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Dining With Gilles
Bill Bateman’s Bistro
Severna Park Plaza Shopping Center
566 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park 410-315-7960
It’s become apparent to us that all of our neighbors in Severna Park must have faux kitchens, because no matter what evening you choose, the local ‘bistro’ –Bill Bateman’s--is filled, and everyone is having a great time.
Bill Bateman opened his Bistro in Severna Park in June of 2000. It’s one of many that have opened in Baltimore, Howard and Anne Arundel counties—even as far as Northern Virginia—since he launched the concept back in 1987.
We’ve been coming to the Bistro since we moved into the neighborhood. It’s close and convenient and offers great value, which allows families to dine out more than once a week. And they do.
All the wait staff at the Severna Park location is friendly and courteous, but we have our favorites, and Kristen Tomaras is our top pick. She served us this evening, as young Katelyn started with her usual, crab dip. It’s accompanied by warm French bread sticks and is a meal in itself. Katelyn prefers to order appetizers as her meal, for she has a difficult time deciding—especially here, where the menu is filled with tantalizing pictures and when you think you’ve made up your mind, you find something better on the next page.
The two of us started with cream of crab soup and lobster bisque (all of the soups are made on premises). We couldn’t decide between them, so we shared. It was a tough call, but I preferred the cream of crab. Not too thick and full of flavor, it was delicious.
Ribs are another reason we come to Bill Bateman’s. They’re our favorite menu item. My choice this evening was the chipotle ribs, which were deliciously tender and a little spicier than the original bbq style. A great alternative to the usual ribs, they were served with mashed potatoes and coleslaw. And did I mention Tuesday is rib night? Portions are a little large, so be prepared to take home a doggy bag.
Gilles decided on the Porterhouse steak. This is the cut of meat I usually enjoy at home, but I avoid ordering steak out because I‘m seldom happy with the preparation….until now. I tried Gilles’ and it was awesome. It really does melt in your mouth. Fortunately, Wednesday is Porter House Steak Night. (We’ll soon be changing our family night to Wednesday.)
Bill has a great line-up of other weekly specials. Sunday is Burger Night, and Monday is All-You-Can-Eat Wings. I asked what Thursday night was, and Lee Glowacki, the young and enthusiastic General Manager, replied, "Thursday is Thursday and Friday is Friday." As you might suspect, these are the busiest nights at the bistro, with a happy hour each evening from 4-7 p.m., reduced drink prices and finger foods.
A great place to host a football party, rehearsal dinner or meeting, Bateman’s has a banquet room in the back that seats about forty guests. The catering package is well-priced and even has birthday packages for the children.—what a novel idea.
The concept of a bistro, as defined by the French, is a place between the café and the restaurant. It’s a place where you don’t have to eat, but where good simple food is available on the "thumb", and games or TV offer pleasant distractions. I believe that Bateman’s has succeeded in its version of the bistro, with the difference that food and drinks are classic American, with a few trendy items. And it’s very well run.
We love good food, from a juicy Steak Au Poivre in an upscale restaurant to good ribs from a local "joint" like Bill Bateman’s. So we urge you to pick a night soon to discover this spot—it’s too good to keep just for locals.
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