Cacao Lane Restaurant
8066 Main St, Ellicott City, MD, 21043
Cacao Lane Restaurant Menu
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Appetizers
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Small Plates
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Flatbreads
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Entrees
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Sandwiches & Litefare
Healthy Meal suggestions for Cacao Lane Restaurant
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Appetizers
-
Small Plates
-
Flatbreads
-
Entrees
-
Sandwiches & Litefare
Visit below restaurant in Ellicott City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ellicott City for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
8066 Main St
Ellicott City, MD, 21043 - Phone (410) 461-1378
- Website https://www.cacaolane.net
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Freedom M.
All I got to say is manager = Dick. No one there, wanted to check out the property and was denied. Did you forget you're in the hospitality business? Guess so.... Fire this guy and understand why you have a business = customers and their experience at your bar. Wow, can't believe the basics of service are so hard to grasp
(1)Kara F.
What a great location!! I so much wanted to like this place! Unfortunately the service just wasn't that good. Our server was really really nice... she was just nowhere to be found most times. It took us 20 mins to get our cocktails and even longer to get a diet coke. My drink order was mixed up and so I had to wait another 20 mins to get a new one. The food was good, no complaints there. Definitely your standard American fare. I just wish the service was a little better.
(2)Cam C.
Decent food but not worth the money. I once had dinner there and the server was either drunk or stupid -- he thought it was appropriate to curse during service and, at one point, he actually sat in the empty seat at our table. I find that really annoying even when they do it at bad chain restaurants, like TGI Fridays. The rooftop deck is pretty cool, I'll admit. Go for drinks and the view but don't blow your budget on dinner.
(2)John M.
Good menu but a bit pricey? For EC? Chesapeake Pot Pie was excellent, but my wife's burger was poorly cooked; over done and lacked fat/juiciness. Great drinks and beer list and a good alternative to the brew pub cliche
(3)Benvenuto B.
Food here was good - nice atmosphere - pleasant waiter - was pleasant until two groups of cackling hens came in, then the place got very noisy - guess you have to expect that in a tourist location. I gave it 3 stars only because it took a very long time to get our burger and salad - maybe 30 minute wait
(3)James H.
The service was fast and friendly, and the food was fabulous. Three of us had dinner here, and we all 3 loved everything about our meal. Everything was flavorful and cooked perfectly. The prices were spot on as well. I had NY strip, one guest had rockfish, and the other guest has salmon
(5)Scott G.
Wow, worst experience in some time. We never made it to food. Drinks were ordered first. The mojitos were essentially a lot of mint leaves and soda water. Nobody could detect anything else. We asked for them to be sent back. Apparently, the bartender didn't like that so sent the second set with what tasted like mint leaves pulled from the trash. They were rancid. The liquid in the cup was brown and smelled terribly. And the first sip was disgusting. Our server was great and tried to help. But how do you mess up a simple drink that badly? If the water is brown, what is the kitchen like?
(1)Toby R.
I had Valentine's Day dinner one time and was thoroughly unimpressed. The portions were tiny and overpriced. My food was under-seasoned.
(2)Jackie S.
Love this place. Their salads and burgers are fantastic, if you walk all the way up to the deck. Great atmosphere, and most of the time the service is good.
(5)Rebecca Y.
Great place to meet for drinks. Has that tavern feel to it like you should be drinking from a beer stein. I recognize I live in one of those non-smoking states these days, but this place might as well be a smoke bar. Holy no ventilation.
(4)David L.
Memorial Day. Seated at 12:20, food arrived at 1:00. I asked why so slow and was told cooking a burger well-done was slowing things up. Disinterested staff. Food was OK. As we left told bartender it was too slow. He said, "it's a holiday and we have only one cook." If the waiter had said so I would have understood, but don't lie to me like I'm an idiot. I'm a tourist so a repeat visit won't be an issue.
(2)Danny Y.
Food was slow. Steak tacos were good. Crab cakes were ok. Good beer selection - it is a bar. Like the stone, atmosphere is cool; a bit loud. We'll be back.
(3)Tanya B.
Friends staff, good crab dip, historic building.... Beer in bottles only, no tap. Two bars and a dining area.
(3)Jason C.
