Yesterday, I received confirmation that in thirteen months I will be a Baltimorean. My wife will be doing a fellowship at Johns Hopkins, and as I'm somewhat fond of her, I'll be tagging along.
This is a great excuse for culinary adventurism, so I have an open question for Chicagoans and Baltimoreans -
For the Chicagoans: What local foods or restaurants are must-haves over the next year so I'll leave Chicago with fond culinary memories?
For the Baltimoreans, what foods or restaurants do I have to try in Mob Town/Charm City? Remember that I'm a fish-eating otherwise vegetarian who is (wait for it) allergic to those lovely crab cakes you serve, as well as any form of crab, shrimp, or lobster.
And is it true you call styrofoam "skyraphone"? I'll be quizzing you Marylanders later on where to find good Indian, Mexican, and East Asian cuisine in Baltimore, so start researching.
Thanks, Elsa! In fact, I love mussels, oysters, clams, you name it. Bertha's is a good start. Any other suggestions out there?
Bertha's is great--if you love tourists. The mussels have gone down hill in recent times.
The Helmand is great for reasonably priced Afghan food.
Oysters on the half shell are a good deal at Lexington Market. They're not bad at Cross Street Market as well.
Stop in at Tio Pepe at 10 East Franklin St. I worked there for 18 months, bar and dining room, when I was at JHU. Try the garlic shrimp apetizer, pallella, and chocolate souffle (not on the menu).
Also, there are some great places in Little Italy - especially Vacario's for desert.
Pretty good Irish grub at Mick O'Shea's. Great food and ambiance at 24-hour diner Paper Moon, right by the Homewood campus. Also agree with the previous poster on Helmand.
Check out City Paper's annual Best of Baltimore. http://www.citypaper.com/bob/default.asp?issueDate=9/22/2004
Unfortunately, one of the iconic Baltimore eateries is no more...
http://www.citypaper.com/bob/story.asp?id=389
http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/articles/haus0300.htm
Enjoy...
A great vegetarian place near Hopkins is One World Cafe: http://one-world-cafe.com/. They have espresso drinks and a bar, too. The best of all worlds!
I agree with the Little Italy recommendation.
Baltimore has a lot of great restaurants and neighborhoods. You'll eat well, don't worry!
A great vegetarian place near Hopkins is One World Cafe: one-world-cafe.com. They have espresso drinks and a bar, too. The best of all worlds!
I agree with the Little Italy recommendation.
Baltimore has a lot of great restaurants and neighborhoods. You'll eat well, don't worry!
But noncrustacean shellfish are fine for you, yes? In that case, Eat Bertha's Mussels.
[Strictly speaking, I can lay greater claim to Chicago than to Bal-mer, but I couldn't keep my nose out.]