Bill Bateman's Bistro

Clarksville, MD

Price:$$$

Decor: Family style Bistro

Summary: Best wings in MD

(4 crabs out of 5)

Paul-I think the whole point of going here is to eat buffalo wings. The other food I ordered was pretty good (maybe a 3 crab kinda food and service) but the old bay flavored wings were fantastic. A must try, probably the best in the state. Also the atmoshpere was pretty lively and well decorated. I loved all the old Baltimore Colts pictures. My only problems with the place were that they really should give out more blue cheese dressing and I hated the Washington Redskin pictures.

Karen-Any good Marylander has to give Bill Bateman credit. Credit in card form (most certainly!) but credit also for injecting Maryland in every possible
nook and cranny in his restaurants in Towson and Clarksville. Not only are
the walls covered with pictures of Maryland sports teams (OK, so the
Redskins are there too--for some the Colts- and Ravens-less years were too
lonely a hiatus)--but this restaurant also boasts a "Maryland" hamburger
with a topping of crab dip! OK, so the burger is far too dense and course a
taste to appreciate any of the subtle zing of crab dip, but still, it's a
noble effort. Actually, the Maryland power comes in the true lure of Bill
Bateman's, the buffalo wings. Now, the relative breadiness of buffalo wings
is a personal preference, and normally I crave the big fried crevices
seeping with buffalo juice. However, Bill has managed to efficiently pack
the whole fried whallop into a fine tight skin. Combine that with generous
and strategically placed portions of Old Bay, and you have a mouth-watering
appetizer or meal. My only complaint is that, as any wing afficionado
knows, blue cheese is its soul mate, and a little cup covering 4-5 wings
can't last for long. Bring a bowl and I'll be beaming. Also watch out for
special deals like 2 for 1 burgers on certain nights, but only in the bar
area. Otherwise the prices aren't exactly a bargain, but will cost you as
much as any of the mainstream chain sort of places but with a distinct and
unique Maryland sort of taste.

reviewed October 26, 2000