Clavel

When 5PM hits on a warm sunny Tuesday, you already know what time it is......But this was not your average Taco Tuesday folks. I literally felt like I transcended directly to a small town in Mexico . Clavel is by far a chef's kiss, Mexican, Culinary Experience, and I loved every moment of it.

Where do I even begin?? First off the decor.. so chic, so beautiful, so authentic. Cream color painted walls , accent wood furniture, and hints of green agave plants everywhere ... a minimalist's dream for sure.

The tacos definitely own up to the hype, they were amazing. I got fancy and ordered the traditional Lengua Tacos and Tinga Chicken - might have been the best tacos I've had, other than while in Mexico . And I'm not only one who thinks so either lol get there early because the line starts around 4:30pm... 4:15pm on Fridays apparently lol no reservations required. Bring friends, Enjoy!!

We decided to go here after catching a movie at the Charles Street theater. Its a James Beard 2024 finalist for it's bar. While I didn't get a drink this evening my boyfriend did try one of their mocktails and I enjoyed the flavor profile on it. Its a mezcaleria as well if mezcals are your thing. We shared the butterflied shrimp aguachile and let me tell you as spicy as it was it was also delicious. But yeah I think I finished a bottle of water by myself.
I got the lamb and beef barbacoa and the shrimp tacos whilst my boyfriend got the vegetarian tacos on offer. Everything was good but the red salsa they served with the vegetarian tacos was also scorching hot.
We did have to share a tres leches cake to cool down at the end. Their spice levels for the salsas are no joke.
No reservations; we were walk ins around 9pm on a Saturday night. Indoor dining was an hour wait, but luckily they had available spots outside. As warm as it was there was no sun beating down on us. My only feedback would be to maybe invest in some stand fans for outdoor diners during summer time.

I really enjoyed my time here. The entrance was a bit hard to find, and the location is a bit out of the way for baltimore.

The food was good! I can't deny that, but cost versus value I do think it's a bit pricy for what you get. But it was good.

The true star for me was the cocktails though. Absolutely delicious, every single one. The guacamole was also absolutely amazing. Way better than any other I've had out.

The wait can (and most likely will be) long. And the benches outside are not very comfortable. If you sit inside you will most likely be sitting at a larger table with strangers. All things to keep in mind. The food is good, but I feel like this is a place to go with possibly a larger party?

We were in Baltimore for a week and despite having the chance to enjoy a lot of restaurants, Clavel was hands-down my favorite restaurant of the trip. Not too far from Johns Hopkins campus, in a slightly industrial neighborhood that is very unassuming. But when you see the lines that begin forming every day when they open, that's how you realize that they are a local foodie destination. If you are craving authentic Mexican, they are amazing. Honestly as good as California and even some of the good spots I've had the chance to experience in Mexico City. Very highly recommend if visiting Baltimore.

Clavel has the most authentic Mexican cuisine I have found outside of Texas and California! It's not the normal Tex-Mex food, but truly authentic. Absolutely delicious!

Service is amazing! I've been really lucky lately with the service at the new places I have frequented. Clavel did not disappoint. We sat in the bar area. The bartenders were so friendly and make a mean margarita.

Everything I tasted was so yummy. Queso, full of cheese, sprinkling of corn and spices with fresh tortillas...yum! Shrimp Tacos were fresh. I really like the house made corn tortillas with the Tacos. Clavel has a great menu, full of varieties, gluten free, vegetarian, pescatarian, they have a dish to meet your dietary needs.

The restaurant is fun! Indoor and outdoor seating. Bar area is small but mighty.

Wonderful dinning experience!

I don't go to Clavel often, but when I go... it's on my birthday. I have been meaning to go for a long time, but not being able to make reservations makes it difficult. I decided to go on a Monday, and it was excellent! Their aguachile ceviche was delicious, although I was unsure about the raw shrimp (I'm usually okay with everything raw... except shrimp). Their queso fundido and cocktail of the day were excellent. It can get pretty loud, so if you are looking to have conversation on a date, maybe go somewhere else and save it for the second or third date haha.

