Regular Joe's Guide

Latest visit: Jun 2018 (Colorado Springs - Woodmen) First visit: Oct 1994 (Colorado Springs - Woodmen) Perhaps the first place the RJG remembers going where beer was a primary focus. They were offering around the world beer "tours" going back to our first visit. This was a hangout for the RJG's peers and coworkers, and we were here often in 1994 and early '95 (and specifically this location). After moving to Denver, Old Chicago was quickly forgotten. It wasn't until 2011 and a road trip up through Nebraska did the restaurant once again enter our lexicon. We had noticed they had just opened in the Fort Worth area, just as we were leaving. Typical. But we're back here, and the RJG loves their Italian food - staples like baked spaghetti and meatballs - and yes they have of course kept up with the latest trends in craft beer. Unfortunately Mrs. RJG is the party pooper, claiming the place looks and smells old (well it is old...), and so she was nonplussed about t...

Latest visit: Mar 2018 First visit: Jul 2017 Fells Point certainly does not have a shortage of restaurants with a full bar and a creative selection of craft beers. Add Red Star to your list to try. In addition, Red Star offers up a more quaint side-street location than the usual Navy-Sailors-Gone-Wild sections of town as found on Lancaster or Thames Streets, for example. We really like their burgers and sandwiches and really haven't ventured further. Our dining group seemed to enjoy their more creative dinner offerings. We don't go here often, but that's only because we are in Baltimore infrequently and there's so many great options to behold. But Red Star is in the mix and deservedly so. 7/25/17; 3/1/18; 12/16/18 (new entry)

Latest visit: Jul 2018 First visit: Mar 2017 High end, corporate lunch-dinner Middle Eastern option in Harbor East. Similar to Cava, but a bit more well heeled. The food is very good, though inconsistent. Seems to be popular with the RJG running work crowd, and even though we settle in on "very good", we've had better Lebanese / Middle Eastern food in our day. Tucked into a quiet street along the harbor, sitting outside on a nice day is a delight. And despite the provenance, they do offer alcoholic beverages. Not sure any restaurant could survive without that in Baltimore anyway... 3/20/17; 7/26/18; 12/16/18 (new entry)

Latest visit: Jul 2018 First visit: Dec 2016 Nestled right by the TSA pre-check line of the Southwest Airlines gates, DuClaw is an oasis from the chaos. Go deep in and get a quiet dark table, and enjoy the locally made beer from Baltimore. Meanwhile the food is solid, offering up the protein needed to survive the airport experience (along with the beer assistance). Probably the best of the craft beer restaurants at BWI, but I do wish they were inside the gates, so we could enjoy them without worrying about schedule. Though this would be the ideal place for a quick airport meeting, if local and not traveling yourself. Lately the RJG has been flying out a bit earlier, so we haven't imbibed at DuClaw in a while. See the Bier Reise tab above for all the DuClaw beers we tried while in Baltimore. Update: The BWI location is closed. That was there only food establishment. The brewery, however, is still going strong. 12/21/21

Latest visit: Apr 2019 First visit: Jun 2017 The ambiance is that of a sanctuary inside a Catholic church. But the visions of heaven will occur after trying a few local craft beers (or other such drinks). Meanwhile the food remains excellent. The RJG recommends the blackened chicken sandwich, which is piled high, and you'll need a knife and fork to get through this gargantuan monster. This is an RJG rotation restaurant when in town for business. Highly recommended. Say hi to Bella, the owner's daughter... 6/11/17; 12/16/18 (new entry); 4/7/19

First visit: Oct 2018 Blue Dog takes over the much missed Heavy Seas tavern. Wisely they left the ambiance exactly the same. The meats were a bit on the tough side, but the flavors were good, and the sides as well. The beer selection was a bit tamer than expected, and was hoping for a bit more "local rotation" than we got. Given that Dinosaur BBQ has also exited stage left, we are rooting for Blue Dog, so we'll be sure to visit again. Hoping some of the flaws were new-place-kinks to work out.

Latest visit: Jan 2025 First visit: Oct 2016 Founded: 2008 This is for the Interquest location. They have a second spot off of US-24 that we have not been to. As noted on our RJG Rotation post: "They'll probably get a revisit anyway since they're so close." Not even 12 days into the year, and Colorado Mountain Brewery has received its first annual update - our 8th straight since moving back to the area (not counting 2020, a year that needs to be forgotten). We were hosting one of our Official Nephews, who came in from Denver just to visit. So that was a nice change of pace. He's 23 and just about to embark on his first major corporate job. Just as Uncle RJG retired the same week. Exciting times for everyone. We all each had one beer (and I snuck in a desert beer afterward) along with chips and salsa (excellent garlicky salsa). We were also all in the mood for a burger. Mrs. RJG and I did exactly what we did last year and had the Pikes Peak Burger sans tomato but ...

First visit: Nov 2018 Taking over the much missed Bagby Pizza location, Italian Disco brings forth a sleek contemporary bar setting. Italian food is solid, and the beer selection is very good, though stifled a bit. Seems to have caught on with the dinner crowd, and gets quite lively into the evening - though we miss the more lunch oriented Bagby. All the same, a place we plan on returning to again. 12/15/18 (new entry)

First visit: Dec 2018 Great place to try a variety of locally made sausages (platters, sandwiches, etc...), along with a healthy selection of local craft beers. Comfortable digs, and nice bar setup with sports on TV. We'll be back. 12/15/18 (new entry)

Latest visit: Dec 2018 First visit: Nov 2016 Solid option for overstuffed hot / cold sandwiches and pizzas. One of the few quick service restaurants in the area. Counter service. There's a few tables to sit or you can take it to go, which is what most folks seem to do. 11/16/16; 12/15/18 (new entry)

Latest visit: Sep 2019 (Baltimore, MD - closed) First visit: Nov 2000 (San Jose, CA - closed) As of Dec 2024, they have only two free standing restaurants left: Louisville, KY and Myrtle Beach, SC. They also still have three airport locations in Atlanta, San Jose, and Detroit (where I went in Oct of 2016). --- Gordon Biersch is a chain brewpub similar to BJ's, CB & Potts, Humperdinks, Ram, and others. They do make their beer onsite, thus making each location unique. The Baltimore restaurant is excellent. Very spacious, perfect for large groups - such as company events (ahem). Huge bar area. Sits on a quiet back street near a canal. The food has proven to always be excellent, and the beer as well. Definite recommendation here. As it turns out, this was my first Baltimore dining experience with my new gig. I went with the gentleman who brought me to the job in the first place. 11/14/00; 10/12/16; 11/13/16; 12/14/18 (new entry); 9/25/19 San Jose, CA; Washington DC Dulles; Detro...

Location: President @ Fleet (Harbor East) Last visit: Dec 2018 First visit: Nov 2016 The closest restaurant to my usual hotel is the James Joyce Pub, which naturally enough is modeled after a traditional Irish pub. I will always associate this place with yet another “former employee”, who I will christen as The Pakistani President, because he indeed looks, acts, and talks like a leader of a populous country. He was my peer when starting, and we had many a night here at James Joyce solving my current company’s problems. We had succeeded too, until inexplicably he was let go by the “Invisible SVP” last summer. Ugh. But the good news is we’re looking to bringing him back, and rolling up into my organization no less, so we can go about fixing the company’s woes again. Or just go eating and drinking at the James Joyce Pub… Of course, given the location, James Joyce Pub is no bargain. Because of that, I never have ventured here on my own – though it’s a good option if ever the weather is ...