In Historic Ellicott City, you will be transported back in time to the mid 1800s. Historic Ellicott City is not a commercial attempt to create a city that reminds one of the 1800s, it is the REAL DEAL. Cacao Lane, which is at the heart of this area, is located in a building that was constructed of locally quarried stone and brick. Parts of these buildings are over 165 years old. My experience at Cacao Lane was limited to the bar. The bar does not serve fancy drinks or cocktails, nor do they have the "breadth and depth" of beers like most places around in the DC area. The thing that I absolutely loved about this place is that the "retro-atmosphere" was not created artificially by some commercial entity as one would see in tourist trap areas. The chairs, the bar area, the decades-old cash register with large circular push buttons that is still being used, the bartender with a moustach dressed in a black vest and tie.....they all create a wonderful authentic experience that cannot be easily replicated in a large metropolitan area. Time and time again I get sick of the superficial bar scene in DC and yearn to escape to a place that is different. I feel that Cacao Lane is such a place. This is one of the rare cases where I am going to stick my neck out and go against the yelp crowd who have been chastizing this place for being "out-of-fashion". Being a city person, I find this Histroic Ellicott City and Cacao Lane absolutely adorable and would definitely return in due time.
(4)Becca R.
I went here with a group of friends, otherwise it isn't a place I'd typically pick. The only vegetarian option was a salad, and it was a pretty pricey side salad. They had a nice list of craft beers (bottles, not on draft). I also noticed they were playing some pretty good Beatles and Dylan music when I was there. If I ever go again, it'd just be to have a beer at the bar. It's worth noting, the waitress was incredibly accommodating to a large group and split up the checks as people were coming and going at different times. I hope everyone tipped her well.
(2)Mike F.
Keep walking up the hill if you are hungry. Went here for Christmas eve. Left $30 tip despite the fact they should have paid us $100 1) Medium well hamburger was raw, Sent back and it was rare when it came back. 2) Coffee was cold. 3) Waited a long time for food. 4) Before eating waited at bar. Bartender was not busy, but cleaning glasses and would not serve us quickly. 5) Broken mens urinal in bathroom described in reviews below this is still broken? 6) 8$ pickles appetizer came to a little less than $1 / slice 7) Bill is not itemized. We don't know if it is accurate, but was $150 for 6 people. This place has potential, but does not capitalize on that potential. If you want to go in, have a few beers, then it is fine.
(2)Katherine M.
The owner was extremely rude. He wasn't concerned at all about losing our business after he falsely accused our friend of being "carried across the street." We will not be coming back.
(1)ellen p.
Ellicott City is not really most people's destination, but it's worth the trip. A welcome change from Columbia. First, it's a charming town, but Cacao Lane is another good reason. We stopped in unexpectedly, had a lovely table in the window, and a fine dinner. 60's music, which we really enjoyed, but it's a matter of taste. Drinks...Ellicott City Lights...if you like sweet mixed drinks (and I do), this is scrumptious. He had a glass of Reisling. The soup (can't remember the name) had a flavorful broth, with leeks, corn and apples in abundance. Can't even describe the taste except wondeful! The rockfish was prepared perfectly, moist but firm, with olives, grape tomatoes and feta. Ask for bread so that you can soak up the sauce. Asparagus is in season...hurray! He had the crab pot pie...who'dathunkit? He says it was terrific! Chocolate mousse we shared. It was airy and yummy...one suggestion...use shaved chocolate over the whipped cream instead of chocolate chips. I was surprised that they don't have decaf espresso or teas...what's with that? Wait staff was OK, not as engaging or attentive or helpful as I'd like, but got the job done.
(4)Melissa B.
Stopped in here on my last trip to Ellicot City and was not disappointed! Great Stone brews on tap, awesome crab soup and entrees. I had the mussels and shrimp entree for dinner - reasonably priced and a large serving. The wait staff was very nice and attentive. Everything came out quickly and everyone was very friendly. The decor in the restaurant is cozy. The walls are very old with exposed stone. There is a small bar area that is very welcoming and separate dining areas. The biggest issue in the area is parking - good luck with that. Will definitely be back - love this area! :-D
(4)Matt D.
From the Washington, D.C. Area but came out to visit family and they suggested this outdoor bar.. This place might be ideal for a wild night out with the boys But if you're looking for a good relaxing family dinner stay away. Dinner wasn't awful and drinks were actually good so I'll give it 2 stars.
(3)Keefe H.
