Making annual trek with spouse for 1 day between Sept. 2-5 for Baltimore Summer Antiques Show at convention center. Looking for very good casual restaurant recs anywhere in Baltimore or points north in MD not far off I-95. Any type of cuisine is ok. Decent reasonable wine list preferred. Been doing this for 10+years and have tried some places on the Inner Harbor, in the Italian section, crab houses and some trendy places on Fell’s Point and have yet to be impressed. Help needed! Thanks
highly recommended the Woodberry Kitchen
http://www.woodberrykitchen.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I can highly recommend Corks:
http://www.corksrestaurant.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I like Henninger’s Tavern on Bank Street in Fells Point. Small, doesn’t take reservations so get there before 6:45 pm and remember a lot of restaurants are closed on Sundays. Their wine list is servicable only but their beer list is decent.
You could try http://www.petitlouis.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Typical French cafe, excellent food, good wine list (albeit overpriced).
Agree that Woodberry and Corks are top choices.
Can also recommend the following within 5 - 10 minute cab rides from your venue:
Centro Tapas Bar – Light Street (great tapas)
Blue Grass Tavern – Hanover Street (Patrick does a great job with game and pork, and Chris is an extremely knowledgable somm)
Vino Rosina – Exeter Street (Jessie’s roast chicken is killer and Olivia and Marlon have put together a great wine list with lots of interesting choices by the glass)
City Cafe (Maryland Ave) – very very interesting menu, killer lamb burger
The Thai Landing has excellent drunken noodles, and is a favorite Thai restaurant of mine that is not the Lotus of Siam.
Bertha’s for crabcakes, Jacks Bistro for french, Costas for crabs,
Interesting, posted this on August 3 and received only 1 quick response. Now 6 more in last 48 hours. Started to think there were no casual places worth going to in Baltimore. Trying the Woodberry on Fri. evening, but much thanks to all for responding. Will keep list for future reference.
you’ll like the Woodberry Kitchen. We were there on Friday night last week. wine list is a touch expensive for what is offered.
Full list is not online.
We had lunch on Saturday at Pappas Seafood.
7oz jumbo lump crabcake with no filler just a mayo binder. huge chunks of lump crab excellent. Drank ice tea.
Based on some recommendations, I went with a group of four to Woodberry Kitchen. What a disappointment. The decor is a converted factory with a nice outdoor area. (check out the ‘community pool’ across the street!) Along with the post moderne look comes the maditory jet-engine loudness when full-which it was. Nearly impossible to converse at the table. (we were inside). Even the waiter had to stand by each ordering person and bend down so his ear was by the orderer. The wine list is odd-a lot of weird varieties from weird areas (but not enough to flummux this wineaux)-and at 4 times retail on average. And of course, the first wine ordered they were out of. (I have this unusual talent-and even predicted that would happen once I saw the wine list.) I settled on a Torrontes from Argentina-a more mundane and unexciting choice I cannot recall. Nothing wrong, just no there there. We put in our orders, and of course 15 minutes later the waiter came back saying he was out of the strip steak that 2 of us had ordered. (This is on a Saturday night in a 3 day weekend-I guess they just couldn’t get enough?) The order was changed. Appetizers came out-generally good, but tended to underseason everything, IMO. The red wine appeared and this was my error. I saw a Perrin 2009 Cotes du Rhone “nature”. I have not see 2009s yet, so I gave it a chance. It was like they wanted to make Beaujolais out of C-du-R grapes. Thin, acidic and burnt rubber. I could not finish the glass. ($45 on the menu) And we had PLENTY of time to contemplate the wine as the entrees took over 40 minutes to arrive. The entrees were OK-meat and crab cakes. Some wanted coffee and one wanted dessert. You guessed it, after ordering, 10 minutes later the waiter returned saying they were out of that dessert. No one was surprised at this table. After paying we left, all agreeing that we would not be returning UNLESS 1-we were all 35 or younger, 2-the women were dressing to the nines, the men were in tee shirts and jeans, 3-we all had Blackberries so we could text all our friends while we were ignoring the dining partner and 4-we were born hearing impaired. So, if this is what you are looking for, then by all means go.
Hate to disagree with Harry C, but both my wife and I enjoyed our evening (Fri.) greatly. Knew we would like it as soon as we drove up. Interesting area and building restoration. Young and hip crowd (we are not either-well maybe just not young). Given, on time, the worst table in the house, top of the stairs, hot, by waiters prep table (usually happens to me). Refused it nicely, and was told it would be a 10 minute wait for better table. Had a nice drink at the very crowded bar while we waited. Hostess found us in 10 minutes and given much better table in main room by the windows. Yes, it was crowded and loud, but we still had a nice conversation with an elderly foursome at the table next to us who were selling at the same antique show we attended. Waitstaff friendly and courteous. Food was very good. Loved the roast suckling pig special. Interesting, but overpriced wine list. Since we had a 2 hour drive home, I looked for half bottles and saw only 1 (sauv. blanc). Took a pass and had a glass of a local red (MD-petit verdot) and my wife had another glass of the Argentine rose sparkler. Both very nice. Free, efficient valet parking. A very pleasant experience, but you don’t go here for the wines.
Glad you enjoyed it Robert.
Sorry for your bad experience Harry.