed a bottle of Nelms Road Cab with the Fried Oyster app to start. For dinner I elected for their Grilled Salmon entre which was fantastic. My girlfriend ordered the Pork Loin dinner and that was equally fantastic. For dessert (which by the way is awesome because all of their options are ~$5), we opted for the Key Lime pie which we enjoyed. Overall, I would 100% recommend this place and will be going back in the future!
(4)Bob L.
Imagine you're walking down the street. It's about dinner time and you spot a random house. This one looks interesting. You decide to walk in. Upon opening the doors you see 6 people seated, embroiled in conversations. The strange thing is none of them even turn to acknowledge the fact that you just walked into their house. Should you slowly back out? Do you interrupt them? That's how it felt when we walked into Henninger's Tavern on a Thursday at 5:50pm. After reading the reviews of this Baltimore eatery I couldn't help but be intrigued. After all, there aren't many places in the city that can boast a 5-star Yelp! rating. They had to be the best of the best, right? Unfortunately, this is a case of expectations being sorely mismatched with reality. Henninger's is shoved into a tiny, old house at the corner of South Durham and Bank Street in the neighborhood of Upper Fells Point . The building itself, at least from the outside, isn't much different than most turn of the century Baltimore construction. It's got the brick, it's got the stained glass transom windows. If you didn't know any better, you'd probably walk right past it without a second thought. Since they don't start serving dinner until 6, we had some time to kill. We took a seat at the very well-worn bar (all 10ft of it). The bartender was sporting a blaze orange hunting cap and sunglasses. He too was busy chatting away with the other patrons, all of which were at least 20 years older than us, so it took him about 5 minutes to come over and ask us what we wanted to drink. At this point, we both felt like we were crashing a party where everyone except us knew everyone else. Awkward. As for beer, there are three taps and some bottle options. Interestingly enough, they had Evolution Craft Brewing's Rise Up Stout on tap. Something for the wife; points for that. The décor. I'm having a hard time deciding where to start with this one. To say that Henninger's Tavern is kitschy is like saying Gary Busey is eccentric. Every square inch of the walls is covered with something. There are framed and autographed pictures of B-list celebrities (Kato Kaelin, Eric Estrada, Jim Nabors), bumper stickers, photos of 1920's burlesque dancers in various stages of undress...I could go on and on. There's even a print of Jesus with his arms around the pope and JFK and a war mural of some sort. It felt a little like getting thrown into the basement of an 80 year-old hoarder. It was about 6:30 and we finally asked the bartender if we could move to a table for dinner. The place was basically empty at this point save for a group of women seated at a table toward the front of the bar area. We walked ourselves to the dining area which is around the corner from the bar and noticed two people seated at the far end having a conversation. One of them looks over her shoulder and asks if we were coming in for dinner. I nod and she informs us we can have our pick of tables. Speaking of which, there are only about 10 tables in the place. We sit down and our server brings us some menus. One of the first things I noticed was that our server was not terribly pleasant. She was friendly enough, albeit a bit forced, but rarely smiled and trudged through the list of specials like she was reading an eye chart. I'm not saying you have to paint on a Joker-like grin and laugh at everything we say, but c'mon. Make us feel like we're not just a pain in your ass. To start we went with their Texas BBQ Shrimp app. Another thing about Henninger's, they are slow. From start to finish we were there for two hours. Be prepared to wait. Anyway, the shrimp, covered in a sweet smoky sauce (reminded me of KC Masterpiece) and wrapped in bacon, was a bit overcooked. It was served on top of a warm cucumber and onion slaw. Interesting, but not necessary. For our dinner, I went with the filet special and my wife the grouper sandwich. Apparently, the filet special has quite a history. It's mentioned in several reviews dating back a couple years. I ordered the filet cooked medium and it actually came out medium well. The filet came with a side of potatoes, green beans and a mushroom/onion mixture. The sauce on the steak was actually quite tasty and seasoned well. My wife's grouper sandwich, which she thought was cooked well and flavorful, was also served with potatoes, whole, roasted Yukon Golds. We decided to go with the Tollhouse pie for dessert. Following the theme of the meal, it was just OK. Clearly microwaved, the spottily-heated slice tasted like one of those cookies you get at the mall food court only a bit drier. For us, Henninger's was just OK. I guess it's one of those places you either get or you don't. The atmosphere was not our thing, we didn't get the friendly neighborhood vibe that others have talked about and the food, while good, was not something that would have us coming back for more. Our bill, with tip, $70.
