When it comes to food, drink, and fun, Baltimore Guide readers have a lot to choose from, and they’re not shy about expressing their preferences. They don’t go for the drab familiarity of chain stores and restaurants, preferring instead the unique, perhaps even quirky, and family-owned establishments.
Fortunately, there are some excellent choices out there, no matter what you’re looking for or what you’re doing. And whether that means chowing down on steak, seafood or steamed crabs for dinner, or choosing subs and beer or even ethnic foods or grabbing cocktails after work, you have multiple options, and they’re all good. Shopping for pet supplies, haircuts or home improvements? They’re all available at a good price right in our neighborhoods.
In May and June we polled readers for their favorites. We counted the responses carefully, and are pleased to present the results. These pages are by our readers for our readers. Enjoy! And clip and save for the next time you’re looking for a good mechanic or handyman, hairdresser or barber, clothing or pet supplies, or something good to eat, drink or enjoy.
Where to find your favorite:
Bagels
Sam’s Bagels
915 Light Street
410-837-5447
Runners up: Towson Bagel, Panera Bread
Crab dip
Claddagh Pub
2918 O’Donnell St.
410-522-4220
Runners up: Mama’s on the Half Shell, Phillips Seafood
Buffalo wings
Kisling’s
2100 Fleet St.
410-327-5477
Runners up: Nacho Mama’s, Hooters
Cheesesteak sub
Spartan Pizzeria
3600 Eastern Ave.
443-524-0500
Runners up: Captain Harvey’s, John’s Carryout
French fries
G&A Restaurant
3802 Eastern Ave.
410-276-9422
Runners up: McDonald’s, Kisling’s
Hot dog
G&A Restaurant
3802 Eastern Ave., 410-276-9422
Runners up: Attman’s, Spartan Pizzeria
Pizza
Matthew’s Pizzaria
3131 Eastern Ave.
410-276-8755
Runners up: Papa John’s, Spartan Pizzeria
Shrimp salad
Bay Cafe
2809 Boston St., 410-522-3377
Runners up: Santoni’s Supermarket, Kisling’s
Burger
Five Guys
3600 Boston St., 410-522-1580
Runners up: Abbey Burger Bistro, JD’s Smokehouse
Crabcake
Michael’s Steak and Lobster House
6209 Eastern Ave.
410-633-6485
Runners up: Obrycki’s Crab House, Phillips
Seafood
Steamed crabs
Gaffney’s
415 S. Highland Ave.
410-327-4006
Runners up: Canton Dockside, Captain James Landing
Sour beef and dumplings
Eichenkranz Restaurant
611 Fagley St., 410-563-7577
Runners up: Crossroads Restaurant, Silver Spring Mining Co.
