Baltimore Grows

According to an article in the Maryland Daily Record, the new Kona Grill to be constructed at the inner harbor will have a large patio facing Pratt Street.  Construction has started on the restaurant which will be located at the corner of Pratt and Light Streets in the Verizon Building.  Grand opening is set for this spring.  Although not officially part of the Pratt Street redesign proposed by Baltimore City, the new streetside dining in proximitiy the most prominent  intersection downtown is a step in the right direction of bringing street level activity to what has been considered by many as more of a thoroughfare.  Kona will join Capital Grill, PF Changs, Panera Bread, and Sullivans who also offer streetside dining nearby. 

Follow the link below to read the full article:

http://mddailyrecord.com/2010/01/27/kona-grill-to-bring-patio-dining-to-pratt-st/

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

It seems like there have been a bunch of new restaurants and bars opening in Baltimore recently.  Here’s just to name a few:

Langermann’s – Canton – Located at the Can Company in Canton, this place took over what used to be Kiss Cafe.  They seemed to do a much better job of giving the place an identity and atmosphere, something that Kiss Cafe could never do.  It’s an “upscale casual” place, with white tablecloths, but a chill setting.  The bar looks like a cool/cozy place to hang out.  I was able to eat lunch there the other day, and the food was great.  It is pegged as “southern inspired global cuisine”.  The turkey apple and brie sandwich with smoky mountain pepper jam on raisin bread was to die for.  I will definitely be going back for dinner sometime.  http://www.langermanns.com/

Field House – Canton – Also at the can company is the newly opened Field House.  This took over the place where Ray Lewis’ used to be and is described as an “upscale sports bar”.  Field House has another location in Philadelphia. http://fieldhousebaltimore.com/

Milan - Little Italy -  Described as an ”upscale restaurant and lounge” this place just opened along Eastern Ave in Little Italy.  With a motto of “where food meets fashion” it sounds like it is a pretty trendy type of place.  The food is described as “Italian infused with Mediterranean flavors”.  They even have “Italian inspired sushi” sounds interesting!  A large patio make it look like this place will be really popular in the summer. http://www.onemilan.com/

Rowhouse Grille – Federal Hill – Recently opened along Light Street in Federal Hill/South Baltimore this cozy looking bar looks like a great place to pick up a drink and an inexpensive sandwich http://www.therowhousegrille.com/

Miguels – Locust Point – This will be the first restaurant to open in the new Silo Point Complex and they will serve Mexican tapas. http://www.miguelsbaltimore.com/ 

Ullswater - Riverside - From the former owners of The Bicycle, this is more low key than the Bicycle and more of a neighborhood place.  http://www.ullswaterrestaurant.com/

Sam’s Kid – Fells Point – near the food of Broadway, serving pan-asian cuisine.  So far its been getting great reviews.

Poe Boys Oyster Bar and Grille – Fells Point – This has opened up where Miss Irene’s used to be. http://www.poeboysfellspoint.com/

Tapas Adela - Fells Point – The new Spanish tapas place at the corner of Thames and Broadway is a member of the Kalisgroup.  If history rings true, then this place is bound to be successful.  The restaurant actually shares its kitchen with Meli around the corner and has been getting great reviews.

It’s nice to see that so many places have been opening considering the economy.  If you can afford it, please support your local restaurants and bars! 

Don’t forget Baltimore Restaurant Week runs from Jan 22nd through February 7th http://www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com/

Post a reply here if you’re able to make it to any of these places and let us know how it was!  Also if I missed anything, e-mail me and let me know, or post a reply.

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

Diablita Cantina recently opened on the corner of Central Ave and Bank Street just north of Harbor East.  They serve Mexican food in a bit more of an upscale atmosphere than your typical corner joint.  I was able to make it over there for dinner tonight.  I was pleasantly surprised by the $5.00 margarita special on Thursday nights…they are typically around 9 bucks.  I had the chile margarita, which was made with chili infused tequila and had just the right amount of spice to add a good kick to it.  For my meal, I had the habanero shrimp fajitas (around 14 bucks) which was delicious.  Be careful, it’s a bit spicy.  The space is remarkably like Red Star in Fells Point and it has the same owners (so that makes sense) and looks like it would be a cool place to hang out for drinks if not getting a meal.  Definitely recommend.

