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Name: Catonsville Gourmet
Address: 829 Frederick Rd, Catonsville, MD, 21228
Telephone: (410) 788-0005
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.97

Catonsville Gourmet

829 Frederick Rd, Catonsville, MD, 21228

(410) 788-0005
Store is closed

Catonsville Gourmet Menu

Burgers

Kid?s Burger 110g

Kid?s Cheeseburger 120g

Bacon Cheddar Burger 125g

Bacon Double Cheeseburger 250g

Big Buford® 230g

Bacon Buford® 255g

Bacon Swiss Buford® 250g

1/4 LB. Champ® 205g

1/4 LB. Champ® with Cheese 225g

1/4 LB. Bacon Cheese Champ® 235g

1/2 LB. Double Champ® 280g

1/2 LB. Double Champ® with Cheese 300g

Checkerburger® 170g

Checkerburger® with Cheese 179g

Cheese Double Cheese 190g

Chili Cheeseburger 135g

Double Chili Cheeseburger 180g

Double Decker 215g

Rallyburger® 170g

Rallyburger® with Cheese 179g

Smokehouse Buford® 265g

Triple Cheeseburger 250g

Healthy Meal suggestions for

Burgers

Kid?s Burger 110g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 28, Sodium (s): 570, Saturated Fat (ms) : 6, Calories: 280, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Kid?s Cheeseburger 120g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 29, Sodium (s): 730, Saturated Fat (ms) : 8, Calories: 320, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Bacon Cheddar Burger 125g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 29, Sodium (s): 730, Saturated Fat (ms) : 9, Calories: 370, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Bacon Double Cheeseburger 250g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 32, Sodium (s): 1340, Saturated Fat (ms) : 20, Calories: 650, Sugar (ms): 6 ]

Big Buford® 230g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 31, Sodium (s): 1090, Saturated Fat (ms) : 18, Calories: 570, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Bacon Buford® 255g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 31, Sodium (s): 1510, Saturated Fat (ms) : 21, Calories: 680, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Bacon Swiss Buford® 250g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 28, Sodium (s): 1310, Saturated Fat (ms) : 21, Calories: 660, Sugar (ms): 4 ]

1/4 LB. Champ® 205g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 32, Sodium (s): 810, Saturated Fat (ms) : 12, Calories: 490, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

1/4 LB. Champ® with Cheese 225g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 33, Sodium (s): 930, Saturated Fat (ms) : 18, Calories: 580, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

1/4 LB. Bacon Cheese Champ® 235g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 35, Sodium (s): 1230, Saturated Fat (ms) : 18, Calories: 630, Sugar (ms): 4 ]

1/2 LB. Double Champ® 280g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 30, Sodium (s): 1030, Saturated Fat (ms) : 25, Calories: 740, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

1/2 LB. Double Champ® with Cheese 300g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 34, Sodium (s): 1360, Saturated Fat (ms) : 28, Calories: 790, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Checkerburger® 170g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 32, Sodium (s): 680, Saturated Fat (ms) : 8, Calories: 390, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Checkerburger® with Cheese 179g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 33, Sodium (s): 810, Saturated Fat (ms) : 12, Calories: 420, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Cheese Double Cheese 190g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 31, Sodium (s): 1140, Saturated Fat (ms) : 17, Calories: 510, Sugar (ms): 4 ]

Chili Cheeseburger 135g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 30, Sodium (s): 620, Saturated Fat (ms) : 8, Calories: 320, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Double Chili Cheeseburger 180g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 30, Sodium (s): 760, Saturated Fat (ms) : 14, Calories: 460, Sugar (ms): 3 ]

Double Decker 215g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 31, Sodium (s): 720, Saturated Fat (ms) : 13, Calories: 480, Sugar (ms): 4 ]

Rallyburger® 170g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 32, Sodium (s): 680, Saturated Fat (ms) : 8, Calories: 390, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Rallyburger® with Cheese 179g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 33, Sodium (s): 810, Saturated Fat (ms) : 12, Calories: 420, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Triple Cheeseburger 250g [ Carbohydrates (ms): 33, Sodium (s): 1450, Saturated Fat (ms) : 23, Calories: 690, Sugar (ms): 5 ]

Healthy Meal suggestions for CheckersRally

Burgers

Smokehouse Buford® 265g [ Sodium (s): 1610, Calories: 650, Sugar (ms): 15 ]

Visit below restaurant in Catonsville for healthy meals suggestion.

Applebee’s ( 6505 Baltimore National Pike )

Burger King ( 5604 Baltimore National Pike )

Write An Anonymous Review

Joanne K.

Clean, fast service, delicious fish and fabulous service. Quite a surprise for a small town, and perfect for an after-hike refueling. The halibut was expertly prepared and not dry, the tuna was the same. Veggies cooked to snappy perfection. One star lost as the dessert didn't quite measure up to the rest, but we may have made a bad choice (we had the apple pie sundae and it was really a flat piece of dough with a couple of apples and mostly vanilla ice cream). There is no liquor served here, so keep that in mind as well.
(4)
Mindy M.

The name always throw me. The furtive I was set too go here I thought it was something like a fish market or upscale catering place. Neither is the case. Tis place is 100% authentic fish/ seafood restaurant that is also BYOB-score!!! If you forget to pack a bottle or 6 pack, there is a late night bar as well as a liquor store right across the street. Locatd on 'main street' historic Catonsville, it's a really cute area to walk around and window shop. Also a plus, there's a free parking lot around back for patrons. The decor is light and airy with a tough of cliche seafood market flair, but it's all good- the food and service are great. We most recently had the st mary's oyster salad, which was good but the oysters were a bit off and the salad dressing was like thousand island- i thought it would be more like a champagne dressing. the salad was a bit off and a bit disappointing, next time we'll skip it. ~we also had the shrimp salad on croissant and fries. the shrimp salad is AMAZING!!!! i would get this again. i'm not sure how well it paired with the buttery croissant, maybe alone or with a kaiser roll next time. the croissant was great, just not the best pick with the shrimp salad. ~As an app we has the green tomatoes with bacon and crab. OMG- order this please; it was wonderful with not too much bacon but a whole hep of lump crab. there are only 2 slices of fried green tomato, but that's ok i guess- it does fill you up. we could have done 2 orders of this. ~ Crab cakes A+++ very very good- to the order of Lexington market md way better than g&m. Yum yum yum
(4)
Jenny H.

This place has a nice ambience and is a cute concept with the market inside the restaurant, all the seafood seems pretty fresh and the market is pretty cool, but I felt like it was way too overpriced for what seemed like above average food for me. I ordered their cream of crab and corn chowder soup and it tasted more like a thick, gelatinous corn chowder than a creamy crab soup- I would not get this again, not enough crab in it! I also got their Chesapeake grilled cheese which was pretty good- melted cheddar, crispy bacon, and large chunks of fresh, sweet white crab sandwiched between crispy bread. The kettle chips that came with the sandwich were really good. I also got one of their fish specials which were all $30. Their Chilean sea bass Hawaiian style, I think it's called, which is macadamia nut crusted sea bass with mango salsa and veggies. My friend who got their rockfish Asian style really liked it although I liked the Hawaiian style better. In general, a fresh seafood restaurant with decent food but a bit overpriced for my taste.
(3)
Christian M.

This place was recommended to me by locals. I come to Baltimore frequently for business and decided to try it. The atmosphere was a little more than casual but my coworker and I came in straight from work not dressed up at all and everyone was wonderful to us. I had the oceans 11 club and an order of Maryland crab soup (that's what was recommended for me to get). My coworker had a steak. Food was fantastic. The place is BYOB and there's a liquor store right across the street. We loved it. Staff was extremely pleasant to be around. Highly recommend.
(5)
Meg M.

Seriously as good as it gets. I was in the area for a wedding and while the Bride and Groom were off getting ready for their big day, a group of us crashed at their house in Catonsville. My friend recommended this place and I naturally checked it out on Yelp. After learning that it was BYOB we stopped at a liquor store for some drinks and headed over without a reservation. We were seated right away on a Friday night (lovely) and the waitress even offered to put our beer in the fridge to keep it cold and proceeded to bring everyone a fresh one when she noticed we were low. There IS a $9 BYOB fee that they charged, but I think it was ccompletely worth it. We still saved a ton of money with the BYOB option by buying our drinks ahead of time (considering the amount each of us drank). My husband had the crab cakes over french beans, two others had the fish and chips, and I had the Chesapeake Grilled cheese which was up there with one of the best sandwiches to ever grace my face. Lump crab meat with melted cheese, tomato and bacon on perfectly grilled slices of sourdough bread. The fries were off the chain too. There were a million other things I wanted to try, so I suppose another trip to see my friends when they're back home is in order. I miss you Chesapeak Grilled Cheese. I. Miss. you.
(5)
Stephen S.

A disappointment. For starters, the atmosphere is poor. The men's room opens right off the dining area. The lighting is all fluorescent and high wattage. The surfaces all reflect noise, so conversation is difficult. Add in miserable service. Ten minutes before we received menus, and only because we had to find someone and ask. The waiter disappeared for long periods, leaving us with no table service. He then added a 20% tip, but the bill still had a supplemental tip section, hoping to dupe me into paying more. The only reason for the two stars is that the food was good. Not amazing, but good. I won't be back.
(2)
Dash S.

Though I have never actually sat down and eaten in here I get sent here from time to time to pick up to-go orders. We have never had anything that wasn't great even after the drive back home. One of these days I'll actually dine in.
(4)
LC C.

This place was great! 2 of us went for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. We were seated right away. Our server was friendly. We brought 2 beers each for the BYOB deal. $5 fee total for us. I ordered the crabcake grilled cheese, which was amazing! I would def reccommend it. My boyfriend ordered the shrimp salad, which he loved. We also got the crispy crab cigars for an app. They were really good, but there were only 2 and they were really small. Not worth it for the $12 we paid. Overall we had a good experience and were in and out pretty fast. I would def come back here! Oh and I got sweet potato fries too, which were excellent!
(4)
Michele C.

Went during lunch and ordered an appetizer. Tuna "nachos" were ok. I'm a nacho lover and these were not exactly what I would call a nacho by any stretch of the imagination. Tuna was seared perfectly and the seaweed salad was a nice touch. I would definitely return and try an entree. BYOB.
(3)
Bethany A.

We went for brunch. Sausage gravy was great. Coffee was good. Service was good. Got seated quickly.
(4)
Steve L.

This restaurant is one of my favorites in my state. I've been twice and each time the service is great. We usually go for lunch so maybe my next time we go for dinner. My wife loved her crab-cake platter, I loved my Gumbo, and I always grab oysters when I'm there.
(5)
Mark E.

The first 2 years of this business was impeccable. Perfectly picked steaks, lump flavorful crab, but it has significantly declined. Where is the manager?? I've visted at least 4-5 times this year, and the attitude of the staff has significantly decreased. These are local high school/college kids, but I have not seen a manager ONCE! If you complain about the food, send something back, remind them they mixed up and order, expect to receive an eye roll. The first two years of the business the owner would make his rounds and assure service and food was proficient, timely, and GOOD. I suggest he visit the scene more often. ALSO---Take out is TERRIBLE!!!!! I thought I could avoid the bad attitudes of the staff and having to ask for the same thing over and over again, but if you order take out---EXPECT them to forget more than one item or specification. Again--management is severly lacking. They should hire someone to check the orders going for take out and out to the tables.....is this outback take-away??
(3)
Theresa S.