My wife took my daughter here one time, and the little one was impressed with the "treehouse" seating upstairs. Its an outdoor area high up the tree tops, so it gives a nice view of the area and a feeling of being in the air. That's about the only positive for the place. The food itself is pretty bland and overpriced. I had a burger there once, and it was overcooked. I had a steak there as well, and it was bland. I've tried the flatbread and it pretty much tasted like a frozen pizza. The worst part of the experience has been the service. The staff seems pretty disinterested overall. While sitting in the upstairs area, I requested a Goose Island beer special I saw posted int he main floor bar. Our server (a teen more interested in his smartphone than the customers) said it wasn't available in the upstairs. So, the beers he did offer were just your typical miller lies, coors, etc., so I just had water. When we were leaving (with a good portion of crappy food left behind), I asked the bartender downstairs about the policy. She said I could have easily had gotten the Goose Island. Obviously our waiter (I use that term lightly) must've just been too lazy to go down and get one. They supposedly have comedy nights on the weekends, but if you are in for a real joke, then just go and indulge in this over-priced, bland food, poor service establishment and the joke will be on you.
(1)A S.
They don't have high chairs! I have never been to a restaurant that doesn't have high chairs. When I requested one I was told "No we don't have any but our chairs are really sturdy" I can not believe that would be a response. Clearly children are not welcomed here. I was not impressed with the food either. When I asked our waitress what options were available for my son that has a dairy allergy age wasn't able to provide me for any. When I asked if I could have a plate of raw vegetables she said she didn't think they had any. Really?! I was very put off by the service and food and will certainly never return.
(1)Mitchell P.
I'll give this place two stars because I'm feeling generous. Full disclosure here, I sat at the bar and not in the dining room, but the service is horrendous. Two people sitting at the bar (including me), and I feel like I have to apologize to the bartender for disturbing him. I finally got him to bring me a LUNCH menu (at 6pm). A few items on this limited menu sounded promising, so I ordered the "black and bleu" roast beef sandwich on focaccia. It was straight out of a Sysco truck, bread included. I hope the people in the dining room are faring better, but I doubt it because the one server on duty is sitting behind the bar playing with her phone. I'd bulldoze this place and start over.
(2)Sam H.
I have never eaten here, but have indulged in many beers and bevis on the very chill rooftop/porch. This is a great place to go and chill out when the weather is right. They have a three tier rooftop/porch that can easily accommodate 50-100 customers. The prices are about average to that of any bar. Great place for a casual date or to chill out with friends.
(4)LC C.
I had two very different experiences here on the same day. 2 of us came in and were seated in the bar area by a server. There was no one else in there. Just us and 2 other customers at the bar. 8 minutes went by. We sat with no menus or anything. Finally the bartender yells over and asks if we need anything or if we are just hanging out. He was standing in front of us the entire time behind the bar and it took him 8 minutes to ask? We said we needed menus and ordered 2 beers from him. Then ordered crab dip after we got menus. Then after ordering our app, the same server who sat us came over and asked if we wanted any food. No hello or my name is mr server man or anything. Just, "do you want food?" We said we alredy ordered from the bartender. And, it took you over 10 minutes to come wait on us after YOU sat us? Weird. Then we saw our bartender leave - end of shift. Then our server left - end of shift. Neither of them said a word to us, just left. OK cool. After a while, another server came over to check on us and give us our crab dip. Then disappeared. Another bartender came in who also disappered. Then we had 3 other people join our party. No one came over although I saw both the new server and the new bartender hovering around and playing on their phones. Eventually they ordered a beer, then our server/bartender disappeared again. In the hour we were sitting in the bar area we had a total of 4 servers/bartenders all of which couldnt have cared less about us. At 5:00 all 5 of us went up to the outdoor patio. Thank God! We had some others meeting us up there later. We had the BEST bartender/service up there. He was great! Very friendly and attentive! We also ordered wings and a couple flat bread pizzas. All was very good. The crab dip from earlier wasnt great. It had a ton of cheese on top, which just got hard and made it difficult to eat. Again, 2 totally different experiences here. The bartender up on the patio saved this place from getting 1 star. He was excellent! We were there on sunday evening/night.
(3)Brian J.
The owner is such a nice guy, animated and easy going. He recommended the crab cake which was mostly blue crab, not to mention tender and moist. Also had the Tenderloin Salad which was very fresh and the filet was beyond 'melt in the mouth' tender...A highlight of my busy day. The service was professional and quick. I will definitely be back for more of the delicious dishes offered here.
