Here at Baltimore magazine, we pretty much always have local food on the brain. But it’s really at the forefront of our minds this time of year, when our annual Best Restaurants issue hits stands. As such, we’ve established a tradition of asking our staff about the best things they’ve eaten at local dining destinations within the past year. This time around, answers ranged from stuffed sandwiches and enchiladas at casual eateries to crab cakes and plates of pasta at special-occasion spots.

Read on for inspo for your next dining-out adventure, and pick up a copy of our Best Restaurants issue on newsstands to check out more best bites from deputy editor Jane Marion and her team of seasoned restaurant reviewers.

Amy Scattergood, Research Editor
A dish of smoked chicken and black mole at Blacksauce Kitchen, Damian Mosley’s Remington restaurant. Denzel Mitchell Jr., who often cooks there, smoked the chicken and made the mole, which I dearly wish he’d bottle.

Christianna McCausland, Special Editions Editor
The methi murgh (heat level 5) at The Mint Leaf in Cockeysville. Unassuming location, amazing Indian food.

Christopher Myers, Contributing Photographer
Golden West has a great sopapilla enchiladas that is terrific hangover food.

Ethan McLeod, Contributing Writer
The gnocchi at Daniela Pasta & Pastries in Hampden. Unforgettable.

Janelle Erlichman Diamond, Home Editor
Of all the great dishes I had this year (and there were many), I keep thinking about Little Donna’s pierogies—and that perfect bite of red chile garlic oil, lemon and buttery potatoes, and a dollop of sour cream. How you make an old-school pierogi taste so thrilling and crave-worthy is pure magic.

Lauren Cohen, Digital Senior Editor
The big-as-your-face vanilla yogurt bowl at Easy Like Sunday, which is topped with beautiful berries, swirls of honey, and handfuls of house granola. It’s just one of those combinations you can’t recreate on your own no matter how hard you try.

Lorann Cocca, Director of Marketing
Over the summer I had a sweet potato polenta dish from Water For Chocolate and have thought about it almost every day since.

Lydia Woolever, Senior Editor
Hands down the cabbage pancake at Little Donna’s. Such a delightfully surprising dish in a moment when so many menus feel the same.

Marie Bosslett, Editorial Intern
The best thing I ate last year was the rigatoni alla vodka from Tagliata in Harbor East.

Marty LeGrand, Senior Contributing Writer
Literally a bite of a dining companion’s succulent lamb chop at Rudy’s Mediterranean Grill in Columbia. Next time I’ll definitely order my own!

Max Weiss, Editor-in-Chief

This might be recency bias, but a few weeks ago I had the Italian Pork Sandwich special at Chuck’s Trading Post—slow roasted pork with rapini, chimichurri, provolone, and pepperoncinis on a sub roll. Add it to the menu, Chuck’s!

Michael Teitelbaum, President

The torta di melenzane appetizer at Limoncello is magnifico. (Translation: The eggplant Parmesan appetizer is magnificent.)

Mitro Hood, Contributing Photographer
Gertie’s crab cakes from Gertrude’s at the BMA.

Ron Cassie, Senior Editor
Favorite bite this year so far is Mera Kitchen Collective’s falafel sandwich—house-made pickles, cucumber, tomato tahini salad, plus a nice spicy jalapeño dressing—served in a toasty pita. Peak cold weather vegan comfort food.