Baltimore now has a free "Circulator" bus [http://www.charmcitycirculator.com/content/about] that opens up all parts of the city for you. There are several places in the Federal Hill area [http://www.restaurantsinfederalhill.com/ ] although looking at this link, it gives you many of Baltimore's dinning options. Many of the Inner Harbor places are chains - PF Chengs, Bubba Gumps, etc. Much will depend on what type of food you are looking for, how many there are of you, etc. Use OpenTable, Yelp or Urban Spoon to help you narrow down your choices. Finally, our "Little Italy" is one of the neatest places around. Good luck, and enjoy your visit to Baltimore!

I forgot to mentions some of our Federal Hill places. http://historicfederalhill.org/www/docs/3

MR RAINS FUN HOUSE http://www.mrrainsfunhouse.com/
LANGERMANS ON LIGHT ST http://www.langermanns.com/
BLUE GRASS http://www.bluegrasstavern.com/menu/
THE WINE MARKET http://www.the-wine-market.com/

Any of these can be reached via the Circulator and offer excellent food in a comfortable setting.

It's been a few years but we really enjoyed a great lunch at Amicci's and dessert at Vaccaro's - both in Little Italy.

Also, I believe the James Joyce pub is nearby but it may be a little casual for what you are looking for.

Just looked at Amicci's. Sometimes those super casual "red" Italian places are fine, but looking for something a little less "basic" and a little more upscale.

I realize that the inner harbor is basically touristy, but honestly are there no really good, non-chain places there?

Maybe a local can help you out with this. Baltimore friends took us to a very nice Indian restaurant a few blocks off of the harbor. I can't recall the name but both the food and atmosphere were very nice.

Yes there are and by all means avoid the Phillips seafood.

At the Inner Harbor, there really aren't, sorry to say. Might it be possible for you to fight on to DC and just have dinner there? It's that or leave the Inner Harbor area for dinner.

Sorry, just remembered--The Oceanaire is at the Inner Harbor. It's a small chain, pretty good, classic seafood preparations. That would be my choice there.

On your way down to DC, stop at the takeout section of the G&M Restaurant in Linthicum (not too far off the highway) for crabcakes. I don't like crabcakes, but these are fabulous! (The sides, not so much.)
http://gandmcrabcakes.com/

On our way to a big Thanksgiving dinner, stop for crabcakes? I don't think so -- if we don't arrive with big appetites we're in trouble. Hmmm. Maybe coming back north on Sunday?


NewbE, have you been to Brio? It's one of my favorite restaurants in Naples, Fl. -- yes, a chain of sorts, but awfully good.

Baltimore has some outstanding restaurants, but the ones I remember were not walking distance from Inner Harbor, I don't think.

It is worth a cab ride or shuttle ride to get out of tourist-central. I know that's not your question, but it is my recommendation to find the better places.

In Fell's Point, we have liked Kali's (or Cali's?).

Saffron is one of the best restaurants we have ever been to

Brass Elephant is good and unique

A very cool bar is the Red Maple (if it is still there)

There is a low-key Irish type place, at the top of the street from the Tremont Plaza. I forget its name. Like a local place with pub fare.

Baltimore is a city of surprising 'pockets' of greatness, in the midst of contradictory settings.

Correction: Kali's Court
http://www.kaliscourt.com/

Pricey, though.

OK, I'm sure many will say I'm crazy, but I think we'll do Rusty Scupper. It's a short walk, has a fantastic view, and while perhaps "overpriced", everything I read seems to point to just the kind of place we'd like -- particularly feeling like we're somewhere different from being anywhere else. It may be the number one tourist spot, but has tons of top awards and reviews including TripAdvisor, Gayot (named to their top 10), Open Table (best seafood and best scenic view), and Zagat. How bad can it be?

For many years there was a Rusty Scupper in Princeton, NJ and I was sad when it left. You will enjoy it.

It won't be bad, Neo, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for the suggestion of Brio, we actually have one in Tampa, and I'll put it on our (ever lengthening) list. I think they held SO's holiday party there last year.

Neo, I almost recommended Rusty Scupper to you, but was afraid you would turn up your nose at it. Haha.

When DD was at school in Baltimore, Rusty Scupper was a good place to take her and friends. I actually like the place, even though it really needed a face lift 4 years ago.

Try to get a table by the window for a nice harbor view. It is a great location.

PS We had a Fodor's GTG for lunch at the Brio in Denver, and the restaurant was very accommodating for our large group. Food was good, too. Great apps.

My OpenTable VIP status usually gets me a good view table. So I'll go for that.

My tastes are varied. And while I love small, trendy, top chef places -- frankly that's the type of places we eat in much of the time (with a super advantage of many of them being BYOB). So what don't we have at home? A great big place with gleaming glass facing a harbor and its twinkling lights. By the way, I know crab cakes are everywhere there, but I noticed Rusty Scupper's (pretty pricey at $16 each) have been rated tops a lot of times.

