Outstanding. Food is well worth the minor annoyance of bar stool seating. Best blueberry pancakes I've ever had. Chipped beef is great comfort food
(5)
J. M.
I'm not a diner person but on my solitary visit at some ungodly hour, the service was unforgettably lovely and warm. I don't think I've felt this strongly about the staff anywhere I've ever been in my entire life. Tipping highly here is not just your obligation but obligatory whether or not you care for the food [it's really cheap]. It's made with great care and served with unparalleled respect and kindness.
(5)
Doug F.
Pete's is a local favorite. No tables so big groups is a no no, but the food is good quality and the service is solid. Their turkey is not the Deli kind but the cut off a bird kind. And I'm not sure what they do to the soda but their Coke is the tastiest I've ever had. Seriously.
(4)
Josh L.
This place is a diamond in the rough, the only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is that the waitress we got was a little grouchy. Now I know it was a busy Sunday morning but everyone else looked happy. Not a big deal though, we all have those days and the food was amazing!
(4)
Joseph K.
Went on a Sunday around noon. Packed, like a good diner would be. The place was buzzin. I had a turkey sausage and 2 egg sandwich, western omelette w/ homefries, chocolate chip pancakes, shared between me and a friend. Check out their specials each day. On Sundays, they have choc chip pancakes (6.00), western omelette (7.25) The chocolate chip pancake was very good. Almost too much chocolate. But it was pretty big. Definitely would struggle on my own to eat it all by myself, and that's saying alot. It's a nice fluffy consistency. The omelette was good and the homefries were decent. Homefries could've used more crust, but it was still great. Overall good seasoning, flavorful. I also tried some biscuits and sausage gravy. Thick, gravy over a soft moist biscuit ...nothing ridiculously amazing, but still decent. In these parts of baltimore, this is a classic quick, diner feel with great food. The food is really well done. On any day, Try to avoid the lunch rush.
(4)
Pam F.
Blueberry pancakes were great! The coffee was also excellent as well as the service! My friend had the turkey sausage, hash browns and eggs. she also had a great breakfast.
(4)
Sanjay J.
Haiku: Michael Phelps comes here and eats the home fries. Like him, Pete's gets a medal.
(4)
Robby B.
Been here a couple of times and have never been disappointed. Food is simple, but tasty and reasonably priced. Daily specials are always good. My favorite is probably the boring sounding, but positively scrumptious, chicken melt. The normal fare is good too. I really like the chicken and waffles, even if they are simple. You get a moist chicken tenders instead of regular fried chicken, but it works really well. Atmosphere is fun too. I've gotten into nice convos with random people. Wait staff isn't necessarily enthusiastic, but who cares? I have fun here. Take note: It's all bar seating so it's not great for really large groups. For the umpteenth time, this place is simple and satisfying. Don't miss out.
(4)
Bill M.
Went back this morning sat at counter and had an outstanding breakfast with wife and son. We were seated right in front of the grill and it was great to watch the cook make our breakfast. It was clear he took pride in preparing each order. The grill was clean and our orders were cooked to perfection. Really, really like this place for breakfast..
(5)
Zakiya S.
Love love love eating here. Great pancakes fast service. Always packed though and you might have to wait in line to be seated but its totally worth it! Not the best place for small children, but perfect for brunch with the girls, or hubby when you have a baby sitter.
(4)
Mo A.
It's as basic a diner as they come. It's like being sent back to the 50's and 60's but the good thing is the prices are very very reasonable. The service is a little on the gruff side and can be non-existent when they're busy. Seating is extremely limited. It's a cash only establishment. It's like being on the set of the show "Happy Days". Except Fonzi would probably get beat down and thrown through the glass window. The food is pretty good. Breakfast food and sandwiches are both tasty and portion sizes are nice. Fries are really good. The hours of this place are limited as it serves breakfast/brunch. Get there early for a seat or prepare for a wait! Bonus for the groupies and celebrity hounds, locals say Michael Phelps has been known to visit for breakfast.
(3)
Erica C.
Hype. hype. hype. I blame you, Michael Phelps! Your face is plastered all over this place! There is always a wait because it is a small place. The breakfast fare is pretty standard. Certainly good for standard breakfast fare, but I wouldn't cross the ocean for it. Blue Moon Cafe has similar fare and does it better. The service was alright, but not the warm and fuzzy you'd expect at a 'mom and pop' type spot. We ordered an omelet, a side of bacon, and the infamous blueberry pancakes. All in all....I've had worse.
(3)
Thomas V.
I went here for brunch a while ago when I visited Baltimore. I really liked the set-up of the place--it's a long bar-style counter all the way around the restaurant, which really allow the waiters to accomodate whatever you need. The food is so-so for a brunch/breakfast place, but is one of the best choices in the neighborhood I believe.
(3)
K N.
I love this place. Every time I'm in Baltimore I make it a point to stop by. Regardless of the hoard of hungover college students and occasionally grumpy ("No, I will not move over one seat") senior citizens, Pete's is just the best breakfast spot you can ask for. Sure, you'll probably have to wait on the weekend, but it's worth it. Pete's just does classic food really, really well. The atmosphere is fun, lots of energy and fast-moving staff, which is impressive considering how small the space is. Overall, Pete's is always worth the trip - just make sure to check-in to see if they're doing a clean-out that day or not (happens every so often); we've had to go elsewhere a few times because they've been closed.
(5)
Rob S.
Was introduced to this place by a Friend , Its the best breakfast / lunch place in Baltimore, the prices are reasonable the portions are large the staff is awesome
(5)
Ti C.
3.5 It is a standard counter diner.I usually stumble here on Saturday mornings to soak up the liquor from Friday night. Food is good, service can be hit or miss. The early hours are annoying, as is the cash only policy, but still a good Baltimore experience.
(3)
Betsy M.
I visites Pete's for the first time on Sunday with my boyfriend. We had an awesome time and an even better meal. The long diner counter was fun and functional. Pete's has charm without frills- something very hard to find these days. These people also know how to work! Our waitress was both hospitable and punctual- always with a smile on her face. My coffee and water were constantly full, and we were able to order promptly. Our steaming, two-eggs omlettes and hash browns were in front of us within minutes after ordering. The omlettes were awesome, but the hash browns at Pete's were undeniably the highlight. The potatoes were a combonation of soft and crispy that was heavenly. I could not put my fork down until I finished ALL of them! I'd reccomend this place to anyone looking for a truly honest and delicious breakfast. One thing I would not advise is bringing a lot of people here, it's somewhere you go with two or three people that enjoy eggs as much/more than you do. We will definitely be back very soon!
(5)
Lauren S.
Came here on a rainy Saturday afternoon and it was pakced. However I only had to wait about 10 minutes before sitting down. I got chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, and home fries. The pancakes were very fluffy and filling, but could have used more chocolate chips. Frankly I think I make better pancakes at home. The home fries were ok, they were a hot mess of grease and mush. The bacon on the other hand was delicious. If the bacon had been bad, then my entire day would have been ruined. The service is very friendly, and the prices are cheap. Would I come back? Possibly, I don't see why not. But I'll stay away from the cakes and the home fries.
(3)
Lana T.
Pete's Grill has a homey, diner feel. The workers are very friendly, although service can be pretty slow when it's crowded. I would definitely recommend coming on a weekday morning if you can to avoid the crowd on weekends. Its menu doesn't feature fusion dishes and the counter can seat maybe 15 people, but I can sum it all up in 5 words: chocolate chip pancakes & home fries. (Does that count as 6?) Pricing is reasonable and portions are large. A solid brunch place worth coming back to again and again! P.S. This is apparently Michael Phelps' favorite burnch place! ;)
(4)
Nell F.
They aren't lying about the blueberry pancakes. Everything is delicious, the entire place smells amazing. Pete's Grille is tops as far as neighborhood places go. I do love me a good diner. I was turned off by the cash only policy, however. Be prepared for that, the only ATMs near by are stand-alones.
(3)
B C.
I moved out of Baltimore's Waverly neighborhood a few years back, but Pete's is the first place I want to visit next time I'm there. Grab a seat at the counter, smell that old greasy spoon flavor, take in some oldies music, and read the newspaper. Saturday mornings don't get much better than that.
(5)
Eric H.
Great food. Love the diner atmosphere. Makes a damn good cup of coffee. Asked for 2 eggs over easy and got what wanted. I would highly recommend this grill.
(4)
Andrew M.
God bless Petes for making it in this location! The four guys tilting brown bagged 40's at 8am put the spring in your step as you step over strewn trash and broken glass, and think about the panic button location on your car key fob. Petes is the upscale commercial retail anchor of a group of local stores struggling from falling into the Greenmount rut of chinese/liquor store/chicken facades.The fact that it is a breakfast place tones down the sketch, but it is easy to understand why a burgaler met the business end of a JHU student's samurai sword a few blocks away. You can only eat at a high top at a long diner bar at Petes, which brings the diner grill experience front and center. The chef deftly folds omlets, crusts scrapple, and flips flapjacks. The coffee and home fries were meh. The food is a notch above servicable, and in no way pilgrimige worthy. You get semi friendly hon service who make it clear that you aren't quite as welcome as regulars. The dullard Baltimore ambassador, Michael Phelps, used to routinely lap through Petes calories. Despite the high bar stool only seating, Petes is kid friendly if it is not crowded. You will be rubbing elbows with your neighbor, and you will wait in line if you are late. Go early to decompress on Saturday morning with plans to hit up the block away Waverly Farmers Market, the neighborhood's shining gem.
(3)
R I.
Very ordinary. When I go out to brunch I expect that they either make things that i can easily make at home better than I can or that they make complicated things that I don't feel like making, this place does neither. Cool little place, but otherwise food isn't special.
(3)
Tameka M.
The food was exactly as expected...nothing too fancy or out of the ordinary. I went in just to get some good simple food and I was definitely satisfied! I would give 5 stars if they accepted cards...IF you plan on going make sure you bring enough cash!!! (if not, there is an atm across the street so no biggie)
(4)
Meghan R.
Seriously one of the best breakfast places ever. They basically have a build your own breakfast kind of set up which is really great. It's inexpensive and fast. There is always a wait after ten, but the staff does a great job of making sure people are getting in and out in a timely manner without you feeling rushed. I admittedly have never been to eat lunch here so I cannot comment of their lunch food (they have burgers). The downside to this place is that they are only open until one... that makes getting there earier important. Favorite item on the menu: HOTCAKES they are sooooooooooo good.
(4)
Rick S.
Best place for Breakfast and lunch in the area Hamburgers are huge daily specials are prices very well, good food good price what else can you say
(5)
JJ J.
I guess it's a little overdue to write about this place 6 years after you first try it. But I've been back numerous times and for what it is(a small diner for eating solid breakfast food), i think it absolutely gets the job done. Don't go with the mindset of having a "restaurant" experience. Just go, with cash in hand, get your food ordered quickly, enjoy and eat your food, and go on your way so others can sit down. The reason I say this is that on weekends, there will be many people waiting for seats at the bar to open up. I always just start with a coffee and then order the western omelet with home fries and a short stack of blueberry pancakes(these are ON POINT, so get them whate whatever you're having). Perfect way to start your morning!
(5)
Joseph V.
While the service was great, the food quality did not match the hype.
(3)
Damon L.
I came here for the Pancakes, the pancakes were AWESOME. So moral of the story is, if you're craving Pancakes come here ;-)
(4)
Alan L.
The best breakfast in Baltimore is blueberry pancakes with homemade scrapple and grits at Pete's Grllle.
(5)
Yishin S.
I think this place is famous, partially because Michael Philips used to come here and eat breakfast. First, the place is pretty small, and there is no table, just a bunch of chairs around the bar. So it is not a place you would go and hang out with more than one friend, because it is hard to communicate when sitting at the bar. Second, Pete makes great American/Southern food . Most people get things like pancakes, grits, and sausages. Third, the portion is huge, I think that is why Michael Philips used to come here. Fourth, The price is really good. Fifth, they close early like 2pm. Sixth, it is located in Greenmount ave, which is a sketchy place.
(4)
Hansoo J.
This place seems like a place that I would love to eat at on a regular basis. The counter fills the majority of the diner and has roughly 20 stools beside it. The walls are adorned with some local sports memorabilia. This place just feels like Baltimore. The breakfast menu lists the classics like hotcakes and omelets. The prices were ok: A short stack of pancakes, 1 egg and a piece of scrapple cost about $8.00. But the food was pretty good. The pancakes were fluffy and light. The short stack was more than enough to fill me up. It's hard to believe that Michael Phelps eats 8 of these after his workouts; but I guess that's why he's an Olympic gold medalist... The burgers looked very enticing. I'll be sure to stop by for lunch and try them one day. The menu asserts that they are made from fresh ground beef and hand formed. I was disappointed that they didn't have corned beef hash and that the prices were a little higher than I had expected. Also, while they have what looks like a credit card machine next to their cash register, they take cash only. This is a good place to come for standard breakfast food, plus you can tell people that you ate the breakfast of champions, literally.
(3)
Adam J. K.
