Spring Break
Henninger's is not your regular tavern
The most romantic spot you haven't heard of
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Think romance is dead? Spend last Valentine's Day eating pink M&Ms and watching When Harry Met Sally on the women's network? Was the last date you went on at Terrace Court Café?
Well then, Henninger's Tavern is your solution. This Fells Point tavern is one of Baltimore's hidden treasures. It's attractive and welcoming and you'll be sure to impress the pants off your date at this cozy venue.
First the establishment was a tavern, then a hall for Polish World War I veterans, then a candy store, and in the 1970s, it became a tavern again. The term "tavern," however, might be a bit misleading. Tavern connotes a big brash atmosphere with a bunch of big brash guys sitting around a big brash bar waiting for happy hour.
Henninger's by contrast, is a small, intimate, lovingly managed restaurant. The only bar you'll find here is a sweet little thing that doubles as a waiting area, includes it's own exclusive menu, and offers a huge assortment of beers from around the world.
Henninger's warm, artistic dining room mixes high art with kitschy memorabilia, giving the restaurant a 1940s Hollywood glamour feel. The décor is just one of many aspects that makes Henninger's a unique, off the beaten path find in Baltimore.
Oh, and the food's good too. Really good. Henninger's Tavern will appeal to even the most finicky eater (provided he or she likes seafood). The menu changes every two weeks or so, but the juicy, golden, truly lumpy crab cakes and Chilean sea bass are regulars. The menu is small, as the restaurant only lists about eight entrees, but the Modern American cooking sounds so good that there's already more than enough to choose from.
Start, for example, with pan fried breaded oysters on a bed of spinach with Pernod and fennel cream or Texas barbequed shrimp wrapped in apple wood smoked bacon and served on a bed of cucumber salad, which wakes up your tongue with a great mix of sweet and salty flavors. Move on to the classic 8 oz. Filet mignon or the coriander and pepper encrusted tuna with a Thai glaze and Jasmine rice or the herb-roasted hen with Mediterranean salad (spinach, roasted peppers, hearts of palm, mozzarella and caper berries).
Finish off your romantic evening by sharing a slice of Key Lime pie, peanut butter pie or "Chocolate Oblivion:"" a dense, flourless chocolate cake. Don't pass up Henninger's coffee, a delightful blend of chicory and cinnamon, either. It might even rival your date in keeping you up all night long.
Henninger's has consistently been named Baltimore's most romantic restaurant by http://www.Citysearch.com, and it's even got plaques above the tables signifying the spots where many couples became engaged to prove it. The intimate atmosphere is a definite bonus, but reservations are not accepted, so plan to arrive either early or late. In addition, one downside to consider is that within this atmosphere, you're intimately close to your neighbor's tables as well.
Dinner was not inexpensive at about $20 per entrée, so unless you're somehow not on a college budget, Henninger's is probably best reserved for a special occasion, which is pretty much any date for the typical Johns Hopkins student. In addition, a cab ride out to Fell's Point is a guaranteed $15 each way.
However, if the way to that special someone's heart is through their stomach (provided they're not vegetarian, because there are no vegetarian options here) then Henninger's Tavern is well worth the extra money. Plus, there are more than enough funky shops, picturesque piers and bars down at Fells Point to entertain you before and after dinner.
Of course, Henninger's isn't just for the dating set; you don't need to gaze romantically into someone's eyes to enjoy the place. I went with my roommate and my mother and had a wonderful time. The reliably first-rate food, inventive décor and service that is fast and helpful without being intrusive makes Henninger's Tavern a great Fell's Point hidden gem for anyone to enjoy.