COMING SOON
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 whiskey.
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.