by Josiah L.

being a big city guy, this place is definitely the place to go if you want something different from the local bar scene. opened by the co-owner of the GoodLove Bar in Canton, this place is definitely more hip and stylish. the tapas are good, and i do enjoy the music most of the time. love those fireplaces during winter.

by romych M.

By opening this faux-fancy lounge on N. Charles Street these guys are contributing to the deterioration of charm city and mt. vernon.  This place is just not that cool. Relatively speaking (this is Baltimore!) the cover charge, dress code,  and bullish bouncer will makeyou  feel as if you are attending a top notch club in Vegas or NYC; sadly the analogy stops there.

by Eric C.

Red Maple was a very pleasant surprise on my visit to Baltimore. In fact, it is one of the best thought out, planned and executed bars/lounges I've been. Whoever designed this place definitely made the most out of the limited space. They used oranges, reds, browns, offset with cream colors to create a warm environment. The multiple levels created by the stairs is a nice touch. Although we didn't try the food there, the atmosphere was great, the staff was friendly and the service at the bar was a non issue. I can't wait to go back there again on my next visit.

by Eric P.

Having only gone to Red Maple at night, I was surprised to find out that they have a decent happy hour in the evening -- many dishes are $4, and drinks are 2-for-1.

by Derek D.

I really wish I could give a better rating to this place however my last experience there was a bit disappointing.  My major complaint is that I was charged two different prices for the same drink, oh and there's that cover charge thing too.  I came with a large group (12+) which actually included a couple former employees as well as some regulars and the bouncer made a fuss when they asked for a discount.  So the place looks nice and fancy, they had some decent sounds and a cool outdoor area but that's about all they have going for them.

by Lee D.

Everyone one needs a chic little lounge around the corner. This one is mine. The best crowd you're going to get in this city, scrumptious drinks and good food.

by mike j.

Red Maple is the best place in baltimore hands down. The staff is good and the drinks great. Chef Jill Synder is one if not the best chef in the city. Her food is the best in the city. I recommend if you had a bad experience or a so- so experience, try them again. I am now a regular to Red Maple and women that come there are sexy and beautiful. The music is great, its not a bunch of werid trancy music and no rock music (yes). you have to have a open mind about the music. I give Red Maple 5 stars for excellence..........

by Donna H.

I was taken here for my birthday and had a great time. The drinks were made well, the tapas were small(even for tapas) but very good. It definitely gets crowded, especially on weekends so reservations are definitely a good idea. The wait staff is a little less than attentive but not so bad that it can't be overlooked. Not meant for romance, but great for a group as long as you call ahead. The prices were a little high for Baltimore but reasonable if it was in NYC. I'm thinking the reason for the pricing was to attract a certain clientele. All in all, a fun night out.

by Alan D.

This place used to be better, last time i came here was this past year and it has changed alot.  I used to frequent this spot 3 years ago it was much more classy.  I had dinner here with some friends 2 years ago, and it was OK.  We ordered mostly tapas, tasty but not filling.  The decor is nice and soothing, a good date spot for drinks and conversation.  They have the fire place going in the winter time.I would have rated this place 4 stars yrs ago, but as of now, 3 stars at best.  A good place to drink and chill with friends but as for me, there are better places.

by Edward K.

This place has an identity crisis.  On the one hand, it's got a cool, slightly retro lounge appearance you could find in any major city.  But on the other hand, they're playing some bizarre music which takes away from the coolness of the lounge.  Add the belly dancers who are parading through the crowds, and I'm wondering WTF.  This isn't just on Wednesday nights where people are smoking hookas either.  Just about any random night.  Get it together Red Maple.

by Kara M.

went here a few times with friends. nothing special though, never had the food but the drinks were pretty good. a nice hip spot in mt vernon.

by Antonio C.

The food was not bad, but nothing that would make me come back. I was very disappointed with the very uncomfortable seating... and with the fact they served me generic Coke... I guess the place is more of a bar, so it was all my fault, I wanted some tapas before the Joe McHale show.

by Brett J.