(3)Ed W.
Went here on Saturday night and came away with one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I have had in recent memory. Arrived at 7:30pm and the crowd was very light and we were seated right away. Started off with a bottle of white wine and the escargot. The mushroom / snail combo was perfect and with the small baguette slices in the butter sauce rounded out an excellent appetizer. Entrees included the seafood pasta and the mahi mahi filet. The pasta was delicious and lightly sauced with an incredible amount of shrimp, clams, and mussels. The mahi mahi came over a crab and potato hash with a lemon dill sauce that might have been one of the most delicious sauces I had ever tasted in my life. I wanted to dip everything in it. And for dessert, we split a piece of the key lime pie. Just enough tart and sweet and the graham cracker crust was soft how I like it - not overly crunchy. The price was okay, but you get what you pay for it here so I have absolutely no complaints. I'll be back sooner rather than later and since I live in the neighborhood, I may have to check out the bar and have a few Pabst cans with a nice appetizer some night.
(5)Walter B.
Great little place, food was Awesome - Mahi Mahi was amazing and Brunswick Stew was unbelievable. Very friendly staff and local crowd.
(5)Kevin K.
Overall: Odd. Henninger's is local and quaint, at once archaic, kitschy, and beckoning. It's also mediocre to the bone, moments of quality drowned by moments of blah. Once reviewed as "The best 2nd date in Baltimore.. if (s)he doesn't love it, (s)he doesn't have a heart". Allow me to retort (Jules Winfield): "Grow up." I live two blocks away, so I know what to expect parking-wise. Unfortunately, it's unlikely I'll try the food again even though I can walk there in less than 1 minute. _________________________________ Ambiance: 4/5. My favorite aspect of the restaurant. Definitely self-selected decorations that range from signed pictures to pink elephants, it evades description other than "quaint", especially the room outside the bathroom, oddest of them all and something of a home-library mixed with museum collection of lunch boxes. The restaurant is shaped like an O with a small bar and equally small dining room. Save a few patrons at the bar, it was empty on Tuesday at 7. Odd. _________________________________ Service: 3/5. Service is European. We were left waiting only briefly, and our server was initially awkward in the extent of necessary interaction. She lightened up after a while, but the pace only slowed. Six apps and two dinners in, the four of us checked our watches.. 2 hours later we receieved the check. Slow but attentive, unyielding yet genteel. Odd. _________________________________ Drinks: 1/5. The drink list is woefully small. A few taps of mediocre beer and no more than 10 bottles of wine. Mixed drinks.. hah! Odd. Opted for a pilsner and cut my losses. _______________________________ Food: 3/5. Small menu of rich, traditional Baltimore foods, all heavy in sauce and oil, light in flavor, complexity, and flaw. (Best-worst) 1.) Fried oysters in pernod - An amazing texture, breading with lightly sweet cream, fennel seeds accent nicely, playing the sweeter breading against the more earthy sauce, oysters tender still quite hot though the dish pales compared to the same at Peter's Inn. 2.) Crab cake appetizer- Thick and ultra moist, complete with refreshing slaw contrast to help balanced. Very delicate and juicy, as perfectly done a crab cake as I've had. The slaw is a refreshing contrast and pesto aiolli a beautiful counterpart, if a bit strong by contrast to the veggies. 3.) Escargot - Very herbaceous as a the whole. Lightly oily but pleasant mushrooms, massive earth notes as result. The escargot adds a light salty refreshing element, and the spiced broth compliments crustini nicely. 4.) Rabbit sausage with polenta- Nice texture contrast between sausage and polenta, though the meat comes off bland. Crisp and very well done polenta, lightly oily vegetable skins add contrast, but nothing here wowed me. 5.) Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Red Peppers & Grilled Heart - fresh, light brine in red pepper, nice pesto garnish, but oddly off, not mixing well which is unlike the standard for of this dish. 6.) Seafood pasta - dull. Alfredo is light diavalo, no spice or integration of tomato sweetness. The mussels are a bit gritty while the pasta is a bit undercooked, even spongy. 7.) Shrimp BBQ bacon - Very dull. The bacon seems slightly underooked, the pickled vegetables don't belong her given how spicy you. Pickled vegetable rules the flavor, not much bacon, and unfortunately a heavy shrimp finish.
