Overall, this place was confusing. We went because of a buy one, get one free coupon in the Sun. The environment gives an upscale vibe: comfortable seating, nice decor, quiet music, olive oil with herbs on the table. Then, I reached for my napkin to put it on my lap - and it was paper. The bread basket was plastic. So, I felt caught in an uncomfortable spot between upscale and casual restaurant. The food was mediocre, but a good value for the price. We had salmon and tuna entrees for about $16 each. It wasn't the highest quality fish, but I didn't expect that for the price. They tasted like slightly higher end chain restaurant preparations. (And of course with the coupon, it was a steal.) The best part of the meal was the fried brussel sprout appetizer, our second choice after the artichoke, which they were out of. The service was also mediocre: slow and unattentive, but, friendly when we had their attention. It took about 15 minutes before anyone visited our table after we were seated. There were only four other tables occupied in the dining room, and the waitress walked by our table a couple times without acknowledging us - also confusing!
(3)
Mary R.
I came here during restaurant week and was surprisingly disappointed. I'll start off with the good things: the staff was really welcoming and friendly. The atmosphere is nice and upscale without being over the top. The drinks were also good and they offer 15 bottle wines on Saturday. The cons: the food was mediocre at best. I ordered the ahi tuna but the server said they did not have it. She should've said it when we sat down. I ordered the vegetarian pasta and it was practically flavorless. My friend got the steak special which also was nothing special. The serving timing was also very slow and the restaurant wasn't even crowded. In summary, the atmosphere is nice and it's a cute place, but the food is very bland and small portions for what you pay for. Maybe give it a try but I wouldn't rush back anytime soon.
(2)
Brian H.
No reason to drink the eponymous "Water" here. This place has one of the best happy hours in Mt Vernon - $5 martinis and $3 drafts. There is a HUGE affordably priced tapas menu with varied results ( + dolamedes, falafel, wings, - dips). The bar area is friendly and inviting and the $10 bottles of wine are surprisingly good.
(4)
Joanna R.
Went here for the first time with a Groupon. The atmosphere in the restaurant is pretty cool. I enjoyed that part a lot. It took longer than it should have to seat us despite having made reservations and majority of the actual tables being empty (the bar was pretty full). We were seated at a glass top table, not very practical in a restaurant we found. We almost knocked it over at one point. We were there with a party of 4. The service was incredibly slow and not all that great. We were pouring our own water most of the night as we were seated right near the servers station. The water glasses and glass top table weren't clean when we sat down. That being said, the food was pretty good. The only dish not good of the 4 was mine. I got the roast whole baby hen. The rice it was on had an amazing flavor but wasn't completely cooked. There's nothing I dislike more than uncooked rice. The chicken itself was overcooked. My fiance got a pesto chicken dish that was amazing so I shared some with him. Because the service was so bad, they gave us free desserts. Even that was uncomfortable. Our waitress made sure we knew we only got two free desserts, despite the fact that there were four of us. All in all the meal took more than 2 hours. The food was good enough that I MIGHT try to come back again and see if I can improve this rating. But as it stands, the service was terrible and some of the dinnerware was unclean. Not even all the food was spot on.
(2)
Katie o.
A little secret in Baltimore. GREAT FOOD AND DRINKS. Only thing, Servers are short handed, so service is a little slow. However, Its a wonderful place to relax.
(4)
Manda G.
Had dinner here for first time last night and was great overall experience. The pork chop was perfect -- I'd highly recommend it. Loved the falafel and dolmades. Also glad I saved room for dessert (there was a lemon cake thing that was amazing). Good service and welcoming atmosphere. Will be back soon.
(5)
Vivian S.
Groupon.com introduced me to Waterstone Bar & Grill and I'm so grateful! I went there for a date night and we had a wonderful experience. The customer service was excellent, the food was super, and the ambiance was perfect! I didn't expect to be so impressed with the restaurant but it is now my second favorite place to eat in Baltimore!
(4)
Stephanie C.
My friend and I randomly found this place when we came up for the lighting of the Mt. Washington monument last week. I love the decor (inside and out) and the staff was all very friendly. The tapas and beers were great! We had the Mediterranean dipping platter and the soup of the day (this amazing lemon chicken). The only drawbacks were that the salmon was a little overcooked, it was unclear that the happy hour prices were at the bar only, and there's only one bathroom stall...total, but besides that I'd definitely return! They even came around with little wine tastings while we waited for our food. Great touch!
(4)
Chrissy M.
First things first. The new ownership is AMAZING!! Shawn/Sean (not sure how he spells it) has turned this place around the old owner never mad beer. Her lines were dirty. The food was always either inconsistent or just plain not good and they WERE NEVER OPEN WHEN THEY SAID THEYD BE!! It was so frustrating because I live a few doors down but now I can say I love it here! They even accommodated a birthday party that had book for the fights then when the riots started and there was a curfew in effect he did a lock in for them! Such a great idea! I cant wait for the coffee shop and deli to open on the other side. Shut up and take my money
(5)
A K.
New owner is turning the place around, this place finally has fresh beer and the food is on point. Highly recommended if you're in the area!
(5)
Bernie C.
feta cheese. feta cheese eh-vuh-ry-where. Which is not a bad thing. Sometimes. Personally, I am always a fan of crispy brussel sprouts and artichokes so those two were where my eyes zoomed on the menu. They were alright... artichokes a lil too wet and large (shoulda cut them or something?) and brussel sprouts a lil underdone and both in general disappointing but still, having two of my favourite veggies have their own plates on a menu is a plus. We also got sweet potato fries (sooo yum, they drizzled them with honey or some sort of nectar of the gods. not crispy though, or firm) the dipping trio (giant block of feta was a teeny bit unnecessary, and nothing exciting on the plate) the lamb sliders (thumbs up on the lamb and taste thumbs down on the pita triangle bun) the calamari (nothing special unfortunately) the tuna tartar (also not special, most disappointing for me cause I love this dish done right) baked feta (yurm with all the richness) mediterranian flatbread (nothing special, couldve put it together with market ingredients at home. easily.) and a whole selection of drinks. The place was really nice, but the service just a lil slow, and the food is passable just not as good as some other places in baltimore. still, we got reservations and the place was perfect for our party of six as well as the party of two on the other side of the room, so theyre accommodating.
(2)
Erin S.
This place has friendly service and good drink specials, but the food leaves a lot to be desired. I've had their lunch before (salads and some wraps) and nothing really impressed. The last time I was there for happy hour the wings and calamari tasted about a day old, which is a bummer, because I really liked the place. I should have sent it back, but I just kind of ate it begrudgingly. Prior to that experience, I found this to be a good place to come with groups since it was pretty spacious. Also, it's off the beaten path a little bit, so there is always parking unlike in other parts of Mt. Vernon.
(2)
Sarah M.
So so good! We wandered upon this place and decided to brave the three star review. SO MUCH BETTER THAN THREE STARS!! The atmosphere was sublime, the menu, diverse, the food, wonderful. I will definitely come back again!!
(5)
Andrew R.
Came here for happy hour before a show at meyerhoff. I didn't care for one of the plates but that was my fault, I didn't realize it had honey on it. My friends got the hummus plate and the chicken cesar wrap and lemon drops. They both said the food was fantastic.
(4)
Ken J.
I get over to this place about once a month. The food is always above average to excellent, the drinks are pretty inexpensive and well-made, and the staff is very friendly and attentive. The bar and dining area are very attractive and comfortable. Also, rumor has it that they are going to start putting their entertainment license to good use this fall. Check it out!
(5)
Chris D.
I want to really like this place, but as is I will never step foot in there again. Living down the street, I always thought about stopping in whenever I drove by for errands. When a deal popped up on Amazon, figured it was a great reason to push myself to go. If you see this place pop up on a deal site do one of two things: DO NOT BUY IT, if you ignore the first piece of advice then read the fine print of the deal. The Amazon deal was only good for dine-in (in the dining room), dinner, excludes happy hour items, and requires at least one food item purchase. Because of these restriction the girlfriend and I ended up coming through twice in order to successfully use the deal. Below are issues from our two experiences. Food & Drink -Decent. Falafal is good, however some other items have tiny proportions for the price (lamb chops tapas). -Sangria is decent/good at happy price point, but at full price ($9~) it is a subpar. Space and Decor -Everything is new, clean, and looks very nice. Waterstone would be a 4-5 if judged solely on visuals. Service -Staff is friendly and helpful, when you see them... -Massively understaffed. First time we went on a weekday happy hour, it took almost ten minutes for the girlfriend and I to be sat in an empty restaurant. The person who sat us? Not even an employee but a friend of the owner who happened to have wandered through. -Dirty dishes would sit on empty tables for 10-20 minutes in a half filled restaurant. -On our second outing here, table next to us got up and left because it was 15 minutes between being sat and a server showing up. Another table requested their check before the entrees appeared because they knew how long delays might be. -Server dropped off items at our table while carrying kitchen supplies. -Charged for items that never showed up (artichoke hearts tapas). We were able to get the check fixed, but this shouldn't be happening at all. One could say some of these complaints might be nit-picking, but the check on our second outing was $60 for two people. For $60 in Baltimore this was an abysmal experience. This place really needs more staff on hand most nights. A food runner/buser, barback, or even a host might be able to fix these service issues. The front staff seemed overloaded with visible responsibilities as is. I'm sad because this place is just down the street and has pretty good happy hour deals, but I am never coming back again.
(1)
Dean S.
Best kept secret. You will be more than surprised at this beautiful place in the middle city.
(5)
Nisha G.
Great little place right across from UMMC. Very close to the light rail too for all you car- less folks. I visited on a Tuesday evening so the place was pretty empty, I imagine it is a lot busier during weekends. Mediterrean vibes from the food to the music. Really great deals and the food was absolutely delicious. I plan to make another visit!
(5)
Wallace S.
I enjoyed coming to this quite place restaurant with my wife and daughter before we went to Center Stage to watch a play. I love their food and drinks and relaxing atmosphere. I plan on coming to this restaurant more often. If you are in the area I would definite recommend you visit this restaurant. This is a good location for a first romantic date. For all those single people out their you must try this location.
(5)
Joyram C.
