Local Pie (8 W. Pennsylvania Ave.)

All of you avid bar-goers may have seen this restaurant just a few buildings down from B Lounge and Charles Village Pub and wondered what it is. Well, I’m here to end the mystery. The Local Pie, Towson’s new artisan pizza restaurant, is the real deal and here to stay.

The restaurant, located at 8 W. Pennsylvania Ave. took the place of the former Cuban restaurant, Havana Road. With an eye for locally sourced products, their menu is constantly changing depending on what’s in season. When I went last week, there were about a dozen different pizza choices and a couple of salad choices, all of which were as interesting and playful as the next.

The restaurant’s décor is clean and refined with white walls and framed pictures placed carefully around the room. Once inside, the menu and cashier are waiting to greet you and take your order. After a long deliberation, I decided I had to try two different pies. I went with the smashed meatball ($14) and the squash and tomato ($13). The smashed meatball pizza featured bison meatballs with house made mozzarella, tomato sauce and hot peppers and was definitely the highlight of the meal.

The Smashed Meatball Pizza. Photo taken by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The squash and tomato pizza, which was also good, had delicious oven dried tomatoes and a basil pesto sauce. We were also recommended the duck egg pizza ($13) with a fried egg on top, and a boar and bleu ($14) with braised boar bacon and an onion jam. These pizzas aren’t deep dishes or dough filled. They are thin and crispy 12-inch masterpieces.

The Local Pie is BYOB, so make sure to pick up a bottle of wine before dinner. Lisa Heckman and Peter Wood, former owners of Mt. Vernon’s Iggies, struck gold with this local artisan pizzeria.

Hope you all enjoy, as this new addition to the Towson community has satisfied the cravings of pizza lovers.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

 

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Johnny Rad’s Pizzeria Tavern (2108 Eastern Ave.)

The next stop on the journey of GoodEats features a Baltimore favorite and a favorite of celebrity chef Guy Fieri. Johnny Rad’s Pizzeria Tavern made its national debut on Food Network’s hit television show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” last November. Since the debut, the restaurant has been buzzing with patrons wanting to have a slice of its famous Neapolitan style thin-crust pizza, which was exactly what brought me through the doors last Friday.

Located in the Upper Fells Point neighborhood off Eastern Avenue, Johnny Rad’s is a little corner pizzeria. Get here early on the weekends; parking can be quite a hassle. We had to drive around for a few minutes before finding an open spot on the road. Once inside, the restaurant lived up to all expectations from the show. The restaurant is just “cool.” Skateboards plastered all over the walls, a few retro pinball machines and a busy bar right when you walk in.

The menu is as cool and hip as the décor. Obviously, right when we were seated, our eyes went to the pizza section, trying to pinpoint the one Guy Fieri was scarfing down.

Before we ordered our pizza, we wanted to get started with something off the “bar fare” section of the menu. The risotto balls ($8) are what Fieri sampled and were instantly suggested to us. We wanted to try something a little different, however, and decided to order the fried edamame ($4), a simple twist on a staple of Japanese cuisine. The edamame were great, crunchy and perfectly salted.

Each pizza has two options, either a 12 or 16-inch pie. Go with the bigger one, you’ll want more. We went with the Trainwreck ($11/$16), a thin crust pizza topped with tomato sauce, mushrooms, baby spinach, black olives, olive oil, fresh mozzarella and sea salt (that was a mouthful to say). The pizza was fantastic and featured such crunchy crust with bubbly cheese and delicious toppings. Our waitress also suggested the pesto vitello ($10/$15) served with pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. If none of the premade pizza suggestions interest you, you can always create your own pizza with as many veggies, meats, cheeses and vegan meats as you’d like.

The menu also featured huge salads and mouth-watering sandwiches. The cheesesteak ($9) and Dogtown Special ($8) looked the best. The Dogtown Special was two quarter-pound all-beef hotdogs served on a pretzel bun.

Johnny Rad’s was fantastic, a cool restaurant, with helpful staff and amazing food. Where could you go wrong? It even has vegetarian and vegan alternatives.

I hope you all enjoy Johnny Rad’s as much as I did. Until next time, I wish you GoodEats!

 

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Shoyou Sushi (1504 Light Street)

I use quite a few different resources when looking into my next restaurant to review. The Internet, Food Network, social media and The Sun are my go-to’s. Every so often I’ll get a recommendation that I have to go to a particular restaurant. Even more rare is when I receive multiple recommendations from different people for one specific spot. When that happens, I have no other option but to check it out.

