Take Bliss as it is for coffee, wine, good food

[Dan]

I found Sue! She's at one of the bars in the square in Canton. I forget the name of the place.(same side as Nacho mamas, but if your hopping, youll find her.
She poured wine at Bliss, but a trained monkey can do THAT. No offense to the monekys. she makes a mean ass martini filthy dirty,4 olives and a cali ice tea that splits your head open.

too bad for bliss.

[Debbie C]

OMG!!
I actually saw Susan last week at a Mountain Branch deck party. She says she had seen a ton of people from her old salon (I went there too which is why I love her) and from bliss. And she was with that gorgeous blond bartender who used to work at Lagoon - we used to go there too but I forget her name.
According to one of the people she was with, she's is down in Canton - Blue, I think, but not sure. It's a trot and a half to get there, but we'll be there. It was really good to see her and bliss can only end up being a sad place without
her.
Debbie and Marc

[Lilly Carson]

I've been here several times, I find it to be hit or miss.
It's frustrating to order an item off the food menu and have them be out of it, but it's a wine bar for gods sake and when you're out of wine it's bad business.
I don't know about the staff shakeups. Somethings definitely up. The original bartender is gone. The other one is only there occasionally. The waitstaff has gone thru what appears to be an evolution (or revolution?) several times in what? a year?
I find the mean things said about the appearance of the owner and the manager to be totally out of order. But it's a touche-type situation when those same people are poking fun at the clients.
So what goes around comes around.
I like the music. But it's kinda boring when the same bands are there all the time singing the same stuff.
all in all, I choose not to go as often as i used to and i think if you take a little bit from each of the realistic reviews about Bliss on this site, you can come up with a consensus, and that would be that it used to be better.

[TRULY DISAPPOINTED]

I'll have to say that all of this about bliss is pretty depressing. It sounds like half of you barely have hearts. It's a RESTAURANT. I completely understand food mishaps, or being out of certain things. But for those of you who decided to rudely comment on the owner, manger, employees, etc. you are totally out of line. Would you like to have a website personally about you and what you wear and how bad it looks? Since you make such comments like you KNOW everything there is to know about bliss, I'm assuming you own your own restaurant? And you run it better then the owner of bliss and it's staff? And you know the key to pleasing bitchy customers like yourself? And you know what it's like to own a restaurant that you've dedicated your life to in today's economy? I'm assuming you do. Please, when you go home look in the mirror and be thankful no one's writing the stuff you write on here about you. DON'T FORGET YOU ARE REFERRING TO HUMANS. I have to say that for all of you (or most of you) being adults, it's pretty sad reading this. You all sound like a bunch of high schoolers with nothing better to do then bash people. If you honestly care enough to write such crappy stuff, how about giving some constructive criticism? Something that would actually contribute to the business? Why write at all if you're not writing constructive criticism or positive comments? Maybe it's a good thing that some of you will not be revisiting bliss, I'm sure they're not looking for your negativity anyways.

[Crybaby Go Home]

Shut up. Plain and simple, nobody cares what you think.

[BG1980 from]

When it comes to Bliss, it has no identity. What is it? Wine bar? Restaurant? Coffee Shop? What?
The owner should have picked one thing and cornered the market on it instead of opening a place that - in less than one year morphed into a medusa's head full of snaky issues - it used to be open for coffee in the a.m. but now is not, it used to be open on Monday like all the other restaurants in the area, but now it's not, it used to be open for lunch on Saturdays, but now it's not, it used to have decent happy hours, but now it does not, it used to have the wines on the list, but now it's hit or miss, it used to have an organized staff, but now it does not, no one knows shit, and last but not least, it used to be fun to go to, and now it's not. These are not positive comments because there's nothing positive to comment on.
And THAT, "truly disappointed" - leaves us feeling exactly what your name says - truly disappointed.
The majority of what is written here is the gods honest truth. The ass clown comment and paycheck crap are obviously the work of a disgruntled employee, but go back and actually read the reviews instead of playing bleeding heart for what is probably a friend of yours.
When a restaurant has an identity crisis as schizophrenic as Bliss very much does, and cannot keep the items on it's menu consistently available, it's got big problems. Also, when you advertise yourself as a wine bar, and don't always have what a wine bar offers -i.e. WINE, then you got problems in that department too.
When one gets crappy service from someone, or gets dissed by the hostess, of course they're gonna describe the person, and as is human nature it will be derogatory. However, when you open yourself up to ridicule...say as a "fine dining establishment" and you're met at the door by someone in flip flops and a bandaid on their toes or whatever, this is not fine dining.
A restaurant's or wine bar's or coffee shop's first impression is of that bandaid and bad hair, or dorky clothes or garments too tight in an attempt to skew fashion on a big stick, and if that's what people see here, that's what they see. And all the whining in the world about offering up "positive and constructive" criticism isn't gonna make the place any better, especially since the owner is said to make fun of the clients. And seriously, if the owner ever even read this thread at all, and it appears to have been started almost a year ago, then that owner would have listened to what people are saying about his or her place and stepped up and cleaned up his or her act.
So,get it straight "disappointed", this site isn't about a person. It's about a restaurant or whatever Bliss makes itself out to be. The people behind the restaurant have been rude to people and have provided sub par service and are being called out on it. You only get what you give, and they're getting what they've been giving.
And THAT'S the way it is.

