Brewhouse No. 16: Mt. Vernon locals have been awaiting the arrival of this brewpub since plans were announced over a year ago, and last week it finally made its debut. The unique spot is housed in a former Baltimore City firehouse and contains remnants such as brass sliding poles, high ceilings, and elaborate subway tile. Menu items from owner/brewmaster Ian Hummel and executive chef Adam Snyder emphasize locally sourced ingredients, with offerings ranging from small-batch beers made on site with foraged fruit to burgers topped with preserved seasonal tomatoes. 831 N. Calvert St. 410-659-4084

Hollywood Diner Backlot Food Truck Park: The iconic Hollywood Diner, which originated as a set built for Barry Levinson’s 1982 film Diner, has sat vacant on the corner of Holliday and Saratoga streets for years now, but organizers from The Gathering Project have recently taken over the property to create Baltimore’s first food truck park. Using the diner as its centerpiece, the park started serving lunch earlier this week and is expected to begin hosting special community events in the coming months. Guests are invited to peruse the eats from local food truck vendors and enjoy their meals inside the diner, which still boasts original ’50s-inspired booths and a soda fountain counter. 400 E. Saratoga St.

COMING SOON:

The Elephant: Under new ownership, the elegant special occasion restaurant once known as The Brass Elephant will now operate simply as The Elephant. New owners Steve and Linda Rivelis, who were married in the space in the ’80s, bought the Mt. Vernon landmark earlier this year, and have been working to restore it back to its former glory ever since. While the famed spot is doing away with its nattily dressed waiters and brass railings, it’s slated to reopen with additions like a new color scheme and a revamped oyster bar in early 2016. Stay tuned for more updates as the reimagined look progresses. 924 N. Charles St.

Iron Rooster: Known for its homemade pop tarts, chicken and waffles, and free (yes, we said free) bacon, this Annapolis favorite is expanding into Charm City with a second location in the former Farmstead Grill space at Canton Crossing. Slated for a mid-November debut, the spot will serve its claim-to-fame breakfast all day and highlight boozy brunch cocktails including its signature “Bacon Bloody Mary.” 3721 Boston St., 410-990-1600

Sweetgreen: With a focus on seasonal soups, salads, and bowls, this DIY spot is all the rage in D.C. and soon the trendy eatery will join the likes of Cava Mezze, Nando’s Peri-Peri, and Jimmy Johns on the bottom floor of the Hyatt Place Baltimore Hotel in Harbor East. Be sure to mark your calendar for the grand opening on November 12, because Sweetgreen is donating 100 percent of the proceeds from opening day to the Living Classrooms Foundation. 1306 Fleet St.

CH-CH CHANGES:

Joe Squared: Upon realizing that its longtime Station North home was too difficult to maintain, owner Joe Edwardsen made the decision to move this neighborhood pizza joint to a more modern space one block east. While Joe Squared will continue to serve the fixture’s signature square pies, its new home allows for twice as many seats and features a downstairs performance venue for frequent live music showcases. The new location—which was partially funded by a Kickstarter campaign that raked in upwards of $400,000—is expected to open any day now. 33 W. North Ave

SHUT:

Lenny’s: With recent closures including La Tasca, Phillip’s, and Edo Sushi, it seems like the eateries in Harborplace are dropping like flies. The once-booming restaurant and retail destination saw yet another closing last month when Lenny’s delicatessen shut its doors. A variety of factors—such as the rise of Harbor East, the new Shake Shack across the street, and Harborplace’s loss of foot traffic—contributed to the closure. There’s no word yet on what will become of the space, but if a craving for a loaded corned beef sandwich strikes, the deli’s three other locations in the area are still going strong.

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We got to see it first-hand last night at a media preview dinner, which featured a menu of two of Brewhouse’s small-batch beers made on site and a plethora of food items. The expansive space is unique with dining tables and booths in the front—and a long bar, open kitchen, and six brew tanks in the back.

Our meal began with a glass of the Papaw IPA, made with pawpaw fruit, known for its banana-like texture and flavor, which was foraged by chef Adam Snyder and brewer Ian Hummel. We loved the full-flavored beer even though it wasn’t as a hoppy as a typical IPA. The other option was a Harvest brown ale with a touch of sweetness, and our server let us know that a chocolate stout is in the works.

The menu offers a lot of what we’ve been seeing from restaurants lately with charcuterie, shared plates, and local ingredients. Formerly of Cunningham’s in Towson, Snyder prides himself on the latter. Last night, we enjoyed a lovely kale salad with walnuts, goat cheese, and foraged, berry-like autumn olives. Additionally, the pulled duck poutine is a hearty, not-to-miss dish. The spot’s signature farmhouse burger is flavorful and juicy, made with Roseda Farms beef, pancetta, garlic aioli, smoked tomato, and smoked provolone on a grilled bun.

Though the place is large enough, seating 90 inside and an additional 30 outside, there are plans to convert the upstairs into a German-style beer garden with entertainment.

While we were certainly impressed with the space, food, and drinks, what maybe impressed us most was the all-in-the-family vibe. Ian Hummel is the brewer, his sister is a server, and his dad, Harry, is an architect who designed and renovated the place himself. A bee sculpture of the entranceway even alludes to the family tie. (Hummel means bumblebee in German.)

As we finished up our meal last night, Harry came over to check on things. “We’re very proud of the way it turned out,” he said.

Brewhouse No. 16 opens at 3 p.m. today and is currently taking reservations.

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