Eat this street -- Baltimore's best restaurant road
Shallow Thought Wednesdays guru John Lindner makes his long-awaited return this week with a pitch to Sun management. Good luck with that, John. LV
I have a series idea that, had I remained at the Sun long enough to con Sar -- I mean, convince -- Sarah KK to assign it to me, I’m sure would have been a huge hit. Especially with me. As it is, I’m just going to throw it out there, gratis, for anyone with the wherewithal to "work it," as we say in the biz. (Or said, as the case may be.)
Here’s the pitch: (btw: the idea came to me in a caffeiney daydream, so, yeah, the set-up’s kinda rockin’ weird)
Just suppose that Tilurian slime devils came from space and took over the country. Then, in a bureaucratic foul-up, they ordered you to choose a single road in the Baltimore area. Any road, street, avenue or parkway. Next, they decree that your restaurant choices are limited to your road. You may visit any and all of the restaurants on this road as often as you wish, but you may patronize no other restaurants. Ever. (I know, right? They don’t call them slime devils for nothing.)
Now here’s the beauty part, sure to break down the defenses of even the hardest-hearted, budget-pinched editor: I pick a road and, by way of justifying my choice, review all the restaurants along it.
But! (Kicker alert.)
I also challenge the Sandbox denizens (I’ll include a note saying I won’t take suggestions from peevish snitpitchers) to pick a better road. And then! Yessssss. I review all the eateries along that road.
This goes on for years because, as a journalist, I’m duty bound to chase down all possible leads.
If we flipcammed it, we could probably do a Reality Blog cross-over thing (hint hint, nudge nudge, wink wink) if you think about it.
Anyway, there it is.
And my pick?
Harford Road. Hands down. I double dog dare you to find a better all-round great restaurant road in these environs.
Oh, and for the record, I could drop the slime devils thing. Probably too edgy.
Baltimore Sun photo by Kim Hairston
Comments
I was going to suggest Harford Road before I got to the end of your post.
But...
If you were going to review all the restaurants on a single road... wouldn't Charles Street be more of a challenge? And a seemingly unending quest? Guaranteed, by the time you got to the north end, several places in the south end would have closed and been reborn as something else.
Posted by: sean | March 3, 2010 12:08 PM
High Street would be my second choice after Harford Road. Also like The Avenue.
Posted by: Joyce W. | March 3, 2010 12:27 PM
Are you only going to cover the Baltimore section of Harford Rd. or will you go up into the country part as well? There are a few places north of Baltimore that might be worth your while.
Posted by: Peter | March 3, 2010 12:30 PM
Lancaster Street:
Lebanese Taverna
Cinghiale
Charleston
RA Sushi
Bertha's
Max's
The Wharf Rat
That's a solid variety, and way better views than Harford Road.
Posted by: Mitch | March 3, 2010 12:34 PM
York Rd
Posted by: Anonymous | March 3, 2010 12:38 PM
Snowden River Parkway!
Boston Market, Red Lobster, Starbucks, Bertuccis... I'm sure there's a TGI Fridays...
Posted by: AK | March 3, 2010 12:46 PM
York Road
Posted by: NotableM | March 3, 2010 12:50 PM
charles was the first thing that came to mind:
matsuri
corks
nichiban
the hill
metropolitan
maisy's
cazbar
o'shea's
banthai
sotto sopra
joss cafe
sachas
donnas
helmand
my thai
indigma
never on sunday (mmmm...gyro)
marie louise bistro
mt.vernon stable
mughai garden
red maple
minato
brewers art (that alone is worth the vote)
sammy's
aloha tokyo
thai landing
XS
neo viccino
turps
club charles (still serving food out of what was zodiac)
tapas teatro
sofi's crepes
mmmmm.
Posted by: ryan97ou | March 3, 2010 12:53 PM
Light Street!!!
Posted by: MAM | March 3, 2010 12:53 PM
nice one AK.
*chuckle*
Posted by: ryan97ou | March 3, 2010 12:56 PM
Well, Harford, York, ... no good. If you are running from slime devils, things are just too spread out.
The shrewd game player would choose High St. Fourteen, count 'em, 14 food places (13 with liquor licenses) within 100 yards.
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | March 3, 2010 12:59 PM
owl meat makes a good point. but all that pasta would probably slow you down.
Posted by: ryan97ou | March 3, 2010 1:00 PM
You're right John, that is a great idea. We actually did these on Metromix.com a couple years ago -- Charles Street, York Road, Station North...The features were huge hits at the time.--Editor Amanda
Posted by: Baltimanda | March 3, 2010 1:07 PM
Yeah, I may be saying, Lasagna again? But it's better than having a slime devil eating your liver. Although the Death Smell from Zeke's might be a slime devil deterrent (or attractor), who knows.
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | March 3, 2010 1:09 PM
If you are going out of the city limits then, Belair Road. From Key West to Petitdoc, NB, Can-2170 miles. Gotta be someplace good to eat.
Captcha-increased sidekick. Can I come along for the ride?
Posted by: mji | March 3, 2010 1:10 PM
I'd just live in a Walmart.
Posted by: slippery pete | March 3, 2010 1:12 PM
Wouldn't the beltway cover everything?
Posted by: Laura Lee | March 3, 2010 1:15 PM
Wouldn't the beltway cover everything?
The beltway only serves roadkill.
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | March 3, 2010 1:20 PM
Mitch:
Wharf Rat = Ann Street
Lebanese Taverna = President Street
Bertha's & Max's = Broadway
Technicalities & all...
