This small Afghani restaurant in the midtown Mount Vernon neighborhood features an intimate, candle-lit dining room decorated in shades of rose. Traditional Afghani robes adorn the bare brick walls. The food is equally lovely. A typical meal would include the pureed pumpkin appetizer, followed by grilled chicken with mushrooms in a yogurt and sour cream sauce, and ice cream with mango, figs and dates for dessert. The Helmand is four-star dining in a lovely setting, all at affordable prices.
One of Baltimore's largest breweries, The Brewer's Art is set in a grand townhouse on North Charles Street. Spread out over two levels, the bar and dining room lies on the ground floor and the lounge and smaller bar area can be found on the lower level. House brews include the strong Beazly, Birdhouse Ale and the flavorful Resurrection. They also offer an extensive wine list, wide selection of whiskey and other spirits. Their reasonably priced food menu features delicious pubfare (sandwiches, small plates), intriguing entrées, continental cuisine and desserts. Gluten free and vegetarian options are also available. With its happy hours, plenty of seating options, impeccable service and guided tours (every other Saturday), The Brewer's Art offers guests a unique dining experience.
Mick O'Shea's Irish Pub and Restaurant features live Irish music, five nights a week. Inside, you'll find a massive bar with wooden tables to complete the décor. Much of the food is standard bar fare, but heartier dishes are also available. Be sure to try the Celtic entrees like Shepherd's Pie, Irish Stew, and Corn Beef and Cabbage.
One expects Italian restaurants to be romantic, and this Little Italy favorite certainly delivers. Dalesio's Of Little Italy's intimate dinning rooms are candle-lit and filled with fresh flowers, and the outdoor balcony seating is a near perfect setting for romance. The menu features many low-calorie and low-cholesterol entrées, like grilled shrimp and penne piemontese, which are perfectly healthy, yet still pack enough flavor to be worthy of Little Italy.
Canton, located just a few minutes to the Northeast of downtown, is the most recent in a fairly long line of revitalized Baltimore neighborhoods. As such, it has become home to young professionals and urban hipsters. One of the favorite hangouts of this energetic crowd is this small, friendly Mexican restaurant that offers enormous portions of good food at modest prices. The portabello mushroom and spinach quesadilla are terrific, National Bohemian beer is exceptionally cheap, and at least a dozen portraits of Elvis grace the walls.
This restaurant mixes Old World Cuba with modern, innovative flavors. Outdoor dining is available, umbrella-shaded tables afford views of sailboat masts and the waterfront. Black bean soup and black bean Cakes served with guacamole and sour cream are among the several delectable appetizers offered. Salads and pork, catfish and chicken sandwiches are also offered. Entree highlights include mahi-mahi con plantanos, plantain-encrusted mahi topped with a pineapple and black bean relish and parillada de verduras, grilled vegetables over rice. There's also an extensive wine list.
Kona Grill is a family restaurant located at a close proximity to the Baltimore Convention center. Besides the usual lunch and dinner menu, the place is famous for a variety of traditional sushi rolls and craft cocktails available on happy hours. The outdoor patio area is beautifully maintained giving a comfortable dining experience to the guests all year round. Full service catering orders are accepted. Visit the website for a detailed menu.
From soup to sauce, everything at this family-owned Italian favorite is made fresh daily. Add to that the Calvert House stylish decor, its friendly staff and its jovial neighborhood-hangout atmosphere, and you'll see why it's become a downtown institution. All the Italian standbys are well represented here, and their crab cakes are so popular that they actually sell packets of the mix. Located just minutes from Center Stage, it's a great choice for a pre-curtain meal.
Located at Baltimore, Le Comptoir du Vin is a popular wine bar and is known for Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant has an array of wine collections, beautifully displayed on a stretch of wooden racks across white colored, wood paneled walls. The dishes served, though limited in options, are popular among the diners for robust, regional flavors. The crispy skinned roasted chicken, crostinis and sourdough breads, are particularly impressive. The place has an old-school charm, with rustic dark wooden panel floors and French windows. A handwritten menu on a chalkboard on the brick-walled mantle, adds a homely feel to the place. If you are looking for an intimate dining experience and some fine wine, then this is a place to be.
Situated in Fells Point, Thames Street Oyster Bar is any seafood lover's dream come true. A charming restaurant affording lovely views of the water, it serves some fantastic Maryland and Mid-Atlantic cuisine. Sit at one of the three dining areas and gorge on treats like lobster mac n' cheese, grilled New Bedford swordfish and seared Block Island scallops. House specialties include stuffed Maine lobster and New England clam and lobster boil. Enhance the seafood extravaganza with a cocktail or wine from the bar.
Vin 909 is nestled in the Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis in a simple roebuck house surrounded by a beautiful garden. Vin 909 is dedicated towards delighting patrons with delicious specials made from farm-fresh, organic ingredients. The menu is lined with diverse options ranging from earth-oven pizzas to sandwiches and also seafood specials. They serve wine by the glass and also offer European beers.
Samos Restaurant is an authentic Greek Restaurant located in the Greektown neighborhood of Baltimore. The restaurant is popular for its traditional Greek salad and Pita Wraps. Samos is a BYOB and hence patrons are welcomed with their favorite wine or beer. They charge a corking fee of USD2. The atmosphere at the restaurant is very friendly and if you are there for the first time, rely on servers for recommendations. They also sell their salad dressing. The restaurant does not accept credit cards unless it is a catering order.