Baltimore Fine Dining Guide

Baltimore is a city full of culture, history and some fantastic food. Like any big city, restaurants differ exponentially in cuisine as well as pricing. I’m going to share with you all some of my favorite fine dining restaurants in Baltimore. I tried as hard as I could to stay away from the big name chains and focus on some of the delicious upscale eateries in Baltimore. Please note that these restaurants are in no particular order and I apologize if any of your favorites aren’t included. I hope you all enjoy.

 

1. Woodberry Kitchen (2010 Clipper Park Road, No. 126) – Restaurateur Spike Gjerde’s flagship restaurant, Woodberry Kitchen specializes in farm to table. The restaurant was created from an old factory to match the refined vibe of the food.

 

2. Tio Pepe (10 E Franklin Street ) – Upscale Spanish cuisine from the “Old Country” is exactly what you receive when you dine here. You must try the sangria, paella and of course the pine nut cake, they’re a few of the specialties and my favorites.

 

3. Ouzo Bay (1000 Lancaster Street) – Located in Harbor East, this upscale Greek restaurant is a Baltimore staple of mine. You absolutely have to try the fresh fish or lamb.

 

4. The Food Market (1017 W. 36th Street) – Part of the up and coming Hampden neighborhood, The Food Market fits the scene with very creative menu and cocktail choices. An open kitchen allows you to watch Executive Chef Chad Gauss at work.

 

5. Wit & Wisdom  (200 International Drive) – Chef Michael Mina’s American restaurant located in the Four Seasons Hotel offers beautiful and chic menu items. With new Executive Chef Zack Mills at the helm, this Zagat rated restaurant is a must try.

 

6. Fleet Street Kitchen (1012 Fleet Street) – This is a favorite restaurant of mine specializing in American cuisine. Craft cocktails, beers and wines are matched perfectly with Executive Chef Michael Correll’s imaginative dishes.

 

7. Charleston (1000 Lancaster St) – An absolutely beautiful restaurant from executive chef and co-owner Cindy Wolf. Fantastic service and food are always guaranteed here.

 

8. The Prime Rib (1101 N Calvert St #102) – One of Baltimore’s most iconic steakhouses. Incredible cuts of meats featured on the menu. You must try the prime rib if you choose to go here.

 

 

 

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander

Wit & Wisdom Interactive Brunch

The Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore is known for their lavish rooms, amenities and beautiful restaurants. One of the restaurants featured in the Four Seasons Baltimore is Wit & Wisdom: An absolutely stunning restaurant with beautiful views of the waterfront paired with whimsical and creative dishes created by executive chef Zach Mills.

The restaurant recently revamped their brunch, unveiling their brand new, interactive brunch concept. Offered every Sunday, brunch including live music and action stations.

On Sunday, Dec. 14 I took a drive downtown to try this new interactive brunch.

I have had the pleasure of enjoying dinner before at Wit & Wisdom so I had some idea of what was in store. The truth of the matter was once I walked in and saw the brunch spread I was in total disbelief. Every food one could imagine being included was present plus many others. The lavish buffet style spread was intimidating at first.

Since there was way too much food for me to touch on in just one post, I thought I’d do something a little different and list my top 10 dishes I had that morning. You may be thinking ten different dishes is quite the morning brunch, but just think when I was enjoying all this food it was to better educate you all. The list is in no particular order.

1.) Pancakes – These weren’t your typical pancakes. They were huge and so light and fluffy. Peanut Butter, jelly, whipped cream, butter and syrup were served alongside.

 

The fluffiest and biggest pancakes. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

2.) Raw Bar – Beautifully shucked oysters and shrimp. Such a nice addition to brunch.

 

3.) Charcuterie – House smoked and cured meats served with crostini (crunchy bread).

 

Some of the fresh fish and charcuterie. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

4.) Carving Station – Featured last Sunday was a beautiful roasted salmon and teres major such a tender piece of meat.

Carving Station featuring salmon and beef. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

 

5.) Sausage Gravy and Biscuits – A spicy white gravy full of huge chunks of sausage served with flaky and buttery biscuits.

 

6.) Omelet Station – Pick your favorite toppings and choice of eggs and watch the magic happen.

 

7.) Mac n’ Cheese – So creamy and so tasty. Served in a huge cast iron skillet with crispy breadcrumbs on top.

