what's new in charm city?

[chauncey]

any word on.....

Spike's new place?
Cinghale's menu,food,service?
Who's going into old Joy America space?
Who's going into the old Soigne/Sly Fox space?
Anything to look forward to??

[pigtowner]

There's a new place moving into where Vespa used to be in Federal Hill called Junior's. I was a neighborhood event last night at the Flower Box and they brought pizza and some other yummy things to eat. Seems promising. The owner said it would be opening in a couple of weeks if all the inspections go well.

[donnaface]

Is Junior's the full name? I am trying to find a phone number and can't seem to. What kind of place is it? Casual?

[tennisgal1206]

Drove past it Saturday night and it's not open yet....guess we'll have to wait.

[scarlet starlet]

Elizabeth Large posted about it a few days ago on her blog for the Sun:

"Second, I got two e-mails: one from Mike Russell, an owner and the chef of Junior's Wine Bar, the restaurant going in where Vespa (pictured) was in Federal Hill, saying it's almost ready; and one from a friend of the owners who has been invited to a soft opening. So I guess the official opening to the public will be happening sooner rather than later."

[JonParker]

I walk past there three or four times a week, and they've been having soft openings and private parties for a month or more. As I posted on Ms. Large's blog a while ago, I'll believe they're actually open when I see it.

[aussiewonder]

Charlie opened Alexander's Tavern (site of old Gemini) this past weekend.
Spike, Amy and Nelson project the opening of Woodberry Kitchen (sustainably farmed and locally sourced food) mid October, starting with dinner first and then expanding to a more full, three service restaurant.
As for the old Joy America space....i've heard many names bantered around, most notably Timothy Dean's....I guess we'll all have to wait and see. It's a hard spot to work with, esp w/ the lost view.
Winks, is on Conkling street, just down (towards Fleet, not O'Donnell) from where Gallagher's used to be, on the same side. I think it's actually next to the laundromat. Has a brown front/awning.

[bordeauxfan]

I was at Cinghiale today too -- I had the fritto misto (pretty good) and the chicken salad. The space is a knockout inside. And did I spy Maestra Alsop with an entourage dining there as well?

[Annapolis07]

Any word on when Cinghiale will open for dinner on the weekends?

[Monti]

Cinghiale opened this week for lunch and dinner.

[ericm]

Watertable at the Renaissance Harborplace is good. I had their pork - delicious I thought. But their website still says they are "coming soon" and is like this right as I post this; same issue with Cinghiale's terribly slow website.

[BmoreHound]

Charlie Gjerde is opening Alexander's Tavern where Gemini used to be. It will also expand next door.

There's a nice BYOB place over by Brewer's Hill called Winks.

My Thai opened where Minato used to be. I think there's another new restaurant there too.

Don't forget Tabrizi's in Harborview - I had a great meal there a few weeks ago. Simply superb.

[scarlet starlet]

The new place in that space is Indigma (formerly Saffron). I ate there last weekend. It was pretty good - refined Indian cuisine that seems to lean towards the regions of Kerala and Malabar.

[crowsonguy]

Scarlet starlet, can you give us specifics on what you had and what it was like? There is a shortage of good, non standard Indian and Pakistani food in Baltimore. Talking of which, has anyone checked out the new Lahore kebab place on the 2100 or 2200 block of N. Charles Street?

[baltoellen]

Please tell us more about Winks!
Thanks!

[Jeserf]

ditto: where is it? I drove through the area and couldn't see it...

[Hal Laurent]

A quick google search suggests that Wink's Hilltop Grill is at 834 S. Conkling St., which would be between Fait Ave. and Hudson St. (two or three blocks north of O'Donnell St.)

[Jeserf]

really? google? go figure!

I looked for it when I went through the area last week, didn't see it, but thanks for telling me about google. I'll have to check it out.

[Hal Laurent]

I remembered someone here mentioning Winks as being at Fleet and Conkling, so I googled for "Winks Fleet and Conkling" and found it (even though it's not really at Fleet).

As a navigational aid, O'Donnell and Conkling is the location of the giant Natty Boh Guy sign on top of the old brewery building.

[Jeserf]

thanks! that's helpful!

I just googled "baltimore"...turns out that I was looking for this place in a completely different city!

Your helpfulness abounds, and problem solved!

[baltoellen]

I tried google too...but, I want to hear a first hand account!

[BmoreHound]

I liked Winks when I tried it. It wasn't very busy when I went, but it is one of the few restaurants that is open on Monday's. We had a few different things - the wings are juicy and meaty (they have a bunch of different sauces but we just got honey mustard); veal parm was a bit overcooked but linguine and clam sauce very nice. They have homemade meatballs too. Chef obviously cares. Very very reasonable. Definitely worth a try.

[goodfoodrules]

I liked Winks, too. The menu is a bit unispired but the food is very good and extremely reasonable. It's BYOB for a while longer. They also have good mid-week specials. It's a great place to go if you live in the area and don't feel like cooking.

[pigtowner]

Sly Fox is gone? I didn't even notice. They always seemed busy when I went? Although food kept slipping, so I stopped going months ago...

What about Stalking Horse on Cross St. - they just opened and then had that fire and now the place looks like it's being totally demolished? Anyone know?

[diesel34]

Sly Fox isnt gone, they just moved locations to where the old Sky Box used to be (i think that was the name)

[Hal Laurent]

Apparently Charlie Gjerde (the other half of Spike and Charlie) is opening a place in Fells Point, on Broadway where Gemini was.

[cookdebbie]

The Stalking Horse, owned by the Ropewalk people, is being renovated to be another sports-type bar. The alcohol will be plentiful, the food barely average, and the politics will be down your throat conservative. Enough said?

[Darin]

Nelson (Spike's parter in Woodberry Kitchen...also of Grand Cru fame) told me they were only a couple of weeks away. Though I don't believe he said a specific date. But it is easily the place I am most excited about.

Cinghiale's food and service will likely be up the standards of its proprietors. But if I had to guess, I will be found more often on the enoteca side.

Also on the horizon are the new additions to Central Ave.-- Tsunami and Lemongrass.

[hon]

http://www.cinghiale-osteria.com/

[kimmer1850]

menu looks interesting and I can't wait to try it...but what a truly annoying website!

[hon]

I know, I hate that website!

[Jeserf]

i gave up on it.

[greglor]

They should fire their website designer. It's slow and hideous. Who wants to wait for some flying pasta just so they can see the menu? Blech.

[charmedgirl]

Spike's new place is the one going into Clipper Mill, right? I'd love to get more details about that. The description on the website sounds like its going to be really great. Any 'hounds have the word?