03/08/09

no seating available for the black man.... golden west style

by tableforone

went when restaurant was half packed and was told that there will be a 20 minute sit time....with empty seats visible. did not get it at first, so i was like well let me just head on back to good old fell's point (home). on way called the restaurant and asked if i could get to take my food to go. was told yes and i ordered the drew special (vegan). turned back and went to the restaurant and the same racially challenged hostessl told me that "we do not take orders to go". i got vexed and stated that i had just called and placed my order. then another lady overheard me while she was standing by the kitchen hall and asked what the problem was. she proceeded to tell me that they will make my food and that i will have to wait. so i sat on their crunchy benches seeing all the caucasians walking in being greeted with smiles and even saw one dude being waited on who was alone and was not told of the waiting time by the same old racially challenged hostess. finally my food came and the racially challenged hostess brought it to me. but i freaked out and on my way out i threw it coz i was like highly doubtful of the integrity of my food. i encourage all minorities to avoid or abort supporting such establishments. i also encourage all positive souls who are not minorities to avoid that place. one love.

• Pros: vegan selections
• Cons: ethnic profiling

03/02/09

Bad service

by zoof

We went to Golden West Cafe one weekday for lunch and had the worst service (we?ve been going there since they were a hole in the wall). We arrived before noon specifically because we have a 2-1/2 year old and wanted to avoid a long wait and the subsequent toddler meltdown. We were seated and our orders were taken quickly enough but we sat for more than 45 minutes waiting while other tables were getting their food (our waiter apparently forgot to enter our order into the system). He apologized repeatedly but offered no comps and would not answer a direct question as to how soon our food was coming. Finally we left before our food arrived. My son had the predicted meltdown as we were leaving. I wrote the restaurant with my complaints but very surprisingly, they did not deign to respond. Ever since they moved to the bigger place, service has been poor and the food quality has steadily gone downhill. Never going there again.

• Pros: food's ok
• Cons: service is bad, bad, bad

11/20/08

Great food, Mickey is a great server

by Ijustwannadance1

The food here is wonderful and afforable and the atmosphere is tops. Yes, I have hear that things aren't the same there as they used to be, but it is a great place to go for a burrioto or burger and the salads are excellent. Skip drinks here and go to the Dogwood if you are interested in cocktails, however. There liquor drinks leave something to be desired: liquor.

• Pros: Interesting menu, fantastic appetizers for the college student taste
• Cons: Can be crazy loud on weekends

01/29/07

Good food...if you're patient

by greenie2600

Golden West has a lot going for it, but also a few shortcomings. (Despite Citysearch's claims, they don't serve "South American" food; they serve American food with Southwestern influences - imagine a typical diner/cafe menu where ingredients like beans, huevos rancheros, and avocado play a larger-than-usual role.) I've had brunch and dinner there several times, and it's always been very good. The portions are generous, especially for brunch, and vegetarian options abound. The atmosphere is comfortable, casual, and unique; the clintele is split about evenly between young hipsters and whitebread nuclear families. (Go figure.) In fact, it's just about perfect...as long as you're not in a hurry. If they're busy (and they're always busy), you'll probably have to wait at least a few minutes for a table (but they do have comfortable couches to sit on while you wait). The staff is friendly and, as far as I can tell, well-meaning, but they're disorganized and a little spacey - you'll probably end up getting whatever you ask for, but don't expect to be doted on. Overall, quite a nice little place, but best avoided by the impatient.

• Pros: Top-notch diner-style food with a twist; comfortable, casual atmosphere
• Cons: Often crowded and slow

Editorial Review by Christy Buena

by Contributor

Restaurant serves South American cuisine in bustling family-friendly restaurant and offers all day breakfast.

02/26/06

Fool's Golden West

by cbas

This place is tragic: it could be one of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore, based on its fun, eclectic, and cheap menu, but the service is purely amateur hour. Each time I've been, one of the basic rules of waiting has been broken spectacularly--not being offered a drink for 15 minutes, never seeing the wait person, etc. Most recently, I waited 50 minutes for my food, only to have the wrong order brought to me. The waitress explained that someone helped run her food, and they gave my plate to a different customer, who promptly ate it (they were probably waiting as long as I was). Based on the consistent frustration factor, I'll probably never go back. Management, if you're reading: hire more help, and train them, or get used to mediocrity.

• Pros: Good food, Amusing atmosphere
• Cons: Frustrating service

01/20/06

most fun restaurant in baltimore

by tara78

This place has great, casual food with a variety of flavors. Try the garlic fries or the tator tots! I always love eating here!

• Pros: Good food
• Cons: There can be a wait

12/28/04

hit or miss...usually miss.

by citygirrl

the food is great, the ambiance is nice, and it's always packed, but they are always out of something here (be it beverages, key ingredients, or entire entrees), and the chef refuses to serve substitutions if they are out of something, so you;re usually forced to order something else. service is iffy at best--waitstaff is slow & forgetful, and once you get your food, you rarely see them again. food often arrives ice cold. staff seems bothered if you ask them for things they forget, like silverware, and they're unwelcoming to guests. the only reason to go back is the garlic fries, which are the best i've ever had. if you're lucky enough to be able to order what you want on the menu without them being out of it, and have it served timely and hot, you're in for a treat--but that rarely happens.

• Pros: good food, nice ambiance, inexpensive
• Cons: , unfriendly wait staff, bad service

06/27/03

excellent brunch

by sdg1120

fun venue. good and eclectic food. great decor. waits have never been too atrocious so far. the waitstaff can be a little spacey, but ultimately yum.

banana pancakes with coconut syrup is fantastic

• Pros: decor, banana pancakes
• Cons: cramped, forgetful waitstaff