Looking for a place in or around Baltimore for a birthday dinner. It's for a friend's Mom's 60th, so nothing too scary please….
And sorry for non 930 non music-ness of this.
And sorry for non 930 non music-ness of this.
Question for all you B'more folks
The Milton Inn is quite nice. Their website doesn't really do them justice but they will do you up right with all the finery. Warm and cozy too. Kind of classic rustic for the snob set.
That looks great, but might be just a bit pricey for this event. Anyone else?
Pazo http://www.pazorestaurant.com/
Cinghiale (amazing food, this would be the first choice for my mom, who is 65) http://www.cgeno.com/
Abacrombie http://badger-inn.com/
Blue Hill Tavern http://www.bluehilltavern.com/
Della Notte http://www.dellanotte.com/
Cinghiale (amazing food, this would be the first choice for my mom, who is 65) http://www.cgeno.com/
Abacrombie http://badger-inn.com/
Blue Hill Tavern http://www.bluehilltavern.com/
Della Notte http://www.dellanotte.com/
Why not take her to Little Italy? A year ago, I took my mom to BMA (Baltimore Museum of Art) for a Matisse exhibit and then over to Little Italy for dinner. We went to Amicci's (http://www.amiccis.com)- a little more casual and less pricey than the other restaurants in the small, walkable district. Authentic pasta, etc. It's busy, especially on a weekend, so see if you can make a reservation. Then, one block over and one up, is a pastry/cookie store we visited for coffee and dessert. Pretty sure this is it: http://www.vaccarospastry.com/images/locations.LittleItaly.jpg
(main: http://www.vaccarospastry.com/index.jsp)
Tons to choose from and additional seating upstairs. It was fun because everyone seated near us at the restaurant, was at the pastry cafe with us as well. (and I think they let you try stuff - very authentic staff too. Although, we opted to sit to order and there was a slight wait)
There is another casual to fine-dining restaurant across the street that we eyed once inside Amici's. I can't remember the name. Everything else seemed larger than Amici's but more pricey. If you Google Amici's and search nearby with key word "restaurants" you can find some more in the area I refer.
If you need a larger restaurant here is one and has banquet reservations: http://www.sabatinos.com
I haven't been to it, suggesting in case you need more room?
Google search of restaurant listings provided this: http://www.littleitalymd.com/restaurants.htm
Overall, it was fun, a kind of getaway since we didn't do the normal and sometimes tacky Inner Harbor. (it was winter anyway.) All day at the BMA was really nice - a much more quiet museum than those in the district and tons of major artwork donated by benefactors (two sisters, and one member of the board see website: www.artbma.org). If it means anything, my mom liked everything!
(main: http://www.vaccarospastry.com/index.jsp)
Tons to choose from and additional seating upstairs. It was fun because everyone seated near us at the restaurant, was at the pastry cafe with us as well. (and I think they let you try stuff - very authentic staff too. Although, we opted to sit to order and there was a slight wait)
There is another casual to fine-dining restaurant across the street that we eyed once inside Amici's. I can't remember the name. Everything else seemed larger than Amici's but more pricey. If you Google Amici's and search nearby with key word "restaurants" you can find some more in the area I refer.
If you need a larger restaurant here is one and has banquet reservations: http://www.sabatinos.com
I haven't been to it, suggesting in case you need more room?
Google search of restaurant listings provided this: http://www.littleitalymd.com/restaurants.htm
Overall, it was fun, a kind of getaway since we didn't do the normal and sometimes tacky Inner Harbor. (it was winter anyway.) All day at the BMA was really nice - a much more quiet museum than those in the district and tons of major artwork donated by benefactors (two sisters, and one member of the board see website: www.artbma.org). If it means anything, my mom liked everything!
yeah Amici's is good as well. I hate Little Italy..but the only two places I can stand are Amici's and Della Notte.
I vote Pazo.
Isn't Little Italy overpriced (and touristy?) for what it is? Granted, like a Broken Social Scene concert, I've never actually been to any place in Little Italy.
Isn't Little Italy overpriced (and touristy?) for what it is? Granted, like a Broken Social Scene concert, I've never actually been to any place in Little Italy.
everyone i know in balmer swears by jacks bistro: http://www.jacksbistro.net/
i can attest to the greatness of the sous vide bistro steak frites
i can attest to the greatness of the sous vide bistro steak frites
Maybe because I went in the winter, Little Italy wasn't so bad with crowds. Is that why you don't like Little Italy? Cluster traffic was a little annoying, but we finally parked, walked by three expensive and dressy places when we found Amici's. Best to plan ahead, especially when it's cold & so your ma doesn't have to walk a bit.
