Ixia, Corks and Sotto Sopra in Baltimore all have chef's tasting menus. I'm the restaurant critic of the Baltimore Sun, and I'll post something on my blog today at www.baltimoresun.com/diningatlarge asking for other suggestions.
This is a great topic. I'll post something about it and your entry on my restaurant blog at www.baltimoresun.com/diningatlarge and see if we can come up with some freebie suggestions for the Baltimore/Annapolis area.
Corduroy in downtown DC. Don't be put off by the fact that it's located inside a hotel - it's not a "hotel restaurant".
This may be somewhat sacrilegious...but Mela Urban Bistro in Springfield, Ohio (sorry, no major city here) is in the Courtyard by Marriott and although their free starter is a bread basket with olive oil for dipping, it also comes with an olive tapenade that is good enough that (1) my very picky husband will eat it, and (2) as the olive lover in the family, I have considered skipping the bread altogether (and the bread's good) and eating the tapenade with a spoon. www.melaurbanbistro.com, I think. Enjoy =)
in new york one of my favorites is tanoreen, in bay ridge. they give pickles and the best pickled beets ever. i love pickled beets.
I'm glad my friends and I aren't the only ones who partially judge a restaurant by it's freebies. One of my favorite restaurants called "L'Ami Jean" always starts with an amuse bouche, and always ends with a complimentary basket of madeleines. Two freebies; very high rating on our list...
I was at Ray's the Steaks in Arlington last night and remembered their bowl of cajun-spiced cashews for initial snacking. And even better, the shot of complimentary cinnamony hot chocolate they give you post-meal.
Also, there's the pails of peanuts at burger chain Five Guys.
@ElizabethLarge -- Loved your post!
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2008/04/best_premeal_nonbread_freebies.html#more
Ten Penh also a freebie that I guess is considered an amuse bouche -- it's a tall shot glass filled with whatever soup the chef happens to make. Every one I've tried has been amazing, especially a spicy butternut squash that I had the first time I went.
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