Iron Rooster, known for its Southern style, breakfast food all day, burgers and salads, has opened a second location in Maryland in Baltimore's Canton Crossing at the site of the former Farmstead Grill. The first Rooster joint, in Annapolis, is a local hotspot, is also open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. It is one of my go-to restaurants by the Annapolis Main Street area, where I recently had brunch savoring a housemade bloody with homemade infused vodka. I was led to the spot by Annipolitan friends.
I decided to patronize Iron Rooster Canton during their first week of business. Normally, there are a bunch of expected kinks when a restaurant opens, but pleasantly, that is not the case here.
We started with the fried green tomatoes. But, before the arrival of our starter,
we were pleasantly surprised with a gift of steaming bacon strips, served in a Mason jar. Delish.
Then came our app, described as Fried Green Tomato Stack fried green tomatoes / boursin cheese / corn salsa / garlic aioli / $9.95. The outside was cruchy and inside hot and perfectly seared. Well done, IR!
My friend then enjoyed a bowl of the chicken and dumpling soup ($5.95).
If I were to throw my healthy eating to the wind, the house special Waffle Burger was looking oh so delicious and tempting. Waffle Burger fresh beef brisket ground daily / lettuce / beefsteak tomato / garlic aioli / pickle chips / choice of cheese / waffle bun / add free bacon / add egg $1 / $12.95
Crab Cake Benny pan seared jumbo lump crab cake / poached egg / beefsteak tomatoes / hollandaise / micro greens / light dusting of old bay / english muffin / $17.95
And, I would have topped off the meal with a shared sweet, the over-sized housemade 'Flavor of the Day pop-tart. I have had it at a DC hotspot, but this is larger, looks more stuffed, mmmm. $5.95.
Owner Kyle Algaze was on hand working all aspects of the place from heading the kitchen expediting (I peeked in) to welcoming guests and he even serving us a Bell jar full of sizzling bacon, a house specialty. Asked how they are doing, Algaze says "I am thrilled, there was a line out the door our first weekend."
The building is rustic, with exposed wood. It looks like a renovated barn. Finishing touches were being done on the outside with a painter adding the rooster logo to the facade. I usually love sitting in the bar area, just is more comfortable (see left) where I can get a better vibe of the place and guests.
Kudos to the staff; experienced and responsive and seeming looking like they enjoy their job.
Patti Neumann is Publisher/Chief Hospitality Brand Builder of CITYPEEK.com
& an award-winning 21 C Social Media Publicist/Influencer on food, sips, hospitality & the good life. CITYPEEK.com has its finger on the pulse of what's hot in the world of food, cocktails & travel trends.
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