James wrote:
Isn't Little Italy overpriced (and touristy?) for what it is? I've never actually been to any place in Little Italy.
check out the link I provided, the one is not over-priced, the others as mentioned, I found to be.
The tourists seem to be more at the harbor…Mostly people we saw and met were local to the area.
Sugartastic wrote:James wrote:
Isn't Little Italy overpriced (and touristy?) for what it is? I've never actually been to any place in Little Italy.
check out the link I provided, the one is not over-priced, the others as mentioned, I found to be.
The tourists seem to be more at the harbor…Mostly people we saw and met were local to the area.
Thanks, just did. Might haveto chek it out sometime.
does it have to be in Baltimore city? I can recommend some in Baltimore County (Owings Mills, etc) …also, what does your mom like? (what type of cuisine?)
Baltimore has tourists?
Vas wrote:
does it have to be in Baltimore city? I can recommend some in Baltimore County (Owings Mills, etc) …also, what does your mom like? (what type of cuisine?)
No, it definitely doesn't have to be in the city, and in fact not being in the downtown area may be easier…traffic parking etc. And the fact that we'll be driving up from DC to meet them for dinner. It is my "friend's" mom and i have really no idea what she likes, but her folks live a few miles north of Baltimore. I don't think she's too picky though, but not sure italian is the way to go. I do know she's a fantastic cook though. Based on what i'm told about those that will be in attendance, casual is the way to go.
Yes, The Milton Inn is a bit pricey. Maybe a nice little special date with the wife sometime.
I would suggest that if you end up in Little Italy, that you avoid Sabitino's at all cost. Probably the most overrated restaurant in the entire city. The food has been horrible every time I've eaten there. (Only ended up going back because of others wanting to go. Don't do it!)
Vaccaro's (the desert place) is heavenly!
For casual with average prices, decent food and north of Baltimore, you might want to go to An Poitin Stil in Timonium. ('The Still' as the locals call it.) In fact, a friend is taking me there on Saturday for my birthday. The place has a fairly good reputation amongst the locals. It's not gourmet but you'll leave happy and satisfied. They have their own parking lot so you should be fine on that account.
I would suggest that if you end up in Little Italy, that you avoid Sabitino's at all cost. Probably the most overrated restaurant in the entire city. The food has been horrible every time I've eaten there. (Only ended up going back because of others wanting to go. Don't do it!)
Vaccaro's (the desert place) is heavenly!
For casual with average prices, decent food and north of Baltimore, you might want to go to An Poitin Stil in Timonium. ('The Still' as the locals call it.) In fact, a friend is taking me there on Saturday for my birthday. The place has a fairly good reputation amongst the locals. It's not gourmet but you'll leave happy and satisfied. They have their own parking lot so you should be fine on that account.
Jaguar wrote:
For casual with average prices, decent food and north of Baltimore, you might want to go to An Poitin Stil in Timonium. ('The Still' as the locals call it.) In fact, a friend is taking me there on Saturday for my birthday. The place has a fairly good reputation amongst the locals. It's not gourmet but you'll leave happy and satisfied. They have their own parking lot so you should be fine on that account.
Is your daughter by any chance friends with Chaz? ;D
Happy birthday!
James wrote:Jaguar wrote:
For casual with average prices, decent food and north of Baltimore, you might want to go to An Poitin Stil in Timonium. ('The Still' as the locals call it.) In fact, a friend is taking me there on Saturday for my birthday. The place has a fairly good reputation amongst the locals. It's not gourmet but you'll leave happy and satisfied. They have their own parking lot so you should be fine on that account.
Is your daughter by any chance friends with Chaz? ;D
Happy birthday!
Thanks…
and fuck you. :-*
Jaguar wrote:
Vaccaro's (the desert place) is heavenly!
Cool, a Jag endorsement!
Chaz, what 65 yr. old doesn't want pasta? ;)
Sugartastic wrote:Jaguar wrote:
Vaccaro's (the desert place) is heavenly!
Cool, a Jag endorsement!
Chaz, what 65 yr. old doesn't want pasta? ;)
To be fair, she is turning 60. And as far as dining prefs, i'm pretty much in the dark. Just trying to help out. I've only met the woman once ;)