 

Mac n’ Cheese. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

8.) Bread Pudding – Delicately prepared with a lush caramel sauce. So yummy.

 

Bread Pudding. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

9.) Artisan Pastries – There were too many amazing pastries not to feature them. The almond and chocolate croissants were flaky and decadent.

Artisan Pastries made in house. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

10.) The Service – When you go to the four seasons you expect fantastic service. From the moment I stepped into the restaurant until the time I left the service was impeccable. Everyone from the chefs to the waitress to the hostesses was extremely polite.

 

Make a reservation at OpenTable or call 410-223-1456.

 

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

 

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander

Fleet Street Kitchen

There are a few restaurants in Baltimore that always top my list when people ask for recommendations. These restaurants are typically very modern with absolutely incredible food. They really capture the Baltimore dining scene. One of these restaurants near the top of that list is Fleet Street Kitchen, a favorite of mine since the first time I went there to eat. I am amazed at the beautiful plates, the modern décor and the all around knowledgeable and friendly staff.

On Dec. 9, I had the pleasure of being invited back to Fleet Street Kitchen to welcome in their new executive chef, Michael Correll. Correll was already working for the Bagby Restaurant Group for their Towson location, Cunninghams. Chef Correll put together a tasting menu featuring some of the freshest and most exquisite pairings.

The tasting menu and table setting. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The evening began with a Fluke Crudo, a thinly sliced piece of raw white fish served with poppy seed, caviar and buttermilk. At first I was nervous eating the raw fish, but the caviar and buttermilk sauce complimented the tender pieces of fish so nicely.

Fluke Crudo. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Next was one of my favorite courses: the house made Pumpkin Agnolotti. A very tender ravioli esque noodle stuffed with pumpkin and served with brown butter, sage, a tart preserved meyer lemon and black winter truffles. It has always been a dream of mine to sample black truffles and they definitely lived up to all the hype. They perfectly complimented the dish and added a nutty taste.

Pumpkin Agnolotti. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The third course served was a beautiful piece of Halibut. The firm filet was served with glazed baby carrots, kale and this decadent hazelnut butter. The hazelnut butter stole the show; I wanted to spread this butter on bread. It was nutty and just perfectly balanced the dish.

Roasted Halibut. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Meat came next on the tasting menu. A rare piece of Beef Strip Loin served on a bed of potato gnocchi, black trumpet mushroom, broccoli and peanuts. The loin was cooked beautifully and paired so perfectly with the tender gnocchi.

Beef Strip Loin. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Feeling ten pounds heavier and with four courses completed, we moved to dessert. Prepared for us was a beautifully plated Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with the first of the season blood orange gelée. One dessert wasn’t enough. A Honeycrisp Apple Napoleon was also brought out. Almond pecan granola and a tart granny smith apple sorbet paired perfectly with the sweet crème of the Napoleon. It was an absolutely perfect way to finish this meal.

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

A huge kudos to Chef Correll and his staff. His technique and creativity will be a perfect fit for Fleet Street Kitchen.

 

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

 

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Jack Binion’s Steak Sunday Brunch (Horseshoe Casino)

With the growing interest in brunch across the Baltimore area, Jack Binion’s Steak is the newest restaurant to implement brunch. Jack Binion’s Steak is Horseshoe Casino’s premier restaurant. Known for their premium cuts of meat and lavish décor, this steakhouse is taking a pleasant upscale twist on brunch.

Dec. 7 was their unveiling and I was there to take in this decadent feast. This was my first time at Jack Binion’s. The décor was refined and classy with a massive dining room and a bar situated close to the entrance of the restaurant.

The table setting for brunch. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Our table started with cocktails (not included in the brunch price), French-pressed coffee and an assortment of juices before delving into the buffet. Once drinks were served we went up to enjoy the food. They featured scrambled eggs, cheesy hash browns, country grits, crispy bacon, sausage links, house-made breakfast pastries, seasonal sliced fruits and an omelet station. Lunch items were also being served. Featured was a delicious smoked country ham carving station, grilled chicken with wild mushrooms and seared salmon with a cream and tarragon sauce.

The omelette station. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Roasted Salmon part of the lunch options. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The food was excellent. After sampling all the dishes I was thoroughly impressed, satisfied and very, very full. My favorites had to be the country ham, the omelet station and the house-made breakfast pastries. You have to try the Danishes.

