Eating out in Baltimore was, for a long time, a mostly predictable and provincial enterprise: Local seafood and a handful of regional specialties like soft crabs, crab soup, and crab cakes, plus tried-and-true riffs on continental cuisine, were the best the city had to offer, save for Charm City's excellent ethnic restaurants.

These days, Baltimore is still known for its increasingly dear and hard-to-come-by seafood delicacies, as it should be.  But in the last decade or so, the city, thanks to the local-food movement, has evolved into quite the regional food (and drink) destination. Nearby farms, seafood purveyors, and local butchers and brewers inspire Baltimore chefs and cooks to take the city to new culinary levels on a daily basis—using sustainable ingredients that come from close to home. And we're all a lot better off for it.

The following listings are by no means exhaustive and are organized by city neighborhood. Venture out and discover Baltimore's local flavors, old and new, familiar and surprising, for yourself. ($ = most entrees are $10 and under, $$ = $10-$15, $$$ = $15-$25, $$$$ = $25 and above)

Station North

Lost City Diner

1730 N. Charles St., (410) 547-5678,  www.lostcitydiner.com, $$

A vegan-friendly retro diner where the menus have a '50s-'60s sci-fi fantasy theme.  Rod Serling might have eaten a Starboy double-decker burger here. Open late and BYOB.

Joe Squared

133 W. North Ave., (410) 545-0444, joesquared.com, $$

Square pizzas, wings, and risottos are the Joe Squared trademarks. (Joe has a second location at Power Plant Live.)

Nam Kang

2126 Maryland Ave., (410) 685-6237, $$

Late-night Korean BBQ for when it's too early to go home and too late to go anywhere else. Enjoy some bulgogi, jampong, or bibimbap as you wait for the sun to come up.

Sofi's Crepes

1723 N. Charles St. (410) 727-7732, sofiscrepes.com, $

Savory and sweet fillings, like ham and cheese or Nutella, are what's on offer at this local crepe chain.

Tapas Teatro 

1711 N. Charles St., (410) 332-0110, tapasteatro.com, $$$

Adjacent to the Charles Theater and expanding, Baltimore's leader in small plates, owned by the Karzai family (as are b bistro, The Helmand, and the new Pen & Quill), brings international flavors to the city's tapas scene.

Mount Vernon/Bolton Hill

Akbar

823 N. Charles St., (410) 539-0944, akbar-restaurant.com, $$$

Fine Indian formal dining or a good affordable buffet. It's your call.

The Bun Shop

239 W. Read St., (410) 989-2033, $ 

Buns of all kinds and coffee, too. Recent offerings on their ever-changing menu include empanadas, pork buns, bahn mi, dirty chai donuts, and aloe lemonade. Open until 3 a.m.

Belvedere 13th Floor 

1 E. Chase St., (410) 347-0880, 13floorbelvedere.com, $$$

This elegant supper club, in what was once a grand hotel, has superior food and even better views.

b, a Bolton Hill Bistro

1501 Bolton St., (410) 383-8600, b-bistro.com, $$$

An upscale neighborhood favorite with a focus on the seasonal and regional. Worth a trip to Bolton Hill for the rest of us.

B&O American Brasserie

2 N. Charles St., (443) 692-6172, bandorestaurant.com, $$$

Housed in the original Baltimore & Ohio Railway headquarters, this classic brasserie serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner to tourists, travelers, and gourmets alike.

The Brewer's Art

1106 N. Charles St., (410) 547-6925, thebrewersart.com, $$$$

Located in a Mount Vernon townhouse, the Brewer's Art was among the first restaurants in Baltimore to brew its own beer. Sampling Brewer's Art house beers (Resurrection, Beazly, and Birdhouse) with its rosemary garlic fries is a seminal Baltimore casual dining experience.

Dooby's

802 N. Charles St., (410) 702-5144, doobyscoffee.com, $

More than great coffee and pastries. Dooby's now serves three meals a day, many with an Asian influence.

Dukem

1100 Maryland Ave., (410) 385-0318, dukemrestaurant.com, $$

Sop up the juices from the wot with tangy injera, a spongy flatbread, at this Ethiopian mainstay.

The Helmand

806 N. Charles St., (410) 752-0311, helmand.com, $$

Providing Baltimore with fine Afghan cuisine for more than 20 years. A superb choice for vegetarians.