This was exactly the case with my newest GoodEats venture. I was recommended by two of my friends to go try Shoyou Sushi

in Federal Hill. If it weren’t for these recommendations I would have never discovered this hidden gem.

Situated right on Light Street, Shoyou Sushi is tiny, so keep an eye out for it. Once inside you realize how little the sushi house is with only four tables and a couple seats at the sushi bar.

The owner, Bruce Li, is half the reason my friends had recommended the restaurant. He has a personality as vibrant and interesting as the specialty sushi rolls he constructs. Native to South Korea, Li gained his sushi skills in the Asian nation.

Crispy Calamari. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The sushi is what brought us through the door and did not disappoint. I highly recommend picking one of the specialty rolls; they are all unique and perfectly balanced. I had to go with the Japanese Burrito, which is a wrapped up roll with shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, crab and avocado, served with a spicy dipping sauce. This was unlike anything I have ever had before and trust me I’ve had my fare share of sushi.

Japanese Burrito. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student

The Shoyou Style Baked Lobster Roll was another interesting roll. Imagine a California Roll topped with baked lobster meat. The heavy hitter and personally recommended was The Oriole Park. The roll was quite the mouthful with crab, avocado, asparagus, cream cheese, spicy tuna and crunch unagi on top for texture.

Hot Night Baby Roll. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Putting together some unique rolls, a unique owner and a funky little sushi restaurant equals some GoodEats in my book.

 

Next time you’re in Federal Hill, give Shoyou Sushi and Bruce Li a visit.

 

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

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Sobo Café (6 W. Cross Street)

Federal Hill is known for their neighborhood restaurants flooded up and down the streets.

Any type of cuisine can be found here, from grilled cheese, seafood, pizza and everything else. With so many restaurants at your disposal the same question always pops up. How good can the food actually be? I know this may surprise you all but for the most part the restaurants of Federal Hill are all genuinely delicious.

Enough about the area, the main reason for this edition of GoodEats is to highlight a wonderful Cafe I had the pleasure of enjoying this past weekend.

Sobo Café located right in the heart of Federal Hill is the next stop on the GoodEatsMD tour. So, I ask you all to sit back and enjoy because this place was a real treat.

Nestled right off of Cross Street, the café is a block away from the iconic Cross Street Market. I was in search of a great lunch and Sobo Café was exactly that. The restaurant is small and lived up to that café feel; with a bar right as you walked in and a few tables spread around the rest of the café.

Being 2 p.m. on a Friday, the café was nearly empty. Don’t let that fool you, during dinner shifts and brunch the restaurant fills up quickly, so make sure to make a reservation by calling 410-752-1518 or through the OpenTable App.

The lunch menu, served weekdays from 11:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m., was simple. It was broken down into spreads, salad & soups, non-sandwich, and sandwich.

My friend and I started off with three spreads served with crostini and vegetables ($15). Our choices were House Smoked Salmon with goat cheese and fresh herbs, rosemary hummus with a preserved lemon oil and spicy feta with roasted garlic and jalapeno. The spreads were a perfect way to get the meal started. The platter included crostini (crunch pieces of bread), sliced carrots and cucumbers and my favorite of the plate, the pickled vegetables, which were such a nice addition. The spreads were also served by themselves or as a combination of all four.

The three spread starter. Dips, from left to right: Hummus, Smoked Salmon and Feta. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

For lunch I had to go with the SoBo Burger ($12). It caught my eye since the minute I sat down and I couldn’t be swayed. The burger started with Creekstone Farms Angus beef topped with applewood smoked bacon, roasted tomatoes, lettuce, cheddar, a house mayo and all on a house made roll. Try and say that three times fast. The burger was amazing. The burger was juicy and tender.

The Sobo Burger served with a house salad. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

My friend went with the French Dip ($11). Tender roast beef, caramelized onions and provolone cheese stacked this sandwich high. Our waitress made the decision harder by recommending the Bacon Flatbread ($9) accompanied by dates, goat cheese, onions and sage garlic spread. Also, the Mac-n-Cheese ($9) topped with cheddar cheese and tomatoes.

