OPEN

Roggenart: Mt. Washington locals are raving about this new cafe on Falls Road, which prides itself on fresh-baked baguettes, rolls, pastries, and pretzels. The shop opened late last month, rolling out a menu that spotlights sandwiches (think everything from ham and cheese to smoked salmon tartines), charcuterie platters, and classic pastries including a traditional pain au chocolat. Roggenart—a German term meaning “the art of rye”—also serves cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and an array of coffees and teas. 5722 Falls Road, 443-835-4443

COMING SOON

Baltimore Whiskey Company at Union Collective: In a witty video announcement released on social media earlier this week, Remington’s Baltimore Whiskey Company (BWC) publicized its plans to move into Union Craft Brewing’s new Medfield makerspace Union Collective in 2018. The distillery—which has become known for its lauded Shot Tower gin and Charles Street apple brandy—will transition into a 10,000-square-foot space with a second still, expanded fermentation equipment, and a larger tasting area. The expansion comes at an exciting time for BWC, as it prepares to unveil a new barrel-aged rye whiskey that will be the first on the market distilled in Baltimore in more than 50 years. 1700 W. 41st St.

The Bygone: A few months back, Atlas Restaurant Group announced that it would be opening a rooftop concept at the Four Seasons Baltimore. New details have recently surfaced about the bar, which will be named The Bygone and is slated to open this winter. Aside from 360-degree views of the city skyline, the 10,000-square-foot restaurant will highlight 325 seats, three outdoor terraces, a dining room, and a full bar and lounge with a mezzanine-level whiskey library and suspended catwalk leading to a DJ booth.

As its name signifies, the spot will project a Gatsby-era vibe with plenty of plush banquettes and custom woodwork. “Our goal has always been to operate first-class restaurant concepts in Baltimore and to be the driving force behind the culinary revolution going on in our city,” said Atlas owner Alex Smith, in a statement provided to Baltimore. “The Bygone will be a showcase to the entire country that Baltimore is ready to become a top culinary destination.” 200 International Circle.  

Sunset Raw Juice Bar: Acai bowls continue to be all the rage, and this new Foundry Row spot will soon bring the trendy treat to Owings Mills. The brainchild of former Ravens wide receiver—and Owings Mills native—Gerrard Sheppard, Sunset Raw Juice Bar debuts to the public on July 1, featuring cold-pressed juices, protein shakes and snacks, wellness shots, and acai bowls topped with bananas, berries, nuts, and granola. 10160 Reisterstown Road, 410-929-2013

Plantbar: Speaking of juice bars, this Belvedere Square staple was an early pioneer of the trend locally. Come fall, Plantbar will unveil a second location inside the Exelon Building at Harbor Point—peddling its pressed-to-order juices alongside an array of wellness elixirs, smoothie bowls, and paleo, vegan, and gluten-free snacks. “We’ve had a crush on Harbor Point for a while,” said Plantbar founder Daniela Troia, in a statement. “We really feel the community speaks our language.” 1308 Point St.

Rye Street Tavern: This new restaurant on the Sagamore Spirit Distillery campus in Port Covington will join the scene in September. The tavern will mark the second local concept from New York-based all-star chef Andrew Carmellini, who debuted the Rec Pier Chop House inside the Sagamore Pendry Hotel in March. Unlike the Italian-inspired chop house, Rye Street Tavern will focus on American fare with southern and Mid-Atlantic influences. 301 E. Cromwell St.

NEWS

Boathouse Canton: In an emotional message posted to Facebook earlier this week, the management team behind this beloved Canton waterfront establishment announced that more than 30 of its employees had quit unexpectedly after they were informed that the Immigration Division of Homeland Security instituted a review of the restaurant’s immigration records. “Based on our government’s current practices of targeting the Hispanic Community, properly documented, and those potentially less than properly documented, are all fearful of being separated from their families, many with small children,” said co-owner Gene Singleton, in the statement. “Many went home to pack up and leave. This was a sad, emotional, tragic event. It has been confirmed that the Boathouse’s policies and records are in compliance.”

