Operating a restaurant isn’t easy, as any owner or chef will tell you. We hope these newbies will be around for a long time:

By Degrees Cafe:
Chef/proprietor Omar Semidey has joined the first wave of restaurants
that is transforming the landscape of South Central Avenue near Little
Italy and Harbor East. His sleek-looking restaurant in a refurbished
warehouse strives for well-prepared plates at reasonable prices.

The Chasseur:
Named after the original “Pride of Baltimore” ship, the Canton
restaurant spiffied up the former Adam’s Eve and started serving upscale
comfort food with one of the best meatloaves I had all year. (And there
were a lot of meatloaves on menus!) The charming white-cloth bistro is a
great addition to the neighborhood.

The Chesapeake:
After a long wait, an updated version of its venerable, eponymous
predecessor opened with a modern American menu in a historic building in
the up-and-coming Station North Arts District. The kitchen’s clever
twist on Mid-Atlantic cuisine keeps the patrons coming back.

Cunningham’s:
The new dining juggernaut in town, Bagby Restaurant Group, unveiled its
fourth restaurant to immediate acclaim with beautiful environs and a
creative farm-to-table menu by executive chef Chris Allen. This is the
place Towson has been waiting for.

Liberatore’s:
The longtime family restaurateurs, who have successfully operated
Italian eateries for 25 years, changed it up this year, opening Liquid
Lib’s, a wine bar adjacent to their Timonium location, and Lib’s Grill, a
steakhouse/raw bar in Perry Hall. Thinking out of the box is good.

Nickel Taphouse:
Chef/owner Robbin Haas, who has worked his culinary magic at
Birrotecca, transformed a failed restaurant space in the heart of Mt.
Washington into a go-to neighborhood tavern with burgers, oysters, and
more.

Oliver Speck’s:
An innovative re-invention happened within a matter of weeks in Harbor
East last summer. Vino Rosina closed, only to open as a barbecue place
with owner Jim Lancaster and chef Jesse Sandlin still firmly in place.
The new concept offers a great alternative to all the small plates in
the area.

Ryleigh’s Oyster: The popular Federal
Hill spot stretched out to the ‘burbs with a second location, taking
over a hulking space once housing Gibby’s and Rib ‘N Reef in Timonium.
The seafood-laden menu, raw bar, and newly renovated space already has a
loyal following.

Shoo-Fly Diner:
Wunderchef Spike Gjerde is creating his vision of American comfort food
in Belvedere Square with dishes like fried chicken, cast-iron catfish,
and a Chesapeake crab roll. Reviews have been borderline. We’re
confident the restaurant will soon follow in the footsteps of Gjerde’s
successful ventures Woodberry Kitchen and Artifact Coffee.

Source