In Good Taste

Hampden wine bar opens

Suzanne — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:46:03 +0000

“Hip in Hampden” is how the new 13.5% wine bar bills itself on its website. And I have to agree. It definitely adds a sophisticated element to the other restaurants and bars along The Avenue. I talked to general manager Peter Keck, who’s been busy handling operations at 13.5%, which opened to the public on Friday [...]

Food, Inc.

Suzanne — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:54:52 +0000

Yesterday, I went to see the movie Food, Inc., now playing at The Charles Theatre, hesitantly. I was worried it would change the way I view food and what I eat. And it did. Several people have told me they don’t want to see the movie for the same reason. But I hope they will change [...]

Summer Restaurant Week

Suzanne — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:18:51 +0000

It’s not too early to make reservations at one of the 90-plus restaurants taking part in restaurant week, which runs Aug. 7-16 this year. The popular restaurants fill up quickly. And it’s such a great deal—three-course dinners for $30.09. Many of the restaurants also offer two-course lunches for $20.09 and have special wine deals and events. [...]

Try Pho tonight

Suzanne — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:00:45 +0000

If you’ve wanted to go to Baltimore Pho (one of our top 50 restaurants this year) in SoWeBo, tonight would be a good time. I got an e-mail from Pho’s general manager Hollis Albert, who used to own Flip’s bar and restaurant at Clipper Mill, about an art opening tonight (July 9) at the restaurant. In [...]

Mothers Grille on the Today show

Suzanne — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:51:04 +0000

Last August, we gave Mother’s Federal Hill Grille a Best of Baltimore nod for its pub fare, citing its artery-clogging but absolutely delicious Heart Attack on a Plate. (It’s quite the burger: beer-battered, stuffed with cheddar, and deep-fried.) Then, earlier this year, FoodNetwork.com picked up on the Baltimore burger for its U.S. roundup. Now, the Federal [...]

We hardly knew ye

Suzanne — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:32:12 +0000

The Towson restaurant Blue Grotto, which only opened earlier this year, has closed. I reviewed the restaurant for our July issue and had a decent meal there (the focus was Mediterranean and Greek cuisine), though the service was below par. When I called the restaurant today, the man who answered said they were clearing out the [...]

Easy crab appetizer

Suzanne — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:37:27 +0000

Dave Durian, our favorite wake-up guy on WBAL radio, shared an incredibly simple crab dish with me this morning when I was on the morning show. I, um, didn’t ask if I could pass it on, so I hope he doesn’t mind. But it’s perfect for any get-togethers over the Fourth. There are no measurements, but [...]

Breakfast and brunch

Suzanne — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:24:44 +0000

I'd like your input. For October, the magazine is doing a roundup of the best places to go for breakfast and brunch. I’ve come up with an ever-growing list, but I’d like your help, too, in case I've forgotten a contender. I’m looking for kid-friendly places, too. Please let me know your favorites. Thanks.

More on Ixia

Suzanne — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:05:41 +0000

Here's an e-mail sent by Ixia's Brendan Dorr, who we picked as one of Baltimore's best bartenders in our March issue. There's a happy ending. Dear Friends, Today is a sad day. Ixia Restaurant Lounge and Bar will be closing its doors permanently. I truly think it is a loss to Baltimore. Un Kim, the owner [...]

Ixia is closing

Suzanne — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:26:06 +0000

I can’t believe Ixia, one of our favorite places and No. 22 on our Best Restaurants list, is closing at the end of June. I just talked to one of the restaurant's managers, who confirmed it. I’ll have more details soon.