The Wren in Baltimore Is Like a Cozy Hug After a Long Day | Eater DC

"Run by the team behind award-winning French bistro Le Comptoir du Vin, this “American Irish” pub in Fells Point feels like someone’s home den rather than a bar, but with incredible food. Co-owners Will Mester, Rosemary Liss, and Millie Powell turn out traditional Irish and English dishes using ingredients from around the neighborhood. The menu rotates daily—check the chalkboard—but we always start with the bread and butter: two crusty slabs of Ovenbird Bakery sourdough and daffodil-colored Kerrygold sprinkled with finishing salt. Get something on toast, too; ours came layered with pureed anchovy, olive oil, and bitter yet bright broccolini. Expect interesting proteins like rabbit, pork cheeks, and lardons; we loved the lardons in coddle, a traditional Irish stew of potatoes, carrots, and sausage from nearby Ostrowski’s. To drink, you sort of have to get a Guinness on draft, expertly poured, though classic cocktails like a Bleu Martini or Blood & Sand also deliver, and it’s only $8 for a shot and a Hamm’s. While the cuisine is the draw, this is a true pub: belly up to the dark wood bar up front or settle into the cozy back den with fireplaces and dartboards; there are no TVs and hardly anyone was on their phones, making it a lovely escape from the noise. It works for a warm, casual date night but also suits solo diners and after-work drinks. Insider tip: once a month the bar hosts a Scotch night where producers and distillers come to talk about various varieties, which members can purchase at cost; membership is $5." - Jess Mayhugh