Dmnkly wrote:Faidley's is widely recognized as a Baltimore institution, and rightfully so. They serve a damn fine crabcake. I'm told its equal can be found elsewhere, but I have yet to come across it. I'd say Faidley's : Baltimore :: Johnnie's : Chicago. They're widely recognized as an excellent purveyor of the city's signature dish, they're regularly touted as "the best" and their detractors are few, even if some feel that other options are marginally better.

Here is a picture of the crabcake of which Dmnkly speaks. It was absolutely luxurious, big chunks of crab and very little binder, no filler:



I thought Faidley's quite photogenic overall:





And the big thrill for Cathy2 was this, although the fishmonger rather grumpily deflected her questions and mine about the provenance of these meats:



The only downside, for me, was the strong Eau de Fruits de Mer #5 perfume I carried with me on my clothes until they could be shed and sealed in a plastic bag.

Faidley Seafood
Lexington Market
203 North Paca
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-727-4898
Mon - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

I recently spotted this sign in London's Borough Market:


Untitled by Josephine2004, on Flickr

Seems the trend toward American comfort food is deepening its regional bona fides. (I did not try the pit beef, but went for the salt beef instead.)

Damnation bt faint praise, alive and well in London.

I'm cross-posting this with Dom's other home.

I've got a 4-5 nights in Baltimore coming up, and could use some help finding restaurants within about 15 minutes by cab from the Inner Harbor. The standard 'Please-everybody Business Dinner' conditions apply:

1. Must take reservations
2. No communal tables
3. Entrees up to the $35 range
4. Be able to accommodate a wide cross-section of diners

Woodberry Kitchen looks like it fits all of the above. Sadly, Yelp says that Rinconcito Peruano has closed.

It looks like Attmann's and Piedgrotta are both within walking distance of the office, so lunch should be covered, but I'm really eager to try some Pit Beef. Are there any good spots in the area, or is that a dead zone?

Yeah, Woodberry Kitchen sounds perfect.

Also, check out Salt Tavern (info below). It's even closer (maybe five minutes by cab) I loved it while I was there, and while I probably shouldn't speak for him, tatterdemalion went there about a year ago and said he had a really nice meal. It's a small joint, cool rebuild of an old building, great drinks, creative, hearty food that's interesting but not too interesting for your purposes... it'd be another great option.

Yeah, Rinconcito Peruano is no more.

I don't know of any good pit beef right near the harbor. The good ones I knew were a little further out... kind of a low-rent thing, you know? But poke around a bit. I'm almost four years removed at this point, and things change or I could be forgetting something.

It's too bad you have to play it safe with this crowd. Grace Garden would be such a special treat. If you want to sneak away, let me know and I'll see if I can hook you up with some Baltimore food nerds to chow with

Don't miss Attman's, and if you get to Piedigrotta, tell Bruna that we miss them dearly!

Salt Tavern
www.salttavern.com
2127 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-276-5480

If you happen to have a smaller group/more casual night, Hersh's is a newer restaurant that makes some great wood fired pizza and other small plates. They were recently voted best pizza in Baltimore. They also know their way around a cocktail and have a small, but very well selected, craft beer and wine list. Not too far of a cab ride from the Inner Harbor. Oh, and the owners (brother runs the kitchen, sister runs the rest) are very friendly.

I was there around 9pm on a weekday this past fall (after the Best of) and it was fairly quiet...don't know crowds now or reservation policy.

Hersh's Pizza & Drinks
Address: 1843 Light St, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone:(443) 438-4948
http://hershspizza.com/

ziggy wrote:If you happen to have a smaller group/more casual night, Hersh's is a newer restaurant that makes some great wood fired pizza and other small plates. They were recently voted best pizza in Baltimore. They also know their way around a cocktail and have a small, but very well selected, craft beer and wine list. Not too far of a cab ride from the Inner Harbor. Oh, and the owners (brother runs the kitchen, sister runs the rest) are very friendly.

I was there around 9pm on a weekday this past fall (after the Best of) and it was fairly quiet...don't know crowds now or reservation policy.

Very cool - thanks. It's rapidly becoming a trend that whenever I go on a business trip, I have to sample the local pizza. The great thing is that it's not hard to convince people to come with me. They're also on Open Table, so it'll be perfect.