13.5% Wine + Food

1117 W. 36th St., (410) 889-1064,
135winebar.com
$$, D, OUT

When Cyrus Keefer took over the kitchen last year, 13.5% Wine Bar tacked “Food” onto the end of its name, in honor of the restaurant’s redesigned menu with frequently changing, creative dishes. Kitchen open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Alchemy

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

Featuring a menu that samples from all over the globe, Alchemy offers fine dining in a handsome-but-cozy space.

Angelo’s Pie in the Sky

3838 Roland Ave., 15th floor, (410) 593-1081
$, L, D, BYOB, DV

There was a giant pizza-slice-size hole left in our heart when Angelo’s pizza shop closed in April 2014, but Angelo Pizza (yes, that’s his real last name) is back at a new location with sandwiches, subs, and the self-proclaimed world’s largest slices of pizza.

Arômes

3520 Chestnut Ave., (410) 235-0035,
aromesrestaurant.com
$$$, D, BYOB

You have to trust Chef Steve Monnier here—it’s a fixed six-course menu that changes weekly, though you can also choose just three courses for a lower price—but you can believe that all the French and New American-inspired courses here will be intelligently crafted, locally sourced, and utterly delicious.

The Arthouse

1115 W. 36th St., (443) 438-7700,
thearthousebaltimore.com
$$, D, 10 p.m.

With about a dozen pizzas on offer that change seasonally, the Arthouse has cornered the market on the Avenue when it comes to good crust and creative toppings, like the squid and artichoke pizza.

Artifact Coffee

1500 Union Ave., (410) 235-1881,
artifactcoffee.com
$$, B, L, P, OUT

The younger sibling of nearby Woodberry Kitchen, Artifact is primarily focused on, unsurprisingly, coffee. Still, the morning and lunch kitchen has table service. Try the egg sandwich or English muffins with jam made from local fruits.

B. Doughnut

3528 Chestnut Ave., (443) 475-0910,
bdoughnut.com
$, B

This artisanal doughnut shop is ostensibly open until 1 p.m., but it frequently sells out of its high-end doughnuts—think filled blackberry mint mascarpone doughnuts or cinnamon sugar doughssants (croissant + doughnut = doughssants)—before its closing time.

Birroteca

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

The “Birro” in Birroteca is a nod to the beer list, which features more than 20 selections on draft and some harder-to-find labels. But the gourmet specialty pizzas—such as the Duck Duck Goose—are what make this spot a favorite for local foodies. Lunch is served on Saturday and Sunday. A second location is in Bel Air.

Blue Pit BBQ

1601 Union Ave., (443) 948-5590,
bluepitbbq.com
$$, L, D, OUT

This whiskey and barbecue joint provides high-quality, unpretentious versions of your down-home favorites. You’ll be drooling over the ribs and the pulled pork.

Café Cito

3500 Chestnut Ave., (443) 682-9701,
cafecitobmore.com
$$, B, L, BR, BYOB, OUT

This casual eatery serves Spanish-inspired cafe cuisine with both lunch and breakfast sandwiches, salads, and soups. It serves a fixed-price four-course BYOB dinner the first Friday and Saturday of every month.

Café Hon

1002 W. 36th St., (410) 243-1230,
cafehon.com
$$, L, D, BR, P, OUT

With or without a visit from Gordon Ramsay and “Kitchen Nightmares,” Café Hon has always been about serving comfort food just like mom used to make. The gravy fries, meatloaf, and “Thanksgiving Dinner” always hit the spot.

Cosima Mill No. 1

3000 Falls Road, (443) 708-7352,
cosimamill1.com
$$$, D, P, R

This brand-new high-end restaurant highlights Sicilian and Southern Italian cuisines, with a whole menu of dishes cooked in a wood-fired oven. Free valet parking.

■ Where to meet your friends for coffee and comfortably bring your little ones, too

Mai Ly Degnan

David’s 1st and 10 Sports Bar

3626 Falls Road, (410) 662-7779
$$, L, D, 10 p.m.

In Hampden’s only true sports bar, the atmosphere is open and casual, the athletic-themed murals could use some work, and the buffalo sauce is so good, they should bottle it.

The Food Market

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

Chef Chad Gauss’ embrace of playful menu selections and ethnic and regional favorites such as edamame and Amish soft pretzels has made this restaurant one of the hottest dining destinations in town. The brunch is divine. Free valet parking in the evenings.

