East County Times Dining Guide

- Article & photos by Devin Crum -

It's no coincidence that the new Memphis Belle Saloon is named after a plane. When owner Eric Loftus purchased the establishment (formerly the Landing Strip), he liked the iconic plane on the roof and searched for a way to repurpose it. But that is where the similarities end between the Memphis Belle and the building's former identity. Loftus pointed out that, previously, the building was dimly lit and quite cramped inside, which he did not like. "I think the days of the dark, dingy bars are a thing of the past," he commented. Loftus and his team of family and friends immediately got to work, completely gutting the interior in a full-scale renovation. His goal was to open the place up with more space and more light, both natural and artificial. "We've created a better flow pattern," he explained. "We've built a much more open area for people." They even brightened the wall colors, knocked out a wall or two and raised the ceilings. "It makes a huge difference," he said. Loftus also wanted to create a unique image for the Memphis Belle that they could call their own. And the name fits with the bar/restaurant's theme of pin-up girls, reaching back to the photos of women that pilots and airplane crewmen had in their aircraft during World War II. They have successfully created that image with the beautiful pin-up girl artwork all around the interior, as well as their lovely, all-female staff. But the staff and artwork aren't the only things that are lovely at the Memphis Belle. Visitors are certainly doing themselves a disservice if they skip the restaurant's menu, which features such original creations as their different varieties of sliders, deep fried cheesecake and their original flavors of ribs, all of which are simply exquisite. And if you're in for an adult treat, be sure to try their House Infusions, which can only be described as deliciously sweet and flavorful liqueurs, all created in-house and rotated weekly. But for the beer connoisseurs out there, Loftus also touted his craft beer selection. Although relatively small currently, he is looking to grow it in the near future. Now, you may be thinking, "Okay, they have food, drinks bright artwork and bright faces, but what is there to do there?" Well, Loftus has made sure to provide all manner of entertainment to his patrons. From the great live entertainment Wednesdays through Saturdays, to the activities like cornhole on Mondays and trivia on Tuesdays, they've got plenty going on. They also have plans to open the upstairs with a pool table, dart board and other fun activities. Loftus explained his entertainment is geared toward a broad crowd, and he aims to benefit the most people possible. And then there are the eight (but soon to be 12) TVs around the inside to watch all the local sports, for which Loftus hopes to develop a good following. They will even feature several different specials during Ravens games, and they are in the process of becoming a Ravens Roost which will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. But the Memphis Belle isn't just dinner and nightlife - they have great lunch specials too, and even WiFi and Fios to benefit the business crowd. Although this is Loftus' first venture into owning a business, he has worked his way up in the industry beginning with washing dishes at age 15. And he credits the help of his family and friends in being able to open the restaurant, noting that none of the renovations were done by contractors. "I couldn't have done it without them," he said. In addition to their official website (memphisbellesaloon.com) the Memphis Belle Saloon has a strong social media presence with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages where they post all of their photos and specials nightly. So check them out and "like" or "follow" them to stay up to date on all the great things they have going on. The Memphis Belle Saloon is located at 3030 Eastern Blvd. in Middle River. They are open from 10:30 a.m. - 2 a.m. every day. Call them at 410-574-7200 or visit their website and social media pages.