Top Restaurants in Howard County

lauramk   -   Honey Pig really is a small slice of South Korea tucked into the DC suburbs. From its dark and industrial-styled interior to its straightforward, unem ... more

lauramk   -   Honey Pig really is a small slice of South Korea tucked into the DC suburbs. From its dark and industrial-styled interior to its straightforward, unembellished service and the thumping pop on the sound system it feels like stepping into another country when one enters this restaurant. Tucked into a small shopping center the lines to get in can sometime wrap around the building. It’s mostly Asian and Asian-American clientele are also a credit to the authenticity of the food. When we visited, we were lucky enough to just walk in and be seated at a nearby table with a built-in gas range to cook our dishes on. After ordering from their simple but sufficient menu, we started with a nicely variant banchan consisting of Kimchi of both Napa cabbage and cucumber; a green salad with a spicy soy dressing; a delicate lightly sweet radish preparation that resembled pickled ginger but that had a light, refreshing flavor (Musaengchae); a spinach dressed with sesame oil, garlic and soy sauce (Siegumuchi namul); Kongnamul, the parboiled bean sprouts with sesame oil and something I’ve never seen before and don’t know the name, but it was sort of a Korean cole-slaw with what tasted like a dilute mayonnaise dressing. I’m going to find out more about this dish and wonder if it is a Korean-American creation. In addition to the seven banchan, they served a Gyeran Jiim of light and frothy steamed eggs in a hot pot that was heavenly. My husband and I split an ice-cold bottle of Bek-Se-Ju which if you’ve never had it is an herbed rice wine that tastes more like a slightly thickened chamomile tea than alcohol. It also contains the adaptogen schizandra. Utensils (sujeo) consisted of the Korean long-handled spoon and chop sticks – which for the kids still learning how to use them were connected at the top to make it easier for them to pick items up. Fresh lettuce leaves were also available for those wishing to wrap portions of their meals. We enjoyed the banchan and cajoled the kids into trying some while the wait staff prepared and started to cook our meals. The girls shared long looks when the waitress came over with a pair of industrial scissors to cut down the bits of cooking meat into bite-size pieces. Each dish was also cooked with plenty of thinly sliced garlic to heighten the flavor of the grilled dishes and there was steamed rice all round. My husband and I shared a delicious pork and octopus dish sautéed with onions and in red chili sauce (gochuchang), the girls shared a fiery chicken dish also cooked in red chili sauce and my son with his more delicate taste went for a marinated beef bulgogi that was gently flavored with a light soy-based sauce. My son also ordered Doenjang Jigae – a traditional soup that was gently flavored with on-the-bone beef and plenty of greens and onions, and we all sampled the Kimchi stew. I have mostly praise for Honey Pig, if there were issues, the octopus was a little tough – which could be easily remedied by cooking it less and I’d like to see a bit less red-chili sauce on the dishes – which were in my opinion, swimming in it. Next time we go – and there will be a next time – we’ll sample the more traditional galbi or short ribs and samgyeopsal – unsalted pork belly (bacon). For those living in or visiting the Baltimore/DC area, this restaurant is a casual taste of the food and food-culture of Korean peninsula and manages to be both funky and family friendly (and baby friendly based on the presence of the Korean baby at the table next to us) at the same time. I recommend it as the best suburban Korean BBQ I’ve been to so far, and hope that as their success builds, they begin to offer an even more varied menu. Always, I hope it remains a secret door into Korean food culture that one can experience without the thirteen hour flight time. less

Baltimore P.   -   There is a bartender Chris who is possibly the best in Town. This reflects nothing on him... Having said that, This is the one restaurant that I would ... more

Baltimore P.   -   There is a bartender Chris who is possibly the best in Town. This reflects nothing on him... Having said that, This is the one restaurant that I would not advise anyone to go to ever, ever, ever even if you were starving or eating here, starve. Wait 15 minutes for your beer, not like its a black and tan or anything oooooh that needs a clean glass and 2 pours, but a Bud Lite in a bottle, wow, really? 15 minutes. Food is avg at best, poor for Columbia Standards, and Better than Second Chance which is where you'd go to get talked down to and mugged as you leave. Never-The-Less, Chris rocks, sadly tho he does not make up for the bad food, DIRTY bathrooms, and Terrible service of his fellow employees. less

Fred H.   -   We had some carry out from the restaurant. The cheese nachos tasted awful and the bowls of tortiello soups were half (we ordered two bowls). The main ... more