Be good to yourself...show up with McDonalds At first I thought this was a joke...April fool's maybe. No serious business owner could operate this way. Three times on the bounce this place has floored my guests and I with their rude, overbearing, awful service. This is not a restaurant...a bar or a night club posing as a food joint. First time around the food was raw. The manager apologizes and offers us a gift card to come back. 6 months later we show up for a reservation and there is no one there from the restaurant. The customers seated around were making room and welcoming us in...well done indeed. We left and come back a month later with the family and there is profanity laced music blaring away in the "quiet room" and the barkeeper/waiter/server/bus boy and possibly the cook comes around after a while for our drinks order. Hold on he can't do two thing at once so just drinks this time. Then comes a appetizers with no incidents. We should have cut our losses at this stage and left. But first date after the baby is born, you want to take advantage. He comes back for entree orders with nothing to write with or on and gets flustered. Comes back, gets the order and then sends someone off shopping for groceries. After about an hour (the baby wakes up for feeding before food arrives that's how we know) we ask him about our orders and to please turn down the profanity in the backroom. The food arrives in patches because he forgot to give the entire order. The check comes in and it turns out the gift card the restaurant had given last time round bounced and he can't sort it out. The experiences get better everytime! We like to give everyone a second or a third chance because everyone's entitled to an off night. Stuff happens....but this is ridiculous! Do yourself a favor, stay away from the headache and possibly under cooked food and order McDonalds. You are guaranteed better food in a more timely fashion. For the owner or the lack thereof, you should be ashamed to call this a restaurant. Your parents did a poor job bringing you up for lying to paying customers!
(1)
Kevin S.
When me and my friend arrived here for our first time on a Friday night, I was a little hesitant at first because the area of town it is in, but was pleasantly suprised by the number of women that were there. It was full of women! We proceeded to strike up a conversation with a woman there who was friendly, and then her female friend came over and was rather rude to us. Then, they started to kiss in front of us! It wasn't any of that Katie Perry style kissing either, more like Ellen Degeneres. Apparently, we were trying to pick up her girlfriend. I looked around and realized every other person in the bar was a woman, many with very short hair, and this was among a decently big crowd too. It was quite an epiphany. Thus, it appears that this is a lesbian bar, although to be fair it is a wine bar in Mount Vernon so maybe it was just the crowd that happened to come there that night. Regardless, I don't plan to return.
(2)
Teneka W.
After an unsuccessful attempt of eating here last Saturday (because the kitchen closes at 9pm) I ate here this past Friday evening a little after 7:00, therefore no happy hour prices. IMO anything (especially a bar) that closes before 9 on a Friday or Saturday night is destined for failure. Let me start by saying that the extent of wonderful evening stopped at the decor. As we walked in for some odd reason I expected to be seated by a hostess (silly me). Instead, the bartender just yelled at us "sit wherever you like guys." Well given that it was fairly empty and obviously no hostess or waitress in sight I was afraid that we would be forgotten about or lost in the emptiness so we opted to stay in full sight of the only person working which was the bartender (with a dirty wrist bandage on) and sit at a table near the window. Well now here comes the waitress. I'm not sure if she had worked all day or just rolled out of the bed with her uniform on and rushed to work. Never introduced herself so I don't know her name. But lucky for us she was kind enough to take our drink order (sarcasm). 2 Sangrias, scotch and water. Water was ummmm water and Sangria was, what tasted like water added to either diet or flat ginger ale +some kind of unrecognizable fruit. Therefore I just returned the sangria and opted for water only. Given the scotch connoisseur that my bf is he said he would've preferred to have it in a whisky/nosing glass, not a shot glass. Something about the smell of scotch. Moving on to the food. Hummus and pita bread for apps was just ok. Entree for me was salmon and cucumber slices and salmon with mashed potatoes and veggies for the bf. Well the salmon was tender and juicy but very very bland/flavorless. Mashed potatoes was the best thing on the plate but just above average. And the bf said the veggies were either just ok or he was to hungry to notice what anything tasted like and he just wanted to eat. And while eating, suddenly 2 delivery drivers hauls in 2 handtrucks full of cases of liquor through the front door and pass dining patrons. Is using a back door not an option at this place? If not, can the deliveries be made before the opening and peole are eating? IDK, Ive never owned a bar, lounge or restaurant; maybe that's how it's done. Now on to the check, thank God I had a living social coupon because I would've hated to pay full price for this experience. this is now my second time seeing our waitress since she took our drink order, but anyway, I'm ready to pay and get out of here as I have a movie to catch at 915. But of course after the waiter dropped off the bill she did a wonderful "no show" act. 20 minutes later the bf finally gets up and walks the bill and credit card over to bar to pay but was told by the bartender that he couldn't take the payment because he was busy. Ok another 10 minutes later the bf walks back over to the bar and just asked another waiter to accept our payment because now we were really pressed for time. Well thank you Waterstone for wanting to accept my payment, I'm not a fan of the "dine and dash" experiment.
(2)
Tim Y.
Waterstone Bar & Grille is one of two go-to restaurants that I hit every time I am in Baltimore. I was fortunate to have discovered this hideaway about 2 years ago after it opened thanks to my exploring with a restaurant.com coupon and since then, I have never been disappointed. The real winner here is the food. I saw an earlier 1 star review by Katie S. which was in an uproar about the fact that they don't serve tahini with their falafel... it's unfortunate that that person doesn't have the palet to eat something served without sauce and judge from there. Falafel doesn't come served consistently across the board like chicken nuggets at McDonalds with sweet and sour sauce... Even at growing chains like Roti, their falafel, which they are known for, doens't come with sauce. That being said, the falafel at Waterstone is in the top 3 that I have had in the United States. When you are a vegan/vegetarian (depending on the day I cheat) you gain an appreciation for how things are prepared and taste without sauces. I eat falafel without dipping it in anything for the most part... Falafel stands up on its own and is excellent. The dishes here are some of the best in Baltimore, to the point that almost EVERY TIME I am there, there is someone from the Baltimore "elite" hanging out, whether it be a long-time newscaster or an elected official. This place is awesome and quiet. Kudos to the owner and staff for a great job in converting it from a once run down bar into what it is today.
The place looks nice and we had good service, but the main reason that we go out to dinner is for the food... We got off to a good start with one of the tapas dishes - a mix of falafel, hummus and such. The falafel was pretty tasty. We were let down by our entrees, however. I ordered the chicken gyro and there just wasn't a good taste to it. I wasn't sure if the chicken was off, but my husband tried it and said that it was probably the spices. I guess I was overwhelmed by the tarragon. My husband had the lamb chop with calamari. The lamb chop was ok with the sauce, but the calamari was not fresh. When you fry frozen calamari it just gets chewy. We probably won't be going back.
(2)
Mike H.
I ate at Waterstone's with a group of 12 people. It was a particularly hot day out that day and it appeared that there was little to no AC on in the restaurant, all members of the party complained (to no avail) and several party members were actually sweating while sitting down at the meal. As for the meal, the service left a little to be desired, this being unacceptable when there were literally no other patrons in the restaurant to distract them. Several people in the group either received the wrong order or received nothing at all. This led to half of the group being done eating before the other half were actually served. The food itself was just OK, nothing special about it. Portions were on the smaller size. The Sangria was too fruity and far from authentic, there are much better examples at other nearby establishments, namely Tio Pepe.
(2)
Cyndi B.
This usually is a pretty good place - but tonight, they blew it. Started with drinks before meeting friends for dinner - they weren't able to make 3 of the 4 drinks we requested. Why? No fresh fruit or herbs (grapefruit or oranges or mint). So we went to old standards although they did find an orange to make orange crushes. Server/bartenders were all very flustered. My artichokes also contained calamari---which could have been a very bad thing if I was allergic. I hate calamari. Finally after letting the server know about it the answer was well we use the same fryer. Seems like common sense to make sure it's empty. After we got our food, the server completely forgot about us. Took 45 minutes to get their attention to wrap up and pay the bill.
(2)
Amanda F.
My new find in Mt. Vernon manages to be chic, cheap, and mediterranean. Something about this place just seems easy. Its a relaxing space, the menu is huge, and the prices are so affordable there is no choosing between two appetizers when you can afford both! Wine Bottle special for $10? Bring Two! Waterstone not only accomdated my party of 10, but was baby-friendly! The appetizers were a real hit. The Mediterranean dipping duo offered a sampling of nearly every appetizer on their menu so everyone got something they wanted! The flash-fried artichoke and dipping sauce was a first for me and now its a must! So good! The cheese Mexidilla was an anomoly on a heavily Mediterranean menu, but tangy, cheesey, and delicious. My entree, the Rhodes Village Chicken was moist and flavorful. The orzo wasn't particularly special, but the zucchini chips was awesome. I loved the extra veggie side. The other entress at the table (Salmon Salad, Steak, Medallion Tendeloins, and Feta Chicken Pesto Pasta) were all large portions with excellent sides. No complaints at the table! Waterstone isn't the best restaurant I've ever been to, but dining at Waterstone with my Family was one of the most pleasant and easy experiences I've had in awhile. And we didn't break the bank! I guess its that Mediterranean lifestyle and dropping greek currency!
(5)
Maria A.
Update! So, my neighborhood watering hole is extremely allergy friendly. YEAY!! We came in and let the server know of my partner's wheat intollerance, and she went far and beyond her call of duty to make sure we would be aware of even wheat hiding in sauces. Now that's what I call great service. Oh the happy hour is phenomenal $3 tap beer, with a great selection (Samuel Adams, Yuengling etc) and some rather tasty treats.
(3)
Laurie B.
We Never Were Served Our Food! Came into Waterstone 6PM with the hope that we would have a lovely pre-theater meal. Staff was nice enough, but we were not served our food AN HOUR AND A HALF after ordering. Food that could be grilled in minutes. The restaurant was not full. Eventually, we had to leave hungry and furious to boot. Asked if they were short-handed and got a vague reply. Too bad. Menu still looks great, but we'll never be back.
(1)
Katie S.
I am so disappointed by this place and shocked that it gets more than 3 stars by anyone. A friend of mine suggested I get a google deal because she loves going here and since I was feeling impulsive, I purchased the deal. Later that week, I went with her and another friend to get a drink on a Sunday night. The place was pretty much empty and the decor was like a cheap hotel trying to be classy. There was only one bartender and though he was nice, he did not seem to know much of what he was doing. We were asked what drinks we wanted but then I saw another guy wait at least 15 minutes before he got a drink. The beer selections are pretty terrible as well though they try and list them as fancy. Better than the website suggests but still nothing special I ordered the falafel which was just ok but it was not served with tahini, in fact they do not have tahini at all and this is a mediterranean restaurant? We were not there too long but I left wishing I had not gotten the deal and had to tell my friends I would not go back. However, I did still have the deal...... Cut to last night, my boyfriend and I were not sure where to eat dinner and I remembered that this deal was about to expire so we decided to go use it. Since I was not too hungry my expectations were even lower and I just wanted to get a drink and a snack. I was shocked that the place was packed. They even told us we could not get a table at all, no wait, just no! We decided to eat at the bar. The bartender was fairly friendly and looked busy. The other staff looked stressed and since there was no host they were pretty flustered and/or unsure about what do with a packed restaurant. They were out of the beer my boyfriend wanted but since our expectations were low, we just chose something and moved on. He ordered the margherita flatbread an I ordred the falafel sliders (I am vegan so I realize my options are more limited and I am ok with that) without feta. The pizza not really worth the price and the cheese was only in the center with the edges being very dry with little flavor. My falafel was pretty terrible, burnt and with just a smidgen of hummus, I had to ask for more as it was all so dry. They just cut the pita into triangles and rested the dry pita teetering on top of the burnt falafel. I upgraded $1 for the sweet potato fries which were also burnt. Drizzled in honey, I felt the honey to be the best part of the meal!! The bartender waited forever to ask us if we wanted another round of drinks and did not offer water once. I was glad to not go over the deal amount by much and will not be returning. I love tapas style places and it is a shame this place was a disappointment twice.
