(05/30/2013) Â Nice little place in a storefront at the Belvedere Square. Â The whole market area strives to be upscale, suburban, and chi-chi (while just being inside the City line and an oasis that straddles the historic and low-rent areas. Â
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The small plates are designed to complement the selective beer and wine selection. Â The Alsatian flatbread we tried was a hit; buttery, flaky, paper thin, crisp crust but still with a nice chew, and some salt to it. Â The "Nature" (bacon, carmelized onion, creme fraiche, fresh cracked black pepper) is a classic combo in this Rhine region. Â The Pheasant Sausage was juicy and fatty (obviously plenty of pork fat ground into the mix), gamey, well-seasoned, black pepper, with a tart/pungent mustard sauce and savory onion jam. Â The Pennsylvania Farmed Mushrooms were fresh, plump, sauteed, but unclear what the "house special sauce" was; rather unexciting and bland. Â
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The service is a little spacey (just how many times do you have to tell us you forgot our order) earnest. Â The place doesn't stay open late, probably the suburban clientele has to get home to make sandwiches for the kids and get to work the next day, but they do a bustling business right up to the line. Â Great place if it's in your neighborhood and conveniently connected to a gourmet market.
This place has the best beer in north Baltimore. The environment is pleasant, and you can even bring in food from Atwaters next door. Â That being said, it isn't enough to make up for the horrible experience you will have while drinking and eating.
The service is terrible, the owner is rude, and these factors have ruined many visits for me. Even when you sit at a table, you have to go to the bar to get service from one of the 4-5 people standing behind the bar chatting with one another. Â And then, you are either ignored or on the receiving end of attitude. The draft beers are very expensive, and the carry out beer is several dollars more than even the most expensive liquor store.
Craft beer is important to me, and this is why I have visited Grand Cru on many, many occasions over the past ten years: there literally is nowhere else nearby. However, I am done with this place: they have been rude to me one too many times. Â I will now drive to Hampden where there are several great places with draft beer and good food: 13.5%, Food Market, and Woodberry Kitchen. Â If you're willing to go further afield, Heavy Seas Alehouse, Metropolitan, and Red Star have not only great food, great food, but also great service.
This is on of my favorite go to locations for Friday happy hour. They have a great selection of wines and mixed drinks, it is a little on the pricer side, but in this area the alternative is a bunch of dingy college bars. They have a nice selection of mixed drinks and 6 solid rotating beers. One is from Maryland, one is regional, a few from Europe and then something off the wall and strange.. Â Never have I been in here and have tried all the beers, always something new to try. I normally opt for some of the very reasonably priced glasses of wine, or a manhattan. They make a delicious manhattan.
The crowd is slightly older but that is a nice change of pace, no one is in a rush and they are always in a super chill laid back mood. One day the Mayor even stopped in, btw, she is even prettier in person!
One cool thing to note re: food is that you can order and pay for food in any of the other market "food shops" inside the attached market and they will bring it to your table in Grand Cru. I think this place is solid and never disappoints.
My favorite bar by far! Â The absolute best drinks in Baltimore! The wine selection is vast, and since I have started drinking their Manhattans, i have never looked back. Â The atmosphere is like a local bar, everyone knows your name and even what your drinking before you sit down. Â The staff is amazing and very attentive, friendly and personable. Â I make an effort to stop in weekly if not more.
Review Source:This was my first time at Grand Cru. Went here after work for wine and apps. Decent wine by the glass and I got the daily sausage(mmmmm bison) with sweet caramelized  onions. Great music being played till late and the wait staff was friendly. Food was a little pricey but I was with great company so no worries :)
Review Source:It's a little expensive for my taste, but it's a great place to relax after work or in the evening.
The wine is always good and they're always helpful when you're not sure about what you want.
They have some tasty appetizers too, but like I said- a little too pricey for me, which is why the stars sit at 3 and not 4.
