Baltimore, Fells Point, mid-October

[malarkey]

Hello out there... is there anyone still here reading?

 

Me & a friend will be staying one night in Baltimore before heading up to the 5 Star Event in Elkton (Fair Hill). We will likely be staying downtown, so are looking for a spot to have a lovely dinner. We are open to anything. Here's what is on our list so far:

 

Charleston - This would probably be my choice if I didn't have anyone else to consider or was traveling with a hardcore foodie. Friend might be open to this though, it's not like she's a super picky eater or on a strict diet.

 

Black Olive - Looks very interesting, but some of the reviews and photos from this place make me have doubts. Looks super casual (which I don't mind at all) but I'm not really wanting super casual service like maybe we'll remember to bring your drinks/food/whatever.

 

Woodbury Tavern - looks great, but some were crying over their shift in business model, claiming the food was also a casualty of this change.

 

Petite Louis Bistro - I love classic french bistro fare, so this would make me happy if the food is well prepared.

 

Also found by searches but not specifically recommended by anyone: 

 

Thames Street Oyster House, Bond House, Duck Duck Goose.

 

Thank you in advance for any recommendations you might have.

[C. sapidus]

31 minutes ago, malarkey said:

Hello out there... is there anyone still here reading?

 

Me & a friend will be staying one night in Baltimore before heading up to the 5 Star Event in Elkton (Fair Hill). We will likely be staying downtown, so are looking for a spot to have a lovely dinner. We are open to anything. Here's what is on our list so far:

 

Charleston - This would probably be my choice if I didn't have anyone else to consider or was traveling with a hardcore foodie. Friend might be open to this though, it's not like she's a super picky eater or on a strict diet.

 

Black Olive - Looks very interesting, but some of the reviews and photos from this place make me have doubts. Looks super casual (which I don't mind at all) but I'm not really wanting super casual service like maybe we'll remember to bring your drinks/food/whatever.

 

Woodbury Tavern - looks great, but some were crying over their shift in business model, claiming the food was also a casualty of this change.

 

Petite Louis Bistro - I love classic french bistro fare, so this would make me happy if the food is well prepared.

 

Also found by searches but not specifically recommended by anyone: 

 

Thames Street Oyster House, Bond House, Duck Duck Goose.

 

Thank you in advance for any recommendations you might have.

 

Firstly, I am no expert on Baltimore restaurants. I expect you will get good food at the places you listed.

 

But. If you want the local experience you want a crab joint where they will dump a bushel of steamed crabs onto the brown paper covering the table. Tell stories, drink beer, and pick crabs until you become a) full: b) tired of picking crabs; or c) in acute pain from Old Bay in cut fingers. Usual accompaniments include Maryland crab soup, coleslaw, hush puppies, etc.

 

Or you could go to a nice restaurant and get some delicious crab cakes. But it just isn't the same.

 

The closest I see to Inner Harbor are Faidley's, which has been around forever, or LP Steamers (never been). But usually crab joints are more out in the country.

 

Hope you have a great time, whatever you decide.

Edited August 13, 2023 by C. sapidus (log)

[Alex]

Yes, Charleston. Don't think twice. Ms. Alex also says yes to Cinghiale and Duck Duck Goose. 

Edited August 13, 2023 by Alex
to fix a typo (log)

[KennethT]

1 hour ago, C. sapidus said:

 

Firstly, I am no expert on Baltimore restaurants. I expect you will get good food at the places you listed.

 

But. If you want the local experience you want a crab joint where they will dump a bushel of steamed crabs onto the brown paper covering the table. Tell stories, drink beer, and pick crabs until you become a) full: b) tired of picking crabs; or c) in acute pain from Old Bay in cut fingers. Usual accompaniments include Maryland crab soup, coleslaw, hush puppies, etc.

 

Or you could go to a nice restaurant and get some delicious crab cakes. But it just isn't the same.

 

The closest I see to Inner Harbor are Faidley's, which has been around forever, or LP Steamers (never been). But usually crab joints are more out in the country.

 

Hope you have a great time, whatever you decide.

Is O'Brycky's (sp?) still around?

[C. sapidus]

7 minutes ago, KennethT said:

Is O'Brycky's (sp?) still around?

 

Apparently Obrycki's closed their original location and relocated to BWI airport:

 

Obrycki's at BWI (click)

[AlaMoi]

Obrycky's is closed/out of business.

they sold their recipes - which one can, apparently..., get from another shop.

[curls]

Charelston and Petit Louis Bistro are both Cindy Wolf restaurants. There are a few more restaurants in her restaurant group https://foremanwolf.com/properties/.  I haven't has a chance to go but know that her restaurants always get great reviews.

 

I would recommend Bo Brooks for crabs - a wonderful crab house in the Inner Harbor but they closed earlier this year. Harbor Place in the Inner Harbor is not what it once was -- in fact, the mall is a ghost town now, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ground-lease-move-is-step-to-revitalize-harborplace/vi-AA1a4ndA?ocid=socialshare

 

If you like trains, the B & O Railroad Museum is a must see. https://www.borail.org/

[gfweb]

Fair Hill is right around the corner from us.  No restaurants near there until you get to Wilmington where there are several good ones.

 

If you stayed in Wilmington at the Hotel Dupont you'd be closer than Baltimore and near some good restaurants (La Fia, Le Cavalier, Bardea Steak (which ain't no steakhouse) .

 

But I endorse Charleston whole heartedly.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

3 hours ago, gfweb said:

Fair Hill is right around the corner from us.  No restaurants near there until you get to Wilmington where there are several good ones.

 

If you stayed in Wilmington at the Hotel Dupont you'd be closer than Baltimore and near some good restaurants (La Fia, Le Cavalier, Bardea Steak (which ain't no steakhouse) .

 

But I endorse Charleston whole heartedly.

 

Or one could stay at Hotel Dupont and just eat at their restaurant.

 

[gfweb]

7 hours ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

Or one could stay at Hotel Dupont and just eat at their restaurant.

 

 

Yes indeed. Le Cav is very good.   They redid the Green Room a bit (still very elegant) and installed a great chef.

 

But I'd go 4 blocks to Bardea Steak.

 

Seriously, I wouldn't schlep from Baltimore to go to Fair Hill.

[malarkey]

15 hours ago, gfweb said:

Seriously, I wouldn't schlep from Baltimore to go to Fair Hill.

 

Yes to this. We already have a place within 10 minutes of Fair Hill. The plan is to fly into Baltimore then drive up the next day. 

 

Great suggestions everybody, thank you so much for your responses! 

[malarkey]

22 hours ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

Or one could stay at Hotel Dupont and just eat at their restaurant.

 

Indeed. We could spend our first night there instead of Fells Point. We haven't booked anything yet. 

[malarkey]

On 8/13/2023 at 7:36 PM, curls said:

On 8/13/2023 at 2:45 PM, C. sapidus said:

But. If you want the local experience you want a crab joint where they will dump a bushel of steamed crabs onto the brown paper covering the table. Tell stories, drink beer, and pick crabs until you become a) full: b) tired of picking crabs; or c) in acute pain from Old Bay in cut fingers. Usual accompaniments include Maryland crab soup, coleslaw, hush puppies, etc.

 

Or you could go to a nice restaurant and get some delicious crab cakes. But it just isn't the same.

 

See I would love to do this too. Who says I can't have both? 😋