Hoco NomNom

During this Coronavirus pandemic, restaurant closure mandates, and troubling economy, it is tough for our restaurants. Here’s some of the extra things our food community is doing during these tough times. I’ll try to keep this post updated when I come across more things.

• Howard County - The county launched its own map that shows what restaurants are still offering to go / curbside pickup. Link

• Beef Brothers Deli - Offering No Contact Curbside pick up. If you order online or on the phone, pay in advance, and describe the car. Just pop the trunk when you arrive and someone with gloves will deliver your food and place it in the trunk for you without ever coming close to you. Link

• Blowfish Poke - Offering Buy 1 Get 1 50% off all week.

• Coal Fire Pizza - Offering a free 16” 1-topping pizza for anyone that works in the restaurant industry and have been affected. Link

• Grille 620, Mad Chef, River Hill Grill - Offering 20% off carry out orders (excludes door dash). Just mention the discount when ordering. Link

• Hudson Coastal - Finding out the unexpected news of closing at 5pm the other day. Hudson Coastal had to get rid of their inventory. They offered 50 cent oysters and shucked over 900 Oysters in 3 hrs. Link

• Koshary By Misteka - Offering Buy 1 Get 1 50% off thru 3/21. Use coupon code COVID-19 for online orders. Link

• Kung Fu 12 Szechuan - Offering 15% off carry out orders except for lunch specials and fundraising items. Link

• Region Ale - Brought lunch out to healthcare professionals at Howard County General. Link. Will be offering free sandwiches and sides Thursday 3/19 from 11a - 2p to help support our community. Link

• Walker’s - Offering free delivery to anywhere within a 10 min drive. $25 minimum. Link

• HoCoFood Reddit - User ttsci has an amazing list places and information.

• hocofoodie is compiling a list of restaurant announcements thru instagram stories.

If you know of ways our community is going above and beyond, let me know.

Today is a crazy time, COVID-19 has been sweeping the nation. Governor Hogan has instructed restaurants to be closed but drive thru and carry out is allowed. County Executive Ball has already shut down the mall, any restaurants inside the mall without an outdoor entry will be closed. I can’t imagine what a tough time this will be for restaurant staff and owners. Let’s hope this passes quickly.

Some happy news, the Nom Nom family has gotten larger. Things are a bit hectic here in the Nom Nom house. I apologize that updates will be coming very infrequently in the short term. That aside, here are some updates.

A long awaited mystery has been sleuthed out by one of our readers, Chick-fil-a coming to Ellicott City? Akira Ramen Columbia finally has an opening date. This and more in today’s set of updates.

Inside Xenia

Hidden in a business office and tucked in the back of a business park, you wouldn’t expect a restaurant to be here. But don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Inside is a gorgeous interior, probably one of the prettiest interiors that I’ve seen in Howard County. Xenia Greek Kouzina is an original concept and gives us another option for a fine dining experience in Howard County.

An interesting week here at Howard County. A celebrity chef has been spotted and a lot of secrecy is going on in Old Ellicott City. We have another unexpected closure of a long running restaurant. And a new restaurant with a curious name.

Outside Bagel Bin

Our third post in our deli series. We travel again to Clarksville for a staple that’s been in the area for nearly a decade. Inside the River Hill shopping center is this deli that makes their own bagels and has a wide variety of food options. The Bagel Bin and Deli is your go to spot for a quick breakfast or lunch.

Here are the latest updates: an Indian restaurant that just opened, a deli that’s coming soon, and an American fare restaurant that just closed.

Bulgogi, Egg, and Cheese

We’ve been on a deli craze recently at the Nom Nom family. We visited this deli in a small little shopping center in Clarksville. This place screams mom and pop shop where literally it is run by a husband and wife team. They couldn’t be more cute. They were so nice that Little Nom Nom actually had the courage to go up and talk to them (something he/she never does). The food is just as good as the service at Ruthie’s Deli and Cafe.

Pastries!

There’s a beautiful cozy space tucked in the back corner off of Dobbin Lane. This is where our next restaurant has settled in quite nicely, a big contrast to the surrounding auto repair shops and bustling shopping centers. The original shop started in Baltimore and has come to the Columbia area. They pride themselves on their baked goods, taking traditions from Austria. Roggenart is where you’ll find yourself lost in pastries, coffee, and conversation.

Maple Lawn is expanding. Which means more lovely restaurants. Here are some of the recent announcements in the area.

Outside Walker's

In a very sleepy town, surrounded by horses and open land, lies a gem of restaurant. You wouldn’t expect this restaurant to be here. Open for a couple of months now, Walkers Tap & Table is bringing American fare to Western Howard County.

We have a new sushi place, a bubble tea chain growing, and a confirmed rumor that we had before. I’m getting better at finding new updates and places but I still could use your help. If you have any tips or rumors, please let me know.

Interior

Since it’s still cold outside, we’ve been really hitting all the hot bowl of noodle joints in the area. So how could we not go to this place. It’s been a staple in Howard County for a long time, at least 18 years now. It has stood tall while many restaurants in its shopping center have come and gone. If you are looking for a place for your vietnamese and chinese cuisines, look no further than Pho Dat Thanh off of Snowden River Parkway in Columbia.

The Common Kitchen has been a staple to this website. It always had news to report, as it always had space for more vendors. The time has come that they have reached capacity. I’ll be sad, as I won’t be able to rely on them for restaurant updates anymore.

Today, we announce restaurant week, an event this saturday and a certain axe place opening.

Poké Bowl

The Common Kitchen in Clarksville added another healthy option to it’s army. Setup right across from Trifecto Bar, this vendor provides healthy customized poké bowls. Poké is a Hawaiian dish featuring small diced raw fish (for the non raw fish eaters, do not worry, they have you covered). I am a big fan of poké and when poké bowls started becoming a trend, I couldn’t wait til they made their way here. Blowfish Poké is now open for business in Howard County, filling our bellies with yummy fish.