What can I say about Pete's Grille without sounding like a crazy person? Probably nothing. I love this place more than anyone should ever love what is essentially a diner, especially because I worked at "another 'popular local diner' not too far away." The food is plentiful and cheap. Eggs how you want them! Pancakes the size of the plate! Endless coffee mugs! Homefries that everyone raves about and french fries that I explicitly rave about (I swear they are the best french fries I have ever had, and I am really picky about fries). It's not just breakfast though, oh no. I dream about the weekdays that I am able to get to Pete's to order "lunch for breakfast." I don't care if it's 10am, I will be ordering a tuna melt (with lettuce and tomato) and drinking two cups of coffee with it. Like the tuna, I am hooked. The staff is friendly in the classic diner sense, and because all the seating is along the bar, they're never too far away. Sometimes the place is packed, so expect to wait along the wall until enough neighboring seats free up for your group... and do yourself a favor, don't come here with more than three or four people on a weekend and expect to sit together. That's just extremely likely to happen. Oh, and don't forget, CASH ONLY. They'll have you run out to one of the ATMs nearby if you forget, but it's so much easier to "not run" after three pancakes.
(5)
Jamie S.
Pete's is a long standing tradition in Baltimore. Often awarded for best breakfast. Well, if you live in the area than it probably is. Love the setup of this place. Long bar counter and hustle and bustle non stop. I can imagine folks not spending a lot of time chit-chatting and having business breakfast in this spot because it seems like a place to pop in for a meal and get back to what you were doing. It might feel rushed but hey, when they bring your meal out lickety split how long does it take you to pack it all in. Service is excellent. They don't pamper you but they take care of you for sure. Coffee cup and water glass are never half empty. Pancakes and eggs are a bit on the bland side and nothing is really fancy but boy does this place have spirit. Note. If you are not familiar with the area don't be alarmed. Yes, it's on Greenmount, yes it's not the county, yes parking is hard to find. Deal with it.
(3)
Dan H.
Nothing but a long counter, Pete's fills up fast on the weekend and with good reason. The breakfasts are not the fanciest one can find but they are big, filling and pretty tasty. The pancakes are huge (I am a little afraid of anyone who can eat a tall stack), the turkey sausage is delicious and the eggs made just right. The hash browns tend towards the soggy side, however. The service is attentive and I cannot recall my coffee cup running empty. In all, this is the kind of joint to hit when you just want your energy fix at the beginning of the day.
(4)
Simon G.
It's where the cops go in the morning to get their breakfast. Seriously. It's got that old-school "mom and pop" feel. Food is cheap and good, and the people are nice. Can be a decent wait though.
(4)
Kojo B.
Went to Pete's grill if you like breakfast food reminiscent of your college cafeteria then this is your place to go. Cheap and fast. Just ok.
(3)
Jonathan G.
Not bad. Walking into to the corner diner, you'd be surprised. It's a country/small town-feeling diner on Greenmount and 32nd, in an area between the Hopkins students and hipsters on one side, and the rough neighborhood on the other. It's rare that you'll walk in and there's seating available. Usually, you'll stand at the wall, behind the seated customers, waiting in line for an open stool. The wait ranges from 10-30 minutes, depending on the time of day and size of your party. Then, you sit down, order, and have some nice, greasy diner food. There are lots of good dishes, but nothing here is spectacular. The point is that it's quick, cheap, and greasy. There are lots of posted rules about ordering, conduct, paying, and taking up space, but then, their space is at a premium. I'm usually okay with those rules, but they felt a bit stifling, especially when the food is really just pretty good. I like it, but I imagine some tourists walk in and might be turned off.
(3)
Rachel F.
One of Baltimore's hidden treasures! Pete's Grill is a small little restaurant with only a bar. That makes for limited seating, but it's well worth the wait (and people don't spend long eating, the food is that good). Tucked away on Greenmount in Waverly, Pete's has the perfect balance of local families and young singles who have moved into the city from the county. The waitresses and cooks feel like real, old-school Baltimore, will definitely call you hon, and will be (appropriately) disinterested in your presence. It's awesome. I always mosey on down to Pete's after the Saturday farmers markets on 33rd street and grab a short stack of blueberry pancakes. But make sure you have cash, I don't think they accept credit cards. And on weekends for breakfast you have to spend over 5 dollars, which may be harder than you think because Pete's prices are low.
(4)
Drew S.
People rave about this place and I honestly don't know why. Yes it's crowded and cozy and quaint in its old-fashioned style but I don't imagine it's that hard to pack a place with only 20 seats. I feel like Pete's gets credit for being a popular spot just because having even a modest number of customers inside makes it look like the cool place to be. Which makes folks who are waiting in anticipation want to believe the food is great and they're in for a real Baltimore treat. I guess. I've been to plenty of greasy spoons and I don't see how Pete's is any different from any other breakfast joint in Small Town America. Except Pete's costs a little more (which is fair, they don't seat many), and the cooking doesn't even meet the low standards set by this genre of food. The eggs were half-cooked, the home fries were not fried - they glisten with a buttery sweat, and the coffee was a brown-flavored water (standard for diners, I know). If Baltimore had anywhere near the appropriate number of breakfast spots per capita, this place wouldn't be the one we'd all be talking about.
(2)
Rebecca G.
Friendly service and the most consistent food we've ever had. Pete's is somewhere that you're proud to be a regular. The wait staff is friendly, and even though the waits for a seat are often long at peak times, the food is always worth it. Great milk shakes, best omelette in town, delicious french toast. There hasn't been a single item that we've tried and not been happy with, though we definitely have our regular favorites.
(5)
Mindy M.
Fav breakfast spot of B-more hometown legend, Michael Phelps, and is among the best breakfast places around. A long counter set with stools elbow to elbow and friendly smiles (as well as a line) greet you as you enter this local Baltimore favorite. The joint is FILLED with local sports memories and makes you feel like you just stepped back in time with all the friendly faces and decor on the wall. If you do go, don't show up with a large group of people. The place is counter stools only and seats open as they come up so you'll A) wait forever and B) have everyone in the place mad at you b/c it takes forever to seat you. The menu includes favs such as grits, scrapple, breakfast sandwiches (try it on the kaiser bun), breakfast potatoes, pancakes (with fruit too), and homemade waffles (if you sit near the waffle machine be prepared to be sprayed by the cook with nonstick spray). On Sundays they also serve cream chipped beef which is FANTASTIC if not totally unhealthy for you. The food is great, just don't go there if you are on a diet or eat healthy (note- this is where Michael consumes his now legendary breakfast meals after practice each day). They serve breakfast the entire time they are open- YAH!! but beware- they close at 2pm! The service is great (and totally Baltimore, Hon) and the turnover in seats is pretty fast so if you go and the line is long, the wait usually is shorter than you think it will be. So if you decide to pop in do me a favor, don't go on Sunday mornings; that's when I go and the line is already too long :)
(5)
Pete R.
great food great Price great people , i love this place i don't even need to look at menu i know what i want , bar seating busy on weekends cash only don't ask for a bagel they will know you are a newbie
(5)
Allison M.
Whoever said you can't have something good and fast has never been to Pete's. This neighborhood diner seats no more than 20 people at the counter and has great food for a greasy spoon. The lively, fun atmosphere brings me back to the era of "Cheers". I wouldn't be surprised if they name the seats for the regulars. The hours are short. Pete's is only open until 1PM on most days, but thankfully, you only need about 20 minutes from when you sit down to paying your bill.
(4)
Geoff c.
Avoid weekends if you can. It'll be packed until closing. It's a tiny place. Very old school feel. But the food is awesome. hot sandwiches. win.
(4)
S S.
Pete's is a classic diner with high quality food. The only negative thing I would say is that waiting in line during peak hours is not pleasant. There is little space for people to stand and sometimes the line can be quite long. Other than the lines and wait times, I highly recommend Pete's!
(4)
melissa m.
We ordered the blueberry pancakes with side of turkey sausage, and a turkey sausage omelette with home fries and two cups of coffee. It was okay. The service was pretty good. I didnt find it to be anything too special. If you happen to be in the neighborhood Id say stop by, but otherwise... Miss Shirleys is always great, Broadway diner has more of a selection with equally, if not better food, and Blue Moon Cafe has an eclectic vibe that I enjoy with their delicious Rain Forest organic coffee.
(3)
Al E.
We just tried Pete's. Meh is a good word. Pros: It is charming and the service was great. Gf had eggs over easy with grits - a plate full plus sausage. It was fine. I ordered a short stack of blueberry pancakes. The pancakes are HUGE so it's plenty. The problem was they were spongy and the blueberries had a strange consistency. I wished I had gone with chocolate chips like the little boy beside me. Gf didn't like that they didn't have that crisp from the griddle. I added 2 scrambled eggs and home fries. BAD!!!! Eggs way overcooked. They boil their home fries and then finish them on the griddle, which is acceptable. But they did not have that nice flavor from the griddle and did not have that nice fry. I am picky about both eggs and home fries and they failed on both. We won't be back. If we're going to get dressed and get in the car, might as well head to Teavolve for a truly delicious breakfast/brunch.
(2)
Raymond W.
Pete's is exactly what you want in a diner: good food and great service. Went on a Saturday and got in before the crowd. Was seated right away, offered drink, order taken, and food delivered in approximately 9 minutes. I ordered an egg white veggie omelet w/turkey sausage and it came as ordered and expected. Pete's is a great no frills spot and I will be back.
(4)
matthew h.
a perfect low key counter only diner for breakfast or lunch. well made eggs, great pancakes, friendly service. be prepared to wait on a weekend morning, but it's worth it. and you just might see michael phelps stroll through the door. (we didn't)
(4)
Allison B.
Best brunch and hamburgers and hash browns, not greasy and disgusting just super tasty
(5)
Beth S.
Hands down, Baltimore's best answer to treating that Sunday morning hangover. Despite the wait, the service is quick and efficeint, food is good, prices are right. Whenever I'm back visiting friends (JHU alum here), I make a point to go to Pete's for my bacon/egg/cheese on a toasted kaiser roll, side of home fries. Pete's will always have a special place in my heart.
(5)
Chris A.
If you want good breakfast, come here.
(5)
Willy W.
pretty good diner food, but extremely hard to get a seat. This was known to be the old stomping grounds of Michael Phelps and is within walking distance to the farmer's market and JHU.
(3)
Kelly S.
I am laying in bed right now w/a hangover. I'm gonna get my grill on later to fill the void in my stomach and my soul, but last weekend I discovered the ideal way to do that - Pete's Grille. Yes, that's an e on the end. Get there early or else you're gonna wait in line behind the counter for seats to open up (I would go solo or with just one other person). Simple, short order solid-ass stick to your ribs breakfast, very reasonably priced. Excellent potatoes, bacon, blueberry pancakes, fountain soda (the ultimate hangover lifesaver) and they just give you a crapload of food. What more could you ask for to cure a hangover? Just a great salt of the earth neighborhood joint, can't beat it, if it's good enough for Michael Phelps' stoner ass, good enough for me-
(5)
John A.
BEST DINER...EVER! Pete's is amazing for so many reasons... the sweet old building, the awesome staff, and of course the amazing food. Used to cut class as a Senior at City all the time to go to Pete's with my friends and get some breakfast...ah, good times! You really can't go wrong with anything at Pete's, but if you only get one chance to make it there you've got to try the home fries, they're the best I've ever had!
(5)
Pascal P.
I'm going to horrify a lot of people and say that I don't think Pete's Grill is all that great. There's nothing wrong with it, but I never saw anything special about the place, and I don't see why it's always so packed.
(3)
Scott G.
I only had the blueberry pancakes at Pete's, so my opinion is not that informed. The pancakes were good -- fluffy with fresh blueberries -- and came in a large portion. I can usually polish off my food, but this time I couldn't. The coffee was what you'd expect from a diner. The waitresses were friendly and the decor was charming. I'm a big fan of old school breakfast places and, with its barstool seating only, Pete's is one of those places.
(4)
Rebecca L.
Pete's is sweet with it's busy waitresses and it's gleaming packed bar of hungry Baltimorers. Reminds me of Tom's in Brooklyn, except smaller and not as overly-in-your-face friendly. The egg and cheese was A OK by me. We arrived at 10 on the dot on a Sunday, so little wait, but by 10:15 there was a hugeeeee line. I'd go back, for sure.
(4)
Paul O.
Great stereotypical place to go for breakfast and sit at a counter. One of those places you see on TV/movies and wish one was nearby for you to have a meal and experience the people and the food. The service was fantastic in the old diner style of a little in your face service. Love the banter between the servers and the cooks. The owner, who is also one of the cooks is a bit eery as he stares at the guests with a small smile on his face and seems to be looking through you. Also, he moves at the slowest pace for a short order cook I have ever seen. The other short order cook is quick, smooth and makes a grill sing. As for the food, good standard fair. Great fluffy pancakes, good fresh cracked eggs and solid Baltimore based breads for toast. The weakness is in the potatoes. Guys, you have to lessen the greasiness and get some crispy parts to gain some crunch and textural elements, instead of a mushy, greasy mix.
(4)
Yelp Fan F.
Solid diner food. Good portion size. Reasonable prices. Staff was attentive. It had a very diner-scene-in-a-movie ambience..the staff wore uniforms and people sat around the bar eating and talking. I left happy and satisfied.
(4)
Samuel R.