Red Maple is upscale, clean, posh and overall a very nice spot for your "fancier" nights like maybe a first date, impressing business colleagues or showing off Baltimore to out of town friends who think "The Wire" is the entire city.  If you find yourself frequenting Kamp and Vin' - you'll love Red Maple.The no-smoking rule is fantastic and for you smokers, it's one of only two nightclubs in Baltimore that have the rule (Kamp is the other) and there is a heated, private back-yard area with a huge glass wall looking into the dance floor of the club - you won't feel left out or isolated while you're puffing away.The downside to Red Maple becomes rather obvious after your first visit. Unless you a cute girl or a guy known as a "big spender" you will routinely get passed over by the bartenders. There tends to be a waif of snobby attitudes and "LA-style" tackiness that lurks behind it's posh  atmosphere. From the doormen to the floor staff, I sometimes get the impression that some think they are working at Nobu or Hyde.There is a dress code (which we call can agree is sometimes a good thing) however one quickly grows tired of the masses of guys in ugly 7 Diamonds shirts, spiked hair and tans in the middle of January. Most of it's female crowd are usually bright and educated - these are classy women and this is not a "let's hook up" type of bar. I'm 27, I think this is a good thing, a 22 year old guy might notThe music is another issue with me. They stick with house music for the most part but generally it's bland and commercial. Red Maple is usually passed over when it comes to touring DJ's.Red Maple has it's ups and downs, a club like this has it's place in Baltimore and it's location near The Belvedere, in a hip neighborhood is only going to help keep it here for years to come but many visitors will choose a slightly more laid-back atmosphere of a place like Goodlove Bar or Mosaic

by Charisse N.

I like to think of this bar as "They did it before".  Meaning, before not smoking in bars was cool, they did it before.  Before serving tapas that was filling was in, they did it before.  Before mod and simple was the bar design de jour, they did it before.  Way before enforcing a dress code was a way to keep your lounge fresh, they did it before.  And before the outdoor patio with the Japanese Red Maple that's just so was hot, they did it before.  This is the place that you take your friends from out of town when you want them to know that Baltimore is on the up and up and that our nightlife is leading the industry!  And I give a mad shout to Chef . . . for being a lady other than Cindy Wolfe and holding down the kitchen.  The food, as well as drinks, atmosphere, and music are simply divine.

by Sarah T.

I love Red Maple the food is delicious and I always have fun here whether Friday, Saturday or Sunday night.

by Luke C.

*** update **My wife and I came back to Red Maple after a very disappointing evening at 13th Floor at the Belvedere. We really enjoyed ourselves. The place was not overly crowded, the music was generally good. The food and table service were good. We had a great time.I agree with some of the other reviewers that this place can be quite inconsistent. But definitely worth a try or two.******Lacks talent, though superficially hip. It's really not too good.Small bar and only 2 people working behind the bar on a busy friday night.the set up doesn't really facilitate movement and socializing. small dance area at the back is overseen by a mediocre DJ.

by Kathryn E.

I'll preface this by saying I haven't been later at night for the dance floor/bar scene thing (ie: never seen the bar change colors as in another review).  We typically hit here after work for drinks and food, and both are quite good.  They have a great cocktail menu and it's fun to work your way through it.  The fusion cuisine style tapas are mostly very good, though expensive.  The setting is very cool - not like Baltimore, more like a NYC club.  It sounds like others have had problems with the bar later at night, but our experience has always been good.  One weird thing - the tapas almost always come in 3s - 3 steak medallions, 3 dumplings, 3 scallops, etc - makes sharing weird - how often do you have an odd numbered party?

by Elliott P.

If you're into an upbeat scene with good tapas type dishes, Red maple is your spot. As far as the food goes, its really great 5/5. They have a lot of unique dishes and all of them are very well prepared. The atmosphere, like i said, is upbeat, even during earlier dinner they have loud music playing so if that isn't your thing, steer clear. The late night scene is Euro-Club-esc. Big bass DJs playing trance and house own the night here. Give it a shot.

by K Sera S.

Baltimore's most so-hip-it-hurts bar. That's both a good and a bad thing.The decor actually could hurt it you, it's so hip. Low, backless seating, small ottoman-like tables, dim lighting and major crowds on weekend nights can make it a bit awkward to enjoy the fine but pricey tapas. And the just-below-your-knee furniture, combined with high heels and cocktails, can provide some very Three Stoges-esque entertainment. Probably less entertaining if it's you falling *ss over teacup in your BCBGs.On the other hand, the "hip" also means a generally well dressed, well heeled crowd. A very see and be seen scene.Good DJs seem to keep the party going and actually pay attention to how people are reacting to what they're spinning.

by Caitlin S.

