Gertrude's Chesapeake Kitchen Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Awards
Weddingwire
81 reviews
Google
674 reviews
-
Will Sent on 09/30/2025
The best wedding day ever at the best venue!!!
We are so glad we chose Gertrude's for our wedding day!! First of all, it is absolutely beautiful. Having the ceremony in the sculpture garden and crossing the fountain felt magical and very special. We rented Gertrude's candles that they set up around the fountain so that was magical and also made the day more worry-free. The tent is perfect for a rain plan (we did have rain on our wedding day but thankfully it held off for the ceremony, and the staff was super helpful in preparing for both the rain plan and the sculpture garden plan). During cocktail hour, our guests loved exploring the sculpture garden. The dinner stations were amazing - I highly recommend the french cut chicken breast and crab cakes, we got a lot of compliments on the food!! And then the tent makes for perfect dancing at night!! Plenty of space for people to spread out as well. The fact that it is a restaurant, so they make incredible food and do all the set up and linens and service and alcohol, etc, makes the planning process a lot less stressful. Compared to other venues like this, we thought it was amazing value for what you pay! A stunning venue that is also amazingly organized with incredible food, we highly highly recommend it!! -
-
Lisa Sent on 06/23/2025
Midsummer Magic
It was a dream working with Emily. From
start to finish, she made our experience easy and pleasurable. She was flexible & helpful and
so much fun to work with. And she helped us create a truly lovely Rehearsal Dinner.,
-
-
![Emily]()
Emily Sent on 05/21/2025Great art, true love & exquisite food
After reviewing and visiting beautiful venues throughout Maryland, our son and daughter in law chose Gertrude's at BMA for their wedding venue.
The magic that developed over the year of planning turned into a beautiful and personalized experience for all. Emily, the event coordinator, along with Richard and the flawless team of staff helped make the evening everything our families and the young couple dreamed.
The sculpture garden was an ethereal background to sharing vows. We moved inside for toasts and 5 minutes later a beautiful
Sprimg thunderstorm released rain and thunder. I don't know how Emily and staff managed the weather but it was just one of many perfect and smooth transitions. Dinner was a treat for foodies and diverse selections provided for all. The drinks were ample and flowing. Once dinner ended, the rain and sky vleared for dancing in the moonlight.
Thank you Gertrude's for a memorable and beautiful event!
-
-
![Austin]()
Austin Sent on 05/27/2024An Incredible Venue
We fell in love with Gertrude's during our first visit with Emily. The aesthetic, the vibe, the care they showed, the *food*, of course....it just all fit what we were looking for.
It was a feeling that was hard to capture for our friends and loved ones -- the venue set-up is a bit atypical (at least for larger weddings, no assigned seating, indoor/outdoor setup, stations/buffet dinner/etc. Honestly, many of our parents and loved ones weren't certain about the choice before the wedding day, and even we had some second thoughts about out wedding size (about 160 guests - trust Emily when she tells you it easily works on the dance floor!).
Fast-forward to the wedding day and we could not have been more thrilled with how it all turned out. Gertrude's was *the* perfect vendor, and every loved one who had had previous doubts came to us that night to talk about how much they loved every part of it. The staff was incredible and made everyone feel welcome; the food was otherworldly and had tons of guests raving; the space felt intimate and comfortable at the same time, and was so naturally beautiful. We saw tons of guests taking pictures in the sculpture garden! The venue was so flexible with us while it was on-and-off raining right during our ceremony, allowing our planners and vendors to make decisions and changes on the fly.
Lots of words to say that if you visit Gertrude's and love it, trust your gut -- it's a really amazing venue that made for a special day. Big shoutout to Emily for all of the expertise in planning, because every recommendation she made was the right one! Thanks to everyone at Gertrude's for an incredible event.
-
-
Nick Sent on 11/19/2023
The BEST day of our lives!
