Trendy spot serving creative takes on Southern classics in a modern, warehouse-style space.
Ida B's Table in Baltimore
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Ida Bs is a special spot right in the heart of Baltimore. I have been there for a family brunch and most recently went for a girlfriends surprise birthday party and they did not disappoint us!! Angel the host was wonderful and Michelle our waitress was kind and thoughtful with every detail. Lets not forget how good the food is and the historic ambiance of the restaurant! I would definitely go back and hope its around for years to come.
MoreThe experience was top notch from start to finish. The food was exceptional. I traveled from South Louisiana & was not sure if the grilled shrimp pasta would be like "home" Ida Bs exceeded my expectations. The food was excellent!
MoreI was looking for a place to throw a surprise party for my wife. Several establishments were in the running with Ida B’s coming out on top. Why? Responsiveness. They didn’t try to oversell me. They wanted to help me accomplish my goal and provide an exceptional experience for my wife. Mr. Purcell and his team went above and beyond. The food was amazing. Born and raised in New Orleans, we can be quite unforgiving when it comes to food in other areas. All around, we were impressed beyond measure and I wouldn’t give a second thought to hosting a team meeting, another birthday party, etc. If you’re looking for personalized service, attention to detail, and a business that cares about you, look no further than Ida B’s. I cannot wait for them to reopen for in-room dining. They will definitely be on my wife and I date day visits. Be sure to give them a shot for your next event.
MorePretty good place for brunch on Sunday. For the price I think there should be more catfish but everything was tasty.
MoreWe ordered the crab cake and fried chicken. I wasnt too crazy about the texture of the mac and cheese and my boyfriend didnt like the greens (I disagreebut overall, the food and service was good. I also enjoyed the music playing. The bread pudding was absolutely delicious for dessert.
MoreOnly ordered an app & side cornbread because the service was terrible. They forgot to seat us & keep us waiting in the back library almost 45 mins, took forever to bring us an appetizer (over 30mins & it was only about 10ppl seated. Cornbread was cold . Even took forever to get our 1st drink. Walking in staff was not friendly.
MoreToday was my 3rd time visiting, the first two times was with my husband and this time I brought 2 of my boys. Each time the ambiance was wonderful very clean, nice music and great decor. The staff is very personable and friendly. They’ve treated me like family each time I’ve been. The food is delicious whether brunch or the regular menu it’s very good with awesome flavors. The tea/lemonade they make is tasty and the alcoholic beverages are made well. I can’t wait until we visit again.
MoreHappiness is great food and fellowship! During this pandemic, Ive only received great food from a few Bmore restaurants and one of these gems is Ida Bs Table! I ordered the smoked fried half chicken dinner, hand-cut fries, roasted veggies, and for dessert, double chocolate oatmeal pecan cookies! I enjoyed this meal for 2 days! All of it was delicious! Fries were a tad too oily for me but seasoned well. The roasted veggies were perfection! This meal made me smile.From the safe and tampered-free delivery packaging, to the hand-wipes and soft after dinner mints in my delivery bag, thank you IDA Bs for a wonderful delivery experience (via Uber Eatsand great food for my soul! (See pics)
MoreIt’s a very clean restaurant. I ordered the 2 pc fried chicken, Mac & cheese, w/ sweet potato fries & a side of jalapeño corn bread. Everything was pretty good the fries were shoe string style & not to my liking.
MoreOh my goodness. The food was so good that I went two days in a row. As Im typing this I want more. I had the 2 piece dark meat with Liberian greens and mac n cheese. The 1st day I ordered old bay season and the 2nd day I ordered the hot chicken. The hot flavor is definitely spicy. Im not a fan of spicy food so it was a little too spicy for me. The honey and cornbread helped alot. Speaking of cornbread, it comes with peach jam and jalapeño butter. It is so delicious. I also had the curry chicken wings both days. Theyre amazing. I have nothing but positive things to say. The food is ready and waiting on the counter with your name on the bag and tamper proof seals on the containers.