Fred H.   -   We had some carry out from the restaurant. The cheese nachos tasted awful and the bowls of tortiello soups were half (we ordered two bowls). The main entree were so-so. The prices were overpriced. We called to express our disatisfaction and the manager said she can't do anything. Her attitude was unprofessional. Since we dined there frequently, we will not visit there anymore. less

Sarah T.   -   HORRIBLE. IN CAPITAL LETTERS!!! What was supposed to be a quiet and peaceful Sunday dinner, turned into an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE. The bread and salad, th ... more

Sarah T.   -   HORRIBLE. IN CAPITAL LETTERS!!! What was supposed to be a quiet and peaceful Sunday dinner, turned into an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE. The bread and salad, that comes prior to and with most entrees, will fill you up fairly quickly. However, let me warn the public about the Chicken Canel ini!! After three bites, there was something dreadfully detectable in the food. In the stuffing, were hard, bee-bee gun pellet like shaped objects! Half and inch long. There, in total 4 metal objects in the food. Enough to break a tooth! This was dangerous, and whether this occured at the restaurant's kitchen itself, or some packaging/distribution site, the remembrance of this will forever haunt me. A Sunday dinner turned horribly gross. Suppose my Mom swalled those peices. She could have gotten ill; metallic, or iron chunks in the food. Food poison- to fatal. I will NEVER dine here, or at any other Romanos Mac Grill again!!!!! I was so turned off and wish to warn the public, eat at your own risk. Crazy, unthinkable, and, certainly UNDENIABLE, to fathom that this dish was hot and ready to serve- only one problem, with metallic objects tucked away. Only a bite into would reveal the feeling you get when something feels really wrong... the food not going through a smooth chewing process. In a second, you realize, there is something really hard, and not breaking down, type consistency, in the food, thats now already in your mouth!!!!! :( YUCK Foreign objects in the food certainly would turn any pallette off and can be identifiably affirmed at being some type of gun pellet/bullet. Howard County Consumption Protection Services were notified; a branch of the health department. I was pursuant of a lab to diagnose these pellets... the County visited the site.20 ... just consider what could be lurking in your food and careful as you chew wehn you go Romano's Macaroni Grill. This was my experience and wouldn't wish it upon a soul. I used to like the place, but it will never have my business again. Fortunately, no tooths were broken, but for a couple of weeks, this whole event lead to trips to the Health Department, emails to the official there, and a call to the district manager. Few want to get involved, but none could not confirm the plight and ordeal our family had to deal with post that night. I wasn't walking away. I want everyone to know that nightmarish experience. Disturbing, and causing nausueaseness post the visit And, the Chicken Canelini and the entire chain will never get my vote and the public should be warned of this case. The waiter was more than pleasant. The overall ambiance nice, but this matters little to think of the risks we we took in dining out there. That is ---00000 one of my choices E.V.E.R. Again! The district manager wrote the most generic of letters- not acknowledging, these objects that I presented to them, have kept for my report to the County Health Department file.. and will always keep them as a reminder of the dark side found at that restaurant. He sent a measly set of 4 $5 off certificates. NEVER to be redeemed. That place should be MONITORED AND less

Sarah T.   -   HORRIBLE. IN CAPITAL LETTERS!!! What was supposed to be a quiet and peaceful Sunday dinner, turned into an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE. The bread and salad, th ... more