(3)Paul S.
one of my favorite restaurants in baltimore and easily the best in fell's pt. this small and kitschy tavern offers up a great selection of food, beverages and visual interest. the staff and space is sort of like being in somebody's living room along with family and local history and associated tchotckes. and I'll admit, we have our own family history at henninger's. the wife and I had our first "official date" there, 14 years ago. we recetnly went back with our three kids. the steamed mussels, these are not to be missed! theirs are the BEst! mussels are tender and not chewy, the broth is where the real magic is found. ask for extra bread and sop it all up. crabcakes are really good, caesar salad is good. prices on a bottle of wine are reasonable, I suggest the cline zin (because that is how I did it 14 years ago)
(5)Michael S.
What a hidden gem. Get the crab cake, the shellfish pasta and the veggie curry. The desserts were awesome. Get the brownie
(5)Cherpumple F.
I love you, Henninger's! I love that your menu never changes. I love that you have the old-I-must-be-in-grandma's-house smell when I walk in. I love that my friends who meet me there for the first time get lost because it's actually a house. I love your escargot, mussels, fish dishes and rabbit sausage. I love all your pies. Especially with peanut butter. I also love that I live so close to you!
(4)Kate P.
Great dinner! I went here for my friend's birthday tonight and had a fun time. We sat outside. The house made egg rolls were tasty. All of us enjoyed our entrees, and at $5 each we had to get desserts. They kindly comped the birthday boy's. The server was friendly and efficient. Overall would love to return!
(5)Laura S.
This is a great hole in the wall place you should be sure to try out. The place is eclectic with their artwork and pink elephant decor but does not lack in the menu options. We were visiting from out of town and ventured to this place tonight. Glad we did. Colleen took great care of us and guided us to good menu options for dinner (although the slaw was not a party favorite). Come check it out. Get the directions from the bathroom (be sure to listen, there are more than 2 turns to the men's restroom) and take in the scenery. It will stand out!
(5)Jay G.
Delicious. Nice price range. Great jazz atmosphere. The mussels can't be beat. I've been eating here for years and always take friends here. I've never been disappointed. This is that great classic, hidden neighborhood treasure. You must go. Good beer, wine, music, atmosphere, and food.
(5)Eric N.
This was old school Baltimore. The meal was excellent as a whole. We had the crab cake sandwich and the grouper filet. Both were very fresh, and more than adequate portions. The prices were reasonable, but were higher than a casual restaurant. We were very pleased, and will be back.
(5)Joe A.
The coolest joint in all of Baltimore. Amazing food and charm to boot! This place is a real Baltimore treasure.
(5)Shaun T.
I have lived a block away from Henninger's Tavern for a year and never ventured inside. I'm moving to California in less than a month and decided last night, on a whim, that I would give it a shot. I walked in with my roommate at half past 8 and was promptly seated in the amazingly kitsch dining area. We were greeted promptly and everything from that point on was a little slice of heaven. As we contemplated what to drink our sever gave us some very good suggestions. Then as we talked about what we were thinking to order some neighboring patrons reached out and gave us some very welcome feedback as well. We split a Henninger's Salad, which surprised and impressed me. For an appetizer we shared an order of mussels in wine and garlic sauce. For the main course we had a perfectly pan fried set of soft shell crabs accompanied by an intense vegetable side and the single greatest food I have ever had... Jasmine Rice. I was blown away by each bite and sat quitely for a few moments in reflection on what had been the single greatest meal of my life. Then our server tried to coax us into desert. I wasn't ready to fall into that trap, and politely declined with a flourish of compliments. Very cleverly she let us know that the deserts were just as good as the meal and suggested we at least "take a peak." We did. We were impressed. We got desert. Ohmygodmymouthgasmed. We, again, split a slice of Cookie-Dough Pie. My description of which is as follows. Imagine taking half a roll of cookie dough and molding it into a pie shape. Then letting it bake for just a few minutes so that it becomes warm, but is still in the undercooked cookie stage. Fill that with chocolate chips, butterscotch morsels, and some other thing... can't remember. I zoned out for a while afterwards. It was simply amazing. I haven't stopped talking about it all day. Henninger's is a little bit off the beaten path, but is a stop that I highly, HIGHLY, recommend everyone visiting or living in Baltimore make. Thanks Henninger's.