Great presentation, but taste just isn't there. Spent $30 on Halibut with roasted veggies. The Halibut had a funny chlorine after taste. The roasted potatoes, carrots, asparagus, and French beans were raw. Great for a rabbit, not for an expensive restaurant though. Also, the food lacked seasoning. My hubby ordered the crab cake and he thought it was made in a sandwich maker. His veggies were also raw. And the kettle chips had no salt. My mother had the fisherman's platter. The fish were all boiled and presented without seasoning and with raw veggies. Thank goodness they brought bread as the meal portions were so small. The service staff was very efficient, but could not make up for the lack of taste. No changing station for baby in bathroom. Had to put two chairs together to change him.
(2)
Jack N.

I cant' believe I only just recently discovered Catonsville Gourmet. The food was AWESOME! Highlights: -Seared Tuna Nachos, huge portions and delicious, must try! -Scallops, cooked perfectly, so tasty Only problem is that they don't take reservations - wish they would just go on Open Table and I'd be much more likely to go regularly. They do have "Call ahead seating", but if you go on a Friday or Saturday night, be ready to wait. In any case, you gotta check this place out - I look forward to going back!
(5)
Jenna J.

We have been wanting to come here to eat for a long time and I bought a Groupon back in July and we finally went on Columbus Day. The restaurant was pretty busy when we went around 6:00 but we were seated promptly. The noise level was a little high for a restaurant but it wasn't to the point of us having to raise our voices. We were brought water as soon as we sat down and the waiter was right behind. He offered plenty of suggestions and actually took the time to explain the menu options to us. I ordered the Shrimp & Tuna Bourbon Street. It was delicious. It was spicy but with just the right amount of kick. The shrimp were huge and the tuna was cooked perfectly! My husband ordered off the Specials and I cannot remember the fish he ordered but it was a white fish. It was one of the suggestions from the waiter. My husband enjoyed it and has asked me twice now about going back so he can try some of the other fish options off the menu! We also got one of the desserts to-go from Sugar Bakers, the Heaven & Hell cake. IT WAS TO DIE FOR! We will be back... SOON! :)
(5)
Ramona G.

A hidden gem! From the bread to desert this place is the best kept secret in MD. If you are looking for a special dining experience it is worth the drive from anywhere. Sea Bass was out of this world. We will recommend and go there again.
(5)
Hollis B.

We've been going to Catonsville Gourmet almost since it opened. Having a restaurant nearby with such fresh, delicious seafood is wonderful. Oysters on the half shell are a must -- we always get them, usually 2 dozen. I've also discovered their spiced steamed shrimp. Perfectly cooked, and perfectly seasoned. The service is always excellent and the space is very appealing.
(5)
Scott M.

Lotsa ambition on the Menu Little Flavor on the plate. Lotsa money for the trouble. On the plus side, the Seafood appeared and tasted Fresh, and the Desserts were big and not bad. It's a B.Y.O.B. I'll bet there's better on the Catonsville Strip....
(2)
Jen L.

What a great find in Catonsville thanks to Yelp! Pistachio Crusted Halibut was my choice from the Fish Du Jour. It was excellent! I wasn't a fan of the pilaf it was in, but the avocado mango salsa gave it a nice touch. YUM! The bread was fresh and baked just the way I like it. Toasty and crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. There's plenty of parking in the rear. Really easy to get to, especially if you are using the Yelp App integrated with Telnav GPS on your phone. This turned out to be a really good place for another working dinner. Quiet, plenty of space and excellent food. Call ahead to make sure that they have room for a large party. They don't take reservations.
(4)
Deborah G.

We dined at this cute little cafe and truly enjoyed our simple lunch. Sometimes it's not about the frills it's about the basics. My niece and myself wanted to eat healthy that day so we both ordered the featured salad . Before I describe it, I also had a nice size bowl of fresh crab soup. While it was not filled with lots of the crustacean's gift to the taste buds, it was a nice simple vegetable soup, mildly seasoned with a slightly spicy red broth that tasted authentic not canned. It's a substantial portion and the salads came out before I could eat the last spoonful There was no bread served at lunch (Boo on them - what's with the bread?) even though an Atwater's Bakery from the Heavens is three doors away. Shame on them for being so stingy. The waiter- Eric- offered packaged saltines (another Boo). For the price of the meal, there should be some small rolls. The salads were lovely, however, the dressing was not on the side as I had asked along with the Feta cheese. Luckily, they did not dump a ton of an oily substance on those beautiful spinach leaves. The dressing, a house vinaigrette, was perfect for this salad The spinach was very fresh and tasty, the seared tuna bites were perfectly seasoned and cooked and the strawberries were firm to the bite. I added the Feta and ate every last piece of food on the plate and so did my niece. We were served unlimited decaf coffee and tea and that was a nice touch. That's the end of the lunch story at Catonsville Gourmet. Simple, tasty, fresh and perfectly cooked - a perfect way to lunch with my niece on a cold rainy day in Baltimore. This is a very clean restaurant with a nice restroom. We both were very satisfied with the meal and the quality of cleanliness. I certainly would return for lunch and maybe even dinner.
(4)
Emmie N.

3.5 stars but I'll round up :) A nice restaurant that is surprisingly pretty spacious. They also have a little "market" and bakery in the back that you can buy fresh food to go and cook at home Shrimp and grits: okay, portion is a bit small Crab cakes: decent, enough to share but it wasn't amazing
(4)
K Sera S.

Fresh, fresh, fresh fish is the order of the day. I'm sure their meat and poultry dishes are lovely, but why bother? Perfectly cooked no matter what you order or how it's prepared, the fish here is a treat. I prefer simple dishes so that the fish, rather than the sauce, is the primary flavor, and CG does not disappoint. Oh, and the Smith Island cake--especially the seasonal pumpkin flavor with cream cheese frosting--is delightful! (Emphasis on the "full"!)
(4)
Kem W.

Catonsville Gourmet was listed in the Baltimore Sun's 2013 top 100 restaurants. I was there for lunch, which makes it hard to judge a restaurant's overall quality but it seems like a restaurant that belongs on the list. The cream of crab and corn chowder was excellent, though it could have been a little hotter. I had the chicken sandman sandwich with fries. It was a great lunch but nothing out of the ordinary. I will definitely need to come back here for dinner. The menu had some great-sounding dinner dishes. Until then, I leave it with 3 Yelp stars. Great for lunch in friendly downtown Catonsville, MD.
(3)
H.R. N.

If you're looking for a "classy" and clean restaurant in downtown Catonsville, you will find it here. The inside looks like something out of a seaside hotel's lobby. Cute. When you walk in, you'll notice a bar. Strangely, there's no alcohol there. I know... it baffled me, too. The staff here is excellent. Just the right amount of attentiveness. Per my usual, I ordered blue point oysters for an appetizer. It was good, but somehow didn't taste like they usually do. Can't quite put my finger on it. Hmm. I ordered a french onion soup, as well. And same feeling... good, but not great, and there was something off about it. When the main entree finally came out, same deal... good, not great, and there's something "off" about it. The only thing that was undeniably bad was the rice pilaf. Yuck. It was buttery and almondy. It didn't please me. And the prices? The restaurant prices its food like a McCormick & Schmick's in downtown DC. In this context, that is a bad thing.
(2)
Emily L.

Catonsville Gourmet is, as Catonsville restaurants go, the best of the best. But as restaurants everywhere go, it's solidly in the middle, a little above average, for the price. I've been here several dozen times over the years, so I'm basing this review on my net experience. First, the negatives: Parking: always a pain in Catonsville. 9 times out of 10, you can park in the lot behind the restaurant (through the adjacent alley.) 6 times out of 10, you can park on the street. But on a Friday or Saturday evening, especially if there's a local event that night (prom, basketball game, outdoor concert) you may have a lot of trouble. Reservations: Nope. Again, YMMV -- most of the time this doesn't matter to us, but we're usually not trying to eat when everyone else wants to. There's no bar, so no place to wait for a table either. Service: Spotty. Sometimes fine; sometimes awkward; sometimes superb. Usually about average; very young, pleasant wait staff. We usually have to re-request at least one thing, and we're not super-customizers. Second, the reasons you should go anyway: Food: it's fresh, interesting and well-made. Their soups are always great. Salads are not, but I'm pretty picky about my greens. The owner spent several decades in the fishmarket business, so the seafood is perfectly fresh and lends itself well to simple preparations. If you are lucky enough to be there during soft crab season, do not pass go or collect $200 -- ORDER THE SANDWICH and thank me later. Atmosphere: Simple and classic: white linens and paper, sea salt on the table (why, oh why, are restaurants so stingy about pepper grinders?!) and wood floors & benches. They don't play music, which a huge plus for me; I like to hear the hum of conversation as a pleasant background to the voices of those at my table. BYOB: if you want a nice dinner for far less than you'd pay at a seafood restaurant anywhere else, this is the way to do it. The charge is a flat $5, whether everyone is drinking or just one; they'll put your beer or wine on ice, heat up your wassail and even refill your glasses as you eat.
(3)
Sam K.

Passable dinner fare. Was only ok. No complaints, but real raves either. A solid bet for a good meal.
(3)
Daniel C.

Catonsville Gourmet is our go-to place when my wife is in the mood for softshell crab. They specialize in locally-sourced ingredients, and they only ever use the highest quality they can get. Their softshell crabs are usually jumbos or whales. They were running a softshell tempura special that night, but had no problem when my wife asked if she could get it as a sandwich. I ordered the cajun rockfish special which came over gnocci in a carbonara sauce. We both enjoyed our meals completely. My wife's "sandwich" was of course too big to eat with that large tempura-battered softshell, so she too a knife and fork to it. Crispy and juicy as only a softshell could be. The cajun spices on my rockfish did not overpower the flaky tender fish, but the sauce on that soft gnocci was the real star, sending a punch of flavor with every bite. The place is BYOB, but there is a liquor store directly across the street if that is your thing. This is the place to go fro great seafood.
(4)
Faysal I.

I stumbled upon this place while visiting a friend in the area, and was surprised to discover one of the best restaurants I've been to in the mid-Atlantic area. I went in the middle of a weekday, sometime after the typical lunch hour, so it was nearly empty. I didn't mind at all, as the place has a nice soothing feel to it - simple, clean, laid-back luxury. Service was polite and friendly, but not special. Still, sometimes you don't want special, you just want it done right with minimum fuss. Which it was. The food: I ordered the crab and lobster dip as an appetiser. The portion size was very generous, but I thought the cheese topping was too sharp and definitely overpowered the crab-lobster taste, which sort of got lost. The dip itself is very creamy, and tasted more like a cheese dip than a seafood one. I've had better, but it was still piping hot, very filling and quite satisfying. Next came the crab cake sandwich - it's Maryland after all :) This was done very simply and very, very well. Excellent sauce that wasn't too strong, a piece of lettuce, and fantastic, juicy and flavourful crab on simple white toast bread. I really appreciate when restaurants don't over-complicate good, simple dishes - which appears to be an annoying and growing trend in other places. Not here. Fantastic crab-cake sandwich, with surprisingly good homemade kettle chips on the side. I was too full for dessert, though the desserts looked delicious. I don't usually drink alcohol with my food but it's BYOB and I definitely think it's a great place to bring a bottle of wine to lunch. I will be going back to Catonsville Gourmet, even though it's more than an hour away from home. Great stuff.
(4)
Mark B.

Never had a bad meal here! Crab cakes are awesome, but the seared tuna nachos keep me coming for more. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
(5)
Adolfo M.

