Gonna be in Baltimore for 2 days.

[singhhb]

Coming down from NYC to check out Baltimore. What do I HAVE to check out before I leave?

[dining with doc]

tio pepe's- high end spanish
black olive- middle eastern/ mediteranean in fells point
obrycki's- maryland crab house
lexington market- walk the market and have a dozen oysters and a backfin lump crab cake at faidleys, a chocolate top cookie at Bergers bakery, an italian sausage at Pollack Johnnies, some fresh roasted peanuts out front some fresh Utz potato chips at the Utz stand and whatever else floats your boat during your grazing. go during the day not at night--closed and not safe at night
Ickaro's-greek food
charlestown's- excellent in Fells Point area

[KAZ]

An ITALIAN sausage from Pollack Johnnies? And you may want to wait for the heat to calm down before shopping for any "products" from the Utz potato chip guy ...

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/...

[hill food]

holy cow!

but for anyone skeptical, fresh made chips really are (more than a few steps) above on the junk ladder. also available at Cross Street Market.

[pomme de terre]

The Brewer's Art has an interesting menu and great locally brewed Belgian-style beers.

[BawlmerWhites]

What type of cuisine or price range?
THe Charleston Goup is $$$ but alwaya are great dining experince:
http://www.thecharlestongrp.com/- 5 excellent restaurants to choose from
Petite louis is my favoriete french bistro.
LaFamiglia is a great italian place- http://lafamigliabaltimore.com/
Gertrudes at the TheBaltimore Museum of Art nice Maryalnd cuisine

[hill food]

B'more neophyte here: Vaccaro's at Albemarle beats the 2xxx blocks of Steinway street in Astoria for Italian bakery.(not by much, but enough)

what's cool about Faidley's is while standing and slurping down the (cheap and plump!) oysters - not from the Bay sadly - shucker said Gulf, one can ponder the signs and consider what one might stew with the offered fresh muskrat.

not food, but call ahead to the medical examiners office for creepshow dioramas used in forensic training for the last 50 years not generally on public view - keep meaning to check that one out.

[crackers]

Hill food: that last sentence is the most bizarre non-sequitor I have ever read on Chowhound! Thanks for the laugh (I think.)

And isn't it pathetically emblematic that the oysters at Faidley's don't even come from Maryland any more?

[hill food]

turns out I was wrong, they're in Bethesda now at NIH.

it is sad about the Bay oyster situation, worried about the proposed introduction of non-native species.

[alkapal]

so we should see the creepshow dioramas after dining in bethesda? ;-).

[hill food]

given the lenghty security at NIH and the size, it sounds like more of a weekday brunch thing...

or before dinner!

[indcgirl]

For Italian baked goods, I prefer Piedigrotta at 1300 Bank St. , Suite 140 (410-522-6900)
Tuesday - Saturday: 6:30a - 6p, Sunday: 6:30a - 3p, Monday: Closed. While it looks as colorful and crisp as other Italian bakeries, everything there TASTES better (IMHO).

[hill food]

will have to add for next time

[flavrmeistr]

The Lexington Market. Get some oysters and a crab cake at Faidley's

[KAZ]

It would help to be more specific. Are you looking for the ultimate crab cake? Interested in the Baltimore bar/food scene? Are you going to be here in the summer and want to try a sno(w)ball with marshmellow topping? Want the best of Baltimore pit beef? There are probably places you HAVE to check out in each of those categories that are unique to Charm City.

[Hue]

Maybe a trip thru Fells Point...Dudas, One Eyed Mikes, John Stevens, Wharf Rat, Berthas
Ale Mary's will give you another "take on" Baltimore...These are local "gin mills" that serve decent food

[Beto_pan]

I would highly recommend Woodberry Kitchen. They got a mention in Bon Appetit last month (The photo in the article is them). If you go, make sure you finish your meal with coffee, since they do such a wonderful job of it.

http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/20...

[OmnivoreinMD]

I agree. Woodberry is a great spot.

[bobovespa]

+1 more on Woodberry Kitchen. Here are some things we particularly enjoyed over Valentine's Day weekend: the pears and the deviled eggs on the snacks menu; the chilled beets; poblano sausage and the hunter's sausage. Really, everything was excellent.

[radioman18]

You definitely won't go wrong trying Woodberry Kitchen. If you want to stay away from the tourists in Little Italy, try Sammy's for Italian food, right off North Charles St.