First look: Todd Conner's

Corner bar brings fine food and cheap brews to Fells

By Robert Jacobs

Special to Metromix
February 4, 2008

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Oh, the times they are a-changin'—at least in Fells Point. Where have all the frat boys gone? Well it's not Armageddon, yet. You'll still find roving frat packs on Friday nights, knuckles scraping across cobblestones as they hunt for girls and Jagermeister. However, you most assuredly will not find them at a place called Todd Conner's. Located at 700 South Broadway in a building that once contained the sports bar Slammers (and everything the name implies), Todd Conner's has definitely exorcised all of those puerile demons and is now an upscale, yet laid-back, neighborhood establishment with good food and drink.

Food: The food, like everything at Todd Conner's, is a step above your average Fells Point establishment. This comes at a price, as T.C.'s is more expensive than other local bar menus. You get what you pay for, though, and in this case what you're paying for is quality. A few choice selections from the main course menu include Thames Street tuna ($19.99), the ultimate crab cake platter ($24.99), Durham chicken ($14.99) and pasta primavera ($11.99).

There are also plenty of appetizers, in case you just want a nibble. We grabbed a plate of Aliceanna's wings ($7.99) and were not disappointed. What made it even sweeter was the fact that it was Super Bowl Sunday and the wings were half price. A spicy plate of wings for $4 is music to Metromix ears. The bar also serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Booze: Pay particular attention to the following information: Happy hour, every day, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., $1 off all drinks. Get that? That's one long happy hour. But wait. There's more! Nightly specials include neighborhood night (Wednesdays: get 25 percent off with proof of Fells Point residency), wine day (Thursday: half-priced bottles of wine) and martini madness (Friday: $5 Absolut martinis all day and night).

Guinness, Blue Moon, Stella Artois, Smithwick's, Magic Hat and Yuengling are all on tap, and the bottled beer and wine selection is also pretty decent. If you like to start early on weekends, pop in for brunch and take advantage of $2.50 bloody Marys and mimosas.

Digs: Some of that Harbor East upscale trendiness is definitely spilling into Fells Point. The front area of Todd Conner's has a long, elegant wooden bar where patrons can drink good beer and watch the game on two wall-mounted flat screen TVs. The rear features a modern, open dining area with mellow, but airy, lighting and ceiling fans.

Vibe: This isn't your grandfather's Baltimore neighborhood bar...and that's OK. It's just as friendly, adding a touch of sophistication to that ol' Bawlamer charm. It's a place for people to hang out, meet their neighbors, eat good food and possibly get hammered...but in a mature and sophisticated kind of way.