Marta al Mare Sets Grand Opening Date: This Italian seafood spot from James Beard Award-nominated chef Matthew Oetting (who you can read more about in our December issue) has set a grand opening date. The sister concept to Marta in Butcher’s Hill, Marta al Mare will officially launch at Harbor Point on Thursday, Nov. 19.

“I bought [the Butcher’s Hill] property because it reminded me of the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, New York, where I was used to living,” says Oetting, who cut his teeth in New York kitchens including Michelin-starred The Modern at the Museum of Modern Art. “This almost feels like I went from that Brooklyn restaurant and then crossed the Manhattan Bridge, and now I’m in the Financial District in Manhattan.” 

At Marta al Mare, expect Italian and Italian-American seafood rather than Chesapeake standards. (You won’t find a crab cake or steamed crabs here. “There’s plenty of other places if that’s what you want,” Oetting says.) Offering brunch and dinner service Tuesday through Sunday, the 78-seat spot will carry over Marta’s familiar menu structure—crudo, antipasti, pasta, entrées—with an expansion on the mains.

You can either go for individual plates (oven roasted black cod in Moscato miso sauce, scallop piccata, grilled branzino in an herb gremolata sauce) or order something shareable (stuffed dover sole, king salmon alla Florentina) from the “fish market” page.

Aside from welcoming Marta regulars and diners looking for a new brunch or dinner experience, Oetting says he’s excited to be a go-to for the 1,200 T. Rowe Price employees upstairs for business meals. Another potential highlight: he’s bought a cart with the hopes of offering caviar and martini service.  

OPEN

Mighty Quinn’s BBQ: New to Columbia’s Merriweather District is this New York-based barbecue chain. Pop in while visiting the district’s ice rink and holiday festivities this year to sample staples like spare ribs, brisket sandwiches, mac and cheese fritters, burnt-end-smothered Dirty Fries with chili-lime sauce, and cinnamon-bun bread pudding.

Oohhs & Aahhs: This Washington, D.C. soul food joint has brought a Baltimore location to Broadway in Fells Point. Open for all-day brunch and dinner, Oohhs & Aahhs serves up plates of chicken and waffles, crab and shrimp fitters, catfish nuggets, turkey wings, fire-grilled shrimp, and short ribs. Of course, the local outpost offers options like honey Old Bay wings and a crab cake sandwich, which comes with sides like whipped yams, collard greens, or cornbread.  

OPP Baltimore: Soon after debuting all-day spot Sunday Social with Miskiri Hospitality Group in South Baltimore, Chopped champion chef Sammy Davis Jr. has rolled out a solo venture, OPP, a few blocks over. Situated next to Riverside Taphouse on Light Street, the name of the speakeasy-style restaurant is a double entendre.

OPP stands for Oysters, Pizza & Pasta—the backbone of the menu—and Other People’s Paintings, a nod to the artful decor. (If you’re a ’90s hip-hop fan, the name also likely signals the catchy Naughty by Nature song.) Expect oysters raw and grilled, fired pies for the table, and rich seafood pastas. Presiding over the dining room is a portrait of Anthony Bourdain, a hero of Davis’s and part of the inspiration behind the place.

Pressed: Think you can’t open a restaurant in 30 days? Chef Anthony Lanasa begs to differ. He quickly got his new sandwich spot up and running in the former home of Maillard Patisserie on Chestnut Avenue in Hampden. Swing by Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for sandos including a shredded chicken panini with Old Bay honey glaze, a classic hot Italian, and turkey with cranberry pesto. Stay tuned as the team eases into breakfast and dinner service. 

POP-UP POSTS

Baltibakery at Our House Baltimore: From content creator and photographer Khaliq Greathouse comes this pop-up bakeshop inside Our House, the play space and community hub for families that opened earlier this year on Greenmount Avenue in Barclay. This month, visitors can pair coffee drinks (sourced by Remington’s Sophomore Coffee) with Greathouse’s chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and banana pudding, all available Tuesday through Saturday starting at 9 a.m. 

Sistah Sweets: Speaking of treats, this St. Paul Street sweet shop run by sisters Erica and Lena Bowman (you might also know them from their black-and-pink cupcake truck) has secured a Baltimore County residency at the Hilton Garden Inn near Mill Station in Owings Mills through Dec. 12. Kick off sweet season with the sisters’ signature extravagant cupcakes, cookies of the week, and iced matcha lattes. If you’re in the mood for something savory, try the crab dip biscuit. Hours for the pop-up are Thursday through Sunday from 12-6 p.m.

SHUT

Terra Cafe: Since 2009, this lime green corner cafe in Barclay/Old Goucher has been a haven for food, live music, art, and community. Despite a recent GoFundMe campaign and fundraiser to help with mounting BGE bills, last week, owner Terence Dickson announced that he has closed the cafe for good. He shared with local news outlets that vandalism of the storefront was the final straw in his attempts to keep the business going. He owns the building, so he is now shifting efforts to finding someone to take over the cafe space.

“Thank you to this awesome community,” Dickson wrote on Instagram. “To every customer, every staff member, every artist, everyone who has ever shared energy and space with us, we give thanks.”

Silver Queen Cafe: Citing rising costs, husband-and-wife team Jason Daniloski and Nicole Evanshaw have made the tough decision to shutter their Hamilton restaurant Silver Queen Cafe on Nov. 25—coinciding with the spot’s 11-year anniversary. In a recent email newsletter, the couple shared that they will now focus on running their new business, The Market at Hamilton, which opened across the street in September.

“All things must end, and it’s time for us to move on,” they wrote. “Rising costs, not just for us, but for all of us, have forced us into this very, very hard decision. We do hope you join us before we close the doors, and have one last drink, one last bite, with us.”

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Viale: Couple Mack Fowler and Kate Shotwell have debuted their wood-fired pizza concept, Viale—which translates to “avenue” in Italian—in the former home of Paulie Gee’s on Chestnut Avenue (just off of the Avenue) in Hampden. 

The pair met at the Ottobar almost a decade ago, when Fowler—a Baltimore City native and California Culinary Academy grad—was home between gigs cooking on private yachts, and Shotwell was visiting the city. Fowler previously managed the bar at Verde in Canton, where he spent his off days learning how to make pizzas. This led to a Key Highway pop-up with Verde owner and mentor Ed Bosco, called Key Neapolitan by Verde, which served wood-fired pies out of a 1949 Dodge pickup until June 2026.

“A pop-up turned into three-and-a-half years of seasonal business,” says Fowler. In the same location, Shotwell operated Crushed Velvet, a Hawaiian-inspired shaved ice stand with housemade syrups. 

Now, the duo has found a permanent home for their offerings with Viale. While the fluffy snowballs won’t debut until the spring, the two ovens in the space are churning out 14 pizzas built on the same high-hydration Neapolitan dough at Verde. Open Wednesday through Sunday, the spot features items like a classic margherita, soppressata picante pie, and a new Romesco-topped option with Italian sausage and caramelized onions. 

Diners can also look out for Ping Pong, a pool table, and Checkerspot beer on tap, as well as more starters and salads coming soon.

“As long as we’ve been together, it’s been our dream to have our own food business,” Shotwell says. “I always love telling our story because I just feel like we’re a success story built in Baltimore…This is a place for people to come, hang out, and have fun. We’re keeping it simple, but also keeping the food elevated.” 

Blü Cā: The restaurant group behind Island Spice in Harford County and KŌNŌKŌ Jamaican Restaurant in White Marsh has now opened Jamaican-Asian fusion spot Blü Cā (pronounced “blue kay”) at the Baltimore Peninsula. The 4,600-square-foot space is meant to evoke a luxury cruise. (Think: nattily servers and an island-inspired soundtrack.) Fittingly, the name is a nod to the waterfront location on the Potapsco—Blü for the water and Cā for a low island or reef. The kitchen spotlights fusion flavors in dishes like jerk bao buns, Szechuan lamb chops, oxtail lo mein, and curry prawns. 

Dimples Bar & Grill: Philly native Mary Miles has brought her tried-and-true cheesesteaks (which we gave a Best of Baltimore award this year) across the harbor. A second location for Dimples, whose flagship is in Locust Point, recently opened in the former home of Riptide on Thames Street in Fells Point. On a daily basis, Miles and her husband, Armand, cut their own ribeye, season and cook their onions, and source fresh Amoroso’s Italian rolls—taking their craft seriously. Taking after Riptide, Dimples will offer live DJs on the weekends. 

Indulgence Coffee & Smoothies: Speaking of additions to Fells, this pick-me-up destination opened on Broadway Square (just across from the old Bertha’s building) earlier this month. Grab a table in the greenery and exposed brick-filled cafe to sip seasonal coffees, lattes, matcha, and smoothies. A food menu offers breakfast sandwiches, pancake platers, wraps, and more.

COMING SOON

Cafe Fili: A grand opening for this Mt. Vernon favorite’s new location in Locust Point is set for early November. Once Cafe Fili officially opens on the ground floor of Anthem House, guests will enjoy an expanded menu of its beautifully plated Mediterranean fare, plus an evening mezze program. 

“Our guests know us for lunch and a good cup of coffee,” said owner Ziad Maalouf in a press release. “In Locust Point, we get to extend the day with shareable plates and a glass of wine after work. It’s the same food and hospitality people love, with a new evening chapter.”

NEWS

Black Flag Brewing Co.: Big change seems to be afoot for this beloved brewery in Columbia. Owner Brian Gaylor took to social media earlier this month to announce that, after welcoming his first child this year, he’s been “struggling to find the time, creativity, and energy to keep things going.” As the brewery’s 10-year lease comes to an end in November, he’s been working with a potential buyer, but their purchase is only 20 percent funded. So he’s soliciting backup offers in hopes of solidifying plans before the lease ends on Nov. 30.

Gaylor told WMAR-2 that since the social announcement, he’s seen a spike in interest from investors who want to see the place stay open. He’s prioritizing offers that keep the sale turnkey, including maintaining current staff.

Blue Moon Too: The 11-year-old Federal Hill location of Baltimore’s so-called “Badass Breakfast” spot—known for its big-as-your-face cinnamon buns and decadent Cap’n Crunch French toast—is moving to Hampden, according to the Baltimore Business Journal. Slated to open this spring in the Meadow Mill complex (which offers parking, unlike the other Blue Moon locations), the new cafe will have the brand’s same rock-and-roll attitude, adding cocktails and lunch offerings. The initial location, around since 1996, will continue operations in Fells Point. 

Silver Diner: This nearly 20-year-old comfort food staple inside BWI’s Terminal B is fighting to remain a destination for travelers, according The Baltimore Banner. The diner recently sued Fraport, BWI’s concession management company, in the wake of disagreements over multi-million dollar renovation costs. Silver Diner staff told the Banner that the lawsuit has greater implications for airport dining as a whole, claiming that the outcome could increase prices for local restaurants to lease space and for travelers to dine. Nearly 1,900 customers have emailed state aviation officials backing the restaurant, the Banner reports. 

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Qaffee House: Brand new to Highlandtown, this cafe is the first brick-and-mortar location for Qaffee House—which started as a coffee truck in Columbia. Owners Nabeel Razzak, Rehma Khan, and Shehab Hady feature a Middle Eastern-inspired menu of pastries, coffee, and tea. Qaffee’s signatures include an espresso with  housemade cardamom syrup, as well as two chai options: Karak, the popular black tea with cardamom and ginger, and Kashmiri, a pink green tea with milk garnished with pistachios. If you’re hungry, try the house “qroffles,” aka waffle-shaped croissants.

COMING SOON 

Dahlia Cocinita: A vegan Mexican concept from Oleum’s Alisha Adibe is coming to Canton early next year. After embarking on her own vegan journey, Adibe brought Oleum’s internationally influenced comfort dishes to Fells Point in 2025. Dahlia Cocinita will build on that mission by providing plant-based Mexican and Latin American-inspired fare. Taking over the former home of longtime breakfast spot Simply Marie’s on Elliott Street, Adibe is excited to showcase vegan fish alternatives like watermelon tuna in her ceviche, as well as lions mane mushrooms and hearts of palm in her “fish” tacos. “We’ve also gotten requests for flan and enchiladas verdes,” she adds.

Named after the official flower of Mexico and Adibe’s love of true crime—particularly the Black Dahlia story—Dahlia Cocinita is Adibe’s first project that requires a kitchen overhaul. “It’s a very small space, so we’re going to go big with the design and decor and make it fun,” she says. “But I’m keeping the green [exterior]. I don’t want to erase Simply Marie’s from the neighborhood.”

Pressed: After his previous gig at Peabody Heights came to an end recently, local chef Anthony Lanasa set a lofty goal to open a restaurant of his own in only 30 days. “I was not expecting to get laid off,” he says. “I was sitting there in shock when my wife said, ‘Dude, you should just go for it.” He’s already secured a space—the former Maillard Patisserie on Chestnut Avenue in Hampden—for Pressed, a sandwich shop that will feature wraps, salads, and paninis like the “Crandaddy” (turkey, Swiss, pesto, and cranberry) and the “Portobello Pressed,” using Firefly Farms goat cheese and local portobello mushrooms.

The spot will debut with a lunch program and slowly ease into breakfast and dinner service. Lanasa says the short turnaround timeline overlaps well with the return of the neighborhood’s annual holiday festivities. “We’re thinking about doing donuts out front for Halloween night, or something during the 34th Street lights,” he says. “We want to do a lot of fun things to join the neighborhood.”

Ubon: Montree “Jack” Wongchalee is having a great year. The force behind Bodhi Corner, The Dara, and Charm Thai Corner—which took over the space that was previously Nana in Towson earlier this year—is preparing to unveil Ubon in the former home of Nacho Mama’s on O’Donnell Square in Canton later this year. Centering on Thailand’s Isan region—heavily influenced by nearby Laos and Cambodia—the menu will offer chargrilled and roasted meats seasoned with pla ra (fermented fish sauce), as well as khao niao, pull-apart sticky rice often associated with the popular mango sticky rice dessert.