(5)Grace C.
This was an great place to dine - great atmosphere with a neighborhood feel, very nice fun staff. We got there at 6pm on a Fri night and didn't have to wait for a place for dinner. I loved the pink elephants in the dining room. I got the filet mignon and asked if the sauce could be prepared without mushrooms. The waitress came back and offered to do a red wine or a cream sauce. I deferred to whatever the chef thought would be best. Red wine sauce won and it was an amazing sauce. Where-else would someone whip up a sauce on the fly? the potato gratin delicious. The one disappointment was that my medium filet came out well-done. The crowd was more of an older white crowd, hence the slightly high prices. The bar was definitely hopping through the night. Seems like the cheers of Baltimore.
(3)Maria M.
Best mussels I've ever tasted, and you could kill someone with the amount of shellfish on their seafood pasta!
(5)Robyn T.
To start, don't ask a random cabbie to take you to Henninger's because odds are low that they will know where it is at....not that it is a bad thing. It is the place with the white Christmas lights in the windows...no sign that i could see. My first thoughts was this is a neighborhood bar and every seat was taken in the bar area on a random Thursday evening. The back room, the dining room, was completely empty so we had a nice quiet dinner. The Texas BBQ shrimp were good. Barbecue sauce was not over powering, you could tell they were cooked on a grill, not rubbery but bacon-licious. The cucumber salad was okay. We shared that app with the crab soup which was like a Italian minestrone with crab, we liked it. Main course was the house salad and crab cake duet. Salad was a little over dressed with red wine vinaigrette with cucumbers, little tomato pieces, carrots, and a few peperoncinis. Crab cakes were really good (this coming from a person who hasn't eaten many crab cakes) but they didn't have much filler (mayonnaise or bread crumbs) with seasoning and pan fried enough to get a crust but not too much. They fell apart when you cut them with a fork. The sauce was more like an aioli than a tartar, it was good but thick so we didn't eat it all. The cabbage slaw and fingerling potatoes were hardly touched. Fingerlings were dry, cabbage tasted like just cabbage...maybe would just order a side of 2 cakes in the future. Overall, we liked it. Wish they would have had a cocktail menu to know what their specialties were because neither one of the cocktails turned out as we expected. The key lime pie (as highly touted in other yelp reviews) was pretty bad. Maybe frozen and reheated for the night, I don't know, maybe need better crust. If I lived here I would go back but can't say that I would come back if I came back into Baltimore.
(3)Judy C.
4.5 stars. I came back to Baltimore looking for a good meal, so I suggested to friends (who have not been there) to go there for dinner. Thinking it would get busy really quickly on a Saturday, we went early around 6 PM. Luckily for us, it wasn't busy then, and we got seated right away. I got the mozzarella with bell peppers and artichokes appetizer (good but a touch too oily) and the crab cake with Henninger's slaw (a flavorfully strong dish). Friends got the seafood pasta (big portion as expected from last time) and the pork chop, which she liked. We ended our meal with the chocolate fudge brownie with hazelnut gelato. It was divine with the hot brownie and the cold gelato combined. We devoured the dessert very quickly. The entrees are pricier but the portions are slightly bigger than some of the other restaurants. The drinks and desserts are bargains (draft for $4, bottled beer from $1.50 to $5-6 at most?, and desserts are $5 each).
(4)Damian B.
*****4.5 stars **** Pulling the 5 star trigger can be so difficult. However, Henninger's is as good as it gets. It has a small menu but your torn between delicious and more delicious. The Texas shrimp App was mouth watering. The Short ribs were finger licking good. The whole fish was cooked to perfection. And my favorite part was the homemade KEY LIME PIE! wooopiee was that delicious! Will go back.
