Sweet Sin reminds us that an act of indulgence should be a break from the norm, an occasional sampling of the most delicious, most pleasing luxuries regardless of cost or calories, rather than a slavish relationship to butter and sugar.  In contrast to the Dairy Queens and Cinnabons of the world, Sweet Sin prepares treats tailored for the refined indulger; sure, they aren’t guilt-free, but they’re worth it.

Adding a much-needed option to the painfully small food landscape in Charles Village —students at Hopkins must eat a lot of Chipotle—Sweet Sin specializes in gluten-free baked goods including pies, cakes, muffins, and of course, cupcakes. Organized in colorful rows and circles behind the counter, the cupcakes form a mosaic of flavors, with new creations always premiering.  A few highlights include Key Lime, Carrot Cake, and Chocolate Cheesecake, but the list is always growing, and you might need more than one visit to find your favorite.

During your visit to Sweet Sin, make sure to ask about the owners about their plans to open a Sweet Sin restaurant on the corner. Hopefully, the food at the original location is a good indicator of what’s to come, and if not, then who feels guilty now? Yeh, that’s right…

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Sweet Sin Cupcakes; 123 West 27th St.; 410.464.7211

Welcome to Iggies, a no frills pizza factory that thinks simple is superior. “Iggies was founded upon the notion that great pizza relies upon fresh ingredients and the utmost respect in the handling of them.” This means fresh ingredients, real parm, and some fresh slices. They even make their own mozz in house, posing a threat to your string cheese addiction.

But wait, there’s more.The place expects you take care of the joint and respect the space. That means to switching tables around, no bringing your own food, and busing your own trash. In return however, you get the sweet sweet gift of BYOB. Grab a date, a couple of 40’s, and someone is definitely getting laid tonight.

Since there’s no waitstaff, all tips go towards a charity of the restos choosing, which changes all the time.
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Iggies; 818 N Calvert st; 410.528.0818

Little Havana

All the Cuba you can handle without any of the Communism. With one of the best brunches in the city and awesome views, this harbor-side haven will have you lobbying congress to lift the embargo.

Little Havana; 1325 Key Hwy, at Webster St; 410.837.9903

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Miguel’s Cocina Y Cantina

Baltimore’s newest location for Mexican food is also one of its most interesting looking restaurants. Part industrial chic, part reproduction of Mexican village, Miguel’s is everything you’d get from Tijuana minus the donkey show, which obviously costs extra.

Miguel’s Cocina y Cantina; 1200 Steuart St, at Silo Point.; 443.438.3139

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Rub

No, its not a massage parlor, they shut that one down a few weeks ago. Besides, if anyone touched you after this meal you’d probably explode…in a bad way. Head over to Texas BBQ and feast at this welcome addition to the Federal Hill food scene.

Rub; 1843 Light St; 410.244.5667

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The Abbey Burger Bistro

It was a big summer for soccer, and the Abbey was the undoubted Federal Hill headquarters for all things World Cup. Not only were customers schooled on the ins and outs of the beautiful game—apparently there is a spray that instantly cures sprained ankles—they also learned that this place probably has the best burgers in Baltimore.

The Abbey Burger Bistro; 1041 Marshall Street, off Cross St;  443.453.9698

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L.P. Steamers

You won’t see any tour buses or any troupes of Segways pulling up to L.P. Steamers. Unpretentious, serving heaps of fresh crustaceans over brown paper, this is the crab spot for native Baltimoreans. L.P. will remind you that Baltimore crabs are more than just a cliche.

