• Gertrude's

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Gertrude's
Gertrude's

Gertrude's Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://www.gertrudesbaltimore.com
  • Phone: (410) 889-3399
  • Hours of Operation: Tuesday - Friday: 11:30am - 9:00pm Saturday: 10:30am - 9:00pm Sunday: 10:30am - 8:00pm Brunch Menu served on Saturday and Sunday until 3pm Light Fare Menu on Saturday and Sunday from 3pm - 5pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: American, Comfort Food, Seafood
  • Executive Chef: Bill McKinley
  • Dress Code: Smart Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Bar Dining, Beer, Entertainment, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
  • Catering: In addition to birthday parties, anniversary celebrations and corporate affairs, Gertrude's hosts many wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, and “day after” brunches throughout the year, for groups as small as 20 guests, and as large as 150. You may visit our web site, www.gertrudesbaltimore.com, for more info, or contact John Gilligan at jg@johnshields.com (or tel. 410.889.3399 x105).
  • Private Party Facilities: Please call for details.
  • Private Party Contact: John Gilligan (410) 889-3399 x105
  • Entertainment: On Friday nights listen to mellow jazz with Gary Thomas & Friends at Gertrude's from 6 to 8pm, while you enjoy dinner or cocktails in a beautiful and relaxing setting. And the Dottie Tim Jazz Duo plays here on Sundays during our popular brunch, from 11:30 am till 2:30 pm.

Getting there

  • Cross Street: N. Charles St.
  • Parking: Public Lot
  • Parking Details: There is a parking lot for over 40 cars, operated by the BMA; payment is required to use the BMA's lot. There is also plenty of on-street parking directly in front; parking meters are in effect during our operating hours.
A word from Gertrude's
Gertrude's Restaurant, located inside the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), is where John Shields celebrates Chesapeake cuisine using local foods, in a warm and stylish setting. Chef & owner John Shields, a Baltimore native who is a cookbook author and television cooking show host, named the… restaurant after his grandmother, Gertrude Cleary, who taught him to cook as a child. Gertrude's dishes up a sophisticated regional menu of Chesapeake foods and traditions for lunch, dinner, and brunch using local, organic ingredients whenever possible. The restaurant's interior, inspired by life on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, is beautiful & elegant yet comfortable. The wall of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the museum’s Sculpture Garden floods the open & airy dining room with natural light. During the warmer months, additional seats are available on the terrace surrounding a fountain and reflecting pool.Continued
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerAmerican
  • Diners' Choice WinnerGreat for Brunch
  • Diners' Choice WinnerGreat for Lunch
Diner Reviews
  • "The food and drinks are wonderful here, but don't expect a quiet, relaxing brunch. The jazz music from the bar is far too loud in the rest of the restaurant (unless you eat outside), which results in every one talking very loudly to have a conversation over the music. As nearly every table is filled during brunch, this results in a large boisterous atmosphere not unlike happy hour at TGI Fridays. Live jazz music is a nice touch, but Gertrude's should really find a way to make it softer background music."
    Dined on 7/20/2014
  • "We went for brunch before visiting the BMA. Ambience is great and reason to go. Two of the four of us were satisfied w our food-the toe who ordered eggs. Turkey burger was mush and spinach salad soggy and boring."
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "Loved the ambience. Hidden gem in the middle if the city. Sculture garden was great !"
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "While this was not my first time at Gertrude's, it was a special occasion since it was my birthday. The attentiveness of the staff and the delicious locally sustainable menu have never disappointed me."
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "Currently BMA under renovation. Restrooms are a challenge. As well as parking. Got trapped in the lot."
    Dined on 7/17/2014
  • "I've been to Gertrudes many times for dinner but just twice for lunch. Both times it was very special. We had great weather and sat outside overlooking the sculpture garden. The food and service were excellent!"
    Dined on 7/16/2014
  • "You can't beat the menu on Tuesday night when entrees are offered for $12. Great selection, including vegetarian and vegan. Ample portions were served and the non-traditional combo of ingredients looks experimental, but comes off successfully. Looking forward to returning."
    Dined on 7/15/2014
  • "Delicious $12 entrees, $20/bottle wine selections, all prepared and served as though you were out on a Saturday night. Will be glad when the renovations are complete!"