Go for the tartes. Â These are thin-crust-like pizzas (alsatian?) for just $9. Â The creme fraiche/mushroom/onion/tomato combination works best for a sweet and savory combination. But check to daily menu in case there's a daily meat option. Â Same goes with the spread and bread. Â Overall, snacks for under $10. Â Still can't tell whether its a chain (there's one in Arlington, VA). Â Would return if I was nearby but it's not destination in-and-of-itself. Â Also very curious about Crush across the street .... [Original Visit: April 8, 2012]
Review Source:"What song is this?"
Siri: " Mary by the Beach boys"
After the third Beach Boys song in a row, politely to the unempowered bartender. "Hey man, can you please work on the tunes."
The request is conveyed to the owner with the untucked goodwill store lumberjack red checked shirt, greasy beard, and poser thick rimmed glasses who smirks as he cranks up the volume instead.
The random lady at the bar next to me "wtf?"
Siri: "I hope this isn't pandora"
"Don't worry he is changing the cd."
The din in the bar, whose sole success is due to the absolute dearth of any other viable bar to serve northern balmer city neighborhoods, can't keep up with the owner's next musical selection of blasting Sousa marches. It's a grand old flag...
Siri: "the owner is a dbag"
"He sure is."
Guys, looking for a place to take a date and look thoughtful, cultured, refined and tasteful?!?! Â This place qualifies. Â With the crazy MD liquor laws, this place is just off of the market. Â You can get anything you want in the market, and bring it into grand cru. Â They also have an excellent selection of appetizer style bites. Â The wines are reasonably priced and they have quite a few options by the glass. Â It's small an intimate, perfect for conversation. Â Fellas, you can thank me later.
Review Source:Had an absolutely great night here recently with a few friends. I kept driving by this place, hearing great things about it. It almost seemed too cool to be true. Maybe that's why I didn't go? It's definitely going to be one of my new Friday night spots. It's a wine bar, with the feel of a coffee shop. Very chill atmosphere. I didn't go to eat, but I heard the flatbreads are awesome. Will have to try one next time. And there will be a next time... like... tonight??? I'm so pumped to have discovered this new spot and I can't wait for the summer so I can go hang out outdoors with my vino and some lady friends. I also realized that a friend from high school works there. Hopefully he will happily over-serve and undercharge us again!
Review Source:Camille you are really a genius. You never cease to amaze me! How is it that you've lived walking distance of Belvedere Square for the past 4 years and you've yet to step stiletto into Grand Cru?!?!
Preposterous!
It's right across the street from one of your favorite restaurants (Crush- American dining in a trendy atmosphere); AND a few feet away from Zen West- a staple for all things tequila. AND TCBY just opened up only a few feet from Egyptian pizza (you know we have a proclivity to all things sweet). You're killing me here!
Nonetheless, I appreciate the oak aged tempranillo/merlot. You havent made me feel this way in months. Not to mention the fact that you were able to acquire a tasty panini from the adjoining shop to devour with our vino... Ahhhhhh, heaven.
Regardless of your stupidity, we've grown to form an irreplaceable bond and I appreciate your tasty contributions day in and day out- You're alright by me! Don't let anybody tell you otherwise
Love, (p.s. please take something for your indigestion)
.... Your Stomach
You know how sometimes you're just in the mood to go out on Monday, and so many restaurants are closed? Â Do yourself a favor and go to Grand Cru!
One of the best things about it is that it's part of the Belvedere Market complex, which is filled with fantastic little food stands selling Italian cuisine, smoked fish, cheese, produce, bread, imported oils and other deliciousness. Â You can browse around and pick up everything you need for a last-minute dinner party or just eat there. Â Or, you can order what you like and have them bring it to Grand Cru while you sample their large selection of wine and beer. Â
Grand Cru serves wine by the glass, half glass, and bottle. Â They also serve cheese and charcuterie plates. Â You can sit there for hours just talking with friends, and with all the choices, everyone's guaranteed to find something they like. Â It's definitely worth the trip if you're outside of North Baltimore. Â You can make an afternoon of it with all the cute boutiques on the block, and parking is plentiful!
