Update: This location of Alchemy is now closed

For a while now, I’ve wanted to try Alchemy in Hampden. It’s been on my list for quite possibly two years now so I was thrilled the other night when I was going out to dinner with some friends, we were looking for a spot in Hampden and decided on Alchemy.

Alchemy

It was restaurant week, so we were able to sample a little bit of everything. One of the standouts from the first course was the Lamb Picadillo Stuffed Sweet Potato. This was a roasted sweet potato stuffed with ground lamb, onion, olives, tomatoes and a ricotta salata. This was possibly the highlight of the meal, the meat was well seasoned and the sweet potato was incredibly tender.

Lamb Picadillo Stuffed Sweet Potato

I ordered, and loved, the Braised Beef Cheek French Onion Soup. The soup had braised beef cheeks, caramelized onion, toasted crouton and torched Gruyere cheese on top. The cheese was perfectly gooey and crispy and the broth was rich and flavorful.

Braised Beef Cheek French Onion Soup

For the main course, the evening we visited there was a Catfish Special. This came with a piece of pan-fried catfish with lumps of crabmeat and some corn. This was really great, not greasy and packed with flavor.

Catfish Special

Another friend ordered the Coconut Curry Glazed Salmon. This came with blood orange crème, sweet potato rosti, arcadian bitter lettuce salad, grape tomatoes, sherry vinaigrette, and spiced candied pecans. This dish was also well received and a little on the healthier side.

Coconut Curry Glazed Salmon

For my main course, because, I was instantly drawn to the Braised Beef Cheeks, this came with rice flour, mushroom demi, apple cider butternut puree, roasted garlic mash, spinach sun-dried tomato sauté. The meat was incredibly tender, as beef cheeks always are, and the mushroom demi added a nice flavor.

Braised Beef Cheeks

For dessert, everyone at the table ordered one of two things. I was drawn towards the Bread Pudding. It happens to be one of my favorite desserts and it’s usually soft and almost creamy and a little on the sweet side. While this bread pudding was definitely sweet, it wasn’t as soft as I would have liked it.

Bread Pudding

The other dessert my friends at the table ordered was the Apple Turnover. Now, this was great. It wasn’t too sweet and the apples were nice and tender.

Apple Turnover

I love restaurant week because it gives patrons a chance to fully explore the best of an establishments offerings. And restaurant week at Alchemy in Hampden didn’t disappoint.

Alchemy is located at 1011 W 36th St, in Hampden.

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Looking for a place to eat? Check out Rachel’s Baltimore Restaurant List.