In all honesty, if I was grading on a curve, Red Maple would get 4, maybe even 4 1/2 starts.  Baltimore just doesn't have much in the way of lounges and places to dance that aren't over run by chickadees who can't handle their alcohol.  The 3 star rating is based on the potential Red Maple has to be better.  The place is pretty and well designed.  It looks very Manhattan minimalist.  It's not what I'd call comfortable, but I've been to much less comfortable places.  Besides, sinking into a deep cushy couch in a public place makes my germ phobia come out the closet and sets my skin crawling.  The food is not great, but acceptable, especially for a bar.  The few times I've ordered food there, many of the items on the menu were unavailable, and the service pretty much sucked.  The bar service can be ok or even good, but admittedly, I find it much better with the male bartenders than the females.  The drink list looks fancy pants, but unfortunately the interesting concoctions aren't as tasty as one might hope.  The lychee martini is always a good choice (keep in mind these are incredibly easy to make at home).  Ok, so now onto the DJs, if you can call them that.  The actual musical selections they play at Red Maple are dependably good and danceable.  How they put it together is not.  Basically, they play one track after another without linking the two together, like an iPod.  What is cool music wise is when the bongos come out.  I have had some amazing experiences at Red Maple when patrons and staff start accompanying the recorded music with the drums.  Very cool times.  Certain nights of the week are better than others, namely Wednesday night, which is devoted to drum beats (Persian, Turkish, etc) and live belly dancing...bring your dollar bills for the lady.  Smoking is outside in a cute courtyard with a, you guessed it, red maple.  Often times they project kung fu movies onto the wall out back.  The crowd here tends to be the most international of all places in Baltimore, seeming very Hopkins (both the school and hospital) to me.  There is no getting around it that this is a pickup bar, so be prepared with your lines, or if you're not into it, be prepared with rebuttals and/or the ability to not make eye contact.

by S S.

I was a big fan of red maple...but my last few outings have left me with a bad taste.I am an indian and the bouncer/id-checker is a racist. He didnt allow my friend who was wearing black sneakers and when he changed it and we went in, I cud count atleast 10 american/african american guys inside wearing basketball shoes/white sneakers etc.The crowd also is slowly deteriorating from urban chic to trash.These guys dont mention the cover charge on their website and charge randomly. I have been there atleast 10-15 times on a fri/sat nite and have paid either 5 or 10. When I asked them, they said it was always 10 on weekends. Me and my friends are pretty sure we have paid 5.Wednesday nites hookah and belly dancing is probably the best nite to come thr.

by Keely R.

Let me preface this review by saying I went to Red Maple on a Friday evening and heard that the place was busier than usual.  Then again, I heard that from a member of my party who heard it from a drunk girl in the bathroom, so I don't know how reliable that is, but I'll TRY to give them the benefit of the doubt.I'll also try to stay under the 5000 character limit, because honestly I could just rant and rant about my experience here.When I first arrived at Red Maple my impressions were good, great use of the limited space, very intimate and 'hip'.  Right away we were greeted and seated.  The house music was loud, but at that point I didn't mind too much.We sat right across from the bar, complete with a color-changing bar-top.  Very cool.  The place is a tapas bar, with dishes ranging from eggplant and goat-cheese to mango and shrimp spring rolls.  Prices average about $8 a plate.  Drinks are overpriced, however they have a HH from 5-7pm Wednesday-Friday nights, with $4 plates and specials on some drinks.We ordered drinks right away, however it took 20 minutes for the first round to come out.  That's when I noticed they seemed to have only one server and one runner for the entire section, and the tables were all occupied.  This was going to be a long night.About an hour (it seemed) after we ordered our drinks the waiter took our food order.  There were six of us and we ordered 10 plates to share.  I ordered the Red Maple Steak and the Spring Rolls.It took another 45 minutes after ordering for *some* of the food to come out; he only brought three of the 10 plates ordered.  Another 20 minutes and three more came out.  Another 25 minutes and the last four came out.  I don't know if that's usually how you serve tapas, but the method was new to me.  I was hungry and irritated.  I have to say, though, that all the food was great, and they do have quite a menu, which I hear they change frequently.  At this point, we've been at this place for about two and a half hours, and suddenly a whole group of men and women come in off the street, head for the bar (right across from us) and the music gets turned up loud(er).  I had to shout into the ear of my friend who was sitting three inches away from me when I wanted to speak to her.  Evidently this place turns into a club after 10:30pm, and I hadn't received the memo.Our waiter finally brings the check and I'm ready to high-tail it out of there.  Unfortunately four of the six from our party were MIA and out on the dance floor.  I really would've loved to dance...if I had been in the mood.  But this was a birthday dinner for a friend and I was under the impression we were going to go somewhere classy and delicious, somewhere I could have had a decent conversation with some of these gals I didn't see very often.  So much for that.In the end I had a good time enjoying my friends company, but would've enjoyed it more if we had gone somewhere else.Bottom line; the food was good, drinks are overpriced, the service was horrible, don't even get me started on the bathrooms (only one stall worked correctly, in another the toilet didn't work and the other had a door that didn't close.  The soap dispenser was broken, so we all know the employees weren't washing their hands, unless they did it in the kitchen.  And really what are the odds of them actually doing that?), and be warned that the place turns into a dance club around 11pm, complete with a cover, a bouncer and a velvet rope outside the door.Don't waste your time.

