Ze mean bean & Old Orchard Cafe - Baltimore

[few]

Heading in next weekend to visit son -
Anyone have any thoughts on these places?

[pastrydiva]

Ze Mean Bean has terrific, stick to your ribs, homemade Eastern European food - stuff like borscht, pierogis, yummy, heavy meat dshes. It's got a wonderful, laid back very casual atmosphere. And besides, Fells Point is a great neighborhood to walk around and explore.

I was at the Old Orchard Cafe once with my in-laws - it's the sort of place that serves really mediocre 1950's style food. Really overcooked, underseasoned vegetables, gravies that can support a fork, heavily breaded whatever-they-can-meat... I'd stay away. Far away.

Baltimore has oodles of really great restaurants - and sadly, this certainly isn't one of them.

[Hal Laurent]

I'm not sure what place the OP means by Old Orchard Cafe. The Orchard Market and Cafe in Towson serves Persian food.

Sounds like pastrydiva is talking about the original Orchard Inn (also in Towson). Not sure what's currently going on there since Michael Gettier left.

I don't know of any places in Baltimore named Old Orchard Cafe.

[few]

Sorry - yes that would be the place -

The Orchard Market Cafe serving Persian food.

[jes]

Orchard Market Cafe is great!! Food is delicious, service is attentive, BYOB. Downsides are its kinda in an out of the way strip mall and they can get crowded (dont take reservations). I only went to Ze Mean Bean once and didn't love it. Possible I ordered wrong (don't even remember what I ate but it wasnt particularly memorable). Do think it was a lovely space and would likely give it a second chance but i LOVE orchard market.

[few]

Hmm - doesn;t take reservations? is there a good time to get there before crowds on a Sat or fri nite? We will have 4-5 people - so I will seeif I can track down a phone number -

Persian sounds kind of fun for an evening