Sarah T.   -   HORRIBLE. IN CAPITAL LETTERS!!! What was supposed to be a quiet and peaceful Sunday dinner, turned into an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE. The bread and salad, that comes prior to and with most entrees, will fill you up fairly quickly. However, let me warn the public about the Chicken Canel ini!! After three bites, there was something dreadfully detectable in the food. In the stuffing, were hard, bee-bee gun pellet like shaped objects! Half and inch long. There, in total 4 metal objects in the food. Enough to break a tooth! This was dangerous, and whether this occured at the restaurant's kitchen itself, or some packaging/distribution site, the remembrance of this will forever haunt me. A Sunday dinner turned horribly gross. Suppose my Mom swalled those peices. She could have gotten ill; metallic, or iron chunks in the food. Food poison- to fatal. I will NEVER dine here, or at any other Romanos Mac Grill again!!!!! I was so turned off and wish to warn the public, eat at your own risk. Crazy, unthinkable, and, certainly UNDENIABLE, to fathom that this dish was hot and ready to serve- only one problem, with metallic objects tucked away. Only a bite into would reveal the feeling you get when something feels really wrong... the food not going through a smooth chewing process. In a second, you realize, there is something really hard, and not breaking down, type consistency, in the food, thats now already in your mouth!!!!! :( YUCK Foreign objects in the food certainly would turn any pallette off and can be identifiably affirmed at being some type of gun pellet/bullet. Howard County Consumption Protection Services were notified; a branch of the health department. I was pursuant of a lab to diagnose these pellets... the County visited the site.20 ... just consider what could be lurking in your food and careful as you chew wehn you go Romano's Macaroni Grill. This was my experience and wouldn't wish it upon a soul. I used to like the place, but it will never have my business again. Fortunately, no tooths were broken, but for a couple of weeks, this whole event lead to trips to the Health Department, emails to the official there, and a call to the district manager. Few want to get involved, but none could not confirm the plight and ordeal our family had to deal with post that night. I wasn't walking away. I want everyone to know that nightmarish experience. Disturbing, and causing nausueaseness post the visit And, the Chicken Canelini and the entire chain will never get my vote and the public should be warned of this case. The waiter was more than pleasant. The overall ambiance nice, but this matters little to think of the risks we we took in dining out there. That is ---00000 one of my choices E.V.E.R. Again! The district manager wrote the most generic of letters- not acknowledging, these objects that I presented to them, have kept for my report to the County Health Department file.. and will always keep them as a reminder of the dark side found at that restaurant. He sent a measly set of 4 $5 off certificates. NEVER to be redeemed. That place should be MONITORED AND WATCHED VERY CLOSELY; up the inspections there of the food prep and import process! less

Jesse L.   -   Great take out! Being a 21 year old guy makes portion size very important to me. The General Tso chicken lunch meal did not dissapoint! Never seen suc ... more

Jesse L.   -   Great take out! Being a 21 year old guy makes portion size very important to me. The General Tso chicken lunch meal did not dissapoint! Never seen such large pieces of quality white chicken served at a Chinese restaurant. less

Ruth M.   -   Dearest One , I am the only Daughter of my late parents Mr.and Mrs.George Monrez. My father was a highly reputable busnness magnet who operated in th ... more

Ruth M.   -   Dearest One , I am the only Daughter of my late parents Mr.and Mrs.George Monrez. My father was a highly reputable busnness magnet who operated in the capital of Ivory coast during his days. It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business trips abroad on the 12th September 2003. Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of his who travelled with him at that time. But God knows the truth! My mother died when I was just 6yrs old, and since then my father took me so special. Before his death on September 2003, he called me and informed me that he has the sum of Ten Million, Seven Hundred thousand United State Dollars.(USD$10, 700, 000.00)left in fixed deposit account in one of the leading banks in Africa. He further told me that he deposited the money in my name, and also gave me all the necessary but legal documents to this fund with the bank. I am just 21 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do. Now I want an account overseas where I can transfer this funds and after the transaction I will come and reside permanently in your country till such a time that it will be convinient for me to return back home if I so desire. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast. The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life. I also want to invest the fund under your care because I am ignorant of business world. I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit me to ask these few questions: 1. Can you honestly help me from your heart? 2. Can I completely trust you? 3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money is in your account? Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Immedaitely I confirm your willingness, I will send to you The Detail and also inform you more details involved in this matter. Kind Regards, Miss Ruth Monrez less

Neil R.   -   Pub food, trying to be more upscale. Greens for salad were getting pretty old, something odd in a high-volume restaurant. Crab cake was big (as advert ... more

Neil R.   -   Pub food, trying to be more upscale. Greens for salad were getting pretty old, something odd in a high-volume restaurant. Crab cake was big (as advertised) but didn't have much flavor (must have been frozen), and I had to specifically ask for a sauce. Nice cake for dessert at least. less

Neil R.   -   Adequate country-French restaurant. The usual dishes are offered with a few small creative touches here and there. Portion size is fine. Good wine lis ... more

Neil R.   -   Adequate country-French restaurant. The usual dishes are offered with a few small creative touches here and there. Portion size is fine. Good wine list. I cannot give five stars to a restaurant unless it is significantly more creative. less

Neil R.   -   Not very successful attempt at a wine bar had both poor food and poor wine. Salad had far too much blue cheese and nuts and fish was bland. The seven ... more

Neil R.   -   Not very successful attempt at a wine bar had both poor food and poor wine. Salad had far too much blue cheese and nuts and fish was bland. The seven wines I sampled had little flavor and may have been damaged in transit or storage. If you're going to have a special wine offering, why pick an Italian barbera that has little fruit? The whole point of barbera is the lush fruit. less