In the days since, Boathouse has established a fund to raise money for the displaced families during their transition. The restaurant will be offering a limited menu (think favorites like crab cakes, wings, chopped salads, and seafood mac and cheese) until further notice as it continues to rebuild its staff. 2809 Boston St., 410-773-9795

EPICUREAN EVENTS

La Tavola Fundraiser for The Baltimore Station: This Little Italy stalwart is celebrating the Fourth of July a few days early with a patriotic fundraiser to benefit local veterans on Thursday, June 29. A portion of all proceeds from lunch, dinner, and extended happy hour service from 5-9 p.m. (featuring $5 beer, wine, sangria, and small plates) will be donated to The Baltimore Station—a residential treatment program in Federal Hill that supports veterans who are struggling with poverty, addiction, and homelessness. La Tavola, 248 Albemarle St., 410-685-1859

Haenyo: Chase Street Chillin: Local industry veterans Collin Morstein and Irvin Seo debuted this new Korean street food pop-up a few weeks ago at Holy Crepe Cafe in Canton. Next month, Haenyo is back at it with another one-night-only dinner on July 10 from 4-9 p.m., this time at Mt. Vernon’s Cafe Andamiro. Inspired by the cafe’s owner Keumran Yun, the locally sourced menu for Haenyo’s second event will feature two traditional Korean chilled soups, as well as gimbap (Korean sushi rolls) and bossam—pork lettuce wraps with fermented condiments. 241 W. Chase St.

Makan Makan Malaysian: R. House’s designated pop-up stall has been taking diners’ palates on a trip around the world lately, featuring local purveyors that specialize in everything from Korean to Jamaican cuisine. This week, the communal food hall welcomed a Malaysian-inspired concept from the team behind Ejji Ramen in Belvedere Square. Running until July 2, the pop-up will serve spins on classic Malay favorites including chicken satay, flatbread with curried lentils, and traditional gado-gado—a delicacy that tops mixed vegetables with a savory peanut sauce. 301 W. 29th St.

CH-CH CHANGES

The Corner Pantry: To coincide with the start of summer, British born chef Neill Howell is switching things up at his dining destination in Mt. Washington. This week, The Corner Pantry debuted a menu of lighter fare including a flatbread topped with roasted ham, lobster fritters with saffron and garlic aioli, and a tuna ceviche with lime, jalapeño, cilantro, avocado, and pickled watermelon rind. The spot’s breakfast and lunch offerings have also been updated with dishes like a muesli with overnight oats, and a caramel-drizzled French toast made with gluten-free brioche. 6080 Falls Road, 667-308-2331

CineBistro: Matinee movie lovers can now enjoy lunch offerings at this hybrid cinema and restaurant at The Rotunda in Hampden. CineBistro’s new mid-day menu will be offered from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, featuring items such as steak sandwiches, classic Caesar salads, and Old Bay-seasoned wings. 727 W. 40th St., 667-219-2430

Fork & Wrench: Co-owners Andy Gruver and Jason Sanchez recently appointed Corey Laub as executive chef of this fan-favorite New American spot in Canton. Laub—a Columbia native who most recently managed the kitchen at Chicago gastropub Novo—has already enhanced the Fork & Wrench menu with new creations including cucumber-tequila gazpacho, seared scallops with cashew pureé, and corn risotto with scallion, roasted tomato, and queso fresco. With Laub under the helm, Fork & Wrench plans to rotate its menu on a monthly basis. 2322 Boston St., 443-759-9360

SHUT

Cilantro Owings Mills: Falafel fans took to social media earlier this week to lament the loss of this Middle Eastern mecca in Owings Mills, which closed its doors on June 26. Fortunately, Cilantro’s brand new Light Street location downtown is officially open and going strong. “With the unexpected, immense support at our downtown Baltimore branch, we have realized that city and foot-traffic locations are most suitable for our brand,” reads a message that management posted to Cilantro’s Facebook page earlier this week. Aside from focusing on the city location, the owners hope to expand with an additional D.C. shop in the coming months. 30 Light St., 410-244-7020

