OPEN

The Tilted Row: The Bolton Hill dining scene continues to soar with new culinary concepts like Noona’s, which opened last winter, and CookHouse, a spinoff of On the Hill cafe slated to debut this fall. Adding to that momentum is The Tilted Row, which is now officially open on the bottom floor of the Jordan apartment complex on McMechen Street. Decorated with warm woods and pops of navy and gold, the bistro is the brainchild of Ziad Maalouf—who owns Cafe Fili in Mt. Vernon. Chef Andrew Thomas, previously of Donna’s and The Elephant, serves up dishes like lamb ribs with smoked tzatziki, duck fried rice with kimchi and wild mushrooms, and a sorghum-brined pork chop with roasted asparagus. There are also fine-tuned iterations of Charm City classics like crab deviled eggs with Old Bay mousse and cast iron crab cakes served alongside a colorful succotash. At the bar, Woodberry Kitchen alum Hannah Baker features creative cocktails, 10 beers on tap, and a collection of more than 120 single malts and bourbons.

Honey’s Cafe: This new Pigtown hangout is continuing the lively spirit that Cafe Jovial left behind. Honey’s replaced the longtime neighborhood favorite on Washington Boulevard earlier this month, serving breakfast and lunch fare in the cozy cafe that offers plenty of natural light. Owner Bri Ash features dishes including red velvet waffles, French toast topped with fried apples, shrimp and grits, and steak and eggs. To pair with the food, a lengthy list of specialty coffee drinks includes dirty chai lattes and black-and-white “Tuxedo” mochas.

NEWS

Mouth Party Caramel at The Spotlight Shop: Locals strolling around the Inner Harbor might have noticed M&T Bank’s new Spotlight Shop—a 24-by-20-foot custom boutique that is stationed at 300 East Pratt St. Through September, six small businesses will set up shop inside the retail space to peddle their locally-made products. The rotation started out with The Dollhouse Boutique earlier this month, and through June 25, Mouth Party Caramel will be showing off its custom confections in the space. Other merchants on deck to take over the pop-up this summer include Zeke’s Coffee, Cake by Jason, Becket Hitch, and The Charmery.

Ravage Deli Brings Back Breakfast Pop-Up: It’s going to be a great weekend for this foodie haven in Perry Hall, which has become known for its mile-high sandwiches and massive orders of duck-fat fries. This Saturday at 4 p.m., the Travel Channel is re-airing an episode of Food Paradise that features Ravage. Then, the deli—which is typically only open for lunch and dinner—is bringing back its occasional breakfast pop-up menu on Sunday from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Rise early to feast on creative morning dishes like BLT Quiche, Belgian waffles topped with Oops All Berries cereal, and a “Maryland Mash-Up Wrap” that bundles steak, scrapple, and crab dip inside an Old Bay tortilla.

Magdalena Launches Sunday Supper: Historically, Magdalena in Mt. Vernon has been closed on Sundays. But recently, executive chef Mark Levy has opened the restaurant on Sunday evenings for a traditional supper service inspired by his native England. As a nod to gatherings with the whole family at his grandmother’s home outside of London, he’s launched a menu of UK favorites with a fine-dining spin. Among them are fish and chips with pea puree and tartar sauce, English pea ravioli with wild mushrooms, and crispy duck leg confit with house-made tater tots. Diners can order from an a la carte menu, or opt for the three-course prix-fixe for $58.

EPICUREAN EVENTS

6/29: Rye Street Cookout
Nothing says summer like taking in waterfront views from an Adirondack chair. At Rye Street Tavern’s recurring community cookout in Port Covington, you can do just that while enjoying live music and classic barbecue bites. The next iteration will feature the soulful sounds of Joi Carter Trio and one-day-only specials like Virginian chicken, seasonal burgers, and a crab boil in a bag. Bring the family (dogs included) and a lawn chair or blanket for the lush lawn.

