misscindy

Just wanted to second the recommendation of the Hotel Majestic...my husband and I spent part of our honeymoon there eight years ago and it was quite lovely.

Hey! We agree on something! You are right, the Inner Horrible is all most visitors to Baltimore ever see. Then, we have listen to how much it sucks which is like judging NYC based on a visit to Times Square. And, while this is veering into another subject entirely, I give Camden Yards a pass despite the fact that no one misses Memorial Stadium more than I do. There were legit reasons it had to be done and I am still somewhat surprised that Baltimore did something so well that the rest of the country is now copying it, for better or worse. Although tacos from a neighborhood place are my game chow of choice, I happen to know that Esskay hot dogs are served.

Funny how people come out of the woodwork to toss around tired cliches about Baltimore when there is an opportunity to kiss a celeb's rear end, isn't it?

Coddies are crabcake shaped combos of salt cod and mashed potatoes. They used to be on counters of virtually every bar and convenience store in Baltimore and to a lesser extent, they still are. Of course, not everyone makes them "right" with real mashed pototoes, but Faidley's does. There's a little store in my neighborhood that has them on the counter and it never fails to crack me up when the guys behind the counter, with thick Baltimore accents, always ask "do you need a coddie with that, hon?" when I stop in to buy trash bags.

Actually, there is a Little Tavern on Eastern Avenue in Highlandtown.

A few corrections from a native: Matthew's Pizza is on Eastern Avenue in Highlandtown, not Little Italy. Worth a trip. And, they actually keep pretty regular hours. If you are going out that way, stop at Dangerously Delicious Pies at Fleet and Montford for dessert. The second correction: Gampy's has been closed for years. It stunk. As many have suggested, the Brewer's Art is a great choice. I love the beer called ozzy and the rosemary garlic frites. It will send you off to an evening at the Club Charles with the proper attitude. The jumbo lump crabcakes at Faidley's are it. They also make a mighty fine coddie, a very blue collar Baltimore food tradition.

Thanks for the welcome. I've been waiting patiently for some Baltimore chat on this board. Erin--sorry to hear you wound up at Sabatino's. That's a shame but don't hold it against us. And, glad to hear you enjoyed the Helmand. John--me thinks you kinda do like to be a "spoilsport" or else you wouldn't have been one. I stand by my original post; I like both the Helmand and Tapas Teatro a great deal. And, contrary to popular belief, some of us take the straw out of our teeth and get out of town occasionally. I love eating in Paris too--try and find a food loving person who doesn't. As for New York, I've had great meals there at places ranging from Daniel to Sripraphai. Of course, I've also had some disappointing, amazingly mediocre ones at hyped restaurants, Tabla jumps to mind. In fact, for fusion, I think Soigne is considerably better for considerably less money. Overall, it is pure folly to compare Baltimore's dining scene to those of big, wealthy cities. It is a small city with deep blue collar sensibilities. There are quality restaurants in Baltimore, just not tons of them. We are in agreement on one point, though, and that is the poor state of food writing in Baltimore. It is embarrassing.

I love Tapas Teatro. That said, not everyone does. Although I have not been to Spain, I am quite sure that it is far from "authentic" tapas but that's ok with me. The food is good (same owner as the Helmand) and the atmosphere is fun. It is almost always crowded because it is literally connected to the Charles Theatre. The good news is that tables turn over fairly quickly because people have films to catch. I enjoy the sangria, the food and the scene. And, it is across the street from the Club Charles, which is a great place for late night drinks. Of course, it is not walking distance from the Inner Horrible. Catch a cab. It is on Charles Street just north of the train station.

I don't know exactly what you have in mind for dinner, but here are some suggestions. For fine dining, Charleston in Harbor East shouldn't be missed. I also enjoy drinks at the Explorer's Lounge in the Harbor Court Hotel. There is also a very pricey restaurant in the hotel which many like but I prefer Charleston. One of my favorites right now is Soigne in Locust Point. More casual, less expensive and much hipper than Charleston. Asian fusion. Not cutting edge, but creative. I also wouldn't miss happy hour at the Brewer's Art on Charles Street in Mt. Vernon. The best rosemary garlic frites you'll ever have and some pretty tasty house brewed beer as well. Also on Charles Street is Red Maple. A very fun place for drinks and Asian inspired tapas. The Helmand is also on Charles, Afghan food. I also enjoy Thai Landing, which happens to be across the street from Brewer's Art. I think you will be happiest if you get out of the Inner Harbor area and explore a bit. Mt. Vernon is beautiful and you can easily make an evening of bar and appetizer hopping. The upstairs bar at the Brass Elephant is a good place for a drink, although the downstairs restaurant is less than impressive these days. There are several decent Indian restaurants in the area and one upscale, Indian fusion place, Saffron. A little south of the monument are Ixia and Sotta Sopra. Both are fun and have bars in the back. Hope this helps. If you have any more specific requests, let me know.

The Golden West Cafe on 36th Street in Hampden (Baltimore) fits the bill. A very casual, hip, tiny cafe that serves fantastic New Mexico style breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner. It will cure your green chile craving for sure.