The Canton restaurant explosion continues. Nghia Hoang of Hoang's in Mount Washington plans to open a second place at 2740 Lighthouse Point in Canton by the end of October. The new Vietnamese and pan-Asian restaurant, which hasn't been named yet, will have 80 seats, a sushi bar, a liquor license and a parking lot next door. The menu will offer specialty Vietnamese fare like a beef vinaigrette fondue, says daughter Lyly Hoang, as well as traditional seafood items and signature dishes like Peking duck and stir-fried hard crabs.

Columbia That's Amore

That's Amore, the moderately priced southern-Italian chain, will open its sixth location next month in Columbia, where the American Cafe used to be at 10400 Little Patuxent Parkway. The restaurant plans to coordinate events with Merriweather Post Pavilion nearby. Look for the newest That's Amore to offer single-serving portions as well as the chain's signature family-style dining.

New Easton restaurant

If you're heading down to Easton for the Waterfowl Festival this fall, or planning to sail or bicycle in the area, give the new Restaurant Columbia (28 S. Washington St., Easton) a try. It's small, just 28 seats, but quite ambitious. The current menu offers such delicacies as rack of lamb with pistachio and raspberry sauce, Chilean sea bass with roasted peppers and garlic, and lobster braised with lemon-thyme butter on corn pudding.

Stephen Mangasarian, who owned a restaurant in Vermont before he moved to the Eastern Shore, calls his food "innovative American" and the Columbia's decor "minimalist." The wine list is all-American.

Restaurant Columbia is open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner only. Entree prices run from $18 to $28.

Table Talk welcomes interesting tidbits of restaurant news. Please send suggestions to Elizabeth Large, Table Talk, The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278; fax to 410-783-2519; or e-mail to elizabeth.largaltsun.com.

Pub Date: 9/10/98