This place is much overrated. The food portion seems to have gotten smaller over the years, and the quality of the food fluctuated from one time to the next. It also didn’t help their chain’s image by having a condescending manager working in the lobby on Tuesday before noon. She accomplished by making the customer pick up the tab for a mistake they made, but they lost the vote of their customer.

I was a die hard Miss Shirley's fan when I moved to Baltimore. Die hard. Every weekend breakfast. Maybe I burned myself out? The only thing worth ordering here that tastes better than diner fare are the blueberry pancakes. Light, fluffy and packed with fresh berries, they are some of the best I've ever had. On the flip side, service is spotty, the managers are grumpy and the quality of the food does not match the price. I'll pay $18 dollars for a salad... at the Four Seasons, but not at a breakfast and lunch place on Cold Spring Road.

Since moving cater-corner to the old location, Miss Shirley's now has over 150 seats (including outdoors during fair weather), but is still difficult to get into on the weekends. I suggest before 10 or after 1:30 to avoid a wait...



Foodwise, it's inventive and they seem to use the very best ingredients. The crab dishes are a bit pricey, but they use MASSIVE chunks of crab that must set them back a piece.

Not to be missed are the Fired Green Tomatoes (or any dish containing them), Sweet Potato Fries, or the Spicy Shirley Mary.

Great female chef, and a good place to people watch.



They update their menu every 6 months, so a trip to their website is probably in order.

Parking is at a premium, so try behind the place or their sister restaurants Alonzo's/Loco Hombre, or S'ghetti Eddies.

No reservations accepted (EVER!), but space is available for large parties during the week.

Best breakfast in the city!