6/29: Checkerspot One Year Anniversary Party
This South Baltimore brewery is celebrating its first birthday in style with an all-day block party from 12-11 p.m. The festivities will kick off with a ceremonial tapping of the kilderkin at noon, followed by The Racket and Q Randall playing live music outside, and DJ Mikie Love spinning in the taproom all day long. Smoked meats will be provided by the local barbecue experts with Team Loud Que, and, of course, there will be plenty of beers flowing in the first and second-floor taprooms throughout the entire party.

SHUT

Blue Dog BBQ Co.: Unfortunately, it seems that this barbecue joint near Little Italy had cards stacked against it from the start. Just five days before its grand opening last October, the city’s Departments of Transportation and Public Works began a large-scale infrastructure improvement overhaul just outside of the space on Central Avenue. The owners have struggled to make up for the loss of foot traffic since then, and last week, they officially closed the restaurant for good. “It saddens us to announce that Blue Dog will be closed indefinitely,” reads a sign posted to the front door. “Thanks for your support.” Throughout its short run, reviewers raved about Blue Dog’s ribs, sausages, chicken, and pulled pork, which were all prepared using a wood smoker in the building’s adjacent courtyard.

Walkability was a huge factor for Michael Neall when he decided to open Blue Dog BBQ in the former Heavy Seas Alehouse space, which sits on the corner of Central Avenue and Bank Street near Little Italy.

“One of the first things we did was check out the walk score for our location,” says Neall, who opened Blue Dog with partners Sean Stoll and Jon Royce last October. “It was a 96. That’s about as good as it gets for a business that would rely on foot traffic.”

After months converting the space from a brewpub to a barbecue joint, the team was finally ready to fire up its signature all-wood smoker and welcome the first wave of customers. But just five days before the grand opening, jersey walls were put up along Central Avenue as the city’s Departments of Transportation and Public Works prepared to begin a large-scale infrastructure improvement project in the area—which included installing new subterranean electric, sewage, and plumbing conduits.

“When the barriers went up, our hearts skipped a beat,” Neall says. “We immediately just thought, ‘Okay, how are we going to deal with this?’”

This is a question that many small business owners have been asking themselves in the midst of ongoing development throughout the city. Specifically in the Harbor East and Fells Point areas, where detour signs and traffic cones have become routine, restaurateurs have been struggling to cope with construction projects that have taken years to finish.

Take Sunni Gilliam, who opened Teavolve on the corner of Aliceanna and South Eden streets in 2008. The cafe preceded many of the shiny residences and luxury shops that have since sprouted up in Harbor East, and it’s now stationed in the heart of construction for the new Liberty residences—which will be anchored by a 50,000-square-foot Whole Foods on the ground floor when it debuts this summer.

“We’ve seen some challenges,” Gilliam says. “There’s definitely been a decline in our figures, but we’re very fortunate that people still find a way to get here. They’re still making a point to come in and support us.”

Gilliam mentions the loss of parking on South Eden and Aliceanna Streets as a major deterrent for customers. She speculates that it contributed to the closure of the neighboring Mussel Bar—which shuttered last year, but is reopening as a jazz club this spring. Just a few blocks over in Fells Point, businesses are facing similar issues as a result of the redevelopment in Broadway Square.

“It hasn’t been easy,” says Carrie Podles, co-owner of Alexander’s Tavern on the 700 block of South Broadway. “We’ve lost so much parking, and there doesn’t seem to be any parking replaced. Business was booming four or five years ago, and then it was one thing after another and it just seemed like it was never ending.”

In response to the construction—which began with the Marketplace at Fells Point apartments and continues with the overhaul of Broadway Market—Podles says she has been encouraging customers to use ridesharing platforms when coming in to the restaurant. Additionally, Alexander’s has been amping up its off-site catering to make up for the loss of diners.

A self-proclaimed optimist, Neall at Blue Dog has also been searching for innovative ways to drive business throughout construction. He and his team recently participated in the Baltimore Wing Festival to spread the word about his restaurant, has been promoting their private party room, and has found success using delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats.

