Urban Plates Opens At Mall In Columbia

COLUMBIA, MD — When diners walk into Urban Plates, the new restaurant open at The Mall in Columbia, they can choose to get in one of three lines. The first is for salads, another is for sandwiches and the last — the one for which the eatery is known — is for plates.

A plate comes with a protein and two sides, designed to be a complete meal.

The made-from-scratch eatery offers fresh, sustainable ingredients and dishes made to order in a "market-style" experience, meaning patrons walk down the line and order their food, selecting elements, sauces and sides as they go. Hand-carved meats and fresh vegetables are on display, prepared by chefs in front of diners.

Popular proteins are the Chimichurri steak, herb-marinated free range chicken and oven-baked salmon with honey mustard sauce. Favorite sides among diners are roasted Brussels sprouts with turkey bacon, Harissa corn, sesame broccolini and more.

All food is made from scratch, including desserts.

Urban Plates describes the experience as "culinary theater," with lights shining behind chefs onto the food as they engage with guests, serving hand-tossed salads, hand-carved entrees, sandwiches and customized bowls.

Based in San Diego, California, Urban Plates put a twist on some of its classic recipes for its new East Coast location. For example, its popular roasted potatoes are seasoned with Old Bay.

There are also local beers, wines and juice-based drinks such as the watermelon-pineapple replenisher, a blend of watermelon, lime, pineapple, mint and basil.

Urban Plates, also known as UP, aims to create a fast-casual atmosphere with food that rises to the level of fine dining. Patch sampled many of the menu items, and it succeeded in its mission.

See the menu for Urban Plates in Columbia plus gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

Located in the space where Champps Restaurant used to be, the new eatery has totally made over the space at The Mall in Columbia.

Pallets that fenced off the area during construction have been recycled and are now mounted on the walls, with greenery woven around them, turning them into unique pieces of decor.

Earthy colors are present throughout the restaurant. The dining space is accented by market lights with colorful bulbs.

Diners can choose from a selection of various-sized booths and tables or a hand-carved wooden community table. Carryout is available, and so is online ordering.

UP opened its first restaurant outside California this spring in Tysons Corner, Virginia. The Columbia location is now the second on the East Coast and is the only Urban Plates in Maryland.

The grand opening for Urban Plates in Columbia was on Monday, Aug. 27. Proceeds from the grand opening went to Howard County charity Food on the 15th, which delivers food to senior citizens in need, and fit with the goal of Urban Plates to provide a dining experience that leaves people feeling good.

Urban Plates is located at The Mall in Columbia at 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway. It is near Shake Shack.

Hours are 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Watch how ordering works and get a look inside Urban Plates:

Photos by Elizabeth Janney.