Nalley Fresh at Cross Street Market: Adding to the new faces at Cross Street Market in Federal Hill (Royal Deli and a revived version of Don’t Know Tavern recently moved in) is this longtime local salad chain. Slated to cut the ribbon this month, the latest location will feature Nalley’s customizable salads, bowls, and wraps, while also adding a new fleet “chow-licious” options, including hollowed-out subs.

EPICUREAN EVENTS

Through November: Steak N’ Bone Second Anniversary Specials
This Korean barbecue spot is thanking customers for their support throughout the past two years with daily discounts Tuesday through Saturday. Throughout November, stop by for buy-one, get-one Soju and wine deals on Tuesdays; 15 percent off for veterans, first responders, students, and hospital workers on Wednesdays; BOGO shots and cocktails on Thursdays; and a $35 all-you-can-eat lunch special from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

10/24: The Jang
Mark your calendars to attend The Jang, a free, open-air, Korean-inspired market at the Ynot Lot in Station North. While checking out traditional dance performances and live Korean folklore painting, grab eats and drinks from vendors like Steak N’ Bone, Toki Underground, Porto Pizza, and Good to Great.

SHUT

Guinness Open Gate Brewery: Among the most shared local headlines last week was the news that this 62-acre brewing behemoth in Halethorpe, one of only two Guinness facilities on American soil, would be shuttering by month’s end. After opening in 2018—and subsequently leveling the playing field for Maryland beer production overall—the grounds became a go-to gathering place for locals and tourists alike, offering rotating pours, behind-the-scenes tours, an in-house restaurant, and robust event programming. In 2023, Guinness halted production of Baltimore Blonde on site (moving it to upstate New York), signaling business model changes. Now, news of the closure comes in the wake of a $1 billion savings plan rolled out by parent company Diageo this past August.

As of now, there’s no word on what could potentially take over the property—formerly home to Seagram’s—once the gates officially close on Nov. 1. As Baltimore’s Guinness era quickly comes to an end, visitors can raise one last pint during regular hours or at special weekend events that are still on throughout October. As far as the staff is concerned, 174 workers are reported to be impacted by the closure. Diageo has stated that it’s establishing a $250,000 community fund aimed at “supporting local organizations and initiatives focused on strengthening economic opportunity and the local hospitality industry.”

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MidnighTreats: The owners of this Virginia-based vegan cookie chain—which also has a location in College Park—are bringing their sweet shop to Fells Point. They recently got the keys to their space across from Broadway Market, and are getting ready to roll out their gooey cookies, in flavors like Birthday Bash, Cinna-roll, and classic chocolate chip, in the coming months. The bakery will also offer deep-dish cookie pies, cookie nachos, and a lineup of milk teas and dirty sodas.

NEWS

Burnt Hill Lands on The New York Times‘ List of 50 Best Restaurants in America: On the heels of celebrating one year in Clarksburg, the 12-seat Chef’s Counter at Burnt Hill was the only Maryland dining destination to land on The New York Times’ list of the 50 Best Restaurants in America this year. Critic Eric Asimov praised chef Tae Strain’s tasting menu, writing that it “shows off the beauty of local ingredients, many from the farm itself, presented with Asian touches on ceramic dishware made from clay dug at the farm.” In only five months since its official opening, Burnt Hill’s food program has also been named among the Best Winery Restaurants in the World by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

The Club Car Plots Expansion: In an effort to elevate “what a queer bar can be,” The Club Car co-owners Darius McKeiver and Ryan Haase recently signed a 10-year lease for a bigger space in the historic North Avenue Market, only a block away from the bar’s current home in Station North. Operations will continue as normal until January, and then the team will transition to pop-ups at The Parkway Theatre across the street while the new space is renovated with a dance hall, train car-themed bathrooms, and a cocktail lounge called The Caboose. “Believe in Baltimore and believe in the power of queer-owned spaces,” the owners summed up on Instagram.

OPEN

Top Nach: After serving up gourmet nachos from their food truck for a decade, Shane and Missy Loomis have cut the ribbon at a brick-and-mortar eatery in Aberdeen. The couple tops their freshly fried chips with melty cheese and goodies like grilled chicken, ground beef, chorizo, roasted corn, cotija, a signature hot sauce, and Natty Boh queso. Aside from the namesake nachos, Top Nach is also known for its burritos, tacos, and other Mexican-inspired dishes.

EPICUREAN EVENTS

9/25-9/27: Mooooncake Festival 
The Mid-Autumn Festival honoring the fall harvest is one of the largest holidays in Asia, with the date marking the biggest full moon of the year. To celebrate, head to the annual Mooooncake Fest in West Covington Park, highlighting DJs, vendors, cultural workshops, and of course, mooncakes—the customary sweet and savory-filled pastries. 

9/25-9/27: Maryland Italian Festival 
Head to Harford County for the third-annual Avena Maryland Italian Festival at Ripken Stadium. Started by the Society of Italian American Businessmen, the three-day fest highlights locally led wine seminars and cooking demonstrations, as well as every Boot Country bite you could imagine—from pizza and pasta to gelato and cannoli. 

9/26: Sweet Tooth Saturday
This free-admission event at Rash Field Park, from Monesha Phillips of Pandora’s Box Boutique in Federal Hill, is a dessert lover’s paradise. Stroll around local vendor booths to find treats of all kinds, and don’t forget to check out the cake-decorating contest and snag a sip from the sweet cocktail bar. 

9/26: The Outpost 10-Year Anniversary Block Party
This South Baltimore pub has been a staple on Riverside Avenue for a decade, which is like a century in restaurant years. Gather your crew and celebrate with the staff at their block party blowout this weekend, featuring bites, beer, boozy snowballs, and birthday cake.

9/25-27 & 10/2-4: Oktoberfest at Guinness Open Gate Brewery
Oktoberfest is a three-weekend affair at Guinness. Make your way through the gates in Halethorpe to tip back new brews and sample Bavarian-inspired bites like house-made sausages, pretzels, and schnitzel. The debut beers for this season include Urbock, a smoked lager, and the Bärenzweig Kolsch brewed with local Bear Branch Pilsner 

10/22: Hofstatter Wine Dinner at Seppia
Mark your calendars for the debut wine dinner at Seppia in Hampden. To mark the occasion, the team has partnered with Hofstatter Winery, which has been operating since 1907 in the Alto Adige region of Italy. Each of the five courses will be paired with a Hofstatter pour, featuring dishes such as halibut gnocchi, rabbit boudin blanc, and venison bolognese tagliatelle. . 

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Candela: The owners of Alma Cocina Latina in Station North have officially opened their arepa bar around the corner for regular service Wednesday through Sunday. The signature Venezuelan corn cakes (handmade and gluten-free) come overstuffed with everything from braised black beans and Chinese-style beef short ribs to smoked brisket by Hampden’s Blue Pit BBQ and chicken salad by Sowebo’s Rooted Rotisserie. The menu also features requisite sides like tostones and loaded yuca fries.

Candela has been a dream for the owners since the closing of their cafe Cielo Verde inside the American Visionary Art Museum a few years back. Learn more about Caracas-born co-owner Irena Stein’s connection to the street food of her home country, which she penned an entire cookbook about, here.

Jems Bottle & Cafe: For the past week, Patterson Park locals have gotten a taste of this new cafe—which has been in the works for five years—via its convenient walk-up window. For breakfast and lunch service Thursday though Sunday, ring the doorbell, step up to the window, and order coffee (matcha and brown sugar lattes have been fast hits), breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and baked goods.

From owners Ty and Jeryl Cole—who also operate beer, wine, and spirits shops Off the Rox in Highlandtown and The Beverly House in Hamilton—Jem’s will also house its own boutique bottle shop inside. It’s not slated to debut until 2027 due to project delays, but the owners plan to continue cafe service in the meantime.

Baltimore Seafood: This seafood boil spot in Canton, which had a celebrity visit from singer Olivia Dean before her concert at CFG Bank Arena last week, has expanded across the harbor to Federal Hill. It recently opened (currently as a BYOB) in the former home of Water Song on East Cross Street. At the new location, you can expect the OG customizable spiced steamer bags and fried fish baskets, as well as new options like grilled fish and scallops.

The Tea Room: From British expat and interior designer Laura Hodges—who’s has called Catonsville home since 2012—comes this new afternoon tea experience on Frederick Road, which she operates with her husband, Tim, and tea curator Adam Holland. Here’s how it works: you book reservations ($65 per person) in advance for a 90-minute service that starts with a guided flight of three seasonal loose-leaf teas before moving on to a personal pot and a progression of locally sourced bites with all of the necessary jams, honeys, and butters. Instead of the traditional extravagant tiered trays of pastries, scones, and finger sandwiches, the bites are served one at a time to provide a deeper tasting experience. 

COMING SOON

Gratitude: The Station North space that has sat vacant since Foraged closed in April has been taken over by Remody Celeste and Dee Williams, who previously operated a restaurant called Gravity in Midtown-Belvedere. Slated to open in November, Gratitude will pair cocktails with global cuisine that fuses Caribbean, Asian, and Latin flavors—according to the Baltimore Business Journal. 

Little Ian’s Bagels: The owners of Cafe Dear Leon are blessing us with all of the carbs lately. After debuting a new pizza concept for dinner service at their Remington location, La Maison, earlier this month, they now also have a bagel shop in the works. Charles Lee and Min Kim, along with longtime friend and colleague Byung Kang, are debuting Little Ian’s Bagels in the corner storefront that most recently housed Pie Time in Patterson Park. The team is currently in recipe-testing mode, but plans to open this fall. The shop is named after Kim’s second son, and it’s meant to convey the deeper meaning that the staff treats its customers with the same care they do their own families. 

EPICUREAN EVENTS

8/30: The Milton Inn Five-Year Anniversary Celebration
Join co-owners Tony Foreman and chef Chris Scanga to celebrate five years since they took over this restaurant on a historic fieldstone estate in Sparks. Tickets to the afternoon open-house celebration ($60) include passed bites; live music; two glasses of beer, wine, or bubbly; and, of course, birthday cake.

9/6: Fiesta de Clavel
In conjunction with the 11th birthday of Clavel in Remington, its team is once again taking over the parking lot across the street with eats, drinks, and live mariachi. Snag tickets to snack on dishes from area favorites The Local Oyster, The Lunchbox Lady, Mexican on the Run, The Charmery, and Hijos de Maiz in Rockville—which is the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Saul Zelaya.

9/10: Burnt Hill One-Year Anniversary Dinner 
Chef Tae Strain and the Baker siblings of Burnt Hill Farm in Clarksburg are hosting their rendition of a classic pig, lamb, and oyster roast to ring in their first year. For $210, sip selects from winemaker Lisa Hinton alongside Strain’s collaborative dishes wit David and Tonya Thomas of Heirloom, Zack Mills of True Chesapeake, and Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen. The meal is intended to be a meet-and-greet with a chance to roam the hilltop and enjoy Maryland’s bounty.

SHUT

The Brass Tap: After nearly a decade, this go-to gathering spot for Bolton Hill neighbors, UB students, and audiences of The Lyric is closing for good on Aug 31 in Midtown-Belvedere. “It really came down to we needed some concessions on rent from the landlord that they weren’t willing to give,” owner and general manager Barry Lowenthal told WMAR recently. “They weren’t unreasonable. They had their business to run. We needed to get our rent lowered a little bit more.” Aside from the bar bites and hundreds of beers on offer, the brewpub was beloved for its weekly programming including Thursday-night karaoke and Sunday brunch with live jazz.

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For Ekiben co-founders Steve Chu and Ephrem Abebe, the Ekiben Night Market (Aug. 29 and 30) is an opportunity to bring their “homies” from other East Coast eateries to Charm City.

“It’s really great exposure for these up and coming chefs,” Chu says. “Baltimoreans get to meet these New York chefs who rarely get the opportunity to come down.”

In an effort to streamline check-in and reduce wait times in the market’s third year, organizers have expanded it across two days, while also introducing an additional bar tent. But the heart of the fest remains rooted in the open-air spirit of Taiwanese Night Markets.

Chu personally curated the lineup of 40 purveyors, which will fuse chefs from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York with local names like Ten Vong of Ejji Ramen; Jasmine Norton of The Urban Oyster; Marvin Rodriguez of Aru Aru; Carlos Raba of Clavel; and Charles and Sunny Lee and Min Kim of Cafe Dear Leon.

Of course, Ekiben itself will be a highlight for hungry attendees, bringing back its crispy crab rangoon eggrolls that were a hit when they debuted at the event last year. And with a big batch of soft shells coming in, the team will also fry up their Maryland Softie sando (deep-fried soft shells topped with a crab cake, Old Bay, and melted cheddar on a soft bao bun), which is typically only available at their Locust Point location. 

With so much regional talent in one place, you really can’t go wrong with anything you taste. But here are a few tents to look out for:

Èdo Cheesecake: This Basque-inspired Asian-fusion cheesecake has gone viral for its torched top and silky center. (Founder Shawn Zhu’s funny Inception remix reel gets us every time.) The treat is typically only available for pre-order and pick-up near Little Italy, but at the Night Market, you can meet Zhu IRL and taste his creamy creation.

Kong Pocha: Making its Night Market debut is this Station North spot, which has a second location in Columbia and is known for serving late-night Korean bar bites. While husband-and-wife duo Dae Han Wi and Sobin Kang have yet to lock down their menu, expect to sample their signature street foods. Pocha is shorthand for pojang-macha—Korean food tents that serve comfort food like tteokboki (spicy rice cakes), seafood, and kimchi pancakes. 

Barkada Breads: Setting up on Sunday only, this small-batch Filipino bakery from founder Mona Poblete is known for its pandesal (translating to salt bread, but not to be confused with the viral Korean salt bread or Japanese Shio Pan). The Filipino pandesal is a yeasty sweet dough, almost like a dinner roll, coated with fine breadcrumbs. 

