Baltimore's best food neighborhood
The question of our best food neighborhood came up peripherally on Chowhound awhile back, and many of the posters understandably ducked the issue.
But if you were forced to name Baltimore's best neighborhood for restaurants, bars that serve good food and even markets, what you say? And why?
Harbor East? Hamilton/Lauraville? Or somewhere else? ...
I'd like to throw a dark horse in the ring, or whatever you do with dark horses: Mount Washington. I could make a stronger case for it when Cafe de Artistes, and then McCafferty's, was open, but I like those restaurants along Sulgrave Avenue.
I can't really justify the use of the teapots at Teavolve photo except that the design is neat, and the Mount Washington (and other) neighborhood pictures weren't as interesting.
(Amy Davis/Sun photographer)
Comments
I dont' know because I haven't checked out any of the restaurants there (yet) but the Hamilton area seems pretty hot to me.
Posted by: Joyce W. | July 1, 2009 8:33 AM
Fells Point!
Kalies Court
Mezze
Black Olive
Louisiana
Koopers Tavern
Mrs. Irene
V NO
John Steven's
Slainte Irish Pub
Red Star
Peters Inn
Ale Marys
Pierpoint
Woody's (seasonal)
All the Mexican joints in upper Fells
Posted by: WT | July 1, 2009 8:36 AM
Mount Vernon, without question.
Posted by: Amy | July 1, 2009 8:48 AM
Hampden?
Posted by: Baltofoodie | July 1, 2009 8:53 AM
WT = FAIL
Posted by: Anonymous | July 1, 2009 8:56 AM
This is a tough one! I'm cheating a bit with this answer, but I'd have to say the neighborhood corridor from Harbor East to Canton, which includes Fells Point.
Posted by: Amanda Karfakis | July 1, 2009 9:01 AM
Cherry Hill - hands down.
Posted by: JTK | July 1, 2009 9:04 AM
Let me throw a hat in the ring for Locust Point...
Pazza Luna
The Wine Market
Lucas
LP Steamers
Hull Street Blues
Rallos
HarborQue
and let's not forget the fantastically good Indian take-out Himalayan House.
and just outside of the "limits" of LP are
Little Havana
Baba's Kitchen
Captain Larry's
I think if you look at the number of restaurants for the size of the neighborhood, Locust Point wins hands down.
Posted by: Eutaw Street Historian | July 1, 2009 9:17 AM
Eutaw St Hist = WRONG
Posted by: Anonymous | July 1, 2009 9:20 AM
mondawmin, yo
Posted by: lamont | July 1, 2009 9:20 AM
Would agree that LP deserves a mention, but Capt. Larry's? Whoa. That's a stretch.
Posted by: riverside | July 1, 2009 9:34 AM
Fells Point, for the variety of styles and prices. And that I can walk there. And for my favorite "hidden gem", One Eyed Mike's.
Posted by: Frequent Little Italy Restaurant Visitor | July 1, 2009 9:34 AM
Depends on what you are looking for. If you want a good variety of food at a reasonable price, Highlandtown is an excellent place to go, with Eastern House, Chicken Rico, Eichenkranz, some Moroccan, a bunch of other kinds of Latin American places and, no doubt, much I'm leaving out.
If you take back the land that Canton ate, you can even add a few yuppie bars.
Posted by: Lissa | July 1, 2009 9:36 AM
I don't really believe that you can actually call "Inner Harbor East" a neighborhood, so it doesn't count. I'd have to say either Fells Point or Mount Vernon.
Posted by: Cheese | July 1, 2009 10:01 AM
I agree with choosing Fells Point. That list posted earlier missed-
One Eye'd Mikes
Riptide
Todd Connors
Meli
Friends
Liquid Earth
Pazo
Ra
Carolinas
El Trovador
Za Mean Bean
Henningers
Add that to the previous list for more of a idea how great the options are in Fells.