(1)
Micco R.
I liked it and I'm very picky I never go back to a place if I get a bad meal and I've had 2 good ones so I don't understand the bad review maybe it's changed . Like the place was packed and we got our food in record time.
(5)
Ben B.
Probably more of a 3.5. Honestly, I don't know what people are talking about with the service. The servers were attentive, though they seemed to be playing good cop/bad cop. That is, one was kind of snotty and one was way too nice. Then again, we went on a Wednesday, so who knows. The place inside is super nice, though we chose the outdoor tables. The prices were decent, especially if you'd doing a happy hour. They have half-price bottles of wine on Wednesdays, in addition to their cheap-o happy hour menu. The regular stuff was on the fancy side, $15+. Except the sandwiches. Sandwiches are always a bargain. I got a lamb dish, which was served with calamari. I know, strange, right? But the calamari was surprisingly light and tasty. The lamb was juicy and well-seasoned. My friend got a steak and potatoes which were both tasty. My one complaint is that they don't seem to know what the word "medium" means. Both meats were cooked medium well or more. I don't usually whine about stuff like that, but when you've got a $16 steak on your menu, you better know when to take it off the pan. Anyway, I'd go back for a happy hour and a bottle of wine, no problem. Try it!
(4)
M.K. B.
The severs seemed overwhelmed. and the Food was sub-par for the price. The beers were warm, the cosmos were just mixers. Its rare that a place tries so hard and fails so badly.
(1)
Katie H.
This place is a hidden gem in the Mount Vernon neighborhood. The happy hour deals are fantastic! Make sure you get there, or the bar may fill up. Occasionally it is packed, but other times it is empty. The staff if always amazing! It has the intimate dining room for when you want a date night but you can sit at the bar if you just want to catch up with some friends. I love the mixed sangria (red and white mixed)! I also love the pomegranate martinis - and these bartenders are not playing around, they are definitely heavy handed (which I rarely complain about!). I love the food, but I am a definite fan of the Mediterranean cuisine! So delicious! There bar food is great when you want bar food, but the rest is ON PAR. You have to try! It has become one of our meet-up spots for our friends.
(5)
Katy P.
I live around the corner, and it's great to have this place in the neighborhood. Cheap happy hour, great reasonably priced food, very friendly and welcoming environment. Service can be a little slow, but they make up for it with the friendliness. We love coming in to Waterstone for dinner in the neighborhood.
(4)
Samantha D.
Great am, romantic low-lighting..candles! a cute trickle fountain = nice for a dinner date. I ordered Veggie Flatbread- delish, but nothing special $10. The boy ordered the Bison Burger cooked medium..must've been frozen because it was not the right temperature $14. Friendly service. Location is unfortunately, right next to hospital emergency entrance... ..I wouldn't mind coming back though
(3)
Jessica L.
Came here because I live in the neighborhood and I got a Groupon. We got some tapas- salmon with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto sauce, steak points with blue cheese and chipotle sauce, dolmades, tzasiki sauce, chicken skewers, and artichoke hearts which were fried. The salmon was a fairly large portion but the flavors were not meshing together. They put some salmon, sprinkled some sun dried tomatoes and then put some pesto sauce on the plate. The steak points were just small pieces of steak on top of a pita triangle with some chipotle sauce on it. The dolmades were pretty good and the artichoke hearts weren't bad either. The tzasiki sauce was nothing to write home about. Service was very slow although friendly. Our waitress was nice but we did have to wait for about a half hr for our food. I was expecting at least the tzasiki to come out first because it should only take a few minutes for that to be ready but everything came out at the same time. The blue undercurrent cocktail was pretty delicious. So much so that I would want to try other cocktails. After our dinner the owner/ manager, Linda, came by and talked to us about her experience at the Super Bowl down in New Orleans. She even showed us pictures! It does seem like there are some regulars here. I might come back for a happy hour but not sure about dinner.
(3)
Sheryl M.
Can't help to be a fan of this neighborhood gem. It's very warm and inviting and a fun place for Happy Hour. You can't go wrong with their $6 flatbreads or $5 martinis, wines or sangria. The Dipping duo doesn't disappoint and is generously sized with hummus, feta, red roasted peppers, olives, falafel, and dolmades! The service isnt snotty and at times could be a little crisper, it gets the job done and the wait staff is polite and work hard.
(4)
Daniel S.
I always try to give a place I have had a bad experience with a second chance. They failed. I don't usually get this serious about writing a review but after this experience i believe some thought should go into your decisions before trying this establishment. The owner was sitting at the bar watching as I ordered flat beer after flat beer before she bothered to mention to her own bartender that all the beers were flat. Ok, so how about a jack and coke? FLAT Some weird explanation about how the beer guy is running late and blah blah blah means nothing to me - I saw her watch me order the beers in the first place. Finally, being told by the owner that my living social deal does not count for the bar because it is not considered "dine in" and then yelled at saying " I'm not arguing about this" is actually the last straw. P.S. It is horribly placed in front of the Hospital Emergency Room entrance for ambulances, so expect to be interrupted.
(1)
Lisa F.
If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. I have NEVER written a restaurant review in my life, but my last experience at Waterstone was so awful that I'm compelled to warn people. The upshot is, the waitress was completely trashed (and I'm guessing the chef, too, based on the quality of the meal). Orders were wrong, food was uncooked, service was deplorable. The ONLY saving grace was the bartender who was clearly keeping the place together on her own. I had been to Waterstone a couple of times previously and it was fine, but I will never go there again.
(1)
Chris V.
Went here on a Groupon. Again, I don't understand how restaurants like this get solid reviews. My girlfriend's sandwich tasted like a Wendy's Spicy Chicken reject. I had an overcooked pork chop, which came with a clearly microwaved macaroni and cheese side (hey, they mixed in some fancy cheese with the boxed product, great). The calimari was honestly pretty good, but I just don't think I can overlook my girlfriend's sandwich or the mac and cheese to give anything but a 1. The regular prices are also unacceptable for what we received. We felt ripped off paying the reduced Groupon price. Service was pretty good and I definitely read a look of sympathy and understanding from the waitress who removed my girlfriend's mostly uneaten sandwich, but that isn't going to salvage my opinion or make me ever want to return.
(1)
S. H.
We had dinner at this restaurant, June 6, 2014. The service was good and friendly. The owner comes over and makes you feel very welcome. We had an excellent fish entree and a Greek entree of grilled lamb chops and fried calamari. Both delicious and well prepared. Wine price was reasonable. Sliced tomato salad was drizzled with thick, syrupy balsamic vinegar, sprinkled with parmesan and basil chiffonade. A very pretty dish and it gave me a great idea for a salad at home. I will return and I recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Alex S.
Had dinner at Waterstone on a sunday evening. Sat outside at one of the tables on the sidewalk. Outside dining was nice even though the neighborhood is so-so. Not bad by Baltimore standards but good enough that you can have outdoor seating. Service was good and well-timed. Waitstaff could tell we were eating at a leisurely pace so they didn't rush us, just checked in now and then. The menu was large with a good selection, but i would have liked a broader variety of tapas. Most of the tapas were appetizer items, only a few were with meats. So it's hard to do a full meal with the tapas selection. Calamari was OK. Dipping selection was good, and the flatbread we had was excellent. Prices were reasonable and appropriate.
(3)
Kojo B.
I wish i could give them 0 stars, they did take the additional tip pathetic. Save yourself the time and avoid this place.
(1)
JK H.
This place is sadly a joke. They go out of their way to false advertise as much as possible to get people to come in. Most recent experience was last night. Website, menus, and even their sign out front says Happy Hour All Day Every Day. How would you interpret this? They fail to mention its actually until 7 and it doesn't include the items it specifies on their menu which they don't tell you until the bill comes and you're unpleasantly surprised. It's sad because this place has great potential. Too bad they're liars and scam artists that hopefully will soon be investigated by the city. Boycott this bar until they change their shady ways.
(1)
Jordan S.
For whatever reason, the quality of the restaurant and service have sharply declined since it first opened. My experience the first few times was great. But each of the last 3 visits has been below par. Most recently, for a table of 4, with the restaurant no more than half full, the food took approximately 45 minutes to arrive at our table. I can only imagine the wait if the restaurant had been busier. One of the dishes brought to our table had not been ordered. The waitress apologized and replaced it with the correct dish. The meat dishes at the table were properly cooked but my pasta was rubbery. I get the same thing when I cook pasta and leave the excess in the pot with the lid off for too long. The waitress stated that they don't cook the pasta as its ordered (but with the 45 minute wait you'd think they did!). I'd call it an explanation, but not an excuse. In any event, she did the right thing by taking it off the bill. I can only recommend coming here for drinks- they have a great beer, wine and mixed drink selection, and an excellent happy hour.
(2)
Joe C.
The horrible service is dragging this place down! Location = Below Average: A bit out of the way from downtown Baltimore Inner Harbor tourist/nightlife area. Dark streets without much around, hard to find free parking, do NOT recommend walking there at night. Corner location. Environment = Great: Dim, classy, great for dates and/or a quite evening out. They also have a bar if you want a more lively evening or catch the games. Food = Great: The selection is average, but they are good at making what they have on the menu. The price is above average for type of food, but still fair due to the awesome quality. Service = Horrible: Understaffed (at least when I visited), VERY long waiting time for: seating, water, drinks, food, and check. The staff was also very rude, I understand that they may be handling too much (or maybe underpaid), but they took it out on the customers. Very poor teamwork, one of them just stood there watching TV when the other tables obviously needed clearing/service. Conclusion: I do not plan on returning, there are other way better restaurants in Baltimore. The great atmosphere and food is not worth the agitation and frustration that ruined the mood for the entire evening.
(2)
Lola W.
I tried this place several years ago and was not impressed. But since it is local, I wanted to give it another try. I was happy to find out they had a Wednesday 1/2 price wine special. I was having a lamb craving and remembered not being impressed by their lamb chops last time, so I ordered their lamb sliders. My bf ordered the bison burger. We also ordered the asparagus to start. The asparagus was $6 and what came out was 5 spears covered in store bought shaved parmesan. I was disappointed, but I love asparagus so I ate 3 of the 5 spears :) The lamb sliders were average at best, but the pita bread they were served on was above average as well as the tzatziki sauce. I didn't understand why there was no lettuce or tomato on the sliders. The bf's bison burger was actually quite good. I would go back for the burger and the wine special.
(3)
Alex S.