Finally a seafood place with a positive twist!!! A market inside the premises where you can actually what is going to be prepared for you before hand. I like the fact that you can bring your own booze, and save on drinks. I had a pan fried Tuna. Perfectly cooked and red-pink inside. My wife had the Haddock which it was equally amazing. The meats looked good but I need another trip, with more appetite to try something like sure and turf. So, for now All stars!!!
(5)
Marcus C.

Great experience overall! Food: I would strongly recommend the pappardelle pasta dish, crab cake dish, or the special shrimp and crab cake sandwich. Other items were merely okay, even the mussels. Service: very slow. Responsive, but slow. 20% gratuity is automatically added for parties of 6 or more. Decor: the place felt like a restaurant in Manhattan, except for the fact that all patrons and servers were one ethnicity except our table.
(4)
Heidi F.

Updating due to poor service and communication. Had a living social and the server was very rude about the small print however there wasn't any. Below is the email I sent to the restaurant and never heard back. Hello, I dined there last night and tried to redeem a Living Social last night. The server/manager told me I could not use it on sandwiches and would have had to order (2) dinner items. The Living social does not say that only the times it can be used. I asked for a refund from Living Social but wanted you to be aware of the situation so the language can be changed, at this times it's very misleading. The server did not handle the situation well either she was rude, misleading (said she was getting a manager, then said the owner was coming in and I would have to wait for them then said she was the manager.) She also said she would take something off the check when I showed her the living social which I thought was weird, she did not which is fine but she shouldn't say something and then not do it. Dining there last night showed me poor management/service and a lack of communication so much so that I don't plan to return. Additionally it was very hard to reach our server since she barely came to the table, having the to be manager for the night and serve is really tough on the dining patrons. Not to mention her whispering to every employee about me, extremely unprofessional. I never did see the "owner" she promised. I wasn't rude or difficult just confused about the small print. I am attaching what the website currently reads about the special.
(3)
Lynna K.

So we decided to try this because my best friend loves seafood and I have a contact allergy to shellfish. Can't go to places like Red Lobster anymore. So we are trying this one. So far, so good. Coke products. Our server was a very tall skinny lady and unfortunately I don't remember her name. She was a little off putting but she turned out to be really sweet. She was very nice and attentive. My friend got the crab cake platter and added shrimp salad to her house salad. She loved the shrimp salad but the crab cake was under seasoned for her...she likes it salty and spicy. I got the Cesar salad with steak and the Parmesean Turkey club sandwich. I enjoyed both very much. For dessert she had the Apple pie sundae and I had the Smith Island cake. Both were delicious! All that food and 2 sodas cost us $75.76.
(4)
Ky T.

Quaint little restaurant with an abundance of seafood options. I wish I could remember our server's name, he was the greatest and had blonde hair with a great sense of humor and a beautiful little daughter who came in to visit him during the international arts festival. I enjoyed some crab topped fried green tomatoes, a delicious shrimp and grits appetizer, and the Oceans 11 seafood club sandwich (minus bacon). The shrimp salad and crab cake on the toasted bread were divine. I also enjoyed a delicious Pimlico chocolate cake dessert (from the ever popular but not my personal favorite Sugarbakers) and that there was BYOB here with the low corkage fee of just $5.00. While not necessarily along the lines of the bottomless mimosa brunches I frequent in DC, this little spot certainly is a hidden gem with its own small town charm that would be worth revisiting.
(4)
SÃ©an H.

I absolutely love love love love love Catonsville gourmet!!!!! Where else can you go for brunch, not spend an arm and a leg along with a car note and get great food while feeling like you actually are a grown up in a great restaurant??? Catonsville Gourmet is where! I frequent this hidden gem often so I cld go on and on about how great the food is from breakfast all the way to dinner. If you like to enjoy libations with your meals please bring your own along with $5 for an uncorking fee (seriously it's only 5 bucks people lighten up!). My favorite dishes are the Shrimp and Grits which I've included a photo of, their Smith Island Cake is a meal to me! I love it! Their Bouillabaisse is FANTASTIC!! And their Oceans 11?!? To die for!!! I suggest that you RUN don't walk to Catonsville gourmet! Oh and their bathrooms are CLEAN!! Yay for clean bathrooms!
(5)
uliana l.

I love this local jewel ! Always fresh food ! Great service! BYOB! My favorite is their brunch menu!!!
(5)
Jim G.

Just a wonderful experience. First time for both of us. We both had seafood, duh! Crab Cakes for me, Trout for my companion. She loved the fish, as a native mid-westerner she had high expections and they were met across the board. Service was as good as the food, you don't want for refills on anything. The bread was outstanding. I'd highly recommend it!
(5)
Eric N.

Had breakfast here today. It is a very clean and kid friendly location. Had the breakfast burrito(excellent) the fried green tomato Benedict (forget the name) a bit bland and the French toast(excellent). Good prices really good service. Will be back to try dinner.
(4)
Stephanie G.

Great seafood and interesting preparations at this surprising location (and BYOB). Friendly, knowledgable service, fresh seafood, and the opportunity to bring your own beer or wine make this a winner in my book. We especially enjoyed the tuna nachos and tried some fabulous specials, including an innovative sushi preparation and some type of macadamia-encrusted fish.
(4)
Caitlin C.

I don't know why I don't come here more often. Catonsville Gourmet is superduper close to my house, and really is a neighborhood alternative to the famous Thames Street downtown. We met my better half's mother and sister for dinner, and I always forget house cute, clean, and classy this place is; it's also way more spacious than it seems from outside. There's a raw bar set up in the back with a television, and a finer dining section in the front. The service was impeccable from start to finish. Our server (Nick I believe?) was extremely personable, attentive, was able to reccomend dishes very well, and was also easy on the eyes (don't tell Mr. B lol)! Their specials menu is EXTENSIVE with appetizers, sushi rolls, entrees, as well as fresh fish and oyster selections. We started with some crab and shrimp cakes, which were a special. They were delicious, with a little bit of a sweet and savory taste; there was minimal filler and the seafood was obviously fresh. Their table bread is also very fresh and good. I believe they get it from The Breadery, a local business down the road, but don't quote me on that. For my entree I had a halibut dish, crusted in kettle chips and macadamia nuts, on the reccomendation of our server. I expected this to be a little on the heavier side, but the coating was so thin and crispy, it actually kept the texture of the fish very delicate! I was super impressed. The flavors of the kettle chips and nuts was so good, the dish almost didn't need the sweet pinapple salsa served with it. Mr. B had the Scallops Carmella; the dish had 4 jumbo scallops in a creamy tomato/lobster sauce, served over spinach pasta. DELICIOUS. This is a regular menu item, so I'm getting it next time. The dessert menu looked amazing, but i'm tryna behave #fatgirlproblems. This place is also BYOB, so don't forget to go to your favorite liquor store (or RC Rogers across the street!) to grab a bottle of wine.
(5)
Dickie W.

Well sized menu with something for everybody. Mostly seafood. Very clean, upscale atmosphere. I had the crab cakes(when in Rome right?) they were very tasty. I will be back for more another time.
(4)
Colin A.

great restaurant. Seafood is always delicious. And the atmosphere s nice. BYOB. I recommend the bouillabaisse and the soups are all good to. There is some seating at the bar which is nice.
(5)
Kristy F.

I've been here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Everything is excellent including their newest creation of sushi on the menu. Crab cakes are moist with barely any breading. Monkey bread for breakfast is insanely good.
(5)
Paula B.

This place knocked it out of the park. I was camping nearby at Patapsco and wasn't up to grilling for another night. This place was close and got good reviews. Luckily I saw the BYOB heads up and was prepared, although would take off half a star if I could for having to pay a $5 corkage fee, when they didn't chill my wine and they don't have a license. Got the Canadian Philly sushi and a lobster pot pie appetizer....both were excellent. Then I had to save a little room for the lemon coconut Smith Island cake and lemon sorbet, which was some of the best I ever had. The meal was very affordable, considering the quality and the leftovers I have. Would go here every night if I lived closer!
(5)
Melanie R.

I can't believe I just found this place. I have lived here 3 years now. I have only tried this place once (last night) so I can only speak on a few things. The shrimp salad sandwich was superb! It had just the right seasoning, a little celery, and the shrimp were large. I didn't care for the chips though...which came with it. I thought I was getting fries, but it was more of a hand cut potato chip. My son has the wings, which were Asian barbecue flavor. They were pretty good, however I thought they were a little out of place on this menu. We had dessert also...the creme brÃ»lÃ©e. The topping was just burned enough to make the sugar crisp. I will say, I found the BYOB thing very odd. Actually this was my first experience with this. I found it quite funny walking across the street mid dinner to buy wine. Then retuning with a brown paper bag. LOL! I felt a little like a hobo. I even poured my own. I look forward to retuning and trying some other dishes.
(3)
Gigi M.

Our waiter recommended "The Bowl" with sunny side up eggs and scallops. The dish was absolutely divine. The hostess and our waiter were both great. The only con is loud and crying children. No one wants to hear kids when you're paying &40.00 for brunch. Other than that, everything was great. Will definitely come back.
(5)
Tierra H.

MmmMmm GOOD! I'm kind of excited about this place. After Wine in the Woods, mister and I needed a place to eat. Yelp told us this places was rated highly, so we popped in for dinner. The decor is cute. Not kitschy or tacky in the way that seafood places can be. It was clean and simple. The server was really nice. He was back and forth at just the right times, which cuts down on annoyance, but ensures we had everything we needed when we needed it. We started with a crab soup. Something was off about it. I added salt, which I never do to any food. But it made it so much better. So add salt. I then had the shrimp salad sandwich, because I didn't want anything insanely heavy. It was good. The shrimp was sizable and cooked correctly and flavorful, which is all I ask of shrimp. I think my fiance had the crab cake sandwich, which disappeared, so it must have been at least passable. I'd like to get back here again. Prices weren't too bad and the seafood does taste pretty fresh.
(4)
Brian F.

Great Catonsville location Great ambiance and food This is our group's favorite restaurant. BYOB but, as stated, an ever improving liquor store across the street. Have never had a bad meal there. Quite good and the service is outstanding. Prices are approaching the high side but quality and taste make it worthwhile. Only thing keeping it from 5 stars is the ominous wait for a table after 6:15 most nights. They take phone ahead but no reservations. The phone ahead doesn't seem to do much good. After 6:15 expect to wait up to an hour or so. Hopefully they'll take reservations at some point.
(4)
Jody Z.

I've been wanting to try Catonsville Gourmet for a while & now I'm kicking myself for not trying it sooner! It is bigger inside than I was expecting, very nice decor with a big bar & lots of seating. You can call 30 minutes ahead for a table & there is a parking lot in the back. Very convenient. I had the Chesapeake 1/2 sandwich soup combo & it was lunch perfection! Seriously I loved everything on my plate & the combo of flavors and textures was so good. The shrimp salad had enough old bay for my liking and it was served on soft, garlicky bread with the cheese baked in. Yum! I had the MD crab soup, which again had enough spice and crab chunks too. House made thick cut chips & coleslaw rounded out the meal. I really want to go back for lunch & try dinner at some point too. I resisted the Sugarbakers chocolate peanut butter Smith Island cake in the dessert case this time, but it was so tempting!
(4)
Jim G.

We had a really nice experience. Ordered crab quiche and a veggie sandwich. Both were excellent. Parking is convenient out back if the lot isn't too full. We did enjoy the homemade chips ,too!
(5)
Anne B.

