From openings to anniversaries to a weekend of food-friendly festivals, this week is a fun one in the Baltimore restaurant world. Here’s a look at what’s on the docket for the next few days:
Openings and announcements
Char’d City has opened in the old Clementine space in Hamilton. The restaurant’s grand opening celebration is today. Its creative pizzas and North African-inspired food looks terrific.
Rathskeller, a German restaurant from an impressive team–Brian Cieslak of Preserve in Annapolis, Robert Vogel of Elk Room and Will Low, formerly of Bagby Food Group—will open in Elkridge later this year. The restaurant concept is based on German rathskellers, which are the cellar bars of city halls. This one sounds fabulous, with a Tiffany chandelier and stained and antique glass, plus German cuisine, wine and cocktails.
Minnow closed last week and, after the quickest overhaul imaginable, a new concept from its owners has opened in its former space. The Hot Dry takes a thoughtful and interesting approach to noodles, buns and dumplings.
A new Asian fusion restaurant, Bambao, will open in Manchurian Rice Co.’s Harbor East space in October. The restaurant’s menu will include steamed bao bun sandwiches and rice and buddha bowls.
The Dizz, sadly, closed its doors earlier this week.
The Baltimore Post-Examiner reports IndoViet, a new restaurant from the former owners of the Midtown-Belvedere restaurant Indochine, opened last month in Pikesville. The owners also have plans for a second location in Highlandtown. Indochine was a popular stop for pho that closed last April.
Farmacy Brewing in Reisterstown celebrates its grand opening on Saturday with a party featuring eight beers on tap, all of which include farm-grown ingredients, plus food and live music.
Topside, in the Hotel Revival, will start offering breakfast and lunch service on Sept. 19. The new hours are timed to coincide with the Dining Out for Life fundraiser for Moveable Feast; the restaurant will donate 25 percent of proceeds that day to the organization.
Le Comptoir closed last week–just temporarily, don’t worry–while its operators take a quick vacation to Paris and Lyon. They will reopen on Wednesday and will likely have some good stories to share.
City Cafe celebrates 25 with generosity
Mt. Vernon staple City Cafe celebrated 25 years in business last week–a big milestone!
To honor the anniversary, owners Bruce Bodie and Gino Cardinale have pledged to contribute $2,500 to a local nonprofit organization via a series of charity-related happy hours taking place this fall. The restaurant will also launch a secret menu of drinks and desserts that will premiere soon on Instagram (so keep an eye out) and from now through November, if you purchase a $100 gift card, you’ll receive a bonus one for $25.
The restaurant also created a cool visual timeline of its building and the people who have been part of the restaurant community over the years. View it (and reminisce) here.
Madonnari Arts Festival happenings
This weekend, Little Italy comes alive with the Madonnari Arts Festival, the chalk art street fair that turns the neighborhood’s main drag into a gorgeous gallery on the street.
During the festival, local restaurants remain open inside and will offer al fresco dining, and some will have specials. Among them: an all-day happy hour at Aldo’s with $5 martinis, $6 small plates, $4 Italian beers and $9 wines by the glass.
Festival of India
Get ready to taste all things Indian at the Howard County Fairgrounds on Saturday, when a Festival of India takes over. The event, billed as a pre-Diwali celebration, includes vendors, dance performances and, of course, lots of Indian food.
Summer Olympics fundraiser at Papi’s
On Saturday morning, Papi’s Tacos in Hampden reminds everyone summer isn’t quite over yet by hosting a Summer Olympics-themed competition raising money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore.
Teams will compete in events like putt-putt ski ball for the honor of being able to call themselves Parking Lot Olympic Champions. In addition to the sports, breakfast will be available starting at 10 a.m., and all-you-can-drink wristbands are available for purchase.
Vino in Vogue
This Saturday is the fifth annual Vino in Vogue event in Harbor East. The event starts at noon, offering a fun afternoon of wine tasting and education, complimentary cheese, sweets and light bites inside shops, special sales and live music.
Future Islands ice cream
Baltimore musical success story Future Islands is, to much fanfare, playing a free show at Union Collective on Saturday. To celebrate the occasion, The Charmery has teamed up with the band to create three collaborative flavors.
The options include the strawberry cream cheese pie-flavored Inch of Crust and two vegan choices, Choppadilla (almond milk and peanut butter) and a fruity sorbet. They’ll debut at The Charmery’s Union Collective location on Saturday, just in time for the show.
Oyster Regatta
Also on Saturday, Ryleigh’s Oyster Hunt Valley and Oyster Recovery Partnership get together for a fun day of oysters, drinks and live music benefiting ORP.
The party takes place at Ryleigh’s, where the setup will include tasting tents and raw bars featuring treats like crab cakes, whole roasted fish, pit beef and, of course, tons of oysters. It’ll also have fun activities, including one where kids use oyster tongs to race model boats, and another where guests of all ages can learn to shuck by watching George Hastings–perhaps the best shucker in the Chesapeake region–in action.
Tap into the Tavern
For those looking for a day trip, on Saturday afternoon, history and beer collide at Tap into the Tavern, the annual beer and wine festival at Rodgers Tavern in Perryville.
The outdoor festival includes music, food and beverages from local craft breweries and wineries, all served in a pretty outdoor spot along the Susquehanna River.
Mushroom dinner at Foraged
On Sunday, Foraged Eatery chef and owner Chris Amendola teams up with chef Kevin Brothers of Savor Chefs Baltimore for a mushroom-focused meal.
The evening features 10 dishes–five from each chef–highlighting mushrooms from local farms and wild mushrooms that have been foraged.
Fete de Pomme at Petit Louis
It’s apple season in Maryland, and Petit Louis has a new seasonal prix fixe menu celebrating the shiny fruit.
The three-course menu includes cider-braised beef short rib served with spaetzle and roasted root vegetables, and a pithivier–a pretty, enclosed pie–made with Honeycrisp apples and served with honey caramel and cardamom ice cream.
Whiskey classes
On Thursday, Old Line Spirits in Highlandtown will join forces with Baltimore Spirits Company and McClintock Distilling to host a whiskey seminar.
The class will offer instruction in the types of whiskey, whiskey history and background, and tastings from each distillery. The event benefits local charities supporting area trees and green space restoration.
Passion for Food and Wine
On Thursday night, the annual Passion for Food and Wine event, a major fundraiser for the Maryland chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, will take place in the Four Seasons Hotel.
Some of the city’s best chefs will be on-hand to cook for tables. The event also features a silent auction and a live auction with some fabulous food-related items up for bid, including trips to wineries and extravagant private dinners prepared by area chefs.
Celebrations at NANCY BY SNAC
On Friday, Sept. 13, the NANCY by SNAC team hosts a celebration of community, customers and friends they’ve made during the six years the MICA building restaurant has been open, and the 26 years since the original Station North Arts Café Gallery opened in the neighborhood.
Planning ahead
Here are a few events to look forward to over the next few weeks:
Sept. 21: Charm City Night Market
Sept. 22: The Big Dill Pickle Party
Oct. 12: Ryleigh’s Oysterfest 13
