All-American Restaurants was a tougher category than I thought it would be.

I didn't want to include diners and barbecue places, because they deserve Top 10s of their own.

And I didn't want to include restaurants like Cafe Hon that are American but also fun and campy.

The restaurants on my list all take their American food seriously.

If you're a new reader of our Top 10 lists, please click here before you go all postal on us.

Here's my list in alphabetical order. Feel free to post your own suggestions. ...

Continue reading "Top 10 All-American Restaurants" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (45)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

I was going to do a Top 10 on All-American dishes in honor of the Fourth of July. But then I remembered I had done it a couple of years ago. Boy, some readers were less forgiving then. I guess they've gotten used to me or given up on Top 10.

Anyway, I'm going to go ahead and make up a Top 10 of lunch places for city jurors, from my own experience and from your suggestions. That way I'll have a place to send people when I get this question, which I do frequently. I realize not all of you who serve on juries are in the city, so if you want to recommend restaurants around other courthouses, feel free to post below.

I used the Google Maps walking feature to figure out how long it would take to get to each lunch spot from the court house. I think the numbers are a little optimistic for many people; allow a little more time. I also threw in a couple of places, most notably the Dogwood Cafe, for when you've been given more than an hour to eat.

Here's my list in alphabetical order: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Lunch Spots for City Jurors" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (47)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

I'm no expert when it comes to Ocean City restaurants, but I have eaten at a few, and I did talk to residents who eat out all the time when I was down there recently. They helped me make up this list.

Don't get all excited if you don't agree. That's what I'm hoping for. Just let us know which places you would substitute for each best.

The following are my suggestions of best places for certain things in and near Ocean City. What you won't find here are restaurants that are all round good, like the Marlin Moon Grille, but don't happen to fall into one of these categories.

Here's my list: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Beach Eats" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (36)
Categories: Beach Eats, Top Ten Tuesdays
        

I got the idea for this Top 10 when I noticed Chocolatea now has outdoor seating, and it's always filled.

If you're like me, you love to eat outdoors this time of year. I've done a couple of Top 10s on the best places, but they are all obvious. And therefore crowded.

This list is made up of some unexpected choices and new restaurants I went to recently and made note of the fact they would be a good place to eat once the weather improved.

If you have other suggestions that folks might not know about, please post below.

Here's my list in alphabetical order: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Places You Might Not Think of to Eat Outdoors " »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (52)
Categories: Outdoor Dining, Top Ten Tuesdays
        

We've spent so much time here complaining about bad service, I thought it might be good to throw in a little positive reinforcement. These are the Top 10 restaurants where I've gotten the best treatment from the wait staff in recent years.

Once I started my list and had written down the two or three obvious ones, I decided to go to my archived reviews to see which restaurants had gotten three-and-a-half stars to round it out. ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Restaurants with Excellent Service" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (69)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

Last week's Top 10 Tuesday, Most Controversial Restaurants, was such a success I thought I'd look at its opposite this week. There are some restaurants that seem to do what they set out to do without having many detractors. They might not be the most intriguing restaurants in town or everyone's favorites (although they may be). They aren't necessarily the least expensive or the most expensive. But you don't hear a lot of people bad-mouthing them.

Here are the 10 restaurants that I think best fit that description. After the name I've put the restaurant's reputation. Of course not everyone loves these places, but it's hard to hate them. They pretty much deliver what they promise. ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Least Controversial Restaurants " »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (79)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

The idea for this Top 10 started with a discussion of Golden West Cafe in Hampden. I felt like I was hearing two different restaurants being talked about: People either loved, loved, loved it or hated it, with very little in between. As one person pointed out, you could say the same of several places in Hampden; but I wanted to broaden the scope of this Top 10.

There are some places that just generate strong feelings both pro and con, I'm not sure why. (If you have any theories, I'd like to hear from you.) Anyway, here's my list of the 10 most divisive restaurants -- ones that could ruin marriages or cause friends to come to blows. After the names of the restaurants, I've put why people say they like them or hate them: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Most Controversial Restaurants in Baltimore" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (229)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

I'm on vacation until I get to my desk at work this morning, so I was thinking of just skipping Top 10 Tuesday this week -- the first time ever since it started.

