Major Renovation Begins at Mother’s Federal Hill Grille

Photo Courtesy of Mother’s Facebook Page

Mother’s Federal Hill Grille has been open in South Baltimore for the last 17 years. Now, for the first time, the owners will be tackling a major renovation of the front bar and dining room. The second floor of Mother’s was renovated 15 years ago and a rear addition was built eight years ago.

Construction begins today and Mother’s will be closed on Tuesdays, as well as Wednesdays for lunch, for the next seven weeks until the renovations have been completed. The front facade of Mother’s facing S. Charles St. will be completely replaced and new windows will be installed to give the restaurant more of an indoor/outdoor feel like many other restaurants in Federal Hill. The windows in the bar facing the Purple Patio will also be replaced with ones that can be opened.

The stairwell in the dining room that cuts through the middle of the space will be removed. Some outdoor seating will also be added on a front patio.

Mother’s will be losing a portion of its dining room for the duration of the project so the upstairs will be used for additional seating. Co-Owner Dave Rather described the structural work needed for this renovation as “major” and told SouthBMore.com many new columns will be used.

Mother’s will also be adding a new 20-beer tap system, allowing them to serve more craft beers, and resurfacing the bar and floors. New tables will also be added to the bar area.

Mother’s will additionally launch a new menu featuring many changes, including a mussels section, 20 flavors of shrimp, and an assortment of new gourmet sandwiches. “We do a lot of food business – we deliver, have a scratch kitchen, and offer great food,” said Rather. “This renovation is a great way to have more people check out our dining room.”

“It’s going to be a tough seven weeks, but we are excited. It will be ready just in time for Opening Day,” Rather continued.

Mother’s opened a second restaurant, Mother’s Peninsula Grille, in Arnold in 2012 and Rather said that location is doing “great.” Rather and his team are also working on a deal to add another Mother’s Grille in Howard County. He told SouthBMore.com that the process is about 75% complete.

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.