Is Miss Shirley's Still Good?

[Bob W]

I'll be in Baltimore this weekend and plan to try breakfast at Miss Shirley's on Cold Spring Lane. Has anyone been recently? I know it gets generally good reviews but recent 411 would be great.

[haldi]

Just went to Miss Shirley's on Pratt. The food was awful! The hashbrowns tasted like they had been frozen, my breakfast sandwich was greasy, the lettuce on my husband's burger was brown. Basically everything was awful. I have a feeling that the pancakes, sweet breakfast stuff might be a touch better, but we'll probably never go back to find out. Oh and the service was incredibly slow as well!

[Zevonista]

Funny - I also had my first experience at the Pratt St location today! Totally different experience, though - quite good, and service was fine. We stuck with the sweet breakfast food - great chocolate chip waffles, and my wife raved about the buckwheat pancakes. Our dining companion had the open-faced shrimp sandwich and raved about it (I didn't try it). It was a little slow getting our check settled, but we got out in plenty of time to get to the O's game.

[chowsearch]

Do they go to Miss Shirley's or the other Dopkin mini-empire places? Is that Sghetti Eddies designed to lure the students any good?

[kukubura]

They all get swarmed. Think locust.

[Whitemarshjohn]

We just tried the Blue Moon in Fell's Point. We've been to Miss Shirley's twice. I would say that I like the atmosphere and service better at the Blue Moon, but enjoy the food more at Miss Shirley's. Blue Moon only had breakfest, but Miss Shirley's has breakfest and lunch. The food seemed a little more "gourmet" at Miss Shirleys and was more estetically pleasing.

[Jeserf]

what's more "gourmet" than blue moon's bacon apple pancakes?

just kidding...they are fantastic, though.

they also have REALLY good coffee...i could drink it all day.

[ak1]

I love Miss Shirley's! Even the plain pancakes taste so good there. Like other posters have said, you just have to be aware that there is going to be a wait of at least 30 minutes on a Saturday or Sunday morning. We just park in the neighborhoods and walk around and look at the pretty houses. My only beef is that when you get an omelet there and add a couple extra ingredients (like avocado, ect.) it can end up being like $12, which is a little pricey.

[Whitemarshjohn]

I really love the food at Miss Shirley's. Very delicious and great presentation too. The only thing that bugs me is that they are so darn popular that you have to wait for a table on the weekends. I've been there twice - both times on a Sunday late morning. I'd like to try The Blue Moon - that's suppose to be a great breakfest/lunch type place too. Does anyone know the good times on the weekend to hit either of these places where you might not have to wait in line so long?

[Jeserf]

i like blue moon a lot, and, honestly, the waits we've been quoted there (20-30 min) on a sunday at like 11:30 or 12 don't bother me - they bother SO.

However...they are open from 11pm-3pm, so go late night, or go before 10 and you should be fine.

[calestock]

My daughter and I took a friend two weeks ago, and I can assure you that the food is better than ever. ALso, no longer necessary to stand in those long lines since they moved across the street into a larger building. The Maryland Omlet with lump crabmeat is to die for.

[BawlmerRealtor]

It's definitely my favorite place in Baltimore for lunch or brunch. Love the soft-shell crab salad with fried green tomatoes!

[Bob W]

I got to Miss Shirley's on Saturday morning -- before the rush, luckily. I had the highly popular coconut french toast. I liked it, but I think I'd try some of the other stuff on the menu before having it again -- probably the apple pancake and the fried green tomatos. The andouille sausage was very good.

I can definitely see how there are some service issues. Mine was fine, but the guys at the next table were really p'o'd at their server. The guy who paid wrote what I think was a very nasty note on his receipt.

[jp4401]

I was there two weeks ago and had a really good breakfest. The pumpkin french toast was very good. Their sides are pretty awesome too. I got there at 8am, and got seated right away, by 9am there was a long line to be seated.

[MDicecreamguy]

My first time at Ms. Shirley's yesterday.....Just may be the most interesting breakfast /brunch place in Baltimore!

The German apple pancake was very impressive!
Can't wait to try something else next time....great menu!

[viperlush]

I don't know if you consider it recent, but there is a thread from 1/07 giving rave reviews.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/363997

[Bob W]

Thanks very much! Coconut french toast, the Saturday NYT crossword, and many cups of java sounds like a winning combination.

[sweetpotater]

I was there last week and really enjoyed a sandwich with egg, fried green tomato, cheese and bacon. My companion loved her omelet.