Brilliant Caribbean food in Baltimore - Dutch Pot Cafe
My newest food addiction (besides El Riconcito Peruano) is The Dutch Pot Cafe on Clay Street (Between Charles St and Park Ave, a block or so towards downtown from Lexington Market).
The Jerk Chicken is my favorite of the 4 items I've tried from the menu (I can't seem to bring myself to order anything but the Jerk Chicken every time I go). The Brownstew Chicken, Curry Chicken and Jerk Pork were all also very good.
When you go, you MUST MUST MUST get the beef patty. That is a requirement. It is flaky and crispy and filled with crack and nicotine. There's no other explanation.
There are also some tempting vegetarian options and a whole world of seafood that I haven't explored yet. There just aren't enough meals in the day.
The main courses are served with a generous heaping of rice and beans, a side of veg and a slice of fried plantain.
The portions are giant, the prices are really reasonable (most of the menu is $5-$10) and the service is very friendly.
It looks like the website is down at the moment, but you can eat their food and then be their myspace friend:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?...
Go support this place. It's my favorite downtown lunch spot.
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Dutch Pot Cafe LLC
102 W Clay St Baltimore MD
bawlmeroryuls
Feb 22, 2008 10:39AM
I pass by the sign on Park Ave. all the time. Is it best to park on Park Ave (sorry for the pun) or is there a better place to park.
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I'm actually not sure. I work a few blocks away, so I always just walk there from work. You could probably find on-street parking on Park Street without much trouble. Maybe on Saratoga too. I don't know if there's parking on Clay Street or not. I don't think there's parking on Liberty Street (which is Cathedral Street after it changes names). The restaurant is right on the corner of Liberty and Clay.
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since it's Carib and has Dutch in the name - do they serve Rijstaffel (sp)?
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I don't see it on my take-out menu, but it's possible. What's in it? I haven't heard of that
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Rijstafel (again sp) translates as rice table and it's generally plates of rice and a bunch of different curries and such that are passed and shared. The Dutch brought it from Indonesia to other places they where they colonized and traded.
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Thank you for this post. I work a few blocks away and had never heard of the place.
Rijkstaeffel is, if I recall correctly, is 28 courses of savory dishes served with beer and rice. It's from Indonesia, and I have had it in St Maarten, half of which is a Dutch colony. I only had a few courses, but it was very good. Think Indonesian tapas.
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any place serve it around here? only had it once at a a friend's ex-pat's folk's house. Made for a darn good Thanksgiving dinner.
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Ive never seen it in the US
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Rijstaffel is served at Satay Sarinah in the Van Dorn section of Alexandria. Good stuff.
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Wow, I must have passed by it a million times since I drive down Cathedral to get to I-95. I'll look for it
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Is it eat-in? Nice enough for a date?
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You can eat there, although it's pretty small. There are 3 or 4 tables and then about 6 or 7 bar stools. I don't know that it would be a great date atmosphere - it's not really a romantic setting. I've never been there at dinnertime though, so you never know. I'd try it first without a date and then see what you think. I don't do dating advice. Just food.
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How do they do the jerk chicken? Grilled? Baked? Are items served from a steam table? Tell me more!
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I don't know, actually. It's kind of magic. The guy goes in the back and comes back with deliciousness. It might be a steam table in the kitchen. I'm not entirely sure. There's a bit of sauce that comes with the chicken so it might be from a pot or slow cooker kind of deal. But it's super tasty and spicy enough to break a sweat.
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I just got finished eating. The jerk chicken and beef Patty were indeed tasty. I spoke with the owner and told him about reading about his restaurant on Chowhound. I asked him about the jerk chicken. He said that it is very difficult to grill in Baltimore due to health department restrictions. The chicken was spicy and tender and served with cabbage and rice and peas. While I am not a big fan of "peas" I found it to be wonderful. The owner said he does not have desserts now as he does not have enough clientele in the winter to insure proper turnover. I have great respect for that. This tiny restaurant accepts Visa and Mastercard (50 cents extra) and has free WiFi.
I'm definitely coming back for the escovitch fish
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I was in that part of town earlier today to do a Trinacria's run, and kept thinking I'd check this place out, but didn't get a chance. I am very intrigued. Do you think it would work for a chow outing, or is it just to small.
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The place is very very small. If I remember correctly it has 2 4 tops and maybe 4 or 5 stools at the bar. We would basically take up the entire space and possibly spill outdoors. It would have to be a very very small outing. Although the owner might welcome the business during this slow time.
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Am thinking of walking over during jury duty on Monday, but am vegetarian (no fish or seafood) so was wondering what options you remember (or see on the take-out menu)?
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He actually had a vegetarian section on the chalk board menu in the restaurant. He has callaloo, curry potato, cabbage, plantains, and baked macaroni and cheese. There is (are?) also rice and peas but I do not knoe if that is vegetarian.
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How much was the Jerk Chicken?
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$5 for small, $7 medium (this is what i had), and $9 for large. Citypaper describes the large as shareable
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Amethiste, I think this would be a great place for a chow outing
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The owner might be up for it since he said now is the slow period. My concern was the space limitation.
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