Long Awaited Lemongrass and Tsunami Have Opened
See and Be Seen: B
Ambience: B+
Service: B+
Food: B

This popular Annapolis duo of attractive, reasonably priced restaurants (bowling alley attached!) were long rumored to be coming to downtown Fells Point. The first weekend was somehow a great success, even though there was still no website or phone number.

The atmosphere for both restaurants is sleek and stylish, with polished concrete floors and stainless steel appointments. The two restaurants are connected by a breezeway, with the bowling alley on the second floor.

Lemongrass is Thai, with surprisingly moderate prices for such large portions. Everything on the menu is good, with nothing mind-blowing. Waiters are attentive, with plenty of busboys around to serve the large tables in the huge and rather noisy back dining room. The Thai Chicken salad is tasty and large enough for an entree, although the texture of the minced chicken seemed more ground than minced. The moderate prices probably account for the large crowds of the under-30 set. Eat in the front bar area for a quieter, more serene atmosphere.

Tsunami is Japanese with a hip and sophisticated decor - small, dimly lit and quiet in comparison to Lemongrass. Again, everything on the menu is good, from sushi to Ahi tuna filet, and a delicious sticky rice with mango dessert. The wine list is well planned with reasonable selections that complement the food.

On Bank Street and S. Central Avenue, these two new restaurants will be great business lunch and after work venues for the growing professional mass in the area.

Lemongrass
1300 Bank St.
410-327-7835

Tsunami
1300 Bank St.
410-327-1370  12:10 PM •  0 Comments •

Cinghiale Revisited See and Be Seen: A
Ambiance: A
Service: A
Wine List: A
Food: A

If you tried Tony Foreman’s fashionable new Cinghiale Osteria in Harbor East and were in any way disappointed, it’s time to give it another go. You loved the salmon colored marble bar with its hand carved wooden boar ("cinghiale") lintels, the parque marble floors, and the gilt framed vintage opera posters. But you left a bit hungry and slightly irritated.

Listen to me. Foreman is a perfectionist, unusually dedicated to his craft. He is a studied virtuoso, and most likely, clinically OCD when it comes to the success of his new ventures. We are certainly to benefit from this. Early feedback spoke heavily of too small portions and an over-anxious staff. A new chef and other corrections have resulted in near perfection. Portions are not only larger, but seductively intricate in flavors and ingredients. Quality and freshness are quite simply, a given. I found the staff to be intelligent and attentive, yet confident enough to be relaxed. A secondary roving staff exists to silently observe and fulfill your needs. Can you tell yet that I am totally smitten?

Your smartest choice is to go with the Prezzo Fisso menu which, for $48 gives you a choice of one antipasto, primo, and secondi, even if your selections actually total more than that. I can’t tell you yet that I have tried it, but after going to this week’s Tuscan Wine Tasting and commentary given by Foreman, I definitely will go with the paired wines option of $70 per person with the Prezzo Fisso menu on my next visit. There is much thought and experience to be gleaned from Foreman’s experience with Italian vintners.

As usual, expect to find the chic and beautiful set at Cinghiale. That’s part of what makes it so much fun to go.  9:38 PM •  0 Comments •