Despite the barriers and heavy equipment that will likely surround his barbecue spot until the end of the year, Neall remains positive about how the city has responded to his concerns. He says that officials have been gracious about sending notices of planned outages and potential water shutoffs so that the restaurant can prepare accordingly.

“So often you hear about antagonism between businesses and government, but I haven’t had that experience at all,” he says. “I found that they have been very understanding. We all recognize that this is a needed infrastructure project, and that, if the city is going to progress, it’s going to have to do these types of things.”

He also mentions that the city is working on adding a crosswalk at the corner of Bank and Central so that potential patrons can access the restaurant without having to deal with the extended pedestrian detour.

“When I’m walking down a sidewalk and I see a sign that says ‘sidewalk closed,’ what that says to me, and to any potential customer seeing it, is ‘don’t go there,” he says. “And that’s the direct opposite of what we want.”

Though dealing with construction remains tough, business owners agree that the ongoing projects will benefit the overall vitality of their neighborhoods in the long run.

“We’re fighting the fight,” Podles says. “We just need to make it to the end to enjoy all of the benefits.”

Gilliam sees the light at the end of the tunnel for Harbor East: “It’s going to feel like an entirely new area,” she says. “We were here when hardly anything else was. Before it was stagnant, so we welcome the construction because we know it’s going to pay off big time. We just have to hold on for a couple more months.”

OPEN

Little Fig Bakeshop: This passion project from chef Melanie Molinaro can now be found inside Stall 11 at R. House in Remington. The plant-based baking business, which began as an ode to Molinaro’s late grandmother, now fills a huge display case inside Stall 11 with everything from vegan cookies and muffins to scratch-made pop tarts and Meyer lemon bars. Little Fig favorites include a chickun-and-waffles donut and custom cakes that are dairy and soy free. The baked goods will be available Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. until sellout. 301 W. 29th St.

Blue Dog BBQ Co.: Barbecue buffs Sean Stoll, Jon Royce, and Mike Neall are preparing to officially debut their new pit palace during lunch service on Friday, October 19. Set in the former home of Heavy Seas Alehouse in Little Italy’s historic Tank Factory Building, this is the first brick-and-mortar space for the company (not to be confused with the other barbecue joint Blue Pit) and will offer eats like pulled pork shoulder, spare ribs, chicken wings, and locally sourced sausages from Kevin McCormick of High Noon BBQ. All meats are prepared in a wood smoker that is stationed in the building’s adjacent courtyard. “Somebody shows up at midnight the day before to light the fire and start smoking the meats,” Royce says. “We’re not using gas, so we can’t just set it and forget it.” The eatery will be open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday. 1300 Bank St.

MOM’s Bakeshop: Speaking of baked goods, this cafe adjacent to MOM’s Organic Market in Timonium also made its debut earlier this week. The sister-concept will bake all of its own breads using heirloom grains, and use them for an array of vegan and vegetarian sandwiches like a portobello muffaletta, chipotle roasted vegetable panini, and jackfruit barbecue roll. Before grabbing groceries from the market, satisfy hunger pangs with the hearty sandwiches, as well as raw juices, kombucha, soups, and scratch-baked muffins. 20 W. Ridgely Rd., Timonium. 443-921-1390

COMING SOON

AJ’s Deli: Though the official grand opening party for this modern delicatessen inside Mount Vernon Marketplace isn’t slated until early November, owner Alan Morstein is looking forward to debuting in soft-opening mode this Friday, October 19. The stall will harken back to a deli that Morstein, who formerly owned Regi’s American Bistro in Federal Hill, operated in Ocean City more than 35 years ago. But this time around, he is offering updated versions of the classic sandwiches and sides. “It’s part of this new wave of delis,” Morstein says. “It’s not like what my parents used to take me to, and it’s not like what I used to take my kids to. It’s where my kids are taking me now. It’s a whole different style.”

Dishes to look out for include Regi’s famous cranberry chicken salad, potato latkes instead of French fries, and tuna and egg salad made with avocado as a substitute for mayonnaise. There will also be brisket and turkey carved in-house, and bagels brought in from Davidovich Bakery in New York City. Equipped with eight bar seats, a 42-inch flat screen, and a modern-industrial design, the stall will open in the former home of Edible Favors, which recently relocated to another space inside the food hall. 520 Park Ave.

