By Maria Scinto
The Best Restaurants in North Baltimore to Celebrate a Birthday
Are you celebrating a special birthday in
Baltimore, but you live up north of the city and don't want to drive all the way into town? These restaurants are all in North Baltimore, but are well worth the trip no matter where you're traveling from.
Gertrude's
If you're an art lover, why not dine at the Baltimore Museum of Art? Gertrude's specializes in cuisine of the Chesapeake Bay region, and Baltimore native chef John Shields has authored two cookbooks and hosts the PBS show ""Coastal Cooking." At his restaurant, you may enjoy tapas-style "small plates" as well as "big plates," featuring regional specialties including Chincoteague oysters, Chesapeake Rockfish Imperial and Virginia-style pulled pork barbecue. Vegetarian options are also available, including a southeast Asian-style vegetable curry and vegetarian "crab cakes."
Gertrude's
10 Art Museum Drive
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 889-3399
www.johnshields.com
Dogwood
Dogwood is known for using organic, locally sourced meats and produce and for varying its dinner menu, in accordance with the seasons. Offerings include a salad of organic mesclun greens, Pennsylvania-raised duck confit and deviled duck egg; crab-stuffed baked oysters from Cambridge, Md.; and vegetarian dishes such as a roasted mushroom risotto. Upscale comfort food is also available in the form of "neighborhood entrée specials," including buttermilk fried chicken (available on Tuesdays), and short-rib meatloaf (Thursday's special). You'll definitely want to celebrate with a birthday dessert such as a Frangelico chocolate pot de crème, honey thyme crème brûlée, organic blueberry gateau, or even a plate of fresh mini buttermilk doughnuts sprinkled with sugar and the Middle Eastern spice blend raz el hanout.
Dogwood
911 W. 36th St.
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 889-0952
www.dogwoodbaltimore.com
Woodberry Kitchen
Woodberry Kitchen also prides itself in using fresh, seasonal locally sourced ingredients. This former foundry warehouse has been one of North Baltimore's "in spots" since its opening in 2008, so if you plan to celebrate your birthday there, your best bet may be to use their online reservation system to check on available times. Once you're in, you may want to start off with an appetizer such as sea salt-seasoned popcorn (grown in Lancaster, Pa.) or the house-made sour cream and onion potato chips (a far cry from Lay's). A variety of Maryland-made cheeses are also available, as is a Tilghman Island crab dip or a stew made from Choptank oysters. Entrees include chicken and waffles, pork loin with cherry compote, braised short ribs in wine sauce, and several different vegetarian dishes. Your birthday dessert options include a double cherry cobbler (one with black cherries, one with sour cherries), a flourless chocolate cake, an apricot melba, or a plate of homemade "kitchen cookies and sweets." Specialty drinks include ingredients such as organic vodka, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, local honey and house-made ginger beer.
Woodberry Kitchen
2010 Clipper Park Road
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 464-8000
www.woodberrykitchen.com
Ethel & Ramone's
If you prefer a restaurant with a more intimate atmosphere, you may wish to dine at Ethel and Ramone's in Mount Washington Village. This restaurant offers an open kitchen for your dining entertainment or, if you prefer, sidewalk tables (in season). Their cuisine is billed as "Maryland Creole" and includes gumbo and jambalaya (each with a choice of Andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp or crab), crabcakes and a rack of lamb served with a blueberry and brandy demi-glace.
Ethel and Ramone's
1615 Sulgrave Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21209
(410) 664-2971
www.ethelandramones.com
Cafe Hon
Finally, if you long to celebrate your birthday wearing a beehive hairdo, rhinestone-studded cats-eye glasses and a pink feather boa, Cafe Hon is the place for you. Located right in the heart of Hampden (world capital of Hon-dom), this cafe features good old "Bawlmer" comfort food, including (of course) crabcakes, crab soup, chili, burgers (even a black bean veggie burger for eco-hons), meatloaf and porkchops. If you really want to go all-out to celebrate your birthday (and why not, hon?), you can even order Thanksgiving Dinner. This special features sliced turkey with gravy, homemade stuffing, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes.
Cafe Hon
1002 W. 36th St.
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 243-1230
www.cafehon.com
Resources
About the Author:
Maria Scinto has a master's in library and information science from the University of Denver. She has been writing professionally for 5 years, and has been published in websites and in print publications including "Northern Virginia Magazine", "The Shy Librarian," "Montgomery Gazette" and "Fairfax Times". She has also contributed to two nonfiction books, "The Takeout Cookbook" and "The Savvy Convert's Guide to Choosing a Religion".
Photo Credits:
Wikipedia