    Dined on 7/15/2014
  • "Pleasant atmosphere. Great food. Delightful dinner. Crab cake always good. Trout excellent."
    Dined on 7/13/2014
  • "We had a wonderful time, the food was amazing! Our waitress was excellent."
    Dined on 7/13/2014
  • "Sunday brunch on patio....tables squashed so close to other diners, I was continually bumped by waiters. Seats on patio near the service station, are really not like being on a patio at all...hot and noisy. Had cold drink spilled on my shoulder. One takes order, one brings rolls, different one brings drinks (error), and diffeent one brings main course (error). No continuity. Food good. Loved the corn muffins and jellly. But not the relaxing Sunday brunch I was anticipating. My mother was going to use the makeshift rented portable toilets (there due to the BMA renovatons). The smell was so powerful we made a bee line home instead. Will probably wait until the BMA renovation is complete before returning."
    Dined on 7/13/2014
  • "This was our first time after hearing rave reviews from several friends. We were a party of 5 for brunch, all of us had Gertrude's version of Crab Cakes Benedict and they were delicious, the Dirty Gerty Brunch Cocktail was out of this world as well. The service was outstanding, our waitress was very attentive. The noise level was a bit loud, but it was a great place and we will be back again."
    Dined on 7/13/2014
  • "Gertrude's is a wonderful place to go for Sunday breakfast. The menu is very extensive with a variety from the simple to the extravagant. Even on a very hot summer morning, sitting outside under the tent, the ceiling fans made it quite comfortable."
    Dined on 7/13/2014
  • "Gertrude's always has high quality food and good service. I was happy this time to see that they had a vegetarian brunch special, tofu scramble. They also have great bloody marys."
    Dined on 7/13/2014
  • "Always enjoy dining at Gertrude's and love eating outside in the warm weather. My friends were impressed."
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "A lovely setting, excellent cuisine, attentive staff. I love Gertrude's."
    Dined on 7/10/2014
  • "We were looking for a restaurant to take an out of town guest for crab cakes and Gertrude's was the perfect option - great ambiance and service and of course, the best Maryland crab cakes. And, the best Maryland Crab Soup."
    Dined on 7/8/2014
  • "Under par I have been to Gertrude's several times and ordered the salmon the last 2 times. I must say that the entire meal was just a little dry (especially compared to the first order which was no less than succulent all around). I was going to mention it but brought a friend for the very first time and decided to let her enjoy. She ordered the salmon too and I had been boasting about the food all week then I found it sub-stellar. We had fun taking pictures in the sculpture garden afterwards. It's a great restaurant, no doubt but the salmon, pilaf and asparagus was a bit dry and under seasoned. I took home leftover salmon - it was very nice in my salad the next day, however. I will return. You are definitely worth the second chance."
    Dined on 7/8/2014
  • "Our second year coming to Gertrude's for our anniversary. If the weather isn't too hot, sit in the sculpture garden. It was wonderful!"
    Dined on 7/6/2014
  • "Food was good. The service was good. Their homemade soft drink was delicious. Post meal walkabout to explore the outdoor sculpture was great with great company."
    Dined on 7/6/2014
  • "We've been going here for brunch for a while now, and we've never been disappointed. The food, service and location are unbeatable. We sat outside this time, overlooking the sculpture garden on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I highly recommend it... and the Eggs Benedict!"
    Dined on 7/6/2014
  • "Gertrude's was an amazing place to go, sit outside and eat very incredible crab cakes in the heart of Baltimore. It also has connected to it Baltimore Museum of Arts which is free. So if you want a night out with the spouse and to enjoy a beautiful garden with wine and great food. Go to Gertrude's!!"
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "Gertrude's never fails to please. A great day, along with visiting the BMA."
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "Our lunch was outstanding. Best cream of crab soup ever! The desserts were ok but not quite up to the rest of the lunh."
    Dined on 7/3/2014
  • "I always start out to try something different on the menu but return to crabcake --after all it is Balt.! You chose from the HOUSE crabcake or Cake of the Day--can't go wrong. But for LandLovers and Vegans there are plenty of appealing choices."
    Dined on 7/3/2014
  • "We always enjoy our time at Gertrude's. The food is delicious and the selection is outstanding."
