OPEN
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!”