(4)Edward L.
Spent a few hours here late Friday night with the wife and couple of our friends. Upon entering, we headed up to the rooftop deck. It's a good climb but not bad at all. As soon as we got up there , we were hit by the unseasonably warm air. Maryland was in the throes of a heat wave that had been hitting us with multiple 90+degree days for the past 2 weeks. Surprisingly, there were quite a few folks up on their rooftop deck. I liked the layout of the deck. The first level is filled with tables (a few 4-seaters and a couple of long ones for big parties). There is even a server there to take care of patrons at these tables. Walk up a few steps and the smaller second level of the deck houses the bar and some standing room. After about 20 minutes out in the heat, we decided to head back down to the main floor. We grabbed a table next to the bar for the 4 of us and chatted over some drinks. A nice surprise was that they serve food until midnight there. I glanced over the menu and it looked decent. Ended up not getting any food since I thought we were going to leave soon (but ended up staying another couple of hours). Folks there that evening all seemed like a good crowd and the bartenders were all great. Will have to come back again and get a deeper feel for this place.
(3)Lewis C.
The crab dip was too cheesy, but tasty and the hammer (beef brisket) was tasty but the portion was small. The server was hard to track down because of the apparent under staffing. Additionally, she was not too knowledgable of the history of the building the restaurant is housed in nor of the menu. I don't believe this will be a regular stop for us in Ellicott City. The rooftop deck is cool, but seating outdoors is limited to evening diners.
(3)Jonathan H.
For such a quaint location, with a lot of space for diners by Ellicott City standards, Cacao Lane really drops the ball. The food is pretty good, the wait staff is young and energetic, the beer and wine list is decent, the prices are reasonable... and the bathrooms are utterly disgusting. The urinal in the men's bathroom has been broken for more than a year, and the stall door's bottom edge is mounted well above what modesty permits. Not bad for happy hour, but don't bring a date here.
(2)Mike H.
4 stars for the food- Had the braised short ribs with mashed sweet potatoes, deducted 1 star because the portion was pretty small for the price, I don't need a mountain of food but 25 bucks should at least get you satisfied/full. Beer is over priced as well. 4 stars for service- Waitress and Bartenders were attentive. 2 stars for atmosphere- On a Saturday I sat for dinner in the upstairs dining room from 7-8:45, then had drinks in the bar until 11. There were 2 other tables the whole time in the dining room which was fairly large and open, so it seemed empty during prime dinner hour. Down in the bar area, it was pretty dead as well, no TVs, if there was music it was barely audible. The bar just had very little life, I'm not looking for a club, but a bare should have a little noise from chatter and music. I liked it enough that I would try it again, maybe I just hit it on a bad night.
(3)Courtney C.
The service was terrible and we weren't the only ones to experience it. My hubby was getting hungry and the baby needed to be fed so, we stopped in for a quick bite. There was nothing quick about it. Our waters were never refilled. Our server took forever. My hubby said the reuben was just okay. I didn't order anything. They do have captain crunch french toast, but I want the original from blue moon cafe in Baltimore and not a knock off. They charged $10.50 for his reuben served with shoe string fries. Too expensive for mediocrity. It took over 15 min to get our check. The only time I'll be back is for the outside, upstairs deck to grab a few drinks. It was already closed for the season.
(2)Sarah J.
So I am just echoing my husband's recent review on this place. This place is awful. Our waitress was not rude at all but NEVER THERE. My husband's beer was flat, my burger was practically rare when I ordered it medium well and we waited for about 20 minutes for our check. The presentation of my plate of food was terrible (fried just messily tossed on the plate) and the taste of what I ate of my burger was blah. And this was highlighted even more by the fact that the huge party sitting near us had an excellent waiter who attended their every need. My husband and I thought this plate would be cute (being that old Ellicott City is such a cute place) but it was just so mediocre it hurt. What a mistake to go there. Unfortunately it colored our view of this town even. Don't ever go here, not even for a drink I would say.
(1)K S.
Very "OK" experience. Immediately after we were seated, our waited asked us to move to a different part of the restaurant because - as he said - he had had only two tables the whole night. He did tell us our first drinks would be on the house, which was an appropriate gesture. The food was pretty mediocre. French onion soup was salty and tasted like it was from a Lipton's mix. Entrees (crab cakes and salmon) were acceptable, but not worth over $20 each. Both were served with the same five, over-salted asparagus stalks. The rice that came with the crab cakes was just bland. Overall, the presentation was not what you'd expect for the price.
