*Green Leaf, 11313 York Road, Shawan Plaza, Hunt Valley. This pretty little Asian fusion place, hidden away in the shopping center, has fresh, for the most part healthful, food and good service. The emphasis is on fresh seafood and steamed fresh vegetables. (Not to worry. There are also tempura and deep-fried wontons available if that sounds too healthful to you.)

*Himalayan House, 1522 E. Fort Ave., Locust Point. The Indian food here gets rave reviews, but the problem is that so far there's only one table, which seats four or five at most. The owner said, "We'll see" when I asked if he's going to add more tables. But you can call in advance, and he'll save the table for you -- and what's more, cook you anything you request. Otherwise it's carryout.

*Tabrizi's, 500 Harborview Drive. OK, it's not opening till later this summer. You could say that's cheating. But it's on this list for two reasons. 1) Judging from Michael Tabrizi's previous restaurant of the same name, the Mediterranean food will be very good, perhaps even wonderful, and 2) Given the location and the history of that location, it will have to be wonderful for anyone to remember it but the people living in the same complex.

*Kolpers, 1520 Clipper Road, Hampden. If you can find it, you can get a satisfying meal of Maryland favorites, tavern fare and a few more upscale entries like mussels fra diavolo or a chicken breast in white wine. Yes, it's a restaurant and lounge, but it's also kid-friendly.

*La Cazuela, 1718 Eastern Ave., Upper Fells Point. If you're looking for the mythic hole-in-the-wall where you can get enormous portions of delicious ethnic food for next-to-nothing prices, this is where to go -- except it's not a hole-in-the-wall but a cheerful little dining room. The food is Ecuadorean, and it's family-owned and -run.

*Mia Carolina, 4844 Butler Road, Glyndon. When Baltimoreans mention restaurants that are worth the trip, they never seem to think of this one. Owner/chef Jay Cohen has good credentials. His previous experience includes stints at Linwood’s, the Harryman House, and Filomena in D.C. The food is traditional and contemporary Italian. Look for renovations and other changes to update the place by the end of the summer.

*Cynthia's, 522-I Governor Ritchie Highway, Severna Park. If you've had enough of clever little bistros for the moment, Cynthia's is a throwback to white tablecloths and glamorous cuisine -- you know, the kind of restaurant where you order your dessert souffle with your entree. True, the decor doesn't have the pizazz of the mostly French food, but it's very comfortable.

*Harvest Table, 1000 Hull St., Locust Point. A sunny little restaurant -- not much more than an upscale coffee house -- where you can get eclectic salads and sandwiches, homemade soups like roasted red pepper gouda bisque, and delicious brunches on Saturday and Sunday. Free wi-fi is a plus.

*True, Admiral Fell Inn, 888 S. Broadway. Usually a restaurant that's imaginative and tries to use local, organic and seasonal ingredients -- and does it pretty well -- gets a little more love than this one. It may be that it's simply too expensive for its neighborhood, but Savannah managed to flourish here (and eventually moved and became Charleston). Maybe it's the name.