Posted by: Frank | July 1, 2009 10:23 AM
"Anonymous"=FAIL
"Anonymous"=WRONG
(so long as "Anonymous" doesn't nominate a replacement neighborhood, or explain the problems with Fells Point or Locust Point)
Posted by: hmpstd | July 1, 2009 10:24 AM
LP Steamers is awful and dirty.
It take Capt. Larry's any day over that place.
Harborque is awful too.
Posted by: Fast Eddie | July 1, 2009 10:38 AM
Make that
One Eyed Mike's
for Fells
and add
Alexanders
The Blue Moon
Posted by: Frank | July 1, 2009 10:39 AM
Fell's is my favorite food neighborhood, but I'm biased and can't afford Harbor East.
Posted by: lab rat | July 1, 2009 10:46 AM
In my opinion Harbor East has too many chains. I'll throw in a vote for Fells Point.
Posted by: BaltBabs | July 1, 2009 10:55 AM
I'd agree that Harbor East is not a neighbourhood. It is more of a development brought in by flying saucer from Columbia or somewhere. When I'm in HE, I could be in any city. Baltimore has more character than that.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 1, 2009 11:37 AM
It's Fells POINT! Not Fells.
Posted by: RayRay | July 1, 2009 12:13 PM
Agreed on Harbor East. It feels like an outdoor mall rather than a neighborhood or even a part of Baltimore.
Posted by: sean | July 1, 2009 12:15 PM
People who say Fells instead of Fells Point is why you want to avoid the place. Even when the 'rents slide them some cheddar for 'za, man.
Posted by: ghost pig | July 1, 2009 12:17 PM
ghost pig,
LOL
Posted by: RayRay | July 1, 2009 12:22 PM
Speaking of "FELLS"...those new signs advertising the neighborhood that just say FELLS need to go!
Posted by: BaltBabs | July 1, 2009 12:32 PM
BaltBabs,
Word
True dat
Thats how I crry it
Thats how I roll widdit
Posted by: RayRay | July 1, 2009 12:39 PM
It's almost as bad as calling DC "Washington." That's a state, man.
Posted by: sean | July 1, 2009 1:04 PM
RayRay -- you are quite a character...
Posted by: Anonymous | July 1, 2009 1:18 PM
Sean, Washington is also a city in the District of Columbia. It encompasses the entire District, but it's still technically a city.
Posted by: Hal Laurent | July 1, 2009 1:41 PM
I'll put a vote in for Federal Hill:
Metropolitan
Corks
The Hill
Matsuri
Regi's
Thai Arroy
Porter's
Ryleigh's
Dog Pub
Mother's
Rope Walk
Muggsy's
Sobo Cafe
Taverna Corvino
Rub
Blue Agave
Don't Know
Bicycle
Posted by: halstevens | July 1, 2009 2:01 PM
The City of Washington was originally a separate municipality within the Territory of Columbia until an act of Congress in 1871 effectively merged the City and the Territory into a single entity called the District of Columbia. It is for this reason that the city, while legally named the District of Columbia, is known as Washington, D.C
Posted by: sticky wiki | July 1, 2009 2:13 PM
SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER
Posted by: Anonymous | July 1, 2009 2:31 PM
fells point - its a no-brainer
you've got great tapas, affordable happy hours, al fresco eating, high and low end places, vegan/veggie, the list goes on......
Posted by: KRISTIN | July 1, 2009 2:59 PM
fells point!!!!
Posted by: mel | July 1, 2009 3:51 PM
Dundalk!
McDonalds
Burger King
Wendys
Taco Bell
Freindlys
Dennys
IHoP
Pizza Hut
Papa Johns
Dominoes
Little Ceasars
I can go on....
Posted by: NEPA | July 1, 2009 3:55 PM
NEPA, don't forget Squires on Holabird Avenue. Actually, Squires has really good cream of crab soup.
As for the best neighborhood, I would opt for Mount Vernon. You have the best restaurant in the City, the Prime Rib. You also have really good sushi, Thai, cafes, pizza, tapas, bistro, brew pub, Indian, on down the line
Now, I would give my nod to best neighborhood on the culinary rise to Hamilton/Lauraville with its BBQ, taverns and cafes.