Golden West Café

1105 W. 36th St., (410) 889-8891,
goldenwestcafe.com
$$, B, L, D, BR, 10 p.m.

Modern Mexican breakfast dishes—served all day—make this one of the most popular hangover/brunch spots in town, with a menu that’s very generous to vegetarians. It opened up a takeout window last year, so you can get tacos and waffles to munch on as you stroll the Avenue.

Grano Emporio

3547 Chestnut Ave., (443) 438-7521,
granoemporio.com
$$$, L, D, OUT, R

This larger space expands on the pasta offerings of its counterpart on the Avenue (see below) with meat dishes and a full bar.

Grano Pasta Bar

1031 W. 36th St., (443) 869-3429,
granoemporio.com
$$$, L, D, BYOB, OUT

Duck into this little spot for a simple-yet-authentic Italian plate of pasta. With 10 sauces and six pastas, plus gnocchi and potato dumplings, you can go again and again without having the same thing twice.

Harmony Bakery

3446 Chestnut Ave., (410) 235-3870,
harmonybakery.net
$, B, L

This bakery expanded from just selling its goods at the Waverly farmers market to a brick-and-mortar early last year. Everything here is gluten-free, and there are plenty of vegan sweets too, as well as salads, soups, and savory tarts. Open most days until 5 p.m.

Holy Frijoles

908 W. 36th St., (410) 235-2326,
holyfrijoles.net
$, L, D, 10 p.m.

We adore its tacos, but if for some reason you would want to eat something other than tacos, you can build your own burritos and chimichangas to your liking, with five meats to choose from (or grilled veggies and beans if you don’t go for the whole carnivore thing).

La Cuchara

3600 Clipper Mill Road, (443) 708-3838,
lacucharabaltimore.com
$$$, D, P, R, DV

The menu at this upscale Basque restaurant includes charcuteries, tapas dishes, and entrees, but also pintxos, aka fancy bite-size snacks, such as a single smoked mussel flanked by piquillo peppers and olives. Get one to whet your appetite at the beginning of dinner or order a bunch to snack on at La Cuchara’s sleek 40-seat bar.

Le Garage Beer Bar & Frites

911 W. 36th St., (410) 243-6300,
legaragebaltimore.com
$$$, D, BR, P, R, 10 p.m.

This basement bar and restaurant proves that French food doesn’t have to be stuffy. If you’re just craving its signature Belgian frites, you can get them to go from the Frites Shop on ground level.

The Lunch Box

1102 W. 36th St., (410) 235-4994
$, B, L

Old-school Hampden diner offers classic omelets, crispy bacon, and pancakes—refreshingly still referred to as “hot cakes”—along with unfailingly friendly service.

Rocket to Venus

3360 Chestnut Ave., (410) 235-7887,
rockettovenus.com
$$, D, BR, OUT, 10 p.m.

The menu pulls from all over the place and gives a lot of options for vegetarians. The Brussels sprouts are still killer and the grilled Korean gyro has tofu as a substitute for beef. Meat lovers, don’t pass on the banh mi.

Souvlaki

1103 W. 36th St., (410) 812-1519,
yoursouvlaki.com
$, L, D, DV, BYOB

This tiny Greek spot has only a handful of tables and a counter in the back to eat at, but it’s worth fighting for a seat to get its inexpensive pita sandwiches.

Suzie’s Soba

1009 W. 36th St., (410) 243-0051
$$, L, D, OUT

Suzie’s serves noodle dishes from Japan, China, Vietnam, and Korea, with plenty of options for vegans. Unlike at many Asian restaurants, the dessert menu is not something to pass up.

The Verandah

842 W. 36th St., (410) 889-0999,
theverandahbaltimore.net
$, L, OUT

The Verandah offers Indian street food—appropriate, given how it’s also a fixture at several local farmers markets—that’s simple and tasty, with house-made chutneys available to turn up the spice on your dishes. Open for dinner on Fridays.

Woodberry Kitchen

2010 Clipper Park Road #126, (410) 464-8000,
woodberrykitchen.com
$$$, D, BR, OUT, R, P

As far as Baltimore dining is concerned, this is the crème de la crème. The farm-to-table menu, curated by James Beard Award winner Spike Gjerde, continues to evolve, with fresh takes on basic dishes and previously unheard-of entrees continuing to pop up and delight.

■ Where to take a guest who seems to have tried every food there is to try

Mai Ly Degnan