8 restaurants in Baltimore, editor-picked for monday dinner. Open on monday, the day most kitchens go dark. All restaurants in Baltimore.
Clavel ★ 4.8
hampden · 225 West 23rd Street, Baltimore, MD 21211
Hours: Mon-Sat 17:00-23:00
Clavel in Hampden is Carlos Raba's Sinaloa-rooted mezcaleria, where tacos sit on nixtamalized corn tortillas and the bar runs deep on mezcal.
Tip: No reservations for small parties; the line moves fastest if you arrive right at open or late in the evening.
Thames Street Oyster House ★ 4.7
fells-point · 1728 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD 21231
Hours: Wed-Sun 11:30-14:30, Mon-Thu 16:30-21:30, Fri-Sat 16:30-22:30, Sun 16:30-21:30
Thames Street Oyster House in Fells Point runs Baltimore's deepest raw bar, with chef Eric Houseknecht's Eastern Shore crab cake and a lobster roll.
Tip: Reserve the upstairs dining room for quiet; the downstairs bar takes walk-ins and pours through a deep oyster list.
The Wren ★ 4.6
fells-point · 1712 Aliceanna Street, Baltimore, MD 21231
Hours: Mon-Thu 17:00-22:30, Fri-Sat 17:00-23:30
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.
Tip: It is from the Comptoir du Vin owners and just as small; reserve, or take a stool at the bar.
NiHao ★ 4.4
canton · 2322 Boston Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30-14:30, Mon-Thu 17:00-21:00, Fri-Sun 11:30-22:00
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.
Tip: Weekend dim sum brunch is the move; reserve, because the rowhouse seats fill fast.
The Dara ★ 4.4
fells-point · 906 South Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21231
Hours: Daily 11:00-22:00
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.
Tip: Much of the menu is gluten-free; ask the kitchen to flag the dishes that are not.
The Food Market ★ 4.2
hampden · 1017 West 36th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-15:00, Mon-Thu 16:00-21:00, Fri 16:00-22:00, Sat 10:00-14:30, Sat 16:00-22:00, Sun 10:00-14:30, Sun 16:00-21:00
The Food Market anchors Hampden's Avenue, where chef Chad Gauss turns out playful New American plates and his well-known Amish soft pretzels.
Tip: Brunch on The Avenue is busy; reserve, and ask for a booth away from the open door.
Petit Louis Bistro ★ 4.1
roland-park · 4800 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210
Hours: Tue-Fri 11:30-14:00, Mon-Sun 17:00-21:00, Sun 10:30-14:00
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.
Tip: Weekday lunch is the under-the-radar bargain; the prix fixe is the value play.
Costiera ★ 4.1
little-italy · 415 South Central Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202
Hours: Mon-Sat 16:00-22:00
Costiera in Little Italy marks chef Brian Lavin's return, a coastal Mediterranean bistro plating swordfish meatballs over house-milled polenta.
Tip: It sits where Little Italy meets Harbor East; the patio is the seat to ask for in warm weather.