Big ups to my buddies Noralyn and Jamie S. for being like tanto and jumping on it to up the review count on this hot establishment. I don't know what it is, that has allowed this jewel in the rough to stay secret for so long but it is time to blow the top off of it. This place rocks.....definitely makes my Baltimore top 5. First thing I noticed is their is a level of honesty that is really nice. They are BYOB and sell wine to take home. The wine they sell is priced the same as it is in most liquor stores, there is a $10 corking fee. I really dig this cause it takes the wondering out of it. Not being a rock star with my wine knowledge, I hate going to places and getting a $30 bottle and not knowing if it is a $4 bottle in the liquor store or a $18 bottle. Waterstone takes the guessing out of it. BTW we had the Alto de hormigas (21 with corkage fee) and it was freakin awesome. So to the food. This place is billed as Mediterranean and it sort of has that flavor to many dishes but don't go in expecting gyros, this is some high class food. I had the sesame encrusted Ahi Tuna which was supurb and really well seared so ti was still l nice and pink/purple in the middle. We also had the Mediterranean dipping duo to start wich was really good with great stuffed grape leaves and olives. My only complaint is that there was one very nice bartender/server for the whole place on a Thursday. She was busy and it took a loooooong time to get the check and pay. She was working hard and nice about it but they need more staff to really be able to accommodate all of their tables on a Thursday night.
(4)
Jennifer S.
This place seriously should get ZERO stars. They have 10 beers on tap, and all but one was flat. The manager (who was sitting a few seats down on the bar) apparently didn't tell that to her staff or mention it to us until we spoke up about both of our beers and their replacements being flat. Order a jack & cola as a backup? Ok, but the cola is flat too. The Margaritas were perfect, but the bartender had to look up how to make it - the menu lists 19 drinks! Ok, well that was experience from my second trip and the first was worse! (Their special event menu - the only thing that they were serving that day was COMPLETELY different from what was listed online, the food was improperly prepared, and the staff made us feel like it was our fault for ordering the wrong thing! to the extent that they argued with us about how to prepare what we ordered.) My first trip was so bad, that it's unreal that this place was open long enough for me to give it a redemption, four months later. I will never, ever go back here!
(1)
Tom P.
I live in the neighborhood and have really been looking forward to trying out Waterstone for awhile now. Well, to make a long story short, I was fairly disappointed. The salmon was very dry, the cornish hen was ok and more like a half small chicken. The one bright spot was the Greek appetizer platter which was excellent and the best falafel in my memory. If it was cheaper, I would have given it 3 stars, but I expect more for $30 or so per person.
(2)
Steph M.
I dined at this restaurant last night with 14 other people. It was great! We had two servers and they were very informed about their menu. The place was very accommodating, and the decorations were great. I had the steak medallions and they were cooked perfectly. I'd recommend going on Wednesday's since it's 1/2 off bottles of wine! I will definitely go back to this place!
(5)
christa g.
What a fun find! I actually stumbled across this restaurant when I bought a coupon from Restaurant.com . My gf and I were going to the Meyerhoff that night for an opera, and this restaurant was literally 2 miles down the street. Very convenient. The Spotlight: They offer their wines at cost. While we didn't order a bottle, the bottle costs were what youd find at any retail store. There was a $10 corkage fee (if memory serves me well). The Feel: Cute and romantic... Was definitely an intimate space... When you walk in, the bar stands flush against the wall and takes up a lot of the front space. Then two dining areas are split to the left and right, like a fork in the road. I wasnt thrilled about the layout but still cute. The Food: The owner made the rounds and guided us to two of her favorite dishes - lamb chops and venison. We each got one and tried the other. Venison won. Hands down. Meaty. Tender. Seasoned Nicely. Yum. And a nice big portion, too. The Service: They topped the charts here. Not only were they at our table making sure our glasses were topped off, but when we needed directions to the Meyerhoff, everyone chimed in. They attended to every need that night. Overall: cute find in Baltimore. Im still exploring, so 3 stars for very attentive service, decent food and cozy atmosphere.
(3)
Melissa B.
I was so impressed by this place after my first meal here I decided to have my wedding rehearsal dinner here as well. I went to dinner with my (now) husband and a server immediately took our drink order. We did have to remind her to bring our beers because she forgot, but our hummus appetizer came quickly. Our entrees were cooked perfectly to order and the presentation was lovely. The server was friendly enough but the manger, Lisa, was very attentive. In fact, we told her we were getting married soon and she gave us a gift card so drinks would be on her next time. Lisa responded quickly to my emails about the rehearsal dinner. She was easy to work with and had reasonable prices. The rehearsal dinner was fabulous! All of our 30 guests were raving about the food and the atmosphere and said they would definitely be back on their own. Again, Lisa gave us a gift card in thanks for dinner for the newly-married couple. We will be back!
(5)
Laurie Z.
This was our third time at Waterstone, and probably our last until our systems recover from two shocks. #1 - happy hour beer price is $3 for tap. Hubby ordered a Fat Tire (twice, it must be said). Our check said $5 each. When questioned, our server said, "oh, Fat Tire isn't for $3." So why wasn't that mentioned at the time it was served? #2 - the Haraiki Village Dish on the dinner menu. Should have taken a hint that the first two words in the description were "Mediterranean Diet" because the "2 grilled medium lamb chops" were probably in reality two ounces each, including the bone. Really? It was a $19 robbery. The only things missing were the disguise and the gun. Here's a positive comment: It's a beautiful restaurant. Too bad you don't get your money's worth there. I prefer to spend my hard-earned salary on good food, not the atmosphere.
(2)
Srebrina M.
I use to live right next to the Waterstone, but my roommates never warned me not to eat there. One time my ex mother in law came to see me and we went there for dinner - the service was ok, but the drinks were flat (as I can see other people had the same issue, maybe they should get new drink machines). That was a while ago so I hope they fixed it. The food we ordered was pretty terrible, the only thing that tasted good was my appetizer - stuffed grape leaves- and I know why they tasted ok - because they came from a can. I ordered red velvet cake for dessert and guess what - it was moldy! I only went there one more time to meet my boyfriend to be for a first time - so I guess I got to give it that much credit - we met there for a first time. We only sat at the bar though and had a drink each - which is a safe bet with that place anyhow. I was happy with my Gin and Tonic but it was so strong it got me drunk in no time. All together - I love the decor and the atmosphere but I feel like the owners have no clue what they are doing. Hopefully that area and the restaurant itself improve somehow in the future because it's a shame to be so close to the heart of Mount Vernon and to be such a bad experience.
(2)
Jamie S.
I was very impressed with this small place. It's in a part of Mt. Vernon where you can find parking right out front (no, really!). The servers were very engaging and made us feel right at home. The decor was rich, dark and elegant. I had the Cornish hen and it was magnificent. There's a bit of a Greek flare on the traditional American fare which was a lively twist. The lamb chops were the perfect medium temp and perhaps the best lamb I've had. I would certainly come back. It's interesting to read reviews here about bad service because it's the service that I received that is one of the reasons why I would return. I felt like everyone there already knew me. Thank you, Waterstone.
(4)
Roy W.
I've seen several complaints about this place. Luckily, I visited before reading them. I was pleasantly surprised by this little diamond in the rough. The neighborhood is up and coming with new housing construction nearby, right on antique row. The mood is romantic with low lighting, and tasteful decorating with A nice fountain in the main seating area which gives a serene feeling. There are a few rooms with homely touches which gives a sense of home. The portions are small, but a four course meal is offered at a comparable price which doesn't burst your belly. A tasteful wine pairing is offered for an extra $25 which is a good price in this age. The staff is friendly. The owner came by and offered gift cards for being first time visitors. Then she didn't follow through. It did get busy, which is a good thing! But don't make promises you can't keep. Our waitress brought out new silverware for our desert... The knife was a little dirty looking, which is an honest oversight. Overall, I had a good experience and will definitely return (partly to collect on my gift card!)
(4)
Justin B.
Went here for a Groupon and while the food was prepared well (in the case of the Medallions a little too well), we were largely underwhelmed with the experience. The restaurant almost completely vacant (we were the only table seated), yet the waiter was largely inattentive. We had to go to the bar to ask for the check as the waiter hadn't come back to check on us after desert was served for more time than would've been expected. The food was pretty good (Cheese Plate, Flat Iron Steak, Medallions) , but we had some on the fly substitutions served with the entrees that were never told before we ordered. The wine selection was great for the price and the "corking fee" twist was fun, and probably the most memorable aspect of our experience here. Glad I got to try this out with a Groupon ... I could never see myself going back.
(2)
Sarah M.
Went to Waterstone like many with a Groupon. At first I was not too sure about the place because it serves Mediterranean cuisine and I'm not always the biggest fan and the location is also sort of bizarre. It seems to be in the middle of a lot of nothing, but I enjoyed this place. Upon walking in I felt slightly under dressed, I'm assuming this was because we were there for dinner early as the "just off work" crowd was catching a drink. The place was empty but filled slowly as we sat through out meal. I really like the decor of the main dining room and the atmosphere. Our waiter was nothing to write home about, not very engaging, disappeared for most of the meal. The food was delicious though. I had a salmon dish and my boyfriend had the lamb chops. Both were well seasoned and the zucchini string vegetable side was great. My mashed potatoes were a weird consistency but tasted good. All in all it was a nice dinner and I would consider returning again.
(3)
Andrew T.
Decor is really nice, service was spot on. Food was well intentioned but my pork-chop was grilled. To death. It was hard and not particularly tasty. More like blackened. The chocolate mousse cake wasn't particularly memorable though the bite I had of baklava from someone else was flaky and sweet. Overall presentation of the food is good, though a little "plain" (lost in the "mashies" maybe). So would recommend you try it, but I'm not exactly aching to go back either.
(3)
Jon Q.
This review was previously filtered by Yelp - Please note I am not a robot or disgruntled former employee, just a disgruntled customer. I travel frequently and rely on sites such as Yelp to seek useful feedback from real customers. I'm re-posting as my (personal, not documented) experience is that many reviews are posted by owners, friends and employees of the business to drive higher ratings. I sincerely wish this restaurant the best, and hope they use my comments in a constructive way: "Bought a Groupon for Waterstone with thoughts of trying something other than the usal Fed Hill, Canton, etc. Received a warm, friendly greeting at the door, in a casual, inviting atmosphere. However......we had to beg the waitress to take our dinner order at which time we were informed they had run out of all beef items on the menu. After 45 minutes, an overpriced bottle of extremely average Pinot Noir, still no appetizers and a waitress who was now ignoring us because she was embarassed by an apparantly incompentent chef, we left. Went straight to one of our favorite go-to restaurants in Fed Hill and spent over $100 on an amazing dinner. The lesson here: A great deal at a crappy restaurant means you're still eating in a crappy restaurant. Also of important note to anyone not familiar with Baltimore; this restaurant is in a sketchy neighborhood which may be ok by day but not safe at night."
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Stef T.
