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Tio Pepe
The Top List of Great Restaurants - Baltimore, MD
Enjoy dining in one of Baltimore’s finest!
by Amy Cynkar
Baltimore offers many dining options for its food-savvy residents and visitors. Be it a small local dive or a major establishment in one of the many eclectic neighborhoods near the city’s Inner Harbor, you're sure to find a memorable dining experience at these Baltimore favorites.
PRIME RIB
1101 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 539-1804
HOURS: Mon-Fri 5 pm-11 pm; Sat 5 pm-12 am; Sun 4 pm-10 pm
The Prime Rib's dramatic décor sweeps you back in time to a 1940's Manhattan supper club when dining out was romantic and quite in vogue. The restaurant prides itself on being "the civilized steakhouse." Both the décor and staff are meant to create the feeling of timeless elegance. Sink into one of the high back leather chairs and sip your martini while you listen to the live piano and bass music, performed nightly. Known for their aged steaks and thick chops, you'll also find excellent seafood on the menu, including the Crab Imperial. The restaurant also has two other locations: Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $55-65
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Open, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
THE HELMAND
806 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 752-0311
HOURS: Sun-Thu 5 pm-10 pm; Fri-Sat 5 pm-11 pm
If you've never tried Afghan cuisine, this is the place to do it. Located in Baltimore’s historic Mount Vernon district, the food at The Helmand is filled with exotic herbs and spices and popular with meat lovers and vegetarians alike. You'll also enjoy an excellent meal for a very reasonable price here. The wait staff is very helpful and the dining room is always full. Share the Kaddo Borwani, roasted baby pumpkin, pan fried and baked, and seasoned with sugar and yogurt garlic sauce, or indulge in the tender and juicy Chopan, a lightly seasoned and marinated half rack of lamb served with pallow. Finish up with Feereny, an Afghani egg-free custard topped with fresh fruit, or ice cream made on the premises.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $20-30
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
TIO PEPE
10 East Franklin Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 539-4675
HOURS: Mon-Fri 11:30 am-3 pm/5 pm-10 pm; Sat 5 pm-11:30 pm; Sun 5 pm-10 pm
Tio Pepe’s intimate Spanish basement setting works extremely well with the restaurant’s regional Spanish cuisine, making it one the most popular, and on weekends, one of the most crowded spots in the city. Start off with a glass or two of their famous red or white fruit-infused sangria, followed shortly by the very flavorful Seafood Bisque. You won’t be disappointed with the tasty Paella a la Valenciana, a saffron-seasoned Spanish rice dish with chicken, veal, lobster, chorizo, shrimp, clams and mussels, followed by the popular pinenut cake roll for dessert. Tio Pepe is a great place to go when someone else is picking up the bill, and is often dubbed one of the best “special occasion” restaurants in Baltimore.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $35-50
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
MATSURI JAPANESE RESTAURANT
1105 South Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 752-8561
HOURS: Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30 am-2:30 pm; Dinner Sun-Thu 5 pm-10 pm, Fri-Sat) 5 pm-11 pm
With an incredible two-page sushi and sashimi menu you'll be sure to find your favorite Japanese cuisine at this South Baltimore eatery. The regulars will attest that the sushi is consistently fresh and the best in Baltimore. You'll also find wonderful noodle dishes such as the Nebeyaki Udon, buckwheat noodles topped with shrimp tempura, scallops, squid, fish cakes and vegetables. If you’re having trouble deciding between all the delicious dishes, enjoy a bit of everything with one of Matsuri’s bento box dinners, which allows you to pick a number of smaller portions of the kitchen entrees and select items from the sushi bar.