L.P. Steamers; 1100 E Fort Ave; 410.576.9294

Cozy and charming, Liquid Earth is Fell’s Point’s flagship for vegetarian, (and vegan) cuisine. The café is committed to creating food and drink that has the power to heal and please at the same time. As one employee put it, “It’s easy to make food taste good. Add butter, sugar, and fat. The French showed us how to do that. The challenge is to make healthy food taste good.”  So far, they have been more than successful

As the name suggests, Liquid Earth specializes in juices and smoothies made from fresh organic produce, but the food just equally fresh, responsible and delicious. The café marinates and processes its own faux meat that they use in the popular vegetarian Reuben and cheese-steak. There is also a section of the menu dedicated to raw to foods that is highlighted by a spaghetti dish that uses thinly sliced zucchini in lieu of pasta. The juices, all squeezed fresh on the spot, run the gauntlet from simple and delicious blends, like “Sun Spots” (orange and strawberry) to complicated common-cold-killing concoctions such as, Antiox Detox (carrot, red cabbage, beet, granny smith apples), which still doesn’t work as well as just putting down the bottle.

For the owners, who started the shop in 1996, their commitment to the Earth goes beyond simply enjoying its bounty. Besides doing their best to use organic and sustainable produce, the fiber left over from the juicer is donated to local gardens as compost. In the tradition of tribal conservation—Native American tribes are known for using every part of an animal they hunted—Liquid Earth pledges to “use every part of the vegetable”, except those parts you’re thinking of, cause that’s just nasty.

As the next step of their mission to make healthy, vegetarian food exciting and delicious, the owners are currently working on some exciting new menu options. Also in the works is a new patio dining area, allowing you to view man kinds destruction of our planet first hand.

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Liquid Earth; 1626 Aliceanna Street, btew Broadway and S Bethel; 410.276.6606

Rolled edibles are making a comeback, but after your 75^th breakfast burrito in two weeks, you might wanna’ cut back on the heavy wraps. Give your colon a break and check out Ra Sushi.

Ra Sushi isn’t your hole-in-the-wall sushi place, even though the prices suggest otherwise. There are plenty of stools and high tables near the bar, making it the perfect place to shake off that problem with a colleague and shake hands with a non-colleague to make new problems with.

The sushi is authentic and the happy hour specials are cheap, including half-off all sushi, select special rolls, and nigiri. If raw fish isn’t your bag, don’t fret, despite the name, Ra does offer more than sushi. Monday through Saturday from 3pm- 7pm appetizers including edamame, shrimp tempura, calamari and more are all at half-price.

Enjoy your eats with a $3 beer, $4 well drink, or a $5 martini. If you want to make a night of it, consider inviting all those workers with pent up rage to partake in a round of $6 sake bombs.

Ra takes particular pride in it’s music selection, so even if you don’t like wasabi, the joint can still light a fire under your ass, but the breakfast burrito diet probably already took care of that.

Ra Sushi; 1390 Lancaster St.; Fells Point; 410.522.3200

If you live in Baltimore, then chances are you have been to Ocean City. Though it often gets a bad rap, there is something uniquely appealing about OC that keeps Marylanders coming back summer after summer. Let’s face it, you don’t visit Ocean City if you want a quiet, relaxing, fancypants weekend. You go if you are in need of a friend-filled, wild, and guaranteed fun, escape from reality. If that is what you’re looking for, we don’t see the need for upscale restaurants, in fact it may even feel like there is little need for food. Though nourishment is surely necessary during an Ocean City getaway, so we suggest doing it in the most fun way possible by hitting up all the authentic OC spots for a little friendly competition. In the morning stop off at the Dough Roller followed by the Fractured Prune for a pancake-off to see which house is sweeter.  After sunning your full belly, head to the boardwalk for lunch where you will find Boardwalk and Thrashers two stands that have been battling it out for the title of OC’s best fries for decades. Try both versions of the potato products and decide for yourself, but be sure not to forget the vinegar and old bay. Since no Maryland outing is complete without crabs, grab take out from Higgins and PNG Crab house and see who’s Blue’s are better.  Then get off the beach and head back home, because you won’t want to be taking your shirt off anytime soon.