Great food and service! We had the p.e mussels, calamari, and the seafood gumbo soup as appetizers. Fish sampler, fish and chips, crab melt, Chesapeake delight. The calamari was crispy outside soft inside with nice touch of flavor. The P.E Mussels was cooked just right it has very good texture with good flavor but not too salty. I didn't get to have my son's gumbo soup since he ate too fast. I had the fish sampler and it came with three different types of fish with two side choices. I love fish but normally don't order the salmon-not a big fan of it- but one of the fish was the salmon and I almost give it away. But I decided to try tiny bite and I'm so glad that I did it. It was so superb!! Their service was good with a friendly staff, the restaurant has a good size parking lot in the rear.
(5)
Courtney C.

This is still a five star experience. My only negative experience was finding bones in my fish. Otherwise, I have yet to have a bad meal here. See my other reviews for more details.
(5)
James G.

carryout crabcake- small, overcooked, no lump backfin crabmeat, too much mayonnaise and tasted like fish. "f" shrimp salad - sm - med sized shrimp. tasted like it had sweet pickle or relish mixed in. "c" french fries- very good! "b+" presentation- good! "b" cost- outrageous, $27.00 terrible experience. would never recommend this restaurant to anyone!!!
(1)
Ashley R.

As a party of 16 that ordered at least 10 appetizers, we did not find one thing that we did not enjoy. All of the entrees came out beautifully and delicious. Not one person was upset with their meal, most if not all were ohhing and ahhing over how good it was and passing around bites for everyone to try their dish. I had the tuna nachos (i could eat them daily) followed with the steak and lobster dish, the steak could not have been cooked better. All in all I would go back all the time if I lived closer. Just a heads up, it was cold in there so bring a sweater!
(5)
J D.

An impromptu lunch with the wife led us to this spot. Located within an old style Main Street locale, the interior was clean and inviting. Fresh off the boat seafood and with emphasis to local growers for legumes. We split a 1/2 soup sandwich choosing the crab chowder and shrimp salad. Soup was hot and fresh. Allowing the soup to linger, you can easily dissect the many ingredients that went into its production. The shrimp were large and lightly seasoned with a light mayo coating on toasted bread with what tasted like an asiago crusty coating. Halibut as an entree with haricot verts and saffron rice. Never frozen fish just tastes different and this piece was no exception. The rice was not steaming hot but flavorful and not too heavy on the saffron. I opted for the blackened filet tips on garlic toast with md crab meat laced with a light bernaise sauce. Personally I would have preferred more tarragon for the sauce but it sufficed for a lunch offering. I had the Pom frites as my starch. Lightly sea salted and hot. Highly recommended. My only criticism is that the server was adorned with a nose ring that is exposed in the nostril. Not really my cup of tea to be drawn to that shiny object while speaking with the server. Who was delightful just the same.
(5)
Kellie S.

They offer call ahead seating, FRESH fish, BYOB with a liquor store across the street, which I really appreciate as we had three bottle between the 6 of us, rather than a glass for each of us. I had the Seafood Bouchees and it was wonderful. I'm normally not a fan of scallops, but these melted in my mouth. Others at our table had the rockfish or sea bass and they were all delicious. I would highly recommend trying CG for lunch or dinner. We will definitely be back.
(5)
.Hon H.

How have I not written a review for CG before? I've been here a few times now and every experience was absolutely stellar. This time around we were a group of 12 celebrating my MIL's birthday. The menu is huge and it took us a long time to figure out what we wanted, but the server was patient with us and kept our water and iced tea glasses filled up while we dithered. I ended up with a half dozen of the day's special oysters, and a softshell crab sandwich. The oysters were wonderful, small, tasty and briny. I stuck with a lemon squeeze since I didn't; want to dilute the flavor with the tabasco and horseradish that also offered. My softshell crab sandwich took a while to arrive, but it was competely worth it. A fresh as can be softshell crab (caught that morning) nicely breaded with spices and what I think were panko crumbs, served on a soft roll, served up with fries and a very tart and garlickly pickle that was one of the best i've ever eaten. The crab sandwich was amazing - so fresh, juicy and not a speck of grease on it. I was sorry that we were leaving the very next day becaue I would've come back again and again for the softshells. Love this place and I think you will too. Note: BYOB only.
(5)
Taylor E.

My grandparents took my husband and I here for lunch while we were visiting Catonsville. I ordered the Chesapeake Delight (choice of soup and half a shrimp salad sandwich) and my husband ordered a tuna steak sandwich. I was unimpressed by my dish. I ordered the Maryland Crab Soup which severely lacked crab--think vegetable soup with old bay flavoring. The shrimp salad sandwich was nothing to write home about. My husband had ordered his tuna steak rare but it most certainly was no where close to rare. He said it still tasted good though. His one problem with his meal was that the foccacia bun that the tuna steak came on was literally twice the size of the tuna steak--sooo much bun. My suggestion to the restaurant would be to choose the bun that best fits the protein. Anyways, besides a meh food experience for me, the service was friendly and we were seated right away. They also have a good-sized parking lot around back. If back in Catonsville I'll probably try somewhere else next time.
(3)
Lynie H.

Sushi looked good, oyster variety was good n fresh. I had the crabcake platter...fruit seemed old but crabcake was delish. Their cakes were delicious too..lot of variety...the smith island was chocolate n peanut butter..yummy
(4)
Udochi O.

Went on here on my own at first and had to bring my boyfriend here the next day. The waiters were very friendly and filled up our glasses often. The food was one of the bed seafood I'd had. A little to greasy each time. Next time I'm in the area I am visiting this spot again
(4)
Steve G.

Went here for lunch today. I had a great shrimp salad sandwich and my wife enjoyed the fish and chips. Service was good and there is even a take-out market in the back.
(5)
Ken K.

Absolutely 5 stars! I had their special, St Martin Halibut, with a mango, Mandarin orange chutney, over asparagus, carrot, fingerling potatoes. My wife had scallops, over risotto with a wafer of fried Parmesan. Desserts also excellent. BYOB with liquor store across street a bonus.
(5)
Gaby S.

We were in from out of town and were hoping to have some great crab cakes. This place delivered! Cute little place with nice atmosphere, family vibe. Service was prompt and attentive, but not overly so. It was easy to get a table at 5:00, but there was quite a wait when we left at 6:15. They are BYOB and they charge a corkage fee of $10 per bottle (what?!?). The food was worth the price...big portions and no filler. Fresh and lovely. Recommend it, and the Arnold Palmers.
(4)
Charles H.

My wife and I love Catonsville Gourmet for a an opportunity to get a quick lunch for just the two of us. In addition, I take my Dad there every year for his birthday. Each time I try to order something different off of the menu. I have never been disappointed. This makes it difficult to make a selection since everything is so good! We are happy to have such a great place to eat in town.
(5)
Michelle C.

Went for lunch today, seated and greeted quickly. Our server was very nice and efficient. Our water glasses were never empty. It's a cute space, clean and bright. I love the window booths that allow a little people watching while you eat. I had the coconut shrimp Cobb salad. The shrimp were delicious and cooked perfectly. The breading didn't fall off the second I took a bite like I've had happen before. The salad ingredients were fresh and plentiful. I also had a side of fries (yes, I know. Fries with a salad, really ?) and those were very good. Crisp exterior and fluffy interior. My mom and son had the crab cake sandwich. Both said it was good but that it's not the best crab cake sandwich they ever had. Both opted for the side of fruit which, while an unimaginative mix, was fresh. All in all a good lunch. Good food, good company. I can't wait to come back again and try some more items.
(5)
Tony U.

Love it here! Service and food is always top notch! Best restaurant in Catonsville!
(5)
Michael M.

Ok this place is ready winning me over as it has birch beer! Yelp never fails... I've lived in the Baltimore area almost my entire life and never heard of this place. Went in and had a great meal and can't wait to come back!
(5)
Vicky D.

BYOB! Definitely a fan of this place and almost any place that is BYOB, really. But the food here was great and so was the service. Try to get something with seafood since that's their specialty, but I think there's really something for everyone here. I think everything was reasonably priced considering the quality and quantity of food given. They have entrees that range in the $20s, "lite fare" that is mostly under $20, and sandwiches around $15. Appetizers are $10-15 but are definitely share-able. I shared some appetizers but for my meal I got a fisherman's sampler, which was 3 generously-sized fillets of different fish along with 2 sides. It was around $17, which I thought was a great deal considering how much food I got. The flavors were standard, nothing special but all 3 fish were perfectly cooked. I had fingerling potatoes as a side, which were AMAZING, and asparagus. I'll definitely come back for the potatoes and the bread (and the seafood obviously). Next time I'll also probably get something to go from the bakery/deli they have in the back.
(4)
Bonnie A.

I really don't understand this restaurant. The portions are quite small, which would be OK if the food was amazing. It's not. Why can they not cook a carrot properly - how hard is that? I had a taste of their "cream" of crab corn chowder and there were so many hard corn kernel coverings to make it almost inedible. The scallops were tasteless. The CrÃ¨me Brulee tasted like store-bought vanilla pudding with a sugar glaze. But the thing that I still can't get over is that my dinner, with just main course and dessert, no appetizer, no alcohol except the exorbitant $5/bottle corking fee, was $50 with tip AND THEY HAVE TO PUT A PAPER TABLECLOTH RUNNER on the white tablecloth??? Seems they must made enough money to launder the tablecloths? I won't return either.
(1)
Jeanie P.

We used to go into Catonsville Gourmet when they first opened, and we loved the food. Slowly, it seems to have changed. We hadn't been in for a while and decided to go for dinner last week. What a disappointment! My husband had a chicken sandwich and he said it was like cardboard. The beef tips were overcooked, burnt on one side and tough to chew. I left most of them on my plate. And that's another thing - the plates! They are white, but haven't held up well with daily use and now the entire rim and top edge of the plates, cups, saucers, etc. are all beaten dirty gray and it's gross. It almost looks like they weren't cleaned properly. To their credit, the creme brulee is still good, but the rest of the meal was a dud. I'll wait til they get new dishes before I give them another shot. It's disgusting to eat off plates like that. Yuk!
(2)
Cam C.

In a word: excellent! Nice ambience, lovely menu, good prices and service. Because it's BYOB, the bill for a couple of four was $99. Three of the four of us ordered soup and salad and/or appetizer combinations but we wanted to save room for dessert. I'm a big fan.
(5)
Dallas T.

The place to go in Catonsville... Don't let inflated nearby reviews lead you astray! Fantastic desserts!
(4)
Nichole B.

My friend and I were able to be seated on a busy Friday evening relatively quickly. I called ahead, about 20 minutes prior to arriving and my name was added to the list. However, when we showed up, my name was not added and we had to wait a little longer. The customers waiting were pretty catty, and the hostess' were rather uninvolved and almost posed as unnecessary in the reservation process. Aside from the reservation woes, the food, service and atmosphere was spectacular. I ordered a steak off the specials for the evening and it was buttery delicious. The oysters were by far the best in this area of Maryland, as well. It is a little pricey, but well worth it. Great for dates, anniversaries and families.
(4)
H R.

