1000yregg

If folks are still interested, I'd set up a $20 (or most likely less) Tuesday at the Uzbek place. Silk Road Choyhona Bistro in the next few weeks. I can do the 14th, 21st, or the 28th.

I think having a restaurant empire is not unique to Baltimore. I'm ok with it- the more competition, the better the food will be.

I did notice when talking to friends in Hampden that, in this economy, there are a lot more restaurants and eateries opening while more retail places are closing down.

I went to Artifact Coffee, this morning, for breakfast on their official opening day. It's the new coffeeshop/cafe from Spike Gjerde, located in the Union Mill teachers' residences across from where Bloody Bucket karaoke used to be held.

The space is lovely- very similar to Woodberry Kitchen's restored warehouse feel. The menu looks to be light breakfast, pastries, and for later in the day, sandwiches, soups & salads.

I had a great Guatemalan pour over coffee on a soft opening day. This morning, I tried their iced coffee, and had a delicious scrapple, fried egg, & hot sauce sandwich on an English muffin.

It's exciting that Woodberry is offering less expensive, takeaway fare.

From what I hear is they are still looking to open a burger place up on Falls & 38th, and a charcuterie/butcher & cocktail place on the Avenue above the old pharmacy on Chestnut.

Considering the paucity of OC posts- I say move it and merge it.

Well- Delaware Beaches is in the Intrepid Traveller section, and geographically- those places are closer than OC.

Shouldn't this be in the Intrepid Traveler thread?

I have a previous engagement, or we would be all over this event. Nonetheless, as one of two who are frequently excluded from restaurant events due to dietary restrictions (not whining - just reality), I want to thank you for making it happen. I hope someone takes a camera, and I wish you all bon appetit!

I'm bringing my camera tomorrow!

The prices are on their menu online. It's what I expect to pay for exceptional Japanese food.

I'm in- they are at the place now so you can reach a person to make the reservation.

Stopped by Pabu for a quick bite last night- sat at the bar and looked a the great selection of fresh fish.

I had Michael's negitoro roll with uni and ikura:

Also had the Crab Okonomiyaki:

Based on the name of this topic, I thought it was about zombies

Is this happening? I would also be interested in coming.

I went there last spring with some friends who live out there. I also had a good experience. Here's my post with pics.

Well, I just went for lunch, and it was pretty good. Had a nice glass of the Stillwater table beer, and talked with the bartender who was enthusiastic. I looked at the beer cocktails which look pretty great.

Started with crispy pig ears with poached egg- good and fresh flavors. Then I had a burger which I think was mostly tenderloin that came with a beer cheese sauce and steak sauce.

For dessert, had a praline ice cream on a poached pear.

I'm looking forward to returning to try their dinner menu soon.

And I think I will just call it OLAR from now on- still think the name's corny.

The Food Market is a new restaurant opening on the Avenue in Hampden this Friday. Ched Chad Gauss used to cook at the trendy City Cafe.

Here is a link from Baltimore magazine previewing it.

Recent updates to my blog:

Took a trip to Key West- posted items with pictures of places mentioned in the Florida Keys thread: Keys Fisheries, 915 Duval, and Kermit's Key West Lime Shoppe.

I'm hoping to post some pics from my dinner at Mintwood Place in the next week.

I'm hoping to come, camera in tow. I'll figure out something to bring.

I'm happy to have Pabu in Baltimore- at last, serious Japanese cuisine in town. Chef is shipping in some fish from Tsukiji in Tokyo for sushi, and the izakaya and robata dishes are good as well.

I started with a good sake cocktail, but I would love to go back with a less teetotaling group to try out their sake menu.

My favorite items were the shishito peppers with bonito and shoyu, raw oysters with ponzu, the skewered chicken hearts, beef tendon, and kariganebone.

The unagidon was decadent with a slab of foie gras on top, and the sushi is probably the best in the city now.

Pics and more details are on my blog here

I don't think I'm making this a personal issue. You just want to be more constructive if you're going to lay down a line a like "mediocer(sic) overpriced food". It's like writing a review for a movie and saying "it sucks". We at this board want to hear about good and bad experiences but you have to back it up with some detail and constructive criticism.

