The new location will serve its first-ever lunch at 11 a.m. on Thursday and will continue lunch and dinner service seven days a week.

“We started writing the plans two years ago when [Bagby Pizza brand’s president] Blake Smith said he wanted to open a new Bagby,” says Chris Becker, corporate executive chef for the Bagby Restaurant Group. “But with Cunningham’s opening, we had to put it aside. It was a blessing in disguise, because it gave us an opportunity to define the brand a little bit more.”

Like the original location on Fleet Street, this spot, located in the Festival at Woodholme Shopping Center at 1809 Reisterstown Road, will be a fast-casual restaurant.

The Pikesville place has 50 seats and includes plenty of communal seating.

Unlike the Fleet Street location, this locale will take a DIY, build-your-own approach, with patrons picking either a salad or pizza path.

“A lot of ingredients you see on a pizza, you can also put on a salad,” says Becker, who describes the concept as “Chipotle-like.” (The new location is, in fact, next to a Chipotle and is hoping to capture the same share of the market.)

Tapping into the trend of giving patrons options, there are choices for every imaginable component whether you’re having a pizza or grazing on greens. (Pick from regular or gluten-free dough if you’re having pizza, for instance, or seven different greens or grains for a foray into salad).

Many of the toppings, including an array of cheeses, vegetables, and proteins, can appear on a pizza or in a salad. (We’re particularly psyched about having the house-made sweet fennel sausage in a salad.)

Unique specialty items are also available, such as truffle oil for the pizza and vegan cheese for those with dietary requirements.

“We’re not an Italian restaurant but given that we’re serving pizza, we have an Italian flair,” says Becker. “We’ll also have cannoli cake, house-made lemonade and craft sodas.”

We’re sold.

Source

Bobby’s Burger Palace: This modern burger chain, owned by Food Network all-star Bobby Flay, joined the likes of On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and Nandos Peri-Peri in Towson Square earlier this week. With other Maryland locations in College Park and Maryland Live Casino, the eatery features sleek décor and cleverly named burgers. But now you can get your fix of sophisticated grilled cheese sandwiches, crunchy salads, and signature burgers topped with potato chips and coleslaw while strolling around Towson. 515 Virginia Ave., Towson, 410-296-7227

Piaza Fresh: The Greene Turtle in McHenry Row recently downsized, making room for this new D-I-Y pizzeria to take over its leftover space. Piaza Fresh officially opened its doors last weekend, offering signature brick-oven pizzas, flatbreads, and fast-casual salads. 1602 Whetstone Way, 410-464-0800.

Pitango Bakery and Café: Fans of Pitango’s mainstay gelato shop in Fells Point will be happy to hear that this sweetheart of a spot has recently expanded with a new spinoff concept located a few blocks away in the former home of Bonaparte Breads on South Ann Street. Pitango Bakery and Café made its debut last month, serving up pastries, salads, tarts, and Italian-inspired sandwiches on fresh baked bread. 903 S. Ann St., 443-676-6447

COMING SOON:

Bagby Pizza Company: The Bagby Restaurant Group is continuing its expansion into the county with a Bagby Pizza location opening its doors in Pikesville on August 13. The menu, which is split into categories titled “The Way You Want It” and “The Way We Do It,” features customizable salads and pies alongside a list of the chef’s specialty combinations. 1809 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, 443-379-0566

Ceriello Fine Foods: Known as a one-stop shop for all of the makings of an Italian feast, this store in Belvedere Square Market highlights house-made sauces, Boot Country cheeses, and gourmet grub to go. Come August, the New York-based company will open its second Baltimore location at the bottom of the Hanover apartments in Brewers Hill. The space will feature all of Ceriello’s classic comestibles, while adding fruits and vegetables, gelato, wine, beer, a bakery, and al fresco seating to its list of offerings. 3700 Toone St.