We have been to this restaurant quite a few times. I can't tell you the number of times we have had dirty glasses upon sitting down to our table. We thought it was strange until tonight when we sat at the bar and soon saw why this happened so much. After the USED glasses (you know, the one that people are putting their hands and mouths all over) are removed from the tables and the bar area, the girls behind the bar were literally dipping them ONCE into a bin of water (maybe some cleaner in ther I'd hope), then dipping them ONCE into another, then putting them up on the shelf behind the bar without ever wiping the glass let alone the rim or really even washing them. So all of these technically STILL DIRTY GLASSES were placed upside down up on the shelf to drain into a pool of water at the bottom where all of the rims were sitting. We sat and watched as each of these glasses was then given to new customers. I don't know about you fellow diners, but I REALLY don't like to put my mouth on the same glass as every person that has touched it before me without it being run through a dishwasher or at least having someone ACTUALLY WASH IT with a rag. Not only is this practice GROSS it is not sanitary. So Joe who has a cold sore and drinks out of his glass now passes that lovely herpes along to the next unsuspecting person - lovely. We noticed that all of the employees were drinking from plastic cups. Perhaps we should have requested the plastic ones too. On the way out we stopped to get dessert to go and stood and watched as someone shucked some oysters on the board, then cut tuna on it, then put his HANDS into the seaweed salad and plopped it on a plate. Oh, did I mention he never washed his hands or the area he was working? Teach your employees some hygiene Catonsville Gourmet! I just about gagged thinking of how the plate my food came out could have been handled. We won't be back.
(3)
Donald P.

This place has great food and a great atmosphere. BYOB so plan ahead and bring a cooler. We did and it was great fun!
(4)
r c.

Must say I was skeptical when my friends told me it was a BYOB place, but boy that was unfounded. Had the stripe bass (rock fish) topped with a generous portion of lump crab, sauteed asparagus and garlic & herb mashed potatoes. The wife had the filet Mignon. It was phenomenal! The BYOB thing works well and saves money. I'd rather spend my money on pricey, but delicious entree than beer and wine. The wife brought a bottle of vino and they charge a nominal $5 cork fee. That is it. We'll be back!
(5)
Kin T.

I've eaten at the Catonsville Gourmet a few times before and always enjoyed the food. Today our waitress, Amy, was knowledgeable, professional and sweet, but the food was just alright, nothing special. I was decidedly unhappy with the Caprese Salad. The mozzarella was delicious and the chef's preparation of the chopped basil with a spicy balsamic reduction was great - but they used hard pink food service tomatoes? Huh? It's summer, beautiful red juicy tomatoes abound. Caprese salad was made for summer eating. I won't be rushing back.
(2)
sindi e.

Went on a recent Tuesday night; place was full, which is always a good sign. Love the BYOB - hope it stays that way for a while . . . Liked the decor, the vibe of the place. Food was solid, but I wouldn't use the word fantastic. The salmon (grilled) was a bit overcooked, the Mahi Mahi (also grilled) was good. Good appetizers (won tons and bacon wrapped shrimp) but again - not "the best ever." Four of us shared the Smith Island cake - very good and perfect for 4. We will go again and follow up this review.
(4)
Luci B.

We love this place. I'm always willing to try a new seafood place in hopes of finding a gem. After trying many and being continuously disappointed, Catonsville Gourmet has finally topped our list for wonderful seafood. We've been here about 3 times now and have always been satisfied with the quality and service. Last time, we started with a dozen fresh oyster sampler. They were plump, fresh, and omg that sweetness that you only get with really fresh selections. The crabcakes had great quality lump meat and very little filling. We also got some seafood puff pasty dish (Volcano sometime), Seafood Etoufee, Grilled Rockfish, and something else I can't remember. Needless to say, not one bad thing was said about the dishes. The service was great. Attentive, but not overly so. Just enough so that our water glasses were never empty. We actually love the BYOB aspect of the restaurant. Being able to bring our own wine instead of being overcharged for a bottle of wine that we may or may not like is a great idea. It's economical for both the restaurant and the patrons. More restaurants should do that.
(5)
Monica V.

Will go back again and again. A great little place in a quaint setting. Easy to find and parking is free. The restaurant is BYOB, which isn't a big deal since there is a liquor store and a bar that sells carryout wine/beer across the street. We went last Sunday and called a half hour ahead for our party of 5. We were seated immediately. The staff is young, but friendly and professional. We ordered off of the special catch of the day, Chilean sea bass and you can choose how you would like the fish prepared in addition to a variety of sauces and a side. It was absolutely AMAZING. And to top it all off they have dessert good enough to send you into a diabetic coma and they make a great cup of coffee. This place is definitely becoming one of our favorite restaurants in MD.
(5)
A J.

Love this place! Food is amazing and the staff can't be beat. I just wish they had a liquor license!
(4)
Steve T.

Great food. Great people. Great go toplace to eat.
(4)
Joel S.

Last week we wanted to eat at this restaurant. This was the fourth time we were going to to eat there. I have to say that out of these four times we really only ate there once. The time before this last time we called ahead and were told there was a 20 minute wait and when we got there it turned out to be the same wait people were getting when they walked in with us. We left and did not eat there. This last time we said we would try it again. This time we called ahead and were told there was a 30 minute wait and so by the time we got there we would be seated. When we got there we were told we had an hour wait, just as other patrons were told who walked in with us. They told us that they only use the call ahead to see how many customers they have coming in. They asked us if we wanted to speak to the owner. Well all I can tell you is I hope his business goes down so so he has to treat his patron with respect. He told us basically in his words well that is how we do it and you do have an hour just like the other people who just came in had. Their food is not worth this kind of lack of consideration and if someone writes that there experience from the call ahead they probably came on a slow night or they have someone writing a review to make you think their attitudes are different
(1)
Brenda S.

This is a nice place, hugely popular, but not so thrilling for this non-oyster lover. Granted I've only been here for lunch, and the food is decent and the staff are nice, but based on my two visits, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. I've had the shrimp salad, which was fresh and delicious but not especially, um, special. On my second visit just two days ago, the chicken salad was good except for a lump of cartilage in my serving that was so large, I figure three different people should have noticed it--the person cutting up the chicken, the person mixing the salad, and the person making my sandwich, or rather half-sandwich. (They do have a nice lunch option of a cup of soup and half a sandwich.) Sandwiches come with a huge serving of uber-crunchy potato chips, not too salty (thank you!) made in-house, but the only bread options are white, wheat and rye, no rolls or croissants. The crab and corn chowder was good--little chunks of crab in a creamy corn puree--but tasted too much of celery seed for my taste. Dessert, on the other hand, was outstanding--a nicely caramelized apple tart served warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. They have several other dessert options, including a dinner plate-size slice of Smith Island Cake (Sugarbaker's version, better than the original) and a fudge-topped cheesecake that is to die for. Dessert portions are generous, so plan to share with someone (maybe several someones). The restaurant is pretty and unpretentious (white tablecloths topped with white paper, bright and uncrowded), but it's noisy--no carpet or draperies to absorb the sound. Being in the middle of Catonsville on Frederick Road, parking can be a challenge, but there is a small lot next door and street parking around the corner. I will go back, for one of the fish entrees next time (and dessert!) and hope to write a more glowing review.
(3)
Brian M.

Ever dream about finding a fantastic seafood restaurant with moderate prices, superior food, a professional wait staff and a BYOB policy? Catonsville Gourmet is the place. I am hoping this place remains a Catonsville secret, but based on the crowds, I think the word is out. One of my favorite menu items is Oysters Juliet--the best roasted oysters ever. The wait staff is exemplary.
(5)
antoin k.

Definitely worth another visit. Atmosphere strange in a subdued way but still very pleasing. Call it chic poor? I don't even know what that means but the restaurant dÃ©cor just struck me that way. No liquor license but you can bring your own which we will remember for the future. The hostess station was an annoying full time flirt session with a young hostess during our entire dinner. I never observed her doing any work. However, dinner service was perfect--not smothering but just the right amount of attentiveness. We started off with the Calamari, which was OK but slightly overcooked in oil that was just beginning to need changing. My wife had sesame crusted halibut which was a generous portion cooked perfectly and delicious. My Cajun rib eye on the other hand needed help. For starters it was served with what I assume to be fried onion strips on top which immediately alerts me that things are not going to be good. They steam the steak and turn soggy. Why Cajun--no idea though the steak did have some kind of sauce spread on it which detracted from the meat and was almost tasteless. The meat was overcooked because it was too thin to do a good job on. The meat did appear to be of decent quality but for $25 I expected a much better entrÃ©e. I did like the way the restaurant resolved the problem which made me happy. When I declined the offer for a new steak they knocked $15 off the bill which was more than fair and completely unexpected. I will be going for a return visit.
(3)
Patricia A.

I have eaten here for lunch many times. My favorite meal is the crabmeat quiche served with salad and fresh fruit. But this evening I was taking my husband out for his birthday dinner. It would be his first time at Catonsville Gourmet. I selected the Bourbon Street Blackened Rainbow Trout fillet, topped with a sautÃ©ed spinach, crab and tomato ragu, served with Mashed potatoes, carrots and asparagus. My husband had pistachio crusted salmon with Asian barbecue sauce also served with fresh veggies. Both dishes were fixed to perfection, and the portions were huge. The waitress first opened our bottle of white wine (the restaurant is byob) then brought a basket of delicious hot bread. Our main courses followed. Another plus for this restaurant is the free parking in the back. The prices aren't cheap but it is an excellent choice for a special event.
(5)
Elaine T.

Got here just before 6:00 on Thursday and my friend and I were seated immediately; by 6:30 there was a line. We opted for appetizers only -- calamari, crab & lobster dip, and bacon-wrapped shrimp skewers. I don't love calamari to begin with so I can't comment other than to say "it was ok" but my friend loved it. The dip was rich and tasty, but no crab lumps and lobster was undetectable. The shrimp was most excellent -- more please! Good service. Overall I can't say I was wowed, but I'll return and try other items. It's BYOB for a mere $5 corkage fee; nice!
(3)
Rebecca A.

The food is just ok. The appetizer we had was the seared tuna with seaweed salad. It was good. The entrees were ok but not exquisite....and I wouldn't consider them "gourmet" at all. The atmosphere is not a thing of beauty. Just no style whatsoever. Check out the painted decoy behind the fake bar. The most irritating part about this place is that they don't serve any alcohol. I think wine is an essential part of any "gourmet" dinner, especially when I've hired a babysitter and I'm out on a date with my husband. HOWEVER, they are very happy to tell you that you can run across the street and buy a bottle of wine to bring back and drink. What they fail to mention is the bottle fee they charge you. Never once mentioned during the entire BYOB conversation but there on our check. It was a $5 fee if I remember correctly. We have no reason to return.
(3)
Jamila T.

I was able to check out this place during lunch with some coworkers. I ordered coconut shrimp cobb salad with honey mustard dressing. It was pretty good. The coconut shrimp were huge and tasted fresh although they were a bit bland to me. But I finished every bite! Also, we all shared the lobster and crab dib, that comes with crackers and a sliced baguette- it was pretty tasty. Our service was good at the beginning, but once the lunch crowd began flowing in our server pretty much disappeared. And it got really loud... its a small place. Kitchen delivered my salad and forgot the shrimp? So it took a while to get that. Took a while to get refills. Nothing too special, but I'd come back again.
(3)
K W.

Terrific neighborhood gem with all the charm thereof, together with the sophistication of downtown dining. The food is flavorful and fresh. The Chilean sea bass, the rock fish and the shrimp cooked to perfection. Dessert from Sugar Bakers to boot! Yummy! The service was exceptional (shout out to Randy who may very well win the award for server of the year!) which is an integral part of a great dining experience. Moreover, the entire staff and management are very concerned with the quality of the dining experience (including the owners, both of whom visited our table at various times before, during and after the meal to make sure all was well). The hostess was friendly and patient (shout out to Angela who is very cheerful and professional while also being amusing!). Definitely coming back. Reminds me of why dining in my hometown can be far superior to dining elsewhere! Thanks for helping me remember why I love home! P.S. it's BYOB. So don't forget your wine. If you forget, there's a liquor store across the street.
(4)
Andrew R.

