Loch Bar in Baltimore
Update (June 2020): In light of recent events, I will no longer be supporting any of Atlas Restaurant Group’s establishments. They selectively enforce a dress code that is focused on targeting Black diners. Until some serious changes are made, they will not see one more cent of my money.
Baltimore has no shortage of restaurants offering succulent seafood, which can create a challenge for new restaurants to stand out. I love a restaurant that adds a little more to the dining experience, so for my dad’s birthday, I made a reservation at Loch Bar.
If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts, you know that my dad loves a good cocktail and distilled spirit. When searching for a restaurant to take him for his birthday, that’s almost more important than the food. In doing some research, I came across Loch Bar.
The Vibe
Atlas Restaurant Group opened Loch Bar back in 2016. Much like its sister restaurant The Bygone, Loch Bar is connected to the Four Seasons Baltimore in the Harbor East area. The cozy restaurant and bar offers unobstructed views of the harbor, with patio seating that’s perfect for an alfresco meal.
Inside, half of the restaurant is comprised of a long bar and high-top seating, while the other half has leather banquettes and marble tables beneath unique, hanging light fixtures. Given the size of the seating area, I would definitely recommend making a reservation before you go.
Much like the Atlas Restaurant Group’s other restaurants, a dress code is enforced, but it’s pretty standard. Basically, don’t look like a total slob and you’ll be fine. I wore jeans and an off-the-shoulder sweater. The dress code can be found on the Loch Bar website.
Loch Bar’s website advertises music seven days a week, with a full list of performers, but no set times. We must have missed the live set, but we did enjoy the upbeat music that was playing.
Much like Atlas’ other restaurants, Loch Bar is pricey. However, the restaurant does have a reasonable happy hour which is perfect for locals or hotel guests looking to unwind with a cocktail and bite.
The Drinks
What grabbed my attention and set Loch Bar apart from other restaurants was the whiskey menu. Loch Bar has one of the largest whiskey selections in Baltimore, as well as over 50 local craft beers, wine and other handcrafted cocktails.
Whiskey lovers will have a field day with the hundreds of whiskies available at the restaurant. If your liver is up for it, order one of the 11 whiskey flights offered, which includes four small-ounce pours of rye, bourbon, scotch and more.
My bad, y’all. I’m writing this post a few weeks after visiting Loch Bar and completely forgot to write down the names of the cocktails we ordered. I was able to remember that my dad ordered the restaurant’s namesake cocktail, Loch Bar, made with Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon, lemon juice, honey simple syrup and club soda. Let’s just skip to the food.
The Food
Loch Bar pays tribute to mid-Atlantic cuisine with a menu focusing on fresh seafood. The restaurant boasts one of the region’s largest raw bars and an amazing crab cake that I haven’t stopped thinking about.
Since moving to Virginia, known as “the Oyster Capital of the East Coast,” I’ve grown to appreciate raw oysters. My parents, however, aren’t so fond of the briny bivalve. I was able to convince them to order four of the Oysters Rockefeller. We also started our meal with the Grit Tots.
Loch Bar’s Oysters Rockefeller tasted slightly different than others I’ve had. Instead of bacon, I tasted sausage. Loch Bar’s Oysters Rock didn’t have the rich, buttery flavor that I love, but more of a creaminess from the spinach. Topped with a generous portion of warm parmesan cheese, these were far less daunting for my parents compared to typical raw oysters.
The Grit Tots were definitely a hit at the table. Served with a garlic aioli, cubed white cheddar grit cakes are fried until crispy while still remaining moist on the inside.
Loch Bar’s entrée options showcase about 10 options from land to sea. Find everything from Chilean sea bass, swordfish and lobster to filet mignon and a bone-in ribeye. My mom and I both ordered the Maine Diver Scallops, while my dad went with the Pork Chop.
Loch Bar’s Pork Chop is a 14-ounce, bone-in chop that they serve cut off the bone (don’t worry, you still get the bone on the plate) and drizzle with a balsamic reduction. I got to try a little piece and I loved how juicy and tender the pork was.
As you know, I rarely pass up a chance to eat scallops. The Maine Diver Scallops at Loch Bar were so good that they earned a spot on my Top 5 Dishes of 2019 list. These large sea scallops seared with a beautiful brown crust and served atop a creamy lobster risotto. I would totally order Loch Bar’s lobster risotto as its own entrée. The large pieces of lobster, with the addition of sugar snap peas, pickled red onion and buttery lobster hollandaise, are the perfect complement to the scallop dish.
Click here to read about my top five dishes of 2019.
After we ordered our entrees, our server convinced (barely, I was sold) us to order Loch Bar’s Maryland Crab Cake. We were able to just get one instead of the two that typically come with the entrée. As a Maryland native, I am very particular about my crab cakes and have very high standards when it comes to them. I will say that after trying Loch Bar’s crab cake, I have a new favorite.
No filler inside when it comes to this perfectly broiled, fist-sized crab cake filled with lump crab meat. Add a smattering of the Old Bay remoulade then you’ve got the perfect Maryland dish. We accompanied our crab cake with an order of the Butter Milk Shush Puppies, which my mom also topped with the remoulade.
Other highlights to Loch Bar’s menu include high-end options such as: three different seafood towers, charcuterie and cheese boards, and caviar. There are also plenty of options for the more modest diner, including seafood sandwiches and wraps, fish and chips, chicken entrees and more.
We finished off our meal with a surprise slice of the nearly endlessly layered Smith Island Cake, a sweet staple on the Eastern Shore. My dad, who requested I bake him a yellow cake with chocolate icing, loved this for his dessert. If it were my birthday, I would’ve gone for the Apple Crisp paired with bourbon caramel ice cream. I’ll just have to try that next time I go to Loch Bar.
Loch Bar is located at 240 International Drive, Baltimore.