The French Dip served with pasta salad. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The food was delicious, the ambiance was fun and relaxing and the service was fantastic. So next time you’re in the area, make sure to give Sobo Café a try.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

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Tooloulou (529 E Belvedere Ave.)

Cajun is a style of cooking native to the South, specifically the Louisiana region. The style refers to a series of spices and seasonings special to the area and preparation.

As many of you know, I am always looking for somewhere new to try.

After looking through The Baltimore Sun’s restaurant columnist, Richard Gorelick’s, section, I knew where I had to go. The Cajun inspired restaurant Tooloulou, was next on the list of GoodEats.

Tooloulou, meaning petit crab or fiddler crab in Cajun, is located in Belvedere Square Market off of York Road. The restaurant itself is nothing special, a small area comprised of a few cooking appliances, a pizza oven and a counter where your orders taken.

Tooloulou’s storefront. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Don’t be worried about seating; the market has tons of tables around all of the different stands and restaurants.

The menu is compiled of sandwiches, po’boys (a Louisiana style sub served on French bread), pizzas, salads and specials. As made evident by the Cajun inspired name, the majority of the menu items had a Louisiana flare.

After some suggestions, I had to go with the daily special, a fried chicken sandwich served on a jalapeno cheddar biscuit with a blackberry whiskey remoulade ($13). To be honest, I was nervous at first when I ordered it, but let me tell you that this sandwich was amazing. Juicy chicken with a tart sauce and a spicy biscuit, perfectly balanced.

The Fried Chicken Sandwich Special. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

We also ordered the fried oyster po’boy ($13). Plump and juicy oysters lightly fried and served with lettuce, tomato, spicy Cajun pickles and Tabasco remoulade. Also suggested was the Coca-Cola ham ($10), marinated slices of ham served as a sandwich and salad. Lastly, not to be forgotten were the pizzas. The Tooloulou pizza ($14) is the house specialty topped with white sauce, crab, Andouille sausage, banana peppers, mozzarella and a sprinkle of Old Bay.

The food and service were fantastic. Tooloulou is a small restaurant with some huge flavors. The food was fresh and really gave the diner something different.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

 

 Edited by Jared Kurlander.

DiPasquale’s Italian Marketplace (3700 Gough Street)

About 100 years ago, a young entrepreneur, Luigi Di Pasquale Sr., opened a corner grocery market in the Highlandtown community. The grocery store specialized in fine Italian and specialty foods.

Fast-forward to today, and the market has become a seasoned restaurant that prospers from using real ingredients and homemade recipes.

This Italian Stallion (sorry, not Rocky Balboa) is tried and true with some amazing Italian specialties. So, my loyal GoodEatsMD followers, I introduce my newest addition to the list: DiPasquales Italian Marketplace.

Not the Dipasquale’s in Towson that recently closed, but nestled in a historic part of Baltimore City, DiPasquale’s blends in with the iconic Baltimore row houses. Keep your eyes peeled as you drive up Gough Street for the 5-foot Italian chef figure situated next to the front door. If that doesn’t catch your eye, just look for the historic brick building with the DiPasquale’s decal plastered on the storefront.

The interior is exactly what I expected: rows of Italian specialties for purchase, with a focal point around a long deli-style counter in the back of the restaurant. The deli counter was flooded with people queuing up to get their hands on tasty Italian treats.

The menu is focused around imported Italian meats and cheeses used to sculpt some of the biggest and most flavorful sandwiches I’ve ever seen. The menu doesn’t stop at just sandwiches.

DiPasquale’s also features Italian favorites including pasta dishes, homemade soups, appetizers, salads and brick oven pizzas cooked right in the dining room.

I was overwhelmed once it was my time to order. You would think standing in line for 10 minutes would give me enough time to think of something for lunch, but nope. The menu was huge and everything just looked amazing.

I had to seek out some guidance from the man taking orders at the counter. He suggested The Real Italian ($8.95), which has everything you could ever want on a sandwich. The sandwich somehow fits salami, pepper ham, mortadella, capicola, provolone and “everything” including olive oil and vinegar, their special blend of grated cheeses and spices, lettuce, tomato, onions and mild hots (I know, that was a mouthful). The kicker has to be the freshly baked Italian loaf the sandwich is served on. With all those meats and toppings, bread has to be sturdy enough to support it. You would think all of the ingredients would just muddle the taste, but each meat and condiment comes through clearly and complimented the next. Ladies and gentlemen, I give this sandwich two thumbs up.