I have been here a few times and only for the breakfast, so I cannot comment on the lunch portion of the menu. There is nothing unique or avant-garde about the menu: standard North American breakfast items: pancakes, waffles, eggs of different styles, the usual breakfast meats, egg sandwiches, etc. However, if Baltimore could brag a few more of these places, it would help put the Charm back in Charm City. Not only will you walk away satisfied, but you will have a 'real' Baltimore experience. The seating are stools along a lengthy counter with no division among individuals or groups. Be prepared to accidentally elbow and be elbowed by neighboring patrons. You will also overhear several conversations from the currently unemployed, blue color workers, and PhD students. My fiancee's neighbors swapped stories about adventuring in the world of Dungeons and Dragons while my neighbors were recommending museum exhibits to one another. Also, we were treated to a man in a long black wool coat stepping into the establishment, raising his arms then announcing, "May the Lord bless and keep you all!" Apparently, he's a regular since a lady behind the counter addressed him by first name and informed him that the police would be called if he didn't leave. He didn't leave immediately, but remained with his hands folded and mumbled unintelligibly. He eventually left and, to my knowledge, the police were never summoned. You get a full sense of the cross section of classes in the city as the proletariat and the opulent crowd each other for counter space. What we ordered: Blueberry Pancakes - Nice, fluffy, filling. There's just something comforting about large pancakes with blueberries cooked inside, dripping with butter and syrup. An order of three thick and fluffy pancakes will definitely tide you over until lunch and possibly even dinner. Turkey Sausage - We choose turkey sausage over pork sausage whenever it's available. We both put a lot of effort in losing a combined total of 100 lbs. As much as we like to dine out, we find ways to cut a few calories here and a few grams of fat there. We shared the three links and if all turkey sausage was this good, the pork industry would be seriously hurting. Blueberry waffle - I have been wanting to order one of these since my first visit. I would watch a cook pull one from the waffle iron and slap it on a plate, the four corners jutting over the edge of the plate, then dump a handful of fresh blueberries over top. PROS - firm, crisp outside and doughy inside and deep craters for holding pools of flavorful syrup. CONS - You just can't spread butter over waffles and in the end, I like the blueberries cooked inside the batter. One egg, over medium - Done to perfection: not overdone with a hardened yolk and not underdone with a completely runny snot-like yolk. You can cut it up with a fork. Would I go again? Definitely and fairly soon. You might have trouble getting seated with a party larger than two and you may have to bring a magazine for the wait as you stand directly behind the seated people who are already jammed in shoulder to shoulder.
(5)
Jay S.
Simply the best home-fries/breakfast potatoes in the city. Counter space only dining. There are no fancy breakfasts here just tasty regular stuff. If you like eggs or flavored pancakes you are in for a treat. But again it's nothing fancy. Cheap and QUICK!
(5)
Ben V.
Pete's is a solid, four star Baltimore breakfast spot. It's proximity to the Farmer's Market on the weekends increases this to five stars, if you can get a seat in a decent amount of time. Order anything with blueberries in it, and you'll be glad you did. That doesn't just go for Pete's Grill. Like, as a "Positive Life Maxim", perhaps "Positive Life Maxim #79" ORDER ANYTHING WITH BLUEBERRIES IN IT, AND YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID. Jack Handey, you're not allowed to steal that. It's Ben Valis' "Deep Thought' For Real.
(4)
Jenny A.
Pete's Grill is a really cool place. It is the only place I've ever been to that looks and feels like an old lunch counter. Waiting against the wall sucks, but it's worth it for good cheap food.
(5)
Joe T.
Relatively cheap, and just plain old perfectly-made breakfast food. I've been here perhaps close to 20 times. Western omelet with home fries is my favorite here, though the thick and fluffy blueberry hotcakes are really good as well. Can't really go wrong on the menu, as everything tastes great. No fancy gimmicks, just great food.
(4)
Mike R.
Been here before AND after the Michael Phelps hype. I have come later in the morning so there was a wait (but not too long). I order my typical diner food consisting of sunny-side up eggs,bacon, hash browns and toast. You can see them cooking your order from across your seat. It is good comfort food. I was happy and full everytime I left. I will stop here again for good food and value.
(4)
Kristina D.
This is what a diner should be. Interesting characters perch on counter stools chomp on blueberry pancakes and provide people-watching enjoyment for your own blueberry pancake-chomping.
(5)
j j.
JR: Egg sandwich was nothing special, but good. JS: egg over easy, a-ok, home fries were alright, but I prefer when a place makes them a bit crispier. The place was pretty crowded--decent people watching... The folks who work there were very friendly during our visit and on their game-- the service was well above average.
(3)
Eric P.
At this neighborhood staple in Waverly, you'll find cops eating breakfast on weekdays, and large masses of Hopkins students on the weekends. Personally, I like the simpler things, like blueberry pancakes or waffles, but they have a full fare of southern cooking -- from scrapple to chipped beef and milkshakes. 100% counter seating can lead to long waits on a weekend, best bet is to show up on a weekday morning. Apparently, this is also Michael Phelp's (of Olympic gold medal fame) favorite breakfast place in Baltimore.
(3)
Nicole M.
Excellent classic breakfast food served cheap and quick by attentive counter staff.
(5)
Ann H.
I don't even know how to start writing this review because my mouth is watering on the keyboard. I MISS PETE'S GRILL!!! Nothing tops breakfast at this neighborhood spot. Don't plan on going w/a large group because the only seats are stools at the bar, but this gives it a very cool neighborhood diner vibe plus you can potentially chat it up with the owner. Get the blueberry pancakes. You'll thank me later.
(5)
James N.
Great food, and fast. Make sure to come here during the pancake eating contest
(5)
Walt Z.
this is by far the best breakfast food i've ever had. while in baltimore to see the red sox, a friend of mine brought me here and i at there all 3 mornings i was in town.
(5)
W C.
They say the blueberry pancakes are great so we ordered them and they were alright but not as good as the pancakes you can get at City Cafe (which are thinner). When you order them you get a stack of three to which the average person can probably handle one and a half. We took the left overs home and fried em up in a frying pan the next morning with a bit of oil and thats when they started to taste great. With the oil in the pan you can get the surface of the pancake crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside (reminds me of McDonald's hash browns which are very good though I haven't had them in probably 10 years). So I'd recommend getting them to go, frying them up at home and eating them in the comfort of your home (where you have some elbow room and aren't rushed to finish to make room for the people lining the wall waiting to sit down).
(3)
Josiah L.
best blueburry waffles and homefries in Baltimore. i love their western omelette, would have given it a 4 stars prior to the change of owner.
(3)
Jasmine B.
Amazing Grille! If you're ever in the area go here! I was VERY skeptical about visiting the restaurant but after getting inside I was ok. It was very clean. And I mean VERY CLEAN! The grille, countertops, every area where food was prepared was clean, which I appreciated. The food was great. I ordered a burger without the bread and it was one of the most amazing burgers I ever had. It had the char-grilled taste which I love and I can't wait to go back to visit and eat there again. Service was great and the cook was very friendly as well :)
(5)
Bernie C.
I did it! Finally! After four years of trying to walk the three blocks that would take me to this cash-only nook of the neighborhood, I've officially done it! The atmosphere is teeny tiny neighborhood diner, super casual, and you can tell there are regulars. The early bird and Facebook specials (acquirable through getting up at the crack of dawn or liking their Facebook page respectively) are so worth it. This is the type of place where it's all about bang for buck. Simple food made in satisfying quantities and served with a smile. Don't expect huge variety or upscale ingredients, that's not what this place is about. It's about the type of bacon and egg, pancakes and syrup breakfasts that you can smell from your bedroom and drag yourself out of bed for. Yum. Wake up. Go to Petes. Go back to be to enjoy the food coma.
(4)
Dee D.
Pretty Standard bar style diner. Had pancakes, eggs, bacon and potatoes. Everything was pretty good. The service was really good. Fast and prompt and no mess ups. Just what I love. Someone next to me had a western omelette that looked pretty good too. I would like to return for lunch. They close pretty early (1 pm). And cash only. So be prepared.
(4)
H E.
Simple and great. Tasty basic breakfast. Nice people over the counter. Great value for money.
(5)
Carrie O.
Hubs and I hit up Pete's after visiting the 32nd Street Farmer's Market last Saturday. Now, as a Baltimore native (and former resident of Waverly itself), I have been well aware of Pete's for what amounts to my entire life. But - I'd never been here before, which I can now say is a crying shame. Even if you end up NOT liking the food here, you have to come, even if only to scratch it off your Baltimore bucket list. This is a B'more institution, folks. It's been perched on the corner of Greenmount and 32nd forever - at least for 40 years, because I remember it being there when I was only yay-high. Be prepared when you come - this is Blue Moon-level seating. You'll stand against a wall for 20 minutes and stare jealously at everyone sitting at the counter enjoying their food. It is what it is. At least you get to wait in a nice, warm space and take in all of the posters on the walls, including the snarky ones right above the grills. It's a Baltimore thing. I would definitely NOT recommend taking more than two at a time here. Unless you want to be seated separately. There was one poor party of four that was skipped over six times because they couldn't get seats together for all of them at once. So, yeah. A single or at the most, a couple - no more. They don't have "fancy" breakfast dishes here. No Captain Crunch toast, no eggs with hollandaise and potatoes, no Miss Shirley's 24 dollar waffles. Not here, uh-uh. It's as basic as you're going to get - pancakes, home fries, eggs with cheese. If you're expecting more than good old-fashioned solid American breakfast that you could probably whip up in your own kitchen, you're in the wrong joint. Hubs and I both ordered Western omelettes (the Saturday special) - nothing more than eggs with tomatoes, onions, peppers and cheese, but boy was it good after being in the cold for hours. It came with a side of home fries (you can substitute grits if you want) and toast with butter and jelly - like I said, standard. Coffee is hot, plentiful and comes in little mugs with "PETE'S" written in Old English on the side. Very no-nonsense. The waitresses are crusty. "NEXT TWO!" And they'll yell it right in front of you, too. It's Baltimore at its finest. They won't exactly rush you out, but don't linger too long, either. That line never goes away, after all. You're there to eat and go, simple as that. Prices are about right for a place like this. It's not dirt DIRT cheap, but it's not at all unreasonable. We got out of there for about 20 bucks or so (if you can read the scrawl on the ticket, that is, heh). Pete's is Pete's. It's a Baltimore thing. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Don't wait decades to come like I did.
(4)
Roger H.
Just a great great diner. Cash only. Great blueberry pancakes...nothing fancy here...but perfectly done. I agree...the short stack is PLENTY...I am a big eater. YES...they have scrapple. Go...cozy up at the counter...bring cash...have a great breakfast.
(4)
Brandon D.
OMG! Time changes everything... I have frequented this Baltimore breakfast spot over the years. I went there this morning and couldn't even believe this was the same place. My pancakes tasted like cardboard and had were poorly cooked! Save your time and money this place isn't what it use to be...
(1)
Emmett F.
Really great traditional diner in Baltimore. If you live in the area and haven't been, you need to find time to make a trip there soon.
(4)
Allison L.
I don't usually go nuts over breakfast but I don't know if it was my extreme hunger, my extreme hangover or the 20 minutes of watching food be made and served to other people while we waited for a seat, but this was the most delicious breakfast I've had in a while. I pretty much wanted everything on the menu but decided on the french toast with a side of home fries and bacon. I hadn't had french toast in a loooong time and this french toast was very good. The bacon was my favorite kind... salty, greasy, thin, and crispy. And while I only made it through about 1/4 of the home fries, they were pretty awesome as well. Service wasn't the most friendly I've ever experienced, but it was quick and cordial. It's cash only, but also pretty cheap so you don't need to have a ton of cash on you. My only regret is that a guy who came in after us ordered a coffee milkshake and a milkshake at breakfast didn't even cross my mind. Probably wouldn't have mixed well with all the grease and syrup soooo maybe for the best. I don't often find myself in this area but wouldn't hesitate to come back.
(4)
Maria P.
No frills, diner fare in a quintessential baltimore setting. Coffee is always fresh, drinks are replenished, and food is hot. Students, seniors, locals and newcomers welcome. As things change in our modern age it's nice to have a simple meal and receive a handwritten guest check. Street parking available.
(5)
Kendall R.
Good food but so tiny and terrible for groups!!! There is only bar seating a the bar is so small. I went here once with a group of 6 people and we had to sit dispersed in 3 groups of 2. I went here once with one other person and it was much better. The food is good but not amazing. Pretty classic breakfast & lunch diner food.
(3)
Sonia A.
When we lived in Baltimore, we would come here almost every weekend. Now that we've moved away I sorely miss Pete's Grille! We're back in town for a couple of days and you best believe we're stopping at Pete's Grille. Our favorites? Biscuits and gravy, which my husband swears is the best in the city, and blueberry pancakes. The breakfast potatoes are yummy too. This place is no frills, serving simple but hearty breakfasts. The staff is friendly and efficient. Even when there is a line, you're not waiting long. It's also very, very, very clean which is nice; they shut down once a year for a deep cleaning of the place. There's not a speck of dust or grime anywhere.
(5)
Sabrina W.
Went here on a rainy day just at 11 on Saturday for brunch. Since I hadn't checked any reviews before coming, I was a little surprised by the counter-style. The diner was full, but our wait wasn't too long (around 10 minutes). People don't stay too long after they've finished eating. The vibe is friendly, but very pragmatic - the servers pull you up, and are friendly, but brisk. It was quite nice to see the chefs cook the food on the grill in front of you. We ordered the Western omelette (tomato, green peppers, and onion, with cheese), which was served with grits, and toast, and the blueberry waffle, with a side of scrambled egg. Your perfect comfort brunch - the best breakfast I've had in a while. The omelette and waffle were by far my favourite. The omelette was fresh, and the portion size just perfect. The waffle was fluffy and moist, and dosed with a generous portion of blueberries. Make sure to bring cash, as they don't accept credit!