Rose Ave Bakery: A Night Market OG, this Washington, D.C. favorite from chef/founder Rose Nguyen—who recently took home the RAMMY for Pastry Chef of the Year—will be back with its playful, cross-cultural pastries on Saturday only. Look out for doenjang (Korean fermented soybean paste) chocolate chip cookies and passionfruit-filled donuts.

Xing Fu Tang: Cool down with this New York City boba brand famous for its hand-rolled boba pearls. The team will be slinging its signature brown sugar boba tea, as well as a peach lychee fruit drink, winter melon oolong tea with white pearls, and a strawberry Earl Grey milk tea. 

Ho Foods: Coming back for another visit after a sold-out collab with Ekiben in March, this New York City restaurant will serve up its Fan Tuan, a Taiwanese sticky rice roll filled with pork floss and pickles, on Sunday only. 

Know Before You Go: Tickets for the fest (4-10 p.m. Sat; 12-4 p.m. Sun) at 1500 Thames Street (near the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park) start at $25 for General Admission and include one drink. VIP tickets for both days include early entry, two drinks, and free swag. Kids under 12 get in free.

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Aru Aru: Elmer and Marvin Rodriguez, the twins who grew up making pupusas and Salvadoran specialties in the kitchen of El Paraiso in Reisterstown, have been pursuing their own culinary aspirations ever since their parents retired and sold the restaurant last year. Elmer and his wife Alejandra now pop up around town serving smashburgers and Argentine-fusion fare from their food truck Milloh!, and Marvin is opening his first brick and mortar on Eastern Avenue in Fells Point on Aug. 21, pending final inspections. 

Aru Aru is named after the word for “tasty” from the Wayuu, a language from a Central American tribe, directly translating into “double tasty.” The modern Latin street food concept—which locals might be familiar with from its regular presence at the Fells Point Farmers Market—will serve the Rodriguez family’s famous crab pupusas, as well as Colombian-inspired empanadas from Marvin’s friend Sebastian Sanchez, who operates Oso’s Bites in New Jersey. The opening menu will also feature vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, though the farmers market-favorite agua frescas will be put on pause temporarily, as the team finds its footing with seven-days-a-week food service. 

Marvin will lease the space from his mentor, Ekiben co-founder Steve Chu, who also happened to get his start at the Fells Point Farmers Market. Naturally, Aru Aru is on the lineup at the Ekiben Night Market happening in Fells Point Aug. 29-30. 

Pepper House: Not to be confused with Red Pepper Sichuan Bistro on the Towson Circle, this gem of a strip mall spot is located off of Route 40 in Ellicott City. (Read our full review, here.) City dwellers will be excited to hear that it’s expanding with an outpost in Remington this fall.

Earlier this week, husband-and-wife owners Yuan Shen, who runs the front of the house, and chef Frank Liang announced that they will take over the R. House stall most recently occupied by Tio G’s starting Oct. 1. Focusing on the flavors of Liang’s native Chongquing, the English and Chinese menu lists dishes such as noodles, dumplings, and malatang—the fiery street food stew with lotus root and an assortment of veggies. 

OPEN

Tony’s of NY: Speaking of the Ellicott City dining scene, it welcomed a new addition when this Italian joint cut the ribbon last month. A sister-spot to Limoncello in Locust Point, Tony’s serves New York-style slices (everything from Grandma pies to margheritas), plus loaded subs and old-school pastas. 

NEWS

Heritage Smokehouse: Thankfully, this Govans pit palace—which recently closed its York Road location after five years—will live on. Owners George and Jen Marsh are partnering with Robert Voss of John Brown General & Butchery to open a new spot in the Jacksonville area of Northern Baltimore County. “We will be working together to continue creating the kind of food and gathering place that brings people around the table,” the team recently posted to Instagram. Stay tuned for menu details (we expect smoked meats will remain front and center), which will be solidified closer to the slated grand opening in September. 

EPICUREAN EVENTS

8/14: Flour & Wood at La Maison 
Dinner service—using the inherited pizza oven from its former inhabitant JBGB’s—has always been part of the plan for La Maison by Cafe Dear Leon in Remington. And the team is finally rolling out the dough for the first time on Friday. Since it’s a first taste, the 12-inch, wood-fired pies (one per customer) will be first come, first-served and available for takeout only. If possible, bring dining companions so you can all share options like an eggplant topped “A La Norma,” pepperoni, cacio e pepe, and funghi pie. Another tip: go early, as lines have become synonymous with the James Beard-nominated bakeshop. 

8/14: Light Up Little Italy
Little Italy’s annual food-filled Feast of St. Gabriel Festival is back this weekend. This year, the fest will kick off with a collaborative wine dinner prepared by Gianfranco Fracassetti of Cafe Gia, Nino Germano of La Scala, Mark Orendorff of The Sons of Little Italy Lodge, Joseph Gardella of Benny’s, and Bryan Chiapparelli of Chiapparelli’s. Each chef will oversee one course (think: antipasto, lobster pasta, Braciole, meatballs, and panna cotta) and pair everything with bread from the neighborhood’s Ovenbird Bakery. Tickets ($160) are available via Eventbrite. 

TO 8/30: Chefs of the Streets at Chill Snowballs
Sibling food truck operators Shamara and David Watson have pulled up for a residency at Chill Snowballs on Main Street in Reisterstown. “There’s not a lot of food options in the Reisterstown area,” says Michael Giben, who owns the staple snowball stand and wanted to introduce local dinner offerings for customers. He found the sibling duo, who first started their soul food concept in Washington, D.C., through a food truck Facebook page. 

Open Thursday through Sunday at least until the end of August, the truck offers wings, fried fish platters, cheesesteaks, burgers, and rice bowls. Place an order, picnic on Chill’s outdoor tables, and stick around for dessert in the form of a classic egg custard or soft-serve cone.

SHUT

The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar: In Ellicott City, this franchised shop known for its over-the-top (literally) milkshakes served in a mason jar, as the name suggests, is closing at the end of the month. First opened in 2022 by Robert and Erin Studer, the storefront became known for milkshakes with overflowing toppings like syrups and cake slices. Baltimore Fishbowl reports that the lease will be taken over by The Corner, a nonprofit community arts venue run by Jeni Porter of Little Market Cafe on Hamilton Street. 

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Camp Leon’s at The Club Car: For anyone who needs an extra dose of lighthearted neighborly news this week, look no further than local LGBTQ+ fixtures Leon’s in Mt. Vernon and The Club Car in Station North.

After the sudden passing of Leon’s owner Ron Singer earlier this month, the neighborhood stalwart—with roots dating back to the 1890s, it’s believed to be the longest continually running gay bar in Baltimore—closed as the family determines next steps. Within hours of the announcement on social media, The Club Car co-owner Ryan Haase texted the Leon’s crew to offer a hand during their time of mourning—as the two spots have long been considered sister bars. The teams quickly mobilized and came up with a solution: Camp Leon’s. 

Dubbed “the bar collab that no one asked for but everyone needs,” The Club Car will host joint nightly programming like trivia, bingo, and DJ dance parties Tuesday through Sunday all summer long, or until Leon’s re-opens. 

Haase says it’s a win-win for the two bars. The Club Car gets to pick up new patrons during the summer lull (loyal Leon’s regulars can “stretch their legs a little bit,” he says), while also supporting their friends, ensuring that Leon’s four regular bartenders and its barback have a steady paycheck during the transition. 

“This is one of those only-in-Baltimore moments,” he says. We couldn’t agree more. 

COMING SOON

Werewolves Welcome: A new cocktail bar with design details you have to see in person—think: a black-and-white abstract exterior, mirrored bar tables inside, and a staircase that evokes Alice in Wonderland—is currently in preview mode at 17 W. 24th St. in Old Goucher. The concept comes from veteran bartender Bryan Ranere and his wife, Caroline, who is the architectural, interior, and graphic designer behind all of the artsy touches.

A Philly native, Bryan is known for opening San Francisco’s Foreign Cinema and running its extension bar, Laszlo, where two of his original cocktails—the pepper-vodka Heat Seeker and the blood-orange bitter Mephisto—stayed on the menu for years. Locally, his resume includes helping friends Lane Harlan and Matthew Pierce open Fadensonnen, the natural wine bar that sits just a few blocks from Werewolves Welcome. A grand opening is slated for early September. Stay tuned for more details. 

Hello Trouble Luncheonette: When chef Andrew Weinzirl (formerly of spots like Maggie’s Farm, The Brewer’s Art, and Artifact Coffee) heard Maillard Pastries was closing on Harford Road, the Hamilton-Lauraville local couldn’t bear the thought of another community space sitting vacant. So he’s now planning to take it over and fill the void with a locally sourced cafe.

“Living just a few minutes from Main Street and watching that strip lose countless businesses over the years has been disheartening,” Weinzirl wrote recently on a GoFundMe page to help launch Hello Trouble, which he’s hoping to debut mid-August. “I believe in this neighborhood, this community, the people who live here and love it. I don’t think I can bemoan the state of the neighborhood if I’m not willing to be a part of the solution.”

Menu highlights for the community-focused space will include morning drinks made with beans sourced from Sophomore Coffee, including an iced Guillermo (espresso, lime, ice, and a bit of soda or tonic water). Food will focus on breakfast, bowls, and sandwiches, with focaccia, English muffins, and other breads made in house. Playful dishes will include the “Sweet Revenge,” an homage to the McGriddle layering bread pudding with sausage, egg, and Cooper Sharp, as well as a tomato pie made with Duke’s mayo for lunch.

OPEN

The Market at Hamilton: Speaking of Hamilton-Lauraville neighborhood champions, husband-and-wife duo Jason Daniloski and Nicole Evanshaw of Silver Queen Cafe have introduced their new market concept in soft-opening mode Tuesday through Sunday. Similar to Weinzirl, they’re invested in providing third spaces for their neighbors and visitors from surrounding areas. 

“We want to see foot traffic in Hamilton,” Evanshaw says. “Our whole life is in this area. We want to see it flourish.” 

Now set up in the former Emma’s Tea Shop (which recently moved just down the road), the market is full of specialty goods. You won’t find milk or cereal, rather the shelves are stocked with real San Marzano tomatoes, North Carolina grits, tinned fish, and a rotating case of 15-plus cheeses (Evanshaw’s personal pride and joy), with more to come. 

Offering ample seating, the market is also a spot to grab a made-to-order sandwich—like a muffaletta on fresh foccacia from Bluebird Bakery—three-bean salad, or snack like citrus olives. There’s no liquor license, so the shop sells drinks like brewed coffee from Hamilton neighbor Zeke’s and canned Mark’s Mocktails. Stay tuned for a closer look. 

Urbano Tex-Mex: The Baltimore Peninsula now boasts a local outpost of this Tex-Mex eatery, which operates other locations in Northern Virginia. While catching an outdoor movie or Sunset Salsa class at the waterfront hub this summer, stop by to fill up on brunch, lunch, dinner and happy hour offerings. Standouts on the massive menu include ceviches, sizzling fajitas served on molcajete (a traditional mortar and pestle bowl), stuffed burritos, and lots of grilled and smoked meats. 

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Cone Head Ice Cream Co.: Sweet news for county dwellers who have come to love the signature scoops and swirls of Bmore Licks in Patterson Park and Federal Hill. Owners Barbara and Kim Maloni are opening a shop in Timonium later this month. Set in a former Raimondi’s Florist space on York Road, Cone Head Ice Cream Co. will offer the owners’ same scratch-made flavors (faves include Salted Caramel, Strawberry Cheesecake, and the blue Cookie Monster), with an expanded lineup of Dole Whip-inspired options. 

The new outpost is named after their oldest son, who is recovering from a brain tumor diagnosis earlier this year.

“Cone Head Ice Cream Co. is our way of celebrating resilience, family, and finding reasons to smile, even during difficult times,” Barbara tells us. “We hope it becomes a place where families can gather, make memories, and celebrate life’s big and small moments with ice cream.”

NEATFREAK!: In case you missed it, Matthew Steinberg, co-owner of Meander Art Bar, is launching this new concept in the former Greyhound Tavern in Fells Point. Set to officially debut Aug. 1, NEATFREAK! will be a martini bar at its core, but also showcase affordable wines and worldly spirits. Featuring vinyl and vintage decor from Steinberg’s personal collection, the vibe will center on conversation and hospitality. Steinberg is the sole bartender for now, but don’t be surprised to see guests like Gabe Valladares from Cookhouse or Dre Levon from Clavel drop by from time to time. More details, here. 

OPEN 

Cafe Terracotta: In collaboration with Johns Hopkins Hospital, chef Spike Gjerde has opened this Mediterranean- inspired breakfast and lunch concept at the Hopkins East Baltimore campus. The menu offers morning coffee and pastries followed by heartier wraps and protein-packed grain bowls for lunch. In true Gjerde fashion, everything incorporates sustainably sourced ingredients from local producers like Moon Valley Farm and Third Way Farm, as well as regenerative growers across the country. You can dine in by properly signing in as a hospital visitor, or order via delivery platforms.

NEWS

Burnt Hill Farm Named Among World’s Best Winery Restaurants: Wine Enthusiast magazine recently named Burnt Hill Farm’s Chef’s Counter one of the “Best Winery Restaurants in the World,” placing the Clarksburg destination among only 57 honorees globally and only 13 in the U.S. The publication highlighted the winery’s new intimate 12-seat Chef’s Counter experience, praising chef Tae Strain’s Korean-influenced cuisine paired with the property’s low-intervention wines produced on its 117-acre regenerative farm. 

Rolled out in May, the seven to nine-course menu shares the winery’s ethos while exploring Strain’s roots. The chef, whose resume includes founding the Ggoma Supper Club and helming Momofuku CCDC, was born in Seoul and grew up in Maryland. His opening menu featured shokupan, a Japanese milk bread with house-made sesame honey, as well as rockfish in a shellfish butter. Among the highlights at the Chef’s Counter is the use of Mangalitsa pork, a highly coveted cut of meat known for its melt-in-your-mouth texture. 

