1542 Gastropub

The pork belly tacos from the new Banditos menu are the best tacos I have ever had, by a large margin.
My husband got the escargots tacos, and while in isolation they would have been fine, I’m afraid nothing can compare to these pork belly tacos. The tartness of the apples perfectly complements the richness of the pork belly; the crunch of the apples and the jicama perfectly complements the squishiness of the pork belly… these were amazing.
I hope Banditos lasts longer than 1542 Gastropub did.

Bummer, walked by yesterday and apparently they’re closing their doors after an extremely short-​lived reincarnation as 1542 Gastropub. Looks like the ownership will be focusing all of their efforts on the new Banditos restaurant on S. Charles (former Taco Spot). I have to assume this closing is a new development, as it definitely wouldn’t have made much sense to invest in all the improvements if they planned on closing all along…

Even though it looks only marginally different, this place is considerably better than The Reserve (its previous incarnation). The service is better and more friendly, and it is more focused on food than Fed Hill youngsters. They got a new chef, which made a huge difference on the food. They also got rid of the bar tables and put in lower tables so you feel like you are in a restaurant. The food I tried was quite good, and I will definitely be back.

I love this place.
I always feel welcomed and the food is incredible. I just had the spring onion waffle with escargot and I found myself scraping up every last bit on the plate. The Sailors take warning drink is amazing. It’s dark rum, all spice dram, fresh lemon juice, ginger beer & bitters. It is my favorite cocktail in town. I then had the cuttlefish risotto. It was delicious! I have yet to eat something here that I didn’t love. I highly recommend this place for a romantic dinner or just a meal with friends. The list of beer is impressive & the cocktails are all original and delicious. They even make their own juices! Stop reading this review and get on over there!!!

Went here a few weekends ago to check it out after eating dinner in Federal Hill with friends since my husband went school with the owner.
The place is great, I love the inside, it is surprisingly large for a fed hill bar/​restaurant. It has a large bar that wraps around and a large area with tables in the middle.
When I saw the menu I was so disappointed that we didn’t eat here instead! We were stuffed but had a few drinks and worked up an appetite. We ordered the Potato Pot Stickers– they come with Pork Belly– need I say more. They were amazing! We also ordered (not my choice since I don’t eat baby cow) something with veal that everyone said was excellent.
I am a sucker for a place that serves amazing, creative drinks and they certainly do! I got the Gov’t or Moscow Mule– I love anything with Ginger Beer and it was perfect! The Sangria looked great and they have a good wine and beer selection too.
The following week I met a friend there for dinner (so excited to try a real meal). She got the pizza burger (amazing looking bun, peperoni and a burger) and I got the Spring Onion Waffle– it has escargot and a maderia– truffle sauce on it– it was to die for! She said that the burger was delicious.
We were too full for dessert but it looked amazing.
I cannot wait to go back again and next time I am getting the bread pudding!

Ok, I don’t know why I’m the only person reviewing this place. THE FOOD IS AMAZING. This is not The Reserve. It’s a new chef. People, please — pretty please? — patronize this place because it’s too good to slide into anonymity or default to a tots-​and-​beer joint. Heaven knows we have enough of those in Fed Hill.
Do you understand the implications of house-​made porchetta? Like when it’s on an open-​faced sandwich with sour cherries in mustard, arugula, fennel, fiddleheads, and garlic aioli? If you have any inkling of what this could mean for humanity, you should’ve been there for brunch yesterday (crostino, $ 8… 8 fucking dollars! do you know how much this gem would cost if you ate it in NYC? I’ll give you a hint… a WHOLE LOT MORE). The balance between sweet, meaty, fatty, bitter, salty, and fresh… [insert appropriately inappropriate noises here].
Also, there was a strawberry arugula salad, which I think was listed as a strawberry asparagus salad. This was a strawberry arugula salad unlike any other strawberry arugula salad. Why, you ask? Well, I will tell you, because this is what a review is for. There was tarragon, pickled asparagus, Humboldt Fog goat cheese, and a pretty epic dressing. This was the Platonic ideal of strawberry arugula goat cheese salads.
That’s what I ate. I was stuffed. There was also an order of veal ragu poutine and the crispy wings and a burger consumed at our table. But, I mean, come on. When you see that much love shown to salads, I feel like I don’t even have to expound on why the poutine, burger, or wings were good.
But I do have to expound on the cocktails because I need to share this with you…
They make a cocktail that doesn’t have a name. It’s a beer cocktail that’s one of those drinks that if enjoyed with that salad is the definition of springtime/​summer refreshment. Because it doesn’t have a name, I will instead tell you its contents, and you will then tell your waitperson when you go here, who will relay it to the bartender, who will then make it for you: the beer is Allagash White, with blueberries, peach liqueur, and possibly rum. Trust me. It’s not crazy sweet, which you don’t want from this cocktail anyway, but you can taste the fruit and you get the beer carrying all those flavors. It’s a beautiful thing. The sailors take warning is a riff on a dark and stormy, and it’s delicious. Definitely on the sweeter side but in no way heavy-​handed.
Do I need to talk about the bloody marys and how they make the mix themselves? Probably not.
But seriously, can more people go here so this place stays in business? That would be awesome. Thanks, guys. :)