WALK, DON'T RUN!!! Although my now husband (yaaay!) and I had been to the BMA before, it wasn't until we saw Gertrude's on Wedding Wire that we realized this INCREDIBLE venue (that also happens to be a restaurant) existed. After visiting a few venues and getting sticker shock, we nearly cancelled our scheduled visit , which would have been a HORRIBLE mistake. Emily, Richard and the entire team at Gertrude's truly knocked it out of the park. Our day was even more perfect than we had dreamed. The ambiance, the service, the food - ALL OF IT WAS PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT! Emily runs such an incredible show - she's a down-to-earth, hilarious professional who answered all of our questions and made sure all of our needs were met. When our month-of dropped the ball, we knew we were in good hands because we had been working with Emily for upwards of a year. I could not say enough good things about Gertrude's. You will not regret choosing this venue to host your special day! -
-
Kathryn Sent on 10/16/2023
Best. Night. Ever!
I can’t say enough good things about Emily, Richard, and the whole Gertrude’s team and experience. They have it all— the beautiful outdoor terrace and sculpture garden views, the fountain, the tented dance floor, the intimate dinner experience indoors… it was just so much fun. It was so easy to coordinate and the food is absolutely delicious. Our signature cocktails were a breeze to bring to life as well. Deciding on Gertrude’s as our venue was very easy. Their flexibility, kindness, attention to detail, and excellent quality for reasonable pricing is unmatched around here. For me it was really helpful to do “one stop shopping” and not need multiple vendors to pull off our special day. I had more time to enjoy the planning experience because of that. Gertrude’s is just the best. -
-
![Lillian]()
Lillian Sent on 06/01/2023Absolutely Perfect Wedding Venue!
We had the BEST time at our wedding and so much of that is because Emily and her team are amazing!! They made the day move so seamlessly. Everyone loved the food and the venue. We could not have asked for a better place to have our wedding! I highly recommend booking this venue!!! -
-
Liz W. Sent on 10/20/2022
Perfect Wedding Venue!!
Gertrudes was amazing. It was a very cool location and the event set up was absolutely beautiful, but the best part was how low-stress it was. The event coordinator and the restaurant manager took care of everything and the wedding was amazing. I was blown away by the little details they thought of and the affordability. Perfect outdoor/indoor venue - already decorated beautifully, didn't have to worry about linens or servers or catering - anything! It was truly the perfect wedding location and I am so grateful to the staff for the perfect wedding. -
-
![Amelie]()
Amelie Sent on 10/16/2022The perfect venue!!
We had our reception at Gertrude's last weekend and it was perfect!! We were able to get beautiful photos down in the BMA gardens and had the cocktail hour in the sculpture garden and on the terrace. We did food stations so we got to select 3 different entrees along with 2 sides, and they were ALL DELICIOUS!!! The guests raved about the food! They could get whatever they wanted and go back for seconds and thirds. We had Angus beef with mushroom risotto and mosaic vegetables, fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans, and vegetable lasagna with a kale & sweet potato curry and greek salad. Guests were able to eat dinner either indoors or out on the terrace, and then we danced the night away on the terrace, where there was plenty of space! It was great because if anyone wanted to sit and chat in a quieter environment, they could just go back inside and sit by the bar or at one of the tables.
The servers were super attentive and Richard was wonderful and took great care of me and my husband throughout the night! Emily was fantastic! She coordinated everything and communicated with me throughout the planning process and during the event. Emily is super responsive, personable, and patient. She made everything so easy and answered all my questions in the months leading up to the reception. We couldn't have asked for a better coordinator or venue! The guests kept commenting on how beautiful it was and how much fun they had. We're so grateful that we found Gertrude's and that they were available on our date! Thank you to everyone for making our day so special!! -
-
![Emily]()
Emily Sent on 06/18/2022Book Gertrude's now!