Clean Juice: Locust Point neighbors will soon be able to grab fresh-pressed juices, açaí bowls, and smoothies at McHenry Row. Come January, former NFL safety Anthony Walters and his wife, Kait, will open the first Maryland franchise of this North Carolina-based juice bar inside the mixed-use development. “I first became familiar with McHenry Row while working as in intern with Under Armour,” Walters said in a press release. “I hope people will visit us before and after work, for lunch, and after a fitness session at the local gyms.” Set in the former home of Ruby 8 Noodles & Sushi, the shop will be open all day and highlight customizable fruits, vegetables, honeys, oils, and seeds for the smoothies and bowls. 1702 Whetstone Way

EPICUREAN EVENTS

10/19: Maryland Food Truck Week Kickoff
Dozens of local kitchens-on-wheels are gearing up for the return of Maryland Food Truck Week, which will run from October 19-28 with planned rallies everywhere from Arbutus to Elkridge. The festivities will officially kick off with a free foodie festival at South Point in Port Covington this Friday. Grab a drink and enjoy live music while sampling noshes from The Green Bowl, Kommie Pig, Dizzy Cow Pizzeria, Mexican on the Run, Bistro Lunch Box, Farm to Charm, and Quinn’s Ice. 101 W. Cromwell St. Free. 5-9 p.m.

10/20 & 10/27: Fall Festival at Rye Street Tavern
Rye Street Tavern is welcoming the chilly temperatures accordingly with an all-ages fall festival on its waterfront lawn. Moms and dads are invited to sip whiskey cocktails at the outdoor bar while watching kiddos paint their own pumpkins, jump over hay bales, and dance to live music. Grilled hamburgers and hot dogs will be available throughout the day, and, if you stick around for dinner, try out the restaurant’s new seasonal menu featuring butternut squash lasagna, stout-braised short ribs, and bacon-wrapped rainbow trout. 13 Rye St. Free. 12-5 p.m. 443-662-8000.

10/21: La Cuchara Evenings at the Farm Dinner
Special guest Amy Langrehr of Charm City Cook will be joining chef Ben Lefenfeld for La Cuchara’s final farm dinner of the season. Make your way to the picturesque Zahradka Farms in Essex to enjoy a family-style outdoor meal cooked over an open flame. Special dishes incorporating Zahradka produce will include roasted carrots with chevre, wilted kale with burnt oranges and pumpkin vinaigrette, smoked pork shanks with sauerkraut, and turnip cake with salted-caramel buttercream. 2300 Golupski Rd., Essex. 4 p.m. $73

COMING SOON

Checkerspot Brewing: After years of anticipation, a grand opening date for this South Baltimore brewery is finally in sight. Husband-and-wife brewers Rob and Judy Neff (who has her Ph.D in microbiology), and their business partner Steve Marsh—an industry veteran who founded the cask program at Heavy Seas Beer more than a decade ago—will officially open the taproom to the public on Saturday, June 30 at 12 p.m. Named after the state butterfly of Maryland, Checkerspot will feature signature releases including the Juniperus IPA and Two Paws Ale—a pale ale brewed in collaboration with Flying Dog Brewery that is made with 100-percent local malt, galaxy hops, honey, and paw-paw fruits. 175 W. Ostend St.

Blue Dog BBQ Company: Harbor East diners have been feeling the void ever since Dinosaur Bar-B-Que closed up shop in the neighborhood earlier this year. But now, a new destination for fingerlickin’ fare is making its way into the area. Set to open in the former home of Heavy Seas Alehouse, which closed suddenly earlier this month, local catering company Blue Dog BBQ will serve its signature whole-hog fare made with a wood-only smoking method. “No gas-assisted smokers allowed!” co-owner Sean Stoll quipped in a statement. The old Heavy Seas space is housed in the historic Tack Factory Building on Bank Street, which Stoll says is “the perfect fit” for his business. “It allows us to create world class BBQ the way it was meant to be made,” he adds. Blue Dog is expected to debut next month, and will offer lunch and dinner service six nights per week. 1300 Bank St.