Marie Louise Bistro

904 N. Charles St., (410) 385-9946, marielouisebistrocatering.com, $$$

Lovely outdoor seating and a blend of Mediterranean, French, and Italian fare in a neighborhood bistro setting.

Stang of Siam

1301 N. Calvert St., (443) 453-9142, stangofsiam.com, $$

A fresh take on Thai food  for a city that can't get enough. You'll notice the Buddhas in the window as your drive up Calvert Street.

TenTen Ramen

413 N. Charles St., (410) 244-6988, tentenramen.com, $$

Rejoice! Real ramen in Mount Vernon. The old Joss Café and Sushi Bar became TenTen in 2014. Sit at the counter with your bowl of shio or shoyu and watch the world go by.

Downtown

Alewife 

21 N. Eutaw St., (410) 545-5112, alewifebaltimore.com, $$

An award-winning beer bar with a solid menu for pre- or post-game dinners and noshes. Don't miss Alewife's herbed duck-fat fries with chipotle aioli.

Forno Restaurant and Wine Bar 

17 N. Eutaw St., (443) 873-9427, fornobaltimore.com, $$$ 

Brick-oven pizzas and sustainably sourced foods inspired by local farmers. Reasonably priced small-batch cocktails round out the menu at Alewife's (almost) next-door neighbor.

Mekong Delta Cafe

105 W. Saratoga St., (410) 244-8677, $

Lauded for their pho, a meal in their super-tiny café is worth the wait. An oasis on Saratoga St.

Trinacria Foods

406. N. Paca St., (410) 685-7285, trinacriabaltimore.com, $ 

Don't let this Italian market's sort-of sketchy locale dissuade you from a visit. Get a prosciutto or soppressata sandwich on foccacia (or maybe a classic meatball sub) and some good-cheap wine to take home. Or visit Trinacria's new café on West Centre Street.

The Yard 

110 S. Eutaw St., Marriott Inner Harbor, (410) 209-2853, marriott.com, $$$

This hotel restaurant/bar creates the tastes of Baltimore for visitors to our fair city.

Little Italy

Aldo's 

306 S. High St., (410) 727-0700, aldositaly.com, $$$$

Known for its lavish décor, service, and richly flavored cuisine, Aldo's is an old-school special-occasion restaurant and classic Baltimore dining experience.

Amicci's 

231 S. High St., (410) 528-1096, amiccis.com, $$

Casual Italian comfort food, like spaghetti and meatballs and chicken parmigiana, at good prices.

Cafe Gia Ristorante 

410 S. High St., (410) 685-6727, cafegiabaltimore.com, $$$ 

A Sicilian bistro known for its festive murals and, of course, for its food.

Ozra 

806 Stiles St. (410) 528-2710,  ozra.us, $$$

A melding of Persian and Mediterranean cuisine, part of Little Italy's increasingly multi-ethnic restaurant scene.

Piedigrotta

1300 Bank St. (410) 522-6900, piedigrottabakery.com, $$

Open since 2002, this Italian bakery produces more than a dozen kinds of biscotti, all manner of sweets, and lunches and dinners too. Be sure to check out the tiramisu, its claim to fame.

Sabatino's 

901 Fawn St., (410) 727-9414, sabatinos.com, $$$

Home of the Bookmaker salad and all the home-style Little Italy favorites you remember.

Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop 

222 Albemarle St., (410) 685-4905, vaccarospastry.com, $$ 

Famous for its cookies (biscotti and pignoli in particular), cannoli, and cakes, Vaccaro's also has a café that serves sandwiches.

Harbor East

Bagby Pizza Co.

1006 Fleet St., (410) 605-0444, bagbypizza.com, $ 

Sister restaurant to Ten Ten and Fleet St. Kitchen, this pizza shop turns out toothsome thin-crust pies at better prices than the Baltimore pizza elites.

Charleston 

1000 Lancaster St., (410) 332-7373, charlestonrestaurant.com, $$$$ 

Among the most well-regarded restaurants in the region. Try the chef's menu with wine pairings if your budget allows.

Chazz: A Bronx Original

1415 Aliceanna St., (410) 522-5511, chazzbronxoriginal.com, $$$

Veal meatballs are a signature item. So are pizzas baked in a coal oven that gets as hot as one thousand degrees. Actor Chazz Palminteri is a co-owner.

