Coal Fire Pizza

Full marks to HowChow for being all over the recent opening of the Coal Fire Pizza restaurant in the Shipley Grant development of Ellicott City. This place is a welcome addition to the local restaurant scene and I agree it jumps near the top of the list for best pizza in Howard County.

The thin, handmade pizzas feature fresh sliced mozzarella and a choice of three tasty sauces. The 580-degree coal fire oven produces a crisp, bubbly, slightly charred pie that's distinct from any others in the county. The selection of toppings is limited, but Coal Fire suggests no more than two toppings per pie "to ensure a perfect bake." I haven't gotten beyond the pizzas yet, but the pastas, sandwiches and wings look intriguing and worth a try.

The restaurant itself is suburban modern, with the oven prominently visible. It's fun to watch your pizza being made and see the coals glowing. Coal Fire Pizza is not especially exotic, but offers good quality everyday eating and is off to a strong start in its first few weeks.

Reviews

• HowChow has an excellent review that has generated 10 additional comments as of 5/2/09.
  
• Chowhound has a lengthy discussion of Coal Fire Pizza with 15 replies as of 5/2/09.
  
• Urbanspoon readers give Coal Fire Pizza 100/100 based on two votes and has one user review as of 5/2/09.
• Yelp readers gives Coal Fire Pizza 5/5 stars based on 1 review as of 5/2/09.
  

Location

5725 Richard's Valley Road

Ellicott City, MD 21043

Phone: 410-480-2625

Website: not yet

The Shipley's Grant location is on Route 108 between Snowden River Parkway and Route 100.

Asian Court

Craving a local dim sum place since the demise of Jesse Wong's Hong Kong? In the market for a favorite everyday Chinese carryout or eat in place? The Asian Court restaurant in the Chatham shopping center on Route 40 fits the bill. The Asian Court location has gone through many owners and levels of quality over the years, but the current management has been in charge for about one year and the results are good news.

First of all, Asian Court offers the only dim sum for many miles around. They serve dim sum seven days a week from a menu, but on weekends and holidays from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm you get the proper rolling cart service that lets you pick and choose by sight. On a recent Saturday the place was crowded but not packed, with a high proportion of Asian families which is a good sign. The dim sum choices were fresh and tempting, with lots of choices of buns, rolls and dumplings. Our favorites were most anything with shrimp, especially the Har-Cheung (rice noodle sheets filled with shrimp), and the Char-Siu-So baked BBQ pork pastry. I would like to see a little more variety of meat and vegetable alternatives on the carts, but you can always order off the regular menu, too.

And that's the next pleasant surprise. The regular menu offers the typical Americanized Chinese dishes, but also has a good selection of "Delicate Dishes" that cater to more adventurous diners and an impressive set of noodle choices. Even the Americanized dishes seem to be made with a little more care and authenticity than usual. The Kung Pao chicken has a genuinely tasty sauce and authoritative kick from dried red chili peppers reminiscent of a long ago meal in Beijing. The Feel Good noodles are a home-style treat, especially when we substituted shrimp for the chicken.

Asian Court now has a full sushi bar too. We haven't tried it yet, but the selections at least promise to be fresh. I'm very happy to have rediscovered this long overlooked Chinese eatery. It may not be quite in the league of Grace Garden but it's a lot closer and more convenient, the service has been friendly, and the food is at least as good as any other Chinese restaurant in the county.



You can find some other informative reviews of Asian Court at Urbanspoon, Yelp, Chowhound, and the Dining Dish.

The Friendly Inn

Well, who knew there was a bluegrass-friendly roadhouse in Howard County that features some of the best local and regional music acts? I certainly didn't, until I found out about the Friendly Inn. For years I've been driving by the nondescript building at the corner of Rt. 144 and Folly Quarter Road and had never been tempted to set foot inside. But this blog gives me an excuse to check out places, and I think I've found a new favorite joint.

I'm partial to the mix of bluegrass, Americana, alt-country, roots, acoustic or whatever label applies to the music featured at the Friendly Inn, and that makes all the difference. If you don't care for the music, you probably won't have much reason to stop in. The food is a decent mix of bar food, sandwiches and burgers, and the Friendly fries are hand-cut and nicely seasoned. But I don't think too many people come just for the food. It's the music, and the friendly atmosphere that would make you come back.

The basic schedule appears to be solo acoustic acts on Wednesdays, open mic on Thursdays, and area/regional bluegrass acts on Fridays and Saturdays. The Friendly Inn website has a good calendar. There's a small cover charge for at least some of the weekend acts.

