“Where rustic dining meets farm freshness.” That’s the mantra for The Lodge Pasadena, which opened recently in the suburban Anne Arundel community between the Patapsco and Magothy rivers.
Owned and operated by the Crofton-based Titan Hospitality Group, The Lodge Pasadena, at 20 Magothy Beach Road, is a 6,700-square-foot rustic farmhouse space featuring an indoor/outdoor patio with retractable walls and three private event spaces — “The Game Room” seats 50 guests, “The Cottage” offers a personalized dining experience for up to 16 and “The Oak Room” seats 12.
Guests can enjoy such “Old Line State” favorites as crab soup, flaming crab dip and crab cakes, as well as sandwiches, pizzas, homemade pastas and burgers. A vegan and gluten-free menu is also available. (For information, visit lodgepasadena.com.)
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Patapsco, The Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore recently opened its “Winter Village Dine” concept.
In its first season, the rooftop winter village experience allows guests to celebrate the chilly season with amazing waterfront views and a rotating four-course dining menu in private rooftop cottages. So cool!
It’s open for dinners, private events and buyouts Wednesdays through Sundays through March. The “Winter Village Dine” team will accommodate dietary restrictions and provide menu options for children.
The Four Seasons Baltimore is located at 200 International Drive in Harbor East. (For information, visit fourseasons.com/Baltimore.)
Farewell and Adios!
After 27 years, Mother’s Federal Hill Grille has closed its doors. A hot spot for Ravens game days, Mother’s “Purple Patio” had fans flocking to the popular South Baltimore location for wings, sammies and crushes.
Mother’s locations in Arnold and Timonium will remain open. (For information, visit mothersgrille.com.)
White Oak Hospitality — which owns Banditos Tacos & Tequila, Ditos Tacos & Tequila and the Wayward Bar & Kitchen — will take over the Mother’s space at 1113 S. Charles Street in Federal Hill. The location will be named Ditos.
Banditos has locations in White Marsh, Towson, Maple Lawn, Columbia, Fairfax and Arlington.
Perennial, an Atlas Restaurant Group property located in Towson, has closed. Some may remember that Perennial took over the spot at 1 Olympic Place previously occupied by Cunningham’s Café & Bakery.
After just a year, Papi’s Tacos at 4801 Harford Road in Lauraville — owned by celebrated local chef/restaurateur Charlie Gjerde — closed and reopened under another Gjerde concept: Alexander’s Tavern. The original Alexander’s Tavern is located at 710 S. Broadway in Fells Point.
Other Papi’s locations in Fells Point, Hampden and Towson will remain.
In other restaurant news, longtime partners Tony Foreman and award-winning chef Cindy Wolf recently announced they are going their separate ways and splitting their portfolio of local restaurants.
Wolf will retain control over and continue helming the kitchen at Charleston. Foreman will operate the rest of the restaurants, including Petit Louis, Johnny’s, The Milton Inn and The Duchess.
How Charming!
Most farmers’ markets are closed for the winter, but you can still order some of your favorite vegan products from The Charming Vegan, a family-owned and operated business that offers a range of artisanal tofus, sauces and veggie burgers, including their 5-ounce pumpkin seed burger.
All products are completely plant-based and gluten-free. (For information, visit charmingvegan.com.)
Ready to Grandstand
The Costas Inn seafood restaurant, at 4100 North Point Boulevard, will open a second location in the spot previously occupied by Nick’s Grandstand Grill & Crabhouse at the Timonium Fairgrounds.
Right now, the restaurant is closed for renovations, but a spring opening is anticipated.
For more than a half-century, the Costas Inn has been a culinary staple in the Sparrows Point/Dundalk community, drawing customers from around the state. They’re known for their crab cakes and steamed crabs, and their “Crab Tower” will simply blow you away! It includes jalapeno crab poppers, soft shells, crab balls and dip, crab imperial, stuffed and barbecue shrimp, mushroom caps and Oysters Rockefeller. A Maryland seafood lover’s dream!
(For information, visit costasinn.com.)
Meanwhile, Blü Cā (pronounced blue kay) an authentic Jamaican restaurant, is slated to open early next year in the Rye House apartment building at 2450 Rye Street in Baltimore Peninsula waterfront neighborhood.
Brought to you by the Laurel-based One Love Restaurant Group — which also owns Island Spice Grille & Lounge in Edgewood and KŌNŌKŌ in White Marsh — Blü Cā will join other Peninsula eateries such as Rye Street Tavern and Slutty Vegan. (For information, visit baltimorepeninsula.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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