Why do you feel the food is overpriced? Why do you feel the quality is mediocre?

Thanks goodeats. I would agree.

borderdog, you really should expand on your critique of Woodberry. I think it has been around long enough that it is a Baltimore institution, and while I would agree the food is a bit pricey, I had one of the most inexpensive over the top meals here last fall. For a hundred bucks, I shared a whole pig's head with a have dozen sides of vegetables with 10 people. It was great and a surprising bargain for Woodberry.

In regards to Baltimore's lack of "institutions", I'm not sure how long you've been in Baltimore, but there are quite a few of them: the Charleston group, Chameleon, all the casual places in Canton/Fells (Peter's Inn, Jack's Bistro, Salt), and a whole lot of up and comers (Waterfront, Wit & Wisdom, B&O).

For lunch, I second the crabcake at Faidley's in Lexington Market- get it fried for sure. You can get fresh Berger cookies in the Market for dessert as well.

There are a bunch of new dinner places in the Downtown vicinity- Wit & Wisdom at the Four Seasons, Harbor East, Chazz coal oven pizzeria & Italian food, Thames St. Oyster in Fells Point, Waterfront Kitchen in Fells Point.

For other lunches, if you want to venture to Fed Hill there are good burgers at Abbey Burger Bistro, you can get tacos with the freshest corn tortillas at Tortilleria SInaloa in Fells, you can get corned beef sandwiches and more at Attman's Deli, and a great fish pie at Piedegrotta in Little Italy.

Oh and Heavy Seas Ale house just opened near there as well, but I have not been.

I'm very much looking forward to a Japanese restaurant run by an actual Japanese chef in Baltimore. Most places are currently Korean or Chinese run sushi & roll places.

Pubu, Japanese for "pub", located in the Four Seasons at Harbor East is scheduled to open next week. They are planning to serve izakaya style food from chef Michael Mina and chef Ken Tominga (Hana in Sonoma).

I'm thinking of making it a dinner for Mother's Day weekend. I will certainly report back.

Hampden is slowly becoming a real destination for dining in Baltimore. Luigi's, an Italian market, just opened. Coming soon is the Hampden Food Market and a "takeout/burger" place from Woodberry Kitchen. Last fall, Daniela's opened on the Avenue specializing in handmade pasta dishes and desserts.

Danela, who is Sardinian, used to make pastas for Grano and Sotto Sopra. The place is more of a carryout, not an actual restaurant. You can go in and pick items from her case and they will reheat them for you. Not ideal, but is has something to do with food licensing in the city.

Her specialty is culingionis, a Sardinian potato dumpling with saffron & mint served with a creamy sauce. She also makes large tasty meatballs, lasagna, and ravioli.

Her pastries are also quite good including tiramisu and sfogliatelle, a shell shaped pastry with many layers filled with ricotta.

I did not realize that there is no topic on 13.5%, a wine bar located on the Avenue in Hampden. It's one of my go to places to eat when I'm in the mood for something a little more upscale in the neighborhood.

Chef Sarah Acconcia comes from Woodberry Kitchen and Abacrombie, and she has some skills in pastry as well.

The place is decorated in a modern style with some seats that are almost like lounge chairs with other tables right by couches.

The food is very seasonal and features a lot of small plates as well.

The wine selection is impressive- all reasonably priced wines with 40 available to order by the glass. The bartenders are also very generous in that they let you taste a wine before you order it.

I was just there Friday, and they have a new spring menu.

We started with a plate of hot roasted almonds with chile and sea salt. My friend had a red leaf salad with feta and honey vinaigrette.

She ordered one of their pizzas, which are quite good and very thin. She had the radish and ricotta pizza. The radishes were sliced thin and looked like pepperoni.

I ordered the special: steelhead with a coating of duck cracklings and new potatoes.

In the past I've had foie gras dishes, fiddleheads, ramp pizza, roasted hazelnuts, and also great desserts.

For some reason, the neighborhood locals and "hipsters" don't tend to eat here. It draws more folks from around the city than other dining places on the Avenue.