If you want to check out some of the music to see if it fits your taste, here are a few of the acts coming in the next month or so: the Dundidits, Bendt Fendyr, The Brothers Ashby, Smooth Kentucky, Satyr Hill Band. Maybe I'll see you there.

The Crab Shanty

For 30 years now, the Crab Shanty has ruled the roost on its corner of Route 40. The King family has owned the restaurant the whole time and spared little expense in building one of the largest and physically most impressive dining operations in the county.  The decor features antiques and objects from all over the region, warranting its own page of the Crab Shanty's excellent web site.

The menu is large and wide-ranging, though I find it hard to stray from the various crab and oyster specialties.  There's always a variety of fresh fish, prepared most any way you want.  The portions are large and the preparations are more classic than trendy.  The Crab Shanty does what it can to appeal to everyone.  There's a Sunday Brunch (menu), curbside pick-up service, and you can always go across the street to the large Sea King seafood market and Pig Pickers barbeque if the Shanty is too crowded.

If you're interested in other brunch options, see our list of Howard County Brunches.

Pachanga Grill

Pachanga Grill (or Pachanga Cocina Mexicana) is another outpost in Gilbert Cortes' local empire of Mexican restaurants (see also El Azteca and La Palapa). The menu is similar to what you'd find at El Azteca, though somehow the El Azteca versions come out seeming fresher and made with more care. On the other hand, you rarely have to wait for a table at this western Route 40 location. Pachanga offers decent Mexican fare, but I haven't found anything to go out of the way for, yet.

Pachanga Grill does not appear to have a web site, but the menu is similar to El Azteca's.

Pachanga Grill
10291 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott Cty, MD 21042
410-461-4266

Double T Diner

There are eight or so Double T Diners in Maryland, but the only one in Howard County is on Route 40 across from the Enchanted Forest shopping center. It's a favorite option for breakfast, lunch or dinner, with a huge menu available most any time. The menu offers something for everyone; it's hearty fare served in prodigious volumes. I like the Greek-oriented specialties, including gyros, souvlaki and the Hercules omelette. If you eat in the restaurant, most meals come with a choice of homemade soups that are a nice treat.

It's amazing to me, but the Double T does not appear to have a web site. You can see a sample of their extensive menu here (but no prices).

Double T Diner
10055 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott Ciy, MD 21042
410-750-3300

Kelsey's

Kelsey's is a locally owned Irish pub and restaurant that has been holding down (and expanding) its corner near the Normandy shopping center since 1994. The bar side has grown just about as big as the quieter dining room side, but both areas are welcoming and enjoyable. Kelsey's aspires to be "your neighborhood meeting place," and indeed it has a comfortable and well-worn ambiance that shows they're doing something right. With the fireplace in the dining room, plenty of TVs scattered about, free wifi, lots of fans for football or basketball games, live music some evenings in the bar, and a live jazz Sunday brunch, Kelsey's seems to have a little something for everyone.

You get the same full menu in the bar or dining room, with wealth of appetizers, sandwiches and entrees to choose from. There are a few nods to the Irish theme, like a good stew or corned beef and cabbage, and some Chesapeake area staples with crab or oysters. But mostly it's straight-ahead pub and tavern fare done well and served in hearty portions. It's not especially cutting-edge cuisine, but it feels mostly home made and satisfying. For lunch or dinner, weekday or weekend, Kelsey's is a reliable choice.

Shannon's Saloon

Shannon's Saloon is an everyday neighborhood restaurant that has been a Howard County fixture on Route 40 for 25 years. They handle the basic burgers, sandwiches, soups and entrees without a lot of flair or fuss. Don't go in expecting ambitious or trendy cuisine, but a friendly atmosphere and a competent take on the standards. There's also a set of reasonably priced daily specials, including a $15.95 lobster on Mondays and $12.95 prime rib on Tuesdays. The dining room and separate bar also have plenty of TV's for the sports minded. Shannon's is not necessarily a top priority dining destination, but a good weekday lunch or dinner alternative.

Serafino's

A long-time Howard County eatery, Serafino's has been in its current location near the Crab Shanty on Rt. 40 for several years. It's a decent source of pizza and pasta specialties -- not high cuisine but solid family fare.

The pizzas are hand-tossed and cooked in the wood-fired oven that has a featured location in the restaurant. They're usually quite good though a recent Margherita had too much mozzarella for my taste (which I wouldn't have thought possible). A linguine with clams order was chock full of clams and garlic and very tasty. The Caprese Sliders are an appetizer that suffices for a meal, or a good choice to share.

The restaurant's ambiance is industrial but functional. The fireplace is pleasant in winter and the separate bar is roomy. Serafino's handles the basics pretty well and makes for a good weekday or family choice.



