Jazz Brunch at Langermann’s in Baltimore

While browsing through restaurants and menus prior to our departure to Baltimore, I came across the words “Saturday Jazz Brunch” and instantly made a reservation. I don’t think there’s any doubt about my passion for food but jazz is a less documented love of mine and any place that can harmoniously bring the two together is a place I want to be.

Langermann’s is a southern-inspired restaurant where you’ll find classics like fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits and pecan pie, as well as other regional American favorites. The weather on Saturday was cold, windy and rainy but inside Langermann’s was warm and the mood was sunny. The four-piece jazz band provided a festive yet calming backdrop and really made it hard to leave the restaurant.

We started with a complimentary basket of house-made buttermilk biscuits and cornbread. The cornbread was still warm, sweet and light. The biscuits were a bit too salty and not as buttery as one would hope for.

I asked the waiter if it was possible to request “some sort of chocolaty or espresso martini” although it wasn’t on the menu and he said he believed it was. He returned a few minutes later with a creamy espresso vodka martini in a chocolate-drizzled glass and it was exactly what I wanted. Cheers to day drinking!

I went for the Memphis Eggs Benedict, which consisted of barbecued pulled pork atop toasted English muffins with poached eggs and hollandaise, and was served with stone ground grits - a house specialty. I’ve never thought of putting pulled pork and runny eggs together but what a revelation it was. And the grits, oh man; definitely not like the instant grits I make at home. These were so creamy and indulgent that they deserve to be the main course instead of just a side.

Upon handing us our check, our previously-mentioned awesome waiter, Ezra, asked where we’re from. We said Brooklyn and it turned out he’s from here too. We asked him for recommendations of where to go in town and he ended up drawing a whole map for us of what to do in the neighborhood. Although we didn’t end up seeing most of the places he recommended due to the weather and our colds, we were touched by this gesture. If there’s anything I learned about Baltimore this past weekend, is that its people are super polite. This scenario would’ve never played out in New York. Perhaps we’re just too busy over here to go the extra mile for complete strangers. Or perhaps we’re simply jaded and couldn’t care less. Thoughts?