Baltimore has expanded its culinary boundaries in recent years, as a hodgepodge of global offerings has brought more diverse menus to the city and surrounding counties. Chick P City, which opened in early December in Mount Vernon, is the latest entry.
The place looks like a typical carryout shop, with tables and a counter for those who want to dine in. Inside, the owners, who hail from Jordan and live in Fairfax, Va., are cooking their favorite Middle Eastern dishes.
"We couldn’t find what we knew the food should taste like," said Dina Tamerjan, Chick P City’s general manager.
It’s a family affair. The restaurant is owned by Tamerjan’s husband, Abdel Majid Tamerjan, and his cousins Tareq Tamrjan and Issam Tamerjan.
The menu is still being tweaked, Dina Tamerjan said. For now, diners will find several shawarma dishes, vegetarian and beef platters, and sandwiches.
"We want everything to taste good for people," she said. "We want people to enjoy the food."
Scene & Decor The owners took over a space that needed a lot of work and spent three months sprucing it up, Dina Tamerjan said. The unassuming room has a main counter with a stove and other cooking equipment behind it, silver-colored tables and chairs, and a counter with stools. Posters of Jordanian scenes add color. We were the lone customers on our visit, but Chick P City seems to do a lot of carryout orders. The slatted chairs aren’t the most comfortable, but our biggest issue was the cooking odors that clung to our clothes afterward.
Appetizers The hummus ($4.95) was terrific. The garlicky chickpea dip was served with soft, fresh pita triangles. (Hummus is available as a pita sandwich, too.) The falafel ($1 each) was another treat. The deep-fried, crispy ground-chickpea disks were a delicious savory snack.
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Entrees The chicken shawarma rice platter ($10.50) was our favorite main dish. Spicy chunks of chicken sat atop turmeric-tinged basmati rice, surrounded by pickled vegetables like sweet peppers, beets, cucumbers and cauliflower — all of which added a supportive tang. Other great sides with the dish included a Mediterranean salad, cucumber yogurt sauce, hummus with whole chickpeas and more wonderful pita. The kufta rice platter ($6.95), served with the same sides, was good, but the kufta — a minced, ground-beef patty — would have benefited from spices in the meat mix.
Drinks Sodas, bottled water, iced tea and other soft drinks are available in a cold case.
Service You order at the counter and the staff delivers the food to your table. The employees working the night we were there were friendly and welcoming.
Dessert There is one dessert, baklava ($5), which had just the right amount of sweetness. A portion is divided into three buttery phyllo squares laced with honey. Additional desserts will eventually be offered, Tamerjan said.
Chick P City
Backstory: The three owners — Abdel Majid Tamerjan, Tareq Tamrjan and Issam Tamerjan — had been looking for a restaurant space near Fairfax, Va., where they live. The men turned to Baltimore for its less-expensive properties and found the Mount Vernon spot, which they opened in December.
Signature dish: The chicken shawarma rice platter
TVs: No TVs
Where: 202 W. Read St., Mount Vernon
Contact: 410-244-7009, chickpcity.com
Open: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
Credit Cards: All major
Reservations: Does not accept reservations
Bottom line: Whether you eat in the modest carryout or order food to go, the Middle Eastern dishes are well-prepared and a nice addition to Baltimore’s food scene.
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