MoreFirst thing, the food is awesome. Excellent flavor, just amazing. The fried chicken was awesome. I got the hot and it was so lightly coated in batter which made the skin that much better...I ate it all! Only thing was the sides, greens and mac n cheese, were cold. I should have said something but I am not one to complain and I do not want something for free unless it totally sucks. Besides, the chicken made up for the cold sides! All I would say is, plate the sides last Ida B. I will be back!
MoreTotally tripped up on this place on day trip up from DC. Found it from a Google search on best Baltimore restaurants. Glad that I was able to book a reservation on Open Table while traveling up (safety moment: I was not the driver). It is named after the famous journalist, civil rights activist, and fellow co-founder of the NAACP, Ida B. Wells. The restaurant has a very nice layout for dining and entertaining. While we waited for our table we got a chance to check out the library with books recommended from staff. Of course being that it is a soul food restaurant I went with the tried and true pass/fail test of fried chicken, mac and cheese and the "Liberia greens". My brunch-mate had the Brisket Benedict served over a biscuit with greens and a fried egg with gravy. Food came out quickly and all delicious. Perfectly seasoned and of course the mac and cheese is a blessing. The time I visited was during brunch hours but Id really like to try the short rib. Hidden gem in Baltimore. Go check em out!
MoreMy bartender gave me the best hospitality they giving a chef 3 course meal everything season perfectly.
MoreAbsolutely amazing food, with a wonderful business model and community involvement. So far weve only been for brunch, but the biscuits are to die for. (Honestly everything weve tried has been greatit makes it hard to choose what to try next!
MoreExcellent food. Excellent atmosphere. Excellent service. My party of 3 enjoyed our dining experience. We showed up 20 minutes earlier than our reservation time. The hostess sat us immediately. Our waiter was at the table within minutes to take drink orders and run down the specials. When it came time to order he was knowledgeable and provided some great suggestions. The Leads (their term for appetizerswere quick to arrive and very tasty. The Herb & Soul Rolls, Kale & Sweet Potato Salad, and Brussels all hits with the table. The main courses also arrived timely and were well prepared. The Smoked Fried Chicken, Short Rib and Jambalaya were equally as good.... Looking forward to returning and trying other menu items!
MoreA Bloody Mary that will put hair on your chest. Catfish fried to perfection with every bite so juicy. Mouth watering beef brisket on a muffin from heaven with an inviting egg on top. Corn muffin, collards, and Mac cheese to compliment it all. What more can I saw in this review besides eat here, make sure your hungry, and have 3 hours free afterward to take nap from that food coma.
MoreIncredible food, service and atmosphere. Kicking off graduation day for our daughter in a spot honoring journalist, Ida!
MoreI came here with my family, all of us specifically ordered my medium burger with Gouda cheese, runny egg, no pickle, no condiments and nothing else .... it came with a pickle and lettuce. I asked the to bring me another, that came out well done and a hard egg. This is the 2nd time in a row I’ve had problems with a food order at the restaurant, needless to say I won’t be returning. They don’t listen.
MoreTruly a humbling experience of delicious food and black history.... modern atmosphereWonderful staff ..... I could say more but you should experience it for yourself
MoreI Went Today September 6th For My Birthday!! It Was A First Time Visit For Me! I Was Invited By One Of My BFFs, Who Also Was Celebrating Her Birthday! I Had Cajun Blackened Shrimp Pasta, Cornbread With Molasses Butter, And Liberian Greens!! My BFF Had Macaroni, Liberian Greens, Fried Catfish! We Both Had Coffee And They Brought Us Each A Coffeecake BreadPudding Mine Had Green And White Candles, And Hers Had Red And White Candles! That Was Funny To Us Because Shes A Delta Queen And Im An AKA Queen!!! Before We Left, We Had An Opportunity To Meet The Owner!
MoreI got the Blackened Chicken w/ Mac and cheese and greens. 1st the fried chicken was the best Ive ever had ( including family made!!! ). The Mac and cheese was ok and but the greens were top notch. The place is classy, spotless, and has a really relaxing vibe. The 5 star is from the incredible chicken and one of the managers who stopped by and had us falling out of our chair laughing. Great food and atmosphere, so I will be back.
