| Address | 4600 Waverly Ave., Garrett Park, MD 20896 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Mon-Thu 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat 11am-9:30pm; Sun 10am-8pm |
| Phone | (301) 933-3000 |
This Rater and his fiance went to Black Market Bistro to conclude Thanksgiving Weekend with a laid back brunch. Black Market Bistro is tucked away alongside the railroad tracks at the Garrett Park Rail Depot, in a converted house. There is a combined bar and dining room on one side of the entry hall, and another dining room on the other side of the entry hall. When the weather permits, there are outdoor tables on the porch where people sip coffee, enjoy their food, and watch the trains roll by. For brunch, we each ordered the buttermilk pancakes, served with fresh berries, cream, and maple orange syrup. The pancakes were wonderfully light, as was the cream, which tasted house-made. The maple orange syrup was truly delectable, and our server stated that the syrup was made on the premises by crushing light amounts of orange rinds into the syrup mix. It added up to a wonderful dish, and a great value at only $10. Service could have been a little more prompt with refills of coffee, but the dining room where we ate was bright, airy, and tables were spaced just far enough apart for conversation. A wonderful neighborhood brunch place.
The restaurant is in an old building next to the railroad tracks. There are historical photos of Garrett Park in the hallway. Service was attentive and prompt. The menu has a variety of dishes, from burgers and pizza to steaks, fish and seafood. We complained about a draft from a heating vent, and the thermostat was promptly adjusted.
It's a very popular place. Be prepared to wait for a table.
Where to start with this place? I loved every last thing about Black Market Bistro, from the restroom decor to the font type on the bill. The boyfriend and I went there expecting a lovely dining experience and it was just that. We started out the affair with a glass of wine for me -- a malbec from Argentina -- and a San Pelligrino for the boy while we waited for our table on the veranda. Once seated, we ordered the antipasto appetizer for two. Remembering the last time we ordered antipasto at a restaurant, I was concerned about the portion size. But, I was amazed at the copious amounts of prosciutto, grilled portabello mushrooms, roasted peppers, and Italian cheeses, etc., piled high on the plate like Bacchus himself prepared it as a late night snack. As if that wasn't enough, we ordered entrees followed by dessert. Each dish was delicious. I can't wait to go back! This place is a must for any serious foody.
This restaurant is tucked away in a very residential area next to Garrett Park. The service was excellent and the food quality is top knotch. For appetizers, we had the fried oysters and an orange and goat cheese with mixed greens salad. The only complaint was that the oyster apetizer was rather small for the price. For entrees, we had the Arctic char and a New Orleans style barbeque shrimp. Both were excellent (well made and well portioned); however, the "New Orleans style barbeque" shrimp was neither New Orleans nor barbeque - although the creamy sauce concoction tasted quite good nonetheless. For desert, we had the chocolate tart and ice cream from the special menu. It was good, but rather small in size. Overall, the restaurant experience was very good. The atmosphere in the bar area is fun, although the dining room area seemed too sterile. The crowd was a little stuffy and exclusively white from what we could see - which might be normal for
Garrett Park, but seemed odd nevertheless.
The atmosphere of Blacks is friendly and loud!...my only complaint here is the noise level...I had the bbq shrimp with corn grits and found myself licking the plate. I've been here several times and always had amazing fresh orginal food.