SHUT

Bel-Loc Diner: Sadly,
this weekend will be the last for locals to sip piping-hot coffee at
one of the hallowed booths inside the Bel-Loc Diner. We can’t say we
didn’t see it coming. Last summer, a spokesperson for the 53-year-old
Parkville landmark announced that, facing retirement, owner Bill Doxanas
had entered into a deal to sell the vintage spot to Starbucks
Corporation—which planned to raze the building to make way for a coffee
shop with a drive-thru window. From there it was only a waiting game.
Despite a staunch effort from local nonprofit Preservation Maryland, the
current structure will not be able to be maintained when Starbucks
moves in. The Bel-Loc, fittingly named after the Baltimore beltway and
its location in Loch Raven, has long been a gathering place for locals
looking to scarf down pancakes, jam to jukebox oldies, and meet with
neighbors over paper placemats.
1700 E. Joppa Road., 410-668-2525

Cafe Cito: Hampden
locals took to social media earlier this week to lament the loss of
this beloved breakfast-and-lunch spot. “No words can describe our love
for your support over these past three years,” owner Dave Sherman wrote
in a message posted to Facebook. “To my Cito Crew, by far the best crew
I’ve ever worked with, one million thank you’s.” Sherman, who opened
breakfast stall Ground & Griddled inside R. House in Remington last
fall, has yet to disclose the reasons behind the unexpected closure. The
shop, best known for its Spanish-inspired breakfast sandwiches, will
operate its last service on Saturday, March 25.
3500 Chestnut Ave., 443-682-9701

The first time I tasted falafel, I was in Israel and working as a volunteer on an Israeli tank-repair base in the middle of the Negev Desert. In between tinkering on air filters and reupholstering tank seats, my military diet consisted of hard-boiled eggs and tomato-cucumber salad washed down by cups of steaming sweet tea. But on weekends, I made my way to Tel Aviv, where I stuffed myself silly on Israeli street food and feasted on falafel. The fried green balls were at their best when buried deep down in a piece of pita, slathered with tzatziki, and augmented by tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, parsley, and pickles.

When a friend told me that Cilantro, a Middle Eastern eatery, had opened in Owings Mills (by three Israelis, no less), I was eager to visit, though the name suggests Mexico more than the Mediterranean. Bad branding aside, the fare, it turns out, is delicious.

Cilantro’s falafel—well-seasoned and stained green from ample doses of cilantro—is the best I’ve had in years. Here, it’s served in a lafa (Israeli bread) wrap or in a bowl, and comes in a number of flavor combinations, including white bean and rosemary ($6.95), spicy ($6.95), and smoked roasted red pepper ($6.95). I ordered the spicy version—delicious without activating your pain receptors. The falafel (as well as other menu items) comes with a dozen or so add-ons to customize your meal (think Chipotle as you move down the line), including couscous, tomato-cucumber salad, baba ghanoush, pickles, sauerkraut, and tabbouleh, plus a variety of sauces, including a tangy tahini and garlic sauce.

My favorite building blocks included a thick hummus and salty slices of fried eggplant. The couscous and the tabbouleh, however, tasted like they’d spent too much time on the steam table, so eyeball them before ordering. If you’re not a falafel fan, there are other entrees to consider. The chicken shwarma ($7.95), carved straight from the spit, has an excellent char and is incredibly juicy and flavorful. To get in some greens, I ordered mine on top of a Greek salad ($7.94). Lamb kabobs ($10.95) and kefta kabobs ($8.95) at nearby tables also looked promising. Traditional house-made desserts, including an authentic baklava ($2.45), are there to tempt, too.

The Holy Land graces New Town. Who knew?

›› Cilantro, 9351 Lakeside Blvd., Owings Mills, 410-413-6596. Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Prices: wraps and platters: $4.95-10.95; desserts: $2.45.