Cinghiale 

822 Lancaster St., (410) 547-8282, cgeno.com, $$$

Modern Italian from the team of Foreman and Wolf. Sit at Cinghiale's (the name means wild boar) 40-foot marble bar and enjoy a selection from their salumeria or one of the fixed-priced menus (the rustic La Cucina della Nonna or the more formal Prezzo Fisso), or order a la carte.

Fleet Street Kitchen 

1012 Fleet St., (410) 244-5830, fleetstreetkitchen.com, $$$$

Part of the Bagby Restaurant Group, which includes Ten Ten and Bagby Pizza. The menus at Fleet Street Kitchen change frequently to highlight the season's bounty.

Heavy Seas Alehouse

1300 Bank St., (410) 753-1403, heavyseasalehouse.com, $$$

Chef Matt Seeber's menu is so beer-centric, a beer pairing is suggested for most entrees. If the beer-infused food and drafts aren't enough brew for you, four beer "floats" are on the dessert menu.

James Joyce Irish Pub and Restaurant

616 S. President St., (410) 727-5107, thejamesjoycepub.com, $$$

Irish standards, a stone's throw from downtown.

Lebanese Taverna 

719 S. President St., (410) 244-5533, lebanesetaverna.com, $$$

An elegant setting for traditional Lebanese fare, with a few American tweaks here and there, such as shwarma sliders.

My Thai

1300 Bank St., (410) 327-0023, mythaibaltimore.com, $$$

The restaurant, located in an old tack factory, features a grill bar devoted to Thai street foods.

Talara

615 S. President St., (410) 528-9883, talarabaltimore.com, $$$

A festive Latin bistro with a ceviche bar, just a few blocks from the Inner Harbor.

Ten Ten 

1010 Fleet St., (410) 244-6867, bagbys1010.com, $$$

Seasonal American dishes with a Chesapeake and Southern influence. Sustainability is the watchword here. To be considered for Ten Ten's menu, seafood must fall within the "good" or "good alternative" categories of  the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood Watch.

Wit & Wisdom 

Four Seasons, 200 International Drive, (410) 576-5800, witandwisdombaltimore.com, $$$$

Michael Mina's tavern offers comfort food with an Eastern Seaboard twist. If you're not feeling flush, take heart. This luxury hotel has a budget-friendly happy hour.

Fells Point/Butchers Hill

Bertha's

734 S. Broadway, (410) 327-5795, berthas.com, $$

This pub's eponymous bumper sticker says it all: "Eat Bertha's Mussels."

The Black Olive 

814 S. Bond St., (410) 276-7141, theblackolive.com, $$$$

The local standard-bearer for fresh fish simply, but exquisitely, prepared.

Blue Moon Café 

1621 Aliceanna St., (410) 522-3940, bluemoonbaltimore.com, $$

Home of the Badass Breakfast: benedicts, pancakes, omelets, from the sumptuous to the simple, and everything in between.

Bond Street Social 

901 S. Bond St., (443) 449-6234, bondstreetsocial.com, $$$ 

A great place to take a group. Share a 100-ounce social cocktail or a fixed-price brunch or dinner, to be passed at the table.

Duda's Tavern 

1600 Thames St., (410) 276-9719,  dudastavern.com, $$$

Established in 1949, this family- owned bar, which long catered to longshoremen and factory workers, today is known for its hospitality, and yes, its crab cakes.

Henninger's Tavern 

1812 Bank St., (410) 342-2172, henningerstavern.com, $$$

Not just another place to tuck into Charm City seafood. Henninger's menu is eclectic and ambitious enough to have a rabbit sausage appetizer and vegetarian curry entree, among other notable surprises.

Jimmy's Restaurant

801 S. Broadway, (410) 327-3273, $$

Old Baltimore at its finest. Hot turkey and hot roast beef platters are served with gravy and fries. Buttered cabbage is still a side dish here, and you can get a frosted mug of beer for $2.75.

Kali's Mezze

1606 Thames St., (410) 563-7600, kalismezze.com, $$$

Greek-inspired Mediterranean seafood and tapas with carefully chosen wines.

Kooper's Tavern 

1702 Thames St., (410) 563-5423, koopers.com, $$

This waterfront restaurant is known for its burgers. Look for the Kooper's roving Chowhound Burger Wagon (you can't miss the dog) elsewhere in the city.