Overall, this place was confusing. We went because of a buy one, get one free coupon in the Sun. The environment gives an upscale vibe: comfortable seating, nice decor, quiet music, olive oil with herbs on the table. Then, I reached for my napkin to put it on my lap - and it was paper. The bread basket was plastic. So, I felt caught in an uncomfortable spot between upscale and casual restaurant. The food was mediocre, but a good value for the price. We had salmon and tuna entrees for about $16 each. It wasn't the highest quality fish, but I didn't expect that for the price. They tasted like slightly higher end chain restaurant preparations. (And of course with the coupon, it was a steal.) The best part of the meal was the fried brussel sprout appetizer, our second choice after the artichoke, which they were out of. The service was also mediocre: slow and unattentive, but, friendly when we had their attention. It took about 15 minutes before anyone visited our table after we were seated. There were only four other tables occupied in the dining room, and the waitress walked by our table a couple times without acknowledging us - also confusing!
(3)Mary R.
I came here during restaurant week and was surprisingly disappointed. I'll start off with the good things: the staff was really welcoming and friendly. The atmosphere is nice and upscale without being over the top. The drinks were also good and they offer 15 bottle wines on Saturday. The cons: the food was mediocre at best. I ordered the ahi tuna but the server said they did not have it. She should've said it when we sat down. I ordered the vegetarian pasta and it was practically flavorless. My friend got the steak special which also was nothing special. The serving timing was also very slow and the restaurant wasn't even crowded. In summary, the atmosphere is nice and it's a cute place, but the food is very bland and small portions for what you pay for. Maybe give it a try but I wouldn't rush back anytime soon.
(2)Brian H.
No reason to drink the eponymous "Water" here. This place has one of the best happy hours in Mt Vernon - $5 martinis and $3 drafts. There is a HUGE affordably priced tapas menu with varied results ( + dolamedes, falafel, wings, - dips). The bar area is friendly and inviting and the $10 bottles of wine are surprisingly good.
(4)Joanna R.
Went here for the first time with a Groupon. The atmosphere in the restaurant is pretty cool. I enjoyed that part a lot. It took longer than it should have to seat us despite having made reservations and majority of the actual tables being empty (the bar was pretty full). We were seated at a glass top table, not very practical in a restaurant we found. We almost knocked it over at one point. We were there with a party of 4. The service was incredibly slow and not all that great. We were pouring our own water most of the night as we were seated right near the servers station. The water glasses and glass top table weren't clean when we sat down. That being said, the food was pretty good. The only dish not good of the 4 was mine. I got the roast whole baby hen. The rice it was on had an amazing flavor but wasn't completely cooked. There's nothing I dislike more than uncooked rice. The chicken itself was overcooked. My fiance got a pesto chicken dish that was amazing so I shared some with him. Because the service was so bad, they gave us free desserts. Even that was uncomfortable. Our waitress made sure we knew we only got two free desserts, despite the fact that there were four of us. All in all the meal took more than 2 hours. The food was good enough that I MIGHT try to come back again and see if I can improve this rating. But as it stands, the service was terrible and some of the dinnerware was unclean. Not even all the food was spot on.
(2)Katie o.
A little secret in Baltimore. GREAT FOOD AND DRINKS. Only thing, Servers are short handed, so service is a little slow. However, Its a wonderful place to relax.
(4)Manda G.
Had dinner here for first time last night and was great overall experience. The pork chop was perfect -- I'd highly recommend it. Loved the falafel and dolmades. Also glad I saved room for dessert (there was a lemon cake thing that was amazing). Good service and welcoming atmosphere. Will be back soon.
(5)Vivian S.
Groupon.com introduced me to Waterstone Bar & Grill and I'm so grateful! I went there for a date night and we had a wonderful experience. The customer service was excellent, the food was super, and the ambiance was perfect! I didn't expect to be so impressed with the restaurant but it is now my second favorite place to eat in Baltimore!
(4)Stephanie C.
My friend and I randomly found this place when we came up for the lighting of the Mt. Washington monument last week. I love the decor (inside and out) and the staff was all very friendly. The tapas and beers were great! We had the Mediterranean dipping platter and the soup of the day (this amazing lemon chicken). The only drawbacks were that the salmon was a little overcooked, it was unclear that the happy hour prices were at the bar only, and there's only one bathroom stall...total, but besides that I'd definitely return! They even came around with little wine tastings while we waited for our food. Great touch!
(4)Chrissy M.
First things first. The new ownership is AMAZING!! Shawn/Sean (not sure how he spells it) has turned this place around the old owner never mad beer. Her lines were dirty. The food was always either inconsistent or just plain not good and they WERE NEVER OPEN WHEN THEY SAID THEYD BE!! It was so frustrating because I live a few doors down but now I can say I love it here! They even accommodated a birthday party that had book for the fights then when the riots started and there was a curfew in effect he did a lock in for them! Such a great idea! I cant wait for the coffee shop and deli to open on the other side. Shut up and take my money
(5)A K.
New owner is turning the place around, this place finally has fresh beer and the food is on point. Highly recommended if you're in the area!
(5)Bernie C.
feta cheese. feta cheese eh-vuh-ry-where. Which is not a bad thing. Sometimes. Personally, I am always a fan of crispy brussel sprouts and artichokes so those two were where my eyes zoomed on the menu. They were alright... artichokes a lil too wet and large (shoulda cut them or something?) and brussel sprouts a lil underdone and both in general disappointing but still, having two of my favourite veggies have their own plates on a menu is a plus. We also got sweet potato fries (sooo yum, they drizzled them with honey or some sort of nectar of the gods. not crispy though, or firm) the dipping trio (giant block of feta was a teeny bit unnecessary, and nothing exciting on the plate) the lamb sliders (thumbs up on the lamb and taste thumbs down on the pita triangle bun) the calamari (nothing special unfortunately) the tuna tartar (also not special, most disappointing for me cause I love this dish done right) baked feta (yurm with all the richness) mediterranian flatbread (nothing special, couldve put it together with market ingredients at home. easily.) and a whole selection of drinks. The place was really nice, but the service just a lil slow, and the food is passable just not as good as some other places in baltimore. still, we got reservations and the place was perfect for our party of six as well as the party of two on the other side of the room, so theyre accommodating.
(2)Erin S.
This place has friendly service and good drink specials, but the food leaves a lot to be desired. I've had their lunch before (salads and some wraps) and nothing really impressed. The last time I was there for happy hour the wings and calamari tasted about a day old, which is a bummer, because I really liked the place. I should have sent it back, but I just kind of ate it begrudgingly. Prior to that experience, I found this to be a good place to come with groups since it was pretty spacious. Also, it's off the beaten path a little bit, so there is always parking unlike in other parts of Mt. Vernon.
(2)Sarah M.
So so good! We wandered upon this place and decided to brave the three star review. SO MUCH BETTER THAN THREE STARS!! The atmosphere was sublime, the menu, diverse, the food, wonderful. I will definitely come back again!!
(5)Andrew R.
Came here for happy hour before a show at meyerhoff. I didn't care for one of the plates but that was my fault, I didn't realize it had honey on it. My friends got the hummus plate and the chicken cesar wrap and lemon drops. They both said the food was fantastic.
(4)Ken J.
I get over to this place about once a month. The food is always above average to excellent, the drinks are pretty inexpensive and well-made, and the staff is very friendly and attentive. The bar and dining area are very attractive and comfortable. Also, rumor has it that they are going to start putting their entertainment license to good use this fall. Check it out!
(5)Chris D.
I want to really like this place, but as is I will never step foot in there again. Living down the street, I always thought about stopping in whenever I drove by for errands. When a deal popped up on Amazon, figured it was a great reason to push myself to go. If you see this place pop up on a deal site do one of two things: DO NOT BUY IT, if you ignore the first piece of advice then read the fine print of the deal. The Amazon deal was only good for dine-in (in the dining room), dinner, excludes happy hour items, and requires at least one food item purchase. Because of these restriction the girlfriend and I ended up coming through twice in order to successfully use the deal. Below are issues from our two experiences. Food & Drink -Decent. Falafal is good, however some other items have tiny proportions for the price (lamb chops tapas). -Sangria is decent/good at happy price point, but at full price ($9~) it is a subpar. Space and Decor -Everything is new, clean, and looks very nice. Waterstone would be a 4-5 if judged solely on visuals. Service -Staff is friendly and helpful, when you see them... -Massively understaffed. First time we went on a weekday happy hour, it took almost ten minutes for the girlfriend and I to be sat in an empty restaurant. The person who sat us? Not even an employee but a friend of the owner who happened to have wandered through. -Dirty dishes would sit on empty tables for 10-20 minutes in a half filled restaurant. -On our second outing here, table next to us got up and left because it was 15 minutes between being sat and a server showing up. Another table requested their check before the entrees appeared because they knew how long delays might be. -Server dropped off items at our table while carrying kitchen supplies. -Charged for items that never showed up (artichoke hearts tapas). We were able to get the check fixed, but this shouldn't be happening at all. One could say some of these complaints might be nit-picking, but the check on our second outing was $60 for two people. For $60 in Baltimore this was an abysmal experience. This place really needs more staff on hand most nights. A food runner/buser, barback, or even a host might be able to fix these service issues. The front staff seemed overloaded with visible responsibilities as is. I'm sad because this place is just down the street and has pretty good happy hour deals, but I am never coming back again.
(1)Dean S.
Best kept secret. You will be more than surprised at this beautiful place in the middle city.
(5)Nisha G.
Great little place right across from UMMC. Very close to the light rail too for all you car- less folks. I visited on a Tuesday evening so the place was pretty empty, I imagine it is a lot busier during weekends. Mediterrean vibes from the food to the music. Really great deals and the food was absolutely delicious. I plan to make another visit!
(5)Wallace S.
I enjoyed coming to this quite place restaurant with my wife and daughter before we went to Center Stage to watch a play. I love their food and drinks and relaxing atmosphere. I plan on coming to this restaurant more often. If you are in the area I would definite recommend you visit this restaurant. This is a good location for a first romantic date. For all those single people out their you must try this location.
(5)Joyram C.
Be good to yourself...show up with McDonalds At first I thought this was a joke...April fool's maybe. No serious business owner could operate this way. Three times on the bounce this place has floored my guests and I with their rude, overbearing, awful service. This is not a restaurant...a bar or a night club posing as a food joint. First time around the food was raw. The manager apologizes and offers us a gift card to come back. 6 months later we show up for a reservation and there is no one there from the restaurant. The customers seated around were making room and welcoming us in...well done indeed. We left and come back a month later with the family and there is profanity laced music blaring away in the "quiet room" and the barkeeper/waiter/server/bus boy and possibly the cook comes around after a while for our drinks order. Hold on he can't do two thing at once so just drinks this time. Then comes a appetizers with no incidents. We should have cut our losses at this stage and left. But first date after the baby is born, you want to take advantage. He comes back for entree orders with nothing to write with or on and gets flustered. Comes back, gets the order and then sends someone off shopping for groceries. After about an hour (the baby wakes up for feeding before food arrives that's how we know) we ask him about our orders and to please turn down the profanity in the backroom. The food arrives in patches because he forgot to give the entire order. The check comes in and it turns out the gift card the restaurant had given last time round bounced and he can't sort it out. The experiences get better everytime! We like to give everyone a second or a third chance because everyone's entitled to an off night. Stuff happens....but this is ridiculous! Do yourself a favor, stay away from the headache and possibly under cooked food and order McDonalds. You are guaranteed better food in a more timely fashion. For the owner or the lack thereof, you should be ashamed to call this a restaurant. Your parents did a poor job bringing you up for lying to paying customers!