But this is the time of year I get lots of questions from locals and tourists alike about where to eat seafood of all kinds, preferably on the water. I thought it would be kind of neat to make up a master list of seafood posts I've done in the past. This way I can just send them the link when they ask me where's the best place to get a crab cake or what the area's best seafood restaurants are. You might want to bookmark this page for future reference. ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Posts on Where to Get Great Seafood" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

You don't have to be a native Marylander to appreciate the crunch of little legs, but it helps. People who are new to the area sometimes look in horror at even the most beautiful platter of soft-shell crabs, and the sandwich with the little legs dangling out seems particularly repellent to them. Especially when the yellow fat, otherwise known as the mustard, oozes out.

That's OK, as one commenter said under an earlier post. More for us.

Here's my list of 10 delicious preparations of soft-shells in alphabetical order. It should give you a range of options. If you're new to our Top 10 Tuesday lists, please read the Official Disclaimer before you comment. ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Restaurants to Get Soft Shell Crabs" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (50)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

When I asked for suggestions from readers for Mother's Day in an earlier post, I only got two. Thank you, NotableM and Matthew. (I did get more recommendations for Colorado -- don't ask -- but I'm trying to pretend that didn't happen.)

I was interested in the range: Friendly Farm and the Milton Inn. So I started with those two for the list and then I thought, why not make the rest of them restaurants people probably wouldn't think of. If you're only getting around to planning Mother's Day now, you may not be able to get reservations at the obvious, famous-for-their-Sunday-brunch places.

Anyway, here's my list. I tried to give you something in all price points, as the marketing people say, and in various areas: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Restaurants You Haven't Thought of for Mother's Day" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (23)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

Tomorrow is Earth Day; and if you do nothing else to celebrate, you can at least eat out at a restaurant that's trying to be green.

Here's my list of the top restaurants in the area for appreciating this little piece of real estate we call home.

If you have other suggestions, please post below. ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Restaurants to Celebrate Earth Day" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (22)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

Because I'm on vacation this week, I'm turning Top 10 Tuesday over to a guest poster.

I've been thinking about doing this for awhile, but I hadn't hit on the right person. Then Barry Glassman, founder of the Baltimore Jazz Alliance, e-mailed me about doing a Top 10 on places to hear live music with good food.

"Why don't you send me your list?" I suggested.

And here it is, in alphabetical order: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Places to Hear Good Jazz While You Eat" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 3:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

Professor McIntyre came up with such a good Top 10 Tuesday topic that I think he ought to take over the feature.

Probably that's not going to happen.

Today, boys and girls, we're discussing the Top 10 Greatest Food Sins in the Workplace. Here's my list, compiled with a little help from my friends: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Greatest Food Sins in the Workplace" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 3:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (73)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

It's easy to look back at all the restaurant closings in Baltimore in the past year, more difficult to say which were the most important and why they mattered.

Here's my list, numbered in order of importance this time, with my reasons following.

Please post below if you disagree -- but tell us why. ... 

Continue reading "Top 10 Restaurant Closings and Their Significance" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (42)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

Faithful readers know that I'm meeting my daughter's plane when she returns from her trip to Uganda this Saturday. Unfortunately her plane lands at O'Hare. That would be in Chicago.

I'm not happy about the fact that I have a plane ticket to Chicago but no assigned seat. The nice man in India assured me that United hasn't overbooked the flight, but when I started questioning him more closely his English got worse, so I still don't know why I don't have a seat if the flight isn't overbooked.

Anyway, assuming all goes well, which is incredibly optimistic of me, I'll get to O'Hare about the same time Gailor does, and I'll be in Evanston for a few days. Naturally I'm scurrying around looking for easy posts so I can pretend to be on vacation. ...

Continue reading "The easiest Top 10 list ever?" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

My first post asking for suggestions for places to get a great cup of coffee didn't generate as many names of coffee houses as I had hoped. People loved Zeke's coffee, but didn't recommend a coffee house to get it in. Baltimore Coffee and Tea in Timonium got lots of votes, but it's more a store than a coffee house.

I sifted through the suggestions and also asked foodies around the Sun what places they recommended. Here's the list I came up with. If I've left off your favorite place to chill and drink a great cup of coffee, please post below. ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Great Local Coffee Houses" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (75)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

It's hard not to do a Top 10 list that has something to do with St. Patrick's Day when it actually falls on a Tuesday. But Best Irish Pubs? Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.

Midnight Sun Sam cornered the corned beef concession. Rob covered the beer.

