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$$ | Inner Harbor |
With amazing pancakes, omelets, and French toast, this upscale cafe, now with locations at the Inner Harbor and in North Baltimore's Roland Park, has become the go-to destination for unbeatable breakfast and brunch (neither outlet serves dinner). Lunch entrées like the Chesapeake Club (crab cake, shrimp salad, lettuce, bacon, red and yellow tomatoes, avocado, and Old Bay remoulade on sourdough toast, dusted with more Old Bay) are also excellent. There's another location at 513 W. Cold Spring Lane in Roland Park.
750 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21202, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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$$ | 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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$$ | Tuscany-Canterbury |
A Tudor-style dining room in a 1930s apartment building is the setting for superb Indian fare. Go for the classics such as chicken tikka masala (grilled chicken in a sauce of red pepper, ginger, garlic, and yogurt) or alu gobi (spicy potatoes and cauliflower).
3811 Canterbury Rd., Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA
Known For
- Outdoor dining in the lovely garden
- Excellent service
- Traditional Indian desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | |
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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$$ | |
The spotlight is on wine at Cinghiale (pronounced ching-GYAH-lay), an open, inviting space with tall, wide windows. Enjoy hand-cut pastas such as tagliatelle with tender chicken, greens, and walnuts or lasagna with veal ragù. Cinghiale is split into two sections: the elegant osteria and the less-formal enoteca.
822 Lancaster St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21202, USA
Known For
- Northern Italian fare
- Vast wine list of more than 600 bottles
- Sharp and unpretentious service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | 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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$$ | Charles Village |
In the Baltimore Museum of Art, this casual yet classy spot cooks up creative Maryland specialties. Crab cakes, served with a variety of tasty sauces, are one option, Parmesan-crusted salmon is another. Finish with a decadent dessert.
10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, USA
Known For
- Lovely outdoor terrace overlooking the sculpture garden
- A commitment to sustainable Chesapeake cuisine
- Sunday jazz brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Reservations essential
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$$ | 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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$$ | |
Behind the redbrick facade of a bank built in 1928, MacGregor's occupies two dining rooms on two levels, with glass walls on three sides looking onto the Chesapeake Bay. The interior is adorned with carved duck decoys, mounted guns, and antique prints of the town; there's also outdoor dining on a deck with a gazebo. Seafood is the specialty, and the kitchen claims to have the best crab cakes on the bay.
331 St. John's St., Havre de Grace, Maryland, 21078, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | 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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$$ | Station North Arts District |
Connected to the Charles Theater, the place for art and indie films in Baltimore, the Tapas Teatro is a popular pre- and post-movie spot. It's often a scene, especially in warm weather, when the glass front is open and tables spill onto the street. Tapas include roasted potatoes, spinach sautéed with crab, and lamb tenderloin. There's also an extensive list of wines by the glass, and if you don't finish them with dinner, you can carry drinks into the Charles. But be careful: it's so much fun to keep sampling that it's easy to run up a hefty bill.
1711 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Mon. No lunch., Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Fells Point |
Like many historic buildings in Fells Point, Thames Street Oyster House has lived several lives, functioning as a brothel, saloon, and gift shop before opening in 2011 as a seafood restaurant. This might be its best incarnation, yet. The raw bar features a mouth-watering array of oysters, caught in regional, Atlantic, and Pacific waters. Also available are mussels, crab claws, scallops, quahogs, and lobster tails. Speaking of lobster, the delectable Maine lobster roll comes stuffed with poached lobster and is served on a buttered hot dog bun. The antique black bar and white-tiled floor impart a classic, yet comfortable vibe. The stained glass windows and exposed brick are original to the building.
1728 Thames St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21231, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon. and Tues.
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$$ | Mount Vernon |
Part brewpub, part restaurant, and part lounge, this old brownstone has a young, urbane following, who appreciate the ambitious menu, select wine list, and the home-brewed Belgian-style beers. Try the potent, delicious Resurrection ale. The upstairs dining room serves seasonal dishes with high-quality, locally available ingredients to create European-style country fare that is both hearty and sophisticated. In the dungeonlike downstairs bar, the menu and decor are more casual. Made with rosemary and garlic, the classic steak frites are a best bet.
1106 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Hampden |
In the heart of Hampden, on "The Avenue" (36th Street), chef Chad Gauss presents some of Baltimore's most consistently excellent dining with a global reach. Try the Amish soft pretzels with cheddar-cheese dipping sauce as a starter, then move on to coconut green curry or the lamb with spaetzle.
1017 W. 36th St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21211, USA
Known For
- Convivial atmosphere
- Popular Saturday and Sunday brunch with huge pours
- Desserts like Heath bar bread pudding
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Mount Vernon |
Candles light up the whitewashed walls of these cellar dining rooms, where the menu covers all regions of Spain. The staple is paella à la Valenciana (chicken, sausage, shrimp, clams, and mussels with saffron rice); a less-well-known Basque preparation is red snapper with clams, mussels, asparagus, and boiled egg. Make dinner reservations in advance; walk-in weekday lunch seating is usually available.
10 E. Franklin St., Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
