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Chef-owner Cindy Wolf's cuisine has a South Carolina Low Country accent with French roots—and the results are unparalleled. Inside the glowingly lit dining room, classics like she-crab soup and shrimp and grits complement more elegant fare, such as a lobster bisque spiced with curry or wild salmon with avocado.
1000 Lancaster St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21202, USA
Known For
- Decadent desserts
- Excellent service
- The city's most elegant dining room
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential, Jacket and tie
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$$ | Fells Point |
An expansive 19th-century warehouse is home to this fashionable, two-level restaurant that celebrates Italian cuisine from regions south of Rome. Select a few appetizers: they are made for sharing. Spicy pork sausage adds heat to a tomato and Buffalo mozzarella (okay, that's a little east of Rome) pizza. In the rich, wine-hued setting, candles on tables and giant wrought-iron chandeliers illuminate the space, creating a downright sexy atmosphere. The choicest seats are upstairs in the mezzanine. Excellent service is a Foreman/Wolf trademark.
1425 Aliceanna St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21231, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, No lunch
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$ | Mount Vernon |
A few steps below street level, this small restaurant is usually crowded and always filled with pungent aromas and the sounds of Indian music. Among the vegetarian dishes, alu gobi masala, a potato-and-cauliflower creation, is prepared with onions, tomatoes, and spices. Tandoori chicken is marinated in yogurt, herbs, and strong spices, then barbecued in a charcoal-fired clay oven. The lunch buffet is another good choice.
823 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Tuscany-Canterbury |
A Tudor-style dining room in a 1930s apartment building is the setting for superb Indian fare. Go for the classics such as chicken tikka masala (grilled chicken in a sauce of red pepper, ginger, garlic, and yogurt) or alu gobi (spicy potatoes and cauliflower).
3811 Canterbury Rd., Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA
Known For
- Outdoor dining in the lovely garden
- Excellent service
- Traditional Indian desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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In a town known for its local catch, Azumi's chef flies his fish in daily from Tokyo's famous fish market. Creative takes on Maryland specialties are sure to delight, such as the crab starter, made with tiny Sawagani crabs, which are fried whole and pop in your mouth like buttered popcorn. A favorite from the land is the Japanese A5 Miyazaki Wagyu.
725 Aliceanna St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21202, USA
Known For
- Excellent sashimi, including fresh hamachi
- Extensive list of Japanese whiskeys
- Beautiful waterfront views in a luxury hotel setting
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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The owners of Baltimore Little Italy mainstay Chipparelli's recently opened up a second outlet in the Old Chesapeake Hotel, an elegant historic building in the heart of Havre de Grace that dates back to the 1890s. In addition to serving up old-school favorites like Homemade Gnocchi and Spaghetti Toscanini, the location offers guest accommodations—not a bad ideal after all that pasta.
400 N. Union Ave., Havre de Grace, Maryland, 21078, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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The spotlight is on wine at Cinghiale (pronounced ching-GYAH-lay), an open, inviting space with tall, wide windows. Enjoy hand-cut pastas such as tagliatelle with tender chicken, greens, and walnuts or lasagna with veal ragù. Cinghiale is split into two sections: the elegant osteria and the less-formal enoteca.
822 Lancaster St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21202, USA
Known For
- Northern Italian fare
- Vast wine list of more than 600 bottles
- Sharp and unpretentious service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Mount Vernon |
The lofty space and black-and-white tile floors give this casual spot a feeling of classic grandeur. Come here for American fare with a creative twist—shrimp and grits carbonara or juicy lamb burgers. Another standout is the grilled Atlantic salmon with cannellini beans. Service is warm and efficient. For dessert, order the affogato: it's made with salted caramel Taharka Bros. ice cream and served over a steaming cup of espresso. Weekend brunch is very popular.
1001 Cathedral St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Harbor East |
You can choose the atmosphere you want at Fleet Street Kitchen, which is housed in a former furniture factory. The downstairs is a casual Tavern Room; while upstairs, there's an elegant dining room. Chef Nate Magat creates beautiful New American dishes that speak to the season, such as hand-cut linguine with a garlic cream sauce and tomatoes from the restaurant’s Cunningham Farm. The popular slow-roasted pork is a winning bet. For dessert, the dark chocolate semi-freddo is as intense as it gets.
1012 Fleet St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21202, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Charles Village |
In the Baltimore Museum of Art, this casual yet classy spot cooks up creative Maryland specialties. Crab cakes, served with a variety of tasty sauces, are one option, Parmesan-crusted salmon is another. Finish with a decadent dessert.
10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA
Known For
- Lovely outdoor terrace overlooking the sculpture garden
- A commitment to sustainable Chesapeake cuisine
- Sunday jazz brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Hampden |
Authentic Basque cuisine is on full display at this lovely restaurant located in the Meadow Mill building: pinxtos like ham croquettes with Gruyère cheese, sardines in oil, and fingerling potatoes with garlic aioli are perfect for sharing. The vast space is anchored by a 40-foot chestnut bar, behind which sits a wood-fired grill.