If you like Serafino's, or are closer to the eastern side of the county, give Mamma Lucia's a shot.

Diamondback Tavern

The Diamondback Tavern is now open (a few weeks ahead of schedule, even ahead of their website, for the moment...) in the former location of the Tiber River Tavern, just off Main Street in old town Ellicott City. I stopped in for lunch this week and found an eclectic and interesting menu of bar foods, sandwiches, salads and a homey set of reasonably priced ($13-18) entrees.

Highlights include crab and corn fritters, scotch eggs, fried oysters, bangers & mash, shepard's pie, and shrimp & grits. The chef seems to have an affinity for the deep fryer, not that there's anything wrong with that. The cholesterol-wary can investigate salads, a rockfish wrap and a few other items. The ingredients are local and fresh where possible. For now the same menu is available for lunch or dinner, but evidently some additional dinner specials will be coming soon.

Our friendly waitress informed us that the owners and chef hail from the Greystone Grill, while many on the staff are refugees from the recently closed Trapeze. The basic layout of the place will look familiar to former Tiber River patrons, but the new paint job and decor are pleasant. The good-sized bar is still there, separate from the main dining rooms.

If you needed another reason to get down to old town Ellicott City for some shopping and a nice lunch or dinner, give the Diamondback Tavern a try. We wish them good luck and will be back to try more soon.

Tips of the hat to Wordbones and the Baltimore Beer Guy for noting that the Diamondback Tavern was already open. And evidently the Second Chance Saloon is open too, so now there's another place to try!

UPDATE: The Diamondback's website is here, and you can see more about them at Restaurant.com. The restaurant also has an active Facebook page. Here's their contact info:

The Diamondback Tavern
3733 Old Columbia Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-313-8530

UPDATE: See this Examiner.com review of the Diamondback Tavern for some good photos of their dishes.

The Canopy Pit Beef

The Canopy is take-out only spot for good pit beef and pit turkey sandwiches. Their fries are also mighty good, reminiscent of Boardwalk's or Thrashers. The Canopy also has BBQ ribs and a few other items, but I frankly never get beyond the pit beef or turkey sandwiches and the fries.

If you look on the web, you won't find a Canopy web site, but you will find a lot of foodie discussions about the relative merits of Canopy vs. other pit beef places. I won't get into a religious war over whether this is the best pit beef in the area, but it is plenty good for me, especially with the right mix of toppings. It also helps to be able to get home in time to eat the fries while they're nice and hot -- once they cool they get soggy and it's not the same.

The Canopy in Ellicott City had a fire a few years ago and was closed for a long time, so it's good to have it back. There used to be some other Canopy locations in the area, but I think they're down to this one and Glen Burnie. In any case, I'm glad there's a year-round place for a good pit beef fix.

The Canopy
9319 Baltimore National Pike (Rt. 40), Ellicott City, MD
Tel: (410) 838-1201

Bare Bones Grill & Brewery

Bare Bones is built on ribs and beer, and they do a pretty good job with both. The ribs, pulled pork and barbeque sauce are smoky sweet. The onion loaf is sinful. Across the board the food is big, indulgent, and guaranteed to fill you up. The quality is a little up and down sometimes, but that doesn't seem to deter the crowds that often fill the place.

The eight or so local microbrew selections are a welcome alternative to the regular national brands. The bar is a major attraction at Bare Bones, and though it can get crowded and noisy with its own scene, it is walled off separate from the dining room. Bare Bones also has a take out counter if you don't want to brave the crowd.

Shin Chon Garden

The Shin Chon Garden restaurant was Howard County's first Korean barbeque spot when it opened about five years ago. It was closed for a few months earlier this year to remodel, but it reopened in June and is now prettier and seemingly busier than ever, with more tables available for barbeque. We stopped in on a recent Saturday night and had to wait a while, but once we got a table the food came quickly and was very enjoyable.

I'm no expert on Korean cuisine, but I like the adventure and new tastes, especially the array of small dishes or banchan that accompany each meal. The assortment we received was plentiful and tasty, but had few real standouts -- several variants of kimchee, namul and a scoop of potato salad that seemed to wander in from Costco. We played it safe with the entrees, going with beef brisket and marinated bulgogi, and they were fine. It's fun to cook them on the table top "grill" (more of a steamer, really, but it does the job) and wrap the results and condiments in lettuce leaves or have them with rice. Toward the end of the meal a steamed egg dish and a hot soup arrived, both of which were big hits with us.

Next time I'll want to branch out or bring friends. The galbi, or ribs, and spicy marinated pork barbeque both looked good. And there's a large selection of non-barbeque rice and noodle dishes that were very appealing. The largely Korean clientele like to bring large groups and linger over a variety of dishes; that's clearly the way to go. Lunch is also a good time to try the non-barbeque dishes or even some of the Japanese bento or sushi items.

