Lotsa Pizza: The Towson dining scene welcomed a new late-night option earlier this week with the debut of this fast-casual pizza destination. Situated in the former home of The Orient on York Road, the national college-town chain (other targeted locations include Purdue and West Virginia universities) serves 11-inch, wood-fired pizzas, which diners can either customize themselves or order from a menu that lists flavor combinations like barbecue chicken, Hawaiian, and shrimp Old Bay. Towson University students will be happy to hear that the eatery, which is offering daily specials to celebrate its launch this week, will be open until 3 a.m. on weekends. 319 York Road, 410-705-4400

Insomnia Cookies: Speaking of late-night eats, this University of Pennsylvania-founded bakery is opening not one, but two locations in Charm City this week. Known for its fresh-baked cookie flavors like snickerdoodle, chocolate peanut butter cup, and s’mores deluxe, the new shops in Fells Point and Federal Hill will offer a showcase full of goodies in-store, as well as neighborhood delivery service offered as late as 3 a.m. Cookie cakes, ice cream sandwiches, and requisite pints of cold milk will also be available. 3301 N. Charles St. and 812 S. Broadway, 877-632-6654 and 877-632-6654

COMING SOON:

Arba: R. House, Remington’s yet-to-open communal food incubator, has recently announced the third of 10 micro-restaurants that will set up shop inside the 50,000-square-foot converted automobile showroom when it opens next fall. The latest tenant is Farid Saloum, who will be opening Arba, a spinoff of his South Baltimore restaurant Baba’s Mediterranean Kitchen. Fusing both old-world and new-age cuisine, the stall will feature house-made falafel, schwarma (carved meat cooked on a spit), and hummus alongside creative dishes like grilled octopus salad and eggplant fries. 301 W. 29th St., 443-347-3570

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant: A
grand opening date for an Annapolis location of this Chicago-based
restaurant is scheduled for Monday, May 16. The two-story, 300 seat
space boasts a Napa-style tasting room and a gift shop on the lower
level, as well as a full-service bar and restaurant upstairs. The menu,
which keeps the brand’s handcrafted wines in mind, lists global dishes
such as red wine-braised short ribs, soy-ginger salmon, Asian pork belly
tostadas, and Mexican drunken shrimp. The Annapolis location marks the
23rd Cooper’s Hawk restaurant in the country.
1906 Town Center Blvd Ste 238,
Annapolis, 443-837-9989

Five and Dime Ale House: Come summer, Hampden locals
won’t need to venture far to down some of Pratt Street Ale House’s
signature beers from Oliver Brewing Company. The owners, who also
operate restaurants in Columbia and Severna Park, are opening a spinoff
in the old G.C. Murphy five-and-dime antique store on the 900 block of
The Avenue. Co-owner Justin Dvorkin recently told us that he plans to
preserve the space’s heritage in the restaurant’s interior design, and
that the food menu will mirror the eats at the Columbia location—which
features a wide array of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and tacos.
Naturally, the beer list will highlight Oliver Brewing Company’s
releases, but Dvorkin says that the bar will also feature guest draft
lines from the likes of Union, DuClaw, and Jailbreak breweries.
901 W. 36th St.

LB Skybar: Although it
might not seem like it this week, rooftop lounge season is finally upon
us, and the historic Lord Baltimore Hotel is re-opening its 60-seat
skybar on Thursday, May 19. The debut will feature upgrades such as a
state-of-the-art sound system, new furniture, and an expanded menu
including new options like sushi and antipasti. Guests can look forward
to taking in the sweeping views while sipping drinks from a specialty
summer cocktail menu.
20 W. Baltimore St., 855-539-1928

Mi & Yu Noodle Bar: In addition to dumplings, cupcakes, charcuterie, and oysters, foodies will soon be able to get their fix of ramen at Mt. Vernon Marketplace. The communal food hall—which houses the likes of The Local Oyster, Big Bean Theory, Edible Favors, and Ful Café—will welcome Mi & Yu Noodle Bar to its lineup in early July. The Federal Hill Asian-fusion restaurant will set up shop in an 800-square-foot stall and serve its signature steamed bun sandwiches and DIY bowls full of ramen, pho, or udon noodles. 520 Park Ave. 888-897-8859

Modern Cook Shop: This long-awaited restaurant and marketplace is slated to open on the first floor of the Union Wharf apartment building across from The Red Star in Fells Point this summer. Co-owners Andy Gruver and Jason Sanchez, the duo behind Fork & Wrench in Canton, have been hard at work readying the 125-seat space, which will feature dine-in service focusing on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors, as well as a plethora of comestibles available to-go. Among them are charcuterie, canned and pickled ingredients, baked goods, and fresh produce. The 4,500-square-foot dining destination will also feature a traditional bar with craft beer and barrel-aged cocktails. 901 S. Wolfe St.

CH-CH CHANGES:

The Corner Pantry: As working parents themselves, husband and wife owners Neill and Emily Howell recently unveiled a new dinnertime cold bar at the The Corner Pantry as a remedy for busy professionals who want to grab a wholesome meal on-the-go. The new bar, offered weekdays from 5-7 p.m., highlights a rotating menu of dishes such as salmon cakes, roasted cauliflower salad, and arancini (stuffed rice balls) with brown rice and sausage. 6080 Falls Road, 667-308-2331

SHUT:

Smashburger: After just a year in business, this Denver-based burger chain shuttered its doors in Fells Point last week due to a lack of business. The fast-casual restaurant, known for its signature seared burger technique, offered made-to-order burgers, chicken sandwiches, haystack onion rings, and handspun milkshakes. The eatery boasts other locations in Ellicott City, Gaithersburg, and Rockville, and has signed a lease to open a fourth restaurant inside the yet-to-open Foundry Row project in Owings Mills. 616 S. Broadway

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OPEN:

Harmony Bakery: Owners Don and Renee Gorman opened the doors to this charming 10-seat shop in Hampden late last month. Highlights of the entirely gluten-free menu include sweet and savory bites like apple crisp, donuts, madeleine cookies, pizza, and chickpea tarts. 3446 Chestnut Ave., 410-235-2870.