Peter's Inn 

504 S. Ann St., (410) 675-7313, petersinn.com, $$$

A Fell's Point institution known for its independent spirit, reliably excellent food, and an ever-evolving menu, Peter's is one of the restaurants that comes to mind when you think of what Baltimore restaurants do best.

Salt

2127 E. Pratt St., (410) 276-5480, salttavern.com, $$$

A serious upscale bistro in Butcher's Hill.

Thames Street Oyster House

1728 Thames St., (443) 449-7726, thamesstreetoysterhouse.com, $$$$

A New England take on seafood. Their Maryland-style crab soup with short rib, however, is not to be missed.

Tortilleria Sinaloa

1716 Eastern Ave., (410) 276-3741, tortilleria-sinaloa.com, $

Known for its homemade tortillas (you can take home a half-kilo for $1.30), this tiny counter-only restaurant makes a mean pozole (pork and hominy soup), too.

Waterfront Kitchen

1417 Thames St., (443) 681-5310, waterfrontkitchen.com, $$$$

Jerry Pellegrino's "seed-to-table" restaurant is committed to local and seasonal ingredients. Its small-batch cocktails are worth a visit in their own right.

Willow

811 S. Broadway, (443) 835-4086, willowbaltimore.com, $$$

Tex Mex with a more international Latin influence: Think fingerling papas bravas, poached monkfish sofrito, and Andalusian grilled shrimp gazpacho.

Brewer’s Hill/Canton/Highlandtown

Annabel Lee Tavern 

601 S. Clinton St., (410) 522-2929, annabelleetavern.com, $$

This gastropub is a homage to Edgar Allan Poe, the poet and author who died in Baltimore in 1849, and to the city itself. The pub is named after "Annabel Lee," the last poem Poe wrote before he died.

Bistro Rx 

2901 E. Baltimore St., (410) 276-0820, bistrorx.net, $$$

A favorite local watering hole among Patterson Park-area neighbors, especially for its wine flights and weekend brunches.

Blue Hill Tavern

938 S. Conkling St., (443) 388-9363, bluehilltavern.com, $$$

Casual fine dining in Canton, with plenty of choices for carnivores and vegetarians alike.

The Chasseur 

3328 Foster Ave., (410) 327-6984,  thechasseur.com, $$$

Neighborhood restaurant with plenty of seafood choices. Cantonites flock to the Chasseur's $50 date night.

Farmstead Grill

3721 Boston St., (410) 762-2100, www.farmsteadgrill.com, $$ 

Galen Sampson's newest restaurant, at Canton Crossing, showcases meticulously sourced local vegetables and regional seafood.

Fork and Wrench

2322 Boston St., (443) 759-9360, theforkandwrench.com, $$$

Cyrus Keefer (City Paper's Best Chef for 2013) brings his culinary vision to Canton.

Johnny Rad's

2108 Eastern Ave., (443) 759-6464, $$

Pizza, sandwiches, and salads make up the menu at this skateboarder-themed bar. Look for the Black Flag logo on its sign.

Langermann's

2400 Boston St., #101A, (410) 534-3287,  langermanns.com, $$$

Low Country cuisine at the Can Company. Langermann's has another restaurant on Light Street in Federal Hill.

Marquee Lounge

3134 Eastern Ave., (410) 276-1651, creativealliance.org, $$

The Creative Alliance's house bar/restaurant is the perfect place to grab a pre-show cocktail or dinner. The menu changes often but frequently includes Baltimore-centric favorites like coddies.

Myth and Moonshine

2300 Boston St., (410) 327-6455, bmoreshine.com, $$$

The former Moonshine Tavern rechristened itself with a new name in 2014, but not much else has changed: The jambalaya is still top-notch, and there's no better place to sample multiple flavors of white lightning.

Nacho Mama's

2907 O'Donnell St., (410) 675-0898, mamasmd.com, $$

Its tagline, "Where East Bawmer Meets Mexico," couldn't be more apt.

Shiso Tavern

2933 O'Donnell St., (410) 276-8800, shisotavern.com, $$

Fresh sushi and Asian fusion on Canton Square.

Sip and Bite

2200 Boston St., (410) 675-7077, $

Open since 1948, this diner is a frequent last stop after a night of raucous bar-hopping in Canton. Diner chow, Greek dishes, and plenty of coffee.

