Parts & Labor

When E. and I first visited our new home in Baltimore, six and a half years ago, we got a flat tire. Ironically, the new (spring 2014) restaurant Parts & Labor was the former garage we went to for the repair. It looked nothing like this. I'm so glad Spike and Amy Gjerde of the Woodberry Kitchen family of restaurants saw past this once ugly building and restored it. It is a gem and so is the new restaurant and butcher shop. We went the last week of April.

The location is so convenient for us. It's right across from Charmington's and a great addition to the Remington neighborhood. There is a huge free parking lot caddy corner from it which makes the parking/valet issue no problem.

George Marsh is the head chef and came over from Woodberry Kitchen. We sell our figs to WK so he greeted me with a warm hug upon arrival. It's fun to be upfront and in the face of the kitchen action. Maybe the most open kitchen plan I've seen next to Wit & Wisdom in the city.

The seating is casual with communal tables, a great large bar and some wonderful sunken booths.

E had the pit beef. The handsome gentleman with the handlebar mustache sliced it a la minute. I suggested they needed to sell mustache wax and his girlfriend is in the process. 

I asked George to pick the leanest item on the menu and was offered the tender steak. I think it was called the flat iron or skirt steak. I can't remember and the menu changes based on what the nose to hoof concept prepares. I went again and had a quick steak with crab meat that was out of this world.

We sat at the bar and I asked about the beer pulls and mosaic tile. The tiles are original to the building from the 1880s and Greg the bartender turned the pulls himself. I love these fine details that Spike and Amy put into their spaces.

The tiny trays, glassware, original stone and even the fridge covered in reclaimed wood caught my eye.

It's really fun to be able to see all of the action in the kitchen and drool over what's coming out of the "window".

You can also buy cuts of meat, chickens, cured ham and house made sausages. The prices are higher than an average grocery store, but you are paying for the local farm raised products. I think it's worth is for special occasions.

Welcome to the neighborhood Parts & Labor!