[Dan]

I had somewhat of a decent experience this evening at Bliss. Met up with some co-workers and sat in the lounge. The bartender was very pleasant, knowledgeable and charming but was forced to wait on our group which was really far from the bar. The sandwiches were really tasty but the side salad was just a hot mess. My friends and I are new to the restaurant and were sad to see that neither the Manager nor the owner took time to greet us or even offer to buy us a drink, coffee or a dessert, which is recommended when new customers enter your establishment. You must spend money to make money.

[Sorry were out of that]

Bliss seems like a place that hasn't found it's identity. The lack of food and wine choices that are actually available makes one wonder who's in charge of inventory. They really should invest in some quality glassware and plateware that doesn't have that freshly purchased at Target or Wallmart feeling. I really don't appreciate being served a meal on a plate with multiple chips. I'm sure some tweaking is in order, but it will take someone with some actual restaurant experience to do so. Needs Gordon Ramsey ASAP

[Tony Tabernackle]

I know a place ...follow the yellow brick road....www.winebuys.com

everyone gets along here...

a coupon for your use two days left.

cork5

cheers,

TB

[Harford Banana]

Oh - somebody STOP me...or don't if you wanna know the skinny on my experience at Bliss.

Private parties, here today gone tomorrow staff (THAT will tell you about management or the lack thereof more likely) with no wine training or experience, hours changed like 4 times in the first year so no one knows, and consequently no one really cares, when this place is even open.

Draft beer doesn't hold a head because they, like every other inexperienced bar owner, stupidly use use dawn or some equally headkilling dishwashing soap on their pilsners.

Watching the bar tender pour a beer is a comical experience and worth the price of admission. Too much air, not enough air - bar tenders who apologize for the owner's inability to get the stupid thing fixed properly. Staff who don't know anything about their crappy beer selection.$6.50 for a bottle of beer???? Whatchu talkin bout Willis?

Aaaaahhhhh, the wine list. I notice they completely revamped it several months ago and did away with the best known and desired wines on their list. Replaced it with a bottle of this and a bottle of that, not enough of one red, too much of another. I loved 14 Hands wines...poof, gone! Nothing on this list is esoteric or elite and all can be purchased at the local liquor stores for less than 1/2 the price.

The food. Gawd. Inconsistent. Only thing I can say about it. Both in taste, appearance, and availability.

The location, though it was (as in past tense because I'm never going back) convenient for me, is the biggest mistake of all. Belcamp???
Puhleeze.
fuhgedaboutit...

[Sux to be You]

There is a real wine bar that is opening in Havre de Grace called vineyard across from Laurrapin Grille it is a real wine bar one that caters to its patrons and actually provides the wine that is on the menu. From what iv'e seen the atmosphere is going to be one of beauty something bliss is lacking. In addition to having a light menu they also have real wine bar style affiar to eat while enjoying your wine. I hope to see the people that care about wine there when it opens.

[R I P]

HA!!!
This place burns through staff like wildfire. four "executive" chefs in a year??? the owner is a beast who has no respect for anyone, is rude and nasty to employees and customers alike, and treats the restaurant like her own private fiefdom...that in itself will do the job eventually, but the Vineyard will probably do them in and I for one will not miss Bliss.
If I had any respect for owner/management here, I would feel badly that they're in the position they're in. But I don't. Shitty things happen to shitty people_- karma is a beotch...
The wine bar in Havre de Grace will be a welcome addition. Hope they eerase Bliss from the map. They deserve nothing less...

