Ixia Restaurant, Lounge & Bar

I took my girlfriend to ixia on vday also.... The people below me are idiots. Yeah the service took a while, but if you're taking a date/wife/girlfriend/ whatever .... you should not be whining about your food taking 25 minutes to come out. If you can't spend 25 minutes having a good time with whom ever you are with, then stop seeing them. The food was the most amazing food i have had in maryland.. the drinks were even better! the drink "queen bee" was amazing... i had 3 different ones and then went back to it and my girlfriend continued to crush the queen bee the entire night after her first one which was something else. the scallops were or.gas.m!c.... everything was! i can't believe people are complaining about the time it takes for food to come out. if you want fast food, go through a drive through you red neck. Pros: queen bee is best drink i've ever had! Cons: service is a little slow more

I'd been to Ixia before, so I suggested it to my boyfriend when deciding where to go for Valentine's Day. When we arrived, things went smoothly as they took our coats and we were seated immediately. It quickly went downhill from there. Not only did our waitress not appear within 15 minutes of us being seated, it took almost another 20 minutes to get our drinks (okay, so about 15 minutes to get mine, 25 minutes to get his). Although our waitress completely fell off the face of the earth after taking our order, we did receive our starters in a reasonable amount of time. Around an hour and a half after being seated, our drinks were empty, we were starving and had not seen nor heard from anyone regarding our entrees. By the time we got our entrees 2 HOURS after being seated, they were cold and the "entrees" were about half the size they should have been (a $30 hanger steak was smaller than a deck of cards and accompanied by 5 fries). Ixia may have been forgiven for the remarkably TERRIBLE service, due to the Valentine's Day rush, but absolutely not for the size and quality of the food for the price we paid. I'll never return to Ixia and neither will my first-time boyfriend. He's still complaining about having to go to Wendys after our 2.5 hour, $200 meal. Pros: Beautiful ambience, live music Cons: Service, cold food, size of entrees more

I agree with the other one-star ratings. We went to IXIA for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner. We had reservations, and we were seated early. So far so good. The waitress first attended to the couple at the next table, who were seated after us. When the waitress came, I asked if they had sherry. She said they did. When she brought my wife's drink, she told me they did not have sherry. How can an upscale bar not have sherry? She then proceeded to get my wife's order wrong by not bringing onions on the salad. After the appetizers, we noticed people at other tables who were seated after us getting their entrees. After we had been there for 2 hours and did not get our entrees, we asked for the bill and left. I have eaten at many great restaurants all over, and I have never been treated this way. I'll never go there again!! more

In celebration of my girlfriends recent engagement, I booked a reservation at ixia. We arrived to a rather empty restaurant after being told that a dinner reservation would not be available until 9. Making ourselves "comfortable" (it was freezing--a draft strong enough to move the light fixtures) in the bar, we waited 15 minutes before being addressed. (There were 3 other people sitting at the bar, so perhaps the 2 bartenders were feeling overwhelmed.) Following our cocktail, we made our way to the hostess stand where we were immediately seated. There we sat. No water. No wine list, left with only menu's. We proceeded to make our starter and dinner selections. As the minutes ticked by, my friend casually mentioned that she has never seen restaurant staff out number the guests by half. At the conclusion of our 15 minute wait, we were approached by an unapologetic, rather awkward waiter. He proceeded to tell us that our starter selection was "no longer available due to the large party" (where?!) and that there were a few entree selections that had been modified. We asked for a moment to discuss and concluded that a $150 dinner, sans our preferred menu choices, unapologetic waiter and long wait time would not take place in ixia. Pros: Pretty atmosphere Cons: TERRIBLE service more

PLEASE think twice before going here...this place is not what it seems-- you'll be left with a sour taste in your mouth. If you're trying to impress a date, DON'Tgo! Ixia looks inviting from the outside but the staff is cold, snobby, and rude. I ordered two entrees ($90..not a problem if it was even half decent). My date and I thought the interior was pretty that is why we went. Though the place was empty that evening, when my date asked the server for a napkin, he said "I am sorry I cannot because I am busy....management wants the napkins folded on the window tables so that the restaurants looks nice to people who are walking by." We were so amazed by the stupidity and arrogance of the staff. This place is all looks and no substance. Why would they want to induce potential customers while ignoring the one that were already in-house. We did not touch out food and asked for the check so I could still salvage the date. The management did not even have the courtsey to try to explain the gaffe. I dropped a $100 and went straight to Helmands for a warm, feel good, romantic meal. If you're planning a date, don't let Ixia's rudeness spoil your experience. Max's, Helmands or Cazbar are great alternatives. ze mean bean cafe is also quite romantic on Fleet st (by the whole foods). C'est la vie! Pros: colorful interior Cons: bad food, snobby cold service more