    Dined on 6/29/2014
  • "My wife and I had out wedding reception at Gertrude's in June of 2009 and we have gone back there every June to celebrate our anniversary. They continue to impress and we plan to keep up the tradition for many years to come!"
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Great food, service, location. Very noisy -- caught between several large parties so we had a Very hard time hearing one another. How about trying to position small groups at one end of the restaurant so their experience mirrors your attention to food?"
    Dined on 6/26/2014
  • "Delicious fresh yummy food Great service Lovely place"
    Dined on 6/26/2014
  • "I had a wonderful time. It was my first time there and the food was amazing. I was very full and I went on Tuesday for $12 Tuesday. Must go."
    Dined on 6/24/2014
  • "The five of us had a great experience; wonderful and prompt service and great food."
    Dined on 6/22/2014
  • "The food, the ambiance and our waiter were superb; we could deal with the temporary construction bathrooms. The only sour note was the "hostess" who seated us. We have rarely encountered anyone as surly, monosyllabic and disinterested; we were obviously a burden for her to look up the reservation and seat us. We did not let that spoil our night but it did take a while to get the bad taste out of mouths left by her sour, "you're not cool enough to smile at/make eye contact with/be pleasant for" demeanor. I have always assumed a hostess' job is to GREET people and make then WELCOME. Not like you're an irritant for showing up. Maybe her cat died or she was hungover."
    Dined on 6/20/2014
  • "Unusual dishes well cooked with perfect fresh ingredients. Original wine list"
    Dined on 6/20/2014
  • "Party of 8 - Overall nice experience. Cuisine was tasty - everyone in group enjoyed their meal. Service was a bit short of what we expected. When asked what something on the menu was, our waiter paused for a second, then replied "it's kind-of what you think it is". Really? He didn't even care enough to go and ask the chef... and not much personality to boot. In my opinion, the service did not match the level of cuisine on this visit."
    Dined on 6/18/2014
  • "We celebrated a birthday with a family gathering. Gertrude's staff was wonderful available and attentive without being intrusive. Outside dining was the perfect spot for two young children to eat and walk to the water features for fun while other family members enjoyed the delicious meal. The Tuesday night dinner specials made the dinner a great value and not too costly for a large group."
    Dined on 6/17/2014
  • "The setting is wonderful, the food and drinks are good, and the service is attentive. Add some good weather so one can sit outside and some background jazz at brunch and you just can't do any better!"
    Dined on 6/15/2014
  • "I had been to Gertrude before and loved the experience. I took my out of town guest here and was sorely disappointed. I ordered the standard Eggs Benedict. I have numerous food allergies so I opted for sauteed spinach and steamed veggies in place of the English muffin and home fries. I received my meal and was very disappointed. The poached eggs were terrible, one was severely over-done and the other was flopped open- almost like a sunny-side up eggs. The eggs were placed on a bed of raw spinach (for which I was charged extra), there were LARGE long pieces of onions in the sauteed vegetables, and the snap peas were not trimmed. I almost choked on the stems. I am very disappointed with my experience. It was poor 1st impression for my guest."
    Dined on 6/15/2014
  • "The noise level indicated was quiet because we had a late lunch and the restaurant was almost empty. If you are there during the lunch period it can be very noisy! Most of our visits are at lunch so I cannot comment on dinner hour and the noise level. Our lunch this time was just wonderful, the crab cakes were perfect as was the rest of the lunch. We will return on our next visit to Baltimore."
    Dined on 6/13/2014
  • "The food was amazing and the crab cakes are defintely something I would recommend off the menu!"
    Dined on 6/13/2014
  • "Haven't been to Gertrude's in several months but this was my second time in recent weeks. The food was great. I usually don't rave about vegetables but the sautéed greens - collard greens - were fabulous! I had the crab cake - always good - and my dining companion had the swordfish kabob which she said was perfectly cooked. My only criticism is that the waiter seemed to rush us into placing our order. It was a quiet Wednesday night and I was there with I friend I hadn't seen in a while. We wanted to catch up over a leisurely dinner."
    Dined on 6/11/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • Baltimore / Maryland Winners
  • Great for Brunch
  • Baltimore Winners
  • American
  • Great for Brunch
  • Great for Lunch
  • Most Booked 1000-Point Tables
  • Most Booked
Learn more ›
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