[Pleased from HDG]

My husband and I recently drove from beautiful Havre de Grace (home of the elite Bulle Rock and other fine neighborhoods) to Belcamp/Bel Air (Does it really matter what the post office or anyone else calls the location?) for Sunday brunch at Bliss (where we are not acquaintances of the owner). We received excellent service and exquisitely prepared food. The presentation and tastes ranked among the top. I watched as the manager personally talked with every patron at some point during our visit.

We went to Bliss with the expectation of being pleased, and our positive attitude was answered in kind. Having worked my way through college as a waitress and having worked in various capacities with the public all my life, I'm aware of the challenges service personnel face. Perhaps pleasantness can turn around another person's bad day. It's not your responsibility, but it might just make you feel better about yourself and not need to spread so much poison.

[hahaha]

The word exquisitely and bliss do not go hand and hand stop trying to write comments for yourself...!

[Go somewhere else]

Hey "Pleased in HDG"...if you're pleased with the piss poor selection of everything Bliss has to offer, then you should jump for freakin joy at the fact that you no longer need to leave your
"elite" neighborhood and can actually go to a REAL wine bar on Washington Street there in HDG. It's not even open yet and it's better than Bliss...they have a blog online to let you know when they'll be opening. The website's www.thevineyardwinebar.com
Says it'll be mid to late october opening...and I for one, can't wait to see the fallout from THIS one!(Insert evil laugh here)
Let the bloodbath begin.
F.Y. Beotch...
;-)

[Kathy Sherman]

After one too many disappointments at this place, my husband and I will not be returning. The food is erratically inconsistent and the wine list leaves alot to be desired.
Having servers too young to bring you a glass of wine or present a bottle at the table is ridiculous. If I wanted a child at my table, I'd bring my own.

[Go somewhere else]

Went to the Vineyard on Tuesday the 19th. It just opened and it kicks ass. A huge wine selection, beautiful decor, a fireplace and couches and just the nicest owners. It's what a real wine bar is supposed to be. And it's what Bliss could never even have been. The idiots that be at bliss should take a lesson, or more likely shoulda taken a lesson by reading this stuff and trying to IMPROVE it's image, which by now, is muddied beyond belief.
With the addition of Pairings in Bel Air (by Festival), and now the Vineyard on Washington Street in HDG, Bliss is a distant wannabe.
And yes, I used to frequent Bliss when they first opened and yes, I thought they had potential. But for every and ALL reasons in these posts, Bliss has failed miserably.

[Hnnnnnh]

Hnnnnh...guess god really DON'T like ugly, huh?
Quote, unquote :)

[What do you know]

Is this place closing?

[Noni]

I can understand why this is not a successful place. I've read each of these entries and though some are plain rude and insulting, I have been to Biss several times since it opened, and I agree with the majority of the comments.
The food is overpriced and the portions miniscule for what you're getting.
It's not a real wine bar. It has a very small wine selection, and not in keeping with the better wine bars, the wine here is overpriced as well.
Ambiance? It's pretty inside, but chipped plates and cheap wine glasses are indicative of what's to come. The management is not welcoming and the owner is not a people person.
Pairings Bistro in Bel Air, is more traditional being as it's actually a wine bar,(whereas Bliss is what exactly, but I digress.)
The small plates at Pairings are outstanding and nicely plated, the wine selection is more eclectic and reasonably priced. There's no chipped dishes and the glasses are much more condusive to a great glass of wine. The owners are very nice people and take pride in what they have to offer here.
The mac daddy of wine bars in Harford County is The Vineyard in Havre de Grace. Unbelievable. It's what a wine bar is supposed to be. The food is phenomenal and plated beautifully. The chef is a nice fellow, and the guys that own the place are really in to what they're doing. The wine selection is out of this world for this area, and totally reasonably priced. Parking is a bit of an issue, but who cares? The ambiance at The Vineyard blows the other two out of the water. Funky, great seating, no rush, it's like it's your table for the evening, very european in that you're not rushing to turn the table over. It's heavy and warm and the couches and fireplace are great. I highly suggest this wine bar if you've never been to one before. Once there, you'll probably never go to the other two, well, maybe Pairings, and Bliss only if you're totally desperate and unable to make it to either of the others.