(5)
Alexis J.
Went here this AM for a quik breakfast en route to running errands. It was packed, but I only waited about 5 mins, so it wasn't too bad. Butttt anyhoo, on to the food. I ordered a blueberry short stack, bacon, homefries and Pine-Orange juice. It was alright. Nothing to rave about. Just simple breakfast. The pancakes were pretty big, but not light & fluffy as I'd hoped. They were a bit "bouncy" and dense. Also, they didn't have peppers to add to the homefries. Lastly, they have the worst bacon ever. It is very thin, like the bacon that's served at fast-food joints. Considering that bacon has an uber special place in my life, I was bothered by that. :/ Service was pretty quick. I was in and out in about 45 mins. This is a place for regulars and the average quick breakfast pick-up. If you want to relax and stretch with a nice breakfast cocktail and loads of good convo with friends, this is NOT the place. For one, you can't all fit inside of the place and for two, you'll probably get stared down by the folks waiting against the back wall to eat at the next sitting. "Get in, get out" is the name of the game here. I would go back in a pinch, but probably wouldn't go out of my way for it.
(3)
Clare C.
Standard diner fare and made for a great Sunday brunch. I had the recommended blueberry pancakes - a short stack was plenty filling (two large pancakes) - and they were made by Dave (the owner) himself and were quite delicious. Service was very friendly and prompt, the restaurant was clean, and it was fun to watch all the food being made in front of you behind the bar counter. We were surprised that there wasn't a wait during Sunday morning brunch time; it was full but we found seats right when walking into Pete's. Cash only.
(4)
John B.
Cozy. Traditional. Diner. This place is popular for a reason. Staff are very friendly. The workflow of the line cooks in conjunction with the servers is impeccable. Orders are promptly taken, food is promptly cooked, belly is promptly filled. Depending on the time of day that you go, you may or may not hit a long line of folks waiting to be seated, as the restaurant is simply one long bar for seating. The line does move quick though due to the aforementioned process. And with the food served, it's worth the wait. Blueberry pancakes are a must. Omelettes are plentiful in size and tastiness. And the coffee just feels right. Oh, and stop by the ATM before heading here, cash only. It's places like this that make me happy to live in Baltimore.
(5)
Riley K.
BEST BREAKFAST IN BALTIMORE. None of that fancy shit - classic American breakfast. However, you can go international with the Belgian waffles... Fast, friendly service. CASH ONLY. Open Sundays. Lunch options look good too! $22 for pictured meal...
(5)
jon l.
Pete's is a great little breakfast and lunch diner type restaurant that has been around for quite a long time. While it is really small, they serve up some of the tastiest breakfast dishes in the area. The burgers are really good, but a little on the greasy side. It is a great value and I would come here more often if the parking was easier and there was more seating. I find it difficult to eat on a counter stool with people all around. I recommend this place for takeout and I would call ahead to place your order.
(3)
Ryan B.
Pete's Grille is famous for having the breakfast of Michael Phelps, and it really doesn't disappoint. I've had the waffles, pancakes, chicken waffles, and even burgers at Pete's, and all are excellent. I love eating at the old fashioned bar where you can see all your food being made, even though it usually means waiting a while because there's so little seating in the restaurant. They're always busy, but I've never had slow service, nor did I get the feeling that I was being rushed out. Recently in the winter when there's a ton of snow, Pete's will even send a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to pick you up and drive you to the restaurant! This is a very friendly and family-oriented Baltimore-run restaurant. If you do want to come here for brunch, I suggest planning ahead since a 30-45 minute wait isn't uncommon. You also want to withdraw some money from the ATM since they don't accept any credit cards. Because of their popularity, I think Pete's is slightly overpriced for what it is, but their food is always of top quality, so I'm not complaining. If you're looking for a more traditional diner-esque brunch place that isn't as high class and/or snooty as Miss Shirley's, then Pete's is your place to go.
(4)
Donsa 8.
Average diner the food was ok ... everything was precooked just heated when we ordered .. the waitress was great, the cook seemed to be a little annoyed by some customers... I wouldn't go back and just so you know they only take cash... I had to go to the ATM across the street. The place was very clean.
(3)
William B.
Awesome breakfast! Limited seating, so timing is imperative.
(4)
Kim B.
Great little neighborhood gem, we stumbled upon. Very clean, staff is incredibly attentive and the food portions are generous. I ordered a short stack of blueberry pancakes. Holy .... More than enough for one person. Definitely going back soon
(5)
Michael T.
Great hole-in-the-wall place. Best breakfast place hands-down in Baltimore. Great place and would recommend it to everyone! Can get really busy during peak times and is hard to get seats for a large group.
(5)
Rachel L.
Just moved into Charles Village and was looking for a sweet breakfast place in the area. Saw great reviews for Pete's grill and decided to bring the hubby. Delicious hearty breakfast. Everything was cooked to perfection except the french toast was a little too wet for my liking.
(4)
Pat M.
I want to give Pete's a better grade, but I cannot in good conscience do so. I was recently hankering for a big, belly-fillin' breakfast, so I went here and ordered eggs, toast, scrapple and a waffle. Eggs, toast and scrapple were well prepared and tasty, but the waffle was too sweet and dessert-like. Service was good, and I was surprised that they actually had decent coffee. But the biggest issue I have is that it was simply too much money for the food. Yes, Pete's may be a local legend, but it is after all only a diner! The price should have been more reasonable for the quality of the food.
(3)
Ashley C.
Always terrific! Pancakes, Burgers, chipped beef, fries, coffee! Great fast and friendly service. Love it!
(5)
Brian Z.
Im glad I live right down the street from this outstanding diner! The biscuits and gravy are some of the best ive had!!!
(5)
Yong K.
who needs an IHOP in this area when you have pete's grille! such a great breakfast / brunch place! been here multiple times pros: the FOOD. the cheap price! hot cakes (pancakes) are so soft and fluffy REALLY GOOD. french toast is good. last time i had the english muffin sandwich with egg and sausage inside. the sausage was pretty darn good. I've tried the burger there too which was great. home fries.. yum. cons: restaurant is tiny, so it's really bad if you have a large group (almost impossible if you have more than 4). also it's CASH ONLY! don't forget your cash. but i love this place. on saturday mornings, the farmer's market is also really close by so you can stop by there after or before breakfast / brunch.
(5)
Wendy E.
5 stars for best diner breakfast in Bawlmer!! Haven't been here in 15-20 years; an ÃœBER client said I HAD to go there!! Worth the trip
(5)
Pegah Y.
I visited Baltimore in mid-to-late April and a friend and I had brunch at Pete's Grille (conveniently located just a couple blocks away from where she used to live and a couple blocks away from an excellent Farmer's Market). Though it's quite busy and popular on the weekends, the staff is very efficient at serving food and clearing up places at the counter (it's counter style seating) so that people filter in and out relatively quickly. We both ordered the chicken n waffles and enjoyed it a lot. I was a bit disappointed that it was chicken strips on the waffles (instead of big pieces of chicken, as I'm used to), but I still really enjoyed it and the syrup was delicious, even with the chicken! I would definitely visit Pete's Grille again if I found myself in that neighborhood in the future, and I highly recommend it as an excellent Baltimore brunch place.
(5)
Helen C.
This is a cute, small, home-y little neighborhood diner. There is only a long row of seats at the "bar" though, so it can make seating a bit difficult. I would NOT recommend coming here with a large group because you have to all sit a row and you'll never get seats unless you split up. But besides all that, the food was really good. My omelette was delicious and the portions were huge! The servers were very friendly and it's very easy to get their attention because you're sitting right in front of them. Apparently there's a really nice farmer's market a block away sometimes, although sadly it was raining that day. Next time!
(5)
Christina M.
Decent, big portions, ok prices. Cash only makes it tough for most modern people. Good pancakes and french toast, though not up there with my favorite restaurants, or the ones I make myself. Also some real whipped butter and better syrup would have made a huge difference!! Probably not a place I will go back to.
(3)
Maeve M.
I'm a former swimmer so I know the joy of digging in to a short (or not so short) stack and a pile of bacon after a hard morning practice. When I heard that this is Michael Phelp's go-to, I knew I had to visit. Unlike my former golden days, though, I did not pregame this meal with several hours of hard aerobic exercise, but I still really enjoyed my pancakes. Note that a short stack is huge--you probably don't need to go bigger. I like my pancakes plain, but I noticed plenty of people got the blueberry or chocolate chip versions which looked good. The bacon was also delicious and the waitress kept our coffee and water cups filled. It's a counter only, and you basically wait in a long line until there are enough stools open--but surprisingly it moves fast. My friends really liked their egg sandwiches but I think the pancakes are the way to go. I'm sure Michael gets them both but if you're not on an Olympic-swimmers diet and need to triage, maybe stick with just one.
(5)
Arlene R.
I pass Pete;s several times a month but never stopped in. Today I made my first visit to Pete's. Yummy, yummy, yummy. I'm a foodie who loves to eat but I couldn't finish in one sitting. Hugh blueberry pancakes, veggie omelet and home-fries. Everything was fresh and tasty. A plus was the real butter. I added my own maple syrup. On my list Pete's is the #1 breakfast spot.
(4)
Abigail R.
I usually just get a classic burger with LTO and mayo. There is only takeout and counter service here. In fact, you can watch them prepare your food to order. They are cash only and really quick, so you can usually stop in for lunch before they close just after 1pm. You can't find a better burger for $5.
(4)
Gary B.
Absolutely the best breakfast to be had in Bawlmer! This place is as authentic as it gets - a place for the locals, not the tourists of the Inner Harbor. The food is plentiful, tasty and reasonably priced. Some cop friends took me here years ago and I have been hooked ever since. Too many Baltimore breakfast places have either disappeared or have gone way downhill in quality. However, Pete's still maintains high standards.
(5)
Coffee G.
Looking for breakfast or a burger? Pete's has awesome food for any mean with great prices!
(5)
Tavonia M.
The food was excellent and freshly prepared I took my sweetie pie for our seven days my Valentine's breakfast. It was his first time he enjoyed everything the service was great
(5)
Lacey S.
I've been here a few times since my original review and the service was friendly and the food fast and tasty. Thankfully, the grits have been much better since my first experience. Haven't tried the coffee again. Once I do, I'll update.
(3)
Neale O.
Everything in the menu is great! A friendly and attentive staff make it a great experience every time. I have only been for breakfast, but they say the burgers are great too. CASH ONLY!
(5)
Matthew M.
Again, it all depends on what you like. Pete's is a diner--no tables, just stools at the counter. The menu is traditional, and you can watch the food being cooked. But if that's what you like, Pete's does a great job of it. It's also one of the few places in Baltimore public life where rich and poor, black and white come together. It's common to see Johns Hopkins grad student sitting next to cops and bus drivers. It's also a place where people eagerly waiting for seats are unfailingly courteous and careful to make sure that people are seated first-come, first-served.
(5)
Colton B.
Four stars for the food. Absolutely satisfied with food. Less stars for service and layout of diner. Very claustrophobic atmosphere and definitely not nice to out of towers.
(4)
Ray R.
Just so you know (and just in case he's reading this) before the record breaking number of medals earned, I was a Michael Phelp's groupie. Although I can swim like a rock, I always checked for Michael and his achievements in the water out of hometown pride. So it's no coincidence that every time I come to Pete's Grille, I put on my best daytime cougar wear and keep my eyes peeled in case those lanky arms and legs should come though the diner doors, as he's been known to do so much in the past. At the risk of calling it cramped, I'll just say Pete's is a rather small establishment (with room for about 18 at the counter and maybe an additional 10 in the rest of the diner) great for a quick breakfast with great customer service. The ladies are all so very pleasant and range in ages and style, from tatted up to clutching pearls. Can't say I have favorites here because it's pretty hard to mess up standard, non-fancy breakfast food save for omelets but eggs are the devil and I don't partake in such nasty eating so I can't help ya in that department. I haven't eaten any of the lunch food here because you take your time with lunch and Pete's (with its limited space) doesn't strike me as that type of establishment. Dining out for breakfast is more of a get-it then hit-it type of event and considering that Pete's closes at 1p everyday, it's safe to say they second that emotion. A few of my greatest Saturdays have started with a quick meal at Pete's then stopping past the 32nd Street Farmers market before going home to recharge and pat my fat stomach for a few before beginning my main Saturday plans. Unfortunately, I haven't had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Phelps YET but just as the wave haired Jesse Jackson said, I keep hope alive that one day I'll see the wave making Olympian and, who knows, we might even share some pancakes =)
(4)
Heather O.
My husband and I have been coming to Pete's for more than six years. It is your classic "sit around a counter on stools" experience. Due to the setup, if the stools are taken, you have to wait in a line against the wall behind the stools - or time your visit well (first thing in the morning on weekends is best). Even if you have to wait, the stools turn over very quickly. I always order the chocolate chip pancakes. They are fluffy, huge, chocolate chip pillows of deliciousness. If you have a sweet tooth, these need to be on your plate. Eggs, french toast, breakfast sandwiches - really everything is great. What you will get: great value for your money, delicious food, fast service (unless there is a huge line), a great overall experience. What you should NOT expect: high end, fancy-schmancy dining - you go here to fill your tummy with amazing food, not a fine dining experience; also don't plan to sit for a long time when you're done eating - the folks behind you want to eat (and the servers deserve tips from the next folks to sit in your chairs); this is NOT a great place to go with a large group of friends - unless you go first thing in the morning. Enjoy!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey, Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Nick M.