Verde Pizza

641 S. Montford Ave., (410) 522-1000, verdepizza.com $$

A driving force in Baltimore's ever- improving pizza scene. Enjoy your pizza al fresco—or take one to a summer concert in Patterson Park.

Federal Hill/ Locust Point/South Baltimore

The Abbey Burger Bistro

1041 Marshall St., (443) 453-9698, abbeyburgerbistro.com, $$

Lamb, chicken, bison, buffalo, turkey, and, of course, beef burgers. Shroom burgers too, if you are feeling less carnivorous.

Baba's Mediterranean Kitchen

745 E. Fort Ave., (410) 727-7482, babaskitchen.net, $

Farid will welcome you to his kitchen, just outside of Locust Point. Nibble on his unusual hummus combos (like spicy peanut or curried golden raisin) while you wait for your falafel. BYOB.

Blue Agave Restaurante and Tequileria

1032 Light St., (410) 576-3938, blueagaverestaurant.com, $$$

A Federal Hill Tex Mex and tequila bar located in the historic McHenry Theater.

Bluegrass Tavern

1500 S. Hanover St., (410) 244-5101, bluegrasstavern.com, $$$

Seasonal Southern-inspired dishes that are not on everyone's menu— such as rabbit and crawfish gumbo, heritage pork meatloaf, and fried tripe and pickles.

Harborque

1125 South Charles St., (410) 685-7675, harborque.com, $$

Pulled pork, chicken, ribs, and all the toothsome sides. Harborque recently relocated from Lawrence Street to Federal Hill proper, but thankfully, nothing else has changed.

Hersh's Pizza and Drinks

1834-45 Light St., (443) 438-4948, hershspizza.com, $$

Innovative pizza toppings (kale and pistachio), infused cocktails, and homemade pasta, just a few blocks from Riverside Park. Its pizzas are among the best Neapolitan-style pies in the city, definitely worth the walk from the Inner Harbor.

Liv2Eat

1444 Light St., (443) 449-7129, liv2eat.com, $$$

City Paper's best new restaurant of 2013. Its menu changes often but includes seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and Maryland beers.

Miguel's Cocina y Cantina

1200 Steuart St., (443) 438-3139, miguelsbaltimore.com, $$

You'll have to look for the signs, otherwise you might miss Miguel's, at the very end of Steuart Street in the Silo Point complex. Lively food and cocktails in a Day of the Dead-inspired setting.

No Way Jose Café

38 E. Cross St., (410) 752-2837, nowayjosecafe.com, $

A gathering spot for the 20-somethings who fill up on tacos and quesadillas while pondering the next leg of their pub crawl.

The Rowhouse Grille 

1400 Light St., (443) 438-7289, therowhousegrille.com, $$

Be sure to check out the chef's tasting bar at this Federal Hill favorite.

Ryleigh's Oyster

36 E. Cross St., (410) 539-2093, ryleighs.com, $$$

Oysters of all kinds and plenty of microbrews to wash the bivalves down with, in the heart of the Cross Street hubbub.

Silo .5 %

1200 Steuart St., (443) 438-4044, silo.5winebar.com, $$

Right across from Miguel's. You'll know you've found it when you see the chartreuse outdoor seating, shiny green bar stools, and Silo Point neighbors enjoying happy hour.

Social Pub and Pie

25 E. Cross St., (410) 234-0376, socialpubbaltimore.com, $$

Federal Hill's go-to on game day. More than a dozen specialty pies, along with paninis, wraps, and salads.

Thai Arroy

1019 Light St., (410) 385-8587, thaiarroy.com, $$

One of south Baltimore's favorite Thai restaurants. Eat in or carry out.

The Wine Market

921 E. Fort Ave., (410) 244-6166, the-wine-market.com, $$$

Enjoy its seasonal plates in the casual courtyard during the summer, or indoors for a more formal experience. Happy hour at the bar is not bad either.

Charles Village/Remington

The Dizz

300 W. 30th St., (443) 869-5864, thedizzbaltimore.com, $

A favorite neighborhood bar with an exhaustive and tasty menu to keep the customers coming back.

Donna's

3101 St. Paul St., (410) 889-3410, donnas.com, $$$

Donna's menu has a wider range of options these days, from mac and cheese, to ginger lemongrass pho, to garlic scape pesto.