by Melanie R.

While visiting my best friend, we decided to do a girl's night out at a "nicer" type of place. After a bit of research, we narrowed it down to Red Maple. It was advertised to be a classy lounge type place. We DIDN'T however, know that the night we chose to go, was the night of some ridiculous event where there would be scantily clad, not so classy women (and men, to be fair) packed wall-to-wall in the place. The vibe when we walked in was almost the exact opposite of what we were expecting, but we stayed.It was PACKED. So packed, that it took at least 10 minutes to even get TO the bar, let alone get the attention of the bartender. BUT...once we did manage to plant ourselves at the bar, we started having a better time. The drinks were very good, the bartender was extremely on point, friendly (and totally adorable!), and the DJ was AMAZING. He was probably the best DJ I've ever heard, and I'm from NY...so that says a lot.So, once it started clearing out around 12:45 and the bar began to look/feel/sound a bit more normal, things improved greatly. We didn't try any tapas (we saw a couple plates that looked good), but like I said, the drinks spoke for themselves, and the atmosphere was pretty nice as well. I especially liked the LCD bar.3.5 stars. I'm sure it would get 4 on a "normal" night.

by Jen T.

I really liked the interior and the bar, also the long benches lining the side with the  tables. Of course, you need bottle service to sit there, I think, so that kinda stunk. Not much room to just stand, as the bar and tables are close together. The drinks were good, but one of the bartenders had a crappy 'tude.Don't love the crowd either, a little too ethnic in the bad euro way for me. The music is more house, with top 40 remixes (eh), and the dj seriously looked like he was on 10 different drugs. The outdoor area is really cute, but not that big, which sucks because.. that is where all the smokers go, so I don't really want to be out there for even a second. Sucks.. The women's bathroom is way too small, too.

by Andrew W.

**This review is just for Happy Hour Tapas** Went here the other day with some friends after work for HH. Before going we saw they had some good specials $4 Tapas and cheap drinks. We arrived around 6 pm and there was only one other table in the place of about 8 people. Service was spotty and half of our food arrived 25 minutes after some of the other plates. It was hard to get a drink at times even though the place was dead. The server also got an attitude when we asked for more sauces etc. As for the food it was lack luster. We had dried up Chicken Dumplings, tasteless Duck Samosas, and way to salty lamb burgers. Overall was not impressed with the food or service. One Star for a nice atmosphere One Star for having Macallan 12

by Robert W.

This place is NOT worth the money for dinner.  A great place for dancing and drinks, but we were very disappointed with dinner. The only table they had to go along with our 8am reservation was dirty, under and air vent and required us to sit on a padded floor.  That doesn't work to well if the ladies in your party have skirts on.So we moved to the bar, where the bartender was very nice but due to some policy he couldn't serve us food.   There were 10 empty seats at the bar so clearly space wasn't an issue. About an hour later we got moved to a table.  The food was just OK.  My martini came in a cracked glass.  I asked for a new glass and was given one with food stuck to it.There are lots of other good food options in the area to check out before you waste your time here.

by Jarrett M.

This place is probably an OK lounge, but please DON'T order food here.  I came with a few friends during restaurant week and it was a terrible dining experience.  The food was absolutely awful and the service wasn't much better.

by Andrew K.