(2)Jenny K.
Fiancé and I stopped by for dinner yesterday just to try it out. We live in the area and wanted to try a few new places before our family comes to visit for our wedding. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect based on the yelp reviews so my expectations were fairly low. First was service: Tuesday night the place was pretty much bare. There were maybe half a dozen people sitting at the bar, and we were seated in the window (and were the only patrons for about a half hour/45min we were there). Our waiter was very nice, and attentive without being overbearing. We both ordered drinks with dinner, which came out promptly. Food was decent - the filet was definitely better than the jerk marinated pork tenderloin. He asked for the filet rare and it was indeed bloody. My pork while nicely spiced was unfortunately cooked a bit too long and was dry. However the spicy black beans with corn salsa helped make up for the dry pork. (I loved the beans!) The garlic-y mashed potatoes that came with the filet were nice and creamy. You get a bread basket waiting for your entrée - bread is nothing special but I did enjoy the butter. Addressing the portions: I found the portions to be about right, definitely smaller than other restaurants that give you way too much food, but for future hubby and I - it was just right without having to take home leftovers and room for a small dessert. Check came out in a timely fashion after dessert - the chocolate mouse was appropriately silky. Overall: It is a bit pricey to make into regular rotation but not bad for a special occasion for us. Will have to come back to check out this rooftop deck.
(4)Rob N.
Cacao Lane is an Ellicott City institution that has seen much better days. The food ranges from sorta adequate to greasy and tired. The prices, they are not cheap. The menu is definitely dated, as is the feel of the place. It may have been in style 20 years ago, but its glory days are long, LONG gone. The service is inconsistent, as is the kitchen. My wife once found a waitress' fake fingernail in her salad, and the management's sole response was to offer to take the salad off the bill and only after she made a stink about it. The rooftop deck is still a nice setting for lunch, but the food and the service sink it in the end. Even the cocktail bar can't save Cacao Lane, since drink prices are considerable and the barstaff aren't particularly congenial.
(1)Christie W.
The atomosphere and building are worth checking out, that being said I would only go for drinks and appetizers. The service is nothing to brag about, everyone seems very new and inexperienced, but hey, everyone has to start somewhere right? This was my first time here a few weekends ago, and we had dinner on the deck outside. There were ants crawling on the table and not your normal smaller house ant, but the scary big ants that are impossible to kill (we tried) and can bite, but I suppose that is the danger involved when dining outdoors, so I let that one slide. The food was average, wasn't terrible, but wasn't anything worth bragging about. We got the crab dip, mussles, and we had a steak salad that was probably the highlight of the night. The wine is served in plastic cups (outdoor dining) but the pour for $9+ glass isn't really worth it, but what is a wino to do, go with out? I think not. Not too sure how I feel about this establishment, but maybe I will return as the atmosphere has a pretty cool vibe, and sometimes things are better the second time around.
(3)Hollis B.
As a local resident, I have been to Cacao Lane many times. There was a long stretch when I stopped going because it seemed that every entree and special had some type of fruit sauce/topping/preparation. I began going again periodically to enjoy the lovely outdoor deck area. I went about a week ago with a friend and we had one drink on the deck and left. The service just for the one drink was very slow and the light fare menu for the deck area was unappealing. The menu options were some of the most boring bar foods I've seen. A real turn off, though, was the dirty tables and chairs. The chairs are the cheapie white plastic ones, which is fine -- what you'd expect for an outdoor area. But the layers of black grime on them made both me and my friend believe the chairs were put on the deck and never once washed. Our table was dirty and hadn't been wiped down. The restaurant, location, and deck area has so much visual appeal, that it's a shame that there isn't more imagination behind it all.
(2)Lynn K.
We went there with a bunch of friends for a happy hour after work. They were some drink specials at the time. They also had some specials on food. The sandwiches at the bar were half price so we ordered a reuben and the cow which was roast beef. They were both very good. When the outside bar opened up we went up there. That porch area was very nice. It has a bunch of stairs to climb but no big deal for us. The beers are the usual ones - nothing special. The service outside was not very good. You had to walk up the the bar and order. You could only get things in plastic cups which was something I did not like. It was a little crowded but it took way too long for our food orders. I would probably go there again for a happy hour as everyone enjoyed themselves.