I am giving three stars as I am comparing this restaurant to all others, not just those in the Catonsville area. I met a professional colleague of mine here for lunch. The have a private parking lot (which I didn't see until I walked up), but as busy as Frederick Rd is, there was ample street parking a block away. Enter through the side door, not the door facing the sidewalk. The ambiance is very nice, crisp and white. The waitress was pleasant, and checked on us often. I ordered the calamari and the New Orleans Tuna Salad. The calamari was a little oily and over breaded. The dipping sauce was mayonnaise with a little ketchup in it (and maybe some unidentifiable spices). The tuna was blackened (black and blue really, crispy on the outside and completely raw on the inside). It was cubed in the size of large scallops. Not the best hunk of meat, it was somewhat tough to cut. The salad was run of the mill Caesars style. The croutons weren't bad, a mix of breads were used. Overall, good service, mediocre food. My colleague said it was one of the better places in Catonsville to eat, so I guess by Catonsville's standards, this would be 5 stars, by mine, three (mostly for the attentive service).
(3)
Bob S.

This place is awesome. I had the halibut special which was the best fish I have ever had. Perfectly cooked. My wife got the Hutzler sandwich which is shrimp salad on garlic toast. I tried it and it was delicious. The shrimp were huge.
(5)
Kate S.

This is one of our favorite restaurants. The food is consistently good. They change the menu specials often which keeps the menu exciting. Their fish is always fresh and prepared to perfection. Their yellow fin tuna roll appetizer is amazing, and their crab cakes are decent. Pretty much everything I have ever eaten there has been great. Cons: they do not take reservations and they are BYOB.
(4)
Cory G.

The wife and I have been wanting to come here for quite some time and finally made it out this past Friday night. We called to make a reservation earlier in the week and were told that they don't take reservations but if we want to call 30 minutes before arriving, they would do their best to make sure they had a table ready. This worked out perfectly as we were seated right away. We went with another couple and decided to share appetizers. We got the Crab and Lobster Dip while they got the Seared Ahi Tuna Nachos. The Crab and Lobster Dip was exceptional (5/5)! Very large portion, perfect for a group of 4. The nachos, to me, where so-so (3/5). They came 5 to an order with very thin slices of Tuna on each nacho chip. Nothing special. Each appetizer was reasonably priced at $11.99 a piece. For our entree's, we all decided to order off of the Daily Specials menu. The wife ordered the Halibut Filet w/ Barbequed Mango salsa, grilled asparagus and seasoned fingerling potatoes. This entree was one of the best things I have ever tasted (5/5). If its available when you go, I would recommend giving this a whirl. I ordered the Shrimp, Scallop and crab meat Thermidore. Again, another exceptional entree (5/5). The abundance of seafood included in this dish was overwhelming, in a good way of course. Well worth the money for both entree's (Halibut was $31.99 and Thermidore was $29.99). Our friends ordered the Thermidore as well as the trout. I passed on the opportunity to try the trout as I am not a huge trout fan. He seemed to really enjoy it though. This establishment is BYOB, so we each brought a bottle of wine. We were charged a standard $5 corking fee, no big deal. The service was amazing. You can tell the wait staff were actually happy to be there serving you. After everything was said and done, each couple escaped with only paying $100, which included an above-average tip. If you have yet to dine here, do yourself a favor and check them out. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Christopher M.

I travel to Baltimore frequently for work and it was nice to receive a recommendation from a local for this restaurant as a change from the usual fare near my hotel. It's also nice to have seafood in Baltimore that isn't from one of the big local outfits that are really mediocre at best (G&M, Timbuktu). Catonsville Gourmet offers a variety of primarily seafood selections that range in price - specials are usually around $30, but you can grab a sandwich, salad, or fish and chips for about half that. I've been here twice and haven't been disappointed yet. The seafood is fresh, the environment is upscale, but not stuffy, and the servers are nice even if a little inexperienced. The desserts look really good, but I've been too stuffed from dinner to try them. The restaurant is BYOB, which some might find odd, but I think is great. There is a liquor store right across the street, so stop in and grab a bottle of wine for the table. There is a corkage fee, but you're still paying far less than if ordering wine from a restaurant. Catonsville Gourmet is located on a charming street in Catonsville that is not too far from BWI. There are other shops and restaurants nearby that I will probably check out sometime too.
(4)
Debra C.

Very cute little restaurant in "downtown" Catonsville. My mom had an excellent fried oyster sandwich. I ordered a grilled cheese with crab and bacon. The crab was overwhelmed by the bacon -- the combination didn't work for me. Should have ordered the crabcake sandwich. Homemade chips were good. No liquor license, which I didn't realize. However, there is a liquor store right across the street and CG will uncork/mx,
(4)
C J.

We enjoyed our dinner immensely. We went on a Tuesday evening and the place was really hopping. The service was great, with our waiter helping me to decide on the halibut special, which was excellent. I would give this restaurant 5 stars except for the fact that the noise level was so high you could not carry on a conversation with the person sitting next to you. A little more ambience would make this a stellar performance!
(4)
Nick L.

Fantastic food at a good price. Besides the food the best thing about this place is it's BYOB for only a $5 Table corkage fee you can bring all the beer or wine you want. That makes it great for parties since the booze is what racks up the bill. I have been there 3 times so far and every thing I have tried has been excellent. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Brent F.

Rating this restaurant not only on food but also on the way management handled our Living Social coupon. Food was 3 stars. The coupon was one where we paid $20 and were supposed to get $40 toward the dinner. There was a LOT of fine print with this deal, much more than other restaurants we used a Living Social at. We could only use it from Sunday through Thursday which was fine. Then, it could only be used for dinner, not lunch. Fine. Where we failed to read the finest of fine print was the detail that it must be used for a dinner which included at least two entrees (not even a single crab cake qualifies as an entree even though that's what it's called on the menu). When our meal was finished, one member of the party had an entree while three others had "lite faire" which was not inexpensive by any means (one of them was $17.99). After being told we couldn't use the Living Social, the manager came over and offered to comp us our drinks (which was one iced tea worth about $2). He then asked if we had ordered dessert which we hadn't. He said he'd comp us a piece of cake to go, so we took it since it was obviously the only thing we were going to get out of this place and this manager. We asked if we could apply the original $20 toward the meal (the amount that we paid) and the manager also said he couldn't do this. All of this is to say that if you have a Living Social to this restaurant please read all fine print and beware catches. We won't be going back to Catonsville Gourmet due to this ridiculous situation.
(1)
Ralph S.

Really impressed. I grew up around Catonsville and have no recollection of anything as good. Our party of four adults each order a different entree. I had the oysters for an appetizer and they were fantastic: fresh and cold - ice cold. My entree was the soft crab, and even though early in the season they were excellent. My wife enjoyed her rockfish which was also extremely fresh. BYOB is good but they should be granted a liquor license.
(4)
Judy C.

Since my friend lives blocks away from this place, she raves about this and decides to take me here for a birthday lunch. Walking from the entrance in the back, I saw all the fresh seafood on ice, and I was stoked! It's BYO, so we brought a six-pack ($5 'corkage' fee). Started with oysters, and they were fresh and delicious! Then we shared the pan-seared scallops with mango, which were cooked nicely, and ahi tuna two way, sliced tuna steak and a tuna tartare. It was tasty and prepared well. Finally, we had crab cake for our entree. Can't complain about it but I do like the appetizers better. Ended with chambord cheese cake, which is decent (not the best though but it's cheesecake). I left the restaurant a happy customer with a big belly! :-D Would certainly go back there again!
(4)
Aaron F.

I had a great experience at the Catonsville Gourmet tonight for dinner. I was ready to get fishy, but wasn't sure exactly how to do so, so I indecisively ordered their sampler entree; three types of fish served with two sides. This was just what the doctor ordered to fulfill my daily intake of omegas, mercury, and deliciously smoked tender fillets. The trio comprised of salmon, halibut, and tilapia. When I found this out, I almost retracted my order due to my disdain of tilapia, but (in hindsight wisely) decided to continue to pursue this pescatarian delight. I spent nearly the entire appetizing time questioning this action. Fortunately, the crispy bread that was refilled by our waitress to snack on assuaged the pain I may have otherwise felt awaiting my food. Quickly, the food came out, and I dove straight into my fillets. All three filets were baked, and had little to no seasoning other than the garnish of the provided lemon slices. The halibut was buttery and succulent, and had a slight crisp on the meat. The salmon was very moist and tender at my first bite, but as I am a slow eater, and also dish out my love indiscriminately, it was a while before my last bite, and the cooler meat didn't have quite the same orgasmic appeal as the fish continued to cook on my plate. The tilapia was meh, but I don't think anyone's tilapia can change my opinion on that (challengers are welcome). I was pretty disappointed in my two sides; mashed potatoes and cream of spinach. I would advise against getting either. The potatoes were fluffless, and the spinach seemed to be missing the cream but was replaced with a heavy gooiness with shredded cheese. Just not my style. The service was very good, and I couldn't ask for a better atmosphere for a neighborhood seafood joint. The prices of entrees to "tweeners" was a bit confusing. My meal was technically not an entree and only $16, however, I was offered equal or more fish on my plate than entrees that cost $8-10 more. The serving size was just right. Everyone else at the table seemed impressed with their meal. Also, BYOB is a perk. I'd return here for my next seafood meal when I'm in town.
(4)
Kyle D.

I go here a few times a year for their amazing selection of fresh oysters and a crab cake. They usually have 6-8 different varieties of fresh oysters. The crab cake is one of the biggest and best in Maryland. Not 5 stars because I had a bad experience with their fish and chips. Also this place is balls expensive.
(4)
Yolanda S.

My first visit was just for a carryout salad, but it was so good that I could not wait to return for a sit down meal. What stood out out most for me on both occasions was the quality of the fish. I have eaten at very few restaurants where the freshness and high quality of the fish make a lasting impression, but this is one of them. I have eaten the Asian Tuna salad and the Robo Roll, and both were delicious and some of the best I have ever eaten, which speaks volumes considering that this is not a sushi restaurant, The only thing keeping me from giving Catonsville Gourmet 5 stars it the calamari I had during my last visit. While it was perfectly cooked with the just the right amount of coating, it was in desperate need of seasoning. And the red pepper aioli sauce that came with it did not help enough to make me want to finish it. I consider it such a shame given the other superb dishes I have had there.
(4)
Russell R.

How Catonsville became the home of two really good restaurants is a mystery to me, leaving aside the fact that they have (I think) the same owners. Here we're talking about the Catonsville Gourmet which, in many ways, I like better than the sister restaurant down the street, mainly because the ambiance is brighter and I like the way they have the seafood out along with the desserts. The BYOB thing really works for us because we get to bring some of our favorite wines in at a fraction of the cost that goes with restaurant markups. The oysters are a must for appetizers and we usually stick with a fish dish though I'm inclined to do scallops if available. The desserts are way to good and way to much. Fortunately Kathleen and I share!
(4)
Matt B.

Excellent selection of fresh oysters and fish! The dinner specials offer delicious preparations of the catch of the day. The Smith Island Cake is the perfect ending.
(5)
Xi W.