MoreThis is a great spot for delicious soul food, open mics, artwork and amazing R&B music! I love this spot - took my mother here for Mothers day brunch and she loved it. Their service is amazing and so is their cornbread! You wont be disappointed.
MoreThe food was delicious! Great friend catfish, so perfectly crispy. And the bread was amazing! Great restaurant.
MoreEVERYTHING was amazing and the ambiance was superb. The live band was life! Will definitely recommend and cant wait to go back. Please make the softshell crab a staple in the menu!
Moreamazing food, great atmosphere and wonderful people! went here for weekend brunch - it does get busy so consider reservations!i got the brisket benedict! it’s not a classic looking benedict, but the brisket was so tender and absolutely yummy. plus, they have a full coffee bar!
MoreThe food was ok. I love the syrup and the book store.
Came here for my birthday. Food, happy hour and service was great! Servers were very pleasant and attentive to guests. Great chic, rustic, urban atmosphere, with creative ethnic decor and good music. Very clean. Only thing is, you cant bring in any birthday cakes, unless its from specific bakeries the restaurant works with. They took the birthday cake we brought in and held it in the back, while giving me a muffin treat with whipcream and a lit candle instead. Other than that, everything was GREAT! Reservations are strongly sugguested. Will definitely visit again.
MoreThe ambiance was amazing...food was fantastic...service was excellent! If Im ever back in the Baltimore area, I will definitely patronize. I wish we had a classy place like this back home!
MoreFood and service were great! Most of the menu is priced pretty reasonably. Were had the shrimp and grits and pan perdu. Great atmosphere and music. Definitely will be back.
MoreIts a great location,atmosphere.I was pleased with the menu though some didnt like their choices.The staff was pleasant.The hours are a little funky but with some planning its not really an issue.We couldnt be seated until majority of the group was present.They had issues accommodating 1 extra person but eventually allowed a seat to be added.I would definitely go again
MoreIda Bs is a hidden gem in Baltimore. The service was wonderful. I ordered the fried chicken mac & cheese and greens...ate everything on my plate. The space is nice and quite and definitely a spot to go when in Baltimore. Ill be back for sure.
MoreVery good food. True to the southern flavors made with true chef talents. Oxtail was tender and meaty with a great creamy sauce.Only reason overall score isnt higher reviews give a great review but then they give them 4 stars.
MoreLive music, great food and excellent customer service. Food came out in a hurry and it was hot. One of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore.
More$$, street parking. The food is delicious and amazing. They have a farm to table concept with a southern feeling. Good atmosphere, open floor seating with a homey sense. Menu items are simple and easy to understand but the menu itself is a bit overcrowded. Attentive and friendly servers readily available to assist.
MoreLocated on 235 Holliday Street, Ida B’s has some of the best food and drink in the city. Their Deviled Egg Trio and Octopus Po-Boy Sliders are to die for, and they have specials on weekends + lunch so there’s always something new to try on their menu. They have live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9, and if you’re lucky, you can even hit up the Archive afterwards.Their lead bartender, Alex Dang, crafts a special menu that’s unique for each occasion so definitely make sure to go if you have a chance to do so. IMHO, he makes some of the best cocktails in Charm City.
MoreGo here! Seriously, the food is amazing! Everything had such great flavors and was a stand out on its own. Started with the boudin croissant and it was packed with flavor! The brisket Benedict was super unique and delicious! And the seasonal apple bread pudding, pictured, was some of the best dessert Ive ever had!
MoreClassy comfort food. Cocktails, food, service, and atmosphere were all fantastic. Between my date and myself, we had four cocktails and all were delicious. To eat, we had the brussel sprouts appetizer, Soulful Sampler, smoked fried chicken, and finished with bread pudding.
MoreThey first bring you cornbread with butter whipped with molasses. Yum. We continued with octupus po boys and the herb and soul wraps: breaded fried chicken with Liberian greens. We were fairly sated before the arrival of the kale and sweet potato salad with blackened catfish and the sampler board of meats and cheeses. And my gin cocktail was quite delicious. The staff were all super friendly and the live music was very good.
