Mount Vernon has a secret. Inconspicuous beneath its green awning, the Mount Vernon Stable and Saloon is definitely worth a try. Easy to get to from the Homewood Campus (if you take the shuttle from behind Shriver, get off at the Peabody stop, and walk a couple blocks on North Charles Street), Mount Vernon offers a wide variety of restaurants and a nice change from Charles Village.
Unimpressed by the restaurant's sign, I went into the Mount Vernon Stable and Saloon expecting to take a look at the menu and walk right back out again. I was definitely wrong. The comfortable atmosphere immediately draws customers in, and friendly waiters and hosts are eager to make your experience thoroughly enjoyable. Accented by pig statues and an Egyptian sarcophaguses hanging from the ceiling, it was hard not to feel happy just looking around.
While the menu claims to feature Baltimore's best baby back ribs, there is no need to be in search of a good barbecue to enjoy this restaurant. With everything from tacos to pasta offered alongside a seemingly endless list of comfort-food type sandwiches, salads and pizzas, the Mt. Vernon Stable has something to offer everyone. With eye-catching and mouth-watering names for nearly everything offered, like a traditional Reuben sandwich named "The Pee Wee," a vegetable wrap called "The Veg-O-Matic," or a chicken pizza called "Boboli Poultrioli," the menu itself was an experience. If anything, it might have been a bit too much. My friends and I are indecisive even when there aren't choices, and we must have been staring at our menus for a good twenty minutes before finally deciding what we wanted to order. Our waiter was quite amused with us.
For a twist on a classic, get the "Gucci Skins" as an appetizer. These potato skins, which come with a good deal of potato still in the skin (a welcome surprise for someone like me whose favorite food is the good-old potato), come with your choice of topping combination. Choose from cheddar, swiss, mozzarella, bacon, chili, guacamole, nacho cheese, marinana, tomato, jalapenos and onions. Among other appetizer options are the "Raven Wings," "Gorgeously Garlic Shrimp" and Toasted Ravioli. Salads ranged from your classic Caesar to "Szechwan Noodle," served with sesame noodles, cucumbers and red peppers, to "The Whole Ensalada," with taco beef or chicken, served in a crispy taco bowl.
With a huge sandwich list, as well as burgers and wraps, the options just don't end. Try "The Don," a delicious chicken parmesan sandwich, but be warned: the menu says it's a hit with hungry people, and you would need to be famished to finish this sandwich (it's also a bit messy to eat). For a slightly different taste, try the "My Thai" wrap, which comes with chicken in a spicy peanut sauce, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, and red cabbage. Other fun options include "The Chessie," a Maryland crabcake sandwich, "The Hoagie Poagie," with grilled roast beef, or "The Malibu," with grilled chicken and guacamole. Sandwiches and wraps come with potato chips and a secret chip dip that's good enough to have been the main part of the meal. Daily specials are available as well, like a vegetable quesadilla, fresh market-priced fish, or "Alfie's Wuzidalabout Soup," priced daily.
Even pasta at the Mount Vernon Stable and Saloon is original. You can get your classic lasagna or spaghetti, but options like the "Greek Pasta," which is penne with feta, tomatoes, olives and spinach, "Tortellini Barricini," with a roasted red pepper sauce and Portobello mushrooms, or "Linguini di Lorenzo," with Alfredozola sauce (a twist on traditional alfredo sauce, with gorgonzola cheese added), sound hard to pass up. By the time you reach the rib selections (remember, Baltimore's best), it seems inevitable that a return trip to the Mt. Vernon Stable will be necessary. Save room for dessert -- try the "dark bottom pie," a creamy cheesecake in a brownie shell.
The Mount Vernon Stable keeps their prices reasonable as well. Entrees start as low as $5.95, and an extra couple of dollars to split an appetizer or dessert are definitely worth it once you take that first bite. (If you time it right, you can take the shuttle there and back, so no cab costs either). With fun surroundings and great food, the Mt. Vernon Stable and Saloon is a secret worth exposing.
