Baltimore Restaurant Suggestions
 

Will be in Baltimore for a weekend in July with dad and brother. Celebrating my dad's birthday and taking in a ballgame at Camden Yards. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good restaurant in the Inner Harbor within walking or a short cab ride from the ball park? Looking for something not super-fancy but just very nice, relaxing, no rushing, good meal, good wine, etc......

Thanks as always

johns stevens in fells point (just a short water taxi away from the inner harbor) is one of my faves. the inner harbor area is very touristy but that doesn't mean you can't find a good meal. J Pauls is pretty good.

I don't know if you or your dad like Mexican food, but Blue Agave in Federal Hill has amazing food and fantastic margaritas. It's much nicer than typical burritos, tacos, etc., and very tasty.

I recommend Amicci's in Little Italy -- great food, great prices. amiccis.com

Their pane rotundo, bread covered with shrimp in a creamy sauce, is the signature dish at Ammici's. It's wonderful!!!

There's another restaurant that my collegues go to when on travel to Baltimore -- Mama's on the Half Shell. They told me it was a great locals place. Short cab ride from the inner harbor. ((b))

The Inner Harbor in July can be a little touristy and busy, but fun and there are some pretty good restaurants. Maybe not the place to go if you want peace. Take a walk there after dinner.

So many choices..but here are a few.

Littly Italy would be a cab drive.
Aldos. My favourite. A little expensive, but well worth it.
Sabatinos
Vaccaros(Great desserts)
Chiaparellis
Della Notte

Helmand(Charles Street) Afghan. Reasonable price.Long been a favourite in Baltimore

Blue Algave(mentioned before)

Roys now has a restaurant in Inner Harbor.

Tio Pepe Spanish. Excellent

Sotto Sopra(Charles St)

Tapas Teatro (N. Charles St) Tapas


All of these would require a short cab drive. You could walk to the Inner Harbor...but after a game and in July..some wating might be involved. The main road across from Camden Yards has some pretty good pub style restaurants..but they tend to be hectic after a game.

Let me know what kind of food you are looking for and maybe I can give some more suggestions. My only advice is do not eat at Phillips Seafood in the Inner Harbor....in my opinion some of the worst seafood in America.

Have a great time!!

Pazza Luna ... and tell Tony Soprano hello. Check Zagats on this one, not to be missed.

Take a cab to Obrycki's on Pratt Street and enjoy the best blue crabs you can get on this earth. And you can only get them from the Chesapeake in summer.

This is fantastic...... thanks so much.... more suggestions would be great!!!

Just ate at Cork's last week, which I believe is on Charles, and within walking distance or short cab ride from the Inner Harbor. A bit pricey (~$25 entrees), but great wine list, good service, and "nice but not fancy." The place only has about 15 tables and a small kitchen. We had a very satisfying, relaxing dinner. I think it'd be perfect for a casual birthday dinner.

I 2nd the idea for J Pauls if you definitely want to be in the Inner Harbor. You can get a table outside & get some steamed shrimp! If you want to take a water taxi or a cab, go over to Canton & eat at Bo Brooks! They have the best crab dip & right on the water.

we took the water taxi to the Rusty Scupper, had a beautiful view of the harbor and all the activity, good service, reasonable prices and good food as well. Sat outside for appetizers and then went in for dinner.

The Rusty Scupper gets my vote for the second worst food in the Inner Harbor,behind Phillips. (yes,but the view is stunning.) I second the Corks suggestion. It's a special place.

I have to second that Scupper thought.
And Phillips is all tourist trap.
Tio Pepes is good and johns stevens is a winner. Fells Point has some good spots.

A short cab ride away in Little Italy is La Tavola. The chef is from Venice, so the terrific food is different than southern italian or even Tuscan - lighter on the creams, more emphasis on great meat and seafood. Atmosphere is relaxed but not a diner, service is excellent. Highly recommend this place.

Another vote for Obrycki's. Sotto Sopra is good, but I don't think it's a real post-ballgame kind of place.

We really like the restaurants in the Federal Hill area (def a taxi from Camden Yards). Our fav is 10-06 (TenOSix) the address is 1006 Light Street.

This is a Thai-influenced fusion sort of place. The food is extraordinary. We sat outside to enjoy some truly wonderful weather last Fathers' Day and just absorbed every perfect minute. Starting with grilled oysters and Siam Mussels was a great idea. They gave us a basket of a curried toast to sop up the fantastic sauce from the mussels. We had a wonderful bottle of white wine (a Simi Valley Sauvignon Blanc) that hit just right on all counts. Our main courses-- I had a crab "cake" (in name only) over orange infused rissoto. Steve a salmon "stuffed" with the same AMAZING crab. Huge lumps of crab. Virtually no filler to turn it into a cake. This was the best crab I've had in YEARS!!!!! And then dessert--- homemade cinnamon icecream with apple pie for Papa Steve, and Key lime pie for me.

We've been back twice since then. We also liked Blue Agave and have been meaning to try Corks. Gonna have to hurry as we plan to move to NC in June!

Are you going to an afternoon game? If so, are you going to change before you go to dinner? Because after an afternoon game in July, you will be really sweaty and a bit grungy, so this could affect my suggestion! I am not being rude, just honest. There is nothing like a hot and humid Baltimore day! Some of the places above mentioned are too nice to go to straight from the game without a shower first.

If you like to eat outdoors, the deck at Victor's Cafe (foot of President Street) is one of the most beautiful places at sunset that I've been to. The food is pretty good - mostly italian and very good crab cakes. Right on the water, and an incredible view of the Harbor, without the hubub. You can easily walk there from downtown, just follow the north shore of the Harbor to the east, and you can even walk there from Camden Yards if you like to walk.

It also depends on which day you're going. I know that Pazza Luna (which was around the corner from my house in Baltimore) isn't open on Sunday or Monday. It's a wonderful restaurant!

While many of the other restaurants are not as touristy and may have better food, I would recommend M&S Grill right on the harbor after the game. There will be plenty of others joining you so you'll be dressed just fine. If there is a breeze, sit outside right by the water. It is much more convenient than trying to find you way around a different neighborhood and the food is fine.