One of the nicer lounges in Baltimore.  It feels like it should belong in DC or NYC, there's a cover about $5 for guys usually on weekends and the drinks are pretty pricey for Baltimore.  The music wasn't that great the last 2 times I went with alot of pop and techno music.  There's alot of couches and it's a nice place to hang out.  In the back, there is a decent size dance floor.  I haven't really tried the food here except for a couple appetizers so I would say it's ok from what I had.

by Saskia S.

The tapas were tasty, the drinks a little overpriced..and the waitstaff was kind of useless. Things I liked:1. I was here for a fundraiser tonight and they had a little free food. I tried the edamame hummus which was interesting and pretty tasty. A little off-putting because of the color, but good otherwise. 2. My roommate and I also shared 2 other tapas, the coconut tofu the mushroom falafel. The tofu was breaded and fried in a coconut breading similar to what you might find on coconut shrimp. Really good, but the dipping sauce was waaaay too salty. The mushroom falafel was also really good. Fried on the inside and mushroomy and soft on the inside. Not traditional, but really good. 3. The ambience! They  have fires going in the front room and the upper area with the main bar is cute. The seating is comfy and the decorations are nice enough.4. My vodka soda was good. Things I did not like:1. The waitstaff! A little snooty and uber slow. One of the new bartenders was obviously new..which is fine..but for goodness sake give the girl some training! She didn't know about the specials, she didn't know about the menu options, and it's really irritating when the one person at the bar has to run and ask her boss every 2 seconds. 2. A little pricey. And they decided not to run the happy hours specials because of the fundraiser..but they didn't tell us that until we had ordered and then seemed miffed when we changed our minds. Cute if you don't mind spending 7-12 on tapas and 6-11 on drinks.

by Lea G.

* Bar review only *The website promised a modern, sleek enviro - and they delivered.  Arrived here on a Sunday night and the bar had a very laidback, chill mood.  My girlfriends and I enjoyed several cocktails as while grooving to the music.  The atmosphere was great  - very loungy.  This looked like the place to celebrate birthdays in Baltimore as there were several while we were there.

by shieva r.

I come here when I'm in Mt Vernon and looking for a chic place to hang out. The place is really nice, it reminds me of the places I like to go to in DC. I hate the sometimes exorbitant cover they charge, but when it's not so high you'll find me here.The lychee champagne is great but the food here is not. I love the fireplace, but not the techno they play most nights.

by Crystal C.

So, I'm in town visiting, and pop in here after dinner with some friends.  Super plush modern vibe, so we decide to stay and have a drink.  We are told by our waiter that the drinks are free.  Yes, free.  We look for the hidden camera.  Then we order our drinks.  Total bill for the evening?  Zero.  Red Maple, I love you.PS- I still have no idea why the drinks were free, or how often this promotion runs, so check with the bartender before ordering.

by John T.

Very reasonably priced, and the place is cool, clean, chill, and slick.  A group of us ordered a total of 10 tapa-size dishes and most of them are quite good.  The 2 desserts were so-so, but the Curry-crab Dip, Asian BBQ Burgers, Chicken Spring Rolls, and the Empanadas were very tasty and well-made.  I will definitely go back if given the chance.

by Kevin L.

This is the kind of lounge that would do well in DC.  Except that it would likely be overrun by jaded, cookie-cutter DC snobs in a matter of weeks upon opening.  Best just keep it where it is - far enough away from the pretentiousness and fakery of your typical K Street club.From all I can tell, the only signage for Red Maple is a lit logo outside.  I wouldn't have even known that was the name of the joint except for the friends I was hanging with, pointing us over here as a haven from the insanity happening outside during the Baltimore Pride block party.Inside, it's dark.  Ambient lighting illuminates the walls.  Couches line the edge of the room away from the long central bar, and cushy stools complete the seating arrangement around low tables.  It reminded me a little bit of Rye in San Francisco - just bigger and more chic.Reasonably-priced drinks can be had here.  A vodka tonic, gin and tonic, and a Manhattan ran just $20.The DJ was spinning eclectic tunes while we were here.  I think I caught a mash-up of Axel F meets Jackson Five. Like, whoa.  We didn't partake, but there appeared to be a dedicated dance space inset into the ground toward the back of the building.Interesting setup with the boys room.  They had an enormous spread of items on the sink, from gum to colognes.  What one might find in one of those gay bars in WeHo that attempts to be quasi-classy with the bathroom attendants.  Except there was just a tip jar there - no bathroom attendant.  Perhaps it's an honor system?For what it is, Red Maple was comfortable, not crowded, and the bartenders put together a stiff drink.  This is the kind of place I could totally find myself on an off night, as per my wont.

by Robert T.

