Baltimore, Inner Harbor..... Any suggestions?

Any good ideas for all three meals in Baltimore? I will be there for several days. I have been told Little Italy has some good places, but have not been given any names.

the Harbor area is, as you probably know, just littered with touristy places. You'll definitely want to move inland for some original restaurants.

the Harbor area is, as you probably know, just littered with touristy places. You'll definitely want to move inland for some original restaurants.

I really know nothing of the area. This will be my first trip. I have a couple of days that I can get out and explore. The other days, I will only be free in the evening and will will be taking several people to dinner.

Try 'Pazo'. It is a locally owned and operated Mediterranean restaurant located in the inner harbor. If you're in the mood for Seafood (and who wouldn't be, it's Baltimore!) try Phillip's, a Baltimore favorite and legend since 1956. If the sky is the limit on your budget for the big dinner, try 'Charleston' which was rated 'Simply Stunning' by Baltimore Magazine. Chef Cindy Wolf's Harbor East restaurant features her signature Southern Cuisine & award winning wine list of more than 600 selections. The menu is changed daily to incorporate the freshest regional seafood, game and produce. You might also want to try La Tasca Spanish Tapas Bar & Restaurant. All of these are located in the Inner Harbor and you can check for availablity for your big (and small) parties and make your reservations on http://www.opentable.com. I hope this helps!

If the weather is decent, forget the Inner Harbor. Take the water taxi to Fells Point. Wander around and you will find many very good up scale places as well as many pubs. Very crowded on weekends. Have dinner at the Black Olive and return on the water taxi. You will be smiling; you will have outsmarted the Inner Harbor tourists.

Agree with other posts...... forget the Harbor.....huge tourist trap. Phillips, Legal Seafood, etal.. were okay but nothing special. We were there 18 months ago for 4 nights and our best meal was La Scala.....very good Italian about a mile from the Harbor....... a nice walk on a good evening.

I know how much time you're going to have or if you'll have a car but if you do a quick drive down to Annapolis would make a wonderful trip! Annapolis is a little less than a hour drive which is very scenic in Annapolis itself is wonderful. There are lots of really nice seafood restaurants there, one of our favorites is O'Leary's which has been around about 25 years and always has great fresh seafood. The menu there varies all the time depending on what seafood is available.

Here's a link: O'Leary's

I've only been to Baltimore once, but i loved Phillips when I ate in the harbour.

go to fells point. go to holy frijoles and th golden west!!!!!!

Fells Point Go to Jimmy's for breakfast, DuDa's (doo-da's) for the best crab cakes, Bertha's for the mussels, and DuClaw Brewing Co., Max's on Broadway, Wharf Rat for good beer.

Try Ze Mean Bean Cafe on Fleet Street in Fell's Point, I was the Chef there for around 6 months, I left due to the cost of living and other factors, but ir was a great place. They are decidely Eastern European, ecclectic and very Haute in their apprach to food. The prices are reasonable and their pierogies are fantastic. Check them out. The also have a mean Sunday Brunch.

1. Slightly different view from many of the others . . . no question but that the Inner Harbor is touristy, but that atmosphere can also be fun! Not sure why you're going - if you're heading there as a "foodie" searching out the different, unique, and outstanding food in the area, then listen to the others. When we went, we hit some of those, but also spent two nights just wandering the Harbor, eating at touristy places (Legal, one other), and immersing ourselves in the experience (and having a lot of fun).

2. You must go to Obrecki's!, however. It is BOTH touristy and for locals! It is the best place around for crabs. Take a cab (while walkable, depending on day and timing it's not in the greatest area), order the largest crabs they have (believe me, the smaller/cheaper crabs aren't worth the money), and dig in! You'll get a hammer, a paring knife, a roll of paper towels, and butcher paper covering the table. A server will dump a dozen or two (or three or four) crabs on the table, and go for it. I don't care how gimmicky it may be, if you haven't done it it's a must eat for the area! Check out http://www.obryckis.com!

One final note: around the far side of the Harbor is the American Visionary Art Museum (800 Key Highway, http://www.avam.org) which has work by self-taught, psychotic, and/or compulsive artists (like a replica of the Lusitania of 194,000 toothpicks) - has to be one of the finest museums in the country (with a WONDERFUL museum shop). Also, the comic book museum is fascinating!

BALTIMORE UPDATE

Velleggias , recommended by many people as a 4th generation authentic Italian eatery. The 1st generation would roll over in their graves .... They were out of Alfredo sauce and Gnocchi. The Bruschetta was garlic bread straight from the Walmart freezer, with a sparse topping.

Amici, also recommended by the locals as a great Italian eatery. The food was all served cold and the 400lb woman breast feeding her child at the table seemed to clear the place out pretty quickly. Several parties walked in and out without dining.

Pazo, the place was empty on a Friday night and I see why. The tapas was not impressive and our main courses were all sub-par. We left straight from their and had a wonderful pizza at BOP in Fell's Point.

Lebanese Taverna was very good.

Jimmys, for breakfast, was great. It reminds you of Mel's diner.

I have to go back in a couple months and hope I have better luck.

[Robin Garr]

I have to go back in a couple months and hope I have better luck.

Thanks for the candid report, Casey, but I'm sorry you hit so many disappointments.

Next time you might try posting on our WineLovers forums, too. With international participation, they have a number of regular participants in the Baltimore and Washington area.

Thanks for the candid report, Casey, but I'm sorry you hit so many disappointments.

I don't know if you saw my Inn at Little Washington update, but that made up for any bad food I my have had in Baltimore.

Thanks for letting me know about the wine lovers page.