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www.doughrollerrestaurants.com

www.fracturedprune.com

www.higginscrabhouse.com

Combining delicious food with an altruistic dogma, The Dogwood is a quirky restaurant in Hampden with a good menu and a good social conscious. The food is unique, but their sense of responsibility to the community is even more so.  Believing not only that a business can help a community, but also that a community can help a business, The Dogwood staff is a collection of formerly addicted, incarcerated, homeless, and unemployed individuals. We’re all for community dogooding, but a restaurants gotta have good eats too, and Dogwood does with small plates and casual fare around $13 and entrees for $18 and up. The Dogwood Deli serves cheaper options and is open from Tuesday to Saturday featuring salads from $5-$7, sandwiches from $7 to $11 and smoothies for $5.50.  During the summer, they have an oyster happy hour from Tuesday through Friday at 5pm-7pm with oysters starting at .55cents and wine and beer specials daily. Their commitment to the community doesn’t stop with their staff; they also use local, organic, and sustainable ingredients in their dishes.  Tasty fare, community programs, and local products? We must say this is one dog’s style we can get down with.

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Most likely, you’ve been to the Golden West. Maybe you went in following a night of binge drinking or table dancing. Maybe you went to soothe your stomach with the breakfast burrito or the Elvis and Lisa Marie pancakes. Maybe you even lifted your head up off the table long enough to look around and notice your tattooed waiter. What you probably didn’t notice was that same waiter looking as haggard as you. Perhaps it was due to his late night partying, but more than likely it is because he played a gig inside those very four walls just a few hours ago. The Golden West is a Baltimore staple not only for the bevy of Bmore brunch-goers but also for local musicians. They have a penchant for hiring starving artists and putting money in their pockets and food in their mouths. The Golden West transforms into the Long Bar at 10pm.  They have a full service bar, great live music, the tables are open for drained dancers to take a load off, and the kitchen serves the bar menu until closing time. Enjoy the burrito you normally enjoy at 1pm at 1am, for $9 and get a beer to accompany it for $3. Not only was that cash worth the late night binge, but you can feel good knowing it’s helping making Baltimore a must visit destination for all music lovers.

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By Marisa Polansky

Blue Agave defines itself as a restaurant and tequileria specializing in Mexican Cuisine. Though it has been dubbed “up-scale” Mexican, it is actually quite reasonable on the budget. With appetizers ranging from $6 to $15, burritos and enchiladas around $13 and entrees hovering a little over $20, there is something to please all stomachs and wallets. Look out for their weekly specials including $5 house margaritas, sangria, and wine. The food is as authentic and unique as the décor, but perhaps what makes this spot stand out the most is its tequila. They are a proud tequileria and offer over a 130 varieties of premium tequilas. Though we’re not yet snooty or old enough to turn down a shot of Jose, we can tell you there is a definite difference when you order the good stuff.

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By Summer Robinson

The Hamilton Tavern is a small neighborhood bar best known for their interesting dishes.  It’s a great place to go and relax at after work. No loud music or drama here; just good food and great prices. Every day offers $3 select draft, $2 Abita bottles, $3 rail drinks from 4:30pm-6:30pm and from 10pm-close. The kitchen is open until 10pm Sunday-Wednesday; and until 11pm Thursday-Saturday.

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Check out these interesting and delicious foods:

Binkert’s Sausages -Weisswurst and Debriziner sausages with grain mustard, pickled veggies, and dill potato salad $8

Roasted Harvest Vegetables- over wilted greens, with bleu cheese, pumpkin seeds, and apple butter vinaigrette $8

Habanero-Cheddar Fritters – with sour cream and chive dipping sauce $5

Wedge Salad – iceberg lettuce, cherry tomato, fennel, pickled red onion, and creamy blue cheese dressing $6

Fried Dill Pickle Chips – with zippy goat cheese sauce $4

By Summer Robinson

Claddagh’s Pub in downtown Canton has an Irish tavern feel to it with great drink specials and a menu to match. They have weekly drink specials, something different each weeknight. Drink specials are for the bar only and run from 7pm until close. The best night of the week is Thursday night, which offers $1.00 Miller Lite and Bud Light bottles. Other nightly specials include:

Monday – $3.00 Blue Moon drafts

Tuesday -$2.00 Corona and Corona Light

Wednesday -$3.50 Guinness $3.00 Harp/Smithnicks with Live Music 10pm – close

The bar serves a full menu–some of the best items include:

Chicken tenders -Lightly breaded chicken served with honey mustard- $6.95

Sweet Vidalia onion straws – Mound of crispy onions served with a zesty Cajun sauce – $5.95

Buffalo wings – Served with our special hot sauce, Cajun, BBQ, or Old Bay – $6.95

Crispy calamari – Lightly dusted calamari served with marinara – $8.95
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Claddagh’s Pub is open Monday-Friday 11am until 2am; Saturday and Sunday 9am until 2am.