“This is a very special moment for our team that we are feeling extremely grateful for,” Strain tells us. “[Sibling owners] Drew, Ashli, and Lisa set out with this journey many years ago, and they deserve it all.”

EPICUREAN EVENTS

7/22: Alma x Marta al Mare: Tides and Traditions
Alma Cocina Latina is uniting with chef Matthew Oetting of Marta in Upper Fells Point to give diners a taste of Marta al Mare, Oetting’s soon-to-open sister-concept at Harbor Point. Held at Alma in Station North, “Seafood Tides & Traditions: Mareas y Tradiciones,” will be a five-course communal dinner highlighting the culinary traditions that connect Latin America and the Mediterranean. Oetting and Alma chef Héctor Romero will open the meal with a glass of sparkling wine and an amuse-bouche for each guest. Tickets run $95 and two seatings are available to book via Resy. 

7/23: Equitea x Magdalena: A Collaboration in Four Courses
In yet another creative collab, Magdalena at Mt. Vernon’s Ivy Hotel is partnering with Quentin Vennie of Equitea in Remington for a four-course experience that fuses artisan teas into each dish. The evening will begin with cocktail-hour bites before transitioning to dinner helmed by Magdalena’s newly appointed executive chef Brian Schmukler and executive pastry chef Emily Heleba.

Each course will highlight one of Equitea’s blends—from a twig tea-brined scallop and Taiwanese charcoal oolong broth to smoked duck breast with osmanthus oolong plum gastrique and an oolong custard dessert. Guests will hear directly from Vennie and the Magdalena team about the inspiration behind the menu. Seating is limited to 30 guests, with tickets available, here. 

7/24: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Soirée at The Milton Inn
Take a drive out to Sparks to embrace midsummer magic with the crew at The Milton Inn. This one-night-only event ($85 pp) promises an evening of seasonal fare, whimsical touches, and garden-party ambiance with live music at the historic Sparks restaurant. Snag your tickets, here. 

SHUT

Baby’s on Fire: After nearly a decade as a community gathering spot in Mt. Vernon, Baby’s on Fire will welcome its last guests on July 19. In a website announcement, owners David and Shirlé Koslowski cited significant revenue losses and broader economic challenges as the reasons for the closure, but workers are saying the timing is no coincidence. The news comes weeks after the majority of the café’s eight employees announced plans to unionize with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 27.

“We have been essentially running this business since [the Koslowskis] left Baltimore and moved to Portugal [three years ago],” reads a statement from the organizing committee in a press release. “Our goal has always been to make Baby’s On Fire sustainable and stronger with a unionized staff, but the owners are denying us that chance.”

The fate of the shop, which has long been known for its cafe fare, bins of vinyl, community events, and pay-it-forward meals to neighbors experiencing hardships, remains up in the air. Stay tuned for updates. 

Cuples Tea House and Vinyl & Pages: Owners Eric and Lynnette Dodson recently announced plans to close their Harborplace tea house, record store, and bookshop at the end of the summer. Open since 2022, the space brought a unique mix of education on premium teas, plus books, records, and community programming like listening sessions and literary events. As the landscape of Harborplace continues to be in flux, the Dodsons created a reliable cultural hub for visitors. 

“Our dream became much bigger than we could have ever imagined,” reads the owners’ statement posted on social media. “Over the years, Cuples and VnP has become a place where people gathered to celebrate, heal, laugh, learn, connect, and simply be.”

Luckily, the duo says that the concept will live on even after the retail space closes. They plan to pop up at local events and farmers markets with tea experiences, and continue to sell curated books and media online.

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Fat Tuesday: This Big Easy-born chain couldn’t have picked a better time to debut its frozen cocktails in Baltimore. Since cutting the ribbon last week, crowds have been cooling off with icy hurricanes, piña coladas, and other boozy Bourbon Street-inspired medleys at Fells Point’s newest addition, now up and running in the former Greene Turtle on South Broadway. Signatures—which can be ordered with extra floaters, of course—include the fittingly named 190 Octane (a citrusy blend made with 95 percent ABV alcohol) and the new Charm City Sunrise, made with Patrón, orange juice, grenadine, and a dunked Red Bull. 

COMING SOON

Sunday Social: Fresh off of selling his stake in Yeiboh Kitchen near Old Goucher, local chef and Chopped champion Sammy Davis Jr. is on to a new venture called Sunday Social. Slated to open this month in the 4,000-square-foot space at 2 E. Wells Street in South Baltimore (which was most recently Papi Cuisine, but also Minnow and The Hot Dry back in the day), the all-day concept marks a partnership with D.C.-based Miskiri Hospitality Group. Expect lattes and pastries in the morning, as well as a Southern-inspired brunch and dinner service. 

MARKET MOVES

Black Acres Roastery: The small-batch coffee roastery has officially closed at Lexington Market. CEO Travis Bell took to Instagram to share the news last week. “While we are proud of what we built and the relationships we formed over the past four years, the reality is that the location has not performed in a way that allows us to sustainably continue operating there,” Bell wrote. Luckily, Black Acres’ brick and mortar inside Open Works in Station North remains open, along with its online business. And the crew will continue to caffeinate crowds at events around town, as usual. 

Slutty Vegan: Previously stationed at Baltimore Peninsula, the viral plant-based burger bar from Charm City native Pink Cole Hayes is on the move to Cross Street Market. The shift comes as Slutty Vegan works through ongoing financial struggles that resulted in a national downsizing, reducing 14 locations to six. Though the Baltimore outpost will be smaller, it will luckily live on, and only a few minutes away from its predecessor.

Come August 1, diners will find the eatery’s loaded meatless patties—plus new sandwiches, salads, and gluten-free dishes—in Cross Street Market’s 1,800-square-foot corner stall that was formerly Rooster + Hen and Velleggia’s. The Slutty Vegan team also recently announced an in-the-works location near Johns Hopkins Hospital. Stay tuned for more details. 

Steve’s Lunch: For more than six decades, this famed counter inside Cross Street Market has been there for locals in need of a reliable breakfast, stacked sandwich, or classic hot dog and fries. As second-generation owner John Nichols prepares to retire, he’s on the lookout for someone to carry on the Steve’s Lunch legacy. The eatery will remain open until Nichols finds a buyer, but consider this your sign to go show him some love if you haven’t stopped by in a while. Or if you’re simply craving a cheesesteak.

Royal Deli: Adding to the new blood at Cross Street is Royal Deli, which has been a Lexington Market fixture since 2005. The family business run by Ana Alvarado and her daughter, Gisselle, is now up and running in the stall that used to house Gangster Vegan. The duo will continue to serve favorites like chicken and shrimp salad, plus toasty Reubens, banana pudding, and deli meats sliced by the pound. 

NEWS

The Wren: After debuting to fast fame in February of last year, the intimate, Irish-inspired Fells Point pub is up for sale. The news comes as husband-and-wife co-owners Will Mester and Millie Powell plan to move back to Ireland to be closer to Powell’s family. “The Wren was never meant to be a forever thing,” Powell tells us. “[The move] has been a long time coming.”

Only seven months after opening, the spot was named one of the New York Time’s 50 “Best Places to Eat in America Right Now,” which was followed by a placement on Bon Appetit’s 2025 list of top 20 new restaurants. It’s become known for its 20 wooden barstools, Scotch selection, and small chalkboard menu of daily dishes inspired by pastoral Europe. The property at 1712 Aliceanna St. is currently listed for $1.25 million and includes the liquor license, equipment, and furniture.

As we wrote in our review, “With a Rob Roy in hand, just two blocks from the Baltimore harbor, you could very well be in a pub off the English Channel or, more specifically, the Irish Sea.” It’s an experience that will be missed, so we suggest going while you still can. 

SHUT

Dangerously Delicious Pies: The Hampden HQ of this OG Baltimore bakery has closed its doors after 13 years. After other Dangerously Delicious shops in Patterson Park and Federal Hill previously closed, the Avenue brick and mortar was the only one left. But owner Rodney Henry confirms that the business isn’t going anywhere. He’s just pivoting to focus on farmers markets and online delivery orders—or what he calls “Pie Valet.”

“The shop has just become a real pain in the butt,” he said candidly in a recent Instagram video. “It’s a lot to do with the building, a lot to do with having a bar. It’s time to go for something a little different. We need a change.”

Merging his musician identity with baking his grandmother’s recipes, Henry has established himself locally as a rockstar baker. Give him a follow to see where his pie pop-ups and live music performances will be next. And if you want to order an apple crumb or Berger cookie-infused Baltimore Bomb pie to your doorstep, you can do it online. 

Szechuan House: After 33 years, Timonium’s Szechuan House has closed its doors—and regulars are understandably upset. Comments pouring into a post on the Friends of Szechuan House Facebook page share love for owner Robert Wang, who recently shuttered the restaurant due to health concerns.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Robert. Szechuan House will always be a core childhood memory for me,” reads one reaction. “The first restaurant I dined in after immigrating here in 2001,” reads another.

Wang has been working in Baltimore hospitality for decades, first as a server at Tony Cheng and Uncle Lee’s on Charles Street and then at Hunan Taste on Liberty Road. He later opened Szechuan House on Seminary Road in Lutherville in 1993 and moved York Road in Timonium in 2022. 

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Spirit Run by Baltimore Spirits Company: BSC is on the move, but it’s not going far. The co-founders of the award-winning distillery—currently headquartered at Union Collective in Medfield—are shifting production to a new facility that will include an on-site restaurant on Hickory Avenue off of 36th Street in Hampden.

Set to open within the next year, the new homebase will take over an old furniture store across the street from the American Legion and The Bluebird Cocktail Room. It’s all a part of a plan to “enhance the distillery experience,” says co-owner Max Lents, who hints that the restaurant, whose working title is Spirit Run by Baltimore Spirits Company, will offer a French-inspired menu and vibe similar to distilleries you might visit in Europe. 

“The distillery food experience in America is burgers and barbecue,” Lents says. “This is going to be an elevated concept.”

Though the full menu is still in the works, the team is collaborating with a yet-to-be-announced local chef and plans to host tasting events at their current Cocktail Gallery (the first of which is set for June 25) to gauge feedback as the offerings take shape. The food will, of course, complement BSC’s catalog, which includes varieties of its signature Epoch Rye, Shot Tower Gin, Baltamaro, and new Avenue Rum—a fitting name given the new location. 

The news comes at an all-around transformative time for BSC, as it recently announced that it has stopped distribution to bars, restaurants, and liquor stores across the country to hone in on quality and the “experience within our own walls.” Cheers to the continuation of that philosophy in the new digs.

OPEN

Kawaii Vida: The next time you visit Franchesca’s Empanadas Cafe in Highlandtown, be sure to pop into this new sister-spot next door. Run by Franchesca’s daughter, Valerie Nuñez, Kawaii Vida is a Japanese-inspired shop offering coffees, matcha, and shelves stocked with Asian snacks. It’s also a DIY craft studio, so while you’re sipping an ube latte or nibbling on macarons, you can customize fresh phone cases, hair clips, and mirrors with charms and gems.

NEWS

Pink Flamingo Gets a New Chef: Chef Ricky Johnson, who readers may remember from his brick-oven pizza concept Forno near the Hippodrome (RIP), took over kitchen operations at Remington’s Pink Flamingo in May, after a stint at Estiatorio Plaka in Greektown. With Johnson at the helm, the menu has been refreshed with dishes like miso-glazed fish and chips, Wagyu flank steak, ceviche, jerk half chicken, and a maitake mushroom sando. Rest assured, regulars. The fan-fave Spam chips and dip and stacked burgers are still on there. 

Co-owner Brendan Dorr says the versatile chef—who has already shown Baltimore his range with the flavors of Italy and Greece—was eager to embrace the tropical concept: “He just wants to cook good food,” Dorr says. “He really nailed the flavors and visuals.”

EPICUREAN EVENTS

6/23: Sail250 Friends of James Beard Dinner with Living Classrooms
A star-studded local chef lineup is on board for this collaboration dinner on June 23 to kick off Sail250—Baltimore’s tall ships and airshow in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Planned in conjunction with Living Classrooms and the James Beard Foundation, the multi-course, wine-paired evening will take place on the water at the historic Frederick Douglass–Isaac Myers Maritime Park. 

Dishes will be prepared by featured chefs Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen, Steve Chu of Ekiben, Jasmine Norton of The Urban Oyster, Carlos Raba of Clavel, Tae Strain of Burnt Hill Farm, Kiko Fejarang of The Duchess, Scott Bacon of The Fishmonger’s Daughter, Jinji Fraser of Jinji’s Chocolate, and Kaity Mitchell of La Jetée.  Beverages will be curated by Tony Foreman of Foreman + Co., Dre Levon of Clavel, and Gabe Valladares of Cookhouse, with oysters shucked by Dylan’s Oyster Cellar and The Urban Oyster. 

Tickets start at $250 (VIP is $650 and includes an after-party with the chefs at La Jetée) and proceeds benefit Living Classrooms, the James Beard Foundation Legacy Network, and the Novella Center for Entrepreneurship. 

SHUT

DMV Empanadas Closes at Cross Street Market: On May 17, the bright yellow stall marked its last day at Federal Hill’s Cross Street Market—a decision co-owner Michely “Nacho” Almaraz attributed to a decline in sales and foot traffic. It’s been a rough stretch for the eatery, which was denied a stall at the Baltimore Farmers Market this season, losing what Almaraz called their best market. 

But it’s not all bad news. The brand’s trucks and pop-ups still hit the Pratt Street lunch market on Thursday afternoons, as well as the Fells Point and 32nd Street farmers markets on Saturday mornings. Plus, the family’s first Charm City storefront, DMV Empanadas & Latin Kitchen, is slated to open on North Calvert street downtown later this summer, serving Peruvian and Bolivian dishes, saltados, and northern Peruvian-style fried chicken.

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Vent Coffee at Our House: Not to be confused with R. House food hall in Remington, Our House is a new play space and community hub for families to hang out on Greenmount Avenue in Barclay. But what would a play cafe be without coffee for the caretakers? That’s why founder Maureen Nicol partnered with Sarah Walker and her team at  Vent, which is headquartered at Union Collective in Hampden.