Booking Gertrude’s was the best wedding decision we could have made. Not only is it an incredible space, but the food is delicious. We have guests that are still talking about how good the food was! We opted to use the BMA sculpture garden for our ceremony and that process was seamless. Emily V at Gertrude’s is so easy to work with – she answered all of my many questions and provided us with everything we needed and more. The day-of, the service went so smoothly, we could not have asked for anything better. We went with food stations and open seating and it worked out great and we had our own server that continually brought us food and drink throughout the night. Gertrude’s offers an incredible atmosphere and backdrop that will make your wedding day feel like a dream. It was so nice that our guests could be either inside the dining room, outside under the tent, or outside in the gardens and we had our ceremony and reception all in one spot. I cannot recommend Gertrude’s highly enough if you are looking for a beautiful space with delicious food!! -
![Robert]()
Robert Sent on 03/21/2022Perfection!
Excellent service. Highly recommended. -
![Meaghan]()
Meaghan Sent on 01/27/2022Highly recommend
Gertrude’s is the best. We were looking for a place that wouldn’t require a lot of work on our parts - if you’re the same way, this is the venue for you. They do pretty much everything. Emily helped us make all the necessary choices leading up to the wedding day and was super easy to communicate with. The night went off without a hitch - beautiful setting, amazing food (really, it’s so good and the chef is willing to work with you to make the menu what you want it to be), and wonderful, attentive staff. We got lots of compliments on the food and the atmosphere and everyone had a great time. Highly recommend! -
-
Brianne Sent on 10/29/2021
The perfect venue!
Gertrude’s was the perfect venue for our wedding! Emily, the event coordinator, was an amazing help throughout the process. The venue provides food and drink in addition to the beautiful atmosphere — you don’t need much decoration here! Guests were raving about the food weeks after the wedding. Service from all of the staff was impeccable. It really was the perfect day! -
-
Alycia Sent on 10/26/2021
Unique venue with amazing food and service!
We had our wedding this past weekend at Gertrude's and it was exactly what I had envisioned! I wanted a unique/non traditional venue. The garden looked magical during cocktail hour with all of the greenery and the fountain. I did opt to use the BMA section of the garden for our actual ceremony because of my dress's train, but Gertrude's staff handled all of the setup still. It poured about an hour before the ceremony but the staff was able to wipe everything down and finish setting up for us before the ceremony.
I was planning this wedding from out of state and emailed Emily a million questions throughout the last few months, but she was always super responsive and accommodating! Jay, the catering manager, was amazing and always made sure my husband and I had a drink. He also made us plates during cocktail hour and dinner. We chose to do food stations and we have had so many guests tell us it was the best wedding food they've ever had! Specifically the mashed potatoes and butternut squash ravioli :) Everyone keeps telling us how much fun they had. I was a little nervous about it being cold in the tent since it was a chilly October night, but we closed the sides once the dancing started and it was perfect! -
-
Shannon Sent on 09/27/2021
Dreamy Jewel Toned Wedding
Gertrude’s is AMAZING - the entire process was so smooth. Emily, the coordinator for the venue was suuuuper responsive and kind. The team in general was so accommodating and the food was fantastic. Our wedding on September 24, 2021 was a dream thanks to them and our other vendors. If you are on the fence, hands down book here and you won’t be disappointed!!
Photo credit: mfieldsphotography.com -
-
![Sally]()
Sally Sent on 09/27/2021Wedding at BMA’s Sculpture Garden Gertrude’s Restaurant
Thank you so much for providing such delicious food and outstanding service to the guests who attended our son’s and daughter-in-law’s wedding on Saturday, September 25th. I have received rave reviews about the food, the service, and the ambiance of the restaurant and venue from many of our guests. Jay in particular did a fantastic job at taking care of what personally needed to be done for us throughout the event. He went above the call of duty! All the servers and the dining room manager did a fantastic job. A special thanks goes to Emily Jean Villarreal the Boutique Events Wedding Planner for doing a super job at organizing all of the various functions related to the ceremony and the reception. Emily guided us every step of the way from the initial connection in 2020 and up to the day of the wedding. She is a gifted lady!
They are all to be commended for their professionalism.
Bravo…kudos to all!