(1)Kevin S.
When me and my friend arrived here for our first time on a Friday night, I was a little hesitant at first because the area of town it is in, but was pleasantly suprised by the number of women that were there. It was full of women! We proceeded to strike up a conversation with a woman there who was friendly, and then her female friend came over and was rather rude to us. Then, they started to kiss in front of us! It wasn't any of that Katie Perry style kissing either, more like Ellen Degeneres. Apparently, we were trying to pick up her girlfriend. I looked around and realized every other person in the bar was a woman, many with very short hair, and this was among a decently big crowd too. It was quite an epiphany. Thus, it appears that this is a lesbian bar, although to be fair it is a wine bar in Mount Vernon so maybe it was just the crowd that happened to come there that night. Regardless, I don't plan to return.
(2)Teneka W.
After an unsuccessful attempt of eating here last Saturday (because the kitchen closes at 9pm) I ate here this past Friday evening a little after 7:00, therefore no happy hour prices. IMO anything (especially a bar) that closes before 9 on a Friday or Saturday night is destined for failure. Let me start by saying that the extent of wonderful evening stopped at the decor. As we walked in for some odd reason I expected to be seated by a hostess (silly me). Instead, the bartender just yelled at us "sit wherever you like guys." Well given that it was fairly empty and obviously no hostess or waitress in sight I was afraid that we would be forgotten about or lost in the emptiness so we opted to stay in full sight of the only person working which was the bartender (with a dirty wrist bandage on) and sit at a table near the window. Well now here comes the waitress. I'm not sure if she had worked all day or just rolled out of the bed with her uniform on and rushed to work. Never introduced herself so I don't know her name. But lucky for us she was kind enough to take our drink order (sarcasm). 2 Sangrias, scotch and water. Water was ummmm water and Sangria was, what tasted like water added to either diet or flat ginger ale +some kind of unrecognizable fruit. Therefore I just returned the sangria and opted for water only. Given the scotch connoisseur that my bf is he said he would've preferred to have it in a whisky/nosing glass, not a shot glass. Something about the smell of scotch. Moving on to the food. Hummus and pita bread for apps was just ok. Entree for me was salmon and cucumber slices and salmon with mashed potatoes and veggies for the bf. Well the salmon was tender and juicy but very very bland/flavorless. Mashed potatoes was the best thing on the plate but just above average. And the bf said the veggies were either just ok or he was to hungry to notice what anything tasted like and he just wanted to eat. And while eating, suddenly 2 delivery drivers hauls in 2 handtrucks full of cases of liquor through the front door and pass dining patrons. Is using a back door not an option at this place? If not, can the deliveries be made before the opening and peole are eating? IDK, Ive never owned a bar, lounge or restaurant; maybe that's how it's done. Now on to the check, thank God I had a living social coupon because I would've hated to pay full price for this experience. this is now my second time seeing our waitress since she took our drink order, but anyway, I'm ready to pay and get out of here as I have a movie to catch at 915. But of course after the waiter dropped off the bill she did a wonderful "no show" act. 20 minutes later the bf finally gets up and walks the bill and credit card over to bar to pay but was told by the bartender that he couldn't take the payment because he was busy. Ok another 10 minutes later the bf walks back over to the bar and just asked another waiter to accept our payment because now we were really pressed for time. Well thank you Waterstone for wanting to accept my payment, I'm not a fan of the "dine and dash" experiment.
(2)Tim Y.
Waterstone Bar & Grille is one of two go-to restaurants that I hit every time I am in Baltimore. I was fortunate to have discovered this hideaway about 2 years ago after it opened thanks to my exploring with a restaurant.com coupon and since then, I have never been disappointed. The real winner here is the food. I saw an earlier 1 star review by Katie S. which was in an uproar about the fact that they don't serve tahini with their falafel... it's unfortunate that that person doesn't have the palet to eat something served without sauce and judge from there. Falafel doesn't come served consistently across the board like chicken nuggets at McDonalds with sweet and sour sauce... Even at growing chains like Roti, their falafel, which they are known for, doens't come with sauce. That being said, the falafel at Waterstone is in the top 3 that I have had in the United States. When you are a vegan/vegetarian (depending on the day I cheat) you gain an appreciation for how things are prepared and taste without sauces. I eat falafel without dipping it in anything for the most part... Falafel stands up on its own and is excellent. The dishes here are some of the best in Baltimore, to the point that almost EVERY TIME I am there, there is someone from the Baltimore "elite" hanging out, whether it be a long-time newscaster or an elected official. This place is awesome and quiet. Kudos to the owner and staff for a great job in converting it from a once run down bar into what it is today.
(5)Eden S.
This is a handsome place, inside and out. And on this Saturday night the food was pretty on the plates, well prepared and tasty: calamari, grilled lamb chops, puréed cauliflower, grilled pita with herbed olive oil, red and white sangria, all good. Service was friendly and attentive. We will return.
(5)J B.
The place looks nice and we had good service, but the main reason that we go out to dinner is for the food... We got off to a good start with one of the tapas dishes - a mix of falafel, hummus and such. The falafel was pretty tasty. We were let down by our entrees, however. I ordered the chicken gyro and there just wasn't a good taste to it. I wasn't sure if the chicken was off, but my husband tried it and said that it was probably the spices. I guess I was overwhelmed by the tarragon. My husband had the lamb chop with calamari. The lamb chop was ok with the sauce, but the calamari was not fresh. When you fry frozen calamari it just gets chewy. We probably won't be going back.
(2)Mike H.
I ate at Waterstone's with a group of 12 people. It was a particularly hot day out that day and it appeared that there was little to no AC on in the restaurant, all members of the party complained (to no avail) and several party members were actually sweating while sitting down at the meal. As for the meal, the service left a little to be desired, this being unacceptable when there were literally no other patrons in the restaurant to distract them. Several people in the group either received the wrong order or received nothing at all. This led to half of the group being done eating before the other half were actually served. The food itself was just OK, nothing special about it. Portions were on the smaller size. The Sangria was too fruity and far from authentic, there are much better examples at other nearby establishments, namely Tio Pepe.
(2)Cyndi B.
This usually is a pretty good place - but tonight, they blew it. Started with drinks before meeting friends for dinner - they weren't able to make 3 of the 4 drinks we requested. Why? No fresh fruit or herbs (grapefruit or oranges or mint). So we went to old standards although they did find an orange to make orange crushes. Server/bartenders were all very flustered. My artichokes also contained calamari---which could have been a very bad thing if I was allergic. I hate calamari. Finally after letting the server know about it the answer was well we use the same fryer. Seems like common sense to make sure it's empty. After we got our food, the server completely forgot about us. Took 45 minutes to get their attention to wrap up and pay the bill.
(2)Amanda F.
My new find in Mt. Vernon manages to be chic, cheap, and mediterranean. Something about this place just seems easy. Its a relaxing space, the menu is huge, and the prices are so affordable there is no choosing between two appetizers when you can afford both! Wine Bottle special for $10? Bring Two! Waterstone not only accomdated my party of 10, but was baby-friendly! The appetizers were a real hit. The Mediterranean dipping duo offered a sampling of nearly every appetizer on their menu so everyone got something they wanted! The flash-fried artichoke and dipping sauce was a first for me and now its a must! So good! The cheese Mexidilla was an anomoly on a heavily Mediterranean menu, but tangy, cheesey, and delicious. My entree, the Rhodes Village Chicken was moist and flavorful. The orzo wasn't particularly special, but the zucchini chips was awesome. I loved the extra veggie side. The other entress at the table (Salmon Salad, Steak, Medallion Tendeloins, and Feta Chicken Pesto Pasta) were all large portions with excellent sides. No complaints at the table! Waterstone isn't the best restaurant I've ever been to, but dining at Waterstone with my Family was one of the most pleasant and easy experiences I've had in awhile. And we didn't break the bank! I guess its that Mediterranean lifestyle and dropping greek currency!
(5)Maria A.
Update! So, my neighborhood watering hole is extremely allergy friendly. YEAY!! We came in and let the server know of my partner's wheat intollerance, and she went far and beyond her call of duty to make sure we would be aware of even wheat hiding in sauces. Now that's what I call great service. Oh the happy hour is phenomenal $3 tap beer, with a great selection (Samuel Adams, Yuengling etc) and some rather tasty treats.
(3)Laurie B.
We Never Were Served Our Food! Came into Waterstone 6PM with the hope that we would have a lovely pre-theater meal. Staff was nice enough, but we were not served our food AN HOUR AND A HALF after ordering. Food that could be grilled in minutes. The restaurant was not full. Eventually, we had to leave hungry and furious to boot. Asked if they were short-handed and got a vague reply. Too bad. Menu still looks great, but we'll never be back.
(1)Katie S.
I am so disappointed by this place and shocked that it gets more than 3 stars by anyone. A friend of mine suggested I get a google deal because she loves going here and since I was feeling impulsive, I purchased the deal. Later that week, I went with her and another friend to get a drink on a Sunday night. The place was pretty much empty and the decor was like a cheap hotel trying to be classy. There was only one bartender and though he was nice, he did not seem to know much of what he was doing. We were asked what drinks we wanted but then I saw another guy wait at least 15 minutes before he got a drink. The beer selections are pretty terrible as well though they try and list them as fancy. Better than the website suggests but still nothing special I ordered the falafel which was just ok but it was not served with tahini, in fact they do not have tahini at all and this is a mediterranean restaurant? We were not there too long but I left wishing I had not gotten the deal and had to tell my friends I would not go back. However, I did still have the deal...... Cut to last night, my boyfriend and I were not sure where to eat dinner and I remembered that this deal was about to expire so we decided to go use it. Since I was not too hungry my expectations were even lower and I just wanted to get a drink and a snack. I was shocked that the place was packed. They even told us we could not get a table at all, no wait, just no! We decided to eat at the bar. The bartender was fairly friendly and looked busy. The other staff looked stressed and since there was no host they were pretty flustered and/or unsure about what do with a packed restaurant. They were out of the beer my boyfriend wanted but since our expectations were low, we just chose something and moved on. He ordered the margherita flatbread an I ordred the falafel sliders (I am vegan so I realize my options are more limited and I am ok with that) without feta. The pizza not really worth the price and the cheese was only in the center with the edges being very dry with little flavor. My falafel was pretty terrible, burnt and with just a smidgen of hummus, I had to ask for more as it was all so dry. They just cut the pita into triangles and rested the dry pita teetering on top of the burnt falafel. I upgraded $1 for the sweet potato fries which were also burnt. Drizzled in honey, I felt the honey to be the best part of the meal!! The bartender waited forever to ask us if we wanted another round of drinks and did not offer water once. I was glad to not go over the deal amount by much and will not be returning. I love tapas style places and it is a shame this place was a disappointment twice.