A coffee enthusiast, Nicols has been hosting pop-ups with brands like After School Coffee House and Buji Matcha while searching for a permanent coffee provider. “I like [Vent] coffee,” Nicols says, “but the people behind it [is what secured the deal].”

The partnership, which officially kicked off this week, features a full espresso and tea menu using Wight Tea Co. leaves, plus pastries baked by Walker. (The vegan apple cider donuts are a must.) While Our House is a dedicated space for young children under the age of 6, Nicols reinforces that the coffee bar is for “multigenerational community members” to come and enjoy even if they aren’t bringing kids in to play. 

Snoasis Parkville: It’s officially snowball season, and the newest stand in town is a second location of Snoasis, which has been a Cockeysville staple since 1977. Parkville locals can now get their hands on the brand’s famed frozen treats (with drippy marshmallow and secret-recipe vanilla topping) via the entrance of Pete’s Crabs off of Joppa Road. We’re partial to rainbow, but you can also look out for the classic egg custard, Skylite, chocolate, and dozens of other refreshing flavors. 

Soul Smoked BBQ at Broadway Market: The next time you visit the historic Broadway Market in Fells Point, follow your nose to find chef/owners Brandi Scott and Samara Greene-Scott smoking brisket, chicken, thick-cut ribs, and meatless jackfruit (plus prepping mouthwatering sides) from their new permanent stall, which officially cuts the ribbon on May 29. Like other beloved Baltimore mainstays—we’re looking at you Ekiben and The Urban Oyster—Soul Smoked started out as a regular at the Baltimore Farmers’ Market and the Fells Point Farmers Market.

“This moment means everything to us because it reflects not only our growth as business owners, but also the support system behind us,” Greene-Scott said in a press release. “Opening inside Broadway Market feels like the beginning of a new chapter for Soul Smoked, and for the community we’re building around it.”

OPEN

Jimmy’s Breakfast Bar & Grill: Jimmy’s is back on Broadway. The landmark greasy spoon first opened in 1946, serving up no-frills breakfast and lunch to politicians, athletes, and neighborhood regulars throughout the decades. In 2016, the Filipidis family sold the restaurant, but it never quite found its footing again, cycling through a renovation, a bankruptcy, a Shark Bar Grill, and eventually a shuttered storefront.

Now, its new owners—restaurateurs Prashraya Neupane and Binod Uprety, also behind Harbor Tandoor near Harbor Point and Namaste and Alonso in Roland Park—are reviving the diner concept with a 60-seat layout, open kitchen, and planned outdoor seating. Expect breakfast and lunch classics, as well as leveled-up plates like a crab cake eggs Benedict and strawberries and cream pancakes. 

NEWS

Thai Street Joins Guinness Record-Breaking Team: Speaking of the aforementioned Broadway Market, longtime tenant Thai Street recently joined a group of Thai cuisine chefs and restaurateurs to break the Guinness World Record for the most Pad Thai cooked in an hour. Owners John Hartzell and Kesorn Imsin competed in the Songkran Festival celebrating the Thai New Year in Los Angeles on April 26. There, Hartzell and Imsin cooked more than 60 bowls of Pad Thai to help the team secure the win, with a total 1,338 bowls prepared in an hour. 

“We met some really cool, down-to-earth people,” Hartzell told the Sun. “We actually went and hung out at a couple of their restaurants before we left. I would do it 100 times over.”

CLOSING SOON

Heritage Smokehouse: Last week, co-owners George and Jenny Marsh announced on social media that they plan to close their Govans barbecue joint in August. After five years, and transparent financial struggles citing the rising costs of ingredients, they won’t be renewing their lease. “We are so very grateful for the support many of you have shown us over the past five years,” the post reads. “Only because of your faithful repeat patronage have we managed to make it this far.”

They go on to share that they’re exploring new locations and partnerships for Heritage, but, in the meantime, they’re hoping to make their last summer in Govans a great one—with plenty of beef brisket, smoked kielbasa, and baked mac and cheese to go around. 

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Bar Alice Anne: Paying homage to the welcoming neighborhood feel of its former inhabitant, Lobo, is this new concept on the corner of Aliceanna and Wolfe streets in Fells Point. The Local Fry owners Kevin and Liz Irish, along with their new business partners Katie Schlaffer and Chris Richards, quietly opened Bar Alice Anne last week.

They were big fans of Lobo, and used the initials BAA as an acronym for “before and after,” as they implemented modern upgrades like refurbishing the bar and repurposing old glass blocks. (Fun fact: “BAA” is also an onomatopoeia representing the bar’s logo, an Irish sheep.)

The menu is inspired, in part, by the Korean-American dishes that the Irishes featured at their former restaurant Toki Tako in Hampden. Expect shareable banchan (including a house kimchi) plus dishes like pork belly bossam, shrimp toast, tuna melts, and a Japanese Caesar with sesame dressing. As the signage on front door teases, it’s also “a nice place for a drink,” with options ranging from beer, wine, and tea-forward NA sips to the lemongrass gin-infused Cry Wolfe and pineapple and vanilla vodka Jinju Pearl.

The Fishmonger’s Daughter: Aptly named after Damye Hahn, fourth-generation owner of the famed Faidley’s Seafood, this Catonsville restaurant is finally in soft opening mode, taking limited reservations (no walk-ins) with official hours slated to start in June.

Hahn has been working at her family’s anchor Lexington Market stall since she was old enough to pour sodas, and she’s now at the helm of the 5,000-square-foot restaurant, market, and private events space that locals have been waiting for since it was announced in 2020. Similarly, her son, Will, also operating the new spot, started shucking oysters at the market when he was a teenager.

The Fishmonger’s Daughter will serve Faidley’s favorites—including oysters, Maryland crab soup, and the classic colossal crab cakes—in a sit-down setting, while also introducing new recipes like lobster pasta, chorizo beer mussels, and Chesapeake chicken milanese. 

Poke Taco: Hunt Valley-born poke chain Poke Bowl introduced a trendy spinoff on Boston Street in Canton last month, and it’s received a lot of love (prompting multiple sell-outs) in its first few weeks. You can, of course, customize your own bowl, but the menu centers on decadent poke creations (think: spicy tuna or mango-avocado salad) stuffed into deep-fried seaweed taco shells. Wash it all down with boba teas and fruity yogurt drinks. 

COMING SOON

Hannah’s Cafe: It’s been four years since Hannah Seidman opened her 18-seat Towson cafe with her family by her side—dad in the kitchen on weekends, mom in the front of house, and sister running social media. Now, the chef/owner, who got her start as a line cook at Pierpoint Restaurant under chef Nancy Longo when she was in middle school, is expanding with a second location at Hunt Valley’s North Park business community.

Expected to open by the end of the summer, the new cafe will serve Hannah’s signature breakfast and lunch comforts including challah French Toast, bagels, omelets, creamy tomato and matzo ball soups, and an array of wraps and sandwiches. 

Urbano Tex-Mex: This Baltimore Peninsula taqueria is one step closer to opening in the Rye Street Market building after receiving its liquor license in March and hosting an private pre-opening event in April. Opening in the 4,500-square-foot space, the latest location of the D.C.-area chain will highlight burritos, chimichangas, tortas, tacos, enchiladas, and Mexican desserts, plus six margarita variations. 

EPICUREAN EVENTS

5/17: Cherry Street Pop-Up at Ice Queens 
As chef Catina Smith—lovingly known as Chef Cat—continues working on her forthcoming concept Cherry Street Diner, she’s partnering with the dessert icons behind Ice Queens in Locust Point for a one-day-only pop-up collab. From 3-7 p.m. on Sunday, pull up to the Fort Avenue sweet shop to catch Chef Cat scooping up ice cream sundaes, topped with namesake cherries, of course. 

5/17: Gin Fling at Dutch Courage
After a two-year hiatus, the Old Goucher gin bar is bringing back this spring sipping party from 1-5 p.m. The event will feature 30-plus gins to taste, plus oysters, cheese, charcuterie, and DJ Surf & Turf behind the decks—all for $50. Pours span everything from local McClintock Distilling out of Frederick to Japanese, Australian, Irish, and Mediterranean expressions. Full-sized cocktails and discounted bottles of gin will be available for purchase. Get your tickets via OpenTable.

SHUT

Dulceology: A bittersweet ending is in store for this Salvadoran bakery in Federal Hill. Sisters Nicole and Alejandra Leiva started selling their dulce de leche-filled alfajores on Etsy in 2013 before finding their rose-colored South Charles Street storefront in 2020. Six years later, they’re closing on May 17.

Nicole is relocating to Southern California to work as a pastry chef at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino. Thankfully for regulars who came to rely on Dulceology for their sugar fixes, the sisters’ online alfajor shipping business will continue. “Perhaps one day, in a new place, on new soil, maybe a new name, another chapter will arise,” they wrote on Instagram. 

Wico Street Beer Co.: Cousins Jordan McGraw and Mike Richardson first opened their Pigtown taproom at 1100 Wicomico St. in November 2022—with McGraw bringing 15 years of local brewery experience and Richardson coming from a wealth management background. Rather quickly, they built a community-rooted establishment known for its craft beers, old-school arcade games, and camaraderie with the surrounding South Baltimore Brewery District.

Sadly, the cousins will pour their final pints soon, citing “rising costs, changing consumer habits, and an increasingly difficult sales landscape.” In an Instagram post announcing the closure and encouraging the community to support local, McGraw and Richardson thanked everyone who made Wico Street’s run so special.

“We met so many amazing people along the way,” the post reads. “Folks who started as customers and became regulars. Regulars who became friends. And friends who we now consider family. That part will never go away.”

The brewery will be open on weekends throughout the month until the taps run dry.

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Rocco’s Old School Italian & Wine Bar: A new sit-down spot has entered a radius of mostly fast-casual eateries off of Joppa Road in Towson. The massive menu at the dimly lit bistro leans heavy into American-Italian classics, with loaded pastas including Lasagna Mama Mia, fettuccine Bolognese, stuffed shells, and linguine in clam sauce. There’s also an entire section dedicated to parms in the form of chicken, veal, eggplant, or shrimp. Lunch specials and a generous happy hour from 3-6 p.m. (boasting $4-off cocktails, $3-off wine, and half-priced apps) make this a place to try for professionals working in the area, too. 

Ekiben: Frederick, this is not a drill. Today marks the opening of Ekiben’s first non-Baltimore City location at 500 N. Market Street in Downtown Frederick, bringing the total tally for the beloved Asian-fusion eatery to four brick-and-mortars. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., and to celebrate—in their classic community-appreciation style—the team is offering one free menu item per person to diners who show up for opening day. 

Founded in 2014 as a hot dog cart at the Fells Point Farmers Market, Ekiben—known for its signature steamed buns, rice bowls, and fan-favorite tempura broccoli— has grown into one of the city’s most nationally recognized restaurants. It landed on Yelp’s Top 100 U.S. Restaurants list three years running and nabbed a James Beard semifinalist nom for chef/co-owner Steve Chu in 2023.

EPICUREAN EVENTS

4/30: The Avenue Kitchen & Bar Benefit for Owner Patrick Dahlgren
If your calendar is clear tonight, head to The Avenue Kitchen & Bar in Hampden to support a great cause. Two, in fact, with donations aiding Avenue Kitchen owner Patrick Dahlgren in his ongoing battle with colorectal cancer and research efforts at Johns Hopkins’ Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. For a $40 donation, sip beer, wine, and specialty cocktails while enjoying appetizers, music, and raffles from 3-7 p.m. Can’t make it? A GoFundMe is live for those who are able to contribute.

5/7-5/31: The Wine Village in Baltimore
A surefire sign of spring, the Wine Village is making its return to the Inner Harbor for the majority of May. Pick a day to wander around the grounds sipping an array of European options, Maryland-made blends, bubbly, and seasonal spritzes. New this year, look for an expanded food and drink lineup with additions such as a gourmet cheese booth, churros, truffle fries, smoked turkey legs, chocolate-covered strawberries, and soft-serve. For the non-vino drinker, look for two Baltimore-made seltzers, new slushie flavors, and an exclusive beer from M8 Brewing. There’s also a new outdoor movie lineup planned on Thursdays. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m., as well as Friday through Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m.

5/9: Asia North Kamayan Feast
As part of the annual Asia North festival—which honors Station North’s AAPI history and ever-evolving identities as a Koreatown and creative community—the annual Kamayan Feast is a traditional communal meal where those gathered around the table eat with their hands. (Kamay means “hand” in Tagalog.) Snag a spot at one of the long banquet tables lined with banana leaves to enjoy traditional Filipino dishes from Frisco Baltimore and Barkada Breads. Eats on deck include pork barbecue skewers, lumpia, pancit, pickled atchara, roasted lechon baboy, ube flan, and more. Tickets for the feast at the SNF Parkway Theatre are $65.

SHUT (SOON)

Greyhound Tavern: After six years, Mary and David Spelce’s Fleet Street standby will be closing in Fells Point by the end of May. “The building we rent in has been for sale for a while and our landlord feels it will be easier to finally sell without us in it,” reads a GoFundMe page set up to support the owners as they pay off their remaining small business loan and navigate their next chapter. “We were worried about this happening when we were first notified that the building was for sale, but kept rolling with the punches and tried to remain optimistic. Our liquor license is tied into our lease with the location, so we are unable to move locations and reopen without acquiring another—which we cannot afford at this time.”

While their future is still up in the air, the owners are encouraging neighbors to visit (a dance party this weekend will feature beats spun by neighbor Jack Moore of El Suprimo Records) before they’re officially out at the end of the month. Throughout its run, the bar—named after the owners’ late rescued racing greyhound Mister Macaroni—was best known for its thrifted knick-knacks, original art, receipt doodles, and a bathroom stall buried in bumper stickers.