I had high hopes for Catonsville Gourmet when I read their enticing seafood-centric menu online and they rose higher when I stepped in their well-lit, simple, but tastefully-appointed dining room. The smells wafting from the kitchen and the equally well-presented entrees really wet my appetite. But I soon learned that appearances can be deceiving. I had ordered the tuna club sandwich, which is a piece of seared tuna with bacon (I skipped the bacon), lettuce, tomato, and a side of house chips. When we put in our orders, I had reiterated several times to the server that I wanted the tuna minimally seared (i.e. 90% raw), however when the entrees arrived, my fish was 90% cooked. I'm not sure if the tuna was not fresh or if it was overcooked, but it was tough and super bland and a major let down for what is one of their most popular entrees. The service was also mediocre. The server was good about keeping our drinks filled and ensuring we had what we wanted, however when my client wasn't ready to order when she stopped by, she became a bit impatient with us.
(3)
Michelle H.

The prior times I've been here, the food was decent enough. But nothing we ordered seemed to work today (we left completely unfulfilled) and the service was very lackluster. We started off with the seafood wontons - not only did they arrive completely burnt, but they were excessively fishy to the point of being inedible. We asked our waitress if we could have an order of calamari instead because of the fishiness and she said in a snotty tone "fine, to each his own taste." By the way, the calamari was the highlight of our meal even though it lacked salt, like the rest of the meal. Our entrees were as follows - two crab melts, one lobster bisque/turkey sandwich combo and one london broiler. Everything begged for salt - there was no seasoning to be found. The crab melts were literally just chunks of crab under melted cheese. No Old Bay, no salt, nothing. Even the garlic bread that it sat on tasted strangely of nothing. The turkey sandwich was dry and needed to be choked down, while the bisque was an off putting orange-brown color. Lastly, the meat on the london broiler was overdone and had the horseradish cream not been visible, you could have sworn they forgot to put it on. Speaking of forgetting things, the crispy onions were missing from the sandwich. When we asked for them, the hostess looked at us funny and said "well, if you wanted to add some to the sandwich, I can get some." Actually, we just wanted what was supposed to come on our order. And yes, I said hostess because our waitress was M.I.A. Needless to say, we didn't dare to attempt dessert but rather quickly asked for our bill so we could pay and leave this nightmare of a meal. I suggest heading just down the street to Dusenberg's or Chef Paolino's.
(2)
Jen W.

Really fresh seafood! From salad to main entree, the experience was as good as I hoped and as good as friends had said it would be. What a great place to enjoy a fantastic meal in a casual atmosphere...the former Muir Hardware store (where I purchased the garden weasel)...but with white tablecloths. I had this fantastic macadamia encrusted halibut special - perfectly cooked and presented beautifully, too. Huge portions, so you aren't feeling like you didn't get enough. My friend had the scallops with bacon & cheese grits - delish! Definitely will come back for dinner to dessert with room for Sugar Bakers cake.
(5)
Rob N.

If you ever see the Clams and Mussels Andouille on the specials menu, order it. Don't ask, don't hesitate - just order it. You'll be rewarded with a hearty serving of little-neck steamer clams, fresh mussels, and spicy grilled Andouille sausage slices served up with a white-wine, garlic and clarified butter sauce spiked with red chili flakes. Really bloody good stuff for about $10, to which you can add a Caesar salad and have a light but filling summer meal.
(4)
Bill A.

i Live in Catonsville and when this restaurant opened we were thrilled. It's really beautiful inside and the food was new and exciting but that was a few years ago. The menu hasn't changed much. We went Saturday and I ordered an oyster sandwich that was on white toast ala wonderbread, one piece of lettuce and pink hard tomato slice 6 small fried oysters and cocktail sauce as the only dressing. Very poorly done and for more than $12 someone needs to take a look at this. The food is just OK and really needs to step it up and be the restaurant it should be. Seems thay are resting on their past successes. We need this place in Catonsville to be great otherwise why do it at all?
(2)
Lola S.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-9:30pm Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm Sundays 12noon-9pm Brand new restaurant in Catonsville on Frederick Ave. Seriously great eats, BYOB bar, market, oyster bar, dining area...and free parking in back- which is a hot commodity in Catonsville downtown. Entrees run $13-$35. Sandwiches from $3.99 (in the market)- $14. First visit was a sneek peek. After making a complete loop around the building to chose which entrance (of 3) I wanted to enter from. If you're in a wheelchair or touting a stroller- pick door #2 on the side. Good sized, clean BYOB bar. (no liquor license yet they say- BUT- they encourage you to bring your own (TERRIFIC liquor store across the street) They have a really fair $5 PER TABLE corkage fee. They offered to store our six pack in their fridge and they were quick to retrieve more beers as we needed them. Flatscreen. nice dining area, a kind of casual X-street market type oyster bar area with bar stools and tables and then the grocery market. I purchased some filets (I was told their meat is always fresh- cut in the morning and served the next day if they don't sell.) This seems to be an easy place to swoop into to get something well made, fresh and delicious to bring home or to a dinner party or get together. Second trip- dinner with the fam. in the dining area. As we chose our appetizer we were offered a big bowl of "complimentary from the chef" mussels. EXCELLENT! (i usually don't like mussels) We had a 24 oyster sampler: Blue Points, Island Creeks & Chesapeake Chincoteagues (blue point seeds grown in the chesapeake) Island Creeks were my favorite. Oysters were served with a KILLER mignonette!! Tempura Tuna Roll was the hit at our table. small portion- but DEEEEE-LICIOUS!!! (maybe 4 pieces?) Best pseudo-sushi roll item I've had on the east coast in awhile! 3rd visit was to the grocery section again- it smelled a little fishy this time. We purchased a ton of oysters- they were very helpful- (offered up suggestions on shucking, gave us our pick of shells, described types of oysters and bagged them up nicely for us) 4th visit- more oysters! 5th visit- MORE OYSTERS! (they even let me sample) 6th visit- dinner....and it was still delicious- although the appetizer I previously mentioned (the tempura tuna roll) was not crisp, seemed like it had been sitting out, didn't have the wasabi kick it should have and wasn't presented as beautifully (maybe the good chef is off on Sundays?) as before. CONS: I wish it was more of a market and I will probably wish they had outdoor seating when it gets nicer out if they aren't planning on making some. I think they need to fix their side door from slamming all through dinner and the women's restroom is right in the middle of the dining room....perhaps put a screen or some plants behind the table that is directly beside the restroom?
(4)
Matthew C.

A very good restaurant. We started with the crab and corn chowder which was hearty and full of crab. They also served us a tasty seasoned bread as an appetizer. My wife had a seafood trio from their light entree section and it was more food than she could finish. I had a single crabcake which was good, but had a sauce drizzeled on it that I didn't care for much. I also got a side salad which had a good variety of veggies in it and was actually cut into small pieces. Too many restaurants seem to think leaving lettuce in chunks 3 or 4 inches square is ok. We fishished with the Smith Island cake which is awesome. The service was very attentive (but not overly so). Our drinks were always refilled before we emptied them. Some other reviewers have felt that Catonsville Gourmet is overpriced, but our cost seemed inline with the quality and quantity to me.
(5)
Kaela B.

Went here a while ago for the first time. The place is nicely decorated, and although its not the nicest restaurant I've been too, it does have a kind of upscale yet somewhat casual seafood restaurant vibe. We got a window seat, which was lucky, since those are the best seats in the house. There was a heater by our table, which was nice because the huge window let in cool air. Prices were not bad. The food was good, they have a lot of options on their menu so I know that I will definitely be back here to try something else. This time that I went they had a special sushi roll menu, and since I was kind of in the mood for sushi, I decided to order off of it. The sushi was a bit of a disappointment though, it was pretty bland and there was too much old bay. (They were trying to mix American Seafood with Sushi, which is altogether not a bad idea, but it could have been done a lot better). Someone else at my table got another roll as well, I think it was eel and something else, and they also said it was so-so. Despite my meal, I will definitely be back here. They had a lot of other options on the menu that I would have gotten if I had been hungrier. I think that it's definitely worth a try though, get the window seat if you can!
(4)
Kate N.

Stopped in for a quick dinner and was really blown away! We each just had simple salads (I had the asian tuna and he had the shimp cobb), but they were really outstanding, filed with fresh seafood and crispy, flavorful veggies. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Sherry L.

A must dish is the Old Bay Mussels! Delicious!
(5)
Shaun W.

Catonsville Gourmet is the best seafood restaurant in the area. A clean, inviting atmosphere gives way to a well-rounded and delicious seafood menu. Whether your prefer raw oysters on the half shell, steamed muscles, sesame seared ahi tuna, or a delicious piece of rockfish, you're guaranteed to love whatever you end up ordering. If you don't enjoy seafood, you'll be pleasantly surprised by their filet mignon. Unlike typical seafood restaurants where the "turf" seems to be an afterthought, this deliciously seasoned steak is cooked perfectly. If you're in the mood for: appetizers, try the raw oysters or seared ahi tuna. shellfish, try the Bouillabaisse "fisherman's stew". fish, try one of their fresh fish du jour entrees or sea bass. steak, try the filet mignon.
(5)
Jessica A.

Awesome super-fresh seafood!! I haven't had seafood this good since I left Florida. The raw oyster sampler is always a winner. The sesame seabass is incredible - the fish is fresh, mild and tender and never "fishy" tasting. It is in a thin sweet sauce with a wasabi drizzle over roasted fingerling potatoes and carrots. The fingerling potatoes are ridiculously good - I have ordered additional servings to take home. If you are looking for a simple entree, the fish and chips are an excellent choice. The desserts are good - there is a smith island cake from Sugarbaker's with several layers of yellow cake and chocolate - my husband gets it every time we go there and loves it. There is almost always a wait and it is BYOB so be warned. There is a liquor store very nearby, so no worries if you forget your wine.
(5)
Ardon G.

2nd time visitor, first time for dinner. The 4 of us had a wonderful time. We brought our own wine and love being with each other so we would have had a good time at Taco Bell.... But I digress. This place is so inviting for foodies. It looks and feels like Gordon Ramsey just did a rescue on it and is cooking in the kitchen. You can't help but feel the vibe of good, upscale food being served and prepared. It is very noisy - but that might just add to the excitement in the room. It you have hearing problems (older folks) or claustrophia you will not be comfortable here. Now - the food... The bread at the table was fantastic!!! The apps were oysters and the fried oysters were divine... I should of made a meal out of them. The raw assorted sampler oysters were pretty good. We had one metallic tasting one (out of 12) and 4 very small ones and the others were barely medium in size but they were fresh. Mains were 2 fish specials, a seafood in puff pastry and a steak. All looked beautiful in presentation. I had the halibut with a hot/sweet mango chutney/salsa. My fish was over done but the sauce made up for it. The garnish of beaufitul tiny vegetables was just a mess. Fingerling potatos cooked to ashes, carrots hard and uncooked, baby green beans shriveled up and 1 baby spear of asparagus which was actually done just right. All covered up by the fish which was set on top to make it look like a larger portion.(Like we are not supposed to notice that trick). At $28 even the veggie garnish should have been perfect in my opinion. I ate it all (the plate was small) and enjoyed it - just maybe not $28 worth. The rock fish looked OK much like my plate and that diner did not complain. The seafood newburg type thing in a 2" cup of puff pastry looked pretty - it was from the lite fares section and at $15 looked quite chintzy to me. My rebel husband ordered the ribeye steak. This guy generally cleans his plate but last night he left a lot on it... The ribeye was very fatty and this turned him off. Service throughout was fine but weird.... no one liked to remove dirty dishes or utensils from our table, Which made for a messy crowded affair. The apps were oysters on the half and the various dishes with empty shells stayed on our table (which was small) until after our mains had been dropped off. We actually had to ask for them to be taken away. I think it was because we had used our bread plates for the oyster shells and the servers had been trained to leave the bread plates on the table no matter what.. we also had to ask for forks since some of us had used our original forks for the oysters apps... Now our table was directly next to the hostess stand where at least 3 servers were gathered all night and none of them glanced at our table to notice that overflowing oyster shell issue... The servers were young and fresh and energetic. They seemed really green to the fine dining restaurant business though. And there was a manager type guy - maybe owner? running (literally) around. He wished us a good night which is how I figured it out. But it was odd that he was dressed like he just came off the golfcourse in July. He was even carrying a softsided beer cooler thing around with him... I don't know what that was about. $165 for 4, we brought our own wine, we shared apps and deseerts. I will probably come back - I am already craving those fried oysters and some of that bread.... I'll just skip all that other fancy stuff....
(3)
Tom T.