http://diablitacantina.com/index.php

Also, a new restaurant will be opening at the Can Company in Canton where Kiss Cafe used to be.  Called Langermann’s it will supposedly have “Southern Cuisine”  http://www.langermanns.com/

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

From the dearth of downtown dining, some bold new options are sprouting…helping to bring life back to the streets during non-business hours.  Here’s a few up and comers:

Phi Restaurant and Lounge has not opened yet, but a peek through the window relveals what appears to be a trendy lounge type atmosphere.  The restaurant will seat 125 and has big windows that look out into Calvert Street.  It will be located in the new Hotel Indigo that’s scheduled to open in February. Phi is a concept that Hotel Indigo uses in some of there other locations like this one in Ottawa – http://www.ottawadowntownhotel.com/Amenities_phi.html 

B&O Brasserie, which recently opened in the former B&O headquarters turned Hotel Monaco, presents possibly the best opportunity for a big hit.  The chef, Michael Reidt was named Food and Wine’s best new chef of 2001.  The Baltimore Sun called it “Woodberry Kitchen – Inner Harbor Edition” in its review (http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/bal-ae.restrev20sep20,0,3995781.story) although it may have a long way to go to catch up considering Woodberry was named on of Bon Appetit’s 10 best new restaurants in the nation.  B&O also focuses on sustainable food and seems to be catching on as a trendy place to go.  Visit their website: http://www.monaco-baltimore.com/baltimore-restaurant/

Brasserie 10 South http://www.brasserie10south.com/ got off to kind of a slow start.  Opened in the place formerly occupied by Copra perhaps it was lost amongst the nearby office towers or overlooked because of its nightclub counterpart (Lux) which occupies the upstairs.  However, Brasserie 10 South seems to be making a name for itself serving “Southern-American Fusion”.  Also see the Baltimore Sun Review: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/bal-ae.li.eats30jul30,0,6003184.story

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

Blue Hill Tavern, which recently opened in the Brewers Hill neighborhood of Southeast Baltimore, might as well be nicknamed Beverly Hills Tavern, as this trendy new restaurant and bar looks like it could have come straight out of SoCal.  

While it looks a little bit out of place, Blue Hill Tavern offers a nice, clean, and hip alternative to Brewers Hill’s charming corner bars and enlarges the dining and nightlife opportunities of the area…which is a definite good thing.  Best of all, the bar has a waterfall…cool beans.

I went there for dinner on Saturday night.  The place was definitely packed, but not overly swamped. The bar was hopping, but not so packed that you couldn’t move. It was a nice night, so all of the windows were open, giving the place an airy and open feel.  Gotta love summertime.  They’ve only been open about a week, so you could tell there were a few small kinks they were working out, but nothing major.  They were out of some of the micro brews that were listed on their menu, so I decided to be adventurous and try the “New old fashioned” (made with vanilla infused bourbon) off of their cocktail menu. It was really delicious, and considering all cocktails are $7.50, it still wasn’t too expensive as far as Baltimore prices go.

The Oysters Rockefeller appetizer came and while the oysters were cooked perfectly, they were a bit under-seasoned.  For the main course, I got the surf and turf, which for $21 ended up being a pretty good deal.  It came with a pretty good size crabcake and a filet mignon.  Both were cooked to perfection and had some unique sauces that spiced things up a little bit.  The fried potatoes that came on the side were kind of bland, but I was happy enough about the filet and the crabcake, that I didn’t really care.  

I didn’t have room for dessert, but from the looks of the stuff coming out of the kitchen, it seems I should have skipped the app and saved more room for later.  I suppose there’s always next time…and there will be a next time, as this place is definitely worth going back.  

I applaud the folks at Blue Hill for trying something different and new and hope others follow their lead with new concepts for older neighborhoods.  

http://www.bluehilltavern.com/

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

 

As someone who lives a block away from the future McHenry Row development, I have a natural interest in the project’s progress.  Here’s a synopsis of what’s happened at the construction site since last October: NOTHING.  Or at least not much more than nothing.  I snapped the photos here back in October of 2008 – almost 9 months ago.  If you drive by today, you’ll see not much has changed.  Developer Mark Sapperstein ran out of financing back in the fall (BBJ article), and apparently is still working on the new funding.