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
SAMOS
600 South Oldham Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
(410) 675-5292
HOURS: Mon-Sat 10 am-10 pm
Despite the modest décor, the Greek food is spectacular at this BYOB. You'll find a great variety of authentic Greek dishes at incredibly reasonable prices, served by a lively and friendly wait staff, happy to help with any menu questions you may have. Enjoy crusty old world bread, dipped in hummus, tapenade or the very yummy fish roe dish, taramasalata. You’ll also find fresh feta, kalamata olives, dolmades, and the best authentic Greek pita in the city. Try one of the succulent lamb dishes or the very hearty moussaka that's a meal in itself. You’ll most likely encounter a line for a table anytime you go, and keep in mind that Samos is cash-only.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $15-25
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
ANTRIM 1844 SMOKEHOUSE RESTAURANT
30 Trevanion Road, Taneytown, MD 21787
(410) 756-6812
HOURS: Sun-Thu - one seating at 7 pm; Fri - three seatings beginning at 7 pm; Sat - three seatings beginning at 6:30 pm
This highly-acclaimed restaurant, located inside the intimate Antrim 1844 Country House Hotel, is well worth the hour drive from Baltimore. Executive Chef Michael Gettier, formerly of The Orchard Inn in Towson and M. Gettier in Fells Point, delights diners all week long with a unique menu nightly, often inspired by his work in restaurants throughout Italy and France in the 1980s. A sample six-course meal one night might include a salmon cheesecake appetizer and wild and gathered greens salad, followed by a choice of amazing entrées such as braised lamb volcano or porcupine shrimp, and a panaché of chef’s desserts. Reservations are highly recommended.
Estimated Cost Per Person for Dinner = $65.00 + tax, gratuities and drinks
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Open, Valentine's Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas-Closed, New Year's Eve-Open
BLUE AGAVE RESTAURANTE Y TEQUILERIA
1032 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 576-3938
HOURS: Closed Mon; Tue-Thu 5 pm-10 pm; Fri-Sat 5 pm-11 pm; Sun 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-10 pm
Located in the historic Fort McHenry Theater in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood, Blue Agave opened in 2000 and since then has been serving up authentic “up-scale” Mexican food and a selection of more than 100 premium tequilas. The restaurant’s festive cantina atmosphere and friendly service work well with its fresh dishes, such as the vegetarian Enchiladas En Salsa De Huitlacoche, roasted vegetables tossed with Chihuahua and cotijo cheeses, or the Arrachera, a tasty flash-grilled skirt steak, marinated in Dos Equis, and served with refried beans, potato hash and warm corn tortillas. If you’re there on the right day, you may get to indulge in their spectacular dessert special – Negra Modelo Cheesecake – made with Chihuahua cheese and Negra Modelo beer.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $20-40
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open - CHECK
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
PAZO
1425 Aliceanna Street, Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 534-7296
HOURS: Sun-Wed 5 pm-10 pm; Thu-Sat 5 pm-1 am
Pazo, a Galacian word meaning “grand house”, is one of Baltmore’s hottest places to be and be seen these days. Serving up a great selection of Mediterranean style “small plates”, or tapas, restauranters Tony Foreman and Cindy Wolf have made the Pazo dining experience one to remember. Share the “manchego + mazana” dish of sheep’s cheese, apples and walnuts or the spiced veal and pork empanadas with a group of friends in the restaurant’s cozy bar and lounge area. Or grab one of the restaurant’s highly coveted tables and enjoy the delightful chef’s suggestions for meals for two to ten people. Pazo offers nearly 100 wine selections, predominantly of the red variety,
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $25-40
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open
OBRYICKI’S
1727 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 732-6399
HOURS: Open seasonally March – November. Fall Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30 am-10 pm, Sat 11:30 am-11 pm, Sun 11:30 am-9:30 pm; Summer Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30 am-11 pm, Sun 11:30 am-9:30 pm
Obryicki’s is the place to go for traditional Maryland blue crabs, harvested in the nearby Chesapeake Bay. Don’t have the time (or patience) required to enjoy the tasty hard-shell steamed crabs? This fun, family-owned restaurant offers any number of delicious crab-based dishes of the soup, dip, ball, cake and imperial variety as well. Non-locals can also order a number of Obryicki’s specialities for shipping throughout the United States on the restaurant’s website. They also recently opened a smaller location inside BWI Airport.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $25-35
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Closed, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Closed
Estimated cost per person for dinner is based upon one entrée, one beverage, and 20% gratuity.
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