I fell upon this restaurant by accident, as we were planning to go elsewhere and could not find the other place. I am so glad I discovered this one. The waiter and host were friendly attentive and gladly moved us to another seat we preferred. We both ordered the crab cake club on a pretzel roll with bacon, lettuce and tomatoe-deliciously hedonistic. It came with french fries which I don't usually eat, but did. For desert I had this wondeful layer chocolate cake which is their house specially. It was moist, and delicious. My only gripe is that the place is so noisy and the staff does little to discourage it. The table opposite us were oblivious to how loud and obnoxious they were, and the waitress appeared to encourage it. My friend and I both noticed it, but lucky for us they left as our meal came.
(4)
David B.

Food good, albeit the appetizer portions were quite small. Service marginal. With $35 entrees, shouldn't have to repeatedly ask for water and bread for table. Nice upscale restaurant that needs to refine service to match food.
(3)
Tina J.

We went here for my birthday. We were not asked to leave but we were made to feel unwelcome by the manager/owner. There were 8 of us....all women, all over 40 and all women of color. We were so uncomfortable with the way he treated our table, that we left before ordering dinner. I have lived in the area for 25 years and I have never been treated like this. I dine out often. I will not return here and I will not recommend this to any of my friends. WE ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.
(1)
Colin B.

The food was outstanding. Our group had salmon, trout, oysters, crab, and halibut. All excellent. Bread superb. Attentive wait staff.
(4)
Goofy D.

A friend invited us out to the Catonsville Gournmet. A very good seafood place by them. I got the seafood newburg. We got the shrimp and grits, grilled scallops, and some kind of fish. For dessert, we got Creme Broulle, lava cake with ice cream and cheesecakes. Good. We'd go back.
(4)
Pascal P.

I've only been here once, but in my experience the food, service and atmosphere were all very good. I don't know what their non-seafood dishes are like, however if you're getting something fish-related you should be very pleased. If you're a fan of good wine with your meal this is a fantastic deal since it's BYOB. If you aren't then it's a little on the pricey side. I'm assuming they have to charge slightly higher than normal food prices to make up for the fact that they can't make money on booze.
(4)
Dennis K.

Great place to dine! I go there about once a week, and usually get the blackened tuna over spinach, or the fisherman's sampler. It's relatively inexpensive, and the service is always great. It is a well run establishment, and the food and service have always been consistenly good. The do get busy at lunchtime, but always seem to find a table (or booth) for me.
(5)
Kristin A.

This place is fantastic. Since moving from the city to the 'burbs, my husband and I have had a really hard time finding many great restaurants nearby, but the Catonsville Gourmet never disappoints. Lots of delicious menu options ranging from fish to steaks, etc and while some menu items are a little pricey, they are well worth it. There are also plenty of 'lite fare' options which are just as filling and tasty but more modestly priced. You should absolutely try this place out if you haven't already. And BYOB!!!
(5)
Marcy L.

Outstanding food, but inconsistent service. The restaurant is small and loud which didn't really bother me but might annoy some. Went to Catonsville Gourmet for the second time last night with my husband and two teens. First time there, three of us loved it but hubby was not too impressed with his crab cakes. We urged him to give it another try - don't order crab cakes in a fresh fish house! So last night he had the seared ahi tuna, his favorite fish dish, and loved it! The other three of us had the salmon five-o and all agreed it was the best salmon we ever had. Not sure if it was the glaze, the mesquite or just the quality of the fish. It was served on a generous bed of noodles and veggies with a delicious broth. And very reasonably priced at just $20 for a portion so large that all three of us brought home leftovers. The service, however, was inconsistent and the reason I did not give the restaurant five stars. First time we were there, our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Second time, our waitress was nice enough but we had to have other staff track her down to refill our waters, and then to refill our wine. Also, a few big pet peaves of mine - she directly handed us our plates instead of placing them on the table, we had to box our own leftovers (this should definitely be done in the kitchen) and at the end of the meal she had us hand her the plates instead of picking them up herself. With a little staff training, this could be my favorite restaurant!
(4)
Jenn M.

Went for lunch on a Sunday and we were able to get seated right away. Lots of menu options to chose from - the Cioppino was good but I wasn't a fan of the aioli they put on the sourdough bread.
(4)
Allen A.

Had lunch here today and thought it was very good. Oyster Stew was the soup of the day. Lot's of meaty oysters in a rich (but not too rich) creamy broth. Lots of nice crunch from the celery to balance it out. I thought the potatoes were a little under cooked for my taste. For the entree, we split The Hutzler Sandwich. This is shrimp salad served on garlic cheese toast, with lettuce and tomato. My dining companion informs me that this was a sandwich served by Hutzlers Department Store which is a now closed Baltimore institution. It was good, not great but good. I will be back, the Seared Tuna nachos served at the next table looked great!
(4)
Leeann D.

A fresh seafood market on site and you can BYOB....does it get any better? I learned that there is a tactful way to bring your bottle of wine into a restaurant. You can put it in a nice fabric sleeve rather than a paper bag. The table cloths are white and the servers are great. Count on $100 on dinner for 4. However, you will leave full and satisfied as the food is delicious and you drank your own alcohol.
(4)
Tom W.

The oysters were great! However, my entree wasn't very good and it was a bit pricey for what I got. Overall, I would would definitely go back again.
(3)
Patrick H.

This place rocks! This is exactly the type of restaurant I am always looking for, but regretably seldom find. Open for just 13 weeks, the Catonsville Gourmet is a restaurant and small gourmet market housed in a completely transformed former hardware store. Beadboard wainscotting and Robins Egg blue walls are tastefully adorned with New England style signage and black and white photos. White clothed tables are topped with large shakers of Mediterranean Sea Salt, giving the place an almost beach resort feel. The Market: Pre-made and pre-packaged versions of many of the restaurant offerings, like seaweed salad, crab cakes, smoked salmon et al. The meat case carries top of the line cuts of meat, steaks and chops dominating the selection. The Seafood case also carries much of what is being offered on the menu. It's fresh fish at it's finest, salmon, sea bass, grouper and the like. An impressive selection of raw oysters, clams, shrimp and mussels. If I lived in Catonsville, I would be in here everyday. The Restaurant: An impressive selection of entrees with everything from Pepper crusted ribeye steak, Bouillabaise, to Meatloaf and Maryland Fried Chicken. Daily specials are offered and you should take note: this is where the good eats are. For an appetizer, we had the Pastrami style smoked salmon with fresh tomatoes, buffala di Mozzarella and warm foccaccia. That was followed by a lovely tray of raw oysters. We had the Blue Points and two other "off-the-menu" selections, one from Washington state and another from New England. The real delight for me, though was the fish selection du jour. 6 fresh fish choices are offered and they can be prepared either blackened, broiled or pan seared. Then you may top the fish with any of these sauces: Chimichurri Sauce, Hazelnut burre blanc, Lobster Sauce, Mango and Avocado Salsa, Sweet corn relish, Topped with Crab Imperial (add $5.99 for Crab Imperial) I had the Black Grouper, pan seared with Chimichurri Sauce. It was excellent. Perfectly cooked. My companion had the blackened Sea Bass with Mango and Avocado Salsa (One of the staff members in the market clued us in on that choice.) It was truly special. For dessert we had the Smith Island Cake. An eight layer chocolate and peanut butter cake which could easily have been shared (but wasn't). Truly delightful! Additionally, Catonsville Gourmet is presently without a liquor licence, so it's BYOB. It's amazing what one place can do for a neighborhood. Throngs of people make the soujorn across the street to the liquor store to purchase their wine or beer before hitting the restaurant. All of their baked goods come from "Sugarbakers" just down the street. Service was fantastic! There is a definite "buzz" about the place and you can tell the staff is just as excited to be there as we were. I spoke briefly with Sean the owner, who is a Catonsville native, and he let us know the place is just getting going. They are definitely off to a great start!
(5)
Hansoo J.

Catonsville Gourmet is located in an unpretentious storefront along Frederick road in Catonsville. I really enjoy everything about this restaurant. The decor is very simple and inviting. The dining room has a lot of white accented by brown and blue. The big window in the front fills the front dining area with lots of natural sun light. Even on busy nights, the noise level is never unbearable and the service is always quick and courteous. Catonsville Gourmet specializes in seafood. In my latest visit, I had the fried oyster sandwich which consisted of 4 extra large fried oysters served with lettuce and tomato on toasted white bread. The sandwich came with kettle fried chips but I chose to upgrade to pom frites. The oysters were fried perfectly: each oyster tender and juicy morsels of salt-water goodness encased in light, crispy cornmeal. My only complaint is that they were slightly under seasoned: nothing a few dashes of tabasco sauce couldn't solve though. The pom frites were a bit dissapointing simply because they were just fresh-cut fries. They did not come with a mayonnaise dipping sauce or served in a paper cone. Other than that, they were pretty good. My fiance ordered the shrimp salad on focaccia. The shrimp salad was excellent. Big whole shrimp tossed, tossed with a light mayonnaise based sauce. The sauce was good but may have been even better if there was less of it. The shrimp were cooked perfectly however I would have preferred the shrimp to be a bit more bite-sized. The kettle chips were average at best. They too were under seasoned. A sprinkling of Old Bay may be an easy solution. All in all, another enjoyable experience at one of the most unexpected, unpretentious, fine dining establishments in the area.
(4)
Michelle P.

I was really hoping this place would be great, having moved to Catonsville from Baltimore city, I wanted to find a restaurant close to my house with great food. This is not that place. Their "oysters Rockefeller" is the worst appetizer I've ever eaten. Admittedly, it's a play on oysters Rockefeller, not the real thing, but it's awful and should not be served anywhere. We got salads as our entrees that easily could have been served at Applebees. It's outrageously expensive too, especially considering the atmosphere (noisy, cramped, and blah). Dessert was terrible as well. I saw someone raved about their Smith Island Cake, but they don't even make that themselves, it clearly states on the menu that all their cakes come from Sugar Bakers, so that credit is in the wrong place. I will never eat here again.
(2)

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Address : 829 Frederick Rd
Catonsville, MD, 21228
Phone (410) 788-0005
Website https://www.catonsvillegourmet.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Catonsville Gourmet

829 Frederick Rd, Catonsville, MD, 21228

Catonsville Gourmet Menu

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