Outstanding. Food is well worth the minor annoyance of bar stool seating. Best blueberry pancakes I've ever had. Chipped beef is great comfort food
(5)J. M.
I'm not a diner person but on my solitary visit at some ungodly hour, the service was unforgettably lovely and warm. I don't think I've felt this strongly about the staff anywhere I've ever been in my entire life. Tipping highly here is not just your obligation but obligatory whether or not you care for the food [it's really cheap]. It's made with great care and served with unparalleled respect and kindness.
(5)Doug F.
Pete's is a local favorite. No tables so big groups is a no no, but the food is good quality and the service is solid. Their turkey is not the Deli kind but the cut off a bird kind. And I'm not sure what they do to the soda but their Coke is the tastiest I've ever had. Seriously.
(4)Josh L.
This place is a diamond in the rough, the only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is that the waitress we got was a little grouchy. Now I know it was a busy Sunday morning but everyone else looked happy. Not a big deal though, we all have those days and the food was amazing!
(4)Joseph K.
Went on a Sunday around noon. Packed, like a good diner would be. The place was buzzin. I had a turkey sausage and 2 egg sandwich, western omelette w/ homefries, chocolate chip pancakes, shared between me and a friend. Check out their specials each day. On Sundays, they have choc chip pancakes (6.00), western omelette (7.25) The chocolate chip pancake was very good. Almost too much chocolate. But it was pretty big. Definitely would struggle on my own to eat it all by myself, and that's saying alot. It's a nice fluffy consistency. The omelette was good and the homefries were decent. Homefries could've used more crust, but it was still great. Overall good seasoning, flavorful. I also tried some biscuits and sausage gravy. Thick, gravy over a soft moist biscuit ...nothing ridiculously amazing, but still decent. In these parts of baltimore, this is a classic quick, diner feel with great food. The food is really well done. On any day, Try to avoid the lunch rush.
(4)Pam F.
Blueberry pancakes were great! The coffee was also excellent as well as the service! My friend had the turkey sausage, hash browns and eggs. she also had a great breakfast.
(4)Sanjay J.
Haiku: Michael Phelps comes here and eats the home fries. Like him, Pete's gets a medal.
(4)Robby B.
Been here a couple of times and have never been disappointed. Food is simple, but tasty and reasonably priced. Daily specials are always good. My favorite is probably the boring sounding, but positively scrumptious, chicken melt. The normal fare is good too. I really like the chicken and waffles, even if they are simple. You get a moist chicken tenders instead of regular fried chicken, but it works really well. Atmosphere is fun too. I've gotten into nice convos with random people. Wait staff isn't necessarily enthusiastic, but who cares? I have fun here. Take note: It's all bar seating so it's not great for really large groups. For the umpteenth time, this place is simple and satisfying. Don't miss out.
(4)Bill M.
Went back this morning sat at counter and had an outstanding breakfast with wife and son. We were seated right in front of the grill and it was great to watch the cook make our breakfast. It was clear he took pride in preparing each order. The grill was clean and our orders were cooked to perfection. Really, really like this place for breakfast..
(5)Zakiya S.
Love love love eating here. Great pancakes fast service. Always packed though and you might have to wait in line to be seated but its totally worth it! Not the best place for small children, but perfect for brunch with the girls, or hubby when you have a baby sitter.
(4)Mo A.
It's as basic a diner as they come. It's like being sent back to the 50's and 60's but the good thing is the prices are very very reasonable. The service is a little on the gruff side and can be non-existent when they're busy. Seating is extremely limited. It's a cash only establishment. It's like being on the set of the show "Happy Days". Except Fonzi would probably get beat down and thrown through the glass window. The food is pretty good. Breakfast food and sandwiches are both tasty and portion sizes are nice. Fries are really good. The hours of this place are limited as it serves breakfast/brunch. Get there early for a seat or prepare for a wait! Bonus for the groupies and celebrity hounds, locals say Michael Phelps has been known to visit for breakfast.
(3)Erica C.
Hype. hype. hype. I blame you, Michael Phelps! Your face is plastered all over this place! There is always a wait because it is a small place. The breakfast fare is pretty standard. Certainly good for standard breakfast fare, but I wouldn't cross the ocean for it. Blue Moon Cafe has similar fare and does it better. The service was alright, but not the warm and fuzzy you'd expect at a 'mom and pop' type spot. We ordered an omelet, a side of bacon, and the infamous blueberry pancakes. All in all....I've had worse.
(3)Thomas V.
I went here for brunch a while ago when I visited Baltimore. I really liked the set-up of the place--it's a long bar-style counter all the way around the restaurant, which really allow the waiters to accomodate whatever you need. The food is so-so for a brunch/breakfast place, but is one of the best choices in the neighborhood I believe.
(3)K N.
I love this place. Every time I'm in Baltimore I make it a point to stop by. Regardless of the hoard of hungover college students and occasionally grumpy ("No, I will not move over one seat") senior citizens, Pete's is just the best breakfast spot you can ask for. Sure, you'll probably have to wait on the weekend, but it's worth it. Pete's just does classic food really, really well. The atmosphere is fun, lots of energy and fast-moving staff, which is impressive considering how small the space is. Overall, Pete's is always worth the trip - just make sure to check-in to see if they're doing a clean-out that day or not (happens every so often); we've had to go elsewhere a few times because they've been closed.
(5)Rob S.
Was introduced to this place by a Friend , Its the best breakfast / lunch place in Baltimore, the prices are reasonable the portions are large the staff is awesome
(5)Ti C.
3.5 It is a standard counter diner.I usually stumble here on Saturday mornings to soak up the liquor from Friday night. Food is good, service can be hit or miss. The early hours are annoying, as is the cash only policy, but still a good Baltimore experience.
(3)Betsy M.
I visites Pete's for the first time on Sunday with my boyfriend. We had an awesome time and an even better meal. The long diner counter was fun and functional. Pete's has charm without frills- something very hard to find these days. These people also know how to work! Our waitress was both hospitable and punctual- always with a smile on her face. My coffee and water were constantly full, and we were able to order promptly. Our steaming, two-eggs omlettes and hash browns were in front of us within minutes after ordering. The omlettes were awesome, but the hash browns at Pete's were undeniably the highlight. The potatoes were a combonation of soft and crispy that was heavenly. I could not put my fork down until I finished ALL of them! I'd reccomend this place to anyone looking for a truly honest and delicious breakfast. One thing I would not advise is bringing a lot of people here, it's somewhere you go with two or three people that enjoy eggs as much/more than you do. We will definitely be back very soon!
(5)Lauren S.
Came here on a rainy Saturday afternoon and it was pakced. However I only had to wait about 10 minutes before sitting down. I got chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, and home fries. The pancakes were very fluffy and filling, but could have used more chocolate chips. Frankly I think I make better pancakes at home. The home fries were ok, they were a hot mess of grease and mush. The bacon on the other hand was delicious. If the bacon had been bad, then my entire day would have been ruined. The service is very friendly, and the prices are cheap. Would I come back? Possibly, I don't see why not. But I'll stay away from the cakes and the home fries.
(3)Lana T.
Pete's Grill has a homey, diner feel. The workers are very friendly, although service can be pretty slow when it's crowded. I would definitely recommend coming on a weekday morning if you can to avoid the crowd on weekends. Its menu doesn't feature fusion dishes and the counter can seat maybe 15 people, but I can sum it all up in 5 words: chocolate chip pancakes & home fries. (Does that count as 6?) Pricing is reasonable and portions are large. A solid brunch place worth coming back to again and again! P.S. This is apparently Michael Phelps' favorite burnch place! ;)
(4)Nell F.
They aren't lying about the blueberry pancakes. Everything is delicious, the entire place smells amazing. Pete's Grille is tops as far as neighborhood places go. I do love me a good diner. I was turned off by the cash only policy, however. Be prepared for that, the only ATMs near by are stand-alones.
(3)B C.
I moved out of Baltimore's Waverly neighborhood a few years back, but Pete's is the first place I want to visit next time I'm there. Grab a seat at the counter, smell that old greasy spoon flavor, take in some oldies music, and read the newspaper. Saturday mornings don't get much better than that.
(5)Eric H.
Great food. Love the diner atmosphere. Makes a damn good cup of coffee. Asked for 2 eggs over easy and got what wanted. I would highly recommend this grill.
(4)Andrew M.
God bless Petes for making it in this location! The four guys tilting brown bagged 40's at 8am put the spring in your step as you step over strewn trash and broken glass, and think about the panic button location on your car key fob. Petes is the upscale commercial retail anchor of a group of local stores struggling from falling into the Greenmount rut of chinese/liquor store/chicken facades.The fact that it is a breakfast place tones down the sketch, but it is easy to understand why a burgaler met the business end of a JHU student's samurai sword a few blocks away. You can only eat at a high top at a long diner bar at Petes, which brings the diner grill experience front and center. The chef deftly folds omlets, crusts scrapple, and flips flapjacks. The coffee and home fries were meh. The food is a notch above servicable, and in no way pilgrimige worthy. You get semi friendly hon service who make it clear that you aren't quite as welcome as regulars. The dullard Baltimore ambassador, Michael Phelps, used to routinely lap through Petes calories. Despite the high bar stool only seating, Petes is kid friendly if it is not crowded. You will be rubbing elbows with your neighbor, and you will wait in line if you are late. Go early to decompress on Saturday morning with plans to hit up the block away Waverly Farmers Market, the neighborhood's shining gem.
(3)R I.
Very ordinary. When I go out to brunch I expect that they either make things that i can easily make at home better than I can or that they make complicated things that I don't feel like making, this place does neither. Cool little place, but otherwise food isn't special.
(3)Tameka M.
The food was exactly as expected...nothing too fancy or out of the ordinary. I went in just to get some good simple food and I was definitely satisfied! I would give 5 stars if they accepted cards...IF you plan on going make sure you bring enough cash!!! (if not, there is an atm across the street so no biggie)
(4)Meghan R.
Seriously one of the best breakfast places ever. They basically have a build your own breakfast kind of set up which is really great. It's inexpensive and fast. There is always a wait after ten, but the staff does a great job of making sure people are getting in and out in a timely manner without you feeling rushed. I admittedly have never been to eat lunch here so I cannot comment of their lunch food (they have burgers). The downside to this place is that they are only open until one... that makes getting there earier important. Favorite item on the menu: HOTCAKES they are sooooooooooo good.
(4)Rick S.
Best place for Breakfast and lunch in the area Hamburgers are huge daily specials are prices very well, good food good price what else can you say
(5)JJ J.
I guess it's a little overdue to write about this place 6 years after you first try it. But I've been back numerous times and for what it is(a small diner for eating solid breakfast food), i think it absolutely gets the job done. Don't go with the mindset of having a "restaurant" experience. Just go, with cash in hand, get your food ordered quickly, enjoy and eat your food, and go on your way so others can sit down. The reason I say this is that on weekends, there will be many people waiting for seats at the bar to open up. I always just start with a coffee and then order the western omelet with home fries and a short stack of blueberry pancakes(these are ON POINT, so get them whate whatever you're having). Perfect way to start your morning!
(5)Joseph V.
While the service was great, the food quality did not match the hype.
(3)Damon L.
I came here for the Pancakes, the pancakes were AWESOME. So moral of the story is, if you're craving Pancakes come here ;-)
(4)Alan L.
The best breakfast in Baltimore is blueberry pancakes with homemade scrapple and grits at Pete's Grllle.
(5)Yishin S.
I think this place is famous, partially because Michael Philips used to come here and eat breakfast. First, the place is pretty small, and there is no table, just a bunch of chairs around the bar. So it is not a place you would go and hang out with more than one friend, because it is hard to communicate when sitting at the bar. Second, Pete makes great American/Southern food . Most people get things like pancakes, grits, and sausages. Third, the portion is huge, I think that is why Michael Philips used to come here. Fourth, The price is really good. Fifth, they close early like 2pm. Sixth, it is located in Greenmount ave, which is a sketchy place.
(4)Hansoo J.
This place seems like a place that I would love to eat at on a regular basis. The counter fills the majority of the diner and has roughly 20 stools beside it. The walls are adorned with some local sports memorabilia. This place just feels like Baltimore. The breakfast menu lists the classics like hotcakes and omelets. The prices were ok: A short stack of pancakes, 1 egg and a piece of scrapple cost about $8.00. But the food was pretty good. The pancakes were fluffy and light. The short stack was more than enough to fill me up. It's hard to believe that Michael Phelps eats 8 of these after his workouts; but I guess that's why he's an Olympic gold medalist... The burgers looked very enticing. I'll be sure to stop by for lunch and try them one day. The menu asserts that they are made from fresh ground beef and hand formed. I was disappointed that they didn't have corned beef hash and that the prices were a little higher than I had expected. Also, while they have what looks like a credit card machine next to their cash register, they take cash only. This is a good place to come for standard breakfast food, plus you can tell people that you ate the breakfast of champions, literally.
(3)Adam J. K.