(4)Madeline W.
So my friend and I just picked this place because it doesn't take reservations and we were having trouble getting one at another place. We weren't sure what to expect when we ordered our food and were delighted by what we got. I had the crab cakes which had real huge pieces of crab in them which they serve with fingerling potatoes and AMAZING slaw. Seriously, this was the best slaw and crab cakes I had ever had. My friend got the whole broiled fish which was amazing also and we both got super yummy desert. The key lime pie is perfection. We also each got a glass of wine which are only $8 per glass. Overall for the quality of food we received we definitely got our money's worth and some. We arrived at like 9pm and they seated us right away and didn't complain or were rude when we were the last customers in the restaurant. The pink elephant mobiles make excellent decor.
(5)D K.
Probably 4.5 stars. The ambiance is intimate and has that neighborhood bar feel where everyone knows each other. Seems like a nice place for a date. Lighting on the low side; unique decor all around. Food is very tasty albeit a bit expensive in my opinion. We had shrimp bisque (soup of the night), fried oysters, crab cake entree, and scallop entree. 2 beers. Total including tax + tip just slightly over $100. People say its one of the best crab cakes around and I can't disagree. But I've had other crab cakes in the area which taste pretty darn good as well so I guess it's like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini, which is better? Well they both are... The staff is friendly and service was efficient. We went on a weeknight about 8:30 pm and the patron volume was light. Bread basket and water glasses remained full. I would happily go back if parking weren't such a bitch and if the prices were a touch bit lower. But it sure is a nice cozy place with tasty food. I won't be a regular but perhaps check it out once in a while.
(4)Lisa D.
Several other reviewers have gone over Henninger's decor and atmosphere in much greater detail than I have time for, so no need to reinvent the wheel there. In a nutshell, it's a tiny, local place with a fun atmosphere - relaxed and nice, not stuffy or kitschy. Went for dinner tonight on the early side (6:30pm on a Saturday) and from previous reviews thought we'd be early enough to avoid a wait. Walked in the door with my hubby and a friend, only to be greeted by a crowd of 6 standing up front and a row of folks lined up at the bar. Walked around for a minute trying to find someone who might be taking names for tables and, oddly, it turned out to be one of the people drinking with the group up front. 45 minute wait, he said. No problem... we perched on some barstools to enjoy a Flying Dog porter (yum!) and people watch. A cute older couple came in about 30 minutes later, hung up their coats and struck up a conversation. The woman asked if we were waiting for a table, and nodded knowingly when we said we'd been waiting for a while. "It's worth the wait," she said. "We're here every week." Then she leaned forward conspiratorially to let us in on a secret "I'm Jane's [the chef and owner] mom, but the food is really good and I'm not saying that just because I'm her mom." Hmmm... how do they decide who's going to cook Thanksgiving dinner in that house! We were really excited by the reviews, and charmed by the atmosphere and conversation, so when we sat down to eat we (and by we, I mean me) were really looking forward to a fantastic dinner. The menu is not overly complex... a good thing in my book. Too many options and I get stuck and make the waiter for 20 minutes while I try to figure out the perfect thing to order, which generally leads to lots of toe-tapping and annoyed looks from my husband. Thankfully, ordering was quick. You can see the full menu on their website - no changes from what was posted there, except the daily special fish was branzino. We ordered the pan fried oysters with pernod & fennel sauce and sauteed spinach as appetizers, then two of us ordered the filet with asparagus and potatoes au gratin, while one had the crab cakes with slaw and yukon gold potatoes. The oysters arrived and were delicious, tender and the sauce was amazing. I'm not even an oyster fan but loved these anyway. After a nice unrushed interlude, the main course arrived. And that's where things seemed to fall apart. The waiter suddenly seemed to turn into a whirling dervish, very efficiently delivering our plates, whipping the appetizer plates away, spinning around to fill water glasses at other tables, dropping off a plate here and there and generally being completely unavailable for any kind of questions or conversation. My steak was ordered medium rare but arrived medium, on a cold plate. The asparagus was crisp but cold, and the potatoes au gratin were on the cool side. It was as if my plate had been sitting around for a while before they brought it out. Our friend had ordered his steak rare, but it came out medium rare. I didn't ask him if his veggies were cold because I didn't want to kickstart any criticism while we were still eating. The crabcake came out warm, with a really nice slaw and delicious/unusual pesto dipping sauce. Potatoes were nice but nothing to write home about. I was especially disappointed in the steaks being overdone. Mine was so well cooked it had that liver-like tinge to it. Sigh. And this restaurant is such a friendly, small place that you HATE to make a stink or send something back. Normally my husband and friend are very effusive when they're enjoying a good meal, but they were both pretty reserved in their comments on the food so I could tell neither were really wowed by dinner. Then the waiter's unfriendly over-efficiency was such a major buzzkill, we didn't even want to stick around for dessert. In general, I would definitely go back for drinks or appetizers because of the great, local vibe. But even though prices were very reasonable, I don't think I'd choose Henninger's for dinner again. Sorry, Jane's mom (I hope you're not reading this!)
