PhunGal

We will soon be visiting the Baltimore/Annapolis area for a long weekend. Since there seems to be no less than a million dining options, I would welcome suggestions from locals or others who have had great meals there. Chain establishments are an absolute no-no in my book, unless they are specific to the area. Ideas that don’t require a second mortgage on the house would be most appreciated, as well as your opinion if reservations will be necessary. Breakfast is included at our hotel.

Friday: We’ll both be arriving at BWI around 8PMish. Our hotel is in the airport neighborhood. (Yes, we would love to stay at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, but we've got free accommodations!) Is there something in the airport area that warrants a visit or should we venture elsewhere?

Saturday: We’ll spend the day in Annapolis and are looking for both lunch and dinner suggestions. Is Cantler’s Riverside Inn a yay or a nay? We must indulge in seafood at least once during our stay.

Sunday: Seeking lunch suggestions in Fells Point and dinner suggestions elsewhere near the Inner Harbor. Harbor East? Little Italy?

Monday: Seeking lunch suggestions in the Federal Hill neighborhood. We’ve got tickets to the Orioles game that evening (I’m from West Michigan – Go Tigers!), so dinner will likely be the traditional ballpark fare of dogs and beer.

Thanks in advance for sharing your favorites! Trip report to follow upon my return!!

annieO

There are many food options at the Orioles ballpark besides hot dogs. Go early for the fun pre game activities. Sorry I can't give any other recommendations as I can't remember the names of place we ate at when we were in Baltimore. Have a great trip!

flpab

Boogs at the ballpark.

Annapolis

http://www.cafenormandie.com/

smetz1

hi Phun - in fact there are a couple of good options by the airport. There are two restaurants in Linthicum that have the reputation of serving some of the best crab cakes in Baltimore. One is G&M, located at the corner of Nursery Road and Hammonds Ferry Road. The other is Olive Grove, located about a block away on Hammonds Ferry. Neither is much to look at, mind you, and most of their "cuisine" is pretty pedestrian. But their crab cakes are the bomb. The wife and I prefer Olive Grove (their side dishes are a little better), but that opinion is not universal. Either one will take you about 10 minutes' driving from the area around the airport.

For lunch in Fells, Thames Street Oyster House is on the water & has pretty good seafood. My daughter really likes another couple of places on Thames Street, including Slainte Irish Pub and a tavern called "The Point". (Not that it matters much, but in Baltimore we pronounce Thames the way it's spelled.)

For dinner, Harbor East has a lot of good options, including Pazo (small plates, cool building), Cinghale (upscale italian), and Ouzo Bay (Greek seafood, expensive). A great place is Salt, located in Butcher's Hill on Pratt Street, and another great one is Jack's Bistro, located farther to the east in Canton. People also really love Peter's Inn, on Wolfe Street in Fells Point, though I've never really found it to be thrilling. Also, there is a square in Canton called O'donnell Square, on O'donnell street, that is very nice, has lots of restaurants (one called Mama's on the Half Shell is quite popular), and is very pleasant in the evening as long as it's not some imported drinking holiday like Cinco de Mayo.

Sassafrass

Peter's Inn: food is great, but very noisy inside. We go there only when it is warm enough to sit outside. Then it is kind of street side, so go for the food, not the environment.

Zee Mean Bean: on Fleet Street in Fells Point. This is one of my favorite places in the city. It is in an old row house place and plain, but charming inside. I like it most when the upper floor is open for seating. The food has a slavic twist and is excellent and interesting.

Gertrudes: attached to the Baltimore Museum of Art and looking out to the sculpture garden, great to sit out for lunch on a warm day. Make a reservation for dinner. Excellent crab cakes.

PhunGal

What wonderful suggestions! I appreciate all of your ideas. I'll let you know where we end up dining. Thanks again!