Appetite Adventure - Gertrude's, Hopkins/Homewood

if you are just joining me for my appetite adventure and aren't really sure what it is, find out about it here. you can see the full list of reviews so far here or by clicking the appetite adventure tab at the top of this page - right next to "home" and "about PW".

Gertrude's has found the perfect home in the baltimore museum of art. the bright, light-filled restaurant (thanks to a wall of floor to ceiling windows) is teaming with character - from the twinkling stars on the ceiling to the beautiful patio complete with sculptures and waterfalls. this charming restaurant features local, chesapeake fare and $12 specials on tuesdays which is the day we were lucky enough to go.

i ordered the special cocktail of the night - the forbidden fruit martini because the fig-infused vodka sounded intriguing. it was more of a fig pureed vodka martini that tasted like liquid fig newtons. not my favorite of drinks but i did enjoy my glass of cava with dessert. it's worth noting that their wine and beer list was quite extensive with a good selection of wines by the glass and local brews from heavy seas and brewer's art.

we went with another couple and i think we all ended up ordering off of the "tuesdays with gertie" special menu. the menu had everything from traditional maryland crabcakes, to classic fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy as well as some unexpected surprises like fried alligator tail and chilled honeydew and avocado soup. Gertrude's also has options for vegetarians with their veggie linguini, moroccan chickpea couscous, and even 'can't believe it's not crab' cakes (although i have a hard time those a big sellers in a place like baltimore, hon).

i started out with the berry and goat cheese salad upon the recommendation of the server and couldn't resist ordering the single-fry oysters with grilled potatoes and coleslaw. the slaw and potatoes were pretty disappointing (both were dry) but the cornmeal crusted oysters more than made up for it. they were cooked perfectly and with just the right amount of cornmeal breading and their remoulade dipping sauce was tangy with a little kick.

be sure to save room for dessert as this was my favorite part of the meal! unfortunately the creme brulee sampler was sold out by the time we ordered but we weren't disappointed with our choices of the chocolate lovers sampler and the peach crumble. the chocolate edged out the competition in my book with decadent small samples of decadent flour-less chocolate cake, rich, creamy chocolate creme brulee, chocolate mousse, and delightfully not-sweet chocolate panna cotta.

i have said this before, but i'll say it again, the atmosphere and who you dine with can make of break a place. we were lucky enough to share our dinner with wonderful company which made Gertrude's even better. it had a couple of bumps (the martini and the side dises) but overall it's a very enjoyable place with loads of charm, lots of menu options, and excellent dessert. i suggest going on a beautiful tuesday evening in the early summer (before it gets too hot) to enjoy the "tuesdays with gertie" specials and, of course, dessert.


* all photos courtesy of Gertrude's as i forgot my camera