The Real Italian. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student

Being my first time in years enjoying DiPasquale’s, I had to indulge. I ordered the Arancini ($4.95) house-made Sicilian rice balls, stuffed with meat and cheese and smothered in their homemade red sauce.

Meat stuffed rice balls. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student

I told you I was indulging, so this is a judge-free zone. Next, I had to try some of their gnocchi chicken soup ($4.95). The gnocchi (little potato dumplings) were perfectly tender and seasoned.

I know some of you may still be hesitant. So, to help drive this home I’ve enlisted one of my good friends, Guy Fieri (not really my friend at all, but if he did know me, we would be friends I hope). Guy Fieri, Food Network’s host of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” made it a point to visit the storied Italian Marketplace on a trip to Baltimore.  Fieri, an Italian by birth, knows his way around Italian food. His thought on DiPasquales included saying it is, “your place for everything Italian.”

Stop whatever your doing and make the drive to DiPasquale’s Italian Marketplace. Lucky for you all they are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m until 6 p.m. So no excuses!

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats.

 

Please take a moment and vote for my blog in  The Baltimore Sun’s “Best New Blog” category in their 6th annual Mobbies competition.

 

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Hamilton Tavern (5517 Harford Road)

I am always looking for a great burger. That is why this week I have chosen Hamilton Tavern as the newest GoodEats recommendation.

Tucked away off of Harford Road, you’ll miss this neighborhood joint if you blink. The interior is painted brown with a rustic feel and a big ornate door capture the storefront — once inside you just feel warm and cozy. All I needed was a blanket and a reclining chair.

The restaurant is comprised of just a couple tables and a short bar as you walk in.  Don’t look for a hostess stand here. The restaurant has no need for one, with a friendly bartender waiting to find you a table.

Now, I know I hyped these burgers up, but before I get ahead of myself, let me tell you all about the appetizers.

The appetizers, or “munchies,” are all centered on finger-food and easily shareable items. My family and I started with the daily special house-made chips and dip. That night they were featuring a warm broccoli and cheese beer sauce.

Alongside the chips and dip, we also got the disco fries ($6), which are hand-cut fries with a cheesy duck gravy, cheese blend and scallions. They were a truly guilty indulgence for all of us to enjoy.

Here we go, time to get all of your salivary glands going with this flavorful burger. The Crosstown Burger ($14) starts off with Roseda Farms fresh beef. They top the patty with lettuce, onion and horseradish cheddar. And, if you’re really feeling adventurous, throw a fried egg or bacon on it. The burger lived up to the hype; it was juicy and absolutely amazing.

Not to overshadow the rest of the menu items, but the burger was worth the drive. The pulled pork BBQ biscuit ($13) featuring a homemade cheddar-jalapeno drop biscuit was also scarfed down at my table.

Our server also recommended the falafel pita sandwich ($11) and the chicken sandwich special (a unique sandwich made up daily). No matter the entrée you chose, they are mostly all served with your choice of fries or chips.

For a dollar more, you can get broccoli salad, potato salad, a house salad or Boh Battered O’s. Get the onion rings. I repeat, get the rings, they were the real deal.

Hamilton Tavern had fantastic food and featured a wide array of local and craft drafts and bottles.  I hope you all make it out to this newest addition to GoodEats. And as always, if you have anywhere new for me to try please feel free to contact me.

Until next time. I wish you Goodeats.

 

The Crosstown Burger

 

– Edited by Jared Kurlander

Burger Bros (14 Allegheny Ave)

With school rapidly approaching, I thought it was only right to write about one of my absolute Towson favorites. This next installment of GoodEats features a real deal burger spot cranking sandwiches out by the boatload. This restaurant is Burger Bros, located off of Allegheny Avenue, situated right next to the breakfast haven Towson Hot Bagels that us Towson students religiously eat on the weekends. The restaurant may be tiny in size, but the food is for real.

The restaurant’s layout includes a few tables and a counter with a dual job: to help the customer order a burger masterpiece and to house the kitchen responsible for that masterpiece. The menu is surprisingly extensive for a burger joint, including everything from sandwiches, to salads, to side dishes, to specialty drinks.

The amazing thing about a made-to-order burger restaurant is that you have all the power to create and customize what you want. They give you the base and you can add on whatever toppings and sauces to build the best burger.