Molina Pizza: One of R. House’s OGs is set to shutter on May 26. The brick-oven pizza stall has been a staple at the Remington food hall since 2017, but changed hands almost three years ago. Current owner Andrew Fechko took to social media recently to announce “with great sadness” that the team will serve its final slices this month, with discounted pizza specials during its final week. Stay tuned for more details on what will fill the void in the coming weeks. 

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Carpet Cafe by Good Neighbor: Last weekend, hundreds flocked to Station North for the opening of Carpet Company’s new brick-and-mortar complex in the former bank space at the corner on North Avenue and St. Paul. As early as 3 a.m., skaters, sneakerheads, and streetwear stans formed lines around the block (and waited hours) to get a first look at the new home of Baltimore’s coolest fashion brand, which has gained national notoriety. 

Aside from retail—and, eventually, events and art galleries—the 10,000-square-foot Carpet headquarters also houses its own cafe in collaboration with Hampden’s Good Neighbor. Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Monday, the cafe in the back mimics Good Neighbor’s design-forward aesthetic, with the Capet logo embossed on coffee cups and hidden in other interior touches.

The menu offers the shop’s well-known drinks like lattes, house drip coffee, and Japanese-style iced coffee. Food here differs from the Hampden location slightly, incorporating nods to the Egyptian heritage of Carpet’s owners Ayman and Osama Abdeldayem. Case in point: the paranthas (a flatbread most common in India, but popular across the Middle East) filled with egg and cheese, or other sweet and savory ingredients.

Crunch Kulture: Located on the upper level of Lexington Market, Crunch Kulture is now open and slinging salads and wraps six days a week. The new concept from husband-and-wife duo Charles Miller and Kristian Knight-Miller—known for the breakfast platters and crab dip croissants at their other market stall Sunny Side Cafe—offers chef-driven bowls like a steak-topped Protein Power salad or a Caesar Crunch Supreme with roasted chickpeas. The signature Soul Bowl tops a bed of kale with barbecue chicken, cornbread croutons, black-eyed peas, and a smoky honey mustard vinaigrette. 

MARKET MOVES
While details are still in flux, two new market concepts are headed our way in the coming months. One from Woodberry chef Spike Gjerde (also behind the new La Jetée and Bar Dalí), who is transforming the former Whitehall Market in Hampden into an Italian-inspired market and kitchen called Ecco Market.

The other was recently announced by Jason and Nicole Daniloski, the owners of Silver Queen Cafe in Hamilton. This summer, they plan to debut The Market at Hamilton at 5500 Harford Road (the building’s longtime tenant, Emma’s Tea Spot, recently moved to a new space five minutes down the street), featuring a deli and sandwich counter with specialty goods like cheese, tinned fish, cured meats, and coffee. Stay tuned for more details. 

COMING SOON

Truong Tien: An outpost of Northern Virginia’s Vietnamese favorite Truong Tien—ranked No. 94 on Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants list—is landing a bit closer to us next month. Opening inside Live Casino in Hanover, the ode to owner Hue Truong’s Vietnamese heritage specializes in dishes such as BunBo Hue lemongrass noodle soup and banh khoai pancakes. The new spot will also offer additions like banh mi and fried bananas for dessert. 

Vesper at Pike & Main: The Wine Bin owner Dave Carney is expanding his Ellicott City footprint with this new restaurant opening in the former Pure Wine Cafe on Main Street. Expected to cut the ribbon this summer, Vesper will be led by Howard County native chef Rachel Bindel—who has worked at several Michelin-starred spots including Tail Up Goat (now transitioning to a new concept called Rye Bunny) in Washington, D.C.

Combining a strong wine program (fueled by The Wine Bin, of course) and Bindel’s seasonal approach, the menu will highlight dishes such as Maryland crab toast, a spring pea salad, summer squash tagliatelle, and Wagyu skirt steak with caramelized sunchokes.

SHUT

Foraged: This one came as a bit of a shock for diners, but the closure of Foraged in Station North—which served its final service on Sunday—marks a new chapter that chef/owner Chris Amendola has been plotting out west. Earlier this year, he purchased The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm on a 40-acre property in Lovettsville, Virginia, just over an hour outside of Baltimore. He posted on social media this week to announce that he’s shifting his focus to the farm full-time, which is unsurprising given the James Beard Award semifinalist’s expertise in foraging and hyper-local ingredients.  

His video message thanks the community for their support throughout the restaurant’s eight-year journey—in which it went from a baby-sized spot in Hampden to a larger operation in Station North—and invites diners to visit the farm for signatures like roasted oysters and lion’s mane mushroom “crab cakes.”

One-Eyed Mike’s: Another heartbreaker this week—Fells Point institution One-Eyed Mike’s is slated to close by month’s end. Best known for its bottle club with about 3,500 bottles of Grand Marnier on display, the cozy neighborhood bar with a reliable food menu was founded by the late Mike Maraziti in 2003. It was purchased by owner/chef Akbar Vaiya in 2016, and then unsuccessfully put up for auction in 2023.

The bar’s social media broke the news of the closure earlier this week. “If you’ve been meaning to come in, now’s the time,” the post reads. “Come have dinner, grab a drink, bring friends, and help us make these last few weeks a busy and memorable sendoff.”

The Rockwell: The hits keep on comin’ for Fells Point. South Broadway rock bar The Rockwell—which was once co-owned by All Time Low guitarist Jack Barakat—will shutter on June 6. Co-owner Bryan Burkert—also behind The Sound Garden and new dance spot Wonderland on Aliceanna—posted a video to announce the news, promising that celebrations in the next two months will properly honor the bar’s 15-year legacy.

During that period, it’s become beloved for its dance parties featuring live performers (from DJs to drummers) against the backdrop of its signature artistic projection screens. Watch this space for more details on the reasons behind the closure and Burkert’s next chapter with Wonderland. 

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Bar Dalí: This neighborhood tapas bar from chef Spike Gjerde has made its official debut in the former Mount Vernon Stable & Saloon on North Charles Street. The concept channels the communal spirit of the subterranean space with Spanish-inspired plates meant for sharing. Incorporating Gjerde’s commitment to local sourcing, menu highlights include pan con tomate, salt cod and potato croquetas, grilled glazed spare ribs, and eggs diablo—a play on deviled eggs with Spanish pickled vegetables and pimentón. At the bar, a deep Spanish wine list leans organic and biodynamic, Mahou Cinco Estrellas are on draft next to Natty Boh, and gin and tonics are made with Maryland’s own McClintock Forager gin. 

The Barn & Lodge at The Rotunda: After more than two years of permitting delays, Blackwall Barn & Lodge has made it to Baltimore City. Anne Arundel County’s Titan Hospitality Group debuted their latest location at the Rotunda in Hampden on March 24, bringing the concept’s rustic-chic vibe to an 11,000-square-foot space in the mixed-use development. The steak and seafood-focused spot also features a “Gathering Hour” Monday through Friday from 3–6 p.m. with half-priced pizzas and $9 cocktails. 

Ms. Elderberry Cafe: Kéllei Burrus—a familiar face at farmers markets and in the local wellness world since 2019—now has a home base to peddle her scratch-made syrups. She started handcrafting elderberry syrup as an affordable alternative to commercial brands, using pure ingredients like organic elderberries, local raw wildflower honey, spring water, and key limes. Now, you can find them for sale at Burrus’ new cafe in Old Goucher, which also features plant-forward products like house tea blends, pastries, and rotating soups. 

Seppia: In case you missed it, the family behind La Cuchara is launching dinner service at their new Italian-inspired restaurant on the Avenue in Hampden tonight. The redesigned G.C. Murphy Five and Dime building is now a spot for diners to enjoy chef Ben Lefenfeld’s dishes inspired by his travels—from the Ligurian shore to Bologna to the Amalfi coast.

Aside from hand-pulled pastas, look out for offerings likes crispy artichoke lasagna, mafaldine with squid ink, and tuna crudo with fermented chiles and tangerines. For more on the new spot—and an update on La Cuchara, which has been closed since it suffered a fire in January—read our interview, here. 

Tribe Social Cafe: With input from local artists, owner Leron Levi—a recipient of the city’s BOOST program, which provides grant funding and support to Black-owned businesses downtown—has transformed the space at 235 E. Redwood St. to be equal parts café and cultural hub. Food, coffee, and art share the spotlight, with local works lining the walls and a menu that runs morning to evening.

Breakfast includes a crab croissant with house sauce, a grilled salmon wrap with egg and avocado, and a blueberry chia granola bowl. Evenings bring coco lamb on coco bread, sea bites with cod and crab, and a Caribbean club sandwich. 

Wanna Smash Bar & Grill: After rescheduling its ribbon-cutting earlier this year, this Los Angeles-based smash burger concept—known for its innuendo-heavy menu with items like The Quickie, The Cowgirl, and The Hot & Heavy—has finally opened on O’Donnell Street in Canton. From franchise owner Melvin Daniels, who is also behind Mug Shots in Federal Hill, expect extra thin Wagyu patties topped with everything from American cheese and pickles to onion rings and a signature Yum Yum sauce. 

CH CH CHANGES

The Essen Room: Pikesville’s nine-year-old Jewish deli—known for its overstuffed sandwiches, matzo ball soup, and serve-yourself pickle bar—is now under new ownership. Harley and Aaron Magden, the brothers behind Mikey & Mel’s deli in Fulton and Washington, D.C., quietly took over a few weeks ago.

For now, nothing has changed with regard to the menu and staff (“If you walked in today, you wouldn’t even be able to tell that ownership has changed,” Harley says), but the brothers plan to implement expanded hours, breakfast service, and third-party delivery. A more official rebrand—with Mikey and Mel’s signature celebrity-named sandwiches and a pickle bar double the size—will come this summer, when the space expands into the 900-square-foot storefront next door. 

EPICUREAN EVENTS

4/2: We Love You Baltimore Day at Mera Kitchen Collective
Worker-cooperative restaurant Mera Kitchen Collective—which started as a series of community pop-ups in 2018—is celebrating four years in its Mt. Vernon home and nearly a decade of feeding Baltimore with an all-day customer appreciation celebration. Stop in for food specials, music by DJ Atlas from 6–7 p.m., a flower pop-up, and gift card giveaways on the hour.

4/4-4/5: Asia in a Bite Fest
Sample bites and beverages from more than 40 vendors at this returning Baltimore Peninsula fest—which will highlight Asian street food including boba, skewers, and noodles, as well as live music and performances.

4/17: The Great Baltimore Seafood Feast at Boordy Vineyards
Join The Local Oyster chef Nick Schauman for an all-out feast with wine pairings at Boordy Vineyards, featuring oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels, and all the fixins’. Tickets are limited and cost $95 per person.

4/23: The Food Market Spring Wine Dinner
Speaking of wine pairings, mark your calendar for this special prix-fixe prepared by The Food Market chef Chad Gauss and guest chef Nick Pasco. The seven-course menu will accompany seasonal pours with dishes such as seared scallops with lime caviar, lobster Wellington, soft shell crab-stuffed squash blossoms, Irodori Wagyu steak with bone marrow and bleu cheese ravioli, and a “Not Dubai Chocolate” panna cotta with manuka honey. Tickets are $175 and RSVPs are required .

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Fukado Kissaten: A taste of Japan’s cafe culture has arrived in Catonsville. The cozy setting (study-friendly for nearby UMBC and CCBC students) serves sought-after treats including fluffy souffle pancakes in flavors like strawberry and matcha-kiwi, the cult favorite tamago sando (egg with furikake seasoning), and senbei—pressed rice crackers with shrimp or bacon. If you’re in the mood for sweets, the pastry case shows off options including cookie-topped cream puffs, strawberry tarts, and a delicate dacquoise. To wash it all down, look out for specialty drinks like lattes and fruity blooms, which are tea blends with boba and other sweet fillings like panna cotta and grape jelly. 

Smokin Chick: A new customizable bowl concept has landed in Mt. Vernon. Smokin Chick, the brick-and-mortar sibling to the Flew the Coop food truck, is now open at 800 St. Paul St., taking over the former home of San Pablo Street Tacos, which shuttered last summer. The “easygoing neighborhood hangout built around Baltimore energy” allows diners to start with a base of rice before adding proteins like smoked hickory barbecue chicken, apple bourbon pork, chimichurri lamb, or roasted oxtail. Then, they move on to toppings like veggies, kimchi, and slaw. The restaurant also offers sandwiches, desserts, and beer and wine, with a 10 percent discount for uniformed military and first responders. 

Toasty Corner: After the closure of neighborhood favorite Afters Cafe, a new eatery now occupies the corner of South Charles and East Hamburg streets in Federal Hill. Owner Hasan Ilhan recently debuted his grilled cheese and panini shop, aptly named Toasty Corner, which is open six days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The menu features a diverse lineup of melty smashed sandwiches, ranging from a smoky ham and Swiss to a Philly-style cheesesteak to a Carolina pulled pork. There are also salads, garlic knots, and a plethora of dessert options—including a New York-style cheesecake. 

COMING SOON

Cherry Street Diner: On the heels of her Hell’s Kitchen appearance last fall, gregarious, community-focused chef Catina Smith—lovingly known as Chef Cat, one half of the duo behind culinary share space Our Time Kitchen—has announced plans to open a brick and mortar. While she’s still securing a location, she recently began launching pop-ups to test the menu and concept for Cherry Street Diner. “This is my love letter to diner culture, reimagined through Black traditions, bold flavors, and mid-Atlantic influence,” Smith wrote of her vision on Instagram.

At Stem & Vine during the Black Owned Restaurant Tour last week, she debuted dishes like her fish and chips, French onion flatbread, honey Old Bay wings, and peach upside-down cake sundaes. Next up is a sold-out, five-course collab dinner with The Urban Oyster chef-owner Jasmine Norton on March 17, meant to be a culinary journey celebrating the women in the chefs’ lives. Follow Cherry Street on Instagram for future pop-ups as the space comes to fruition. 