Smoke: Owner and executive chef Josh White is bringing this Pennsylvania-based barbecue joint to Charm City in September. The spot will be situated in the former home of Corned Beef Deli in Cockeysville’s Cranbrook Plaza and serve unique takes on barbecue classics. Bold offerings include Smoke’s signature “The Boss Dawg” sandwich (hickory-smoked pork topped with bacon, local cheddar cheese, pickles, and crispy onions) pork cheesesteaks, and fried cheddar grits with spicy ketchup. 574 Cranbrook Rd., Cockeysville

CH-CH-CHANGES:

Waterfront Kitchen: Following stints at Fleet Street Kitchen, Bookmaker’s Cocktail Club, and The Manor Tavern, Chris Amendola was recently appointed as Waterfront Kitchen’s new executive chef.The harbor-side restaurant, with its own greenhouse, is an active supporter of urban agriculture and the menu reflects its seed-to-plate mantra. Judging by Amendola’s foraging expertise, we think it’s a perfect fit. 1417 Thames St., 443-681-5310

SHUT:

Clementine: This beloved Hamilton spot recently announced that its last day of service will be on August 9. Husband-and-wife team Winston Blick and Cristin Dadant have decided to close their homey farm-to-table spot and transform their business into a full-time catering company.The couple’s second venture Green Onion Market, also in Hamilton, is still open for business. 5402 Harford Road, 410-444-1497

Source

Herb & Soul Express: With its weekends-only schedule and frequent appearances at the Baltimore Farmer’s Market, Herb & Soul Gastro Cafe has made a name for itself in the community spanning far beyond its Parkville roots. Presumably, this is why the restaurant has recently expanded into a second location inhabiting the former Cosmos space in Hamilton. Although the new location offers only carryout and delivery services, Herb & Soul Express still features all of the Southern fusion specialties available on the menu of the dine-in location. Mix up your normal takeout routine with comfort foods like chicken and waffles, Buffalo wings, and catfish or shrimp po’ boys. 5429 Harford Road, 410-426-2775

Bagby Pizza Company: The Bagby Restaurant Group continues its expansion into the county with a new Bagby Pizza location slated to open in Pikesville this spring. The new location in the Festival at Woodholme shopping center will feature the company’s signature thin-crust pizzas while throwing a new menu concept into the mix. Guests will be able to choose from items categorized in the “The Way You Want It” section, allowing them to create their own pies, or “The Way We Do It” section, choosing from the chef’s favorite combinations. 1809 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville

Gibby’s East: Gibby’s has been a providing locals with the freshest affordable seafood in the area for years, and recently it has expanded to Havre de Grace. Whether you’re looking for Maryland crabs by the bushel or a platter full of crab cakes, scallops, and steamed shrimp, Gibby’s can now accommodate customers from across the region. 921 Pulaski Highway, Havre de Grace, 410-939-9625.

On the Border: While the restaurant scene in Canton surely isn’t lacking, this new addition will definitely spice things up. The Shops at Canton Crossing has recently welcomed On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina, and this marks the well-known chain’s first location in Baltimore. On December 15, the 217-seat space opened its doors, serving up sizzling Tex-Mex fare beneath the light of its signature beer-bottle chandeliers. The space also features a spacious cantina, mimicking typical sports bar spaces, and an outdoor patio area for the warmer months. 3803 Boston St, 667-401-1763

Pizza Studio: In keeping with the of-the-moment create your own pizza trend, former Maryland residents Ron Biskin and Samit Varma are bringing their California-based restaurant Pizza Studio back to their hometown. The first location in the region will open in Charles Village in early January. The “Create Your Own Masterpiece” part of the menu showcases fresh toppings that diners can use to customize their own personal pies, and the “Starving Artist” section prices classic favorites like pepperoni and Margherita pizzas at only $5.99. 3201 St. Paul St.

Pique: Cyrus Keefer fans will be happy to hear that the former Fork & Wrench chef is opening a French- and-Asian inspired restaurant called Pique in Hampden this March. If you can’t wait until spring to find out what Keefer has up his sleeve, Pique’s menu will be previewed at a pop-up at Sotto Sopra on January 22

Family Meal: It’s been a great year for Bryan Voltaggio, and things are looking even better for the Top Chef alum in 2015. We thought we were going to have to wait until later this month to check out Voltaggio’s latest venture, but the chef’s second Family Meal location will be opening ahead of schedule in the former Houlihan’s space on January 2. As its name denotes, Voltaggio’s American diner-inspired spot focuses on traditional comfort food that pays homage to his home state by fusing local ingredients into its entrees. Shrimp and grits, fried chicken, and soft-shell crab sandwiches are all examples of the comforting fare to be featured at this harbor side restaurant. 621 E. Pratt St., 410-601-3242

Source