OVERVIEW:
I had the pleasure of dining at Ammoora restaurant in Baltimore, DC. This restaurant is located in the Ritz Carlton Residence Inn in downtown Baltimore. Ammoora is a Levantine restaurant with a variety of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern cuisines. You can never go wrong with Mediterranean dishes
AESTHETIC:
First, I want to discuss the aesthetics of the restaurant. In my opinion, the restaurant’s aesthetic was very beautiful. . Everything in the restaurant was well put together and looked very authentic. All the servers and hosts were very interactive with their guests and were willing to check in with me while I was dining. You could tell that they really cared about the restaurant and the guest experience. The server also provided me with a comprehensive rundown of the menu and what I should try, which greatly helped me decide what appetizers and entrées to choose for the night. The walls had a clay texture, and the entire restaurant gave off a very classy Greek and Mediterranean vibe Another notable feature was the restaurant’s lighting and music. The lighting was dim, creating a calming ambiance, and the background music was subtle house music, which was both calming and uplifting. As someone who enjoys dining alone, I appreciated that the restaurant was very solo-friendly, something that some restaurants lack, but this one catered to.
FOOD:
Now, let’s discuss the food. I ordered two appetizers: the ZA’ATAR HONEY BURRATA and the KNAFEH SHRIMP. The ZA’ATAR HONEY BURRATA is made with burrata cheese, citrus honey, za’atar, pistachio, rose petals, and olive oil. The Knafeh Shrimp is made with shrimp, knafeh wrap, tahini tajen, and chili oil. Both of these dishes were excellent. I enjoy different textures when eating, and the knafeh shrimp was delightfully crunchy. The honey glaze on the burrata was amazing, providing a unique twist to burrata that I hadn’t tasted before. There was also plenty of excess sauce to dip the shrimp into, enhancing the overall experience. For my main course, I ordered the TENDERLOIN TRUFFLE MEDLEY, which includes grilled American grass-fed USDA Angus Prime Tenderloin, red vine tomato confit, roasted button mushrooms, golden pearl onions, and truffle mushroom sauce. I ordered it medium, but it was a bit dry and not as juicy as I had hoped. The side of mushrooms and tomatoes came with a small cup of mushroom sauce that I could pour over the steak. While it was pretty good, I still feel that it didn’t fully compensate for the somewhat average steak. The presentation of the dishes was impressive, with the potatoes and mushrooms served on a skewer that resembled a sword, adding a unique touch. Next time, I’ll definitely opt for a more authentic Levantine dish to enhance my dining experience. I must admit it was my mistake to choose a steak at a restaurant known for its Middle Eastern cuisine. Finally, for dessert, I ordered ASHTA BIL ASAL, a traditional Lebanese dessert made with fresh Ashta cream, orange blossom water and honey syrup, and topped with Arabic cotton candy. The dessert had a unique texture and was just sweet enough to enjoy properly. I would highly recommend trying this dessert.
CONCLUSION:
Overall, I would rate this restaurant a 7.5/10. The restaurant had a calming and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, and it was evident that the owner cares about how the restaurant is run. The food was above average, and the overall experience was quite good. While the dishes were on the higher end in terms of pricing, this is to be expected from a restaurant located in the Ritz Carlton Residence. I would certainly recommend this place if you’re dining in Baltimore, as it surpasses most other restaurants in the area.