Gertrude's 

10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore Museum of Art, (410) 889-3399, gertrudesbaltimore.com, $$$$ 

Local ingredients and a regional Maryland focus. Crab imperial, single-fry oysters, rockfish, and corn fritters are the mainstays and must-trys.

One World Café

100 W. University Parkway, (410) 235-5777, oneworldcafe.com, $$

A coffee shop where nearby Hopkins students congregate during the day and vegans and their friends dine at night.

Parts and Labor

2600 N. Howard St.,  (443) 873-8887, partsandlaborbutchery.com, $$$

Spike Gjerde's new  butcher shop/restaurant in Remington serves up sandwiches and dinners for meat lovers and has 20 craft beers on tap.

Papermoon Diner

227 W. 29th St., (410) 889-4444, papermoondiner24.com, $$

Quirky diner options abound at this memorial to '70s-'80s American technicolor childhood and pop culture. You can get a "Kaptain Krunch" milkshake here and hang out with GI Joe and Barbie.

Pete's Grille

3130 Greenmount Ave., (410) 467-7698, $

A Baltimore landmark for breakfast. Early bird specials, Monday through Friday, are a bargain.

Thai Restaurant

3316 Greenmount Ave., (410) 889-6003, $$$

Many a Baltimorean's first introduction to Thai food. Diners still look forward to eating their drunken noodles.

Hampden/Roland Park/Woodberry

Alchemy

1011 W. 36th St., (410) 366-1163, alchemyon36.com, $$$

Try the fixed-price menu or Sunday brunch at one of Hampden's well-loved neighborhood restaurants.

Arthouse

1115 W. 36th St., (443) 438-7700, thearthousebaltimore.com, $$

A giant wood-fired brick oven in this cozy former art gallery turns out great pizzas with the perfect combination of crispiness and chewiness.

Artifact Coffee

1500 Union Ave., (410) 235-1881, artifactcoffee.com, $

From the folks at Woodberry Kitchen, this coffee shop (if you can even call it a coffee shop) serves Counter Culture coffee and homemade breakfasts and lunches to Clipper Mill denizens.

Birroteca

1520 Clipper Road, (443) 708-1935, bmorebirroteca.com, $$$

There are more than 24 craft beers on tap to wash down the artisan pizzas and other savory delights at this attractive restaurant located in an old mill building.

Café Hon

1002 W. 36th St., (410) 243-1230, cafehon.com, $$

The homestyle food and kitsch attracts tourists to this famous Hampden spot.

The Charmery 

801 W. 36th St., thecharmery.com, $

Hampden's sweet spot serves up odd, appealing, and exotic ice cream flavors, such as Old Bay caramel, sesame & sunflower, or kulfi (rose water, cardamom, and pistachio), and refreshing sodas, such as a mint-lime rickey.

Choux

830 W. 36th St., (410) 235-3442, mapetiteshoe.com/cafe, $

A sweets and savories café next to a shoe/chocolate boutique. Perfectly at home in Hampden.

Corner BYOB

850 W. 36th St., (443) 869-5075, cornerbyob.com, $$$$

Rustic continental. BYOB from the Wine Source, just down the street, and don't miss the adjacent "Other Corner" Charcuterie Bar at  850-B W. 36th St.

David's 1st and 10 Sports Bar 

3626 Falls Road, (410) 662-7779, $$

A sports bar with really good food is a rare find, but here it is.

The Food Market

1017 W. 36th St., (410) 366-0606, thefoodmarketbaltimore.com, $$$

Chad Gauss describes the Food Market's menu as approachable, serious comfort food. He forgot the part about fun cocktails. Conveniently located a short walk from the Woodberry light rail stop.

Golden West Cafe

1105 W. 36th St., (410) 889-8891, goldenwestcafe.com, $$

Americana and Southwestern comfort food on "The Avenue" in Hampden.

Grano Emporio at Chestnut 

3547 Chestnut Ave., (443) 438-7521, granopastabar.com, $$$

Sophisticated Italian dining with an emphasis on seafood.

Grano Pasta Bar

1031 W. 36th St., (443) 869-3429, granopastabar.com, $

Grano Emporio's casual arm. Plenty of pasta and 10 sauces (including gorgonzola e noci, puttanesca, and carbonara) to choose from. Curbside takeout is available if you are in a hurry.