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Nobles 1024 S. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 (410)727-1355

By Summer Discher

Nobles is a neighborhood bar and grill located in Federal Hill.  The crowd is mostly college age and is friendly and relaxed. The dress code is casual; some people wear jeans and a t-shirt while others wear dresses and heals. Sunday is one of the best nights to visit because it’s Beer Pong night. Play with the beer pong teams or just watch. Visit the website to sign up to play on a team, or just walk in and to see if there is an open space for the night. Drinks specials on Sunday are $2 Yuengling pints and $4 Stoli Ice bottles. Other special worth checking out include:

-Tuesday night is $2 Miller Lights, Corona, and Corona Light bottles, $5 bombs and 50 cent wings *editors note–arguably the BEST wings in Baltimore*.

-Wednesday offers ½ off burgers and $2 Coors Light bottles.

-Thursday night is $1.50 Bud Light bottles.

-Friday is all you can drink for $10 from 6pm-9pm.

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While there for the cheap drinks, check out some of the amazing food. Some of the best items on the menu are:

-Cheese fries $4.95

-Burger and fries- $7.95

-Chicken tenders – $6.95

-Coconut shrimp – $7.95

-Southwestern chipotle chicken egg rolls – $6.99

The bar is open until 2am everyday, and the kitchen is open until 1am. With plenty of seating and room to dance, Nobles is sure to offer a good time any day of the week.

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Bang for Your Buck w/ Ali Skye Bennet presents:

Matthew’s Pizza

3131 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21224; (410) 276-8755

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www.matthewspizza.com

By Juliet O’Brien

Have you ever noticed that some of the best hangouts are just off the beaten path? Take the Ponca Bird Pub for instance. Just a half-mile from Boston Street in the Canton area of Baltimore, MD on Ponca Street, the Ponca Bird Pub is tucked away in an industrial area and boasts awesome ambiance at a fraction of the cost of a night out in Canton Square. Parking is well-lit and available in the lots surrounding the building and the street behind it.

From lunch to late-night, this unassuming pub serves some of the best burgers and steamed shrimp in the area with a friendly staff and daily specials. The beautiful deck is open year round for smokers and those who want a breath of fresh air, although the deck bar is only open seasonally. But just a few steps inside the front door is the bar, centered in a large room with plenty of tables, a gift shop, and a small stage in the corner.

Tuesday nights, the Ponca Bird Pub hosts the World Poker Tournament. On alternating Friday nights, you’ll find the fabulous Danny Jachelski of Makin Fun Entertainment hosting karaoke with some of the best singers- and the most fun- in town. Saturday nights are for live music, with a parade of Baltimore’s hottest local bands. And owner Rich promises that there’s never a cover charge.

Beyond the beautiful bar, the wonderful deck and the fantastic entertainment are the burgers. Grilled right there in the middle of the island-style bar; the burgers are a full 1/3 lb of freshly ground beef with your choice of toppings including deli quality cheeses, crisp bacon, fresh lettuce and tomato, onion and all the “fixings.” Served on a large Kaiser roll with chips and a pickle spear, the Ponca Bird Pub’s burgers are a tribute to back-yard grilling with a smoky, char-grilled flavor that can’t be matched in the city. The only drawback- you might need someone to eat the other half.

Equally delicious and prepared right there in that center bar are the steamed shrimp; perfectly seasoned and delivered to your table with the spice-scented steam still rising. Wednesday nights are shrimp night with special pricing that you just can’t beat. For unparalleled ambiance, food and entertainment at a great price, take a few steps off the beaten path and try the Ponca Bird Pub.

