Ze Mean Bean Cafe

07/09/07

A wonderful, charming place to eat any night of the week!!!

by jtru80 at Citysearch

This place is great! Amazingly eclectic food and atmosphere. Some may say that it's small, but once you are at your table, it's nothing but warmth from a delightful staff and cozy atmosphere. I've seen them busy to full capacity, but the wait has never been longer than 10 minutes for a table. Try the hriby dip or any of the chef's specials that your server will recommend- Any are sure to please!!! Plus, try a wine flight from their extensive list or an Eastern European beer- You'll likely not find another list like it in Baltimore. This is my favorite restaurant for brunch, lunch, or dinner! Ze Mean Bean does not disappoint!!!

• Pros: Charming, Great Food, Friendly Service, Lots of Attention, Live Music
• Cons: The live jazz can be overwhelming if you are on the first floor.

06/27/07

Great Atmosphere!

by katiemcn at Citysearch

I had a great dinner with friends on Saturday Night. The wine flights were a great way to sample 3 different wines (Red or White). We started with the peirogi appetizer which was the perfect amount and then split different entrees. The service was perfectly timed and not rushed at all. Plates were cleared before each course and time was given to relax in between. The restaraunt seemed full but not crowded and the music added a great touch. The tilapia was wonderful and the crabcakes with the honey vodka sauce was a great twist on a local favorite. We also loved the homemade deserts! I would definitely recommend and look forward to trying the Jazz Brunch.

• Pros: Service/Atmosphere

09/24/06

Hope the managment gets a clue and improves things- and yes, teaches the wait staff how to wait

by cw1960 at Citysearch

I just had a very mediocre dining experience at Ze Mean Bean that will make me reluctant to go there ever again. Four of us went for brunch and all ordered different omelets. The waitress was both ambivalent and oblivious. She didnt bother to ask what kind of toast we wanted, and when we brought it up she seemed annoyed. She brought my companions coffee out black, never bothering to ask if he wanted cream, and when he finally got her attention to ask for some, it took another 10 minutes for it to arrive. The food took a good forty-five minutes to get to the table, and when it did it was dry and bordering on cold. It seemed as if the omelets had been cooked (overcooked actually) before any of the fillings had been added, which made them cold and undercooked. Nor did the waitress manage to get our toast right. We all got white and only one piece each, that was, yes, cold. No butter, no jelly, and when we asked for these things the waitress was annoyed even more.

• Pros: Wonderful theme, wonderful location and ambience
• Cons: Waitress didn't have a clue

08/08/02

Ze Mean Bean

by taffyjean at Citysearch

Sunday Brunch is the greatest. Very knowledgable staff, absolutely wonderful food.

• Pros: Ambience, Food, Jazz on Sunday
• Cons: Little Pricey

07/09/02

Poor service, mediocre food

by ruth123 at Citysearch

1. Our waitress was both irritating, i.e. bothering us every five minutes, and generally clueless.

2. There was no paper in the ladies' restroom and the problem was only rectified 45 minutes after it had been pointed out.

3. We waited for our first course for 40 minutes with no apology, although the restaurant was by no means full.

4. The food was generally overpriced and mediocre, e.g. undercooked vegetables.

5. Our Beaujolais arrived warm, and the waitress continued to pour us full glasses of the stuff even after we had pointed out that it should be several degrees cooler.

6. Another waitress managed to pour the remaining wine all over the table, splashing and staining the clothes of two of our party.

7. A mere $4 was taken off our $136 check as compensation for the wine-splashing incident.

8. The manager was both discourteous and unapologetic.

• Pros: Live jazz
• Cons: Slow service, Mediocre food, Discourteous manager