Marie Louise Bistro

Consistently Good Fare

Marie Louise Bistro
904 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-385-9946
www.marielouisebistrocatering.com

 This was our third trip to this small bistro in Mount Vernon and perhaps the best yet. We took advantage of the Restaurant Week pricing; although the menu is special and limited for this occasion it provided us with a great sampling of the choices on the regular menu, which routinely average around $18.00 per entrée. Our $30 special menu provided wonderful appetizers, delicious entrees and desserts from their incredible selection. As I probably noted in an earlier review of this Bistro, this is a very popular restaurant with a neighborhood following. You routinely see diners coming in for only a late night dessert specialty and a coffee or martini. The regular menu has a broad selection of French, Italian and Mediterranean entrees.

The appetizer list includes a charcuterie plate of assorted meats and pate’s. It’s the one thing I allow myself to step outside the Restaurant Week limits to add to the meal. Four of us shared small portions of delicious country pate, fois gras, dried beef and salami with olives and a tangy mustard and cornichons. I do believe it would be a tad better if toast points were provided but I heard no complaints as there was ample sliced baguette at the table. This is one of my dining weaknesses that cost to a meal out but can also make it special to share such an appetizer with friends.

Four appetizers were offered for the evening. Two diners chose the arugula and strawberry plate, an ample serving which completely disappeared from both plates. My friend chose the Caprese salad, which was a stack of fresh Tomato slices bisected with layers of buffalo mozzarella and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar – huge and delicious as it was shared by everyone. I had to try the most unique offering, the Decadent Egg, a halved soft – boiled egg smothered in lump crabmeat and sturgeon caviar. Everyone turned their noses up at the suggestion of this oddity but in the end I had to fight off the attacks of their forks. It truly is much more wonderful than it may sound and I’d like to find a way to work this delicate concoction into my weekly Sunday breakfast.

We tried only two of the three available entrees. The two of us that ordered the tempura battered soft shell crab were blown away, those who ordered for the filet mignon served over garlic mashed potatoes with bleu cheese and a demi-glace had to settle for, well, tender filet mignon portions. I heard no complaints.

Those of us with the soft crabs were delighted to find that the entrée consisted of two enormous soft crabs in a beautiful presentation with fried green tomato slices and a delicious tomato-corn relish that really is a superb compliment to the crab. The tempura batter was a magnificent compliment to the delicate crabs, which were tender. Soft crabs, you either love ‘em or hate ‘em but if you like them you are probably nuts for them and would just as soon eat them in a plain white bread sandwich with lettuce and tomato but oh brother they can reach a new height in a preparation like the one at Marie Louise Bistro.

They specialize in desserts at the Bistro and the special menu provided choices from over a dozen of these delicacies. There is pot du crème caramel, fruit tarts, assorted layered cakes, tira misu, and so on. I scored the prize of the evening with the chocolate covered pistachio brulee. While I’m not a big dessert fan, this one damn near made me one.

We shared a bottle of wonderfully dry Pinot Grigio with dinner; the wine list has sufficient choices of all moderately priced bottles. Monday nights at the Bistro are $6.00 martini nights and a guest had their pear martini special and pronounced it beneficial for the soul. I should mention that our service at Marie Louise Bistro has always been very good but was even better this night as Bulat, one of the original waiters on staff, gave us expert attention. You can sense he is very proud of the preparations coming out of the kitchen.

Parking is conveniently located on a large public lot immediately next door to the restaurant. It officially closes at 6 PM so diners at the Bistro and the many other nearby restaurants park for free – although this is not advertised as such. The restaurant is a maximum of 40 minutes from Finksburg and easily accessed via the JFX to St. Paul St. to Madison and then northwards two blocks away on Charles Street.  Getting home is to simply turn right onto Charles and enter the JFX near Penn Station. Dress is casual and reservations are recommended.

As with Fogo de Chow, there is nothing like this to compare with in Carroll County. It's well worth the trip.