What can I say about Pete's Grille without sounding like a crazy person? Probably nothing. I love this place more than anyone should ever love what is essentially a diner, especially because I worked at "another 'popular local diner' not too far away." The food is plentiful and cheap. Eggs how you want them! Pancakes the size of the plate! Endless coffee mugs! Homefries that everyone raves about and french fries that I explicitly rave about (I swear they are the best french fries I have ever had, and I am really picky about fries). It's not just breakfast though, oh no. I dream about the weekdays that I am able to get to Pete's to order "lunch for breakfast." I don't care if it's 10am, I will be ordering a tuna melt (with lettuce and tomato) and drinking two cups of coffee with it. Like the tuna, I am hooked. The staff is friendly in the classic diner sense, and because all the seating is along the bar, they're never too far away. Sometimes the place is packed, so expect to wait along the wall until enough neighboring seats free up for your group... and do yourself a favor, don't come here with more than three or four people on a weekend and expect to sit together. That's just extremely likely to happen. Oh, and don't forget, CASH ONLY. They'll have you run out to one of the ATMs nearby if you forget, but it's so much easier to "not run" after three pancakes.
(5)Jamie S.
Pete's is a long standing tradition in Baltimore. Often awarded for best breakfast. Well, if you live in the area than it probably is. Love the setup of this place. Long bar counter and hustle and bustle non stop. I can imagine folks not spending a lot of time chit-chatting and having business breakfast in this spot because it seems like a place to pop in for a meal and get back to what you were doing. It might feel rushed but hey, when they bring your meal out lickety split how long does it take you to pack it all in. Service is excellent. They don't pamper you but they take care of you for sure. Coffee cup and water glass are never half empty. Pancakes and eggs are a bit on the bland side and nothing is really fancy but boy does this place have spirit. Note. If you are not familiar with the area don't be alarmed. Yes, it's on Greenmount, yes it's not the county, yes parking is hard to find. Deal with it.
(3)Dan H.
Nothing but a long counter, Pete's fills up fast on the weekend and with good reason. The breakfasts are not the fanciest one can find but they are big, filling and pretty tasty. The pancakes are huge (I am a little afraid of anyone who can eat a tall stack), the turkey sausage is delicious and the eggs made just right. The hash browns tend towards the soggy side, however. The service is attentive and I cannot recall my coffee cup running empty. In all, this is the kind of joint to hit when you just want your energy fix at the beginning of the day.
(4)Simon G.
It's where the cops go in the morning to get their breakfast. Seriously. It's got that old-school "mom and pop" feel. Food is cheap and good, and the people are nice. Can be a decent wait though.
(4)Kojo B.
Went to Pete's grill if you like breakfast food reminiscent of your college cafeteria then this is your place to go. Cheap and fast. Just ok.
(3)Jonathan G.
Not bad. Walking into to the corner diner, you'd be surprised. It's a country/small town-feeling diner on Greenmount and 32nd, in an area between the Hopkins students and hipsters on one side, and the rough neighborhood on the other. It's rare that you'll walk in and there's seating available. Usually, you'll stand at the wall, behind the seated customers, waiting in line for an open stool. The wait ranges from 10-30 minutes, depending on the time of day and size of your party. Then, you sit down, order, and have some nice, greasy diner food. There are lots of good dishes, but nothing here is spectacular. The point is that it's quick, cheap, and greasy. There are lots of posted rules about ordering, conduct, paying, and taking up space, but then, their space is at a premium. I'm usually okay with those rules, but they felt a bit stifling, especially when the food is really just pretty good. I like it, but I imagine some tourists walk in and might be turned off.
(3)Rachel F.
One of Baltimore's hidden treasures! Pete's Grill is a small little restaurant with only a bar. That makes for limited seating, but it's well worth the wait (and people don't spend long eating, the food is that good). Tucked away on Greenmount in Waverly, Pete's has the perfect balance of local families and young singles who have moved into the city from the county. The waitresses and cooks feel like real, old-school Baltimore, will definitely call you hon, and will be (appropriately) disinterested in your presence. It's awesome. I always mosey on down to Pete's after the Saturday farmers markets on 33rd street and grab a short stack of blueberry pancakes. But make sure you have cash, I don't think they accept credit cards. And on weekends for breakfast you have to spend over 5 dollars, which may be harder than you think because Pete's prices are low.
(4)Drew S.
People rave about this place and I honestly don't know why. Yes it's crowded and cozy and quaint in its old-fashioned style but I don't imagine it's that hard to pack a place with only 20 seats. I feel like Pete's gets credit for being a popular spot just because having even a modest number of customers inside makes it look like the cool place to be. Which makes folks who are waiting in anticipation want to believe the food is great and they're in for a real Baltimore treat. I guess. I've been to plenty of greasy spoons and I don't see how Pete's is any different from any other breakfast joint in Small Town America. Except Pete's costs a little more (which is fair, they don't seat many), and the cooking doesn't even meet the low standards set by this genre of food. The eggs were half-cooked, the home fries were not fried - they glisten with a buttery sweat, and the coffee was a brown-flavored water (standard for diners, I know). If Baltimore had anywhere near the appropriate number of breakfast spots per capita, this place wouldn't be the one we'd all be talking about.
(2)Rebecca G.
Friendly service and the most consistent food we've ever had. Pete's is somewhere that you're proud to be a regular. The wait staff is friendly, and even though the waits for a seat are often long at peak times, the food is always worth it. Great milk shakes, best omelette in town, delicious french toast. There hasn't been a single item that we've tried and not been happy with, though we definitely have our regular favorites.
(5)Mindy M.
Fav breakfast spot of B-more hometown legend, Michael Phelps, and is among the best breakfast places around. A long counter set with stools elbow to elbow and friendly smiles (as well as a line) greet you as you enter this local Baltimore favorite. The joint is FILLED with local sports memories and makes you feel like you just stepped back in time with all the friendly faces and decor on the wall. If you do go, don't show up with a large group of people. The place is counter stools only and seats open as they come up so you'll A) wait forever and B) have everyone in the place mad at you b/c it takes forever to seat you. The menu includes favs such as grits, scrapple, breakfast sandwiches (try it on the kaiser bun), breakfast potatoes, pancakes (with fruit too), and homemade waffles (if you sit near the waffle machine be prepared to be sprayed by the cook with nonstick spray). On Sundays they also serve cream chipped beef which is FANTASTIC if not totally unhealthy for you. The food is great, just don't go there if you are on a diet or eat healthy (note- this is where Michael consumes his now legendary breakfast meals after practice each day). They serve breakfast the entire time they are open- YAH!! but beware- they close at 2pm! The service is great (and totally Baltimore, Hon) and the turnover in seats is pretty fast so if you go and the line is long, the wait usually is shorter than you think it will be. So if you decide to pop in do me a favor, don't go on Sunday mornings; that's when I go and the line is already too long :)
(5)Pete R.
great food great Price great people , i love this place i don't even need to look at menu i know what i want , bar seating busy on weekends cash only don't ask for a bagel they will know you are a newbie
(5)Allison M.
Whoever said you can't have something good and fast has never been to Pete's. This neighborhood diner seats no more than 20 people at the counter and has great food for a greasy spoon. The lively, fun atmosphere brings me back to the era of "Cheers". I wouldn't be surprised if they name the seats for the regulars. The hours are short. Pete's is only open until 1PM on most days, but thankfully, you only need about 20 minutes from when you sit down to paying your bill.
(4)Geoff c.
Avoid weekends if you can. It'll be packed until closing. It's a tiny place. Very old school feel. But the food is awesome. hot sandwiches. win.
(4)S S.
Pete's is a classic diner with high quality food. The only negative thing I would say is that waiting in line during peak hours is not pleasant. There is little space for people to stand and sometimes the line can be quite long. Other than the lines and wait times, I highly recommend Pete's!
(4)melissa m.
We ordered the blueberry pancakes with side of turkey sausage, and a turkey sausage omelette with home fries and two cups of coffee. It was okay. The service was pretty good. I didnt find it to be anything too special. If you happen to be in the neighborhood Id say stop by, but otherwise... Miss Shirleys is always great, Broadway diner has more of a selection with equally, if not better food, and Blue Moon Cafe has an eclectic vibe that I enjoy with their delicious Rain Forest organic coffee.
(3)Al E.
We just tried Pete's. Meh is a good word. Pros: It is charming and the service was great. Gf had eggs over easy with grits - a plate full plus sausage. It was fine. I ordered a short stack of blueberry pancakes. The pancakes are HUGE so it's plenty. The problem was they were spongy and the blueberries had a strange consistency. I wished I had gone with chocolate chips like the little boy beside me. Gf didn't like that they didn't have that crisp from the griddle. I added 2 scrambled eggs and home fries. BAD!!!! Eggs way overcooked. They boil their home fries and then finish them on the griddle, which is acceptable. But they did not have that nice flavor from the griddle and did not have that nice fry. I am picky about both eggs and home fries and they failed on both. We won't be back. If we're going to get dressed and get in the car, might as well head to Teavolve for a truly delicious breakfast/brunch.
(2)Raymond W.
Pete's is exactly what you want in a diner: good food and great service. Went on a Saturday and got in before the crowd. Was seated right away, offered drink, order taken, and food delivered in approximately 9 minutes. I ordered an egg white veggie omelet w/turkey sausage and it came as ordered and expected. Pete's is a great no frills spot and I will be back.
(4)matthew h.
a perfect low key counter only diner for breakfast or lunch. well made eggs, great pancakes, friendly service. be prepared to wait on a weekend morning, but it's worth it. and you just might see michael phelps stroll through the door. (we didn't)
(4)Allison B.
Best brunch and hamburgers and hash browns, not greasy and disgusting just super tasty
(5)Beth S.
Hands down, Baltimore's best answer to treating that Sunday morning hangover. Despite the wait, the service is quick and efficeint, food is good, prices are right. Whenever I'm back visiting friends (JHU alum here), I make a point to go to Pete's for my bacon/egg/cheese on a toasted kaiser roll, side of home fries. Pete's will always have a special place in my heart.
(5)Chris A.
If you want good breakfast, come here.
(5)Willy W.
pretty good diner food, but extremely hard to get a seat. This was known to be the old stomping grounds of Michael Phelps and is within walking distance to the farmer's market and JHU.
(3)Kelly S.
I am laying in bed right now w/a hangover. I'm gonna get my grill on later to fill the void in my stomach and my soul, but last weekend I discovered the ideal way to do that - Pete's Grille. Yes, that's an e on the end. Get there early or else you're gonna wait in line behind the counter for seats to open up (I would go solo or with just one other person). Simple, short order solid-ass stick to your ribs breakfast, very reasonably priced. Excellent potatoes, bacon, blueberry pancakes, fountain soda (the ultimate hangover lifesaver) and they just give you a crapload of food. What more could you ask for to cure a hangover? Just a great salt of the earth neighborhood joint, can't beat it, if it's good enough for Michael Phelps' stoner ass, good enough for me-
(5)John A.
BEST DINER...EVER! Pete's is amazing for so many reasons... the sweet old building, the awesome staff, and of course the amazing food. Used to cut class as a Senior at City all the time to go to Pete's with my friends and get some breakfast...ah, good times! You really can't go wrong with anything at Pete's, but if you only get one chance to make it there you've got to try the home fries, they're the best I've ever had!
(5)Pascal P.
I'm going to horrify a lot of people and say that I don't think Pete's Grill is all that great. There's nothing wrong with it, but I never saw anything special about the place, and I don't see why it's always so packed.
(3)Scott G.
I only had the blueberry pancakes at Pete's, so my opinion is not that informed. The pancakes were good -- fluffy with fresh blueberries -- and came in a large portion. I can usually polish off my food, but this time I couldn't. The coffee was what you'd expect from a diner. The waitresses were friendly and the decor was charming. I'm a big fan of old school breakfast places and, with its barstool seating only, Pete's is one of those places.
(4)Rebecca L.
Pete's is sweet with it's busy waitresses and it's gleaming packed bar of hungry Baltimorers. Reminds me of Tom's in Brooklyn, except smaller and not as overly-in-your-face friendly. The egg and cheese was A OK by me. We arrived at 10 on the dot on a Sunday, so little wait, but by 10:15 there was a hugeeeee line. I'd go back, for sure.
(4)Paul O.
Great stereotypical place to go for breakfast and sit at a counter. One of those places you see on TV/movies and wish one was nearby for you to have a meal and experience the people and the food. The service was fantastic in the old diner style of a little in your face service. Love the banter between the servers and the cooks. The owner, who is also one of the cooks is a bit eery as he stares at the guests with a small smile on his face and seems to be looking through you. Also, he moves at the slowest pace for a short order cook I have ever seen. The other short order cook is quick, smooth and makes a grill sing. As for the food, good standard fair. Great fluffy pancakes, good fresh cracked eggs and solid Baltimore based breads for toast. The weakness is in the potatoes. Guys, you have to lessen the greasiness and get some crispy parts to gain some crunch and textural elements, instead of a mushy, greasy mix.
(4)Yelp Fan F.
Solid diner food. Good portion size. Reasonable prices. Staff was attentive. It had a very diner-scene-in-a-movie ambience..the staff wore uniforms and people sat around the bar eating and talking. I left happy and satisfied.
(4)Samuel R.
