Restaurant review: Adventurous food, friendly service at 1542 Gastropub

The cuisine is expertly executed at this Federal Hill restaurant

Butterscotch fingers aside, dinner at 1542 Gastropub was impressive from start to finish. It's a restaurant for people who love food and for their less-adventurous friends, too. As we left the restaurant, our waitress said goodbye, adding, "Please tell your friends about us."

"We will," we replied. And now we have.

1542 Gastropub

Back story: 1542 Gastropub, the new incarnation of Federal Hill's The Reserve, serves adventurous, creative fare with Mediterranean roots and locally sourced ingredients

Parking: Street parking and parking garage at 40 E. West St.

Signature dish: Adventurous seafood lovers should not miss the octopus pizza, which combines tender chunks of octopus with salty olives and spicy harissa.

Where: 1542 Light St.

Contact: 410-605-0955, 1542gastropub.com

Open: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday

Credit Cards: All major credit cards

Food: ✭✭✭1/2

Service: ✭✭✭1/2

Atmosphere: ✭✭✭

[Key: Excellent: ✭✭✭✭; Good: ✭✭✭; Fair or Uneven: ✭✭; Poor: ✭]