Just got back from a brief vacation to Baltimore and DC. By far, the highlight of our trip to Baltimore was dinner at Obrycki's in Fells Point. My husband and I had a dozen medium crabs for $43. I have never been to Baltimore; never had the crab cracking experience and let's just say that I was charmed. First, they brought a big piece of brown paper to cover the table, outfitted us with bibs, mallets, knives, and a pair of waste baskets. Then a few minutes later they came by and without ceremony dumped 12 steamed crabs on the table. What a feast! I really enjoyed the spicy stuff that they boil the crabs in.

The rest of our (admittedly brief) visit to Baltimore was just so-so. We had a horrible breakfast at Burke's, which is a bar/cafe downtown on Lombard & Light. Mushy, greasy, undercooked hashbrowns were the lowpoint here. The service was also extremely bad. We asked repeatedly for the check and finally had to guess at the total and leave cash on the table.

Also, rather horrifying, was the small park we passed in our car that appeared to be overrun with rats. IN BROAD DAYLIGHT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA! I think that Mayor Daley's head would explode if he saw something like that anywhere near a tourist area in Chicago.

A Baltimore food guide for D.C. sports fans

Snowballs at Snoasis in Cockeysville

Baltimore Pit Beef at Chaps Pit Beef located in Baltimore

Lake Trout at "Nick’s Oyster Bar in Cross Street Market. Not the most authentic, but it offers the most other options if not everyone you’re with is into lake trout. Plus it puts you in the same market as Bruce Lee’s Wings, a Redskins-friendly establishment that can provide a little slice of home in that scary faraway land."

Coddies at "Attman’s, the last shop standing in what used to be Baltimore’s legendary Corned Beef Row of Jewish delis. But if you’re at Attman’s and you order a coddie instead of, say, a Lombard Street (hot corned beef, hot pastrami, chopped liver and Russian dressing), you’re really doing it wrong."

Smearcase at "for the full Baltimore experience, hit Hoehn’s Bakery in Highlandtown. They’re also a good spot for a traditional Baltimore peach cake, yet another iconic Baltimore dessert that didn’t make this list"

Faidley’s Crabcakes - enough said

Matthew’s Pizza

Berger Cookies - "If pit beef is Baltimore’s answer to barbecue, the Berger Cookie is the response to Philadelphia’s Tastykake pride."

Otterbein’s Cookies - "Like every other Baltimore-based dessert, these contain enough sugar to stun a hummingbird."

Resurrection Ale at Brewer’s Art