Ten Best Places I've Been to This Year
This has been a better first half of the year than I thought before I went back and checked out the restaurants I've reviewed so far.There weren't a lot of highs (and no 4 star places) but the lows weren't as low as I remembered. A lot of decent places have opened up, and I revisited a few not-so-new that have improved with age. I've actually ranked this Top Ten, but in some cases there could have been a tie. I didn't do that because I thought going with my gut feeling (no pun intended) would be more helpful.
(Gene Sweeney/Sun Photographer)
1) Pazo in Fells Point. With a new chef and a new direction for the menu (it's not just tapas anymore), I liked this "peasant" Mediterranean place better the second time round. Best dish we tried: Pork confit cannelloni with mushrooms, walnuts, and zucchini, and a luscious cream sauce.
2) b Bistro in Bolton Hill. This urban bistro can be crowded and noisy, but the New American cuisine with Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern accents is excellent. Best dish we tried: House-made ravioli stuffed with ricotta and roasted vegetables, and sauced with tomatoes, brown butter and sage.
3) Lebanese Taverna in Harbor East. The contemporary dining room is a showstopper, but at its heart this is a good, down-to-earth, not-too-expensive ethnic restaurant. Vegetarians will find plenty to love. Best dish we tried: Simple as it sounds, the hummus was most memorable.
4) Brasserie Tatin in Homewood. The prix fixe menu makes this French bistro, with a new Swiss chef, more affordable. Best dish we tried: We enjoyed just about everything we had, but it has to be the signature warm tarte tatin with caramel sauce, creme fraiche and a tart apple sorbet.
5) Dogwood in Hampden. An ex-Hampton's chef opens his own place. Unfortunately it's closed for renovations right now. Best dish we tried: Wild rockfish fillet, thick and fresh. Its citrusy butter sauce had notes of fresh basil, and it even overshadowed the fine lump crab cake at its side.
6) Pazza Luna in Locust Point. Sotto Sopra's new relative, only more rustic and accessible (with bigger portions and somewhat less expensive). Best dish we tried: The fritto misto, with gold-crusted calamari, shrimp, and crescents of fennel. The aioli was a fabulous dipping sauce.
7) Osteria 177 in Annapolis. Italian-Mediterranean in a jazzy contemporary dining room. Best dish we tried: An upscale version of cioppino. The curvy-rimmed white bowl was filled with fish and shellfish in a delicate tomato-based broth and a large, decorative sprig of fresh basil.
8) Della Notte in Little Italy. This traditional Italian restaurant (which also has Chesapeake favorites) has become a bit more formal --and expensive. Best dish we tried: the enormous pork chop stuffed with provolone and ham, with sweet potatoes dauphinoise and brussels sprouts.
9) Minato in Mount Vernon. It's the same good sushi and Japanese food in an edgy new setting. Best dish we tried: the Raven roll, crisp bits of tempura soft shell crab nestled with avocado inside rice. Glistening, fresh raw salmon was draped on top of each piece. Over the top, but delicious.
10) P. F. Chang's in the Inner Harbor. I feel bad including a national chain in my ten best, but it gets here by default. It delivered what it promised: decent Chinese food and good service in an ultra-chic dining room. Best dish we tried: seabass fillet marinated in tea on baby spinach leaves.
Comments
Interesting list.. Of course this is only comprised of the restaurants you have been to so far this year.
How many in the above list would make your Top 10 listing of all local restaurants?
My Local Top 10
1) Charleston
2) Blue Sea Grill
3) Pazo
4) Tio Pepe
5) Bo Brooks
6) Iron Bridge Wine Company
7) Linwoods
8) Tersiguels
9) Jordan's Steak House
10) Red Maple
Honorable Mention Local:
Mama's on the Half Shell, Babalu, James Joyce, Maggie Moore's
Top 10 Chains
1) The Oceaniare
2) The Prime Rib
3) Flemings
4) Capital Grill
5) Roy's Hawaiian Fusion
6) Jesse Wong's Asian Bistro Hunt Valley
7) Ruth's Chris, Water Street
8) Greystone Grill
9) Bonefish
10) The Melting Pot
Honorable Mention Chains:
McCormick & Schmick's, Mortons, Shula's,
Thanks,
Chris
Excellent question, which will have to be answered in a later Top Ten. Thanks, too, for giving yours. Love the top chain idea. Elizabeth
Posted by: Chris | August 14, 2007 10:31 AM
I too loved Brasserie Tatin. I especially like the entire dessert menu.
