Darker Than Blue

Over a three year stay in Baltimore I visited Darker than blue at least once a month. My goal was to try everything on the menu to this day they are all my favorite. When ever friends from out of town visited I took them to Darker than Blue. The food is just that good the service is great and the peachmango Tea is amazing. If I need to be specific the very first time I went to darker than Blue me and my friends fought over the last piece of cornbread and butter. I truely recommend. Casey has always treated me and everyone in his business well. more

I am baffled i read ANY GOOD reviews!!! I will start by being honest, i did not even have the opportunity to try the food. The owners sarcasm, condescension and unwillingness to negotiate turned me and my party of 15 off to the point of getting up and walking out, spending our $1200 tab elsewhere. I made a reservation for 12, girls nite out, 3 days in advance. At no time did the owner volunteer that the restaurant could not accommodate a party this size together. When we arrived we were split up into 3 tables that were not even attached to each other. I had to yell across the room to ask a friend i hadn't seen in weeks how she was doing. We confronted the manager about the seating arrangement and he was obnoxious and unwilling to compromise. He did tell us he had a private room upstairs that would accommodate our party together but we had to pay $125 for it and an extra $25 for last minute set up fee. Lets be clear, my party was the ONLY one in the restaurant. We didn't like it but agreed to split the $125 among us so we would be more comfortable, but refused to pay the extra $25 on principle...WHO DOES THAT??!!?? He refused to deduct the $25 despite our threats to take our business elsewhere. During the conversation he actually raised his voice and turned his back to us. Needless to say, we took our $1200 tab elsewhere. We were really trying to patronize a black owned establishment despite the drab decor, small size, no liquor license. We went to another venue on the Baltimore Harbor, they granted us a private room that was not booked for the night for FREE, and treated us like queens. So to summarize, the owner let a $1200 tab leave because he was not willing to budge on $25. I wish i could give lower than 1 star. more

The food at this restaurant is good and the peach-mango tea is very good. I'd patronized Darker Than Blue many times previously, however my last visit there was my LAST VISIT there! more

While the food is not bad.. there is nothing on the menu that is ""to die for"". Yet, the attitude and tantrum throwing of the proprietor Casey Jenkins leaves one feeling a bit insulted, disrespected and unsafe. After asking a simple question (is the kitchen serving now?) because I sat there for quite some time without a server coming to my table, Mr Jenkins responded in outrage. He stopped the music and even stormed out of the restaurant. I have seen him fire people for asking simple questions, I have seen him embarrass and disrespect his staff (which is in constant flux), he has ejected people from his establishment for asking about seating, he has yelled at musicians for various reasons. I can honestly say that every time I have been there, there has been some sort of disruption. Today, once again I was on the receiving end of his inexplicable eruption. I don't think the food is worth such an uncomfortable atmosphere. I won't go again. thumbs down, Mr. Jenkins - your customers (and staff) get anything BUT friendly service. Pity - the Darker than Blue Concept is a wonderful idea, and much needed in the economically depressed community. Mr. Jenkins attitude and treatment of people will certainly be his downfall. more

This was featured on WBAL SUnday Brunch and I just had to try them out...I had the chicken/waffles and they were great!! The waffles had a distinct taste to them (extra sweet) but I like my food that way didn""t need any syrup! only problem was that I wasn't able to finish my plate!!!Keep up the good work and I will return with a few friends for Ladies night out real soon! more

I just had the most amazing time at Darker Than Blue Cafe. This was my first time dining at his local gem. I was told about it by my friend who lives in the Waverly area. I was completely caught off guard with this restaurant being on Greenmount Ave. For the first course we enjoyed these wonderful little catfish fingers that where so crisp, they needed more than the tartar sauce they where offered with but we didn't mind just eating them plain. For my entree I had shrimp and grits a rather odd combination, but my server Lance convinced me that I would not be unhappy. The cornbread was to die for, the mango ice tea was a little swee for my aste but very flavorful. I must return again with more friends Pros: Food is Great Chef is wonderful Cons: small more