8 editor picks in Baltimore.
8 restaurants in Baltimore, editor-picked for restaurants open monday. Open on monday, the day most kitchens go dark. All restaurants in Baltimore.
Clavel in Hampden is Carlos Raba's Sinaloa-rooted mezcaleria, where tacos sit on nixtamalized corn tortillas and the bar runs deep on mezcal.
OrderTacos on the house-nixtamalized tortillas with a mezcal flight to match.
TipNo reservations for small parties; the line moves fastest if you arrive right at open or late in the evening.
Thames Street Oyster House serves Maryland, Mid-Atlantic and New England seafood in a historic Fells Point row home, with at least ten kinds of oysters daily.
OrderThe Eastern Shore crab cake with Maryland blue crab, the New England lobster roll and raw bar oysters.
TipReservations are suggested; the bar top takes walk-ins for up to four guests, and the upstairs dining area looks over the water.
The Wren in Fells Point is the contemporary pub from Le Comptoir du Vin's team, on the New York Times best list for nettle soup and bar-side cassoulet.
OrderThe nettle soup and the cassoulet finished at the bar.
TipIt is from the Comptoir du Vin owners and just as small; reserve, or take a stool at the bar.
NiHao on Boston Street in Canton is chef Peter Chang's Baltimore room, plating Peking duck, dim sum and dumplings in a busy waterfront rowhouse.
OrderThe Peking duck and a spread of dumplings and dim sum.
TipWeekend dim sum brunch is the move; reserve, because the rowhouse seats fill fast.
The Dara in Fells Point is chef Jeff Wannapithipat's Thai room, drawing crowds for khao soi and Hatyai-style fried chicken on South Wolfe Street.
OrderThe khao soi and the Hatyai fried chicken.
TipMuch of the menu is gluten-free; ask the kitchen to flag the dishes that are not.
The Food Market anchors Hampden's Avenue, where chef Chad Gauss turns out playful New American plates and his well-known Amish soft pretzels.
OrderThe Amish soft pretzels to start, then whatever seafood is running that night.
TipBrunch on The Avenue is busy; reserve, and ask for a booth away from the open door.
Petit Louis Bistro in Roland Park is Foreman Wolf's Parisian-style bistro, plating a duck-fat roasted chicken and trout amandine on a Left Bank corner.
OrderThe whole roasted chicken polished with duck fat.
TipWeekday lunch is the under-the-radar bargain; the prix fixe is the value play.
Costiera in Little Italy marks chef Brian Lavin's return, a coastal Mediterranean bistro plating swordfish meatballs over house-milled polenta.
OrderThe swordfish meatballs over house-milled polenta.
TipIt sits where Little Italy meets Harbor East; the patio is the seat to ask for in warm weather.