Posted by: sean | March 3, 2010 1:22 PM
AK, while you hit your faves on Snowden River Parkway, I'll hit mine - Victoria Gastropub, House of India, Azul 17, Bon Fresco, etc.
To each their own, I guess! Plenty of boring options in Baltimore if you don't want to travel too far...
Posted by: zevonista | March 3, 2010 1:31 PM
sean, i'd just go in through the side door.
Posted by: Mitch | March 3, 2010 2:27 PM
Mitch - well played sir! I LOL'd.
Posted by: sean | March 3, 2010 2:28 PM
Frederick Road from Catonsville through Ellicott City.
Indian, Italian, Mexican, bar food, sub shops, white tablecloth restaurants, and on and on.
Posted by: Cosmos Girl l>--l | March 3, 2010 2:33 PM
Reisterstown Road just because I wouldn't want to live without Mari Luna.
Posted by: Elite Elephant Lover | March 3, 2010 3:26 PM
Game-Set-Match ryan97ou!
Posted by: Dave the wave | March 3, 2010 3:58 PM
Def Charles St.!
Posted by: Baltimel | March 3, 2010 4:19 PM
Of course I agree with all of you. Now I await the assignment from The Powers.
On whether or not I'd stay in the city: No, I'd keep going till the road ran out of restaurants or I left what I consider "the greater Baltimore area."
Posted by: jl | March 3, 2010 5:53 PM
I'll be the first to admit my bias - but I'm giving my vote to Charles St, as well.
When I first came to Baltimore from LA, 15 years ago - the seeming dearth of diverse ethnic foods was more than a little disheartening.
But then, I started exploring the city. Ethiopian, Thai, Korean, Caribbean, Indian, Afghani, Nepalese, Turkish - I'm sure I'm missing stuff.
But it's all on, or been on Charles St.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 3, 2010 7:16 PM
High St. Many good restaurants, and of course, Baltimores' best: Aldos. If you had to pick a place for your last supper, this would be it.
Posted by: Billzappa | March 3, 2010 8:35 PM
Like sean,
I would have nominated Harford Road as the road to be the road of choice when sampling the area restaurants. There is a lot of variety and good choices along MD 147.
The only rival I can think of is down here, Front Beach Road, aka FL 30.
Posted by: PCB Rob | March 3, 2010 9:09 PM
ryan97ou, don't forget Ropewalk
Mad River
Taverna Corvino
Kirby's Szechuan
Cross Street Market (a day of food in itself)
I agree with comment on Brewer's Art.
Posted by: federal hal | March 4, 2010 7:22 AM
federal hal -
good call, if we're including those types of joints, yah gotta include macgerks as well. i know that place gets an image as more of a drinking place, but their cheesesteaks are truly as close as it gets to legit for me.
and agreed re: cross street: oysters, bruce lee wings (droool), etc.
Posted by: ryan97ou | March 4, 2010 11:49 AM
I'm sorry, but this whole exercise is based on a bogus premise.
Everyone knows that slime devils are Denebian, not Tilurian.
senator lambkins--pet name for John Edwards?
Posted by: Claude | March 4, 2010 12:06 PM
ryan,
Mother's - how could I forget them? Definitely more of a drinking place, but the food is pretty good.
Isn't there something in the old Women's Industrial Exchange?
Posted by: federal hal | March 4, 2010 1:18 PM
That was a trap, Claude, and you just walked right into it. Lindner is notorious for this sort of subterfuge. Lord only knows what he's got up his sneaky Tilurian sleeve, but I fear for your well-being.
On another note, today is National Grammar Day, in celebration of which I am linking to the first installment of Professor McIntyre's splendid four-part serial noir "Pulp Diction". I think you'll have to scroll through the rest of his blog "You Don't Say" to find the other three episodes. And what does this have to do with food, you ask? Well, it starts out in a supermarket...
http://johnemcintyre.blogspot.com/2010/02/pulp-diction-15-items-or-trouble.html
Posted by: Laura Lee | March 4, 2010 1:32 PM
I was thinking Charles St too.
But I like that Lancaster St list too.
I live right off york rd.. no thanks
Posted by: vudean | March 4, 2010 3:55 PM
Laura Lee
I loved your referral to the Professor's blog. I don't make it over there often enough.
Posted by: LEC | March 4, 2010 5:04 PM
My research suggests Denebian slime devils would be more restrictive. Therefore, the Tilurians add a desperately needed element of plausibility.
Thank you also, Claude, for raising my gambit to the level of "premise." Terribly kind.
Posted by: jl | March 4, 2010 6:47 PM
I would probably vote for Charles Street, but a good case could be made for Eastern Avenue/Blvd with Chicken Rico and Mr. Bill's Terrace Inn among others.
Posted by: Robert of Cross Keys | March 5, 2010 10:11 PM
Charles Street definitely. Longer, more options, more diversity.
Light St./St. Paul St. or York/Greenmount would be interesting as well, but not as good as Charles.
captcha: until limed (not sure what restaurant would lime you, maybe a Thai one)
Posted by: Patrick Mc | March 10, 2010 12:29 AM
Loved the free-flowing exchange of restaurant names and dining havens here.
Chelsea, UK, has this site that gives a list of widely recommended dining places. Check out: http://www.bestrestaurantchelsea.com
Posted by: Best Restaurant Chelsea | October 4, 2010 1:12 PM