Ze Mean Bean Cafe

Recommends

jtru80

Joined 6 years ago

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

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katiemcn

Joined 6 years ago

Great Atmosphere!. 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.

Doesn't Recommend

cw1960

Joined 7 years ago

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

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Sample Slavic cuisine and other eclectic fare at this cozy Fells Point eatery.. The Scene
Inside this wine bar-coffeehouse-cafe, you'll feel a bit cramped, but that's part of the homey aura that makes this place unique. Creations by local artists adorn one wall of the brick interior; other walls are lined with shelves of books for perusal. Light jazz, Irish folk and other music comprises the diverse nightly entertainment.

The Food
Don't bypass the ethnic creations; they're far too unusual and delicious not to try. Beginners might go for the Slavic sampler, which includes an applesauce-topped potato pancake, stuffed cabbage and the best pierogi around. Other appetizers include pan-fried quail and exotic sausages. As for entrees, borsht, blinchika and holupki are three favorites. In addition to the many Slavic specialties that have brought Ze Mean Bean local fame, the menu includes mainstream seafood, pasta, chicken and beef dishes.

Recommends

taffyjean

Joined 11 years ago

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

Doesn't Recommend

ruth123

Joined 11 years ago

Poor service, mediocre food. 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.