Cabin Fever and a Cozy Escape to The Duchess of Hampden
After being snowed in for days, cabin fever hit hard. Despite the 20-degree weather in Baltimore, I needed to get out—and I definitely wasn’t in the mood to mess up my kitchen. A quick search for new restaurants led me to The Duchess, a Southeast Asian-inspired spot that immediately caught my eye.
Location… You’ll find The Duchess at 1002 W 36th St., nestled in Hampden—one of my favorite neighborhoods in Baltimore. Known as The Avenue to locals, this block is brimming with quirky bars, eclectic restaurants, and vintage shops. I even spotted a shop I’m dying to check out next time.
For this trip, I decided to Uber and skip the hassle of parking. However, The Duchess offers $10 valet service, and there’s plenty of street parking available—just keep the time and day in mind.
The Vibes… Think cozy cabin meets rustic pub. The atmosphere is intimate and warm, perfect for a chilly evening out. I hung out on the bar side, which featured wooden booths that looked more cute than comfy but on-brand with the décor. The dining room seemed to carry the same snug vibe.
The Drinks… You already know—extra dirty, dirty martini. Their house vodka was Wheatly, which worked just fine. (Let’s be honest, all that olive brine could cover a lot of sins.) The cocktail was solid, and the bartender was friendly and attentive. I’d absolutely return just to sip on more drinks at the bar.
The Food… Here’s the real tea: while nothing was bad, not everything wowed me. I went with smaller plates, and the bartender staggered them out nicely:
Garlic Chili Cucumber Salad: Meh. This one lacked flavor and didn’t hit the mark for me. All I tasted was sesame, and the flavors just didn’t stick to the cucumber. I wouldn’t order it again.
Chilled Local Broccoli Goma-ae: A pleasant surprise! Sweet, refreshing, and flavorful—definitely a standout.
Local Crispy Brussels: I’m picky about brussels sprouts because they’re often drowned in sauce. These were a bit heavy-handed in that department, but with light sauce, they’d be perfect.
BBQ Chicken Skewers: Tender, savory, and flavorful—but not sweet. If you’re into a savory BBQ style, you’ll enjoy these, but I prefer a sweeter glaze, so I might skip next time.
Grilled Beef Skewers: Tender, but unfortunately, they lacked seasoning. Even a pinch of salt would’ve gone a long way.
Final Thoughts… Would I go back? Absolutely. There are still plenty of menu items I’m curious to try, especially their main courses. If you’re local to Baltimore, I recommend giving The Duchess a shot. But for my DMV folks, it’s not quite worth the drive.
The end…
