La Calle - Baltimore

Octopus cevice was top notch. The bartender was awesome and could recommend a great tequila as well as make a mean Old Fashioned. The lamb was moist and flavorful. The only critical comment would be the tables near the front windows have excruciatingly bright lighting and there was an awkward coat rack and single table in a wide open space while the rest of the tables were full. Overall great food, drink and service with compromised seating.

La Calle is a much welcome addition to Baltimore, serving thoughtful, fresh and creative cuisine complemented by exceptional beverage service. This is not a Taqueria and, as far as I know, really has no peer locally since La Calle serves gourmet Mexican food, specializing on Pueblo. On a recent visit, I enjoyed talking to the friendly staff about how the food is sourced and how the menu was developed. The salmon was exceptional, the mole sauce was rich and complex and the margaritas made with fresh lime juice. The various sauces alone are worth the trip for their nuance; the tomatillo sauce for the crab empanada is more than a garnish. I look forward to working my way through the menu on return visits. A word to the wise: it can get crowded around 7pm, so it might be a good idea to consider going a bit earlier/later. Excellent overall.

**Pros:** - The hostess greeted us warmly, and the ambiance was pleasant. - We enjoyed our appetizers, particularly the guacamole and chorizo queso, which were both delicious. - When I was unsure of what to drink, the bartender recommended a tasty option that wasn't even on the menu. **Cons:** - Our server seemed either inexperienced or confused. He rarely checked in on us, and we had to ask him to take our order for appetizers and to bring us a second round of drinks. However, he was attentive with water refills, which I appreciated given the salty and spicy dishes. - The food itself was just mediocre. I ordered the Pescado ala Veracruzana, which was a decent portion but lacked flavor and was oddly topped with hard rice—almost like it was undercooked or burnt. My boyfriend had the Carne a la Tampiqueña, which had great flavor but a strange presentation; the steak was simply piled on some tortillas without any veggies, and it was quite fatty, requiring a lot of trimming for a small amount of edible meat. In total, our bill came to over $100 for two rounds of drinks, an appetizer to share, and two entrees (excluding tip and tax). While this price might be reasonable for good food and service, it felt excessive for what we experienced. Ultimately, we felt like we’d dined at a chain Mexican restaurant, but with a significant markup.

The food, drinks, and service were excellent, but the atmosphere left something to be desired. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of an office building, and although it’s enclosed, it felt more like we were eating in a hotel lobby. It didn’t quite create that special night out vibe.

We had an amazing time! The food was delicious! A group of us attended a conference and we all agreed on this. At our table, we were served by Dominec, who was fantastic! He had a wonderful personality and provided excellent recommendations. Thank you so much!