I have been here a few times and only for the breakfast, so I cannot comment on the lunch portion of the menu. There is nothing unique or avant-garde about the menu: standard North American breakfast items: pancakes, waffles, eggs of different styles, the usual breakfast meats, egg sandwiches, etc. However, if Baltimore could brag a few more of these places, it would help put the Charm back in Charm City. Not only will you walk away satisfied, but you will have a 'real' Baltimore experience. The seating are stools along a lengthy counter with no division among individuals or groups. Be prepared to accidentally elbow and be elbowed by neighboring patrons. You will also overhear several conversations from the currently unemployed, blue color workers, and PhD students. My fiancee's neighbors swapped stories about adventuring in the world of Dungeons and Dragons while my neighbors were recommending museum exhibits to one another. Also, we were treated to a man in a long black wool coat stepping into the establishment, raising his arms then announcing, "May the Lord bless and keep you all!" Apparently, he's a regular since a lady behind the counter addressed him by first name and informed him that the police would be called if he didn't leave. He didn't leave immediately, but remained with his hands folded and mumbled unintelligibly. He eventually left and, to my knowledge, the police were never summoned. You get a full sense of the cross section of classes in the city as the proletariat and the opulent crowd each other for counter space. What we ordered: Blueberry Pancakes - Nice, fluffy, filling. There's just something comforting about large pancakes with blueberries cooked inside, dripping with butter and syrup. An order of three thick and fluffy pancakes will definitely tide you over until lunch and possibly even dinner. Turkey Sausage - We choose turkey sausage over pork sausage whenever it's available. We both put a lot of effort in losing a combined total of 100 lbs. As much as we like to dine out, we find ways to cut a few calories here and a few grams of fat there. We shared the three links and if all turkey sausage was this good, the pork industry would be seriously hurting. Blueberry waffle - I have been wanting to order one of these since my first visit. I would watch a cook pull one from the waffle iron and slap it on a plate, the four corners jutting over the edge of the plate, then dump a handful of fresh blueberries over top. PROS - firm, crisp outside and doughy inside and deep craters for holding pools of flavorful syrup. CONS - You just can't spread butter over waffles and in the end, I like the blueberries cooked inside the batter. One egg, over medium - Done to perfection: not overdone with a hardened yolk and not underdone with a completely runny snot-like yolk. You can cut it up with a fork. Would I go again? Definitely and fairly soon. You might have trouble getting seated with a party larger than two and you may have to bring a magazine for the wait as you stand directly behind the seated people who are already jammed in shoulder to shoulder.
(5)Jay S.
Simply the best home-fries/breakfast potatoes in the city. Counter space only dining. There are no fancy breakfasts here just tasty regular stuff. If you like eggs or flavored pancakes you are in for a treat. But again it's nothing fancy. Cheap and QUICK!
(5)Ben V.
Pete's is a solid, four star Baltimore breakfast spot. It's proximity to the Farmer's Market on the weekends increases this to five stars, if you can get a seat in a decent amount of time. Order anything with blueberries in it, and you'll be glad you did. That doesn't just go for Pete's Grill. Like, as a "Positive Life Maxim", perhaps "Positive Life Maxim #79" ORDER ANYTHING WITH BLUEBERRIES IN IT, AND YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID. Jack Handey, you're not allowed to steal that. It's Ben Valis' "Deep Thought' For Real.
(4)Jenny A.
Pete's Grill is a really cool place. It is the only place I've ever been to that looks and feels like an old lunch counter. Waiting against the wall sucks, but it's worth it for good cheap food.
(5)Joe T.
Relatively cheap, and just plain old perfectly-made breakfast food. I've been here perhaps close to 20 times. Western omelet with home fries is my favorite here, though the thick and fluffy blueberry hotcakes are really good as well. Can't really go wrong on the menu, as everything tastes great. No fancy gimmicks, just great food.
(4)Mike R.
Been here before AND after the Michael Phelps hype. I have come later in the morning so there was a wait (but not too long). I order my typical diner food consisting of sunny-side up eggs,bacon, hash browns and toast. You can see them cooking your order from across your seat. It is good comfort food. I was happy and full everytime I left. I will stop here again for good food and value.
(4)Kristina D.
This is what a diner should be. Interesting characters perch on counter stools chomp on blueberry pancakes and provide people-watching enjoyment for your own blueberry pancake-chomping.
(5)j j.
JR: Egg sandwich was nothing special, but good. JS: egg over easy, a-ok, home fries were alright, but I prefer when a place makes them a bit crispier. The place was pretty crowded--decent people watching... The folks who work there were very friendly during our visit and on their game-- the service was well above average.
(3)Eric P.
At this neighborhood staple in Waverly, you'll find cops eating breakfast on weekdays, and large masses of Hopkins students on the weekends. Personally, I like the simpler things, like blueberry pancakes or waffles, but they have a full fare of southern cooking -- from scrapple to chipped beef and milkshakes. 100% counter seating can lead to long waits on a weekend, best bet is to show up on a weekday morning. Apparently, this is also Michael Phelp's (of Olympic gold medal fame) favorite breakfast place in Baltimore.
(3)Nicole M.
Excellent classic breakfast food served cheap and quick by attentive counter staff.
(5)Ann H.
I don't even know how to start writing this review because my mouth is watering on the keyboard. I MISS PETE'S GRILL!!! Nothing tops breakfast at this neighborhood spot. Don't plan on going w/a large group because the only seats are stools at the bar, but this gives it a very cool neighborhood diner vibe plus you can potentially chat it up with the owner. Get the blueberry pancakes. You'll thank me later.
(5)James N.
Great food, and fast. Make sure to come here during the pancake eating contest
(5)Walt Z.
this is by far the best breakfast food i've ever had. while in baltimore to see the red sox, a friend of mine brought me here and i at there all 3 mornings i was in town.
(5)W C.
They say the blueberry pancakes are great so we ordered them and they were alright but not as good as the pancakes you can get at City Cafe (which are thinner). When you order them you get a stack of three to which the average person can probably handle one and a half. We took the left overs home and fried em up in a frying pan the next morning with a bit of oil and thats when they started to taste great. With the oil in the pan you can get the surface of the pancake crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside (reminds me of McDonald's hash browns which are very good though I haven't had them in probably 10 years). So I'd recommend getting them to go, frying them up at home and eating them in the comfort of your home (where you have some elbow room and aren't rushed to finish to make room for the people lining the wall waiting to sit down).
(3)Josiah L.
best blueburry waffles and homefries in Baltimore. i love their western omelette, would have given it a 4 stars prior to the change of owner.
(3)Jasmine B.
Amazing Grille! If you're ever in the area go here! I was VERY skeptical about visiting the restaurant but after getting inside I was ok. It was very clean. And I mean VERY CLEAN! The grille, countertops, every area where food was prepared was clean, which I appreciated. The food was great. I ordered a burger without the bread and it was one of the most amazing burgers I ever had. It had the char-grilled taste which I love and I can't wait to go back to visit and eat there again. Service was great and the cook was very friendly as well :)
(5)Bernie C.
I did it! Finally! After four years of trying to walk the three blocks that would take me to this cash-only nook of the neighborhood, I've officially done it! The atmosphere is teeny tiny neighborhood diner, super casual, and you can tell there are regulars. The early bird and Facebook specials (acquirable through getting up at the crack of dawn or liking their Facebook page respectively) are so worth it. This is the type of place where it's all about bang for buck. Simple food made in satisfying quantities and served with a smile. Don't expect huge variety or upscale ingredients, that's not what this place is about. It's about the type of bacon and egg, pancakes and syrup breakfasts that you can smell from your bedroom and drag yourself out of bed for. Yum. Wake up. Go to Petes. Go back to be to enjoy the food coma.
(4)Dee D.
Pretty Standard bar style diner. Had pancakes, eggs, bacon and potatoes. Everything was pretty good. The service was really good. Fast and prompt and no mess ups. Just what I love. Someone next to me had a western omelette that looked pretty good too. I would like to return for lunch. They close pretty early (1 pm). And cash only. So be prepared.
(4)H E.
Simple and great. Tasty basic breakfast. Nice people over the counter. Great value for money.
(5)Carrie O.
Hubs and I hit up Pete's after visiting the 32nd Street Farmer's Market last Saturday. Now, as a Baltimore native (and former resident of Waverly itself), I have been well aware of Pete's for what amounts to my entire life. But - I'd never been here before, which I can now say is a crying shame. Even if you end up NOT liking the food here, you have to come, even if only to scratch it off your Baltimore bucket list. This is a B'more institution, folks. It's been perched on the corner of Greenmount and 32nd forever - at least for 40 years, because I remember it being there when I was only yay-high. Be prepared when you come - this is Blue Moon-level seating. You'll stand against a wall for 20 minutes and stare jealously at everyone sitting at the counter enjoying their food. It is what it is. At least you get to wait in a nice, warm space and take in all of the posters on the walls, including the snarky ones right above the grills. It's a Baltimore thing. I would definitely NOT recommend taking more than two at a time here. Unless you want to be seated separately. There was one poor party of four that was skipped over six times because they couldn't get seats together for all of them at once. So, yeah. A single or at the most, a couple - no more. They don't have "fancy" breakfast dishes here. No Captain Crunch toast, no eggs with hollandaise and potatoes, no Miss Shirley's 24 dollar waffles. Not here, uh-uh. It's as basic as you're going to get - pancakes, home fries, eggs with cheese. If you're expecting more than good old-fashioned solid American breakfast that you could probably whip up in your own kitchen, you're in the wrong joint. Hubs and I both ordered Western omelettes (the Saturday special) - nothing more than eggs with tomatoes, onions, peppers and cheese, but boy was it good after being in the cold for hours. It came with a side of home fries (you can substitute grits if you want) and toast with butter and jelly - like I said, standard. Coffee is hot, plentiful and comes in little mugs with "PETE'S" written in Old English on the side. Very no-nonsense. The waitresses are crusty. "NEXT TWO!" And they'll yell it right in front of you, too. It's Baltimore at its finest. They won't exactly rush you out, but don't linger too long, either. That line never goes away, after all. You're there to eat and go, simple as that. Prices are about right for a place like this. It's not dirt DIRT cheap, but it's not at all unreasonable. We got out of there for about 20 bucks or so (if you can read the scrawl on the ticket, that is, heh). Pete's is Pete's. It's a Baltimore thing. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Don't wait decades to come like I did.
(4)Roger H.
Just a great great diner. Cash only. Great blueberry pancakes...nothing fancy here...but perfectly done. I agree...the short stack is PLENTY...I am a big eater. YES...they have scrapple. Go...cozy up at the counter...bring cash...have a great breakfast.
(4)Brandon D.
OMG! Time changes everything... I have frequented this Baltimore breakfast spot over the years. I went there this morning and couldn't even believe this was the same place. My pancakes tasted like cardboard and had were poorly cooked! Save your time and money this place isn't what it use to be...
(1)Emmett F.
Really great traditional diner in Baltimore. If you live in the area and haven't been, you need to find time to make a trip there soon.
(4)Allison L.
I don't usually go nuts over breakfast but I don't know if it was my extreme hunger, my extreme hangover or the 20 minutes of watching food be made and served to other people while we waited for a seat, but this was the most delicious breakfast I've had in a while. I pretty much wanted everything on the menu but decided on the french toast with a side of home fries and bacon. I hadn't had french toast in a loooong time and this french toast was very good. The bacon was my favorite kind... salty, greasy, thin, and crispy. And while I only made it through about 1/4 of the home fries, they were pretty awesome as well. Service wasn't the most friendly I've ever experienced, but it was quick and cordial. It's cash only, but also pretty cheap so you don't need to have a ton of cash on you. My only regret is that a guy who came in after us ordered a coffee milkshake and a milkshake at breakfast didn't even cross my mind. Probably wouldn't have mixed well with all the grease and syrup soooo maybe for the best. I don't often find myself in this area but wouldn't hesitate to come back.
(4)Maria P.
No frills, diner fare in a quintessential baltimore setting. Coffee is always fresh, drinks are replenished, and food is hot. Students, seniors, locals and newcomers welcome. As things change in our modern age it's nice to have a simple meal and receive a handwritten guest check. Street parking available.
(5)Kendall R.
Good food but so tiny and terrible for groups!!! There is only bar seating a the bar is so small. I went here once with a group of 6 people and we had to sit dispersed in 3 groups of 2. I went here once with one other person and it was much better. The food is good but not amazing. Pretty classic breakfast & lunch diner food.
(3)Sonia A.
When we lived in Baltimore, we would come here almost every weekend. Now that we've moved away I sorely miss Pete's Grille! We're back in town for a couple of days and you best believe we're stopping at Pete's Grille. Our favorites? Biscuits and gravy, which my husband swears is the best in the city, and blueberry pancakes. The breakfast potatoes are yummy too. This place is no frills, serving simple but hearty breakfasts. The staff is friendly and efficient. Even when there is a line, you're not waiting long. It's also very, very, very clean which is nice; they shut down once a year for a deep cleaning of the place. There's not a speck of dust or grime anywhere.
(5)Sabrina W.
Went here on a rainy day just at 11 on Saturday for brunch. Since I hadn't checked any reviews before coming, I was a little surprised by the counter-style. The diner was full, but our wait wasn't too long (around 10 minutes). People don't stay too long after they've finished eating. The vibe is friendly, but very pragmatic - the servers pull you up, and are friendly, but brisk. It was quite nice to see the chefs cook the food on the grill in front of you. We ordered the Western omelette (tomato, green peppers, and onion, with cheese), which was served with grits, and toast, and the blueberry waffle, with a side of scrambled egg. Your perfect comfort brunch - the best breakfast I've had in a while. The omelette and waffle were by far my favourite. The omelette was fresh, and the portion size just perfect. The waffle was fluffy and moist, and dosed with a generous portion of blueberries. Make sure to bring cash, as they don't accept credit!
