OPEN
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.