Monday 25th of June 2012 06:02:15 PM

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Bare Bones is a large restaurant, containing a tavern and separate family friendly dining room. The tavern has a 30-chair island bar with several televisions, plenty of small tables, plus booths on a split level. Dark brown and black colors and soft lighting creates a subdued, relaxed atmosphere. Bare Bones offers a sampler flight of their eight house brews: Hunt Valley Light, Patapsco Valley Gold, Old Ellicott Ale, Seven Hills Hefeweizen, Tiber River Red, Chesapeake Brown Ale, Savage Mill Porter, and Old Frederick India Pale Ale (my favorite). Except for the 6.3% abv hoppy IPA, I would characterize these beers as rather unimpressively mild, but with enough diversity to make the sampler interesting. The food menu goes beyond typical pub fare, and is typical of Maryland family dining. There is plenty of parking at this suburban shopping center.

Monday 26th of January 2009 12:29:07 PM

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This person needs 3 or more reviews on the site for their scores to start counting.

While the location is in a suburban strip mall, the interior was large and inviting. I arrived on a Tuesday night and they had free wings and other bar food available as part of happy hour. A nice bonus.

It was very crowded when I first arrived and it took a while to get initial service. However, once I was served I was well taken care of.

I tried three of the beers that were available: an English Pale (Old Ellicott Ale), IPA (Old Frederick), and a red ale (Three River Red). None of them were bad, but I also didn't think any of them were anything special. As a hop head I preferred the IPA over the Pale. The red was decent albeit uninspired. Nothing horrible, but nothing that to motivate me to return.

On the other hand, I thought the food was excellent. Since it was a BBQ joint I gladly ordered the plate of ribs. There was no disappointment here. Good food and plenty of it. I would come back for the ribs alone (and hope that the beers had improved).

I must also point out that they hooked me up by tuning to the Caps game at the bar upon request. :)

Overall, this is a nice place with great food and drinkable beers.