Blu Bambu, a good Baltimore Family Restaurant

Blu Bambu is a good place for a quick meal with kids.  It’s located right on the harbour in the same huge building that ESPN Zone, Hard Rock Cafe and Barnes & Noble are located in, although it’s on the opposite end of the building as ESPN Zone.  Facing the building, Blu Bambu is to the right of Barnes & Noble nearby Chipotle.

Blu Bambu has different Asian options, but probably the best way to describe it would be Mongolian Barbecue that just allows for one bowl.   In that sense don’t expect to gorge yourself at Blu Bambu, because there’s no way to really overeat unless you order multiple meals.  Also many of the appetizers that at first seem most appealing come out fried, which in my view makes them less appealing.  Spring rolls especially are less springy after being fried.  I mostly skip the appetizers. 

On another note, to my knowledge Blu Bambu does not have a restroom with a chaging table, and there aren’t many tables.  So if it’s full, I assume Blu Bambu would be tight. 

So far this has not been the greatest review.  But as of now I only include the best Baltimore family friendly restaurants in this Blog, so there are indeed reasons why Blu Bambu is a standout Baltimore Family Restaurant.

The main positives of Blu Bambu stem from it being cheap, fast and pretty nonchalant.  It’s also a little different, the food is tasty and for the most part rather healthy.  Sure, you won’t be able to gorge yourself here like at traditional Mongolian barbecue restaurants, but gorging isn’t healthy.   And Blu Bambu usually costs less than $10 a person, which is much less than traditional Mongolian Barbecue.  

As an aside, if you’re going non-vegetarian, make sure you get extra meat.  It’s only a couple bucks more, and, if you don’t pay for extra meat, you run the risk of gettting very little/mini-meat.

Really though the main reason I’m including this place is because we once went close to closing time, and one of the employees took a huge amount of interest in our son.  She sang to him, came to our table and made funny faces with him as well as played drums using chopsticks on the table with him.   Now, that only happened once, but it’s never happened to the same extent anyplace else in Baltimore.    

And that’s a major reason we keep coming back.  You won’t get the best meal of your life here.  However, you’ll get a good meal.  Plus ordering Mongolian barbecue style is a little different along with fun.   And you can be sure that they appreciate seeing you.

Blu Bambu

621 E Pratt Street

Baltimore, MD

www.blubambu.net

(410-637-3398)

Todd Conner’s- Baltimore Family Restaurant Gem

Todd Conner’s is really about as good of a family restaurant as you can imagine, although driving by, most people would never really think this family restaurant standout would be.    I’ve never seen it show up on a list of best Baltimore Family Restaurants either, but it definitely is a great place to go if you’re in Baltimore with kids. 

It looks like a nice Fells Point restaurant with plenty of al fresco dining, and it also looks like a quality place to drink.   It is both of those things.  Additionally,  Todd Conner’s takes their food seriously as well.  Those above three things don’t always tie with great family restaurants.   But Todd Conner’s is all about family, because this restaurant is literally based on family.

Todd Conner’s is owned and run by a fairly young husband and wife team, and they have an infant daughter.   In fact the couple expected a boy (they intended to name him “Todd Conner”).   Their restaurant preceded the  delivery, so they named the restaurant in honor of their expected son.  Although they didn’t have a son, so they hope to someday open up a second restaurant and name it for their daughter.

My wife and I have gone here with our son several times, and they’ve always focused on him.  Also the last time we went to Todd Connor’s, the mother of the female owner stopped by with the couple’s  daughter.  What all this means is, you can bring your kids here, and they are happy to have them.  They love kids.

But the food is really good.  It’s not pub food either but rather at least a step above.  It’s also a very cool locale.  You can bring the kids here, get a ribeye steak, fresh catch or pasta dish as well as have a good cold beer like you used to.  The kids will have fun and you will too.

www.toddconners.com

700 S Broadway

Baltimore, MD  21231