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500 Harborview Drive

Baltimore, MD 21230

by Ben Stump

Gelato, sorbetto, cappuccino, Pinot Grigio. Think you can’t get all these under one roof outside of Little Italy? Think again.

Sorso Café opened over the summer of 2009, with little fanfare, along the Harborview Promenade in Federal Hill. Located on the ground floor of the Yacht Club, the atmosphere is anything but what you might expect when you hear “yacht club.” Self described as a “home away from home,” it truly is a place where you’re likely to meet some of the neighbors stopping in for a quick sorso (Italian for “sip”) or a bite to eat.

If it’s the gelato that got everyone in Federal Hill to visit Sorso Café, it’s the coffee and espresso drinks that keeps them coming back. They use only 100% organic, Fair Trade coffee and espresso beans, and hormone free milk. And if that’s not enough, all the coffee beans are roasted in-house, so you won’t find a more magical tasting coffee anywhere in Baltimore.

The food is very simple, mostly an assortment of sandwiches, salads, and personal pizzas. But they also offer a selection of fresh fruits, yogurts, and pastries. And since they open at 6:30 each morning, 7 days a week, you can also get breakfast sandwiches or bagels with or without the works like cream cheese, lox, capers, red onion, and tomato. Their hours are generous, open till 8:00 each night during the week and till 10:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The mood is relaxed, and the style is casual. It’s a good place to cozy up on one of the comfy sofas or loveseats. Enjoy the best gelato or sorbetto when it’s hot outside, or maybe a glass of wine or cup of cappuccino when the weather turns cold outside. Either way, the people at Sorso go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and welcomed while you listen to music, visit with friends, or just hang out. And when you’re done at Sorso, don’t forget to take that stroll along the promenade, where the view of the harbor is absolutely fantastic.

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By Stephanie A. Zinger

Looking for fantastic vegan food that won’t break the bank?  Head to the Yabba Pot in Charles Village!  This tiny restaurant is big on flavor and variety, and Chef Mama Skai will never let you leave hungry.  

The Yabba Pot is an unassuming, comfortable place.  Each of their café tables has a unique and vivid painting on its’ surface, and local art hangs on the bright orange and green walls. 

The music inside is strictly reggae or world, contributing to the island atmosphere.

The food is eclectic and unpredictable; the menu changes daily, but all of their dishes have a Caribbean flavor that’s hard to resist. Favorite menu items include the queen’s greens, the citrus barbecue ribs, and the chick-un salad. Most of the day’s choices can be seen first-hand behind the glass counter; the steaming dishes send up such tantalizing odors that it can be difficult to decide which ones to order!

If the decision-making process proves to be too much for you, $15.50 will buy you some of just about everything on the menu.  If you’re on a budget, though, the best bargain at the Yabba Pot is the lunch box special.  This deal gets you heaping portions of two dishes of your choice plus a mountain of fluffy brown rice for only $9.50.  Or choose from their delicious wrap sandwiches, priced at a mere $7.00 – the barbecued tofu wrap is a standout.

The Yabba Pot also offers fresh, homemade juices and natural drinks, as well as an array of vegan baked goods.

Hours: Monday – Saturday 11am – 9 pm. Sunday 12pm – 6pm

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2433 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD, (410) 662-8638

by Dianne DeSantis

Photography By Peter Bond

Well hello all you hungry and thirsty people looking for a great place to
go.

If you happen to be near Little Italy and want great food, without the
Little Italy prices you must check out Dego Dame’s.

Yeah the name caused a little issue from a few of the neighborhood grumpy guys, but the owner is Italian and his name is Damion. So ‘Dego Dames’ is understandable with a humorous twist of appropriateness.  (Damion is brother to Dominic owner of the Stackhouse in Canton).  Damion by the way is one of the sweetest guys you’ll ever meet and he intended no harm…he was just trying to generate a few smiles as always.  Sort of like Pollock Johnnies…you get it.  After 6 six years now all is good.

Anyway, Dego Dame’s is a place where many local artists (and actually from other cities) come to eat, drink, and chill, many graffiti artists frequent Dego’s. The artwork in the bar is mostly an interesting blend of Baltimore and Sports…and quite unique.