I really enjoyed the food at Dogwood; interesting and unique combinations of foods and flavors. However all three times I have been there the service was horrible. Once bad enough for the manager to comp our meal. How was your experience with the service at Dogwood?
The service was fine when I was there, but I have to say the owner/chef's wife was there every minute overseeing the dining room. Elizabeth
Posted by: Rob | August 14, 2007 10:43 AM
Your question about Iggie's "take and bake" gave me an idea for a top ten: how about top 10 places for 'gourmet to go?' My wife and I enjoy impromptu picnics and deck entertaining when the weather is nice like today, but such spontaneity doesn't leave much time to prepare food in advance.
We have some favorite places we got to for prepared dishes (Belvedere Square, Trinicria, and Trattoria Annamaria on Light Street for example) but I'm curious to know of others.
Thanks.
Posted by: Mike | August 14, 2007 1:46 PM
I would also like to add/mention:
Timothy Dean Bistro
The Wine Market
Pisces
I think it would also be nice if you could write an article of the top 10 brunches, or something to its effect (if not done already)!!
Posted by: Adrienne | August 14, 2007 5:18 PM
where was the feature photo taken? thanks!
That's b Bistro. If you hold the cursor over the photo a minute, it will tell you. Elizabeth
Posted by: Erica | August 14, 2007 6:48 PM
The fact that P.F. Chang's is on your list convinces me that you should visit a few more restaurants around this great city before blogging about them.
Well, so far I estimate I've been to about 2,000 restaurants in Baltimore and the surrounding area for review purposes, not counting ones I've been to on my own. Of course, some of those have been repeat visits after many years or when major changes have occurred. Elizabeth
Posted by: Rich | August 15, 2007 2:39 AM
Tio Pepe's...enough said
Posted by: Richard | August 15, 2007 2:40 AM
I truly believe that good food is good food whereever you find it. The sea bass at PF Changs is a really memorable dish. We often traveled from Cockeysville to Columbia to enjoy it. Additionally, we are frequent visitors to the Lebanese Taverna Cafe outside Annapolis because the food was consistently tasty. We have also visited some not to be named local places where the food was not nearly as good. All of that is just to say that we should enjoy good food where ever we find it. And,it does not have to cost a month's mortgage payment to be outstanding.
How about a ten best service list? Some places are resting on their laurels in that area and the service has gone to pot.
Posted by: Regina | August 15, 2007 1:15 PM
I'm fond of Jack's Bistro in Canton. They've been fabulous and adventuresome everytime I go.
Posted by: Jenna Sparks | August 15, 2007 5:11 PM
Rich, I know what you mean (I'm a bit of a food snob myself), but PF Chang's is an exception. In a blind taste test I doubt you could differentiate it from some of the city's best.
Posted by: Kate | August 15, 2007 5:13 PM
Elisabeth,
What about having a top 10 breads? We could have one for bakeries breads and another section for restaurants breads. Bread is often a key component of a nice meal and it tends to not getting much attention from many places.
Posted by: Guillaume | August 17, 2007 6:30 AM
I know I may be a little late to the party but how can you not have Donna's on this list.
I have been a regular customer of Donna's since it opened in Mt. Vernon and have frequented all of their locations over the last 15 years.
15 years, (statement enough) of providing the most delicious consistent cuisine this city offers. In fact, everytime I eat at Donna's, I am always reminded of just how good their food is.
For those who think of Donna's as just great coffee and light fare (which it still is) their menu also includes some wonderful and unusual fine dining offerings.
Donna C. continues to tempt and please the palate of her customers by expanding the menu and challenging her very talented Chef staffs in creating tasty innovative dishes that
satisfy every whim.
I especially love the half roasted chicken at Cross Keys. It is the best I have had in the city (and I order the chicken everywhere). Served over a polenta, enjoying the lovely outdoor setting, this is dish and experience is scrumptious.
Brunch, lunch, supper, dinner, Donna's is one of Baltimore's Top 10.
Posted by: Joe | August 17, 2007 10:47 PM
What makes a restaurant a chain? I love Lebanese Taverna and have for years, back when I believe the only one was in Cleveland Circle in D.C.
Posted by: stephanie | August 29, 2007 10:15 AM
You should check out Thai Classic III on Main St. in Westminster. The food is excellent.
The original Thai Classic is on Liberty Rd. in Eldersburg.
Posted by: Oat | September 18, 2007 6:39 PM