Level: A Small Plates Lounge...A Tapas Delight!

The night started with support for women in the performing arts at an event called, She Rocks! in Mount Rainier, an art community right on the line of the nation’s capital.  But who would’ve thought that an evening full of cheers for female empowerment and chants of, "You gotta move every day!" by youth, female rapper, Chi Chi Monet - the cutest ever (check her out!) - would lead me and my Divas over to the state’s capital for some delectable small plates and cocktails. 

The place: Level: A Small Plates Lounge.  The address: 69 West Street, Annapolis, MD.  The setting: exclusive yet upbeat.  As you walk through the door, the ambience presents dim lighting, settled house music, and strategized seating for couples to enjoy the latest culinary delights.  The setting is not intended for large crowds.  It is more suited for couples and a few close friends, but that’s only the first floor. 

Courtesy of: WashingtonPost.com

As you make your way up the beautiful hard-wood staircase, - I truly admire building architecture and design -  you enter a bar scene that caters to those more interested in finding a date and hitting the dance floor that overlooks West Street through wide, elongated windows.  The views and setting offer an awesome loft vibe!  

We each ordered a tapas selection to test our palettes.  We put the following to the test.

Small Plate #1: Cheesy Flatbread with olive oil, garlic, feta, mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh basil and Shrimp and Grits

Review: The flatbread was nicely spread thin with just the right amount of garlic-infused varied cheeses.  And the Shrimp and Grits were out of this world!  Not too cheesy and the Shrimp was well-seasoned and full in size.

Small Plate #2 Mushroom Bacon Flatbread with garlic cream, scallions, king trumpets, and parmesan and Ceviche Tacos with Crab

Review: This flatbread selection was spread thin to proper proportions, also, while offering a smoked flavored pork flavor.  The Ceviche tacos with crab are served chilled and are truly hand-held by definition.  It's sampling is flavorable and just enough in portions...for one person.

Small Plate #3: Lamb Osso Bucco, slowly roasted lamb with mustard greens, Cippolini onion, and sage butter glaze

Review: Being slowly cooked truly assisted in embedding the flavor and contributing to the meat being perfectly tender.

And small plates are never fully complete without a well-shaken cocktail.

Cocktail Samples #1 and #2: Lemon Drop and a Cosmopolitan

Review: I can't say anything negative, but the martinis did not Wow us.  They were concocted safely and offered the same taste as if ordered at any other local bar.  I can say the least that it tasted like what I ordered and not something else.  I recommend Level adding its own twist on the martini favorites similiar to the following. 

Cocktail Sample #3: Caipirinha

Review: The Latin favorite is served with a soft, tangy foam.  The foam adds a slight twist giving it a fizzled kick! 

After a close deliberation, the Best Small Plate and Cocktail trophies go to...Drum Roll, Please!...Shrimp and Grits and the Caipirinha!!!

Level satisfies a number of day/evening events: date night, Ladies Night, a night with the fellas, rehearsal dinners, etc.  This spot is highly recommended and it has officially been selected as a Destinations Reached “Top Pick!”…Enjoy!