(1)Micco R.
I liked it and I'm very picky I never go back to a place if I get a bad meal and I've had 2 good ones so I don't understand the bad review maybe it's changed . Like the place was packed and we got our food in record time.
(5)Ben B.
Probably more of a 3.5. Honestly, I don't know what people are talking about with the service. The servers were attentive, though they seemed to be playing good cop/bad cop. That is, one was kind of snotty and one was way too nice. Then again, we went on a Wednesday, so who knows. The place inside is super nice, though we chose the outdoor tables. The prices were decent, especially if you'd doing a happy hour. They have half-price bottles of wine on Wednesdays, in addition to their cheap-o happy hour menu. The regular stuff was on the fancy side, $15+. Except the sandwiches. Sandwiches are always a bargain. I got a lamb dish, which was served with calamari. I know, strange, right? But the calamari was surprisingly light and tasty. The lamb was juicy and well-seasoned. My friend got a steak and potatoes which were both tasty. My one complaint is that they don't seem to know what the word "medium" means. Both meats were cooked medium well or more. I don't usually whine about stuff like that, but when you've got a $16 steak on your menu, you better know when to take it off the pan. Anyway, I'd go back for a happy hour and a bottle of wine, no problem. Try it!
(4)M.K. B.
The severs seemed overwhelmed. and the Food was sub-par for the price. The beers were warm, the cosmos were just mixers. Its rare that a place tries so hard and fails so badly.
(1)Katie H.
This place is a hidden gem in the Mount Vernon neighborhood. The happy hour deals are fantastic! Make sure you get there, or the bar may fill up. Occasionally it is packed, but other times it is empty. The staff if always amazing! It has the intimate dining room for when you want a date night but you can sit at the bar if you just want to catch up with some friends. I love the mixed sangria (red and white mixed)! I also love the pomegranate martinis - and these bartenders are not playing around, they are definitely heavy handed (which I rarely complain about!). I love the food, but I am a definite fan of the Mediterranean cuisine! So delicious! There bar food is great when you want bar food, but the rest is ON PAR. You have to try! It has become one of our meet-up spots for our friends.
(5)Katy P.
I live around the corner, and it's great to have this place in the neighborhood. Cheap happy hour, great reasonably priced food, very friendly and welcoming environment. Service can be a little slow, but they make up for it with the friendliness. We love coming in to Waterstone for dinner in the neighborhood.
(4)Samantha D.
Great am, romantic low-lighting..candles! a cute trickle fountain = nice for a dinner date. I ordered Veggie Flatbread- delish, but nothing special $10. The boy ordered the Bison Burger cooked medium..must've been frozen because it was not the right temperature $14. Friendly service. Location is unfortunately, right next to hospital emergency entrance... ..I wouldn't mind coming back though
(3)Jessica L.
Came here because I live in the neighborhood and I got a Groupon. We got some tapas- salmon with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto sauce, steak points with blue cheese and chipotle sauce, dolmades, tzasiki sauce, chicken skewers, and artichoke hearts which were fried. The salmon was a fairly large portion but the flavors were not meshing together. They put some salmon, sprinkled some sun dried tomatoes and then put some pesto sauce on the plate. The steak points were just small pieces of steak on top of a pita triangle with some chipotle sauce on it. The dolmades were pretty good and the artichoke hearts weren't bad either. The tzasiki sauce was nothing to write home about. Service was very slow although friendly. Our waitress was nice but we did have to wait for about a half hr for our food. I was expecting at least the tzasiki to come out first because it should only take a few minutes for that to be ready but everything came out at the same time. The blue undercurrent cocktail was pretty delicious. So much so that I would want to try other cocktails. After our dinner the owner/ manager, Linda, came by and talked to us about her experience at the Super Bowl down in New Orleans. She even showed us pictures! It does seem like there are some regulars here. I might come back for a happy hour but not sure about dinner.
(3)Sheryl M.
Can't help to be a fan of this neighborhood gem. It's very warm and inviting and a fun place for Happy Hour. You can't go wrong with their $6 flatbreads or $5 martinis, wines or sangria. The Dipping duo doesn't disappoint and is generously sized with hummus, feta, red roasted peppers, olives, falafel, and dolmades! The service isnt snotty and at times could be a little crisper, it gets the job done and the wait staff is polite and work hard.
(4)Daniel S.
I always try to give a place I have had a bad experience with a second chance. They failed. I don't usually get this serious about writing a review but after this experience i believe some thought should go into your decisions before trying this establishment. The owner was sitting at the bar watching as I ordered flat beer after flat beer before she bothered to mention to her own bartender that all the beers were flat. Ok, so how about a jack and coke? FLAT Some weird explanation about how the beer guy is running late and blah blah blah means nothing to me - I saw her watch me order the beers in the first place. Finally, being told by the owner that my living social deal does not count for the bar because it is not considered "dine in" and then yelled at saying " I'm not arguing about this" is actually the last straw. P.S. It is horribly placed in front of the Hospital Emergency Room entrance for ambulances, so expect to be interrupted.
(1)Lisa F.
If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. I have NEVER written a restaurant review in my life, but my last experience at Waterstone was so awful that I'm compelled to warn people. The upshot is, the waitress was completely trashed (and I'm guessing the chef, too, based on the quality of the meal). Orders were wrong, food was uncooked, service was deplorable. The ONLY saving grace was the bartender who was clearly keeping the place together on her own. I had been to Waterstone a couple of times previously and it was fine, but I will never go there again.
(1)Chris V.
Went here on a Groupon. Again, I don't understand how restaurants like this get solid reviews. My girlfriend's sandwich tasted like a Wendy's Spicy Chicken reject. I had an overcooked pork chop, which came with a clearly microwaved macaroni and cheese side (hey, they mixed in some fancy cheese with the boxed product, great). The calimari was honestly pretty good, but I just don't think I can overlook my girlfriend's sandwich or the mac and cheese to give anything but a 1. The regular prices are also unacceptable for what we received. We felt ripped off paying the reduced Groupon price. Service was pretty good and I definitely read a look of sympathy and understanding from the waitress who removed my girlfriend's mostly uneaten sandwich, but that isn't going to salvage my opinion or make me ever want to return.
(1)S. H.
We had dinner at this restaurant, June 6, 2014. The service was good and friendly. The owner comes over and makes you feel very welcome. We had an excellent fish entree and a Greek entree of grilled lamb chops and fried calamari. Both delicious and well prepared. Wine price was reasonable. Sliced tomato salad was drizzled with thick, syrupy balsamic vinegar, sprinkled with parmesan and basil chiffonade. A very pretty dish and it gave me a great idea for a salad at home. I will return and I recommend this restaurant.
(4)Alex S.
Had dinner at Waterstone on a sunday evening. Sat outside at one of the tables on the sidewalk. Outside dining was nice even though the neighborhood is so-so. Not bad by Baltimore standards but good enough that you can have outdoor seating. Service was good and well-timed. Waitstaff could tell we were eating at a leisurely pace so they didn't rush us, just checked in now and then. The menu was large with a good selection, but i would have liked a broader variety of tapas. Most of the tapas were appetizer items, only a few were with meats. So it's hard to do a full meal with the tapas selection. Calamari was OK. Dipping selection was good, and the flatbread we had was excellent. Prices were reasonable and appropriate.
(3)Kojo B.
I wish i could give them 0 stars, they did take the additional tip pathetic. Save yourself the time and avoid this place.
(1)JK H.
This place is sadly a joke. They go out of their way to false advertise as much as possible to get people to come in. Most recent experience was last night. Website, menus, and even their sign out front says Happy Hour All Day Every Day. How would you interpret this? They fail to mention its actually until 7 and it doesn't include the items it specifies on their menu which they don't tell you until the bill comes and you're unpleasantly surprised. It's sad because this place has great potential. Too bad they're liars and scam artists that hopefully will soon be investigated by the city. Boycott this bar until they change their shady ways.
(1)Jordan S.
For whatever reason, the quality of the restaurant and service have sharply declined since it first opened. My experience the first few times was great. But each of the last 3 visits has been below par. Most recently, for a table of 4, with the restaurant no more than half full, the food took approximately 45 minutes to arrive at our table. I can only imagine the wait if the restaurant had been busier. One of the dishes brought to our table had not been ordered. The waitress apologized and replaced it with the correct dish. The meat dishes at the table were properly cooked but my pasta was rubbery. I get the same thing when I cook pasta and leave the excess in the pot with the lid off for too long. The waitress stated that they don't cook the pasta as its ordered (but with the 45 minute wait you'd think they did!). I'd call it an explanation, but not an excuse. In any event, she did the right thing by taking it off the bill. I can only recommend coming here for drinks- they have a great beer, wine and mixed drink selection, and an excellent happy hour.
(2)Joe C.
The horrible service is dragging this place down! Location = Below Average: A bit out of the way from downtown Baltimore Inner Harbor tourist/nightlife area. Dark streets without much around, hard to find free parking, do NOT recommend walking there at night. Corner location. Environment = Great: Dim, classy, great for dates and/or a quite evening out. They also have a bar if you want a more lively evening or catch the games. Food = Great: The selection is average, but they are good at making what they have on the menu. The price is above average for type of food, but still fair due to the awesome quality. Service = Horrible: Understaffed (at least when I visited), VERY long waiting time for: seating, water, drinks, food, and check. The staff was also very rude, I understand that they may be handling too much (or maybe underpaid), but they took it out on the customers. Very poor teamwork, one of them just stood there watching TV when the other tables obviously needed clearing/service. Conclusion: I do not plan on returning, there are other way better restaurants in Baltimore. The great atmosphere and food is not worth the agitation and frustration that ruined the mood for the entire evening.
(2)Lola W.
I tried this place several years ago and was not impressed. But since it is local, I wanted to give it another try. I was happy to find out they had a Wednesday 1/2 price wine special. I was having a lamb craving and remembered not being impressed by their lamb chops last time, so I ordered their lamb sliders. My bf ordered the bison burger. We also ordered the asparagus to start. The asparagus was $6 and what came out was 5 spears covered in store bought shaved parmesan. I was disappointed, but I love asparagus so I ate 3 of the 5 spears :) The lamb sliders were average at best, but the pita bread they were served on was above average as well as the tzatziki sauce. I didn't understand why there was no lettuce or tomato on the sliders. The bf's bison burger was actually quite good. I would go back for the burger and the wine special.