The general consensus on Dining@Large was that potatoes would be the way to go, so here's a list of the best potato dishes I've had in recent memory in area restaurants. Readers suggested others under an earlier post.

Before you start yelling "WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!" please read this. And feel free to post your own suggestions.

Here's my list of great restaurant potato dishes: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Great Restaurant Potato Dishes" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

Last week someone commented that I always use the same restaurants in my Top 10 lists. I was incensed because I try so hard for variety. But there's no getting around the fact that one reason good restaurants are good is that they do a lot of things well.

So this week I decided to do a Top 10 list that is made up of first-timers. None of these places has been on a Top 10 list before. I thought it would be useful to those of you who like to try new restaurants -- a list of the most promising restaurants that have opened up recently or are soon to open, and why they may be worth a visit.

Of course, I'm not saying when I'll get around to reviewing them.

Here's my list in alphabetical order: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Restaurants I'm Looking Forward to Reviewing" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 5:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

In case you missed it, Lisa Astrin posted this comment under today's Top 10:

It seems like all the restaurant are the same all the time, no matter what the category...there has to be more that 20 restaurants in Maryland...please change them up

This was one time I didn't add a link to the Official Disclaimer because I thought there were enough different choices on it not to make it necessary, like Bertha's, Wharf Rat, Josef's Country Inn and Elkridge Furnace Inn.

Of course, Lisa has a point. The same restaurants do keep reappearing. One problem with doing a Top 10 list about Baltimore restaurants week after week is that -- as Other Reviewer Richard once so wisely pointed out -- good restaurants do a lot of things very well; that's what makes them good. Should I put the Outback on the best beef restaurant list instead of the Prime Rib just for the sake of variety?

I do do a little of that, just for the sake of variety, but it isn't really fair to our best restaurants. ...

Continue reading "Next Tuesday's Top 10 -- already" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

I don't care if by the end of the week it reaches 60 degrees. Today it's still winter. Brrr.

In honor of that fact, I've made up a list of places where you can stay warm, get cozy and be comforted by homey dishes. Some are high-end; others are little more than a bar.

Nobody I talked to could quite define "winter restaurant," but we all agreed it involves more than just a fireplace. (See Red Maple.)

Your list may be different, and feel free to tell us what you would add or subtract, but here are my 10: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Winter Restaurants" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

The idea behind this Top 10 is to list the 10 best places for New Orleans cuisine in honor of the carnival season, which culminates today in Mardi Gras.

The problem is that we don't have that many restaurants to choose from, so the best may also be the worst. Still, it is an opportunity to get some new places into the discussion.

If you don't read this blog for anything but the Top 10 lists once a week, please read this first.

Here's my list: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Places to Celebrate Mardi Gras" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

I know I sprang this on you unannounced, but here's the Top 10 you've all been waiting for (judging from the number of comments we got on Sandwich Musings): Top 10 Italian Cold-Cut Sandwiches.

OK, it's actually a list of Top 10 Places to Get a Great Italian Cold-Cut Sandwich, but you get the idea.

There are about five delis on the list that I think most Baltimoreans would agree belong there; after that the list becomes much more a matter of personal opinion. I'm also not happy I couldn't come up with an Annapolis suggestion.

Most of these places didn't have their own Web sites, but I gave you some kind of link for each one that would supply you with addresses and phone numbers at least.

If you aren't a regular reader of Dining@Large, please click on this before you keep reading: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Italian Cold-Cut Sandwiches" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (77)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays
        

I've made up a Top 10 list of romantic restaurants before, but that was before the economy went down the tubes.

This time when I asked what readers wanted for a Top 10 in honor of Valentine's Day, the idea of affordable romantic restaurants seemed to spark the most interest.

Although I like to be geographically diverse, for some reason a lot of places that are both romantic and moderately priced happen to be located in Mount Vernon. No, the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Association didn't pay me off. If you can come up with better selections, please post below -- but be careful. One restaurant that shall remain nameless would have made it on this list except the special Valentine's Day menu is four courses for $55, with wine an extra $25. That would be OK except it isn't serving its regular menu as an alternative.

One word of warning, some of these places are probably booked on the day itself by now, but you know me: I think it would be better to go out the day before or the day after anyway.

Here's my list: ...

Continue reading "Top 10 Romantic Restaurants for the Budget-Minded" »

Posted by Elizabeth Large at 4:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Top Ten Tuesdays