With a nip in the air and spooky season underway, this week is a fun one in the Baltimore restaurant world. Here’s a look at what’s happening:
Openings & announcements
Viale in Hampden has finally opened its doors. The new pizza spot is celebrating its launch with a karaoke party on Oct. 24.
Pappas Seafood Co. made big news this week with the announcement that the company, a longtime Baltimore staple, has been sold to a fintech firm called Teamshares. The reported long term plan involves Teamshares sharing ownership with Pappas employees.
Happy anniversary to Animal Boy, which celebrates a year in business this weekend. The Hamilton restaurant is taking its show on the road for a party at Peabody Heights Brewery on Saturday afternoon and evening.
Starting on Tuesday, Oct. 27, Gertrude’s will now have a Morning Café open from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. from Tuesday through Friday. The menu includes coffee, tea, and pastries, and the café is accessed through the tented patio off the Sculpture Garden. https://www.instagram.com/p/DeqAPEjJsU9/
Silver Queen Café has changed its schedule. The Hamilton restaurant will now be open for dinner Wednesday through Friday and brunch only on Saturday and Sunday (no dinner service on Saturday night).
Wanderland
On Saturday, Oct. 24, tons of local brewers, winemakers, cidermakers, and distillers will gather at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods for Wanderland, an afternoon festival honoring Maryland’s many beverage makers.
The event also features artisans, live music, entertainment like jugglers and stilt walkers, and more.
Bordeaux at Petit Louis
On Monday, Oct. 26, Petit Louis hosts a five-course dinner showcasing the wines of Bordeaux’s Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and Cate de Pez. The meal includes courses like braised lamb neck with spiced squash puree paired with three different sines, and a tarte tatin for dessert.
Water Taxi Wednesdays & more
Autumn is prime time to get out on the water in Baltimore to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat. The Water Taxi makes that easy this week with multiple events, including a Sunday Brunch Cruise and a sunset happy hour event on Wednesday.
Spooky Slay the Menu
The Food Market’s Slay the Menu event, held in its private kitchen, gets a Halloween makeover this week. The dinner, which takes place on Wednesday evening, includes five creepy courses, with wine pairings, and costumes are encouraged.
Witch-tober continues
Sally O’s month of Halloween happenings continues this week with tarot readings (and half-price bottles of wine) on Wednesday and, on Friday, a Disco Witch Cocktail Dinner featuring spooky drinks and more.
Virginia wines at Woodberry Kitchen
Wednesday evening, the Tavern at Woodberry Kitchen welcomes the winemaker from Southwest Mountains Vineyard for a five-course meal designed to pair with several of the winery’s selections. The menu includes dishes like poached Chesapeake butterfish served with autumn roots, fermented fennel, and beurre blanc, paired with SMV’s Reserve Chardonnay.
Early Halloween & more
Halloween weekend is sure to be one for the ages this year. Though the holiday officially falls on Saturday, celebrations are starting early.
La Calle’s Dia de los Muertos dinner is on Thursday, Oct. 29 – and it is a ticketed evening, so grab your reservation now.
At Clavel, Halloween starts on Friday and extends into Saturday with two nights of Yo Quiero Clavel, when the restaurant’s menu dons a costume of its own, dressing up as Taco Ball with dishes like the Crunchwrap Supreme added to the regular Clavel menu.
Also on Saturday, Cece’s hosts a family-friendly movie night, with two screenings of “Casper” in the lounge, plus cookie decorating, popcorn, and special drinks.
Autumn flavors
As the harvest season progresses, restaurants continue to retool their menus to showcase seasonal flavors.
Seppia’s seasonal desserts include an aromatic apple crostada topped with olive oil gelato and caramel and pepita brittle. https://www.instagram.com/p/Der9Bn1vJSc/
At Café Gia, new menu items include pumpkin ricotta ravioli and roasted butternut squash risotto.
Hello Trouble has five new autumnal drinks on the menu, including an apple-spiced chai tea and toasty warm hot chocolate.
At Tark’s, the menu has been updated for the season, as has the décor, with festive fall plants and vegetables giving the courtyard extra fall flair.
Johnny’s – where the soups are always exceptional – has warm autumn options covered, with options like parsnip apple and roasted butternut squash.
One of The Corner Pantry’s new menu additions is a salad of roasted brussels sprouts, togarashi ham, and citrus apple glaze.
For its new fall cocktail menu, Magdalena draws inspiration from the old Baltimore nickname “A Nest of Pirates.” The lineup includes drinks like Oyster Wars, which pairs rye and sherry with whipped honey vanilla syrup, lemon, and saline.
Cool weather additions to The Manor Tavern’s menu include roasted quail with apple, sage, and cranberry stuffing, and Alpine crepes with ham, asparagus, and Swiss cheese.
True Chesapeake has a fun new fall cocktail menu available – including one drink that starts with a flame.
Green chili pot pie is on the Little Donna’s menu for a short time – just the next few weeks – so grab one while you can.
Costiera is celebrating traditional oyster season with a dish of semolina-crusted oysters, tzatziki, pickled shallots, and upland cress.
At The Duchess, a new drinks lineup includes choices like Ceylong Song, which is an intriguing mix of Korean cinnamon and ginger tea punch and mulled wine.
Bar Alice Anne has also just dropped a new fall cocktail menu.
Planning for the future
Mark your calendars for:
November 7: Oyfest
November 7: The Baltimore Station Chili Cookoff Fundraiser
November 11: Oyster SHELLabration at True Chesapeake
