Happy New Year! Here’s hoping that the food service and hospitality industry prospers in 2023, especially our own locally owned-and-operated dining establishments.
To kick off the new year, I’ve included some exciting and tasty updates and tidbits about the Baltimore area dining scene.
Krazy for Kebabs
Döner Brös, a locally owned-and-operated kebab restaurant, recently opened a second location at 1409 Point St. at Harbor Point.
Döner Brös came about in the fall of 2015 when owners Alex Politsch and Steven Banks travelled to Oktoberfest in Germany and experienced Turkish-style döner kebabs (which are a type of kebab made of seasoned meat that caramelizes on a vertical rotisserie). Upon their return to Charm City, Politsch and Banks launched their business with a Döner Brös food truck, followed by their first brick-and-mortar spot in Charles Village.
In addition to kebabs, the menu includes rice bowls, salads and DÖNER DÜRÜM, a Lavash tortilla packed with your choice of protein, lettuce, tomato, cabbage, onion and sauce. (donerbros.com)
Meanwhile, the owners of McFaul’s IronHorse Tavern in the Loch Raven area have opened McFaul’s Oyster and Reel in the space formerly occupied by the Sue Island Grill and CrabHouse on the waterfront in Essex.
Menu items include chicken and waffles, crunchy shrimp tacos, crabcakes, crab mac ‘n cheese, seafood linguine, burgers and garlic herb French fries. I just love this location — so chill and casual. (mcfaulsironhorse.com)
Wrap It Up!
Cypriana — the oh-so-popular, casual-yet-upscale, authentic Greek restaurant located on 39th Street in The Broadview apartment building in North Baltimore — has launched a series of unique Happy Hours.
They include a hummus HH that offers a number of different flavors and a “Wrappy Hour” — because who doesn’t want to try a bunch of tasty wraps? Check out cypriana.com for information on additional offerings.
Cypriana features an all-handmade, in-house simplified menu crafted by Executive Chef/Owner Maria Kaimakis. She creates everything from the homemade pita dough down to handcrafted dressings, all from her grandmother’s recipes. Their clean-eating menu features tasty Cypriot and Mediterranean cuisine, including many gluten-free and vegan options.
FYI: Cypriana has a number of private rooms for parties and meetings and a phenomenal patio. The menu includes flatbread pizzas, kebabs, stuffed grape leaves, grilled octopus and chocolatina (layers of cake dipped in Greek coffee, Metaxa brandy, chocolate mousse and chocolate ganache, topped with hand-whipped cream and pistachio dust). (cypriana.com)
Guac on the Wild Side
Following the recent opening of their Maple Lawn location, Banditos Tacos & Tequila is opening yet another location in Columbia across from Merriweather Post Pavilion in March. Parking is available right in front of the restaurant, and you can literally walk across the street to the music venue.
The 5,000-square-foot restaurant will have outdoor seating — perfect for a bite to eat before or after a concert, shopping at the mall or a walk around Lake Kittamaqundi. Banditos has a great vibe and is described as a “Taco Temple,” with 20 uniquely flavored tacos.
Fan favorites including “Bang Bang Shrimp Taco,” “Rus & Gus Taco,” “Dynamic Fish Taco,” “Nashville Hot Taco” and “Pork Belly Taco.” Their selections are made fresh daily right down to their handmade empanadas, salsa and guacamole.
Their all-natural Agave tequila and fruit-infused margaritas are hugely popular.Their signature drink, the “Dito Rita,” is all-natural made with fresh squeezed lime juice, organic Agave and Espolon Blanco Tequila. The beverage menu highlights the rising trend in Agave-based spirits, and boasts more than 100 bottles, spanning more than 30 brands of tequila.
In addition to the Maple Lawn and Merriweather locations, Banditos has locations in Federal Hill, Towson and The Avenue at White Marsh. Baltimore-based White Oak Hospitality owns and operates four different restaurant brands in the greater Baltimore metropolitan area, including Banditos Tacos & Tequila, Wayward Smokehouse, The Curious Oyster and 101 Baltimore. (banditostnt.com)
Randi Rom is president of RJ Rom & Associates. She is a freelance columnist and writer who represents some of the region’s top restaurants and food-related events. Contact her at randirom@comcast.net.
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