The Shin Chon Garden does not appear to have a website. It's located in the Lotte Plaza or Golden Triangle shopping center at Rt. 40 and 29.

Shin Chon Garden

8801 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD
410-461-3280

HowChow has a good review of Shin Chon from earlier this year. So does Elizabeth Large at the Baltimore Sun. There are also some helpful reviews of Shin Chon Garden on Yelp.

Greystone Grill

Greystone Grill, Ellicott City

There are now four Greystone Grills in the region, but this Howard County location was the first. Located in a somewhat unlikely office building near Route 100, the restaurant serves good upscale American food. Grilled meats are best, and fish is offered with your choice of preparations and sauces. All dinner entrees come with a large fresh salad and choice of sides. Many of the appetizers are good for sharing, but the Blue Crab and Roasted Corn soup is our favorite. The wine list is deep, with a number of selections by the glass. The Greystone Grill has settled in as a reliable place for a business lunch or dinner, and a nice place to take friends.

Greystone Grill is on our list of Nearly Best Restaurants in Howard County.

Update: Greystone Grill makes our list for Best Steak in Howard County.

Sakura Steakhouse

Sakura Steakhouse, Ellicott City (Enchanted Forest shopping center)

This is the Howard County branch of the regional Sakura chain, a teppanyaki and sushi staple. Crowded on weekends (though they do take reservations) and family friendly, Sakura sometimes feels like a factory but the food can be quite good. Steak, seafood and chicken combos are cooked in front of you on the teppan tables with customary flambeed flourishes. My personal favorite is the salmon. The sushi and rolls offer an alternative, and some folks come just for sushi -- it's also a quicker way to get a table.

Sakura is about to begin opening for lunch with a "light and quick" menu. We'll keep you posted.

Thai Aroma

Thai Aroma is one of the few choices for Thai food in Howard County, but it's a good one. It offers a fine mix of standard Thai dishes, with sauces and spices light enough to let the fresh ingredients shine through (though you can get more heat if you ask for it). We especially like their curries, chicken, duck and noodle selections. The decor is nothing special, but the service is usually good and we've rarely encountered a wait to get in.

Thai Aroma does not appear to have a web site. It is located in the Golden Triangle Shopping Center (across from Lotte Plaza) at the intersection of Route 40 and Route 29.

Thai Aroma

8815 Baltimore National Pike

Ellicott City, MD 21043

Phone: (410) 480-5100

LeeLynn's

LeeLynn's, Ellicott City
LeeLynn's is one of our favorite neighborhood places in Howard County. Its space is divided into a dining room, lounge and (almost) all weather patio, but the menu is the same throughout. There's a nice selection of small plates, mostly under $10, from which you can easily build a meal. A limited but tasty set of entrees are supplemented by a variety of sandwiches and salads, and the crabcakes are worth seeking out. It's a fine destination for lunch or dinner. The lounge is a comfortable area with live music on Thursdays. LeeLynn's can get busy, but they do take reservations.

Update: LeeLynn's is on our list of Nearly Best Restaurants in Howard County.

Fuji Restaurant

The Fuji is a small, homestyle Japanese restaurant and sushi bar. The sushi and rolls are generally quite good and fresh, and tend toward traditional selections. Cooked dishes of tempura, teriyaki, and the large, hot bowls of sukiyaki are also quite good. It is a family-run operation and the service, usually by local students, can vary but it makes for a friendly neighborhood place.

The Fuji Restaurant does not have a website, as far as I can tell. It is located in a small strip of shops on the north side of Route 40, about a quarter mile west of the Enchanted Forest and Centennial Lane.

Fuji Restaurant
10226 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042-3667
Phone: (410) 750-2455

MiCasa

MiCasa, Ellicott City

MiCasa is not the largest, busiest or most innovative Mexican restaurant in town, but we still have a soft spot for it. It does the Mexican basics consistently well, and the service is usually quick and friendly. It's a comfortable spot for a casual weekday meal.

La Palapa

La Palapa Grill & Cantina, Ellicott City

A large, friendly Mexican fixture on Main Street in Ellicott City, La Palapa is the largest of Gilberto Cortez's family of Mexican restaurants (also El Azteca and La Palapa Too in Laurel). La Palapa offers a full slate of Mexican standards as well as an encouraging selection of "Gilberto's Specialities" for variety. La Palapa is great for groups, lunches, dinner or brunch.

Update: La Palapa regularly holds special dining events. Check for them in our Monthly Restaurant Events listings.