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La Scala
The Top List of Best Italian - Baltimore, MD
Mangia!
by Amy Cynkar
From Little Italy family-run mainstays to hidden suburban finds, savor pasta, pizza and delicious vino at these Baltimore-area favorites. Mangia!
ALDO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO
306 S. High Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 727-0700
HOURS: Mon-Thu 5 pm-11 pm; Fri-Sat 5 pm-12 am; Sun 5 pm-10 pm
Chef/Owner Aldo Vitale delights with this comfortably elegant, family-run restaurant in Little Italy. Constructed from a renovation of two abandoned brownstones that date back to the 1840s, Aldo handcrafted all of the restaurant’s intricate woodwork, including its mahogany bars. Influenced by his Southern Italian roots, Aldo presents simple, but fabulous dishes using natural and organic ingredients, including Tournedos Rossini, grilled filet mignon, seared foie gras and Italian black truffle, served with porcini and wild mushroom sauce with four cheese risotto. The restaurant also offers a number of intimate private dining rooms for parties of four to 40.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $35 - $45
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
CAFE TROIA
28 W. Allegheny Avenue, Towson, MD 21204
(410) 337-0133
HOURS: Lunch – Mon-Fri 11:30 am-3 pm; Dinner – Mon-Fri 5 pm-10 pm; Sat 5 pm-11:30 pm; Closed Sun
Established in 1984 by brothers Ernesto and Gino Troia, Café Troia serves both traditional and innovative Italian dishes in an effort to share the rich culture of Italy with their customers. Located in Towson, just a short drive from the city, the restaurant serves a large array of antipasti and lighter fare such as Piato Misto, a mix of prosciutto, melon, grilled eggplant, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, tomatoes, arugula and whipped goat cheese. Entrees include pasta dishes like the famous Pappardelle con Gamberi, hand-made pappardelle pasta, jumbo shrimp, Swiss chard, prosciutto and a dash of cream, and the delectable Ossobuco alla Milanese, a shank of antibiotic-free veal stewed until tender with tomatoes, herbs and red wine.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $25 - $35
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
DA MIMMO ITALIAN RESTAURANT
217 South High Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 727-6876
HOURS: Sun-Thu 11:30 am-11 pm; Fri-Sat 11:30 am-12 am
Da Mimmo has been serving gourmet dishes from all regions of Italy to Baltimore diners for more than 20 years, and has been deemed the place to go in Little Italy for celebrity spottings. Try one of the restaurant’s signature dishes, including the Broiled Veal Chop Alla Fiorentina, or their Lobster Tetrazzini, both prepared based on original family recipes passed down from generations. Da Mimmo also boasts one of the city’s best international wine lists. Entertainment is featured nightly in the dimly lit Roman Cocktail Lounge.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $30 - $40
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
LA SCALA
1012 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 783-9209
HOURS: Mon-Thu 4:30 pm-10 pm; Fri-Sat 4:30 pm-11 pm; Sun 2 pm-10 pm
La Scala offers diners a variety of classic pasta, veal, chicken, and seafood dishes, innovative daily specialties, and tempting homemade desserts from throughout Italy. The restaurant’s intimate and cozy setting keeps the place pretty packed on the weekends, where you’ll generally find parties dining on Funghi Abbruzzese, an appetizer made of fresh mushrooms sautéed with olive oil, garlic, basil, and rosemary topped with melted mozzarella, or one of many seafood entrees like Gamberi Luana – shrimp, garlic, and olive oil with a touch of Old Bay seasoning, served over linguine. La Scala’s lengthy menu is well complemented by an extensive wine list.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $35 - $35
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
MATTHEW’S PIZZERIA
3131 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224
(410) 276-8755
HOURS: Mon-Thu 11 am-10 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am-11 pm; Sun 12 pm-8 pm
If you can forgive the restaurant’s humble dining area, you’re in for a real treat at this long-time Highlandtown neighborhood establishment, which boasts the best pizza in Baltimore. From tasty traditional Italian pizzas like the Margherita, topped with fresh basil, freshly diced tomatoes, mozzarella and extra-virgin olive oil to the Crab Pie, a Baltimore favorite topped with 100% lump crab meat, cheese and carmelized onions with Old Bay seasoning, Matthew’s does it right – and its cheap, too! You also can’t go wrong with one of their famous pastas or sub sandwiches. Carry out is also available.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $10 - 15
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Closed
SABATINO’S
901 Fawn Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 727-9414
HOURS: Sun-Thu 12 pm-12 am; Fri-Sat 12 pm-3 am