Holy Frijoles

908 W. 36th St., (410) 235-2326, holyfrijoles.net, $$

Probably the oldest taco, burrito, and nacho joint in Hampden. Go for the salsa.

Johnny's

4800 Roland Ave., (410) 773-0777, johnnysdownstairs.com, $$$

Foreman and Wolf's newest venture focuses on American West Coast flavors, inspired by Mexican and Pan-Asian ingredients, plus 50 wines by the glass—and a whiskey menu with more than 17 selections.

Miss Shirley's Cafe

513 W. Cold Spring Lane, (410) 889-5272, missshirleyscafe.com, $$$

Southern-inspired calories-be-damned fare. If you're craving jalapeño-smoked bacon cinnamon rolls, or coconut cream-cheese-filled challah French toast, look no further.

Petit Louis Bistro

4800 Roland Ave., (410) 366-9393, petitlouis.com, $$$$

A classic French bistro in North Baltimore. Try its $29 three-course prix fixe lunch and treat yourself to a glass of wine.

Rocket to Venus

3360 Chestnut Ave., (410) 235-7887, rockettovenus.com, $$

Fried pickles, pierogies, bahn mi, muffalettas, and Korean gyros with housemade kimchi are the kinds of treats you'll find on Rocket to Venus's eclectic menu.

Woodberry Kitchen

2010 Clipper Park Road, No. 126, (410) 464-8000, woodberrykitchen.com, $$$$

Organic, local, and fresh are the best words to describe Woodberry. A destination restaurant.

Mount Washington

Chiyo Sushi

1619 Sulgrave Ave., (410) 466-1000,  www.chiyosushi.com, $$

Sushi and other traditional Japanese cuisine in Mount Washington Village.

The Desert Café

1605 Sulgrave Ave., (410) 367-5808, thedesertcafe.net, $

Light Mediterranean fare and hummous are what this Mount Washington mainstay does best.

Ethel's Creole Kitchen

1615 Sulgrave Ave., (410) 664-2971, ethelscreolekitchen.com, $$$ 

Opened 20 years ago as Ethel and Ramone's, the Baltimore Creole favorite recently changed its name and expanded. The jambalaya, gumbo, po' boys, and ribs are still your best bets.

The Mt. Washington Tavern

5700 Newbury St., (410) 367-6903, mtwashingtontavern.com, $$ 

This Baltimore classic, which opened in 1979 and was relaunched in 2012 after a serious fire, serves old school favorites like jumbo lump crab dip and steaks.

Belvedere Square

Atwater's 

529 E. Belvedere Ave., (410) 323-2396, atwaters.biz, $

Ned Atwater's empire of bread and homemade soups got its start here before expanding elsewhere in the city and county.

Greg's Bagels

519 E. Belvedere Ave., (410) 323-9463, $

Twenty-plus years in the Baltimore bagel business means Greg's is a must-try, especially if you like smoked fish.

Neopol Savory Smokery

529 E. Belvedere Ave., (410) 433-7700, neopolsmokery.com, $$ 

Smoked fish and sausages to take home, and plenty of smoky lunch choices (maybe a smoked crab cake?) to eat in.

Shoo-Fly

510 E. Belvedere Ave. (410) 464-9222, shooflydiner.com, $$

Spike Gjerde's farm-influenced diner serves breakfast all day. If the morning repast doesn't satisfy your cravings, maybe Shoo-fly's rhubarb aid or chicken dumpling soup will.

Hamilton/Lauraville

Clementine 

5402 Harford Road, (410) 444-1497, clementinebaltimore.com, $$$

Known for its innovation, charm, charcuterie, and homemade cakes. You can buy Clementine's sausages, bresaola, and other treats that make Charm City carnivores drool at Green Onion Market, the restaurant's fresh food market just down the street.

Hamilton Tavern

5517 Harford Road, (410) 426-1930, hamiltontavern.com, $$

Owned by Tom Creegan, a co-owner of Brewer's Art, the bar's pedigree is evident in its beer and burger selection. Hamilton's Crosstown Burger is a perennial contender in Baltimore's best burger competitions.

Maggie's Farm 

4341 Harford Road, (410) 254-2376, maggiesfarmmd.com, $$$$

High-end, farm-to-table that stands apart from the competition in the increasingly crowded farm-to-table arena.

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