Diner food
Sip & Bite
2200 Boston St., 410-675-7077
Runners up: Broadway Diner, Boulevard Diner
Like to eat out? Where is your favorite…
Favorite fine dining restaurant
Michael’s Steak and Lobster House
6209 Eastern Ave., 410-633-6485
Runners up: Tio Pepe, Ruth’s Chris
Mexican restaurant
Nacho Mama’s
2907 O’Donnell St., 410-675-0898
Runners up: Arcos, Blue Agave
Seafood restaurant
Canton Dockside
3301 Boston St., 410-276-8900
Japanese restaurant
Ra Sushi
1390 Lancaster St., 410-522-3200
Runners up: Asahi Sushi, Matsuri
Italian restaurant
Vinny’s Café
6212 Holabird Ave., 410-633-7763
Runners up: Chiaparelli’s, Pasticcio
Thai restaurant
Talay Thai
1911 Aliceanna St., 410-563-9292
Runners up: Thai Jai Dee, Lemongrass
Chinese restaurant
Ding How
631 S. Broadway, 410-327-8888
Runners up: No. 1 Taste, P.F. Chang’s
Indian restaurant
India Rasoi
411 S. High St., 410-385-4900
Greek restaurant
Samos
600 Oldham St., 410-675-5292
Runners up: Ikaros, Acropolis
Mediterranean restaurant
Mezze
1606 Thames St., 410-563-7600
Frozen Treats parlor
Icy Delights
Fleet and Grundy streets
Runners up: Cold Stone Creamery, Pitango
Coffee shop
High Grounds
www.highgroundscoffee.com
3201 Eastern Ave., 410-342-7611
Runners up: Starbucks, Water for Chocolate
Bakery
Hoehn’s Bakery
400 S. Conkling St., 410-675-2884
Runners up: Greek Village, Yia Yia’s
The Bar Scene
Canton bar
Nacho Mama’s
2907 O’Donnell St., 410-675-0898
Runners up: Looney’s, Coburn’s
Fells Point bar
The Horse You Came In On
1626 Thames St., 410-327-8111
Runners up: Alexander’s, Wharf Rat Tavern
Federal Hill Bar
Ryleigh’s Oyster Bar
38 E. Cross St., 410-539-2093
Runners up: Mother’s Federal Hill Grille, Southside Saloon
Locust Point bar
Thornton’s Pub
1538 E. Clement St., 410-468-0850
Highlandtown bar
The Laughing Pint
3531 Gough St., 410-342-6544
Runners up: My Cousin’s Place, Brewers Hill Tavern
South Baltimore corner bar
Southside Saloon
430 E. Fort Ave., 410-547-9995
Irish pub
Claddagh Pub
2918 O’Donnell St. , 410-522-4220
Runners up: James Joyce, Irish Pub
Happy hour
Southside Saloon
430 E. Fort Ave., 410-547-9995
Runner up: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
Bartender
Donny
Annabel Lee Tavern,
601 S. Clinton St.
410-522-2929
Waiter or waitress
Jason Bohager
Kisling’s, 2100 Fleet St.
410-327-5477
Runners up: Meagan at Fins, Miss Pat at Sip & Bite
Karaoke
Walt’s Inn
3201 O’Donnell St.,
410-327-1495
Runners up: McDevin’s, Poncabird Pub
Juke box
Sharky’s
2819 Eastern Ave.,
410-534-1051
Microbrew
Max’s Taphouse
737 S. Broadway,
410-675-6297
Very essential services—
Beauty shop
Brenda’s Hair Designers
742 S. Ellwood Ave.
410-675-9255
Runners up: Pandora, Zoom
Barber shop
Tom’s
404 S. Conkling St., 410-675-2107
Runners up: Rick’s
Grocery store
Santoni’s
3800 E. Lombard St., 410-276-2990
Runners up: Markets at Highlandtown, Shoppers Food Warehouse
Ethnic grocery
DiPasquale’s
3700 Gough St., 410-276-6787
Liquor store
King’s Liquors
8226 Pulaski Hwy.
410-686-2770
Runner up: Loading Dock
Handyman
Tom Allen Home Services
Gas station
Nicholas Fleet Street Shell
601 S. Luzerne Ave., 410-675-4338
Runners up: Fells Point Auto, Royal Farms
Auto body repair
Tim Murphy’s Collision Center
3099 E. Madison St. 410-327-3088
Runners up: George’s, Haven Street; Fells Point Body Shop
Auto service center
Federal Hill Motors
1000 Covington St., 410-752-0603
Runners up: J&K, Nicholas Fleet Street Shell
Pet store
Fells Point Pet Center
1916 Fleet St., 410-276-2433
Runners up: Dogma, PetSmart
Hardware and home supplies
Lombard Hardware
1747 E. Lombard St., 410-276-1294
Runners up: Kurek’s, Federal Hill Ace Hardware
Secondhand store
Value Village
3424 Eastern Ave., 410-327-5300
Runners up: Goodwill, Second Chance
Around town
Harbor water activity
Ed Kane’s Water Taxi
stops around Canton, Fells Point, Inner Harbor, Locust Point, 410-563-3901
Runners up: Canton Kayak Club, paddle boats
Place to watch an Orioles game
Looney’s Pub
2900 O’Donnell St., 410-675-9235
Runners up: Pickles Pub, Camden Yards
Place to watch a Ravens game
Southside Saloon
430 E. Fort Ave., 410-547-9995
Runners up: Mother’s Federal Hill Grille, M&T Stadium
Place to play Keno
Santoni’s
3800 E. Lombard St., 410-276-2990
Runners up: Southside Saloon, Harry’s American Bar
Museum
American Visionary Art Museum
800 Key Hwy., 410-244-1900
Runners up: Walters Art Museum, Baltimore Museum of Art
Conversation Central
Phyllis Hair Design
528 S. Conkling St., 410-675-6715
Runners up: Brenda’s Hair Designers, Southside Saloon
Place to propose
Church bingo
Locations at a parish near you!
Runners up: Royal Farms, Ding How
Place to take an out-of-town guest
National Aquarium in Baltimore
501 E. Pratt St., 410-576-3800
Runners up: Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Inner Harbor
Place to take the kids
Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Druid Hill Park, 410-396-7102
Runner up: Patterson Park
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