(3)Alex S.
Big ups to my buddies Noralyn and Jamie S. for being like tanto and jumping on it to up the review count on this hot establishment. I don't know what it is, that has allowed this jewel in the rough to stay secret for so long but it is time to blow the top off of it. This place rocks.....definitely makes my Baltimore top 5. First thing I noticed is their is a level of honesty that is really nice. They are BYOB and sell wine to take home. The wine they sell is priced the same as it is in most liquor stores, there is a $10 corking fee. I really dig this cause it takes the wondering out of it. Not being a rock star with my wine knowledge, I hate going to places and getting a $30 bottle and not knowing if it is a $4 bottle in the liquor store or a $18 bottle. Waterstone takes the guessing out of it. BTW we had the Alto de hormigas (21 with corkage fee) and it was freakin awesome. So to the food. This place is billed as Mediterranean and it sort of has that flavor to many dishes but don't go in expecting gyros, this is some high class food. I had the sesame encrusted Ahi Tuna which was supurb and really well seared so ti was still l nice and pink/purple in the middle. We also had the Mediterranean dipping duo to start wich was really good with great stuffed grape leaves and olives. My only complaint is that there was one very nice bartender/server for the whole place on a Thursday. She was busy and it took a loooooong time to get the check and pay. She was working hard and nice about it but they need more staff to really be able to accommodate all of their tables on a Thursday night.
(4)Jennifer S.
This place seriously should get ZERO stars. They have 10 beers on tap, and all but one was flat. The manager (who was sitting a few seats down on the bar) apparently didn't tell that to her staff or mention it to us until we spoke up about both of our beers and their replacements being flat. Order a jack & cola as a backup? Ok, but the cola is flat too. The Margaritas were perfect, but the bartender had to look up how to make it - the menu lists 19 drinks! Ok, well that was experience from my second trip and the first was worse! (Their special event menu - the only thing that they were serving that day was COMPLETELY different from what was listed online, the food was improperly prepared, and the staff made us feel like it was our fault for ordering the wrong thing! to the extent that they argued with us about how to prepare what we ordered.) My first trip was so bad, that it's unreal that this place was open long enough for me to give it a redemption, four months later. I will never, ever go back here!
(1)Tom P.
I live in the neighborhood and have really been looking forward to trying out Waterstone for awhile now. Well, to make a long story short, I was fairly disappointed. The salmon was very dry, the cornish hen was ok and more like a half small chicken. The one bright spot was the Greek appetizer platter which was excellent and the best falafel in my memory. If it was cheaper, I would have given it 3 stars, but I expect more for $30 or so per person.
(2)Steph M.
I dined at this restaurant last night with 14 other people. It was great! We had two servers and they were very informed about their menu. The place was very accommodating, and the decorations were great. I had the steak medallions and they were cooked perfectly. I'd recommend going on Wednesday's since it's 1/2 off bottles of wine! I will definitely go back to this place!
(5)christa g.
What a fun find! I actually stumbled across this restaurant when I bought a coupon from Restaurant.com . My gf and I were going to the Meyerhoff that night for an opera, and this restaurant was literally 2 miles down the street. Very convenient. The Spotlight: They offer their wines at cost. While we didn't order a bottle, the bottle costs were what youd find at any retail store. There was a $10 corkage fee (if memory serves me well). The Feel: Cute and romantic... Was definitely an intimate space... When you walk in, the bar stands flush against the wall and takes up a lot of the front space. Then two dining areas are split to the left and right, like a fork in the road. I wasnt thrilled about the layout but still cute. The Food: The owner made the rounds and guided us to two of her favorite dishes - lamb chops and venison. We each got one and tried the other. Venison won. Hands down. Meaty. Tender. Seasoned Nicely. Yum. And a nice big portion, too. The Service: They topped the charts here. Not only were they at our table making sure our glasses were topped off, but when we needed directions to the Meyerhoff, everyone chimed in. They attended to every need that night. Overall: cute find in Baltimore. Im still exploring, so 3 stars for very attentive service, decent food and cozy atmosphere.
(3)Melissa B.
I was so impressed by this place after my first meal here I decided to have my wedding rehearsal dinner here as well. I went to dinner with my (now) husband and a server immediately took our drink order. We did have to remind her to bring our beers because she forgot, but our hummus appetizer came quickly. Our entrees were cooked perfectly to order and the presentation was lovely. The server was friendly enough but the manger, Lisa, was very attentive. In fact, we told her we were getting married soon and she gave us a gift card so drinks would be on her next time. Lisa responded quickly to my emails about the rehearsal dinner. She was easy to work with and had reasonable prices. The rehearsal dinner was fabulous! All of our 30 guests were raving about the food and the atmosphere and said they would definitely be back on their own. Again, Lisa gave us a gift card in thanks for dinner for the newly-married couple. We will be back!
(5)Laurie Z.
This was our third time at Waterstone, and probably our last until our systems recover from two shocks. #1 - happy hour beer price is $3 for tap. Hubby ordered a Fat Tire (twice, it must be said). Our check said $5 each. When questioned, our server said, "oh, Fat Tire isn't for $3." So why wasn't that mentioned at the time it was served? #2 - the Haraiki Village Dish on the dinner menu. Should have taken a hint that the first two words in the description were "Mediterranean Diet" because the "2 grilled medium lamb chops" were probably in reality two ounces each, including the bone. Really? It was a $19 robbery. The only things missing were the disguise and the gun. Here's a positive comment: It's a beautiful restaurant. Too bad you don't get your money's worth there. I prefer to spend my hard-earned salary on good food, not the atmosphere.
(2)Srebrina M.
I use to live right next to the Waterstone, but my roommates never warned me not to eat there. One time my ex mother in law came to see me and we went there for dinner - the service was ok, but the drinks were flat (as I can see other people had the same issue, maybe they should get new drink machines). That was a while ago so I hope they fixed it. The food we ordered was pretty terrible, the only thing that tasted good was my appetizer - stuffed grape leaves- and I know why they tasted ok - because they came from a can. I ordered red velvet cake for dessert and guess what - it was moldy! I only went there one more time to meet my boyfriend to be for a first time - so I guess I got to give it that much credit - we met there for a first time. We only sat at the bar though and had a drink each - which is a safe bet with that place anyhow. I was happy with my Gin and Tonic but it was so strong it got me drunk in no time. All together - I love the decor and the atmosphere but I feel like the owners have no clue what they are doing. Hopefully that area and the restaurant itself improve somehow in the future because it's a shame to be so close to the heart of Mount Vernon and to be such a bad experience.
(2)Jamie S.
I was very impressed with this small place. It's in a part of Mt. Vernon where you can find parking right out front (no, really!). The servers were very engaging and made us feel right at home. The decor was rich, dark and elegant. I had the Cornish hen and it was magnificent. There's a bit of a Greek flare on the traditional American fare which was a lively twist. The lamb chops were the perfect medium temp and perhaps the best lamb I've had. I would certainly come back. It's interesting to read reviews here about bad service because it's the service that I received that is one of the reasons why I would return. I felt like everyone there already knew me. Thank you, Waterstone.
(4)Roy W.
I've seen several complaints about this place. Luckily, I visited before reading them. I was pleasantly surprised by this little diamond in the rough. The neighborhood is up and coming with new housing construction nearby, right on antique row. The mood is romantic with low lighting, and tasteful decorating with A nice fountain in the main seating area which gives a serene feeling. There are a few rooms with homely touches which gives a sense of home. The portions are small, but a four course meal is offered at a comparable price which doesn't burst your belly. A tasteful wine pairing is offered for an extra $25 which is a good price in this age. The staff is friendly. The owner came by and offered gift cards for being first time visitors. Then she didn't follow through. It did get busy, which is a good thing! But don't make promises you can't keep. Our waitress brought out new silverware for our desert... The knife was a little dirty looking, which is an honest oversight. Overall, I had a good experience and will definitely return (partly to collect on my gift card!)
(4)Justin B.
Went here for a Groupon and while the food was prepared well (in the case of the Medallions a little too well), we were largely underwhelmed with the experience. The restaurant almost completely vacant (we were the only table seated), yet the waiter was largely inattentive. We had to go to the bar to ask for the check as the waiter hadn't come back to check on us after desert was served for more time than would've been expected. The food was pretty good (Cheese Plate, Flat Iron Steak, Medallions) , but we had some on the fly substitutions served with the entrees that were never told before we ordered. The wine selection was great for the price and the "corking fee" twist was fun, and probably the most memorable aspect of our experience here. Glad I got to try this out with a Groupon ... I could never see myself going back.
(2)Sarah M.
Went to Waterstone like many with a Groupon. At first I was not too sure about the place because it serves Mediterranean cuisine and I'm not always the biggest fan and the location is also sort of bizarre. It seems to be in the middle of a lot of nothing, but I enjoyed this place. Upon walking in I felt slightly under dressed, I'm assuming this was because we were there for dinner early as the "just off work" crowd was catching a drink. The place was empty but filled slowly as we sat through out meal. I really like the decor of the main dining room and the atmosphere. Our waiter was nothing to write home about, not very engaging, disappeared for most of the meal. The food was delicious though. I had a salmon dish and my boyfriend had the lamb chops. Both were well seasoned and the zucchini string vegetable side was great. My mashed potatoes were a weird consistency but tasted good. All in all it was a nice dinner and I would consider returning again.
(3)Andrew T.
Decor is really nice, service was spot on. Food was well intentioned but my pork-chop was grilled. To death. It was hard and not particularly tasty. More like blackened. The chocolate mousse cake wasn't particularly memorable though the bite I had of baklava from someone else was flaky and sweet. Overall presentation of the food is good, though a little "plain" (lost in the "mashies" maybe). So would recommend you try it, but I'm not exactly aching to go back either.
(3)Jon Q.
This review was previously filtered by Yelp - Please note I am not a robot or disgruntled former employee, just a disgruntled customer. I travel frequently and rely on sites such as Yelp to seek useful feedback from real customers. I'm re-posting as my (personal, not documented) experience is that many reviews are posted by owners, friends and employees of the business to drive higher ratings. I sincerely wish this restaurant the best, and hope they use my comments in a constructive way: "Bought a Groupon for Waterstone with thoughts of trying something other than the usal Fed Hill, Canton, etc. Received a warm, friendly greeting at the door, in a casual, inviting atmosphere. However......we had to beg the waitress to take our dinner order at which time we were informed they had run out of all beef items on the menu. After 45 minutes, an overpriced bottle of extremely average Pinot Noir, still no appetizers and a waitress who was now ignoring us because she was embarassed by an apparantly incompentent chef, we left. Went straight to one of our favorite go-to restaurants in Fed Hill and spent over $100 on an amazing dinner. The lesson here: A great deal at a crappy restaurant means you're still eating in a crappy restaurant. Also of important note to anyone not familiar with Baltimore; this restaurant is in a sketchy neighborhood which may be ok by day but not safe at night."
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