I ate at Ixia on a Thursday night and had a really great time with some girlfriends. We had a couple of cocktails in the bar area before dinner. They have awesome mojitos! Drinks are a little steep, but they are huge and made with fresh ingredients. There are drinks on their cocktail list that I haven't heard of before or seen anywhere else. I want to go back just to try more of them. We sat for dinner and our waiter was very sweet, funny, and energetic. We shared our appetizers and the sashimi appetizer is off the hook! I had a soft crab entree special and absolutely loved it, but i don't think they have that all the time. We ended the evening with a cheese plate and some port. Delicious! I'd definitely go there again. Hopefully with a hot date! Pros: Gorgeous restaurant, great service, yummy cocktails! more

If you don't care about service for the pricey yet delicious meal, then go at your own risk. Our first experience at Ixia was wonderful, which is why we returned and brought another couple. This time, we were invisible from start to finish. We were seated, given drink menus and never saw our waiter. After waiting at least 20 minutes, we finally asked the busboy for water. Once the waiter arrived, he apologized, and took our order. Special requests, such as sauce on the side, chilling the wine before serving, extra serving of crostinis and jam to go with our cheese, bringing the missing appetizer, (which finally came moments before the entre), cold $11.00 "warm chocolate cake" dessert, fell upon deaf ears followed by apologies. The host and manager, who were no better than the waiter, thought their meager apology compensated for our utterly disasterous service. When you pay a premium for food and atmosphere, you expect decent service, which we had on our first visit, but not this time. Go at your own risk. Pros: food Cons: service more

Once you walk into Ixia you're taken by how beautiful it is inside. I almost thought I had left old "Charm City" for a more metropolitan locale like Manhatten or South Beach. Impressive martini list that I'm determined to sample each and every one. The appetizers are a little small but the free delicious free bread and wonderful dips (an exotic olive oil, flavored butter, and tapenade) more than makes up for it. I loved my entree and my dinner companion was raving about hers. I was not that impressed by the dessert menu but enjoyed a yummy irish coffee to cap off a great meal. Pros: Beautiful eclectic ambiance and delicious food Cons: The dessert menu was a little underwhelming more

I went to Ixia for New Years Eve. They had a special New Years Eve menu for the evening that was completely over priced. The portions were absolutely terrible. The taste didn't even come close to making up the difference for the small portions. I would honestly never go again and would never suggest this place. As I conclude my bashing of Ixia, allow me to say that I don't mind paying higher than average prices for a meal as long as I leave feeling full and my taste buds saying "wow." more

We went to Ixia in the Spring of 2007. Called at 9:15 for a late dinner. Most restaurants that close at 9:30 would have declined as everyone wants to clean up and get home on a Tuesday night. The wait staff at Ixia was more than welcoming, invited us to please come in and then when we arrived treated us like we were foreign dignitaries. The chef sent out a complimentary starter of salmon, fresh sprigs, cucumbers and creme freche that was to die for. The service was impeccable only bested by an incredible meal. We had a variety of things, the most spectacular of which was the mussels in a broth that you wanted to take home and marry. The baby octopuss salad dotted with gnochi was delicious and so well flavored you honestly forgot what you were eating. We had been to the acquarium that day and saw one live, so it was fresh on our minds as well as on the plate. We also tried the mushroom stuffed ravioli in a light cilantro saffron sauce that was also very, very good. As an Angelino, we have great restaurants on the West Coast so the bar was high for Baltimore. I tried half a dozen supposed fine restaurants before finding Ixia and it far surpassed any of them. The decor is very cool even by L.A. standards. I highly recommend this very upscale establishment.. Ixia is the name for an African night blooming flower and the bar area is rife with night life. Pros: Atmosphere, Cuisine, Presentation, Service, Portions, Quality Cons: None more

On our tour of Baltimore's Mount Vernon cultural district, my friend and I decided to have dinner at this contemporary and elegant, yet quirky establishment. As it is located a block and a half from the Washington Monument on Charles Street, Ixia is a very convenient location for those who plan to spend the day touring the sites, including the Walters Art Museum, Peabody Institute and Maryland Historical Society. Parking lots around the surrounding streets range from $6-9 daily. We arrived twenty minutes before our reservation time at 6:30 pm and were promptly seated in the raised platform area by the window facing Charles Street. While this meant being less immersed in the wonderful decor (Chinese blue walls with gold trim, vibrant pop art, huge semi-industrial chandeliers, and ceiling to floor irridescent white curtains at times held back by expressive matt silver hand sculptures), it also resulted in being further away from the loud beats of club music that emanated from the inside of the restaurant. The food itself was superb in taste, texture and arrangement and brought out in a timely manner. The complimentary bread came out warm and soft, already buttered and with two variety of olive oil dips as well as whipped lemon butter. We were also presented with a complimentary hors d'oeuvre of a grape half wrapped in goat cheese, covered with almond flakes, and garnished with a light potato flake and delicate purple sprouts. The combination of sweet, tart, and lightly crisp was a delight. I can only speak for my main entree, Desconstructed Crab and Corn Chowder, which came out warm and practically melted in my mouth. The rich and flavorful twin crab cakes sat in a light sweet corn sauce and the potato fingerlings were roasted to the perfect outer crispness. Also, I couldn't leave without partaking from their infamous martini list. The Thrilla of Vanilla, consisting of vanilla vodka, navan and pineapple juice, was moderately strong but smooth. Pros: Food preparation and presentation, Ambiance, Wait Staff Cons: Level of music depending on seating location more

