Home > Baltimore Bars & Clubs > Bar Review > Inside: Nacho Mama's

Vibe: Arrive at Nacho Mama's on a typical weekend night and the bar is loud, crowded and slightly uncomfortable, but also a lot of fun.

Tables occupy half the bar area as well as the lone open space toward the back of the narrow restaurant, leaving very little room to stand and drink. "That's really not a good place to stand, hon," warned one waitresses as I searched for a spot away from the pack near the end of the bar. I guess I was too close to the flow of traffic. Trouble was, with the place being so packed, there wasn't really any good place to stand. My friend and I moved back up to the bar area and found ourselves constantly pushed by folks trying to squeeze by. (Memo to the guy who patted my ass: Call me!) Diners seated at the tables in the bar area also get a raw deal. Imagine eating dinner with all those buns shoved in your face.

Still, the atmosphere is lively and fun. Like a lot of bars these days, Nacho Mama's decorates from floor to ceiling with nostalgic memorabilia, but Mama's junk is all Baltimore, hon. Signs from Blaze Starr's famed Two O'Clock Club, promotional items from National Bohemian, the Baltimore Orioles and -- ahem! -- the Baltimore Colts (especially Johnny U.) line the wall, and, of course, Elvis greets every guest who enters Mama's.

Crowd: Mama's is a Canton bar on the square, who do you think comes here? Most of the customers are in their early 20s to mid-30s, with a few older folks milling about. Everyone seemed super friendly (like that guy who copped a feel) and Mama's is the kind of place where a single person can easily strike up a conversation with someone at the bar. Frankly, loneliness isn't even an option.

Libations: There's no drink menu at Mama's, and if you order a margarita it comes in a pint glass, not some fancy, stemmed girly glass. However, if you're looking for something a little unusual, you and your friends (or just you, if you're a raging alcoholic) can order a margarita so big it's served in a hubcap. Prices are pretty reasonable: a simple rail drink -- also served in a pint glass -- costs around $4, and specials like $1-off beer and margaritas run Monday through Friday, 4 to 7 p.m. Those in the know call it happy hour.

Sounds: There's no room to stand, so of course there's no room for a band, DJ or even a jukebox, but there is music piped in from somewhere. The night I was there sounded like '80s night, with tunes from R.E.M., Men at Work and even Falco. Despite its charms, I really did not need to hear "Der Kommissar" twice in one night. Thanks, though.

Service: I have no idea how two bartenders manage to keep pace with so many drinkers, but, somehow, they do. I watched as this amazing duo scanned the entire crowd -- not just the bar -- searching for empties. I was equally impressed with the hostess. Instead of shouting people's names aloud, she made her way through the crowd and tapped customers on the shoulder to let them know their table was ready. How she manages to remember everyone borders on sheer magic, or sobriety.

Bottom Line: If you don't mind being a little packed in, Mama's is a fun place to drink, hang, talk and have a pretty good meal, too.

Add a comment