Now, some may accuse me of stereotyping, but I don't think it is a coincidence that the two best neighborhoods for food in Baltimore both have a visible gay community. I think this is true for most cities, and definitely smaller cities, such as Baltimore, Louisville, Richmond, etc…
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | July 1, 2009 4:22 PM
For me, it's Federal Hill, particularly because of:
Dog Pub
Thai Arroy
Rub
SoBo Cafe
Ropewalk (wing night)
Posted by: JD | July 1, 2009 4:44 PM
anonymous: without name.
1: not named or identified 2: of unknown authorship or origin 3: lacking individuality, distinction, or recognizability
It seems to me that you are free to chose your own name, then.
Posted by: Sherif Ali | July 1, 2009 4:58 PM
Mount Vernon, yes. To sit in that Square at this very hour with a fine glass of pinot noir, glancing over the marble balustrade at the towering monument, the bronze statues and fountains, watching the children frolic on the greensward as the sweet jumble of music wafts out of the conservatory windows... almost feels like home.
Posted by: Barcelona Blues | July 1, 2009 5:12 PM
Well, I wouldn't rank on the anonymous folks too much. I keep end up being anonymous because I block cookies, and the new blogware won't save my info. At least, I assume that is why.
I'm also blocking doubleclick.net. Nasty tracking there.
Posted by: Lissa | July 1, 2009 5:28 PM
Area of Highlandtown and Canton surrounding Eastern Ave. All the Latin places are amazing in particular, and the Moroccan, and the Greek, and the Itallian, and the Polish....
Posted by: Lee | July 2, 2009 7:57 AM
Canton is nowhere near Eastern Ave., except on realtor's maps.
Polish? Where? Must go....
Posted by: Lissa | July 2, 2009 9:42 AM
ethel and ramones is the most underestimated restaraunt in the city
the chef is brilliant and personable and really cares about his customers the open kitchen is quite the sight to see and you can learn alot by just asking questions
Posted by: mom al | July 2, 2009 9:54 AM
mom al,
You forgot to include the words "sheer bliss".
Posted by: RayRay | July 2, 2009 10:14 AM
You can get Polish at Ze Mean Bean Cafe on Eastern.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | July 2, 2009 10:31 AM
True, RoCK, but that isn't Polish in Highlandtown.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 2, 2009 11:45 AM
Ze Mean Bean isn't on Eastern. It's Fleet.
Posted by: KB | July 2, 2009 12:34 PM
Ok, Ze Mean Bean is on the east side of town. It's in the Patterson High School district.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | July 2, 2009 1:09 PM
That would explain why the beans are mean, then, RoCK. Patterson High is no St. Paul's.
Posted by: Lissa | July 2, 2009 1:52 PM
Ze Mean Bean is in Fells Point.
Posted by: Hal Laurent | July 2, 2009 1:59 PM
My dad went to Patterson, and he's always smiling. He's nothing like his cynical misanthrope son.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | July 2, 2009 6:15 PM
So what is the best restaurant neighborhood? Feels like we're missing something obvious.
Posted by: Labyrinth Investigator | July 2, 2009 6:55 PM
LI, the question was "best food neighborhood", nor "best restaurant neighborhood".
What is it that you feel is being missed?
Posted by: Hal Laurent | July 2, 2009 7:36 PM
Welp, on a purely subjective note, I nominate Lauraville/Hamilton. SO many good restaurants have sprung up in the last couple of years, and it's SO close to where I live.
By the way, I lunched today at Red Canoe. It's a LOT bigger than it looks from the front: there's a bookstore and eating area in front, then the cafe in the middle with at least two deck areas outside. I had the special, a half tuna salad sandwich, bowl of gazpacho, and salad. TASTY! Give it a shot when you're in the neighborhood.
Posted by: Dottie | July 2, 2009 11:19 PM