(5)Alexis J.
Went here this AM for a quik breakfast en route to running errands. It was packed, but I only waited about 5 mins, so it wasn't too bad. Butttt anyhoo, on to the food. I ordered a blueberry short stack, bacon, homefries and Pine-Orange juice. It was alright. Nothing to rave about. Just simple breakfast. The pancakes were pretty big, but not light & fluffy as I'd hoped. They were a bit "bouncy" and dense. Also, they didn't have peppers to add to the homefries. Lastly, they have the worst bacon ever. It is very thin, like the bacon that's served at fast-food joints. Considering that bacon has an uber special place in my life, I was bothered by that. :/ Service was pretty quick. I was in and out in about 45 mins. This is a place for regulars and the average quick breakfast pick-up. If you want to relax and stretch with a nice breakfast cocktail and loads of good convo with friends, this is NOT the place. For one, you can't all fit inside of the place and for two, you'll probably get stared down by the folks waiting against the back wall to eat at the next sitting. "Get in, get out" is the name of the game here. I would go back in a pinch, but probably wouldn't go out of my way for it.
(3)Clare C.
Standard diner fare and made for a great Sunday brunch. I had the recommended blueberry pancakes - a short stack was plenty filling (two large pancakes) - and they were made by Dave (the owner) himself and were quite delicious. Service was very friendly and prompt, the restaurant was clean, and it was fun to watch all the food being made in front of you behind the bar counter. We were surprised that there wasn't a wait during Sunday morning brunch time; it was full but we found seats right when walking into Pete's. Cash only.
(4)John B.
Cozy. Traditional. Diner. This place is popular for a reason. Staff are very friendly. The workflow of the line cooks in conjunction with the servers is impeccable. Orders are promptly taken, food is promptly cooked, belly is promptly filled. Depending on the time of day that you go, you may or may not hit a long line of folks waiting to be seated, as the restaurant is simply one long bar for seating. The line does move quick though due to the aforementioned process. And with the food served, it's worth the wait. Blueberry pancakes are a must. Omelettes are plentiful in size and tastiness. And the coffee just feels right. Oh, and stop by the ATM before heading here, cash only. It's places like this that make me happy to live in Baltimore.
(5)Riley K.
BEST BREAKFAST IN BALTIMORE. None of that fancy shit - classic American breakfast. However, you can go international with the Belgian waffles... Fast, friendly service. CASH ONLY. Open Sundays. Lunch options look good too! $22 for pictured meal...
(5)jon l.
Pete's is a great little breakfast and lunch diner type restaurant that has been around for quite a long time. While it is really small, they serve up some of the tastiest breakfast dishes in the area. The burgers are really good, but a little on the greasy side. It is a great value and I would come here more often if the parking was easier and there was more seating. I find it difficult to eat on a counter stool with people all around. I recommend this place for takeout and I would call ahead to place your order.
(3)Ryan B.
Pete's Grille is famous for having the breakfast of Michael Phelps, and it really doesn't disappoint. I've had the waffles, pancakes, chicken waffles, and even burgers at Pete's, and all are excellent. I love eating at the old fashioned bar where you can see all your food being made, even though it usually means waiting a while because there's so little seating in the restaurant. They're always busy, but I've never had slow service, nor did I get the feeling that I was being rushed out. Recently in the winter when there's a ton of snow, Pete's will even send a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to pick you up and drive you to the restaurant! This is a very friendly and family-oriented Baltimore-run restaurant. If you do want to come here for brunch, I suggest planning ahead since a 30-45 minute wait isn't uncommon. You also want to withdraw some money from the ATM since they don't accept any credit cards. Because of their popularity, I think Pete's is slightly overpriced for what it is, but their food is always of top quality, so I'm not complaining. If you're looking for a more traditional diner-esque brunch place that isn't as high class and/or snooty as Miss Shirley's, then Pete's is your place to go.
(4)Donsa 8.
Average diner the food was ok ... everything was precooked just heated when we ordered .. the waitress was great, the cook seemed to be a little annoyed by some customers... I wouldn't go back and just so you know they only take cash... I had to go to the ATM across the street. The place was very clean.
(3)William B.
Awesome breakfast! Limited seating, so timing is imperative.
(4)Kim B.
Great little neighborhood gem, we stumbled upon. Very clean, staff is incredibly attentive and the food portions are generous. I ordered a short stack of blueberry pancakes. Holy .... More than enough for one person. Definitely going back soon
(5)Michael T.
Great hole-in-the-wall place. Best breakfast place hands-down in Baltimore. Great place and would recommend it to everyone! Can get really busy during peak times and is hard to get seats for a large group.
(5)Rachel L.
Just moved into Charles Village and was looking for a sweet breakfast place in the area. Saw great reviews for Pete's grill and decided to bring the hubby. Delicious hearty breakfast. Everything was cooked to perfection except the french toast was a little too wet for my liking.
(4)Pat M.
I want to give Pete's a better grade, but I cannot in good conscience do so. I was recently hankering for a big, belly-fillin' breakfast, so I went here and ordered eggs, toast, scrapple and a waffle. Eggs, toast and scrapple were well prepared and tasty, but the waffle was too sweet and dessert-like. Service was good, and I was surprised that they actually had decent coffee. But the biggest issue I have is that it was simply too much money for the food. Yes, Pete's may be a local legend, but it is after all only a diner! The price should have been more reasonable for the quality of the food.
(3)Ashley C.
Always terrific! Pancakes, Burgers, chipped beef, fries, coffee! Great fast and friendly service. Love it!
(5)Brian Z.
Im glad I live right down the street from this outstanding diner! The biscuits and gravy are some of the best ive had!!!
(5)Yong K.
who needs an IHOP in this area when you have pete's grille! such a great breakfast / brunch place! been here multiple times pros: the FOOD. the cheap price! hot cakes (pancakes) are so soft and fluffy REALLY GOOD. french toast is good. last time i had the english muffin sandwich with egg and sausage inside. the sausage was pretty darn good. I've tried the burger there too which was great. home fries.. yum. cons: restaurant is tiny, so it's really bad if you have a large group (almost impossible if you have more than 4). also it's CASH ONLY! don't forget your cash. but i love this place. on saturday mornings, the farmer's market is also really close by so you can stop by there after or before breakfast / brunch.
(5)Wendy E.
5 stars for best diner breakfast in Bawlmer!! Haven't been here in 15-20 years; an ÃœBER client said I HAD to go there!! Worth the trip
(5)Pegah Y.
I visited Baltimore in mid-to-late April and a friend and I had brunch at Pete's Grille (conveniently located just a couple blocks away from where she used to live and a couple blocks away from an excellent Farmer's Market). Though it's quite busy and popular on the weekends, the staff is very efficient at serving food and clearing up places at the counter (it's counter style seating) so that people filter in and out relatively quickly. We both ordered the chicken n waffles and enjoyed it a lot. I was a bit disappointed that it was chicken strips on the waffles (instead of big pieces of chicken, as I'm used to), but I still really enjoyed it and the syrup was delicious, even with the chicken! I would definitely visit Pete's Grille again if I found myself in that neighborhood in the future, and I highly recommend it as an excellent Baltimore brunch place.
(5)Helen C.
This is a cute, small, home-y little neighborhood diner. There is only a long row of seats at the "bar" though, so it can make seating a bit difficult. I would NOT recommend coming here with a large group because you have to all sit a row and you'll never get seats unless you split up. But besides all that, the food was really good. My omelette was delicious and the portions were huge! The servers were very friendly and it's very easy to get their attention because you're sitting right in front of them. Apparently there's a really nice farmer's market a block away sometimes, although sadly it was raining that day. Next time!
(5)Christina M.
Decent, big portions, ok prices. Cash only makes it tough for most modern people. Good pancakes and french toast, though not up there with my favorite restaurants, or the ones I make myself. Also some real whipped butter and better syrup would have made a huge difference!! Probably not a place I will go back to.
(3)Maeve M.
I'm a former swimmer so I know the joy of digging in to a short (or not so short) stack and a pile of bacon after a hard morning practice. When I heard that this is Michael Phelp's go-to, I knew I had to visit. Unlike my former golden days, though, I did not pregame this meal with several hours of hard aerobic exercise, but I still really enjoyed my pancakes. Note that a short stack is huge--you probably don't need to go bigger. I like my pancakes plain, but I noticed plenty of people got the blueberry or chocolate chip versions which looked good. The bacon was also delicious and the waitress kept our coffee and water cups filled. It's a counter only, and you basically wait in a long line until there are enough stools open--but surprisingly it moves fast. My friends really liked their egg sandwiches but I think the pancakes are the way to go. I'm sure Michael gets them both but if you're not on an Olympic-swimmers diet and need to triage, maybe stick with just one.
(5)Arlene R.
I pass Pete;s several times a month but never stopped in. Today I made my first visit to Pete's. Yummy, yummy, yummy. I'm a foodie who loves to eat but I couldn't finish in one sitting. Hugh blueberry pancakes, veggie omelet and home-fries. Everything was fresh and tasty. A plus was the real butter. I added my own maple syrup. On my list Pete's is the #1 breakfast spot.
(4)Abigail R.
I usually just get a classic burger with LTO and mayo. There is only takeout and counter service here. In fact, you can watch them prepare your food to order. They are cash only and really quick, so you can usually stop in for lunch before they close just after 1pm. You can't find a better burger for $5.
(4)Gary B.
Absolutely the best breakfast to be had in Bawlmer! This place is as authentic as it gets - a place for the locals, not the tourists of the Inner Harbor. The food is plentiful, tasty and reasonably priced. Some cop friends took me here years ago and I have been hooked ever since. Too many Baltimore breakfast places have either disappeared or have gone way downhill in quality. However, Pete's still maintains high standards.
(5)Coffee G.
Looking for breakfast or a burger? Pete's has awesome food for any mean with great prices!
(5)Tavonia M.
The food was excellent and freshly prepared I took my sweetie pie for our seven days my Valentine's breakfast. It was his first time he enjoyed everything the service was great
(5)Lacey S.
I've been here a few times since my original review and the service was friendly and the food fast and tasty. Thankfully, the grits have been much better since my first experience. Haven't tried the coffee again. Once I do, I'll update.
(3)Neale O.
Everything in the menu is great! A friendly and attentive staff make it a great experience every time. I have only been for breakfast, but they say the burgers are great too. CASH ONLY!
(5)Matthew M.
Again, it all depends on what you like. Pete's is a diner--no tables, just stools at the counter. The menu is traditional, and you can watch the food being cooked. But if that's what you like, Pete's does a great job of it. It's also one of the few places in Baltimore public life where rich and poor, black and white come together. It's common to see Johns Hopkins grad student sitting next to cops and bus drivers. It's also a place where people eagerly waiting for seats are unfailingly courteous and careful to make sure that people are seated first-come, first-served.
(5)Colton B.
Four stars for the food. Absolutely satisfied with food. Less stars for service and layout of diner. Very claustrophobic atmosphere and definitely not nice to out of towers.
(4)Ray R.
Just so you know (and just in case he's reading this) before the record breaking number of medals earned, I was a Michael Phelp's groupie. Although I can swim like a rock, I always checked for Michael and his achievements in the water out of hometown pride. So it's no coincidence that every time I come to Pete's Grille, I put on my best daytime cougar wear and keep my eyes peeled in case those lanky arms and legs should come though the diner doors, as he's been known to do so much in the past. At the risk of calling it cramped, I'll just say Pete's is a rather small establishment (with room for about 18 at the counter and maybe an additional 10 in the rest of the diner) great for a quick breakfast with great customer service. The ladies are all so very pleasant and range in ages and style, from tatted up to clutching pearls. Can't say I have favorites here because it's pretty hard to mess up standard, non-fancy breakfast food save for omelets but eggs are the devil and I don't partake in such nasty eating so I can't help ya in that department. I haven't eaten any of the lunch food here because you take your time with lunch and Pete's (with its limited space) doesn't strike me as that type of establishment. Dining out for breakfast is more of a get-it then hit-it type of event and considering that Pete's closes at 1p everyday, it's safe to say they second that emotion. A few of my greatest Saturdays have started with a quick meal at Pete's then stopping past the 32nd Street Farmers market before going home to recharge and pat my fat stomach for a few before beginning my main Saturday plans. Unfortunately, I haven't had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Phelps YET but just as the wave haired Jesse Jackson said, I keep hope alive that one day I'll see the wave making Olympian and, who knows, we might even share some pancakes =)
(4)Heather O.
My husband and I have been coming to Pete's for more than six years. It is your classic "sit around a counter on stools" experience. Due to the setup, if the stools are taken, you have to wait in a line against the wall behind the stools - or time your visit well (first thing in the morning on weekends is best). Even if you have to wait, the stools turn over very quickly. I always order the chocolate chip pancakes. They are fluffy, huge, chocolate chip pillows of deliciousness. If you have a sweet tooth, these need to be on your plate. Eggs, french toast, breakfast sandwiches - really everything is great. What you will get: great value for your money, delicious food, fast service (unless there is a huge line), a great overall experience. What you should NOT expect: high end, fancy-schmancy dining - you go here to fill your tummy with amazing food, not a fine dining experience; also don't plan to sit for a long time when you're done eating - the folks behind you want to eat (and the servers deserve tips from the next folks to sit in your chairs); this is NOT a great place to go with a large group of friends - unless you go first thing in the morning. Enjoy!
(5)