Oh it’s not a fancy place but the food is great, drink varieties offer enough that even beer snobs can find something to please the pallet.  They serve a variety from PBR to Guinness, and the service is on point, especially if the little sister, Dyana, (better known as squirt, DD, lil D, and a few others cute, small nicknames…) is
bartending. 

Prices and portions will make anyone happy.

Most items are homemade, like the meatball sub, marinara sauce, pizza, and
shrimp salad.  The cold cuts, chicken wings (Dego sauce especially), and
chicken cheese steaks are to die for.

And you can get a huge plate of delicious pasta with garlic bread for only $8.95.

All the Italian food is prepared by a very experienced, Italian cook.  Many people know one another at Dego’s, but new faces are warmly welcomed always…if you want to chat it up, this is the place.  And the little fireplace on cold days is nice too!

Like the sign says behind the bar “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere”.  Dego’s always a great place to stop by anytime and bend the elbow a bit.

Happy Hour:  4 – 7 p.m. Weekdays

Monday: 5$ – Pizza, Chicken Wings, or Italian Cold Cuts

Tuesday: $.35 Chicken Wings

Wednesday: ½ price Burgers and Chicken Sandwiches 8 p.m. – close

Thursday: 3$ Imported Bottles, 2$ Domestic Bottles

Saturdays: $2.75 – Corona or Corona Light – 12 noon – 7 p. m.

Sundays Oriole Games: 1$ Natty Boh cans and 1$ hot dogs’ til 7 p. m.

Ravens Games: Aside from the big giant blow up raven player who barely fits
on the sidewalk…Dego’s does great specials during Ravens games so be sure to
check back.  Even though there is just the right amount of consistency,
Dego’s is always changing a few things up just to be sure no one gets bored!

Food can be ordered until 10 p.m.  – Sunday through
Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays

Call to place an order from Dego Dames’s at 410-685-8649.

(1018 Eastern Ave)

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by Dianne DeSantis

Hey anyone looking for a cool place with food, beer, and great specials, in Canton..but not in the Square?

Look for the giant cement stack.  Hudson Street Stackhouse, better known as “The Stackhouse” is right across the street at 2626 Hudson Street.  Though only open about one year, the Stackhouse is reeling them in.  This place is beautiful.  It is clear that a lot of thought and hard work went into making this place look and function as it does.

The Stackhouse can pretty much appeal to anyone.  Singles, sports fans, families, girl’s night out, couples, big groups of friends, just about anyone can enjoy a visit here.

Dominic, the owner, has every intention to make the Stackhouse be a place everyone will want to visit regularly.  Part of the theme of the Stackhouse evolves around the old ‘American Can Company’, as well as other Baltimore past favorites and family owned establishments.  Dominic appreciates history and likes to take what is learned from the past and incorporates it into the environment for everyone’s enjoyment, never to be forgotten.

With the open-air atmosphere, since he has the opened windows along the front, it is like being outside whenever the weather is agreeable and pleasant.

And please do not forget about the hockey season.  O.K. so the Caps didn’t win the cup this year they had a great run.

This definitely, no question…this is the place to watch hockey, even if you are not a hockey fan.

No bar in Baltimore can match the spirit as it is in the Stackhouse.  And between periods, the intermissions offer a bit of bubble hockey.  This game is so much fun and you can have a little healthy competition.

Usually customers can figure out the easy parking which works well for this city establishment.  The kitchen is open ‘til 10 p.m. daily

Daily hours:  Monday – Sunday 11 a.m. til 2 a. m.

Happy Hour: 5 p. m. til 8 p. m.