I would have to recommend starting off with one of their classic 6-ounce hand-patted burgers, or if you are trying to be a little healthier, go with the turkey burger (it is juicy and flavorful, plus you won’t feel as bad about the nutrition). Now, if you really want to try something a little different, go with the crispy buffalo chicken sandwich customized to your liking.

In my mind, nothing goes better with burgers than a side of fries, or in Burger Bros case, “spuds”. These beauties are hand cut and prepared fresh daily. They are the perfect type of fries, which are both crispy and perfectly salty.

The kicker, when it comes to Burger Bros, is that they offer half-off a sandwich and drink every Sunday (from open until 4, I believe) for Towson students when school is in session. You can’t beat that!

So, next time you’re craving a juicy, flavorful burger try Burger Bros.

The average sandwich (burger or chicken) costs between $5-$7. Fries and onion rings will run you $2-$6 for their different sizes, and up to $12 for the monster buckets.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

Can’t get enough of GoodEats? Follow me on Instagram @GoodEatsMD.

Need a Lyft? Use promo code “Sharon7546” for a free $25 ride!

Poulet (2436 W. Joppa Rd)

The next stop on the list of GoodEats is the chicken-haven known as Poulet, located right off of Falls Road, next to Green Spring Station. Keep an eye out for the green awning.

The décor is nothing special at all; there are a few tables as you walk in and an open food bar at the back of the restaurant. You approach the food line and are greeted by one of the employees. The true decision comes when deciding what type of chicken to have. All of the chickens are cooked in house, most using a rotisserie (chicken cooks on a spicket basting itself in its own juices). The choices include a traditional rotisserie chicken breast/leg, buffalo chicken, fried chicken and a bourbon style chicken. I highly recommend the traditional, which is succulent and juicy, or the buffalo for those who like a spicier option.

After you’ve chosen your chicken, the hard part is picking the sides. All of the platters include two homemade sides. The list goes on and on… and on. Some of my favorites are the macaroni and cheese, Caesar salad, the mixed vegetables and the roasted russet potatoes. Whatever your fancy, all of the sides are delicious. My favorite has to be the cold cucumber and tomato salad, served in a vinegar based sauce. It is both light and refreshing.

The quick service and unbelievable food make this restaurant a true GoodEat. Please go out and enjoy.

The average entrée is about $7-$12. The platters, which are chicken and choice of two sides, are $11, not too shabby for the generous portions.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

Need a Lyft? Use promo code “Sharon7546” for a free $25 ride!

Can’t get enough of GoodEats? Follow me on Instagram @GoodEatsMD.

A buffalo chicken platter served with russet potatoes and caesar salad

Edited by Jared Kurlander

Earth, Wood & Fire (1407 Clarkview Road)

The next restaurant I had the pleasure of enjoying was Earth, Wood & Fire. Located on a side street right off of Falls Road in Towson, it’s hard to miss it. Just look for the Princeton Sports Store and you’ll find the restaurant across the street.

The décor is extremely chic, filled with high ceilings and wooden tables throughout the space, with a open kitchen in front. The restaurant is perfumed with the rustic smell of wood burning from the open flame in the kitchen.

The menu is pretty extensive for a pizza shop, but everything is exceptional. Try the wings, a buffalo-esque dry rubbed order cooked in the open fire. They were suggested to me by my waitress and were delicious. The burgers, hand-packed and cooked to perfection, were surprisingly good as well.

But let’s cut to the main deal though: the pizza. You start with your choice of crust, either whole wheat or plain. The hard part comes when selecting toppings. Their specialty and suggested pizzas all sound amazing. I had to go with one of my personal favorites, the infamous white pizza. A traditional olive oil and garlic base, topped with mozzarella, provolone cheese and dollops of ricotta. It was scrumptious, all starting with the crispy thin crust and accented by a smoky coal-fired cooking process. The Pesto pizza was also scarfed down, featuring pesto sauce, garlic chicken and fresh mozzarella cheese.

Earth, Wood & Fire was delicious and a true GoodEat. I hope you all enjoy.

Pizza prices were between $11 and $18 depending on topics and size (10’’ or 14,’’ respecitvely)

Sandwiches and Burgers were no more than $15.

If you love Goodeats, please follow my Twitter and Instagram accounts at GoodEatsMD.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

White Pizza

Edited by Jared Kurlander.