I was a bit underwhelmed by Red Maple. I guess I expected more from a place that produced a semi-celebrity chef. Red Maple is definitely more "bar/club" than restaurant. The seating is awkward having to hunch over the short coffee table-style tables. The backless cubes provided to sit on evoke memories of riding the bench for my high school football team. The bleacher benches along the wall weren't any more comfortable. The food was just okay. Certainly not worthy of even the $30 Restaurant Week price. Apps were good, but not outstanding. The empanadas were as expected. The beef summer rolls were also good, but didn't wow.  The swordfish was overdone and mealy and was kind of lonely on the plate. The green tea dusted scallops and corn fritters were the star of the meal. Tried the lemon curd creme brulee and peach/blueberry cobbler for dessert; both were pretty good.Probably will not return, unless only for drinks.

by Alex M.

Very nice place.... very small  for how crowded it gets  but always a good time with nice people. As the nite progresses, the DJ gets a little  nicer with the music.The DJ was spinning nice tunes while we were here.  Its like  mash-up of Michael Jackson versus Kanye. And the Asians , that have com ehere lately-----wow, do they  let it loose. Too much pills---i think. There were  dedicated dancers dancing in the space inset into the ground toward the back of the building. After all , we are in BAltimore---I am sure this is close to Sin City.Interesting setup with the boys room--  from gum to colognes. Its something out of a nice  bar so u can impress whoever ur trying to meet or for yourself. Tip jar in bathroom----come on there --do I need to TIP to pee.... I actually like the Top of Bar...its pretty kool...its  clear polyurethane glass and they  place diff lights under them.Its one of the places in Mt Vernon where people flock to. The only thing missing is free wi-fi for that iPHONE...lol

by Im Han K.

Key-yuuuuuuuute spot.It's a hip little lounge that has big style in a relatively tiny space. Not only does it offer an intimate little dance floor, it employs friendly bartenders who are very capable of making your tastebuds smile.  The lounge itself is popular enough to bring a pretty good crowd, but manages to leave plenty of elbow room for the smooth moves I was pretending to rock.  I also completely agree with Kevin L about DC needing a lounge like this, but the best part of Red Maple is that it doesn't have annoying DC patrons.  Minus me.

by Im Han K.Alex M.Robert T.

Key-yuuuuuuuute spot.It's a hip little lounge that has big style in a relatively tiny space. Not only does it offer an intimate little dance floor, it employs friendly bartenders who are very capable of making your tastebuds smile.  The lounge itself is popular enough to bring a pretty good crowd, but manages to leave plenty of elbow room for the smooth moves I was pretending to rock.  I also completely agree with Kevin L about DC needing a lounge like this, but the best part of Red Maple is that it doesn't have annoying DC patrons.  Minus me.Very nice place.... very small  for how crowded it gets  but always a good time with nice people. As the nite progresses, the DJ gets a little  nicer with the music.The DJ was spinning nice tunes while we were here.  Its like  mash-up of Michael Jackson versus Kanye. And the Asians , that have com ehere lately-----wow, do they  let it loose. Too much pills---i think. There were  dedicated dancers dancing in the space inset into the ground toward the back of the building. After all , we are in BAltimore---I am sure this is close to Sin City.Interesting setup with the boys room--  from gum to colognes. Its something out of a nice  bar so u can impress whoever ur trying to meet or for yourself. Tip jar in bathroom----come on there --do I need to TIP to pee.... I actually like the Top of Bar...its pretty kool...its  clear polyurethane glass and they  place diff lights under them.Its one of the places in Mt Vernon where people flock to. The only thing missing is free wi-fi for that iPHONE...lolI was a bit underwhelmed by Red Maple. I guess I expected more from a place that produced a semi-celebrity chef. Red Maple is definitely more "bar/club" than restaurant. The seating is awkward having to hunch over the short coffee table-style tables. The backless cubes provided to sit on evoke memories of riding the bench for my high school football team. The bleacher benches along the wall weren't any more comfortable. The food was just okay. Certainly not worthy of even the $30 Restaurant Week price. Apps were good, but not outstanding. The empanadas were as expected. The beef summer rolls were also good, but didn't wow.  The swordfish was overdone and mealy and was kind of lonely on the plate. The green tea dusted scallops and corn fritters were the star of the meal. Tried the lemon curd creme brulee and peach/blueberry cobbler for dessert; both were pretty good.Probably will not return, unless only for drinks.

by Im Han K.Alex M.Robert T.Kevin L.John T.