(3)Jonathan G.
It's okay. The bar section is usually pretty empty, even on Friday and Saturday nights, and the drink selection (beer-wise) isn't too adventurous. They serve the usual swill (Anheuser-Busch brands), and Bass. On the inside, it looks really nice, the wait staff is fine, and the outdoor seating is actually really great. It's just that the menu has nothing exciting. Definitely warrants a visit for the outdoor seating, especially the deck upstairs, but I can't give it more than 3 stars because of the weak menu.
(3)Jessica A.
Food is so-so, heavy, uninspired and the decor is outdated. This place is clearly past its prime. The quality of the food vs. the price they are charging is incongruent. We won't be back - there are better places to eat on Main Street.
(2)Jamie D.
Visited 6/18-Really want to give this place a 1 1/2. We decided to do a day in Old Ellicott City. For all the rave we hear about this place I was really expecting more! I can say I should of checked Yelp first and not word of mouth. The service was slow, we ordered crab dip, it was nothing special and really, really cheesy. I ordered what I though was a chicken wrap and ended up being a chicken pizza. When the descriptions say wrap you think of a wrap not a pizza. My fiance ordered a burger, he was not thrilled either. They are very over priced. We had to ask for refills several times. We will not be coming back here!
(2)Kim C.
Meh, I've experienced better. This place needs to go on Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares; it's far overpriced for the quality that you receive. Also, the menu is all over the place--is it MD specialities? New American? French? Italian? Very inconsistent, and really unimpressed with the food I received. Cacao Lane was pretty empty when I went with two others, though it was Monday around 7 pm. As I opened my menu, I was hit with the fishy smell of old crab, and enjoyed a sprinkle of old cracker crumbs fall over my jeans. Yuck. We ordered a chicken margherita (out of spinach, substitute with broccoli), a hangar steak, and the crab risotto. The chicken was bland, the hangar steak came with inedible mushrooms and macaroni and cheese (highly mediocre, greasy, and altogether gross), and the risotto was too salty (but the best of the three dishes). Wine/beer list equally mediocre. Service was meh, and we didn't get any bread (also bland) until after our food was served and we requested it. The only perk of this place is the location--it's in cute historical Ellicott City.
(1)Michael Q.
Stopped in Cacao Lane Restaurant on way back to Frederick from BWI airport for lunch. It was late afternoon, sat in the bar area, Had a server from England who was very accomodating (Mike). He stayed on top of drinks, food etc. Everything we had for lunch was delicious. The Fried Green Tomatoes were the best I've ever had since my Grandmother's. The flat bread was cooked perfectly and my husband's sandwich and fries were great. The house chardonnay is now a constant in my fridge at home. Being in the catering business, I asked to see the person who prepared those tomatoes. He came out and I was surprised to see how young he was. If the passion for the business is there, he will be amazing one day. Thanks for an enjoyable meal.
(4)Jenny C.
Quaint, relaxed atmosphere. The reuben was delish! Hubby enjoyed the chicken salad. We would definitely go back.
(4)Pete J.
I think is the first 1 star rating I've ever given. I feel like I'm pretty generous when I give ratings and if I have a bad experience I try and return at a different time to see if the restaurant can redeem itself. Unfortunately I will not be giving Cacao Lane a second chance. I'll be straight and to the point with a hope that a owner or manager can read this so as to make any changes. -The first bottled beer I got was flat, I don't know if it because the beer was old or because a bartender accidentally opened it, placed it in a fridge, and too much time passed before it was given to me. -The menu, though simple, seemed pretty appealing. -I was probably in the restaurant for about 1hour and 20 minutes. I probably saw my waitress 4 times. And we were about 1 of 3 parties in there at a time and there were 2 other servers working. That is terrible. -My wife ordered a burger and ordered it medium well, when the burger came out it was 50% red in the middle. The waitress never even returned to check on anything. The only reason we didn't send it back was because we couldn't afford the time to wait any longer. The waitress was not rude by any means, it just seemed like she didn't care. -And the most aggravating part of the whole experience is that we were sitting next to a part of about 8 or 9 and their waiter was amazing. He was attentive to all of his tables. He was all over the place getting the job done and I'm sure if we had him as a waiter I would be giving this place a better rating but unfortunately the only way I'll be coming back here is if I'm drugged, kidnapped, and forced to eat here.
(1)gwen g.