Cheese Galore & More: In other South Baltimore news, this longtime Cross Street Market tenant is moving into a brick-and-mortar home around the corner in Federal Hill later this month. The cheese and sweets shop will soon open in the former HarborQue space on South Charles Street, offering beer, wine, pasta sauces, baguettes, Zeke’s Coffee, and all of the essentials for building a bona fide charcuterie board. 1125 S. Charles St.

NEWS

Atlas Restaurant Group Heads to the James Beard House: The national praise keeps on coming for Atlas Restaurant Group, which is heading to New York City to serve a meal at the James Beard House next Tuesday, June 12. The collaborative dining experience—prepared by the team behind Atlas’ Harbor East spots Azumi, Ouzo Bay, Tagliata, The Elk Room, Loch Bar, and The Bygone—will bring a taste of Baltimore to the Beard House with a five-course menu and wine pairings that fuse the styles of each restaurant. Featured dishes will include char-broiled Japanese ayu and sawagani crabs, squab tortellini with beets and blueberries, octopus with fava pureé, and spring lamb diablo with English peas.

ROSÉ ALL DAY

6/9: Rosé Tastings at Chez Hugo Bistro

Chez Hugo will be offering pink wine discounts in honor of National Rosé Day this Saturday, but the specials won’t stop there. The French bistro is continuing the celebration with a recurring rosé tasting series on Tuesdays throughout the month. Stop by on Tuesday evenings from 5-7 p.m. to pair chef Steve Monnier’s French bistro fare with four pours of local rosé. Next week’s installment will feature varieties from Bacchus Importers, followed by a tasting with Old Westminster Winery on June 19. Chez Hugo Bistro, 206 E. Redwood St. 5-7 p.m. 443-438-3002

6/11: Rosé Wine Dinner at The Outpost American Tavern

The Outpost in Federal Hill will also be featuring rosé specials throughout the weekend, leading up to this special three-course pairing dinner on Monday, June 11. Reserve your spot to enjoy a welcome cocktail and eats from executive chef Jesse Sandlin, which will all be served alongside pink pairings. The Outpost American Tavern, 1032 Riverside Ave., 6:30 p.m., $50, 443-388-9113

EPICUREAN EVENTS

6/7-10: St. Nicholas Greek Folk Festival

Head to Greektown Square for this four-day fête featuring arts, crafts, Greek wines, live music, dancing under the stars, and, of course, plenty of authentic eats. Get your fix of fire-roasted lamb, souvlaki, spanikopita, gyros, tzatziki, baklava and more at the decades-old community event. 701 S. Ponca St., Times vary, Free.

6/8: Friday Happy Hours at Power Plant Live
Grab your co-workers and head to this downtown entertainment district on Fridays throughout the summer for locally inspired drink deals including Wild Kombucha cocktails, boozy egg custard snowballs, traditional Orange Crushes, and strawberry margaritas with a Domino Sugar rim. Plus, there will be pop-up food trucks, live art installations, life-size board games, steel drum bands, and a live music lineup featuring national acts like Nelly on July 27 and Wyclef Jean on August 17. Power Plant Live, 34 Market Place, Free.

SHUT

Bill Bateman’s Towson: Towson University students and alumni were bummed to hear that this longtime on-campus hangout is closing its doors for good on Sunday, June 10. The local chain spot—best known for its crab pretzels, beer specials, and bottomless wings on Monday nights—first announced the closure on its Facebook page earlier this week. “We are so grateful to have been part of the Towson community for the past decade,” the post reads. “Our Monday nights will never be the same.” In an interview with the Baltimore Business Journal, co-owner Tony Gebbia cited campus construction and increased competition in the “current business environment” as the reasons behind the closure. There’s no word yet on what will become of the space. 7800 York Rd, Ste. 2, 410-296-2737