Overall, 2024 was a good year for restaurants in Maryland, according to the Washington, D.C.-based National Restaurant Association.
Local food establishments are hiring, sales have increased, competition is flourishing, and it’s expected that the food service industry will continue to grow next year.
Eateries and dining spots are relying more on technology to meet challenges, reduce labor, cut costs and boost business, while applying tech solutions to marketing, recruiting, accounting, inventory management and more.
But given a choice between people and technology, consumers continue to crave human hospitality in their culinary experiences.
Restaurateurs are challenged because food and labor costs have grown exponentially, and although consumers love to eat out, they are value conscious. Larger companies with multiple locations and concepts can better market their activities by purchasing advertising and have access to funds that local owners do not.
The Village of Cross Keys has seen enormous growth with the recent openings of Easy Like Sunday, Always Ice Cream Company, Kneads Bakery & Cafe, Cece’s Roland Park and ZaVino Italian Market. Also, a Chinese restaurant that is slated to open in the winter of 2025, and a Mexican spot, Sol Oaxaca, will open next spring 2025. (crosskeysbaltimore.com)
Titan Hospitality Group recently opened several concepts including Blackwall Barn & Lodge in Columbia and in Gambrills, Blackwall Hitch in Annapolis, and Smashing Grapes in Columbia. Barn & Lodge at The Rotunda is scheduled to open in 2025. Titan Hospitality also runs The Farmhouse Gambrills. (titanhospitality.com)
But in the Baltimore metropolitan area, small, locally owned spots are still playing catchup in the post-pandemic era.
“People are only in the office two, maybe three days a week and don’t wander far, if at all, for lunch. There isn’t a need for lunchtime catering like there used to be either,” said Ron Furman, owner of Max’s Taphouse in Fells Point. “Most people leave at end of day so there’s no real happy hour to draw people in. Inflation has had a major impact on disposable income and people are bracing for a negative economic situation to come.
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“Baltimore City has wonderful independent small businesses — not chains or members of a large restaurant group — who are here and open for business,” he said. “Fells Point has fabulous, locally owned restaurants — as well as unique retail shops — that need your support. The removal of parklets have increased parking spaces, and we have multiple parking garages nearby that are safe to walk to and from.
“It’s safe to travel into the city!” (maxs.com)
Also in Fells Point, Nancy Longo’s Pierpoint is celebrating its 35th anniversary but they’ve had to alter their business model to make it work post-COVID. In addition to regular dining and catering, she has created amazing specialty dinners. Olde Bawlmer dinners take you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
You can enjoy a curated, re-created list of menu options featuring some of Charm City’s most fabled restaurants from days gone by. Options include crispy fried oysters (Connolly’s Seafood Restaurant), deviled eggs (Woman’s Industrial Exchange), carpaccio toast (Rudys’ 2900), stir fried beef & tomato (Jimmy Wu’s New China Inn), and coffey salad (from The Pimlico). Other dinners include “Tequila Night” with Mexican food, dim sum (dumplings!), and a Veuve Clicquot night. (pierpointrestaurant.com)
And don’t forget to support other neighborhood restaurants in areas like Federal Hill, Hampden and Harbor East, as well as uptown locations such Pikesville, Owings Mills, Quarry Lake at Greenspring, Towson and Reisterstown.
Now Open for Business
An offshoot of H&S Bakery, Kneads Bakeshop & Café, closed its Locust Point location in August due to permitting issues and has now reopened. Locations include the flagship Harbor East, with satellite locations in Canton and another scheduled to open this winter in Cross Keys.
Kneads offers baked goods and a grab-and-go menu. They also support the community by teaming up with local businesses and selling their products, including Hon’s Honey, Dimitri Olive Oil, Chef Steff’s Greek Granola and Aveley Farms Coffee Roasters. (kneadsbakeshop.com/kneads-market/)
Speaking of Aveley Farms, they have partnered with Diamondback Brewing Company to open their new brewery and roastery concept in Timonium. You can check out their expresso bar, taproom, pastries pizzas and a dog-friendly outdoor beer garden. (diamondbackbeer.com/timonium)
Copper Union, located in Mount Washington, is a new social club dedicated to the fast-growing sport of pickleball. Their Copper Cafe features hand-crafted foods like New York-style pizzas, chicken wings and gourmet “hot pockets,” as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
BTW, you don’t have to be a pickle ball enthusiast to enjoy this leashed-dog-friendly outdoor eatery. (copperunion.com)
Coming Soon
In addition to the openings of Smashing Grapes, Blackwall Barn & Lodge, and Blackwall Hitch, Titan Hospitality Group will open Barn & Lodge at the Rotunda in 2025 that will offer brunch, lunch, dinner, happy hour, live music and private events. It’s a big win for The Rotunda area. (titanhospitality.com)
Mazel Tov!
