Spring is here (if you can believe it) and Easter is right around the corner. That means local restaurants are busy with brunch plans, as well as a variety of dinners, parties and menu changes.
Openings & Announcements
This week, Full Tilt Brewing officially announced it will move into B-more Kitchen, the food startup incubator located in Govans. The brewery’s new 6,100-square-foot space, which will include a production facility and a taproom, will open sometime in the fall.
Growler USA, an Oregon-based craft beer bar chain, announced this week that a new outpost will open in The Rotunda.
Bluebird Cocktail Room debuted a new spring drinks menu this week, including some fun tiki options that will make you believe it actually is springtime.
Maryland’s Fabulous Fare
Saturday brings something fun for food-loving history buffs, when the Maryland Historical Society hosts Maryland’s Fabulous Fare: A Taste of History. The ticketed event includes small plates and cocktails created using recipes adapted from ones found in the society’s collections.
Dishes cover a wide range of historically significant foods, drawing from the Bay and the land, and featuring everything from pit beef to mock turtle.
Brunch Fun
Heading out for brunch this weekend? You’ve got options:
Feel even better about that morning (or afternoon) meal by heading to Myth & Moonshine. All weekend long, the Canton restaurant is donating a portion of brunch proceeds to Moveable Feast, the local organization that provides meals to impoverished people suffering from chronic illnesses.
On Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, Café Hon is hosting Pajamas, Pancakes & Karaoke. Billed as a “girls’ Saturday morning,” the event includes a pancake bar plus bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys.
Proscuitto at Pitango
If you’re in Fells Point on Saturday, make a point of stopping by Pitango Bakery & Café. Pitango has recently been inducted into the Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma–an “elite group of prosciutto specialists”–and they are celebrating the honor with a prosciutto tasting and conversations about the history and traditions associated with the meat.
The Local Fry Is Busy
The lovable wings-and-fries spot The Local Fry is busy right now. Not only is their new location in The Rotunda slated to open soon, they are also taking over the pop-up space at R. House beginning on March 26.
Their R. House menu will include loaded fries, banh mi sandwiches and rice bowls (including some vegetarian options).
Pairing Parties
Some of the most fun cooking around town happens when local restaurants partner with breweries or wineries, creating menus that show off the strengths of both sides. This week brings a few of these types of dinners to hit.
On Monday, March 26, Rye Street Tavern kicks off a new series of dinners, each of which will feature beers from a different local brewer. The inaugural event will match Rye Street with Monument City Brewing Company. The meal will include a variety of beers, plus a four-course dinner.
Tuesday, March 27, The Black Olive will host a tasting of wines of Tselepos, a vineyard in the Arcadia region of Greece. The dinner includes five savory courses, plus dessert, each paired with a Tselepos wine. The menu shows off both the restaurant’s Baltimore roots and Greek heritage, with dishes like Greek lamb keftedes as well as mini crab cakes served with spicy aioli.
On Thursday, March 29, Ida B’s Table is teaming up with Diamondback Brewing for a special happy hour. The event will feature three different Diamondback beers, each paired with specific small plate items from a special menu that will be available that afternoon. Offerings include match-ups like “The Lead,” which pairs Diamondback’s “Omar” pale ale with chef David Thomas’ spicy take on a chicken box: smoked jerk wings and fried sweet potato wedges with chive crème fraiche.
The happy hour lasts from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and includes special prices on drafts.
Also on Thursday, Modern Cook Shop hosts the Baltimore Whiskey Company for an amaro and dessert pairing session featuring three BWC amaros–plus one extra surprise.
Taste of Pikesville Rescheduled
Thanks to this week’s epic storm, the Pikesville Chamber of Commerce’s annual Taste of Pikesville event has been rescheduled: It will still take place at the Suburban Club, but now on Tuesday, March 27. The evening features food and drinks from a variety of Baltimore County eateries, and a portion of proceeds benefits the Baltimore Hunger Project.
Women & Wine
In honor of Women’s History Month, on Thursday, March 29, Points South Latin Kitchen is hosting a South American Wine Dinner featuring wine made by women. The four-course meal begins with a glass of sparkling rosé and includes dishes like lamb ribs and spicy shrimp.
Easter Plans
Easter falls on Sunday, April 1, this year, so now is the time to make plans to dine out. Many local restaurants are putting on special Easter brunches, including:
Foraged Eatery will open for brunch for the second time in its short (but illustrious) time in business. The Hampden restaurant will open its doors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cosima will be open on Easter for brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is something new for the restaurant, and something that will stick around. In the following weeks, Cosima will remain open for Sunday brunch.
At Petit Louis, the regular à la carte menu will be available during both brunch and dinner hours, in addition to some specials, such as lobster crepes and a roasted leg of lamb.
Donna’s in Cross Keys will host its annual Easter brunch, featuring a wide variety of dishes, from leg of lamb to omelets.
Cinghiale will be open for brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature a special menu, including an antipasti spread and a choice of two courses.
Lupa, Foreman Wolf’s new Columbia restaurant, will offer the brunch menu from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. It includes dishes like fettuccine with rabbit ragu and fava beans and Roman-style pizza with zucchini, roasted tomato, guanciale, poached eggs and pecorino romano.
Johnny’s will be open for brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; a buffet will be set up in the back of the restaurant with an omelette station in the café. For dinner, which starts at 4:30 p.m., the à la carte menu will be available.
The Elephant will be open for special hours on Easter: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with an Easter-specific menu available.
At La Cuchara, dinner service will be conducted normally, but the restaurant will also be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a special three-course brunch.
Cunningham’s annual Easter brunch buffet will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At Tark’s, special Easter buffets will be available for both brunch and dinner. The restaurant will have seatings throughout the day.
Ampersea’s brunch menu will include seasonal brunch specials and Maryland-inspired dishes, including the chef’s crab Benedict.
Easter brunch at Chez Hugo will include fresh-baked pastries and a French breakfast menu.
At The Turn House, brunch will be a buffet that includes a complimentary glass of champagne (for the adults).
There will be three brunch seatings at The French Kitchen (10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.) and at the latter two, a gospel band will perform. Brunch will be served buffet-style, with a special kids’ buffet menu.
The Manor Tavern will have two seatings for Easter dinner (3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.), both of which will be served buffet-style.
The Mt. Washington Tavern will have a special buffet menu in the Pimlico Room and Sky Bar. The regular menu will be available in the Chesapeake Room and in the front bar.
Sotto Sopra will be open for Easter dinner, serving the à la carte menu from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Rusty Scupper will have three seatings for its Easter brunch buffet: 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
At Wit & Wisdom, the à la carte menu will be available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and brunch, served at multiple stations, will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Planning Ahead
Here are a few events to look forward to over the next few weeks:
April 7: Oyster festival at Manor Tavern
April 14: Lock House Craft Beer & Wine Festival
April 21: Winemaking workshop at Charm City Farms