I feel like cacao lane is kind of hit or miss. I've been there many times and the food was pretty good. I didn't think that many of the items were overpriced for what you were getting, however I have been there at other times when the food really wasn't that great... like the chef had a stroke or something and forgot how much salt to put in the soup. I once ordered a veggie soup that was soooo salty I had to send it back. It was literally inedible. I've also experienced both ends of the spectrum on service as well. I've had very attentive and sweet waiters and several waitresses who perform incredible disappearing acts right at the end of a meal when you're waiting for the check. I haven't crossed it off my list yet as a place to get a bite, but it is faltering.....
(2)bex s.
this place alone is the reason i have installed the Yelp app on my moms cell phone... as a reminder to ALWAYS Yelp a place before going. stopped by this past wknd for brunch on my way to the airport and by the time we left, i wanted a Do-Over. felt like i wasted a good hour of my time. the host walked us into one room then changed her mind about where to seat us, so then she walked us to another room. don't they have seating charts where they can cross off tables that are sat? i ordered a decaf coffee which was basically brown water. i NEVER return anything, but i had to ask for a new cup of fresh coffee. she apologized and came back with another cup that was just as bad. makes you just realize some places just have crappy coffee. i also ordered the Eggs Benedict...never had it before but my parents said it's usually delicious. i was under the impression that it comes with canadian bacon, but this came with 2 strips of actual bacon....which didn't quite fit the english muffin and the Hollandaise sauce (if you can call it that) had ABSOLUTELY NO TASTE. not even sure how that's possible....i mean, NO TASTE. it was like yellow colored BLAH on top. i do, however, recommend the chocolate chip/strawberry pancakes....those were pretty good. our server could have been worse, but also could have been better. my dad asked for butter and only after being reminded, she brought it over almost 10 minutes later...once he had almost finished his meal. also, it took about 10 minutes to get an order of WHEAT toast which came disguised as RYE toast...apparently it's all the same there! i would normally give this experience 1 star, but the server and i had the same name, so i would feel bad....but you get the point.
(2)Johnny S.
Cacao Lane is a gem in the quaint town of Ellicott City. Boasting a casual lite fare dining area, an upscale dining room, an upstairs club for music and dancing, and a deck up the hill, open in the summer for a perfect sunset--as well as three seperate bars (one on each level)--this place has something for everybody. The filet mignon is amazing, the crab dip fantastic, but I must admit, the veggie sandwich here is the best I have ever had. Try the specials too, the chef does wonders.
(5)Sarah F.
Um, what to say about Cocao Lane... The food is mediocre at best and over-priced for the crap that it is and don't go there for drinks. The bartenders are snooty and you feel like you are putting them out by asking them to get you a drink. Especially a certain Billy Idol-wannabe who I had to practically pry off of a female patron to get me a drink. Hello! you are the bartender! If you want to hit on girls and ignore your other customers, get a different job where you can be on the other side of the bar....
(2)Jeff K.
Had lunch here, the food was okay, nothing special. The waitress was excellent but the host seem to have a chip on his shoulder. The atmosphere is kind of cool but the dining chairs are very uncomfortable.
(2)Jeff C.
The reviews of food here makes me think I am reviewing the wrong restaurant. But I am sure it's the right one. We passed by this "bar" a few times looking for a good sunday breakfast. We stopped by Portalli's but theirs was a buffet. So out of choices for hot non-pastry breakfast, we went here. Inside, we were led to the dinning room which is quite bright and warm, unlike the view from outside. The menu for breakfast was very interesting. Sweet potato hash is interesting. We got the crab cake benedict, two eggs with sweet potato hash (and beets), as well as mussels (weid for sunday morning I know). The crab cake benedict was the best I've had. It was flavored so that you feel that the whole thing tasted like a big crabcake. The two eggs with sweet potato is interesting. The mussels were excellent. So overall, I would give this place a pretty decent rating probably tried their best dishes. The other menus were so so with burgers and sandwiches, so that's where the bad ratings came from probably. We'll drop by again for another sunday breakfast at the bar.
(4)Natalie F.
I have had dinner at Cocao Lane once and the food was good, not great. I have also had drinks there and the service is more than awful. I was carded when I ordered my drink which I expected and the entire night I felt like the bar tenders were staring me down like I was under age or something. Also when I would order a drink, it was like I was bothering them or something. The inside of the resteraunt and bar is a dark, dank dump too. Don't even bother...
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