(3)Stormtrooper H.
While visiting Baltimore this was my favorite bar. It has a great menu of food and drinks with amazing memorabilia without feeling to stuffy.
(5)Sondra L.
Stopped in at Henninger's tonight after I was referred by another out-of-towner. I sat at the bar with three friends and we all enjoyed our time. Great, homey atmosphere. The menu was also great - everything looked delicious but I couldn't resist ordering the "T.V. Dinner" which was on the bar only menu for 10 bucks. And boy it was a fun little steal - a metal tray with baked chicken, mashed potatoes and peas, fresh bread and a chocolate frosted cupcake with sprinkles! Pleasant waitstaff and well versed bartender. I will definitely go back!
(4)Mark M.
Henninger's is one of those places that really takes you by surprise and throws you for a loop. Approaching from outside, it seems really unassuming, and you're not quite sure if it's a restaurant, a bar, or just someone's living room. Then you walk in the door and think "uh-oh" as you notice all the crazy weird kitschy crap all over the walls. "This doesn't bode well", you think to yourself...but you proceed anyway. Then you look at the menu and think "hmmm...this stuff sounds pretty high-brow for a place that looks like this". And then the food comes out...and you're blown away, and you become a fan for life. One of the other reviews referred to Henninger's as her "other living room". I can't think of a more apt way of describing this place. It felt like home. Not the home I've ever had, but the home I've always wanted. I wish they were open on Christmas, because it's totally the kind of place that would be perfect to retreat to, after you've spent the day being emotionally drained by dealing with your own family and their various & sundry neurosis...to be able to escape to here and unwind with a few Manhattans and your adopted Henningers family...it would just be ideal.
(4)Heather S.
Every meal I have ever had there has been really good. But i keep going back for the filled to the rim martini and he whole baked fish. The restaurant is good, but seated at the bar is even better. It is a great place to have a drink and a shrimp sandwich or order off of their full menu. It is tucked away in fells point on Bank St. and one of the things i like most about Baltimore.
(5)Paul O.
Great atmosphere with both a local flare and a nice raising the bar on bar food. I had the whole fish and while I would recommend a bit more seasoning on the fish and a little lighter on the sesame oil on the vegetables it was tasty and lett the table with only bones and the head left. Service was folksy, but excellently attentive. The shrimp appetizer was excellent and the crab cakes could have stayed in the pan a minute longer, but were very tasty.
(4)Boyd M.
Mix great food with a neighborhood bar and you get Henninger's. When I dream of a "place", this is the kind of place I dream. Top notch fresh ingredients done well. Unpretentious. A wait staff that treats you more like you are eating at their kitchen counter. Well made drinks and service was spot on. Sounds too good to be true, but I know that some people might have a problem with a place like HT. Too many people are going to try to define the place and that is a shame. It is by no means a dive bar and it is not a high end restaurant, even if it has the food for it. It does not compute and that is what I love the most about it. In our nine months in living in Bmore... this is the best place, yet! Word of warning - this place can get crazy busy! Avoid the crowds and go early or during the week.
(5)Andrew L.
