Sammy’s Trattoria – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com The Best of Baltimore Since 1907 Thu, 03 Nov 2022 16:13:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Sammy’s Trattoria – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com 32 32 Review: Sammy’s Trattoria Finds a Second Home in Hunt Valley https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/fooddrink/dining-review-sammys-trattoria-hunt-valley/ Thu, 03 Nov 2022 16:12:36 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?post_type=article&p=133043
The pasta Bolognese at Sammy’s II. —Photography by Justin Tsucalas

Friends and relatives had been urging Sam Curreri, owner of Sammy’s Trattoria in Mt. Vernon, to open a suburban location for a while. So, last year when a spot became available at Hunt Valley Towne Centre, Curreri grabbed the opportunity—and he hasn’t looked back since. The crowds flowing into the restaurant each day are an affirmation that he made the right decision. “We had no idea what was coming,” he says.

We stopped by the restaurant on a Wednesday evening without reservations and were lucky to score two seats in the dining room. We don’t recommend going unannounced. Just about every one of the roughly 100 seats in the bar and 100 places in the dining area were taken.

The menu items, mostly traditional Italian staples prepared with evident care, are named after a who’s who of Curreri’s relatives and acquaintances, with nods to several local judges who frequented the downtown restaurant he opened in 2006. I don’t know retired Judge Kathleen Sweeney, but I’m a great fan of the Bolognese dish that bears her name. The mix of ground veal and boar in a tomato-based sauce over pappardelle is a great representation of the Italian ragu.

Before we even got to the main dishes, though, we started our meal with two terrific, oversized meatballs perched on a puddle of ricotta laced with Gorgonzola cheese and a Julia salad (named in honor of a customer’s mother), dense with romaine, cherry tomatoes, and pepperoncini, and glistening with a creamy Italian dressing. We also were wowed by the veal involtini entree. Similar to a roulade, the tender meat encased a savory filling of tomatoes, provolone, spinach, and prosciutto, bathed in a silky Marsala sauce bobbing with chunky mushrooms. The crusty bread served at the beginning of the meal turned out to be a great vehicle for mopping up the juices.

Curreri spent eight months renovating the 6,600-square-foot space, creating a bar area separated from the dining room by wine walls stacked with bottles, an idea he gleaned from Architectural Digest. He also installed wood paneling and subway tiles and redid the kitchen. The white-cloth-covered tables, set with deep-red napkins, are finishing touches.

To end, the excellent house-made cannoli is large enough for two people to share. The crackly pastry shell exploded with creamy, whipped ricotta studded with mini chocolate chips, adding just the right sweet notes.

As fans of Sammy’s in the city for a long time, we’re more than confident its county cousin is going to do just fine. As for those friends and relatives urging Curreri to open in the ’burbs? The people of Hunt Valley owe them a hearty thank-you.

The-Scoop

SAMMY’S TRATTORIA II 118 Shawan Road, Hunt Valley, 443-318-4256. HOURS: Mon.-Tues. 4-9 p.m.; Wed.-Thurs., Sun. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. PRICES: Appetizers: $9-18; entrees: $17-43; desserts: $6.

Source

]]> ​Open & Shut: Abbey Burger Bistro; Play Café; Highland Inn https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/fooddrink/open-shut-abbey-burger-bistro-expands-play-cafe-opens-highland-inn-closes/ Mon, 29 Jun 2015 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?p=68845 Continued]]> From recently debuted eateries to promising projects that are in the works, here’s the latest in restaurant news.

OPEN:

Corfu: Federal Hill saw a new addition in mid-June as this Mediterranean tapas restaurant opened in the former Crazy Lil’s space on Cross St. Executive chef Darren Maas’ culinary repertoire includes stints throughout Washington D.C. Most recently, he served as the executive chef at Café Troia in Towson. With a focus on colorful cocktails and meant-for-sharing dishes—like pan-seared rockfish with lemon-crushed potatoes and lamb meatballs with tomato sauce and feta—Corfu offers trendy dining options in a ’hood best known for its pub grub. 27 E. Cross St., 410-617-0391

Play Café: In efforts to alleviate the struggles that parents face when dining with little ones attached to their hips, Hampden locals Kathy Kent Schott and Ryan Sterner, who each have toddlers of their own, came up with the idea to open this family-friendly eatery on Chestnut Avenue. The spot, which celebrated its grand opening earlier this month, boasts a designated kid’s area complete with a puppet theatre station, a play kitchen set, blocks, toy cars, and books. The menu lists sandwiches, salads, and endless kid-friendly combos like ants on a log, hummus and carrots, and apples with peanut butter or Nutella. 3400 Chestnut Ave., 410-469-9784

Poets: Since opening earlier this month, bartender John Hartzell has been slinging pints of local beer and pouring inventive cocktails at this new spot on the first floor of the Hotel Indigo in Mt. Vernon. The swanky bar also offers a full menu featuring light fare like quinoa and kale salad, Asian lettuce wraps, tofu tacos, and a variety of flatbreads. 24 W. Franklin St., 410-625-6200

Sugarvale: This underground space, best-known as a revolving door for local pop-ups like Dylan’s Oyster Cellar, has found a permanent inhabitant in Sugarvale, a wine and charcuterie bar conceived by the building’s owner, Phil Han of Dooby’s. The 35-seat haunt opened earlier this week, offering 18 wines by the glass, a seasonal cocktail menu, and house-made charcuterie. 4 W. Madison St.

COMING SOON:

Abbey Burger Bistro: From bacon and peanut butter to bison and bleu cheese, the offerings at this mainstay burger joint have made it a Federal Hill favorite for years. Husband-and-wife owners Russ and Marigot Miller have recently confirmed plans to expand by bringing a new Abbey Burger location to Fells Point in September. The eatery will set up shop in the former home of Willow on the 800 block of South Broadway. 811 S. Broadway

Citron: Longtime local caterer Charles Levine recently announced plans to open a 230-seat New American restaurant at Quarry Lakes at Greenspring. Slated to make its debut in summer 2016, Citron will offer fresh fish and grilled meats, while also accommodating vegan and vegetarian palates.

McCabe’s: While putting the finishing touches on Huck’s, his Brewer’s Hill brainchild, which is slated to open in early July, Charlie Gjerde has taken on yet another new project. Gjerde and his partners, his wife Lori and sister-in-law Carrie Podles, have announced plans to take over the former McCabe’s space in Hampden. The team plans to revamp the Falls Road restaurant, which was severely damaged in a fire last year, and transform it into a casual tavern. 3845 Falls Road, 410-467-1000

Sammy’s Enoteca: Fans of Sammy’s Trattoria on N. Charles Street will be happy to hear that owner Samuel Curreri’s plans to open a new Italian concept are in full swing. Curreri was granted a liquor license for his new venture, Sammy’s Enoteca, which will sit on the 600 block of S. Broadway in Fells Point. Slated to open in September, the restaurant will offer a menu full of Boot Country specialties such as squid-ink pasta and Chilean sea bass. 621-625 S. Broadway

SHUT:

Highland Inn: After a brief 18-month run, this revamped Howard County farmhouse closed its doors last week. It’s been reported that one of the reasons for the closure was due to owner Brian Boston’s struggles in devoting his energies to both the Highland Inn and its sister-restaurant the Milton Inn. Although no new projects are on the horizon for Boston as of yet, major renovations are slated to take place at the Milton Inn later this year.

Source

]]>