Little T’s New York Deli: Native Baltimorean and longtime New Yorker Daniel Rumanos is bringing a little bit of Big Apple deli culture back to Charm City. The Baltimore Business Journal reports that Little T’s—a classic Jewish-inspired diner and delicatessen—is expected to open in the storied Abacrombie Inn building across the street from the BSO in Midtown-Belvedere in the coming months. The Greektown native hopes to bring his diner experience from living in New York for more than a decade, with dishes like matzo ball and split pea soup, as well as the requisite overstuffed pastrami and corned beef sandwiches. 

Seppia: Hampdenites—the wait is almost over. The trio behind La Cuchara—brothers Ben and Jacob Lefenfeld, and Ben’s wife, Amy Lefenfeld—took to social media this week to announce the April opening of their long awaited concept in the former Five and Dime Ale House on the Avenue in Hampden. The Lefenfelds bought the building in April 2024, and Seppia is set to officially open “just in time for rosé season” next month.  

The approximately 180-seat restaurant will serve a seasonal, seafood-forward menu, evoking southern Italy during the summer and the north of the country in the winter, but with a Maryland twist. Expect house-made pastas, craft cocktails, and a large wine list. Of course, staying true to its name (Seppia means cuttlefish in Italian), the restaurant will also feature a signature preparation of the marine mollusks.

As exciting as it is that Seppia is nearly over the finish line, La Cuchara sadly remains closed after suffering a devastating vent fire earlier this year. (Luckily no one was hurt.) Stay tuned for updates on both restaurants in the coming weeks. 

EPICUREAN EVENTS:

3/6-8 & 3/13-15: St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations at Guinness Open Gate Brewery
Unsurprisingly, and per tradition, Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe is ramping up for St. Patrick’s Day with two jam-packed weekends of limited-edition beers, Irish-inspired foods (like a Reuben burger and corned beef and cabbage), live music, and an Irish Village lawn takeover with an array of vendors and activities. General admission is free, but there are also ticketed events like guided beer tastings, which you can check out, here. 

3/6-15: MD Vegan Restaurant Week
Making its big return this weekend through March 15, MD Vegan Restaurant Week puts plant-based dining in the spotlight. Organized by Maryland Vegan Eats, the semiannual event invites local restaurants to create their own meat and dairy-free specials (rather than offering prix-fixe menus like other restaurant weeks), encouraging chefs to experiment while keeping meals accessible for diners.

Now marking its 18th run, the culinary celebration includes participating spots such as Golden West Cafe, The Land of Kush, Miss Shirley’s, Harmony Bakery, Red Emma’s, Nepenthe Brewing Co., and Little Havana, among others. 

3/16: Vaccaro’s Turns 70
A Little Italy staple is marking a major milestone this month. Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop (which also operates locations in Canton and Hunt Valley) will celebrate its 70th anniversary on March 16 with a sweet throwback deal—a large cannoli for only 70 cents, available for carryout only at all locations.

Founded in 1956 by Gioacchino “Mr. Jimmy” Vaccaro, the bakery began on Albemarle Street in Little Italy before expanding to its current café at 222 Albemarle Street in 1986 under the leadership of his son, Nick Vaccaro. An open house and meet-and-greet with the Vaccaro family will also take place at the Little Italy café from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 16. So stop by for lunch, and, as the family motto says, “life is short, eat dessert first!”

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John Brown General and Butchery: Good news for Harford County. This Cockeysville favorite known for its prime cuts of meat—as well as its coffees, pastries, sandwiches, and a must-try cheeseburger—is opening a new location on Main Street in Bel Air this summer. The store will take over the 3,000-square-foot former home of Boyd & Fulford Drugs, which operated for 127 years until closing in 2019.

“Growing up in Harford County, Main Street was always part of my life,” owner Robert Voss recently wrote on Instagram. “When we started looking for a space for a new butchery, Boyd and Fulford was my first choice, but felt like a reach. Getting to know the Streett family [the longtime owners of Boyd & Fulford] has been an honor and we couldn’t be more excited to get to work. This is exactly the kind of community we look to operate in and we can’t wait to earn your trust.”

Similar to the Falls Road flagship, John Brown in Bel Air will offer whole-animal butchery of grass-fed beef, as well as pasture-raised pork, lamb, and poultry. City dwellers may be familiar with the butchery from its meat shop/pizza concept JGBG’s, which operated in Remington for a few years in the space now inhabited by La Maison by Cafe Dear Leon. 

H3irloom Food Group’s Afukaiseki Pop-Up: A new monthly tasting menu rooted in the seasonal discipline of Japanese kaiseki (a traditional multi-course dinner) and fused with the culinary legacy of the African diaspora is coming this spring from chef couple David and Tonya Thomas—the founders of H3irloom Food Group who have long been known for their culinary experiences that tell ancestral stories. For their new service, named Afukaiseki, the duo hopes to gather no more than 15 people in a “Michelin star type of experience with visuals and aesthetics.” The intimate dinners will be offered monthly, featuring 10 courses starting with small bites that progress to larger plates. Keep an eye on the H3irloom social pages for menu details and ticket links in the coming weeks. 

Tipsy Scoop: As part of a big expansion to cities across the U.S., this Brooklyn-born boozy ice cream chain is opening a location on Key Highway in Federal Hill this year. Known for its fun flavors (everything from Cake Batter Vodka Martini to Chocolate Whiskey Salted Caramel), the franchise will embrace the city with locally inspired offerings like the “Orange Crush-sicle,” which uses Sagamore rye. The ice cream has ABV content, so it’s strictly for adults only. 

Wanna Smash Burger: A grand opening for this burger bar from Los Angeles, known for its innuendo-heavy branding, was previously postponed. But it’s expected to cut the ribbon in Canton—taking over the former home of Shipyard Pub on the corner of O’Donnell and Baylis streets—later this month. Wanna Smash began as a hibachi concept in the San Fernando Valley before pivoting after one item—the “Happy Ending” burger—went viral, helping reframe the business around smashed patties topped with house-made sauces with cheeky names (think: The Quickie, The Cowgirl, and The Hot & Heavy). Wanna Smash follows another new Canton burger option, NYC-born 7th Street Burger, which landed on Boston Street last year. 

OPEN

L&L Hawaiian: The arrival of this fast-casual Hawaiian chain—founded on O’ahu in 1952—brings a little luau to Towson. The new spot on Chesapeake Avenue showcases a popular Hawaiian plate lunch, which comes with your choice of meat (like chicken katsu, beef short ribs, Loco Moco, or Kalua pork with cabbage) paired with scoops of rice and macaroni salad. In keeping with the city’s growing love for SPAM, L&L is also now a great local option for when SPAM Musubi cravings hit.

NEWS

The Temperance Flight at Burnt Hill: Last year, the siblings behind Old Westminster Winery in Carroll County debuted Burnt Hill, a regenerative farm, farm-to-table restaurant, and visionary organic winery located on their 100-plus acres in Clarksburg, about an hour outside of Baltimore. Aside from offering reservation-only curated wine experiences against the beautiful backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains, the team recently launched The Temperance Flight, which is catered to those who choose not to imbibe.

Featuring a water kefir similar to kombucha, a vinegar-based house shrub sweetened with honey from the farm’s apiary, and a rotating fresh-pressed grape juice (the team is currently highlighting their unfermented Cabernet Sauvignon), the NA flight is now available in lieu of or in addition to the Estate Wine Tasting pairings that are already on offer. 

“Everyone needs that moment of tasting unfermented grape juice,” co-owner Ashli Johnson explains, adding that the idea to offer their grape juices, which later become wine, came when executive chef Tae Strain and co-owner Lisa Hinton first tasted unfermented Albariño.

“I think of these beverages as parallels to wine. They reflect the same commitment to stewardship, care, and sense of place that defines everything we do at Burnt Hill,” wrote co-owner Drew Baker in a recent online journal entry announcing the program. “The Temperance Flight simply opens that experience to more people, in more ways, without asking anyone to compromise how they show up at the table…If Burnt Hill is truly a place of exploration, then every guest should be able to engage fully with it without sacrificing any part of the experience.”

EPICUREAN EVENTS

2/6: Carnevale at Cinghiale 
If you need last-minute weekend plans (or are feeling the masquerade ball vibes after watching the new episodes of Bridgerton), this black-tie soiree in Harbor East will feature cocktails, passed bites, and bubbly before moving into a four-course Venetian feast with intimate live music performances (the BSO, led by concertmaster Jonathan Carney, will be on hand to perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons) in between each dish.

2/9: The Smoking Swine at Woodberry Kitchen All Stars
Aptly dubbed Woodberry Kitchen All Stars, Woodberry Tavern’s new rotating pop-up series shines a spotlight on the side projects of its own staff. The second installment will feature Linton Fionn Pumphrey, son of the late Smoking Swine chef L. Drew Pumphrey, who sadly passed away of a heart attack one year ago. Fionn, who has been with Woodberry for about 10 months, is paying tribute to his dad’s beloved recipes with brisket, pork shoulder, chicken sandwiches, burnt end ragout, and mushroom patty melts, as well as an Old Fashioned drink collaboration with Baltimore Spirits Company. If you can’t make it to The Smoking Swine revival on Monday, WKAL pop-ups on deck include Cominda de Guerrero on Feb. 16 and and La Tias Locas Salvadorian cuisine on Feb. 23. No reservations needed.

2/20: The Long Table Supper Club with Stem & Vine
If you’re itching to taste David and Tonya Thomas’ food before their aforementioned kaiseki service drops this spring, snag tickets for their Long Table Supper Club—a new monthly pop-up series at downtown greenery and wine shop Stem & Vine. This month’s theme is Blackwater, an exploration of the waterways that were essential in Black history. The family-style meal will feature lots of seafood, as well as Maryland-grown Silver Queen corn. Tickets are $175 excluding taxes. 

SHUT

The Brewer’s Art: Headlines and Reddit threads were shared far and wide Monday, when news broke that 30-year-old brewpub The Brewer’s Art had suddenly shuttered. As confirmed by The Baltimore Banner, “owner Volker Stewart informed employees by text message Monday that he was closing effective immediately due to financial problems.” “The financial strain of the last few months has worsened in recent weeks and made it impossible to continue,” he wrote in the text. “We have run out of money. I cannot pay you, please do not come in.”

In the days since, regulars have taken to social media to mourn the loss (“First Catherine O’Hara, now this sad news!!!,” one patron wrote) of the Mt. Vernon mainstay, an early pioneer in the local brewery scene that became a fast favorite for its beers (Resurrection and Beazly), burger, and cavernous basement bar. But beyond that, the community has shown an outpouring of support for staff, who were laid off without notice and without a final paycheck. Crowdfunding campaigns have been set up to support, and the Baltimore Bartenders Guild has offered to help workers find new homes in the local hospitality scene.  

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Four Local Spots Clinch James Beard Award Semifinalist Noms: Move over Oscars and Golden Globes—our show is on. The award season for the national culinary scene officially kicked off yesterday when the James Beard Foundation dropped its annual list of semifinalists in several superlative categories. While the foundation has previously recognized local torchbearers like Charleston (a winner last year!) and Clavel, this year, Baltimore’s food and beverage scene has been recognized with four nominations—all awarded to newcomers.

Among them are cult favorite Café Dear Leon—which started in Canton in 2020 and expanded with a Remington sister-location, La Maison, last fall—for Outstanding Bakery; chef Matthew Oetting of Marta Fine Food and Spirits—who spent a long time in New York City with famed groups like Danny Meyer’s Union Hospitality before moving to Baltimore to open Loch Bar in 2015 and starting his own Butchers Hill restaurant, Marta, in the fall of 2022—for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic; Doug Atwell of Southpaw—one of Baltimore’s most well-known veteran bartenders who cut his teeth at spots like Rye, Blue Pit BBQ, and Dylan’s Oyster Cellar before opening his Fells Point favorite in 2022—for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service; and Pink Flamingo—from Dutch Courage owners Brendan Dorr and Eric Fooy, who opened the tiki concept in the former Dizz space last spring—for Best New Bar. 

Excitement has quickly spread across the scene, but for the nominees, it’s clear that it might take some more time for the honor to fully sink in.

“I don’t know what to say really,” Nick Pikounis, bar manager at Pink Flamingo reacted to the news. “I’m shocked and honored. We all have worked hard, and to have this makes it worth the struggle and stress.” 

As Café Dear Leon co-owner Min Kim shared with us, “It’s surreal. We were flying back from a coffee farm in Brazil, so we got the news a little late.”

For Marta’s part, Oetting says he’s “shocked, blessed, and humbled.” “We’re hoping to make it to the finals, but also just honored to be able to bring the spotlight to the Baltimore dining scene as a whole. I think we are often overlooked, and this is a great opportunity for all of us in the Baltimore hospitality community.”

From here, finalists will be announced on March 31, and winners will be honored on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

COMING SOON

Marta Fine Food and Spirits: It’s been a big week—and a killer start to the year—for Marta. Just before the Beard noms dropped this week, it was announced that Oetting would be expanding his Italian-inspired gem with a new location at Harbor Point this summer. Named Marta al Mare (al mare means “by the sea” in Italian) the waterfront location will highlight tons of outdoor seating overlooking Point Park against the backdrop of the Inner Harbor. In keeping with the theme, the menu is slated to take a seasonal, seafood-forward approach.

“I’ve been looking for the right opportunity to introduce a new twist on Marta that highlights fresh seafood for some time now,” Oetting said in a press release, “and the waterfront location at Harbor Point is the perfect opportunity.”

Aside from its hand-made pastas and dishes like Lobster Saltimbocca and toro arancini, the new location will offer brunch six days a week. The team teases options like croissant waffles, a “fork and knife” burger, and a posh caviar and martini cart.

The new restaurant is the first announced tenant inside Harbor Point’s new global headquarters for T. Rowe Price, joining the development’s growing dining scene that also recently welcomed Josefina and La Jetee, from fellow James Beard honorees David Zamudio and Spike Gjerde, respectively. 

