Baltimore City Guide - Restaurants

When dining in Baltimore, think crab cakes. There are none better, but that doesn’t mean that the city’s other cuisines are wanting. We have listed the restaurants below under five headings: Gastronomic, Business, Personal Recommendations, Trendy and Budget, with three restaurants in each section, thus giving a small sampling of the city’s good food.

Price brackets are as follows:
$$$$ (over US$70)
$$$ (US$35 to US$70)
$$ (US$20 to US$35)
$ (under US$20)
They include a three-course meal and the equivalent of one-half bottle of wine but a sales tax of 5% is extra. A tip of 15-20% for the waiting staff is customary.

Aldo's Ristorante Italiano

From expert cabinetmaker to talented chef, both of Aldo Vitale's skills are reflected in his restaurant. The intricate woodwork in the elegant but comfortable setting was crafted by him, just like the southern-influenced regional Italian cuisine which he serves there. The menu changes with the seasonal ingredients, but pastas, veal and fried calamari are always available. Diners are welcome to tour the wine cellar and the cheese cave.

306 South High Street
Tel: (410) 727 0700.
Website: www.aldositaly.com
Price: $$$

Hamptons

Candelabras, fresh flowers and a smashing view of the Inner Harbor are features of the posh Hamptons', where seasonally changing, unique but classic American cuisine and fine wines are served. Signature dishes include lobster bisque, Maryland crab cakes and grilled rib-eye. Expect impeccable service from the moment you enter. Much praise has been heaped on this award-winning venue and it is well deserved. Jackets are required (with deep pockets, it is pricey). Reservations are advised.

550 Light Street, Harbor Court Hotel
Tel: (410) 347 9744.
Website: www.harborcourt.com
Price: $$$$

Pisces

Huge, revealing windows showcase the Inner Harbor from the revolving Pisces. Multilingual din in the dimly lit room cannot subtract from this stunning view, the award-winning cuisine or the friendly service. The house speciality, cream of crab soup, is amazing. Either will make a perfect first act to the succulent crab cakes or macadamia crusted walleye pike main courses.

Hyatt Regency Baltimore
300 Light Street
Tel: (410) 605 2835.
Website: www.hyatt.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Pazo

An old warehouse in the East Harbor has been transformed to the place to be. The open kitchen, comfy couches and a few tables are the ground level décor. An ornate wrought iron balcony surrounds the upstairs loft which serves as the main dining room. A Mediterranean menu features innovative 'tapas' like bistek catalonia, a tasty hanger steak with scallions, and malloreddus alla nomia, Sardinian saffron gnocchi with tomato and roasted aubergine. About three tapas per guest is the norm but they should be accompanied by one of Pazo's tasty breads like a pretzel-shaped whole wheat with rosemary and sea salt. Later in the evening a DJ entertains.

1425 Aliceanna Street
Tel: (410) 534 7296.
Website: www.pazorestaurant.com
Price: $$$

Sotto Sopra

In the Mount Vernon Cultural District, a traditional, yet hip atmosphere (1940s-type wooden office chairs, a drugstore-tile floor, high ceilings, and huge murals) is the venue for pleasantly palatable pasta and yummy Italian dishes like rolled veal stuffed with spinach, fortina and olive paste or Fontina cheese-spinach-and-ham-stuffed chicken breast. Every Monday bottled wines are half price.

405 North Charles Street
Tel: (410) 625 0534.
Website: www.sottosoprainc.com
Price: $$$

Tapas Teatro Café

One of Baltimore's hottest dining spots is the place to sup on tapas - hot and cold Spanish snacks, like mussels and shrimp on saffron rice or seafood paella, and even better with a pitcher of sangria. These 'small plates, large pleasures' are served at candlelit tables alongside an open kitchen and large cathedral windows in the revamped Charles Theatre, where waiting diners often trickle into the theatre lobby. Reservations are not accepted.

1711 Charles Street
Tel: (410) 332 0110.
Price: $$-$$$

Afghan Kabob

The small corner restaurant, across from the Legg Mason Building, is a departure from the usual crab cakes and seafood fare. There are only a few tables and patrons order their Afghan specialities – kaddo (yogurt-covered pan-fried pumpkin with ground beef), kebabs, lamb chops and baklava at the counter. Quick service. Take away and delivery are available. No liquor, wine or beer.

37 South Charles Street
Tel: (410) 727 5511.
Price: $.

Faidley's

Open since 1886, Faidley's is my personal pick for the world's best lump crab cakes. Located inside the bustling Lexington Market, patrons at Faidley's gladly line up to order and then stand around tall tables to savour these delicacies. Besides the cakes, soup, oysters, clams, shrimp and fish are also available. Generous platters come with a choice of two sides which might be a salad or French fries. No alcohol. Open Mon-Sat 0900-1700.

203 North Paca Street
Tel: (410) 727 4898.
Website: www.faidleyscrabcakes.com
Price: $-$$

Jimmy's

Think 1950s diner without the greasy food. You know, the long counter, people reading newspapers, coolers of soft drinks. It is a Fells Point institution and all the locals rave about the place. Jimmy's serves up the usual cheap-eat, diner food – hamburgers, submarines, grilled chicken and low-priced breakfasts. Soups and chilli are homemade daily and there are always daily specials.

801 South Broadway, Fells Point
Tel: (410) 327 3273.
Price: $

Blue Sea Grill

This blue room, full of angles and sailboat paintings, conjures up visions of the sea. Friendly service and fresh seafood rule here. Of course, the menu features Maryland crab cakes and lots of crab variations, but other fresh fish, mussels and clams are also on the menu if available. Everything is cool, fresh, raw or a combination of one or all three. There are a few carnivore offerings, too. Reservations are a necessity.

614 Water Street
Tel: (410) 837 7300.
Website: www.blueseagrill.com
Price: $$$

Gertrude's

Named after the grandmother of celebrity chef John Shields, this cosy bistro, located inside the Baltimore Art Museum, serves up food that is as imaginative as some of the museum's artwork. Appetisers like chicken fritters and succulent crabettes (east-west crab cakes, with ginger, garlic and serano chillies) melt in your mouth, while mains like Portobello crab imperial titillate the palate. All is served in a simple setting, which faces the sculpture garden and is highlighted with black, light woods and white tablecloths.

Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive
Tel: (410) 889 3399.
Website: www.gertrudesbaltimore.com
Price: $$$

La Scala of Little Italy

Two Baltimore taste treats should not to be missed – crab cakes and dinner in Little Italy. La Scala is a good place for the latter. Baltimoreans give its seafood with a side of pasta raves. Chef/owner Nino Germano serves up generous portions. Don't fill up on pasta or main courses like scampi al'aligo (sautéed shrimp with garlic, herbs, cognac and butter over a bed of linguine); save room for Mama's special hazelnut-flavoured cannoli.

1012 Eastern Avenue
Tel: (410) 783 9209.
Website: www.lascaladining.com
Price: $$-$$$

Thai Landing

It is just a neighbourhood restaurant, but many say it has the best Thai food in Baltimore. The setting is nothing fancy, and the emphasis here is decidedly more on taste than looks, although some mains are elegantly presented. The sliced duck with carved carrots and floating grapes and red peppers in the sweet sauce on the side is a good example. Daring diners might ask the friendly waiters to order for them, but let them know how much spice you can tolerate.

1207 North Charles Street
Tel: (410) 727 1234.
Price: $$