You’re the best! -
-
Samantha Sent on 01/15/2020
Exceeded our high expectations
From start to finish, the people at Gertrude's were a joy to work with. The coordinator, Emily, is always quick to respond, super helpful in answering questions, and will keep things running smoothly on the day of the event. The sculpture garden was the perfect setting for our fall wedding, and dinner was just as good as the food at Gertrude's is every other time we've eaten there (aka it was freaking delicious). Our personal attendant for the night was so sweet and even knew my drink preferences before meeting me! My only hesitation when we booked was that I did not love the look of the dining room and thought the colors/upholstery might be distracting. I could not have been more wrong. In the candlelight, the space was completely transformed. It was a truly beautiful setting for our reception.
One thing to note is that ceremonies at Gertrude's are held over the fountain. Because of the long train on my dress and our preference for a longer/straight aisle, we chose to rent an adjacent space in the sculpture garden from the BMA for our ceremony, and Gertrude's still handled the setup. Perfect!
Basically, Gertrude's is probably the best bang-for-your-buck wedding venue in Baltimore, and definitely offers the best wedding food available. I cannot recommend them enough! -
-
![Johnnie Ann]()
Johnnie Sent on 12/16/2019Beautiful venue!!
We are so happy we had our wedding at Gertrude's restaurant. The venue was absolutely beautiful. The sculpture garden provided a perfect backdrop for our ceremony and the sparkling lights in the reception space made our day feel so magical. The staff was amazing to work with - servers/bartenders were super attentive and planning the day couldn't have been made any easier. Emily, the event coordinator, was always very responsive and helpful throughout the entire process. The venue provided everything we could need (speakers, microphone, tables, chairs, linens, votives, etc.) and the food was absolutely amazing! We brought our own flowers and cake and they helped make setting up a breeze. We had a smaller event (44 people) with the ceremony held in the sculpture garden and used only the terrace for the reception - it was the perfect amount of space for us (we still had room for dancing!) and it still felt very private even with the main restaurant open. All of our guests really enjoyed the evening. I would definitely recommend the venue for any event!! -
![Katherine]()
Katherine Sent on 11/19/2019Perfect venue, amazing value
Gertrude's is a romantic, affordable venue with all the glamour of the Baltimore Museum of Art, at an affordable price! (The BMA is a separate venue). Emily Villareal is the event coordinator, and she was incredibly responsive and helpful with the decisions we needed to make as we worked through the details of our big day. Most importantly, she helped us make sure we got our most desired menu choices (fried oysters! crab cakes!) within our price point. Emily went above and beyond, and requested that the BMA keep the fountain in the sculpture garden on until after our wedding so we could have a beautiful outdoor fall ceremony.
Once we chose our menu items, Emily scheduled a complimentary tasting dinner with the Chef so we could try everything out (including the beer and wine that would be served the night of the wedding), and we were able to invite 4 others, so we shared that experience with a few immediate family members.
On the wedding night, everything went smoothly and as planned. My husband (!) and I had a server, Jae, who was dedicated specifically to us throughout the night, and he kept the drinks flowing, and even offered to set aside a menu for us to keep
We also love that Gertrude's provided the use of their tea lights for free - we just added some DIY greenery and flameless candles, and the decor was perfect. Gertrude's offers the opportunity for the couple to pay for their guests' parking in the museum/restaurant parking lot, which we thought was a classy touch.