OPEN

Amadeo’s: In the latest addition to the Little Italy dining scene, the longtime Osteria da Amadeo on South Exeter Street has been reopened by couple Brenna and Daniel Lewis as Amadeo’s—a modern Italian spot with a rotating menu of supper and snacks. The couple took some time off last month to address minor renovations, but reopened on Jan. 21 for regular dinner service Wednesday through Saturday. Read more about the New York City veterans’ journey to taking over a tavern in one of Baltimore’s most tight-knit neighborhoods, here. 

EPICUREAN EVENTS

1/23-2/1: Baltimore Restaurant Week
It’s been 20 years since this dining promotion became a bi-annual tradition in Baltimore, and organizers with Downtown Partnership and Visit Baltimore are doing it up for the anniversary. More than 75 spots are on board to offer prix-fixe meal deals ranging from $10-65. Browse the full list of participating eateries, here, and consult our list of tips and tricks to plan your dining adventures accordingly, here. 

2/4: Jason Hisley Appearing on  Is It Cake?
Valentine’s Day will get a little sweeter—and a lot more deceptive—when Baltimore’s own pastry chef Jason Hisley returns to compete on national television next month. The owner of Cake by Jason Hisley in Timonium has built an impressive competition repertoire across Holiday Wars, Cupcake Wars, and Cutthroat Kitchen, and will next compete alongside his partner, Tyler, on Netflix’s special Valentine’s Day edition of Is It Cake? As its name signifies, the show pits top bakers against one another to see who can create the most ultra-realistic, edible works of art. The episode premieres Feb. 4 on Netflix.

SHUT

Don’t Know Tavern: It’s the end of an era for this reliable haunt on the corner of Light Street and East Fort Avenue in Federal Hill, which will close in February after 14 years of beers, burgers, wings, and WVU football parties. In an Instagram statement, owner John Leonard cited longstanding, unresolved building and structural issues with the landlord. However, the building’s owner, David Makarovich, recently told the Baltimore Banner that Don’t Know “was in serious financial distress, was unable to pay rent, and would be ceasing all operations.”

While the bar’s future evokes its name, Leonard stated that Don’t Know may live on if the right space and circumstances present themselves. For now, the team is inviting the community to raise one last glass before the lights dim next month.

Ouzo Bay: Interestingly, another 14-year-old establishment is also shuttering in February. In Harbor East, Ouzo Bay will serve its final guests after its Valentine’s Day service on Feb. 15. The neighborhood fixture, which opened in 2012 as an homage to CEO Alex Smith’s grandfather, was established before Atlas Restaurant Group became its own entity. In a press release, Smith said the decision to close was spark by building issues, stating “the restaurant requires significant infrastructure upgrades, including major systems that are due for replacement.”

Atlas plans to reopen the property as a new concept sometime next year, but no details are available just yet. However, Ouzo Beach, the restaurant’s outdoor sister-bar just across Lancaster Street, will continue to operate seasonally from May through September.

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Hana Hampden: A new sushi spot is taking over the longtime home of Souvlaki on The Avenue in Hampden. Hana Sushi from owner Tina Chen—who operates Yama Sushi in Ellicott City, unrelated to the popular place of the same name in Hampden’s Greenspring Tower Square shopping center—is opening this Saturday Jan. 10 by reservation only for the first 30 days. 

General manager Andrew Liang describes the vibe as “[Washington, D.C.’s sleek] Nobu and Nakazawa meets a local Hampden corner sushi bar,” featuring high-quality fish without the formality. Hana will source whole fish only, and break down everything in-house. Highlights to look out for on the menu—helmed by executive chefs Changjoo Kim and Juan Galvan—include traditional yakitori cooked over a robata grill, house udon and ramen, and fusion “sushi tacos” filled with sashimi or tartare. 

The bar is being helmed by Jake Tarr, who was part of the opening team at Bunny’s Buckets & Bubbles and most recently the bar manager at The Duchess across the street from Hana. With Tarr’s expertise, Liang says the beverage program will be “robust,” leaning into traditional Japanese spirits like sake and whisky. 

Hana is slated to operate 11 a.m.-10 p.m., seven days a week, staying open through what Liang calls the typical “3-5 p.m. lull” in Hampden. As for price point, Liang estimates most diners will land around $75 per person for “a good evening out”—with plenty of room to go higher for a splurge or lower for a more casual meal.  

The team also acknowledged the history of the space, noting Souvlaki’s eviction after crowdfunding efforts last fall. “This is a piece of the community,” Liang said. “We really want our guests to be able to feel like this is their home away from home.” 

CH-CH CHANGES

The Point in Towson: After some speculation about its future, management of this Towson hub—a spinoff of the fan-favorite Point in Fells—took to Instagram this week to confirm they’re here to stay. Not only that, they’re launching a new pop-up concept that will bring a fun theme to the side bar every month. Inspired by the Elf Bar takeover that drew in droves throughout the holidays, The Point will offer immersive themed menus, decor, photo ops, and activities in the designated space, which is separate from its traditional dining rooms for brunch and dinner service.

Starting 2026 off strong will be a Golden Girls takeover throughout January (gear up for food and drink specials like Shady Pine Punch, “Golden Hour” happy hours, a ticketed “Thank You for Being a Drag” brunch, and lots of cheesecake) followed by an “Apres AF” Winter Games theme in February, and an It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia-style Paddy’s Pub pop-up just in time for St. Patrick’s Day in March.

OPEN 

Equitea: Quentin Vinnie’s long-awaited Equitea matcha brick-and-mortar is officially open for business in Remington. Set inside a cozy mid-century modern space with family-friendly seating and a vinyl music section, the cafe is currently in soft-opening mode (open Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.), offering specials like a seasonal gingerbread matcha latte and honey butter toast.

Founded in 2022 by Vinnie and his wife, Erin, the brand established itself in Baltimore as a pop-up last year (in the Howard Street space that is now La Maison by Cafe Dear Leon), before signing a lease for a more permanent spot a few blocks away. While Vinnie worked on renovations and curating the space to match his vision, he conducted pop-ups throughout the city and the East Coast to bring his iconic, hand-whisked lattes to the masses. For more on Vinnie’s journey, be on the lookout for a full profile in our upcoming February issue.  

Josefina: Speaking of long-awaited openings, modern Spanish restaurant Josefina is celebrating its debut dinner service this Friday, Jan. 9, in Harbor Point. The spot from owner/executive chef David Zamudio has been a labor of love for almost two years, as the first-time restaurateur (formerly of Alma Cocina Latina) has worked through construction and permits. Get a sneak peek of the end result—plus the full scoop on menu and the inspiration behind the concept—with our full preview, here. 

THB Bel Air: Baltimore’s ever-expanding bagel chain is rolling out yet another new location, this time in Harford County. The eighth Towson Hot Bagels—named, of course, after its flagship that opened on Allegheny Avenue in Towson in 1999—will bring the brand’s hot-out-of-the oven bagels, sandwiches, and all day breakfast-and-lunch offerings to Bel Air near Harford Mall this winter. Stay tuned on Instagram for an official grand opening date. 

NEWS

La Cuchara Suffers Fire: Beloved Basque restaurant La Cuchara, an anchor in North Baltimore’s Clipper Mill area for more than a decade, announced an immediate and indefinite closure following a tragic fire that broke out on Sunday afternoon.

“We’re just happy that nobody was hurt,” chef and co-owner Ben Lefenfeld—who owns the restaurant with his wife, Amy, and brother, Jake—told Baltimore Fishbowl this week.

According to the Baltimore City Fire Department, the blaze was discovered in the building’s venting system. While the restaurant appeared structurally intact from the exterior earlier this week, the full extent of the damage remains unclear. In the meantime, the Lefenfelds say their priority is supporting their roughly 60 employees, even as the fire introduces uncertainty around their forthcoming restaurant, Seppia, set to open in the former Five and Dime Ale House space on the Avenue in Hampden. 

In the days since the fire, customers have flooded social media with messages of support and heartbreak, sharing memories of anniversary dinners, just-last-week meals, and what the restaurant has meant to the community—underscoring La Cuchara’s role as a fixture in Baltimore’s dining scene.

EPICUREAN EVENTS 

1/8-1/11: The Empanada Lady Re-Re-Re Grand Opening
The Empanada Lady is heading into 2026 with a four-day, culture-forward, free-to-the-public “Re-Re-Re Grand Opening” event from Jan. 8-11. Following a brief closure for bar renovations supported by a Downtown Partnership of Baltimore grant, the Puerto Rican favorite will host karaoke, DJs, a “Bodega Baddie” brunch, a ’90s party, and a signature cocktail tasting to celebrate the new chapter.

1/29: Little Donna’s at Dear Martha’s
Upper Fells gem Little Donna’s is headed south for a special pop-up in D.C. this month. If you’re down for a drive, reserve a spot for the one-night-only collab between chef Robbie Tutlewski and Demetri Mecheli of Greek-inspired pizza shop Dear Martha’s—whose restaurants both happen to be named after their respective grandmothers. Expect pierogis, pizza, and special fusion dishes on the a la carte menu. Reservations open Thursday, Jan. 15 at 10 a.m.

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Bar Dalí: On the heels of opening La Jetée on the first floor of Harbor Point’s Canopy Hotel in October, James Beard Award-winning chef Spike Gjerde recently announced a partnership with another hotelier, Ash, which owns Hotel Ulysses in Mount Vernon. 

A new concept called Bar Dalí—an ode to Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dalí in the form of a subterranean neighborhood tapas bar—is slated to open early 2026 at 909 Charles St., taking over the hotel’s neighboring property that was formerly Mount Vernon Stable & Saloon. 

The project will embrace the community legacy of “the Stable,” which shuttered in 2022, while bringing Gjerde’s signature local-first sourcing to a globally inspired menu. The partnership between Gjerde and Ash will also include overseeing the food and beverage program for Swann House, Ash’s upstairs event space at the new bar. More details to come. 

Nora Blu & Hush Lounge: Speaking of Mt. Vernon, and Gjerde, another bar and restaurant is set to move into the former Spike & Charlie’s at 1125 Cathedral St., which housed Gjede’s first venture that he operated with his brother, Charlie, from 1991 to 2004. In the years since its closure, other establishments like Ryleigh’s Oyster, Anonymous Restaurant & Lounge, and Red Emma’s (before its move to Waverly) have called the building home.

Now, owner trio Dezmon Parker, Tariq Ibrahim, and Mohammad Elmanyari are preparing to debut an upstairs Mediterranean restaurant, Nora Blu, and a basement speakeasy called Hush Lounge, in the space. With the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall across the street, the owners hope to host live entertainment, as well as become a hub for pre- and post-show audiences. 

“We want to tie in to the local community, knowing that the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall is across the street,” Parker recently told the Baltimore Business Journal. Their target opening is slated for late December or January, with dinner service nightly and extended weekend hours.

NEWS

The Duchess Dish Lauded by the New York Times: As The Duchess, Tony Foreman’s latest venture with co-owner chef Kiko Fejarang, celebrated its one year anniversary in Hampden, the team got a gift from The New York Times. The publication’s editorial team listed the restaurant’s Chamorro shrimp and corn patties as one of the top 23 dishes they ate across America in 2025. 

Eric Asimov, the Times’ chief wine critic, described The Duchess as one of the “more unusual restaurants” he’d visited, citing the mix of the British pub-influenced interior with Fejarang’s Pacific Rim recipes. (Read our review, here.) The $13 dish is a Chamorro classic, a beloved fried snack from Guam, which Asimov described as “the platonic essence of their ingredients [shrimp and corn], a beautiful balance of textures and flavors.” 

After hearing the news, Fejarang told the Banner, “I’m glad I can be able to represent not only Guam but Baltimore.”

After the announcement of The Wren as one of the top 25 restaurants by the Times earlier this year, the win for The Duchess further solidifies what we’ve always known—Baltimore’s food scene is top tier. 

EPICUREAN EVENTS 

12/18: Gunther & Co’s Annual Hanukkah Dinner 
Bundle up and head toward Brewers Hill to ring in the fifth night of Hanukkah with Gunther’s annual feast. In addition to the regular dinner menu, the restaurant will be offering holiday specials including braised beef brisket, pan-roasted salmon, noodle kugel, and chopped chicken liver on rye bread. Must-haves include an order of house latkes (with requisite apple sauce and sour cream) and a steamy bowl of matzo ball soup. If you have room for dessert, sweets like cinnamon sugar-dusted babka and raspberry-drizzled brioche donuts will offered all night.

12/18: Fells Point Main Street Cookie Crawl 
The shops surrounding Broadway in Fells Point make the holidays even sweeter with this neighborhood tradition. From 4-7 p.m., roam around the area (Su Casa on South Bond Street is the official check-in point, where you can pick up a bag and a map) to visit your favorite retail and restaurant owners and collect a complimentary cookie at every stop. See the full list of places participating, here.

12/19: Brewers Haven Holiday Party
Throw on your ugliest sweater for this Highlandtown holiday soiree. Hosted by Brewers Haven—the joint home of Monument City Brewing and Key Brewing on North Haven Street—the festivities will highlight flowing pints, live music, discounted merch, giveaways, and food by their next-door neighbors at Motte.

12/21: National Coquito Day & Club Sonora’s Tuki Tuki Event
We love unofficial food and drink holidays, no matter how arbitrary they might seem. On Sunday, Dec. 21, thanks to Don Q rum, the day is devoted to coquito—the creamy, rum-spiced “little coconut” cocktail rooted in Puerto Rican culture. Check out our guide for places to sip coquito all over town, including The Empanada Lady downtown, The Undefeated in Fells Point, and Mama Koko’s in Old Goucher. Golden West Cafe in Hampden, Pink Flamingo in Remington, and Sacre Sucre in Fells Point also have their own versions that will get you into the spirit. 

If bar competitions are more your vibe, swing by Club Sonora’s Tuki Tuki event from 4-8 p.m. at Stem & Vine downtown, which will feature its own coquito contest, along with a holiday market, tamales by Rosalyn Vera of Cocina Luchadoras, and live salsa. As Bad Bunny lamented in his 2025 album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, take the picture and get your boricua on. 

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