Seasonal fruit display. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

House made pastries. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

The highlight of the brunch had to be the live jazz music being played throughout brunch hours. The music was a pleasant undertone to the meal.

The jazz area with live music. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student.

Jack Binion’s brunch is running every Sunday through December from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. and on New Years Day. The brunch buffet is $37 for non-rewards members and $35 for total rewards members. For reservations call 443-931-4386 48 hours in advance or visit JackBinionsBmore.com. You can also make a reservation through OpenTable.

I hope you all are able to make it out to Horseshoe Casino and Jack Binion’s for their jazz brunch.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

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Edited by Jared Kurlander.

Blue Hill Tavern (938 South Conkling Street)

This weekend I was in search of a fancier restaurant in Baltimore. Before a decision could be made, the restaurant had to meet a few criteria: a cool/chic décor, an interesting menu and not a chain restaurant. With these three factors in mind and some help from Baltimore Magazines 50 Best Restaurants, I chose Blue Hill Tavern.

Nestled in the heart of Canton, Baltimore Blue Hill Tavern illuminates the night sky with a bluish tint. The restaurant is beautiful. A central host stand is situated right in front of the doors with tables around it and a bar to the immediate right. The tavern is two floors with more elegant table settings upstairs and another bar at the back of the second floor. The dimly lit dining room and beautiful paintings strategically placed around the restaurant set the setting for a delicious meal.

The Blue Hill Tavern. Photo by City Paper.

The thing that always amazes me about nicer restaurants is the knowledge and all-around service of the front-of-house staff. The extremely helpful and polite waiter to the constant attention from the bus boys made the experience all that much more enjoyable.

Now, to the second criteria: the menu. The menu was beautiful, broken down into appetizers, salads, brick oven pizzas, mains and extras. I was overwhelmed with the appetizers. They all looked to die for. I was recommended to get either the Mussels (which are a daily special and were a Mediterranean rendition with feta, olives and roasted red peppers) or the Rabbit Empanadas ($12). Being the adventurous foodie that I am, I went with the empanadas. I mean, how many times in your lifetime are you going to be able to eat rabbit? After a few deep breaths and a couple pictures of the beautifully prepared appetizer, I dug in. The rabbit was tender as can be and had a kind of smoky flavor from the red wine braising process. It was definitely a great way to start off the meal.

Rabbit Empanadas. Photo by Taylor Seidel/ TU Student.

With such a refined and seasonal menu, choosing a main entrée always presents an issue for me. You know that all of the selections are going to be delicious. I always like to try something different, so I narrowed it down to Half Duck Two Way ($24), whole Bronzino ($28) and the Seared Salmon ($25). My waiter guided me towards the duck and I could not be happier with the decision. The duck was prepared as both a seared breast and a confit leg and thigh (confit refers to cooking the meat in its own fat). The confit was some of the most succulent and juicy meat I have ever had. The duck was served with a crispy polenta cake, braised kale and a tart blueberry demi glaze. We also got the Surf and Turf ($27), which was a beautiful petit filet mignon paired with an all-lump crabmeat crab cake.

Duck Two Ways. Photo by Taylor Seidel/TU Student

The food was delicious. The executive chef is a genius, pairing different flavors together to form beautiful dishes. Blue Hill Tavern exceeded all expectations.

Enjoy everyone! And above all, if you go out to enjoy a meal, be adventurous and try something different. I promise you, especially at a nicer restaurant, the pairings may be off but they always result in GoodEats.

 

Make sure to follow GoodEatsMD on both Twitter and Instagram.

 

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

 

 

 

-Edited by Jared Kurlander

Cunningham’s (1 Olympic Place)

This past Thursday, a few friends and I decided to try a nicer restaurant for one of our friend’s birthday. The choice was easy: Cunningham’s. Cunningham’s is relatively new to the Towson area and adds a more upscale feel to the community.

Located right off of York Road accessible from the roundabout, the restaurant is easily spotted from the street. The restaurant is beautiful, with a huge dining room and an open kitchen giving the diner a sneak peak at the magic. Cunningham’s menu is full of farm favorites, featuring menu items picked at the peak of their flavor, freshness and nutritional content.

