This week, the Baltimore restaurant scene is full of good news, including high profile openings, updated autumn menus, and fun collaborations. Here’s a look at what’s coming up:
Openings & Announcements
After many months of planning, then takeaway only, Peter Chang’s Canton restaurant NiHao is finally opening for indoor dining. The restaurant’s first day serving guests in the building will be Monday (note: an earlier version of this column included an incorrect opening date). The restaurant opens with an updated fall menu, including dishes like blue crab buns with curry and herb crust and dry fry broccoli and mushrooms with chili.
Cindy Wolf and Tony Foreman, the duo behind some of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants, including Charleston, Cinghiale and Petit Louis, will open a new spot, Cindy Lou’s Fish House, in Harbor Point. The southern-inspired restaurant, which will be in the Canopy by Hilton Baltimore Harbor Point, opens on Tuesday.
Monarque, the new French steakhouse from Atlas Restaurant Group, opens Monday. Guests will enjoy a show with their drinks and meals at Monarque: the restaurant has a stage that will feature dancers and other acts, including contortionists and sword swallowers.
Big news in Frederick: while Volt, the famous Bryan Voltaggio spot, will not reopen, the Top Chef alum has opened a new concept in its place. Thacher & Rye’s menu looks lovely and features a variety of locally-sourced ingredients.
Johnny’s in Roland Park celebrated eight years in business last week. Congratulations to the team!
New for fall
Restaurants continue to update their menus and offerings for the season.
At B&O American Brasserie, the fall menu includes treats like caramel apple upside down cake with pecan crumble.
The Corner Pantry has tons of autumnal items on its current menu, including treats like s’mores pumpkin pie.
Wet City has a cute and tasty new slushy on the menu: an apple pie a la mode rum drink served in an adorable 9-ounce honey bear bottle.
At Lee’s Pint & Shell, one of the new fall drinks is an apple cider crush made with Wild Roots apple cinnamon vodka.
Oysters on the half shell are (finally) back at Gunther & Co.!
At Fuisine, a perfectly seasonal butternut squash soup is topped with a bit of jumbo lump crab dressed with spicy sauce for heat.
The introduction of new fall flavors also includes saying goodbye to summer favorites, like the tomato crostini at Hersh’s. It’s on the menu for a few more days, so grab one before the dish goes into hibernation.
Celebrating Maryland at Guinness
At Guinness Open Gate Brewery, a brand new beer celebrates the brewery’s Baltimore and Irish connections. The Black-Eyed Susan, which was created as a collaboration with Tennessee Brew Works, is a golden ale with pineapple and aged in rum barrels.
New spaces
Linwood’s has been busy updating its space, increasing the size of its outdoor tent and adding heating to accommodate those who want to dine outside, even as the weather gets cooler.
At Cosima, the bar can now accommodate a handful of customers, who will be spaced with plexiglass between them for safety.
Truffle season
White truffle season is in full swing and the delicacy is popping up on menus across the city, including at the newly reinvented Magdalena and Ouzo Bay, where they’re paired with lobster in a decadent risotto.
Drinks for a cause at Gertrude’s
From now through the end of October, when you order a Mulberry Bramble at Gertrude’s, the restaurant will donate $1 to Baltimore Orchard Project. The drink sounds fabulous, too, with mulberry-infused gin, lemon juice, and crème de mure.
Special dishes at Ekiben
This Sunday, Ekiben brings back its popular hand cut noodles and dumplings – Hampden location only. Get there early!
Sando in the Hando
Also on Sunday, The Charmery and Big Softy team up for Sando in the Hando, a lunchtime event at The Charmery’s Ice Cream Factory at Union Collective. During the (pickup only) event, you can grab a double order of sandwiches: a savory option from Big Softy plus an ice cream sammie from The Charmery.
Fear Factory Challenge
Speaking of The Charmery, the ice cream shop’s annual Fear Factory Challenge flavors are back again for the Halloween season. The lineup is truly scary, featuring options like Ketchup & Mustard and Fava Beans & Chianti.
Cobra Kai Never Dies at North Ave. Market
On Sunday, head to North Ave. Market for a pop-up featuring drinks inspired by the “Karate Kid” spinoff show “Cobra Kai.” Starting at 8 p.m., drinks built around Cane Collective products will flow. The karate references probably will, too.
Smokin’ Sundays at Dutch Courage
If you’re not already keeping track of the Sunday dinners at Dutch Courage, start now. Recent weeks have included Craig Falk of Big Softy fame and Cyrus Keefer from Hungry Like the Wolfe. This week’s dinner features Carolina BBQ from Dutch Courage’s new head chef, Carl Zimmerman.
Start thinking about the holidays
It’s not even Halloween yet but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start planning for Thanksgiving and beyond. Cunningham’s has already released its holiday carryout menu and it’s a good one, including everything froma whole roasted turkey to a salmon filet (and, of course, all the sides).
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
Nov. 12: Guest’s Choice Wine Dinner at Manor Tavern
Nov. 14: Crush Wine Tasting 2020
Nov. 20: Wild Game & Whiskey at Elkridge Furnace Inn