Neo, that is exactly my goal, too. When near water, we always find a restaurant with a view.

You won't be disappointed in its location. There is free, covered parking, too, if you don't want to walk.

Never had crab cakes there, but their calamari app is good. I think I usually ordered scallops there, as I do every place possible.

Report back, eh?

Just had dinner at the Rusty Scupper on a work trip to B-more (I grew up there and it was always the place my parents went for big date nights). The view is gorgeous, the piano player is a nice touch, and the seafood was all well-prepared. My group of colleagues all really enjoyed it. The service was good and the walk around the harbor back to our hotel was lovely. I was pleasantly surprised; when my boss booked it I sort of secretly thought it would be too old-school and not foodie enough but everyone found something to love.

When I visit my sister in South Baltimore, I love the Wine Market (mentioned above) and a treat is to go out to Woodbury Grill but either one could be a prized foodie place in any city. The Rusty Scupper will give you the harbor experience away from the chains of HarborPlace.

I live near the Rusty Scupper [chain] in Federal Hill and have been there a couple of times to meet people for (overpriced) drinks. If that's the kind of touritst trap you are looking for, I was mislead.

While the Wine Market and some of the other places I suggested (with the exception of Mr. Rain's Fun House) don't have the view, IMO they are much more authentic.

TirNaNog [a small chain] that has a top floor spot on the Inner Harbor. The orginal one is in NYC near Madison Square Garden and it is a true Irish Pub. They have another one in Philly. Again, with the Baltimore one being in the Inner Harbor, it is less Irish and a little more touristy, but the food and service has always been decent.

I certainly don't envy you with your drive, so good luck with your choice, and report back for us.

Wow. You've been there a couple of times for overpriced drinks. So you are INDEED an expert on the food there. Have you ever even eaten there or is such a place frequented by "gasp" TOURISTS just too beneath you. Yes we are tourists, so enjoying the touristy site is not beneah me. Sorry if I sound bitter, but I would expect to pay a lot for drinks in a setting like that and would enjoy them more than half priced drinks in a dark bar somewhere. I really care more about the view (which as I said we don't have at home) than being "authentic" whatever that means. I've been to Irish pubs in dozens of towns which are great and dozens of them in Ireland, but none of those places have a three story glass fronted place facing the beautiful twinkling lights of the Inner Harbor. Sorry you don't understand that.

I guess my main point was, if I were in Ireland I'd seek out an Irish bar. While I'm in Baltimore I'd rather seek out a seafood place with a view of the Inner Harbor. Again, sorry you don't understand that, but of course we all have different tastes.

Enjoy the view and the food, Patrick. I'm sure you will. If you return to Baltimore on another visit, I recommend Salt in Upper Fells Point, a small chef-owned place that has very good food.

I don't think the Rusty Scupper is a chain restaurant. I believe it is part of a corporate group, but when I said chains, I meant the type of chain restaurant that is the same in any part of the country, from the menu to the decor.

Yes, it was a bit expensive, but the view and the service were both excellent. No, you aren't going to get molecular gastronomy, nor are you going to have a neighborhood experience. We all choose restaurants for different reasons, and this is one you choose for a nice (although slightly corporate and not overly creative) meal with a stunning view.

Enjoy your evening, NeoPatrick! The after-dark view of the harbor with all the colored lights is as magical as the daylight view of the water and the boats.

I live in the Balto metro area and consider myself a foodie. I have been to Rusty Scupper numerous times over the years, for (uninspired) first dates, a wedding reception (?!), drinks with friends, lunch with out of towners, several corporate holiday parties, etc.

The restaurant has slowly improved in the last 10-15 years.

A Michelin star experience...you will not get. Impeccably prepared, super imaginative food...you will not get.

Here's what you *will* likely get: (I say likely, because while the trend is improvement, there was one occasion when I found the service to be noticeably and uncharacteristically lacking. But every restaurant is bound to have a bad night.) Attentive and extremely friendly service. Incredible views of the Inner Harbor. My favorite is after nightfall when all of the lights sparkle against the water. Solid and better than average (but not outstanding) regionally prepared seafood. I recall a few things on the menu were so-so to blah; sorry I can't recommend or warn you about any particular menu items b/c it's been awhile.

I don't disagree with any of the above reviews...even that of flirtinfilly, to a certain degree. I think it all depends on what you want. You want Inner Harbor, but not a chain (I think there used to be another somewhere, but now the Balto restaurant is the only one still operating). You want a little bit on the casual side. You don't require fine cuisine and sounds like you want something a little memorable. I think that RS will fit that bill well. You'll get good service, great views, a relaxed vibe and solid but not outstanding food.

My only other thoughts are something in Federal Hill, mostly walkable, depending on how far your walking tolerance is. I love Regi's...and others...but that is another post.

Let us know!