The menu is broken down into four different main sections: table, appetizers, entrees and sides. Our waiter suggested the housemade charcuterie ($15), which features fresh cured meats and cheeses served to share. The Steak Tartare ($12) was unanimously decided by the table. The dish featured a tartare with chimichuri, quail egg and burgundy truffle, served with a few kettle chips to bring it all together. It was exquisite. Our table also tried the Pork Belly and Shrimp Dumplings (light dumplings with a salsa verde dipping sauce) ($9). These were by far the best starter. I also highly recommend taking a look at the flatbreads, they are huge and plenty to share. We went with a Housemade Chorizo ($12), featuring pickled shallots, grilled scallions and mozzarella.

Choosing a main course at a fancier restaurant is always tough. Cunningham’s entrée menu was refined and all looked delicious. The big decision was meat or fish. I personally like to try something a little different so the decision was between the Pan Roasted Halibut ($27) and Pan Seared Rockfish ($27). With some help from our server I went with the rockfish, which had a tomato, zucchini and squash puree served beneath it. The fish was tender, yet still had a perfectly crispy and seared skin. One of my friends treated himself to the 16oz Creekstone Farm Strip Steak ($42). It was a masterpiece, with huge strips of perfectly juicy meat fanned across a plate. Going a different route, my other friend tried the 14 oz. Pork Chop ($28) and was pleasantly surprised by the flavorful meat.

Pan Seared Rockfish. Photo by Taylor Seidel/ TU Student.

Cunningham’s also features a café/bakery around back, which serves breakfast sandwiches and breads, along with lunches. They also feature a full assortment of coffee and espresso drinks. The café is only open until 5 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. on weekends.

Cunningham’s also features a Sunday brunch prix fixe menu for $30 a person. Additionally, they feature a weekly happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, a half-price wine night on Tuesdays and Neighborhood Night on Sundays that has 20 percent off entrees and bottles of wine.

Whatever your reason for visiting Cunningham’s it’s sure to include some incredible food and fantastic service.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

My friends and I enjoying Cunningham’s. Photo by Taylor Seidel/ TU Student.

 

 

—Edited by Jared Kurlander.

The Food Market (1017 W. 36th Street)

Baltimore is home to many different restaurants, both expensive places and more moderate restaurants. Throughout my journey thus far on GoodEats, I have focused on lesser-known and reasonably-priced restaurants in the area. I decided to switch it up and do a special review this time for GoodEats. My next recommendation is the delectable and a highlight of Hamden: The Food Market.

Located off of West 36^th street in Baltimore City, this is a restaurant for any occasion. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just trying to treat yourself, The Food Market has it all.

As you drive down the Avenue in Hamden, you are struck with the smartly designed industrial modern space comprising the restaurant. The simplicity of a black restaurant front and the vibrant white sign is hard to miss. Don’t worry about parking here, The Food Market offers complimentary valet parking.

The open, modernly furnished restaurant was bustles with the noises of the dinner rush. As you browse the menu, I suggest something under the “Little” menu. The Amish soft pretzel is delightful, pairing light and fluffy pretzels with an almost sinful beer-cheese fondue. The cheese sauce was heavenly and I was almost tempted to scrape every crevice of the container to ensure I didn’t miss any of the cheesy goodness. Another option was the buffalo pickles. They are something out of a fantasy. Imagine crunchy pickles deep fried, and then topped with Gorgonzola cheese and hot sauce. Delicious!

I also highly recommend taking a look at some of the handcrafted cocktails – only if you’re of legal age of course! I had to get the Pimlico Playboy (it tasted as good as it sounds).

Now to the main course and the true judgment of a nice restaurant. The menu had so many tantalizing entrees. I didn’t know what to choose. Upon a recommendation from my server, I ended up getting the steak frites. It was amazing and cooked to perfection. They are served along side truffle Parmesan fries and grilled asparagus. I’m going to have to say those were the best fries I have ever had, hands down! Whatever you decide on, I promise you it will be delicious and beautifully prepared.

Head Chef Chad Gauss is a mastermind in the kitchen. Just a few years ago, in 2010, Baltimore Magazine crowned Chef Gauss “Best New Chef.” His quirky and innovative style is clearly evident in the food served.

If by this point in your meal you still have a little room left in your stomachs, do not hesitate to try one of their homemade desserts. Each dessert is just as enjoyable and indulgent as the next.

I hope you enjoy this special recommendation and go out and enjoy The Food Market.

Until next time. I wish you GoodEats!

Warm soft pretzels served with a cheese fondue sauce

Homemade heath bar bread pudding

Fried buffalo pickles

 

 

Edited by Jared Kurlander.