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The Rumor Mill
Antiques, quaint shops, cozy pubs, coffee bars, the B & O Museum, Midnight Madness and ghosts are all part of the enchantment of Historic Ellicott City… but a Japanese-American Fusion Bar and Restaurant… the newest “hot spot”? RUMOR or REAL? As a lover of historic “spots” and, of course, food, I had to investigate… As luck would have it, I found the ideal parking spot, right on MainStreet! In Historic Ellicott City, parking is never easy, butusually worth the effort, whatever your destination.
I headed towards Tiber Alley, following the cobblestones, to TheRumor Mill Fusion Bar and Restaurant, recently opened in April of thisyear by Matt Milani and Owen Hanratty. Entering the airy, 2-storyfoyer, I was greeted by a spacious and contemporary bar area to theleft. To the right, a staircase led to an open and balconied secondlevel, available for dining or private parties. The sea blue wallsthroughout were complimented by warm wood floors and accents, anoccasional Japanese print and subdued lighting. Simple andtasteful.
Catherine, our server, invited us to take a "menu tour," tempting us with quite a variety of Japanese, Chinese, Thai and American culinarydelights. Except for the entrees, much of the menu is small plate,perfect for tasting. And being it's Japanese-American Fusion, I knewI had to taste a little of both. We began with the Rumor Mill Roll, oneof many unique and creative sushi rolls, filled with shrimp tempura, cucumber, daikon sprouts and finished off with a crabstick and spicy dipping sauce. Next, we tried the Tuna Tartar & Guacamole Dip, a "rumored specialty." I can truly say I'm thrilled that I decided to tryit. Imagine chunks of tuna, shockingly fresh, topped with daikon radishsprouts, soy lemon vinaigrette, then finished with a generous layer of homemade guacamole, surrounded by tortilla chips, pure ecstasy, no really, I mean it! Then came the Pear & Ginger Salad, another original, the perfect medley of flavors. And finally the Tomato Tower, Rumor Mill's innovative version of the Insalata Caprese; fresh basil, tomato, goat cheese, balsamic and olive oil. Both were refreshing originals. If Soba noodles are a favorite, you must try the Crab & Chicken Soba bowl (one of many bowl options), tender medallions ofchicken combined with succulent, sauteed crab in a Dijon cream sauce. Delicious and rich, but again, the serving was modestly appropriate.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the diverse selection on the winelist. I ordered the Earthworks Shiraz, which paired perfectly with my entree, an American favorite, BBQ Pork Ribs. As successful as theJapanese selection was, I was pleased to find the ribs were a home runas well. Cooked slowly in a teriyaki sauce and served with sweet potatofries and fresh green beans. When it came time for dessert, I learned that Milani, a trained executive chef, also spent time as a pastrychef, and personally created the desserts at the Rumor Mill. The Amaretto White Chocolate Creme Brulee was the creme de la creme, and a great finish to a fun night out! It is not a RUMOR. The Rumor Mill REALLY does succeed as a fusion restaurant and bar, successfully integrating elements of diverse cuisines and cocktails, creating a unique place to go, adding the charm of Ellicott City!
The Rumor Mill
Fusion Bar & Restaurant
8069 Tiber Alley
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Tel: 410.461.0041
Hours: Mon-Wed: 5-11 PM, Wed-Sat: 5-11 PM bar & lounge open until 2 a.m.
Dress Code: Casual Chic Reservations: Recommended
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