I've enjoyed many a happy hour or early afternoon quick drinks there as well as picking some wine and beer on the way home. Surprising beer selection as I've picked up a few nice items that you don't see a lot of other places.
Staff will always be willing to help you pick something out or give you great service at the bar. Seating can be a bit cramped when people are looking for a bottle (and vice-versa when you're the one looking for the bottle). They also make a mean but expensive sangria during the summer concerts. Rumor has it the city charges the bars and food vendors a pretty penny every week for those concert serving permits.
Anyway, they have a nice draft selection too when I just want to sit with some friends and have a cold one. Always like to try different ones.
Grand Cru is attached to the Belvedere Square Market - so, during the Market hours, you can freely walk in and out, and even bring in food and snacks you've purchased. They offer their own assortment of dishes from Atwater's, though, which you should try. Even if you're not a wine drinker, they have a great selection of high-end beer, and a few other non-wine drinks (sake, for example). The atmosphere is laid-back and casual, but has the appearance of an upscale wine bar. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and will always talk booze with you.
Review Source:I discovered this place a couple of weeks ago, and I've already been back 4 times! Being a big but picky wine drinker, I've been able to pick out wines that I absolutely love. They have a huge selection of wines, and the staff will always be able to help you pick out something you like. Everyone who works here is very friendly.
The food is great, although the small plates are a bit overpriced for what you get. The best value, I think, are the $9 flatbread/pizza-like dishes. The venison with the blueberry glaze is so unique and so delicious, I've never had anything like it before.
You can also order a bottle of wine and pay the $5 corkage fee, which is a great deal, Â rather than ordering by the glass.
Outside seating is available, but they go very quickly. It's definitely hard to grab one of those seats because when there's alcohol involved, people tend to dawdle for hours on end.
All in all, this is definitely one of my favorite places to go. The atmosphere is great!
I could stop in here every night after work and never grow tired of it. We prefer to sit outside for the fresh air and people watching. Actually, I don't think I've ever once sat inside. When it gets crowded, you can grab a table that isn't in front of their shop, but you won't necessarily get table service.
They have a great wine selection. I usually prefer to buy by the bottle (even though the $5 corking fee seems a bit excessive since they are basically a fancied up liquor store) rather than by the glass. But I'll do their flights if I'm in the mood to taste something new and then buy which ever bottle grabbed me the most.
The cocktails are also delicious. I'm in love with the pisco sour, but be warned... this drink seriously packs a punch. And you won't even notice until it's too late. Same goes for the old fashioned. I think this might be my favorite place for cocktails.
They have a nice little cigar selection up front by the register, but be warned - they have no matches or lighters so if you need to light one up you better have something with you.
If we're feeling nibbly we'll go for the cheese plate. It varies time to time, and I've never been disappointed. Order the spanish almonds to go with them. We've had their alsatian pizza once or twice and it was also very good. Light and not heavy, but also not very filling. If it's a full meal you're after, pick up something from Ceriello's, or better yet, some sushi, and bring it back to your table.
I've heard some pretty pretentious conversations there from other patrons, but since this is at Belvedere Square and seems to be New Baltimore at it's most yuppy element, it's too be expected. However, I've also met some very nice people there.
The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly and have always steered me in the right direction while providing excellent service.
Grand Cru makes me look forward to warmer weather so I can spend my evenings - or afternoons - relaxing with a good drink and in a pleasant atmosphere.
Great place to have a glass of wine,cocktail or beer. Staff is friendly. Small plates of cheeses, olives and smoked salmon are fresh and just the right size to accompany a glass of whatever it is you like.
This wine bar is in the newly renovated Belvedere Square Market.They will  allow you to take a glass through the market to Atwater's ( for the best soup,salad and sandwich you ever had) as long as you promise to return the glass. Good place to meet friends before the movies at the Senator. Lots of parking available. Get on the mailing list for wine tasting events. Live music at the Square on Friday nights.
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