It's been over two weeks since our wedding, and we've talked about it everyday since - it was truly a perfect evening. We got so many compliments on the food! After our wedding, a friend who recently got married at the American Visionary Art Museum remarked that he wished he had thought of Gertrude's for his wedding! We can't recommend this venue highly enough. And, we just received a thank you note from Emily with a certificate for a complimentary dinner at Gertrude's :) Stop searching, book Gertrude's NOW! -
-
![Jessie]()
Jessie Sent on 06/24/2019Magical Venue
My husband and I wanted an intimate, nontraditional venue and Gertrude's met all of our needs and more. Emily & team make things so easy along the way and are responsive to all questions and needs. The food was incredible (especially the crab ball appetizers) and thanks to Emily's coordination, our wedding day was flawless. We also loved that a staff member was assigned to the wedding party to ensure we had a chance to eat and drink between photos & such. Our guests can't stop raving about how magical the day and venue were! Thank you, Gertrude's!! -
-
June Sent on 10/04/2018I am so happy we chose Gertrude’s for our reception. Emily, the venue coordinator, made the planning process so easy. She was always prompt and detailed with the information she provided, and graciously tolerated my 1-million questions. Since Gertrude’s is a restaurant you don’t have to worry about table linens, place settings, votive candles, chairs, etc… They have crisp white linens for all of the dining & cocktail tables - you’re only responsible for the the banquet & specialty tables - a fun way to bring a pop of color into the decor. They also have cafe lights strung in the tented terrace and strands of twinkle lights draping from the large picture window separating the restaurant & tented terrace that give the space an elegant feel. There is also a fountain in the upper garden terrace, and you can rent hurricane candles, too. As the bride & groom, an attendant is assigned to you for the evening, which was incredible - we didn't have to think. They always made sure we had a fresh cocktail; brought us plates of hors d’oeuvres during pics; and had our plates of dinner already on our table by the time we got to it. That brings me to the food! Oh my gosh, the food! If you’ve never eaten at Gertrude’s you’re missing out on a Baltimore gem! The food was absolutely outstanding! We got compliment after compliment! This is also where Emily and her expertise come in. As a couple, you go through the catering menu and pick your ideal menu and send it to Emily. She gives you the per/guest cost and any recommendations needed to bring it within your budget, and you tweak from there. The open bar option is also a great deal and reasonably priced. (Our ceremony was on the BMA portion of the upper sculpture garden, but you can have your ceremony at Gertrude’s as well. The rain plan is to have the ceremony in the tented terrace). If you want a beautiful unique setting and don’t want to juggle a bunch of vendors, Gertrude’s is your one-stop shop!
-
-
Jan Sent on 09/13/2018We were were beyond pleased with everything for our daughter'swedding. Gertrude's was superlative in every way. The food was amazing. The helpfulness and coordination with vendors and rain decisions was spot on. But the attentiveness by the staff for the bride and groom, myself and Nina's dad...and I assume Adam's parents, was unexpected and top notch. Always being sure we had drinks and food and anything that we could want for our party was so professional. It's those unexpected touches that make your team and organization stand out. Everyone and everything was perfect; Emily V. and Katie get 5 stars in my book. Thank you so very much for making the evening exactly what we wanted: enjoyable, fun and without any worry.
And please....thanks to the chef. There is nothing like wonderful food, but to provide great food for these types of occasions was a gift for all who got to enjoy it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you,
Jan Goldman -
-
![Cassidy]()
Cassidy Sent on 10/08/2025Dream Wedding Venue
My finance and I were about to call it quits on planning a wedding for 100 guests. After 8 visits to other venues that felt overpriced and too heavy of a planning haul, we scheduled a time to visit Gertrudes as a last ditch effort. We were instantly impressed with Emily, the venue coordinator. Throughout the whole process she answered questions promptly and directly. Gertrudes food and drink pricing was very competitive to other catering proposals I had received for other venues. The menu options were varied to meet many different preferences and dietary restrictions. Our wedding day came, and it was more magical than we could have imagined. We opted to have our wedding in the Lower Wurtzburger Sculpture Gardens for an extra fee, it was beautiful. Our guests were commenting on the fantastic level of service they received by the staff. The ceremony flowed into a lovely outdoor cocktail hour. I could not believe my eyes at the beauty of the dining room during dinner. The low twinkling lights, and intimate seating was beautiful and romantic. Finally, we closed out dancing in the tent and everyone had a blast. I was relieved that Gertrude's by default has a sort of "wedding layout or process", meaning there was a limited amount of decisions I had to make in the planning process. Gertrudes takes care of so many things. If I had a wedding again, there is NO QUESTION I would book at Gertrudes again.
Photos by A&M Photography -
Are you interested?
Are you interested?