I say the project’s a tease because the amount of buzz and excitement it has stirred up with area residents.  Federal Hill and Locust Point desperately need a decent grocery store.  Unless you have a special taste for moldy produce, the Shoppers at Southside Shopping Center comes no where close to “decent.”  McHenry row promises to bring relief in the form of a sparkling new Harris Teeter.

Additionally, many of us are excited about other tenant names being thrown around like Panera, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Greene Turtle.  The latter two are both shown on the McHenry Row Website, so there’s likely already a deal in place with those two.  But given the delays, those deals could fall through perhaps.  Green Turtle is particularly exciting.  Having a nice restaurant/bar with outdoor seating and parking in South Baltimore will be a unique luxury.

Hampden will be getting it’s first wine bar, called 13.5% Wine Bar, on the Avenue at 1117 36th Street.  It’s about two storefronts down from Hampden mainstay Golden West. 

The owner, who is currently finishing up renovations, was giving previews to passerbys at this year’s Honfest.  The bar is slated to open within the next couple of weeks (with no official date as of yet).  There will be a trendy looking bar, lounge area, and a store to purchase your favorite bottle.  They will also be serving tapas style food. 

The bar is a far cry from the Hampden of 10 years ago, but looks like it will add nicely to the diverse array of storefronts along ”The Avenue”

Click Here to read an article in the Baltimore Messenger 

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

Kali’s Restaurant Group, which is the operator of popular Kali’s Court, Mezze, and Meli Restaurants in Fells point, seems to be continuing their expansion.  Rumor has it that Kali’s has taken control of the former tea room on the ground level of the Admiral Fell Inn on corner of Thames St. and Broadway.  Word is that Kali’s will be turning the space into a more casual cafe with easier “grab and go” type food that their other restaurants don’t offer. 

Also, a sign in the window of the former “Admiral’s Cup” indicates a transfer of liquor licence to none other than “Kali’s Restaurant Group”. This property is right across Thames Street from the Admiral Fell Inn. Could another restaurant be in the works?  It’s anyone’s best guess.  Please let me know if anyone hears anything!

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

Brewer’s Art, right here in Baltimore, topped the recently released list of Best Bars in America by Esquire Magazine.  http://www.esquire.com/bestbars/ 

When you tire of inebriating yourself with tallboys and “Natty Boh,” you head for the Brewer’s Art, housed in an old mansion. Belgian-style home brews are always on tap.

My favorite thing about Brewers Art (www.thebrewersart.com - 1106 N Charles St) is throwing on a blazer and hanging out in the front room upstairs.  With the stately old fireplace and a giant chandelier in the converted mansion, it makes me feel like a millionaire having a party with a group of friends.  The downstairs bar has a bit more casual and trendy atmosphere.  The dining room is classy, and the food is delicious.  The best part is the beer….brewed in house…their Resurrection Ale cant be beat.  Perhaps Brewer’s Art will be in contention for Best Beer in America next?

According to Esquire, the rankings can change based on user feedback, so make sure you visit the site and vote. http://www.esquire.com/bestbars/bb-BrewersArt

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

For the past couple of years, many Baltimoreans had been lamenting the fact that no Baltimore City Chinese restaurant served Dim Sum.  The last place that served it, The Chinatown Cafe, stopped the practice about two years ago.  After that, the next closest place for Dim Sum was Jesse Wongs Hong Kong in Downtown Columbia, but that has reportedly closed as of December.  Chinatown Cafe has since closed as well, but in its place is a new Chinese Restaurant called Zhongshan that is bringing Dim Sum back to Baltimore (323 Park Ave (410) 223-1881).

Dim Sum basically consists of moderately priced small plates and is sometimes served on carts.  Many people consider Dim Sum menus to be more authentic than the typical Chinese food one might pick up at PF Changs or the corner carry-out.  Supposedly Zhongshan will serve Dim Sum every day from 7am to 3pm.  Lots of times people like to eat Dim Sum for brunch on weekends.  If you haven’t tried it before, I would recommend it…just a word of caution for those with some food aversions…many Dim Sum menus contain items like Chicken Feet and Honeycomb Beef Tripe. Not into Dim Sum? Zhongshan will also serve the standard Chinese fare that we’re all familiar with.

Click Here to see the Baltimore Sun Article

I haven’t make it over to Zhongshan yet, so anyone who has, please post your thoughts as a comment.

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com