Monday – ½ price Wings

Tuesday – ½ price Burgers

Wednesday – $ 9.99 Shrimp and  ½ price Belgium and German bottles of beer (this is a really good deal …the beer gurus will confirm)

Thursday - Steak night…fantastic full meal

Saturday – 12 p.m. til 5 p.m. – 5$ Burgers or Wings, 2$ Domestic Bottles

(2626 Hudson Street, 410-342-0592)

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by Broady Brown

This, my friends, is the quintessential dive bar.  Located in Lower Charles Village, the clientele here, is a microcosm of the social make-up of our fair, Charm City.   Hipsters, professionals, students,  and everything in between can be found here. Its a place where everyone not only knows your name, but more importantly, your face and favorite libation.  From the moment you the swing open the door and get a glimpse of the characters inside, your made aware of the drunken camaraderie and good times that this place has to offer.

The bartenders are engaging folks; masters of their craft who don’t water down drinks and are assured to brighten your evening with their extremely generous concoctions.  Being a DC guy, normally, leaving the bar with a 50 bar tab for two is considered a steal, not so at Ibar.  The drinks here are CHEEEEAAAAPP! Im talking 2.50 for a rum and coke cheap, I’m talking 6.50 for a Long Island Iced tea cheap!  Put simply, if you have 20 bucks to pledge to purge the hideous memories of the workday away, the Ibar will comply and deliver.

This place isn’t only of value to your inner drunkard, it also boasts some of the best bar food in Bmore, hands down.  The burgers, cheesesteaks, and the wings, GOOD LORD, the WINGS! The house specialty are plump juicy buffalo wings, fried and then tossed in a hot sauce/garlic/Parmesan cheese mix that is to die for. I’ve tried to re-create it at my crib with horrible results, these guys are the originators and the masters of it, and other tasty dishes that will satisfy both your appetite and your wallet.

Along with the everyday low prices, Weekly Specials are:

Monday – Wings & Yeungs & Baseball

16 Wings & a Pitcher of Yeungling $17.95

$1.25 Rolling Rocks & Natty Bohs

Tuesday – 2 Fer Tuesday

2 Heinekins for $5 and more 2 fer specials

Wednesday- Wild & Wacky Wingsday

1/2 Wings & Discounted Long Island Teas 8-10PM

Thursday - Burger Night

$5 Burgers 8-10PM and $2.50 Pints of Yeungling

Friday - Ladies Night

$5 Cosmos for the Ladies and 1/2 Price Salads ‘til 12

Saturday - College Night

$1 Natty Bohs and Rolling Rocks w/College ID

More information about specials, plus a complete menu, is available at www.ibarbalt.com

Bang for Your Buck w/ Ali Skye Bennet presents:

Joe Squared, an eclectic Baltimore restaurant and bar with daily live music and art shows in a laid-back atmosphere.

133 W. North Ave., Baltimore’s Station North Arts District, 410-545-0444

www.joesquared.com

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by Kit Pollard

Not long after it’s opening in 2003, Mama’s on the Half Shell jumped to the top of the list of places perfect for entertaining out of town guests. Walking into Mama’s narrow building at the corner of O’Donnell and Linwood, you’ll swear that you’re walking into one of Baltimore’s oldest, most venerated pubs. Not so, though…Mama’s is only a few years old.  The place owns its old school look, with crowded tables, a mile-long bar, tons of polished wood and walls covered in artwork that manages to feel kitschy and regal at the same time.

The atmosphere is loud and lively and encourages new friendships, with restroom-bound patrons squeezing through the crowd flocked at the bar, nursing drinks and waiting for tables. Everybody’s shouting and most nights there’s little room to move, but nobody minds. Even though the restaurant doesn’t take weekend reservations and the wait for a table can be significant, the mood at Mama’s is nothing but happy.

Because everyone knows that once they do make it to a table, whether it’s downstairs near the bar or upstairs in the small dining room, they’re in for a treat. At first glance, the Mama’s menu is intimidating. A big sheet filled with small print, it offers every type of seafood imaginable, plus some dishes that defy imagination i.e. the “Carpetbagger,” a filet stuffed with fried oysters ($23.99) that can, for the really decadent, be topped with crab imperial (an additional $8.99).

The real can’t-miss, though, is Mama’s famous oyster shooter…the blue-on-blue. Perfect for an out-of-towner’s Baltimore initiation ritual, the blue-on-blue is a raw Bluepoint oyster with a Pabst Blue Ribbon chaser, all for $2.99.