Ammoora, located in The Ritz Carlton Residences on Key Highway, was the only Maryland restaurant included in the New York Times’ 2024 list of “America’s 50 Best Restaurants.” Serving Levantine (Egyptian, North African and Ottoman) cuisine, the Times praised Ammoora’s “enchanting, multi-dimensional” meals and its “opulent décor.” (ammoora.com)
A local, Jewish family-owned business, Eddie’s of Roland Park recently celebrated its 80th birthday of serving prepared food, fresh produce and veggies and specialty food items. My mother loved their coddies, which are made with fish and not potatoes (like so many places). (eddiesofrolandpark.com)
What’s New
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Get a taste of the beach at Boardwalk Fries, Burgers & Shakes, which recently opened on Mill Run Circle in Owings Mills. FYI, they will be opening new locations: two or threestores in Florida, 12 more in Canada, and one or two in the in the Middle East.
Eat in or carry out — and catering is available. (boardwalkfries.com)
Chef Amy Hessel at Topside Restaurant in the Hotel Revival Baltimore launched a new seasonal menu that includes Chesapeake gumbo (dairy-free) — entrée with Maryland lump crab /oysters /shrimp /smoked kielbasa/ rice; Lion’s Mane Mushroom (vegan, gluten free, dairy-free) — entree with seared mushroom / parsnip puree/wilted garlic/kale/ balsamic red wine sauce, Alaskan halibut and octopus ( gluten and dairy-free) — appetizer with blistered shishito /black garlic aioli/ peppadew. (hotelrevivalbaltimore.com/eat-drink/topside#TopsideMenu)
The Big Greek Cafe recently opened at McGaw Road in Columbia. Serving authentic Greek cuisine, they’re getting great reviews on social media. (biggreekcafe.com)
Fond Farewells
Panera Bread recently closed its Pikesville location. The word on social media is that it will become a dispensary.
Steak and frites chain Medium Rare opened in The Rotunda in Hampden just a year ago but is now closed. The chain is unique because it only offers one prix fixe menu item: bread, salad and steak with fries.
The Arthouse, a popular pizza restaurant in Hampden, closed its doors recently after 11 years. According to their Instagram, they were unable to negotiate terms for a new lease.
In the Spotlight
Yossef’s Laffa-Milia
Located at 120 Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, this kosher, family-owned food truck serves authentic Israeli street food as well as vegan and vegetarian options, and it’s getting rave reviews.
Menu items include falafel, hummus, grilled eggplant and sabich pita; a fried eggplant sandwich, hard-boiled egg, potato, Israeli salad and hummus, wrapped in a soft pita. (yossefslaffamilia.com)
Hex Superette
If you’re a fan of kombucha, kimchi and all kinds of local and regional, top-quality food, you should check out Hex Superette. They’re a one-of-a-kind local marketplace located on York Road in the Govans neighborhood.
With a focus on local producers, they offer groceries, dry goods, snacks, sweets, wine and spirits and so much more. Hex Superette supports makers and producers in Baltimore and Maryland at large, with a handful of sourced offerings from further afield.
In addition to fermented options from Hex Ferments, other items include a selection of smoked salmon with Sichuan chili crisp by Fishwife; small axe peppers by the Baltimore Hot Sauce; Bmore Pasta, Taharka Brothers Ice Cream and Three Springs Fruit Farm Honeycrisp Apple Sauce. (hexsuperette.com)
Nick’s Fish House
Located at the Baltimore Peninsula (formerly Port Covington), Nick’s has indoor seating but the waterside deck is a true Bawlmer experience, as is the tasty seafood menu. If you’re a fish connoisseur, check out the fresh catch of the day and the fish tacos.
They also have lobster mac-and-cheese and lobster eggrolls, steamed crabs and crabcakes, and a yellowfin tuna melt. Looking for non-seafood options? Get the New York strip steak or Buffalo cauliflower tacos. Nick’s also has a Ravens bus shuttle that goes back and forth to the stadium — just leave your car parked at Nicks and it’s $15 round trip. (nicksfishhouse.com)
Harmony Bakery
If you’re looking for a gluten-free and vegan sweet and savory menu, check out Harmony Bakery in Hampden. They have the best gluten-free bagels I’ve ever had, and I love their chocolate chip scones, chocolate cake and cinnamon buns.
Menu options also include vegan flatbreads, pizza and quiche, as well as quinoa burgers and chickpea tarts.
Special occasion? Call in advance to order cakes, cupcakes, etc. (harmonybakery.net)
You can bake these no-flour, no-white sugar blueberry muffins from Elite Jakob in a regular muffin tin or as bite-size mini muffins.
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