Harbor East

Apropoe’s at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront

700 Aliceanna St., (410) 895-1879

$$$, B, L, D

Presumably catering primarily to Marriott guests, Apropoe's features a good crab cake to get them oriented to Baltimore properly.

Azumi

725 Aliceanna St., (443) 220-0477, azumirestaurant.com

$$$, D, 10 p.m., R

Yes, Chef Eiji Takase is flying crabs to Baltimore. Sawagani crabs from the Miyazaki River in Japan, to be specific. There is also bluefin sushi and A-5 Wagyu beef. A place to follow the chef's advice.

Bagby Pizza Co.

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

$$, L, D, Out

Bagby's is rightfully known for its brick-oven pizza (try the spicy shrimp or the goat cheese-prosciutto), but don't miss its spectacular salads.

Charleston

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

$$$, D, R

Cindy Wolf and Tony Foreman's superb restaurant is—like Baltimore—sort of Southern, perched on the Mason-Dixon Line between down-home dishes and fine-dining ingredients, preparations, and presentations.

Chiu’s Sushi

608 S. Exeter St., (410) 752-9666, chiussushi.com

$$, L, D

Fresh sashimi and hand-rolled sushi, but for something different try the nabe mono (traditional Japanese casseroles). A perfect complement to the traditional environment.

Cinghiale

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

$$$, D, Out, R

Cinghiale gave Tony Foreman and Cindy Wolf a chance to bring authentic Central and Northern Italian cooking to Baltimore—and they did it with flare. If it's a special occasion and you're with a big group, go for "La Cucina della Nonna," second only to your Italian grandmother's kitchen.

Fleet Street Kitchen

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

$$$, D, R

The crown jewel of the Bagby Restaurant Group, this fine-dining restaurant embraces the farm-to-table movement, with many of its ingredients coming from the nearby Cunningham Farms.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar

720 Aliceanna St., (410) 332-1666, flemingssteakhouse.com

$$$, D, R

Known for its expensive and scrumptious steaks and wines, Fleming's is also home to some surprisingly cheap happy-hour deals. Either way, don't miss it.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

1000 Lancaster St., (410) 230-9501, gordonbiersch.com

$$$, L, D, 10 p.m.

Sure, it's a chain, but this Harbor East joint has seriously good German beer which you might complement with equally tasty cuisine such as the Gruyere pancetta pizza or the lobster-and-shrimp mac and cheese.

James Joyce Irish Pub and Restaurant

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

$$, L, D, Br, Out, 10 p.m.

James Joyce, the great Irish writer and namesake of this pub, became more Irish after he went into a self-imposed, lifelong exile from his home. The same may be said of this extremely authentic Irish pub, where it's possible to appreciate a pint of Guinness right while scarfing down a delicious sandwich to fuel your next literary endeavor.

Lebanese Taverna

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

$$, L, D, Out

For Middle Eastern food, it's hard to beat Lebanese Taverna. From the falafel and kabobs to the salmon harra, every bite is mouth-watering.

Manchurian Rice Co.

1010 Aliceanna St., (443) 438-3528, manchurianriceco.com

$, L, D, 10 p.m., DV

This clean, tiny, mostly takeout place is perfect for a pan-Asian lunch on the go. The double-cooked pork is a standout.

Mussel Bar and Grille

1350 Lancaster St., (352) 256-7384, musselbar.com

$$$, L, D, Br, R

With three other locations in Arlington, Virginia, Atlantic City, and Bethesda, Mussel is a fresh seafood concept with a raw bar, brick-oven pizza, lots of beer, and promised live music that's set to open in a sprawling waterside space. Everything is made in house, down to the ketchup, the chef promises.

The Oceanaire

801 Aliceanna St., (443) 872-0000, theoceanaire.com

$$$, D, p, R

The Oceanaire may be a national chain, but its seafood sure tastes local, with crab cakes that fall apart when you touch them with your fork (more crab, less filling!). Amazing wine selection and a good happy hour.

Ouzo Bay Greek Kouzina

1000 Lancaster St., (443) 708-5818), ouzobay.com

$$$, D, Out, R

High-end Greek fare that is worth the price. The house spreads—tirokafteri (feta dip), skordalia (garlic dip), htipiti (roasted red pepper, roasted jalapeño, and feta), taramosalata (a dip made from pureed fish roe), and tzatziki (yogurt, dill, and cucumber)—are better than most place's entrees.

Pazo

1425 Aliceanna St., (410) 534-7296, pazorestaurant.com

$$$, D, R

Going to Pazo feels like a cross between the movies of Pedro Almodóvar and Federico Fellini: Mediterranean, indulgent, a bit decadent, and yet somehow casual and enormously gratifying.

RA Sushi

1390 Lancaster St., (410) 522-3200, rasushi.com

$$, L, D, Out

Not just another high-end Harbor East chain restaurant, RA offers some interesting Japanese fusion dishes in addition to the standard rolls, and it wows with a bit of atmosphere.

Roy’s Hawaiian fusion

720 Aliceanna St., (410) 659-0099, roysrestaurant.com

$$$, D, R

This chain fusion restaurant serves up some awfully tasty dishes from its ever-changing menu, which features prix-fixe and gluten-free options.

Taco Fiesta

618 S. Exeter St., (410) 234-3782, tacofiesta.com

$, L, D, Out

Amid all of Harbor East's high-end delights, Taco Fiesta has carved out a niche as the go-to spot for great, fresh Tex-Mex specialties at decent prices. The fish tacos and burritos are great, as are the steak nachos, but the star of the show is the salsa bar, with seven varieties to choose from, along with fresh cilantro, onions, and jalapeños.

Teavolve

1401 Aliceanna St. (410) 522-1907, teavolve.com

$, B, L, D, Br

Comfy couches, good Wi-Fi, and a friendly staff make the tea and vittles taste better. Food menu includes eggs and paninis, while the drink offerings include coffee, cocktails, and, yes, chai bubble tea.

Ten Ten

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

$$$, L, D, BR

An inviting and comfortable bistro with hearty fare, including a solid charcuterie plate and steak frites.

Wit & Wisdom

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

$$$, B, L, D, Br, R, OUT

Chef Michael Mina's regional and Southern seafood combines perfectly with the refined dining room with harbor views to create an exquisite experience at the Four Seasons.