Late last month, No Way Rosé paused its business at 31 E. Cross St. in Federal Hill. According to Owner and Chef Ashish Alfred, the restaurant will return on the first week of November as a more casual concept. He said it is changing from a “full-service fine dining restaurant” to a “cafe lounge.”
Alfred first opened No Way Rosé in March of this year. He also owns three Duck Duck Goose locations. Alfred was named Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland in 2019 and has competed in Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen, and The Kitchen on Food Network.
“The long and the short, Federal Hill is a bit of an island for a fine dining restaurant. Sometimes it’s nice to be on an island and sometimes it’s tough,” said Alfred. However, he noted, the restaurant is “there to stay.”
“The restaurant business is tough all together, even tougher in Baltimore,” said Alfred. “We want to be there and we are going to make every effort to maintain something sustainable in that neighborhood. I think Federal Hill really needs it. I think adaptability is the name of the game.”
He also noted No Way Rosé developed a “loyal following” in Federal Hill.
No Way Rosé will move to a menu of “elevated bar food” with more small plates and shareable foods. The full menu will be revealed closer to opening, but Alfred said it will serve confit chicken wings, a tavern-style burger, poutine, and “interesting vegetable options.”
Alfred noted Federal Hill has a younger crowed and they created a very “Instagram-able” facade and interior that attracts younger diners. “However, the young crowd is not as interested in foie gras or escargot. We want to building something that makes sense for the younger clientele,” he said.
Alfred also noted that “in order to succeed in the neighborhood [Federal Hill], you need a pretty big budget for security.”
The bar menu will shrink its large wine list and start to focus on “fun cocktails, beer, and shot combos.”
No Way Rosé will host an industry night on Wednesdays, have DJs on Fridays and Saturdays, and host Ravens after-parties.
Photos of No Way Rosé when it opened