Sabatino’s homemade pastas and specialty dishes, inspired by Italy’s central and southern regions, include favorites like Shrimp Renato – jumbo shrimp butterflied and broiled in a light wine sauce with a hint of brandy, topped with melted mozzarella cheese and prosciutto, or the restaurant’s famous Bookmaker Salad, a large garden salad accented with shrimp, Genoa Salami, provolone cheese and a hard boiled egg, served with Sabatino's own House Dressing. Try their Lasagna, filled with homemade pasta ribbons layered with tomato sauce, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, ground veal, salami and mushrooms. Complement any dish with a glass of red wine from the restaurant’s extensive wine list. Sabatino’s gets pretty busy on weekends, so reservations are recommended.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $20 - $30
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
SOTTO SOPRA
405 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 625-0534
HOURS: Mon-Fri - Lunch 11:30 am-2:30 pm; Dinner - Sun-Mon 5:30 pm-9:30 pm; Tue-Thu 5:30 pm-10:30 pm; Fri-Sat 5:30 pm-11:30 pm
A contemporary Italian restaurant located in Baltimore’s historic Mt. Vernon, Sotto Sopra consistently tops the city’s best restaurant list for its inventive fare. The menu is designed by an ever-rotating group of young Italian chefs, a move put in place by Owner and Executive Chef Riccardo Bosio to keep things fresh and exciting. You’re sure to have a tough time deciding what to get with selections such as Carpaccio di Tonno, tuna capaccio in a pesto-soy sauce, and the Ravioli d’anatra, homemade duck stuffed ravioli sautéed in butter and sage served in a truffle veal reduction sauce. Choose one of their sexy Spanish wines to accompany your meal, but save room for one of Sotto’s famous desserts.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $35 - $45
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
TRATTORIA ALBERTO
1660 Crain Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21061
(410) 761-0922
HOURS: Lunch – Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2:30 pm; Dinner – Mon-Sat 5 pm-10 pm; Closed Sun
Serving up northern Italian cuisine since 1985, this intimate seafood-inspired restaurant in nearby Glen Burnie is definitely not your typical suburban restaurant. Start off with the delicious Zuppa di Mare Soup, made with a combination of lobster, shrimp, scallops, white wine, garlic, a touch of red pepper and finished with a light tomato sauce, or try their exotic Insalatina di Polpo, an Octopus salad thinly sliced and served with celery and carrots and finished with olive oil, garlic and a touch of balsamic vinegar. Regional specialty entrees include Anatra all'Aceto Balsamico di Modena, a crispy breast of duck finished with aceto balsamico sauce and honey, and the Cervo Selvaggio ai Mirtilli, venison loin grilled and finished with red wine and blueberry sauce.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $30 - $40
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
VACCARO’S ITALIAN PASTRY SHOP
222 Ablemarle Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 685-4905
HOURS: Mon 9 am-10 pm ; Tue-Thu 9 am-11 pm; Fri-Sat 9 am-1 am; Sun 9 am-11 pm
While Vaccaro’s does not qualify as your typical “restaurant”, you cannot talk about Italian restaurants in Baltimore without mentioning it. Vaccaro’s is, hands down, the best place to go in the city for traditional Italian desserts. Choose from their giant assortment of coffees and Italian soft drinks, assorted pastries, gelato, granitas and colloseos. Almost everything is delicious here, but specialties include their Cannoli, filled with a blend of sweetened Ricotta cheese and chocolate drops, and Tiramasu, two layers of lady fingers covered with Italian sweet creamed cheese (Marscapone) and soaked with coffee liquer and espresso. Stop by on a Monday night for Vaccaro’s ‘all-you-care-to-eat’ coffees and desserts for just $12.
Estimated cost per person for dessert = $5 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Closed
VELLEGGIA’S RESTAURAUNT
829 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 685-2620
HOURS: Mon-Thu 11 am-11 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am-12 am; Sun 10 am-11 pm
Known for serving homemade pasta at reasonable prices, this casual, family-owned Italian eatery is one of Baltimore’s oldest restaurants, set to celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2007. Nestled in the heart of the city’s Little Italy neighborhood, the chefs at Velleggia’s follow traditional family recipes using only the finest Italian ingredients to prepare their homemade pasta dishes. The cold cut Antipasto and Fried Calamari appetizers are recommended, and their delicious take on old favorites like Fettuccine Alfredo and Manicotti can’t be beat. To complement your meal, Velleggia’s also offers a pretty decent Italian wine list.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $20 - $30
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
Estimated cost per person for dinner is based upon one entrée, one beverage, and 20% gratuity.
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