La Cuchara: Partake in the of-the-moment sip-and-bite trend with the Basque-inspired bites at this new spot in Woodberry’s Meadow Mill Complex. The focus is on pinxtos (two-bite tasting dishes) and made-for-sharing tapas plates. 3600 Clipper Mill Road, 443-708-3838.

Nando’s Peri-Peri: Get a taste of South Africa by way of Harbor East at this chain that opened next door to Hyatt Place hotel in Harbor East last week. Fittingly, the restaurant got its start in Johannesburg, and has since expanded with multiple locations throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Some of the South African-Portuguese fusion fare includes flame-grilled chicken, stuffed pita sandwiches, and grilled corn and butternut squash. 1300 Fleet St., 443-681-5181.

Smashburger: Fast-casual burger joints seem to be making their mark on Charm City, and the newest one celebrated its debut in Fells Point last week. In addition to its signature seared-to-perfection burgers, the Denver-based chain also offers chicken sandwiches, salads, haystack onion rings, and handspun milkshakes. 616 S. Broadway, 443-992-4919.

COMING SOON:

Alchemy Elements: Fans of Alchemy, located on the Avenue in Hampden, will be happy to hear that owners Debi and Michael Matessa are planning to open an expanded spinoff at the Bel Air Town Center. Slated to make its debut in September, Alchemy Elements will showcase the same New American flair as its sister-restaurant, while adding amenities like al fresco dining and a full bar. Baltimore Pike, Bel Air, 410-494-4860.

Cosima: Donna’s co-owners Alan Hirsch and Donna Crivello recently announced that they have broken ground on this new Southern-Italian-inspired project in Hampden’s Mill No. 1 development. The owners estimate that the new spot should be up and running this fall. 3000 Falls Road.

CuVino: Be on the lookout for this doctor’s office-turned-trattoria that will soon be getting the ball rolling in Timonium. Slated to open later this month, the menu will feature glasses of vino, pizza, classic Italian dishes, and gelato. 61 E. Padonia Road, Timonium.

Dinosaur BBQ: Our mouths have been watering in anticipation of this barbecue joint’s arrival for a while now, and it looks like all of the finger-licking eats will finally be available in Fells Point starting this summer. The New York-based chain highlights classics like sliced brisket, smoked chicken, and house-made sausage. 1401 Fleet Street.

Sweetgreen: This D-I-Y salad bar is all the rage in Washington, D.C., and—having snagged the last of the Hyatt Place hotel’s 13,000 ft. retail space—it’s officially headed our way. No word yet on when the trendy eatery will open, but for a taste of what’s to come, be sure to grab some sustainable snacks while jamming to headliners Kendrick Lamar and Calvin Harris at Sweetgreen’s Sweetlife Festival May 30-31. 1300 Fleet Street.

CH-CH-CHANGES:

Bottega: Other than its elegant Tuscan fare, the defining trait of this 20-seat space in Station North is its coziness. But come Memorial Day, Bottega will be moving to a larger home in Hampden with more room to breathe. Although the address of the new space has yet to be confirmed, sources tell us that it will accommodate 70 guests, and a portion of the restaurant will remain BYOB. 443-708-5709

Waterstone Bar & Grille: Under new ownership, changes are underway for this Mediterranean spot in Mt. Vernon. In addition to serving breakfast and lunch and making its own in-house roasted coffee, owner Shawn Singh is planning on changing the restaurant’s name to Bistro 311 later this month. The menu will also see changes, transforming from Mediterranean fare to South Asian-inspired small plates. 311 W. Madison St., 410-225-7475.

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Smashburger will be giving away free burgers to celebrate opening day on Wednesday, April 29.

The fast-casual eatery joins other shops at the brand new Marketplace at Fells Point—an up-and-coming retail and apartment project that has taken over the 600 block of South Broadway.

With 315 locations spanning 7 countries, the Denver-based burger chain is best known for its signature “smashed” burgers that are made-to-order on a hot buttered grill.

To put a hometown spin on the new spot, a special Chesapeake Smashburger topped with Baltimore’s own Tulkoff Tiger Sauce will be added to the menu.

“The most unique part of our brand is our smashing technique,” says the brand’s PR and marketing manager Christine Ferris. “It’s really funny because most people’s first question is always, ‘Won’t that squeeze all of the juices out?'”

But, in fact, Ferris says that Smashburger’s signature process creates a seer that acts as a barrier and allows for juices to percolate through the patty.

In addition to its “smashed” claim to fame, the restaurant also offers chicken sandwiches, salads, haystack onion rings, handspun milkshakes, and garlic, rosemary, and olive oil-seasoned French fries.

Fells Point’s reputation as the stomping grounds for young adults was a big factor in the company’s decision to expand into the community.

“Millennials are proving to be a big part of our market right now,” explains Ferris, “and the apartments and other restaurants in the area are pretty popular with that generation.”

Guests who stop by the new storefront at 616 S. Broadway from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday will receive a free Classic Smashburger in honor of the grand opening.

“We don’t do this everywhere, but in Baltimore we want to make sure we hit the ground running,” Ferris says. “We know the second people try the burger they’re going to want to come back.”

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