So disappointed by the entire night. Had gone for drinks there once and had a great time. Went there for dinner and all I got was a 100$ worth of stomach aches. We got bbq grilled shrimp appetizer that was basically shrimp drowned in cold right out of the supermarket aisle crappy barbeque sauce. Combined with a completely average hen dish and off-tasting seafood pasta- I will never return or recommend to anyone.
(1)Laurene C.
On the way here we got caught in some sort of monsoon lightning storm, but quirky cute decor and delicious food immediately made me forget about sloshy shoes and cold wet feet. Crab cakes. AWESOME. The lime aioli is deliciously tangy and red cabbage slaw is divine-esp for someone who really doesn't like mayo, it's not too creamy. The last crab cake I had was from a stand at Flowermart that tasted like a fishy sawdust patty. The one I had here was as polar opposite as can be. Large chunks of crab with a delicate, delicious flavor. I will be coming back for that appetizer alone. I had the filet mignon special with chanterelle mushrooms and potatoes au gratin. The sauce, as other reviewers have mentioned, had me wanting to lick the plate. It seems to be a special quite often. My friend got the shellfish pasta, which he said was very good-not mind blowingly unusual, but does good food always need to be? The portions are satisfying but prices are a little too much for me to be a regular. The bar menu, however, is VERY reasonable, and I plan to come in for a fancy dinner again as well as a few more fiscally responsible meals at the bar.
(5)Carrie Z.
The joke between me and a bunch of my crazy friends for the last 15+ yrs, is that Henninger's is our "other living room". A few of us lived on Bank St. around the time Kenny and Jayne Vieth bought the place from Chuck Henninger in the early 1990's, and although it was a stretch for us to pool our nickels together to afford the filet, we were always able to eat and drink well. (Rolling Rock never tasted so good!) As my salary went up, so did my feasting options. Jayne has never disappointed me! From a perfectly cooked filet mignon (just a hint over medium), to a tender, poached halibut over a bed of sauteed spinach, to my favorite crab cakes in the world (big lumps, very little filling!)! Then there was the coriander encrusted tuna... oh, my! And, frankly, I don't like mussels, but I'll happily lap up the white wine broth with hunks of fresh, soft bread. The limited menu rotates a few new dishes along with the popular staples, and the bar always features a few specialties of its own (the TV dinner is comfort-food heaven!). When Kenny gets out the smoker, watch out! - You'll always find fresh, seasonal ingredients used, and Jayne whips up her own desserts. This is not a vegetarian restaurant, so don't expect vegetarian dishes, but in the past, they have fixed a beautiful plate of sides for my non-meat eating friends. So be nice when you ask. -- For something light, order a nice glass of wine and one or two of the appetizers (the fried oysters in Pernod sauce or the barbequed shrimp, always get my vote.). Perfect for romantic dates. Dress up or go casual (but not sloppy). Call ahead for reservations or to see if it's a busy evening. I've seen this place packed to the gills! Or just get there early enough for some bar real estate and eat dinner there while Kenny entertains you with some of the funniest true stories you'll ever hear. I don't give them 5 stars because, after all these years, they're close friends of mine, I give them 5 stars because I still consider it "my other living room" complete with consistently wonderful food, intimate ambiance and great service! Sorry, but parking is a nightmare down in Fells Point now, especially on Bank St. Best advice if you can't find a spot close by, park elsewhere and walk or take a cab! Well worth the hassle!
(5)Kevin S.
This out of the way place is somewhere you really want to like, unfortunately the food and service couldn't deliver. The food I had was stale bread and packaged butter that came out to start the meal, a mediocre crab small cake on another giant stale roll, accompanied by fingerling potatoes that were way overcooked (likely over microwaved). Then it took forever to get a second glass of wine, which I needed to get through the food. The prices are way too high for food and service at this level. I won't be back.
(2)Leila B.
Great feel to this restaurant, narrow rooms of an old brownstone and walls hung with captivating photos and art. Fabulous food. Fried Oysters in a pernod cream sauce with wilted spinach and rabbit sausage with polenta and apple/onion reduction. The crab cake served with a red cabbage slaw was one of the best we've ever had. We also really enjoyed the Mahi dinner served over a crab and potato hash with a creamy dill sauce. Dessert was a house made peanut butter pie, good not great. Friendly staff, great service. Very happy to have eaten here.
(5)