Ok, this is by far the best restaurant in Baltimore. The Ambience is wonderful, very trendy, customer service is great, food is great, drinks are great. Reservations definitely I would reccommend. This place is well worth it. I'll definitely be going back. Pros: This place is simply the best Cons: None more

It was our first visit of this charming restaurant. We were met right at the door with the smile and welcoming greeting, seeted right away and served as we would be there best friends. As first time guests we were offered a complimentary tasting of gaspachio by there wonderful chef, which was absolutly refreshing and delicious. Speaking about food only praises come to mind. It has so many interesting flavors, and arranged on the plate in such a beatiful way that it brings the best in every ingredient of the dish. There ricotta gnocchi were the best I ever had. But the most what imprest me on this first time was there absolutly unussial, very original and elegant ambiance. It was fine dining experience at it's best. Some people complaned about parking in previous revews. We found that if you do not use the parking right behind the restaurant (which is $9),but look along the street it will cost you just $1 p/hour which is not too bad. We definatly are going back to this wonderfull place and highly recomend it to all the others. Pros: quality of food, service, ambiance Cons: none more

We dined here on Nov 12 2005. The food was to die for. I had the free-range chicken which was delicious and my boyfriend had the lamb-shank...he loved it. THe wine list was great and a good variety is available by the bottle. THe dining room is lovely and sits above the bar, the contrast created by the blue and white is very attractive. We came here for what I thought was just a romantic dinner in the middle of Nov and walked out an engaged couple. The waiter gave us two glasses of complimentary champagne. Pros: menu, wait staff, ambience Cons: parking more

The atmosphere is great, elegant shabby chic meets hip modern. Try the banana's foster martini it is to die for. The food is excellent from lobster mac to steak tartar. You will truly love this place, the staff is very friendly and makes you feel comfortable. Pros: bananas foster martin, ahi steak, lobster mac & cheese Cons: sometimes long wait more

I went to Ixia for the first time last week and had an excellent time. It was my boyfriend's birthday and the waitress who was very busy went far out of her way to make it special for us. She served us two free glasses of champage with a chocolate covered strawberry with a candle in it on the rim. We felt very special and as though she really wanted us to have a great time. And we did! The food was great. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was to die for! Our server was down to earth and friendly but knowledgable and classy all at once. I've never had better service. All her other tables seemed very happy as well. The stage is a great place to sit if you go and the bison special was fabulous! Pros: amazing service, great food, cozy seats Cons: bad art, annoying music more

I took my boyfriend here for a special evening before I gave up meat. I had the steak and it was so delicious - I still think about it! He had salmon and liked that only a little less than I liked my steak. The service is professional, the decor is great and unique in Baltimore. You should really go there at least once. I have also stopped in with friends for cocktails. Their drinks are very nice. I love apple martinis and they served theirs with a slice of green apple. Yummy. Parking is tough in this area but there is a lot right next door. Convenient to the shopping, museums and night spots like the 13th Floor. Pros: Food & Drinks, Atmosphere, Service Cons: City Parking more

Recently went to Ixia in June of 2005 for a dinner with my boyfriend. Loved the interior immediately. It really blows you away, nothing else like it Baltimore. The cuisine was well plated and consistent throughout the meal. I had the Duck and my boyfriend had the Ahi Tuna. Both were cooked perfectly. The Duck was to die for, with tiny pancakes and foie gras butter, YUM! Our waitress was sweet and friendly. They were a bit busy, but she still was very accomadating, but not too doting. The manager came up and talked to us and everyone in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying themselves, including the staff. Overall a great experience. Recommended to me by friends who frequent, I will become a regular too! Pros: Romantic, Great Staff, Great Food Cons: Can be loud more

after an unusually long wait for a nearly EMPTY dining area, i expected Ixia to live up to its glamorous hype. not even CLOSE, to be frank. the service was slow and unkempt. the tuna tartar was mundane. my date had the duck and i ate the salmon-- both were luke warm and uninspiring. We finished with an uncomfortably large vat of creme brulee. The portions were too big... that is, the focus seemed to be on quantity, not quality. Ixia needs to commit to being a true $ 30/entree restaurant before we will return. Pros: clean, original, hip Cons: , slow, unkempt waitstaff more

I had heard some mix reviews of Ixia through friends. Mostly good things, but some bad experiences from when they first opened. I went recently (May 2004). The food was pretty amazing. Most impressive was the wait staff and the ambience. Beautiful interior! The servers (well, at least the one we had) was really nice, but not brown nosing nice. She was helpful and sweet, but not hovering over the table the whole time. It seemed that she popped over just at the right times, every time! Yummy food, good price, great staff! Pros: Inventive Menu, Really nice staff, Parking next door Cons: , Can be loud more