OpenTable Appetite Stimulus Plan

From November 17-21, three Howard County restaurants (Aida Bistro, Iron Bridge Wine Company, and The Melting Pot) are participating in OpenTable's Appetite Stimulus Plan. They will offer specially priced three course menus for lunch ($24) and dinner ($35). You also get 200 OpenTable points for every reservation you honor.

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.

Casual Gourmet

A friendly oasis for foodies in Glenwood, Casual Gourmet offers fine food shopping, breakfast and lunch items, and gourmet gifts all in one spot.

You can fill your hankering for exotic sauces, dressings, dry goods, cheeses and more, as well as pick up some great ideas for snacks and dinner. Many of the items have recipes or tips right alongside, or you can ask one of the helpful and informative staff for their suggestions.

If you want something great right away, choose a freshly made sandwich, crepe, or pastry (via Bonaparte Bakery) from their counter. Sandwiches of top-quality ingredients are made to order. Sweet and savory crepes are available Friday - Sunday, or anytime with an order of two or more. Casual Gourmet also has a full range of hot and iced drinks, including coffee, lattes and chai with lots of different flavorings.

While you're there, browse the aisles for all manner of cool goodies for your favorite chef or wannabe. Casual Gourmet features items from All Clad, Nordicware, Norpro and Mario Battali in a wide range of prices. You never know when that exotic cake mold or martini mixer will come in handy.

Located just south of the Glenwood Library and Community Center on Route 97, Casual Gourmet is a convenient stop in western Howard County for the food conscious.

In Praise of Open Table

The worst thing about eating out in Howard County is having to wait in line. On some nights it seems like the whole county wants to eat at the same places at the same time. (Don't get me started about the waits for the chain restaurants at Columbia Mall...)

OpenTable is a terrific website that helps you see what restaurants have reservations available at any time. You can check for times the same day or months ahead, and make the reservation without picking up the phone. And you collect points for each time you use the service -- effectively you get a dollar back with each reservation you fulfill, and there are opportunities for bonus points as well.

Open Table covers hundreds of restaurants in the Baltimore and DC region, and thousands around the country and worldwide. It's great for travelers. For several recent trips out of state I've made reservations at hard-to-get-in places, and saved us the worry of having to choose a place when we got there.

There are currently eight [Update: now ten] Howard County restaurants that participate with OpenTable. I say take advantage of this service whenever you can.

Aida Bistro [OpenTable Link]

Clyde's of Columbia [OpenTable Link]

Iron Bridge Wine Company [OpenTable Link]

The Melting Pot - Columbia [OpenTable Link]

Greystone Grill - Ellicott City [OpenTable Link]

Jordan's Steakhouse [OpenTable Link]

Tersiguel's [OpenTable Link]

oZ Chophouse [OpenTable Link]

Diamondback Tavern [OpenTable Link]

Elkridge Furnace Inn [OpenTable link]

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.

Howard County's Nearly Best Restaurants

Our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants focuses on the very best dining locations in the county and are great places for a special night out. But there are a number of other restaurants we like that didn't quite make the list. Each of these establishments offer good, affordable meals and are worth seeking out.

Bistro Blanc, Glenelg
Recently opened up-and-comer

El Azteca, Clarksville
Our favorite Mexican place in the area

Great Sage, Clarksville
Making vegetarian safe for the rest of us

Greystone Grill, Ellicott City
Upscale food, good for business meals and guests

LeeLynn's, Ellicott City
Nice small-plates and entrees in a friendly dining room and lounge

Rumor Mill, Ellicott City
Adventurous fusion of tapas and sushi

Asean Bistro, Columbia
Pan-Asian specialties in a pretty dining room

Clyde's, Columbia
Reliable fixture on Columbia's prime lakefront location

Sushi Sono, Columbia
Elegant Japanese cuisine

Sushi King, Columbia
Family friendly Japanese cuisine


Update: Also see the Howard Magazine Best of Dining 2008 list.

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

Gallery 44

Gallery 44, Ellicott City

Run continuously for more than 30 years by Marian Berman and her colleagues, Gallery 44 provides fine art and framing to Howard County. The showroom on Route 40 always has a nice selection of original oils and prints, and catalog access to many more. They also provide custom framing, from basic styles to museum quality. Above all, though, it's the friendly, expert people and service that makes Gallery 44 a fixture in Howard County's art scene.

The Gallery runs frequent special events.

UPDATE: Gallery 44 hosts a Jewelry and Chocolate event from 1:00 - 4:00 pm on December 7. Enjoy chocolate confections and preview the handcrafted jewelry of Marie Glaser.