Key-yuuuuuuuute spot.It's a hip little lounge that has big style in a relatively tiny space. Not only does it offer an intimate little dance floor, it employs friendly bartenders who are very capable of making your tastebuds smile.  The lounge itself is popular enough to bring a pretty good crowd, but manages to leave plenty of elbow room for the smooth moves I was pretending to rock.  I also completely agree with Kevin L about DC needing a lounge like this, but the best part of Red Maple is that it doesn't have annoying DC patrons.  Minus me.Very nice place.... very small  for how crowded it gets  but always a good time with nice people. As the nite progresses, the DJ gets a little  nicer with the music.The DJ was spinning nice tunes while we were here.  Its like  mash-up of Michael Jackson versus Kanye. And the Asians , that have com ehere lately-----wow, do they  let it loose. Too much pills---i think. There were  dedicated dancers dancing in the space inset into the ground toward the back of the building. After all , we are in BAltimore---I am sure this is close to Sin City.Interesting setup with the boys room--  from gum to colognes. Its something out of a nice  bar so u can impress whoever ur trying to meet or for yourself. Tip jar in bathroom----come on there --do I need to TIP to pee.... I actually like the Top of Bar...its pretty kool...its  clear polyurethane glass and they  place diff lights under them.Its one of the places in Mt Vernon where people flock to. The only thing missing is free wi-fi for that iPHONE...lolI was a bit underwhelmed by Red Maple. I guess I expected more from a place that produced a semi-celebrity chef. Red Maple is definitely more "bar/club" than restaurant. The seating is awkward having to hunch over the short coffee table-style tables. The backless cubes provided to sit on evoke memories of riding the bench for my high school football team. The bleacher benches along the wall weren't any more comfortable. The food was just okay. Certainly not worthy of even the $30 Restaurant Week price. Apps were good, but not outstanding. The empanadas were as expected. The beef summer rolls were also good, but didn't wow.  The swordfish was overdone and mealy and was kind of lonely on the plate. The green tea dusted scallops and corn fritters were the star of the meal. Tried the lemon curd creme brulee and peach/blueberry cobbler for dessert; both were pretty good.Probably will not return, unless only for drinks.This is the kind of lounge that would do well in DC.  Except that it would likely be overrun by jaded, cookie-cutter DC snobs in a matter of weeks upon opening.  Best just keep it where it is - far enough away from the pretentiousness and fakery of your typical K Street club.From all I can tell, the only signage for Red Maple is a lit logo outside.  I wouldn't have even known that was the name of the joint except for the friends I was hanging with, pointing us over here as a haven from the insanity happening outside during the Baltimore Pride block party.Inside, it's dark.  Ambient lighting illuminates the walls.  Couches line the edge of the room away from the long central bar, and cushy stools complete the seating arrangement around low tables.  It reminded me a little bit of Rye in San Francisco - just bigger and more chic.Reasonably-priced drinks can be had here.  A vodka tonic, gin and tonic, and a Manhattan ran just $20.The DJ was spinning eclectic tunes while we were here.  I think I caught a mash-up of Axel F meets Jackson Five. Like, whoa.  We didn't partake, but there appeared to be a dedicated dance space inset into the ground toward the back of the building.Interesting setup with the boys room.  They had an enormous spread of items on the sink, from gum to colognes.  What one might find in one of those gay bars in WeHo that attempts to be quasi-classy with the bathroom attendants.  Except there was just a tip jar there - no bathroom attendant.  Perhaps it's an honor system?For what it is, Red Maple was comfortable, not crowded, and the bartenders put together a stiff drink.  This is the kind of place I could totally find myself on an off night, as per my wont.Very reasonably priced, and the place is cool, clean, chill, and slick.  A group of us ordered a total of 10 tapa-size dishes and most of them are quite good.  The 2 desserts were so-so, but the Curry-crab Dip, Asian BBQ Burgers, Chicken Spring Rolls, and the Empanadas were very tasty and well-made.  I will definitely go back if given the chance.