When Lib’s Grill was getting ready to open the community held its breath. Would this be a much needed improvement over the last restaurant to occupy the space? Perry Hall needed a restaurant and bar with a fun atmosphere and good food. Lib’s Grill delivered bigtime when they opened in December, 2013.
Front view of Lib’s Grill
One of the things new customers will witness on their first few visits are happy locals, smiling staff, plus great food and drinks. Whether you come for lunch, dinner or weekend brunch, Lib’s Grill is ready to make your day better. The bar area has a well-stocked oyster bar. On any given day there might be 12 or more types of oysters ready to slurp down with a craft beer on tap. Their happy hour is great with offerings like buck-a-shuck oyster, $3 fish tacos, deviled eggs with lump crab, $7 appetizers, and $2 Old Bay flavored popcorn are a few of the taste treats. Get $1 draughts, $2 domestic beers, $4 wines-by-the-glass and more during this after work happy hour. Be forewarned, on Friday nights if you don’t come early, the bar and restaurant might be packed to capacity and you will stand there pouting until a table opens up. On Ravens or Orioles game days the bar might be packed with patrons parked close to one of many flat screen TVs.
Crab topped deviled eggs
The staff tends to know most of the customers and greet them warmly upon arrival. It is common to see manager Nick Liberatore making the rounds with bar patrons and diners alike. An ample menu will please most palettes. The term comfort food comes to mind when I think of the menu at Lib’s Grill. The chef sources high quality produce and meats locally when possible. The soups are standouts so always ask what the soup-of-the-day is. I love the oyster stew and the Maryland crab soup. Both are always on offer. The small plate offering of shrimp and grits with andouille sausage is creamy, shrimpy goodness.
Small plate of Shrimp and Grits
Just try and pass on the pretzel bread with a side of whipped honey butter that accompanies each table at dinner. Most of us don’t have that kind of will power. The salads are big and tasty, their flat-breads cheesy and filling, but my favorite dish is probably the pan roasted chicken with mushroom ravioli, crispy prosciutto, smoked mozzarella, and spinach. You will not leave hungry after ordering this dish. Most of the time when I order the pan roasted chicken I have delicious leftovers for lunch the next day.
a special salad, photo by Kevin Brown and Hannah Smith
Meat entrees run the gamut of steaks, grilled pork chops, pot roast and Roseda Farms meatloaf. Check out steak night every Wednesday with a specially chosen steak-of-the-night, a potato, vegetable and Heathbar bread pudding rounding out this full-meal deal. Prices run from about $20 to $25 depending on the type of steak the chef has featured that night. Seafood options are excellent at Lib’s Grill and go way beyond just oysters and crab. My wife and I love their Tuesday night lobster special. For a mere $19.95 you get a salad, whole Maine lobster, mashed potatoes, green beans and a delicious Heathbar bread Pudding. Other popular seafood dishes are, lobster mac & cheese, fettuccine with crab, and Maryland crab cakes. Seasonal additions come up with slight changes to the menu for spring, summer, fall and winter.
Heathbar bread pudding, photo by Kevin Brown and Hannah Smith
Lib’s Grill has special events throughout the year. Check out their website for announcements of wine dinners, craft beer dinners, whiskey events, and a special Halloween event I heard about from a little bird. Those of us who live nearby are fortunate to have such a fun restaurant serving up good food and good times. As a professionally trained chef I love having a restaurant this good close to home. Lib’s Grill is easily accessed from Baltimore; a mere 20 to 25 minutes north on I-95 to Perry Hall. Come on out and join us locals in a true neighborhood gem.