Looking for lunch in all the right places
Realbaltimorefan posted this comment this morning under Next Tuesday's Top Ten:
I would like to see the "Top Ten Places You Probably Haven't Thought of to Eat LUNCH Outdoors (That Are Also Baltimore Finds)". I'm not sure if there are Ten places that fit this description, but Gertrude's at the BMA should certainly be considered. Personally, I prefer dining "alfresco" at lunch (hopefully sitting in the shade with the sun shining) rather than dinner.
While I'm not sure I could come up with 10 good candidates, especially that you haven't thought of, it's a topic worth discussing. My votes would go to spaces that have a lot of plants/flowers/trees around them. Art sculpture gets them bonus points. ...
We're looking for more places like:
* The well-landscaped courtyard at Green Spring Station, which is now the Tark's Grill outdoor space
* The Stone Mill Bakery's shady patio
* The back garden of the 4 East Madison Inn
* The outdoor space in front of Kali's Court
* The bluestone patio at the Oregon Grille
If we include RBF's suggestion of Gertrude's, that's six. If you could come up with four more legitimate ones, we'd have our Top Ten for this Tuesday. OK, I know I'm asking you to do my work, but, hey, it's a holiday weekend.
There must be more places in the burbs and Annapolis that I just don't know about. I'm not including the restaurants around the lake in Columbia because they are too obvious, like Harborplace. And these can't be restaurants that have tables on the sidewalk, pleasant though that may be.
Suggestions, please.
(Photo of the Green Spring Station courtyard by me)
Comments
what nerve to review the oregon grill after it gave a customer a hard time about a drink!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | July 6, 2008 9:44 AM
The proscenium overlooking the water in Fells Point at Bonaparte Bakery! Oh la la!!
Posted by: BMoreSweet | July 6, 2008 9:47 AM
The Ambassador has a lovely outdoor dining grotto, complete with water feature.
Posted by: matt hudock | July 6, 2008 10:47 AM
Canton Dockside is nice for lunch outside. Sure its not quite on the water but the lunch is good, and the breeze is just right.
Posted by: Francesca | July 6, 2008 10:53 AM
Anonymous, what with the publication scheduling and all I'm pretty sure the review happened before the drink snafu was publicized.
Posted by: matt hudock | July 6, 2008 12:45 PM
I'll bet you can't guess what I want to know. Are there any smoke free outdoor dining choices in the Baltimore area?
Posted by: Mark | July 6, 2008 12:49 PM
The Bay Cafe on Boston St. use to haveo outdoor seating on the water. Their happy hour use to be very good. Free eats at happy hour would be another good top ten. By the way, I appreciate your blog.
Posted by: baltimorean | July 6, 2008 12:53 PM
I don't think that Gertrude's qualifies as a place you might not have thought of for lunch, if you ask anyone who works at the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus. Ditto the Ambassador, but I do love their garden in summer.
Posted by: Dahlink | July 6, 2008 1:19 PM
Dahlink, while I concur about the Homewood connection (that is how I learned about them) I was going for a more city-wide audience. Plus, Ambassador has a great lunch buffet (which could actually be its own T3).
Posted by: matt hudock | July 6, 2008 4:54 PM
The Red Canoe on Harford Road has one of the lovliest outdoor dining spaces I've been in - beautifully gardened and secluded from the hubbub of the rest of the meighborhood. Both their breakfast and lunch menus are simple, but thoughtfully prepared. And what's not to like with the attached book store to browse as well?
Excellent suggestion, and one I hadn't thought of. EL
Posted by: Ella | July 7, 2008 8:43 AM
Well, maybe not a "place you haven't thought of," but Donna's at Cross Keys is always a pleasure . . .
Posted by: One Tough Cookie | July 7, 2008 1:38 PM
Agree with you One Tough Cookie - Donna's is indeed always a pleasure!
Posted by: Joyce W. | July 9, 2008 11:20 AM
When I worked at Alex. Brown in their South Street location, Au Bon Pain on the ground floor had a side door that went out into a courtyard. It was nice to eat out there.
Alex. Brown...RIP to a great Baltimore institution. Its sale and dissolution started a chain of events that brought me down here.
Posted by: Rob in PCB FL | July 9, 2008 12:54 PM