MoreEverything was great! From the service to the food. We were a group of 6 on a Sunday. We ordered a wide variety of food. My favorite was the Liberian Greens! Tip, we were told that the 3rd weekend of the month has this outstanding singer that brings the house down. We live 90 minutes away, near Philadelphia, but we will be back!!! What a gem.Also I like the bar, a bit segregated for the dinner area, with great TVs to watch the games.
MoreI had an excellent time at Ida B’s! The food and service were both fantastic. Our servers were very knowledgeable and kind, and the food was very high-quality. There are a few vegetarian and vegan entrees on the menu which makes it easier to come here with friends.
MoreIncredible. Top notch on all points. The food was superb both in flavor and presentation. The atmosphere is bright and full of life. The service is friendly, knowledgeable, prompt, and welcoming. I had a salad with blackened catfish and a side of fried chicken. The chicken was spicy awesomeness, with all the flavor of hot sauce built into the chicken. The breading was minimal so it was not overly heavy. The catfish was the best I have ever had. I absolutely loved it. This is what blackened should be!! The only downside to the restaurant are the steep steps leading up to the front door. Im hoping they have a handicap entrance somewhere else to accommodate.
MoreNice meal. Protein portions were small and a bit over seasoned but the flavor was awesome. Mac and cheese wasnt my favorite but authentic nonetheless (their coffee menu is a must)
MoreI wish I could give Ida Bs a higher rating but the food was forgettable. I literally forgot what I had as a main course. It was the fried chicken which was woefully dry and bland. I did enjoy the octopus sliders and the decor and attention to detail were impeccable.
MoreGreat first time Expiernce..We were invited to an Election Day Party.The event was full of media and open minded people. The drink were food and the food came fast. I would definitely recommend this location again.
MoreHorrible service. The bartenders acted as if we were bothering them. The food was BLAND. How can mac n cheese and catfish have zero flavor. I didnt think you could mess that up. I will never return here.Update ok so this may be super petty but I had to show you what real soul food looks like. Every bite was super flavorful. A little soul food place in Richmond Va. Picture below from Richmond.
MoreI was bit surprised that this NEW restaurant didnt have any reservations available at 5pm on a Saturday but after getting a sit at the bar area (this side is first come first serveand eating there I see why they didnt have any reservations available. Everything thing was good, I need to "google" some of the drink descriptions but once we got to know our waiter he made me a drink based on my favorites AND I LOVED IT !!! The chicken was perfectly fried, even the coffee was good (and the offer Almond Milk, wait or was it soy... Either way I had choices)
MoreThis place has fewer items on the menu but all oh so eclectic. The extra things that any self-proclaimed foodie would want added to any item is definitely there. If you order at the bar you have to be careful for the bartender hearing what they think you ordered and not really what you ordered because your ultimate tab will depend on it. Thats the only reason Im not giving it 5 stars. But ultimately besides that, there wasnt a single thing that I would correct. The food was delightful the atmosphere was fantastic and oddly enough on a Sunday around 11:30 there wasnt a wait to sit at the bar which for brunch was a huge surprise. Also, You can tell they take pride in their cocktails because they have a full page selection of specialty Drinks.
MoreIda Bs has great food and a good theme. Its very clearly a neighborhood restaurant with friendly employees. Everything ordered was fantastic except for the Mac and cheese... But honestly many places fail at creamy Mac because they just throw a bunch of cheese in.
MoreRead about Ida Bs online. Their website is lovely, so that intrigued me. As soon as we stepped inside, I knew we made a good choice. It smelled scrumptious! It was midafternoon on Saturday and the place was packed. Another good sign. The ambience was warm and inviting. I felt at home here. Also, in the front entrance is a sign that tells you all about Ida B. She was all strong woman fighting for equal rights! The wait staff was very helpful and friendly. I ordered shrimp and grits. Im a southern girl, so this is the food of my people! Best Ive ever had, hands down. The depth of flavors stunned my taste buds. Every bite was a party in my mouth.
MoreGreat experience. From the return calls for a reservation (I was not able to getto the hostess, the ambiance, to our waiter Brendon, to our food to that was delicious. My fried oysters could stand a tweak and an addition to the wine list is needed, none the less an enjoyable experience. I was too full to enjoy desert or the coffee bar. Will def go back.
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