3600 Clipper Mill Rd., Baltimore, Maryland, 21211, USA
Known For
- Duck breast with a honey-Banyuis reduction
- Homemade breads
- Friendly service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Fells Point |
You may feel like you've stepped back in time when you enter this antebellum parlor. Wood floors and tapestried curtains give rise to a winding staircase. The menu, a mix of French and American, is accompanied by an extensive wine list. The lobster bisque, with a dollop of sherry added at the table by one of Louisiana's servers, is sublime, and the cheese grits, served with big, blackened shrimp, is a worthy follow-up course.
1708 Aliceanna St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21231, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, No lunch
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Behind the redbrick facade of a bank built in 1928, MacGregor's occupies two dining rooms on two levels, with glass walls on three sides looking onto the Chesapeake Bay. The interior is adorned with carved duck decoys, mounted guns, and antique prints of the town; there's also outdoor dining on a deck with a gazebo. Seafood is the specialty, and the kitchen claims to have the best crab cakes on the bay.
331 St. John's St., Havre de Grace, Maryland, 21078, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$ | Tuscany-Canterbury |
A favorite of Johns Hopkins students, this low-key restaurant, café, and bar is open morning until night for tasty vegetarian fare. Settle onto a couch or at one of the small tables for a portobello sandwich with caramelized onions and feta cheese, a wild rice and tempeh burger, or One World's version of that Baltimore specialty: a crabless crab cake. Fresh pressed juices, smoothies, espresso drinks, microbrews, and mixed drinks from the full bar fill out the menu.
100 W. University Pkwy., Baltimore, Maryland, 21210, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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Blink, and you may think you’re in South Beach: this trendy restaurant has quickly become the city’s most popular, where the suit-and-tie crowd sidles up to the elevated bar or takes a seat on the cushy outdoor terrace. Try the grilled octopus starter, tossed with lemon juice and capers, or the charcoal-grilled whole fish, be it wild sea bass, sole, or snapper.
1000 Lancaster St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, USA
Known For
- Laid-back, sexy vibe
- Mediterranean-style seafood
- Grilled lamb chops
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$ | Charles Village |
The ceilings and walls of this funky, colorful diner are plastered with toys and other interesting objects. People come at all hours (it's open 7 am–midnight every day except Tuesday, and until 2 am on the weekend) for the overstuffed omelets, big stacks of pancakes, burgers, nachos, sandwiches and... bacon milkshakes (a must-try). Stop by at midnight on a Friday or Saturday night to nosh on sweet potato fries with hipsters and students from nearby Johns Hopkins University. The servers have a diner attitude—they don't always seem too interested in serving, and the food might take a while—but the place is always lively and entertaining.
227 W. 29th St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21211, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, closed Tuesday
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$$ | Charles Village |
The latest creation from Chef/Owners Spike and Amy Gjerde is a real meat market—as in, a butcher shop. Sit at one of the communal dining tables (they also have private dining) and enjoy a family-style meal. At its heart is an open kitchen with an oakwood hearth. The dry-aged flat iron steak is the perfect balance of tender juiciness in a lean cut, served with a tasty shallot and red onion sauce. Salads and grilled vegetables are served at the height of freshness. The chefs commitment to local purveyors is evidenced by the credit they attribute to them on the menu.
2600 N Howard St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Inner Harbor |
A tourist favorite, the Rusty Scupper undoubtedly has the best view along the waterfront; sunset here is magical, with the sun sinking slowly into the harbor as lights twinkle on the city's skyscrapers. The interior is decorated with light wood and windows from floor to ceiling; the house specialty is seafood, particularly the jumbo lump crab cake, but the menu also includes an Angus beef burger, grilled rockfish, and filet mignon. Reservations are essential on Friday and Saturday and for the popular Sunday Jazz brunch.
402 Key Hwy., Baltimore, Maryland, 21230, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Greektown |
East of Fells Point is Greektown (20 minutes by car from Inner Harbor hotels), home to Baltimore's Greek population. An informal restaurant, done in clean, classic blue and white, Samos serves excellent Greek fare. Portions are generous, with lamb souvlaki and tender, juicy gyros leading the menu. Be warned: the folks at Samos often take the phone off the hook and stop offering carryout during the lunchtime rush. Samos doesn't offer beer or wine, but you can bring your own.
600 Oldham St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards, Closed Sun., Reservations not accepted
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$ | Mount Vernon |
High ceilings, warm yellow walls hung with paintings, and a giant crystal chandelier add drama to this spacious, artsy spot near the Walters. Choose from an eclectic menu of "bites" (appetizer-size plates), and tasty "big plates" such as shrimp and sausage grits, or bison sliders served on brioche. At lunch there's counter service only, with a choice of fancy sandwiches and enormous chopped salads. If you go for dinner, be sure to check out the extensive wine list.
527 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