Incredible food, cocktails, service, and ambiance. Worth every penny. I wish this place was closer to me in an area with plenty of parking because I'd be a regular otherwise. I don't drink much, but this place made some of the best cocktails I've had. I got 3 drinks and tried sips of my friends also to provide some commentary. The food was phenomenal. Tasted authentic and traditional- this is coming from a taco/Mexican food snob who goes to California for good Mexican eats. My favorite taco was the fish taco, El Luchador. That was mind blowing-crispy with actual flavor in the fish and the salsas and cabbage slaw complimented it perfectly. That taco reminded me of my California trips. I also tried the Cochinita Pibil and Barbacoa de Borrego taco as well. Their ceviche is impeccable too. Everything literally is amazing.

DRINKS:
-Tuba Por Favor (10/10) Sweet, fruity perfection. Crowd pleaser for sure. One of my fav drinks of the night.
-Texcoco (9/10) Great for rum lovers and a tropical vibe. Tasty.
-Santa Sandía (7/10) I requested to make it sweeter. Was good, but something in the drink a unique taste wasn't the best on my palette. It was okay. I'd get other drinks next time
-Paloma de Luto (9/10) Pleasantly surprised I liked this one. Very delicious. Consider this one. It's got like a tamarind like taste but no tamarind is in it. Just try it.
-Margarita (9/10) Can't mess this up. Classic and delicious.
-Mezcalita (9/10) First time trying mezcal and I loved the smokiness! I wish they filled this up all the way though.

FOOD:
-Ceviche Sinaloense (8/10) First time trying ceviche! Simple yet delicious. Note this isn't sufficient as an appetizer to share with others
-El Luchador Taco (10/10) Phenomenal. I must get this one every time. Crispy, flavorful, and hits all the right notes
-Barbacoa de Borrego Taco (8.5/10) Juicy and flavorful as it should be
-Cochinita Pibil Taco (7.5/10) You taste bitter notes from the orange. You don't taste orange at all, but I've had better Cochinita Pibil at other places. Still very well made, this is just me being picky! Try this!

So this place gave me mixed reviews. It's been on my list of places to go for about 2 years, so when I finally went I was stoked.

The design of this place is so adorable. Despite its small spacing, it was oddly comfortable. There were seats everywhere, the way the seating was designed was so different. It was a very hipster atmosphere, that's for sure.

Now the service was quite interesting. It wasn't bad per-sey , but was a little weird. I was with a bigger group, so this probably played a role in it. It didn't seem like she was listening to some of our orders, BUT it was also loud and on the busier side so maybe she was just in a rush.

Now for the food. I had gotten this drink called Agua Fresca, they had a hibiscus option. It's a nonalcoholic beverage, carbonated, and very tasty. It was so refreshing, definitely recommend. Now..I will say if you like your queso on the "looser" side. DO NOT get this appetizer. It's literally just thick melted cheese. You barely call it queso. It was the worst part of the food I got. 100% will never get. I also got the Camarones tacos. One of the best shrimp tacos I've had in a long time hands down. Everything was fresh, the dressing they used on them was fantastic, and the perfect touch was the lime juice. Everything was amazing. I could eat 6 more. Official rating is nagging 6.8/10. If I come back , it's for the shrimp tacos.

Triple Threat (tequila, tacos and tepache).

My favorite Mexican spot in Baltimore. The tacos are delicious served on scratch made tortillas. Favorite is the cochinita Pibil. They make my favorite margs in the city. The tres leches is divine.
They don't take reservations and the wait can be long, so if you don't have the time, get one of their amazing burritos to go!

This is hands down one of my FAVORITE spots in Baltimore. Everything from their drinks to food is so good! A couple things I highly recommend getting: their queso fundido, cochinita pibil tacos, and their tamal de élote! But really everything on their menu is carefully crafted and really delicious. Also the vibes in here feel like Tulum and really take you on vacation. This place is a must for any event!