Mama’s happy hour is every weekday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Happy hour includes various drink specials, plus regular deals on steamed shrimp (a half pound for $7 and a pound for $12), oysters (6 for $6 or 12 for $12 Chincoteaques) and steamed mussels for $6.

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by Shauna Horrell

Welcome to the next generation of neighborhood bars.

Whether you are looking for a nice sit-down meal or just a place to grab a quick drink with friends, Todd Conner’s (TC’s) in Fells Point is the place you will want to go, where everyone knows your name. Co-owned by Nikki Popovich and Reds Cassidy, Todd Conner’s was opened just a little over a year ago, with the intentions of creating an atmosphere where people always feel welcome and comfortable. Nikki compares TC’s to “Cheers,” and said, “If we don’t know you when you get here, we will know you before you leave.” The entire staff has a friendly, guests-first attitude, which creates a unique ambiance compared to typical chain-restaurants.

In the spring and summer you can enjoy outdoor seating, but inclement weather in the winter is no reason to stay away. Any time it snows, a bottle of National Bohemian Beer, Baltimore’s signature beer, is only $1.50.

Todd Conner’s also prides itself with offering a great mix between typical bar food and more upscale dinners.  Burgers and sandwiches start around $7.99, but TC’s also offers a variety of seafood and steak if you desire. Every day different additions to the menu are featured, along with daily specials to maximize the value in TC’s eclectic menu. The current specials are:

Monday: A pound of wings for $5 and $2 Bud Light drafts, all day

Tuesday: A pound of jumbo steamed for the price of a half a pound, 4 pm – close

Wednesday: Steak platter for $11.99, 4 pm – close

Thursday: Half price bottles of wine

Friday: $5 burgers, all day

Saturday and Sunday: Brunch, with $3 Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and Screwdrivers

Happy hour is an all day affair at TC’s, starting at 11 am and lasts until 7 pm with $1 off house wine, draft beers, and rail drinks.

For a low-key, inexpensive evening out, without sacrificing quality and service, Todd Conner’s is a must-visit in Fell’s Point. More information about specials, plus a complete menu, is available at www.toddconners.com.

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by Shauna Horrell

Giant pink flamingos, boas, and beehives are just a small part of the bright and eclectic atmosphere that Café Hon provides. Over the course of seventeen years, owner Denise Whiting has evolved her establishment into a restaurant, bar, boutique, festival, and philanthropy.

The restaurant part has a fun, carefree feel to it, with wild patterns and colors, while the separate bar area has a more sophisticated and low-key feel. However, both sections attract customers of all ages, races, and genders, many being regulars, and the rest, soon-to-be regulars. A trip to Café Hon would not be complete without checking out the boutique and its collection of clothes, accessories and household items made with a 60’s flair.

Café Hon serves a wide range of appetizers, entrees, salads, sandwiches, and desserts, described by Whiting as, “Comfort food with flair.” The prices vary but your best bet is to take advantage of Burger Mondays (Half off their famous burgers) and Wine Wednesdays (Half off wine). Happy hour is from 5 until 7 daily with bottles of domestic beer for $2. Café Hon also features a lobster dinner on Wednesday night for $19.99 which includes a 1 ¼ pound lobster and 3 sides.

Aside from the daily excitement in the restaurant, Café Hon hosts HonFest every year on the second Saturday of June. Partnered with The Polar Bear Plunge, proceeds benefit the Special Olympics of Baltimore. This festival attracts about 40,000 – 50,000 visitors from all over the world with food, music, art, games, fashion shows, and even a place for you to get your hair done in a beehive. Bring you boas, bright makeup, sunglasses, and anything with leopard print to fit right in. Every year they also have the Miss Hon contest to honor the working women of Baltimore. HonFest is an experience you won’t want to miss.

Café Hon has a matchless atmosphere and is truly an icon of Baltimore. Just look for the giant pink flamingo on West 36th Street and stop in for a dining experience like no other. For more information about specials visit www.cafehon.com.

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