Patios are opening, menus are changing, and all of Baltimore is turning green: springtime is back and local restaurants are making the most of it. Here’s a look at what’s happening this week:
Openings & announcements
A new taco shop, Taqueria Charro Negro, has opened in Federal Hill.
The Harbor East restaurant Charleston has been named a James Beard Award finalist in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages category.
The Milton Inn is adding a less formal ‘Tavern Menu’ to its offerings. Fortunately, the dining room menu will also still be available.
Café Gia also has some new menu twists in the works, including four-course, family-style meals for carryout.
Love, Pomelo turns one
Love, Pomelo celebrated a year in business on April 2. To honor the occasion, the restaurant is offering a special three-course prix-fixe menu including favorites dishes and wines from the past year.
The menu will be available through Saturday, April 5 and can be ordered with or without wine pairings. Congrats to the Love, Pomelo team!
Patio season
With April here, restaurants are dusting off their outdoor seating, opening patios and decks to the public.
The Atlas Restaurant Group patios open up on April 4 (weather permitting). This includes outdoor spaces at Azumi, Ouzo Bay, James Joyce, Oregon Grille and more.
Magdalena’s pretty courtyard space is open for the season and full of blooming flowers.
THB x Frank’s
Towson Hot Bagels has partnered with Dave Portnoy favorite Frank’s Pizza & Pasta on a new bacon and pickle pizza bagel dish that’s a nod to Frank’s pickle pie.
Throughout April, a portion of proceeds from sales of the bagel will be donated to Casey Cares’, in honor of the organization’s 25th anniversary. THB locations are also doing a pajama drive for the non-profit, collecting new, two-piece PJs to be donated to local hospitals treating pediatric patients.
Craft x Craft Science Fair
The South Baltimore Brewery District is the place to be, now through April 13. Over that time, South Baltimore’s breweries are teaming up for a multi-day event featuring different elements of the craft and science of brewing and different ingredients that are critical to beer production.
The lineup includes multiple events at Pickett, Checkerspot, M8, and Wico Street, with help from vendors and friends like The Local Oyster (among many others).
Remington Brunch Club
Remington Brunch Club – the pop-up brunch featuring menu items from Nana, Illegal Tender, Half-Baked by Daddy’s Café and Tortuga Kombucha, is back on Saturday. The crew will be posted up outside Mt. Royal Soaps and Café Los Suenos, and will be accompanied by a variety of arts and crafts vendors.
Chefs Cycle & No Kid Hungry at Gunther & Co.
On Tuesday, April 8, Gunther & Co. hosts an all-star lineup of local restaurants for its annual fundraiser for Chefs Cycle/No Kid Hungry Fundraiser.
The evening includes food and drinks from Gunther along with Cinghiale, Huck’s American Craft, Marta, Of Love and Regret, True Chesapeake Oyster Co., The Capital Grille, The Food Market, The Milton Inn, The Urban Oyster and Victoria’s Gastro Pub.
Chef’s Table at Midlina
On Thursday, Midlina has a special Chef’s Tasting Menu event in the works, featuring a five-course meal that will provide a good introduction to the new spot.
Spring flavors
After a long and cold winter, the first greens of spring – along with their fresh flavors – have started to arrive on local menus.
Foraged is, as usual, leading the way with the addition of early season ramps to its menu.
Silver Queen Café, another spot with a super seasonally-driven menu, has new menu items like creamy leek pasta with tarragon panko gremolata, and drinks like a fennel martini made with house-infused fennel vodka.
The Corner Pantry’s drink of the month is a peppy ode to spring: iced hibiscus milk tea, wit lemongrass, lavender, lemon and chamomile syrup.
Cosima’s new spring menu is available and looks terrific – and the restaurant’s $10 pizzas are still available.
At True Chesapeake Oyster Co., spring weather means spritzes at the bar.
Café Campli’s new spring menu includes dishes like parsley-infused pappardelle with guanciale and fava beans, and hare ragu with tagliatelle.
O’s on the menu
Speaking of spring, Añejo Rose Cantina & Tequila Bar has a new lineup of Orioles-inspired food and drink specials that will be available throughout baseball season. Dishes include treats like a wagyu beef hot dog topped with queso, street corn and more, and a dressed up version of the classic Orange Crush, made with tequila and fresh-squeezed OJ.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
April 12: Feastival
April 16: Billecart-Salmon Champagne Dinner at Charleston
May 4: Fiesta de Clavel
