930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: chaz on January 26, 2010, 11:24:44 pm
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Looking for a place in or around Baltimore for a birthday dinner. It's for a friend's Mom's 60th, so nothing too scary please....
And sorry for non 930 non music-ness of this.
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The Milton Inn (http://www.miltoninn.com) is quite nice. Their website doesn't really do them justice but they will do you up right with all the finery. Warm and cozy too. Kind of classic rustic for the snob set.
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That looks great, but might be just a bit pricey for this event. Anyone else?
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Pazo http://www.pazorestaurant.com/
Cinghiale (amazing food, this would be the first choice for my mom, who is 65) http://www.cgeno.com/
Abacrombie http://badger-inn.com/
Blue Hill Tavern http://www.bluehilltavern.com/
Della Notte http://www.dellanotte.com/
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Why not take her to Little Italy? A year ago, I took my mom to BMA (Baltimore Museum of Art) for a Matisse exhibit and then over to Little Italy for dinner. We went to Amicci's (http://www.amiccis.com)- a little more casual and less pricey than the other restaurants in the small, walkable district. Authentic pasta, etc. It's busy, especially on a weekend, so see if you can make a reservation. Then, one block over and one up, is a pastry/cookie store we visited for coffee and dessert. Pretty sure this is it: http://www.vaccarospastry.com/images/locations.LittleItaly.jpg
(main: http://www.vaccarospastry.com/index.jsp)
Tons to choose from and additional seating upstairs. It was fun because everyone seated near us at the restaurant, was at the pastry cafe with us as well. (and I think they let you try stuff - very authentic staff too. Although, we opted to sit to order and there was a slight wait)
There is another casual to fine-dining restaurant across the street that we eyed once inside Amici's. I can't remember the name. Everything else seemed larger than Amici's but more pricey. If you Google Amici's and search nearby with key word "restaurants" you can find some more in the area I refer.
If you need a larger restaurant here is one and has banquet reservations: http://www.sabatinos.com
I haven't been to it, suggesting in case you need more room?
Google search of restaurant listings provided this: http://www.littleitalymd.com/restaurants.htm
Overall, it was fun, a kind of getaway since we didn't do the normal and sometimes tacky Inner Harbor. (it was winter anyway.) All day at the BMA was really nice - a much more quiet museum than those in the district and tons of major artwork donated by benefactors (two sisters, and one member of the board see website: www.artbma.org). If it means anything, my mom liked everything!
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yeah Amici's is good as well. I hate Little Italy..but the only two places I can stand are Amici's and Della Notte.
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I vote Pazo.
Isn't Little Italy overpriced (and touristy?) for what it is? Granted, like a Broken Social Scene concert, I've never actually been to any place in Little Italy.
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everyone i know in balmer swears by jacks bistro: http://www.jacksbistro.net/
i can attest to the greatness of the sous vide bistro steak frites
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Maybe because I went in the winter, Little Italy wasn't so bad with crowds. Is that why you don't like Little Italy? Cluster traffic was a little annoying, but we finally parked, walked by three expensive and dressy places when we found Amici's. Best to plan ahead, especially when it's cold & so your ma doesn't have to walk a bit.
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Isn't Little Italy overpriced (and touristy?) for what it is? I've never actually been to any place in Little Italy.
check out the link I provided, the one is not over-priced, the others as mentioned, I found to be.
The tourists seem to be more at the harbor...Mostly people we saw and met were local to the area.
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Isn't Little Italy overpriced (and touristy?) for what it is? I've never actually been to any place in Little Italy.
check out the link I provided, the one is not over-priced, the others as mentioned, I found to be.
The tourists seem to be more at the harbor...Mostly people we saw and met were local to the area.
Thanks, just did. Might haveto chek it out sometime.
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does it have to be in Baltimore city? I can recommend some in Baltimore County (Owings Mills, etc) ...also, what does your mom like? (what type of cuisine?)
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Baltimore has tourists?
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does it have to be in Baltimore city? I can recommend some in Baltimore County (Owings Mills, etc) ...also, what does your mom like? (what type of cuisine?)
No, it definitely doesn't have to be in the city, and in fact not being in the downtown area may be easier...traffic parking etc. And the fact that we'll be driving up from DC to meet them for dinner. It is my "friend's" mom and i have really no idea what she likes, but her folks live a few miles north of Baltimore. I don't think she's too picky though, but not sure italian is the way to go. I do know she's a fantastic cook though. Based on what i'm told about those that will be in attendance, casual is the way to go.
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about 5 years ago we went to The Helmand and enjoyed it
http://www.helmand.com/
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Yes, The Milton Inn is a bit pricey. Maybe a nice little special date with the wife sometime.
I would suggest that if you end up in Little Italy, that you avoid Sabitino's at all cost. Probably the most overrated restaurant in the entire city. The food has been horrible every time I've eaten there. (Only ended up going back because of others wanting to go. Don't do it!)
Vaccaro's (the desert place) is heavenly!
For casual with average prices, decent food and north of Baltimore, you might want to go to An Poitin Stil (http://www.thestill.net) in Timonium. ('The Still' as the locals call it.) In fact, a friend is taking me there on Saturday for my birthday. The place has a fairly good reputation amongst the locals. It's not gourmet but you'll leave happy and satisfied. They have their own parking lot so you should be fine on that account.
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For casual with average prices, decent food and north of Baltimore, you might want to go to An Poitin Stil (http://www.thestill.net) in Timonium. ('The Still' as the locals call it.) In fact, a friend is taking me there on Saturday for my birthday. The place has a fairly good reputation amongst the locals. It's not gourmet but you'll leave happy and satisfied. They have their own parking lot so you should be fine on that account.
Is your daughter by any chance friends with Chaz? ;D
Happy birthday!
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For casual with average prices, decent food and north of Baltimore, you might want to go to An Poitin Stil (http://www.thestill.net) in Timonium. ('The Still' as the locals call it.) In fact, a friend is taking me there on Saturday for my birthday. The place has a fairly good reputation amongst the locals. It's not gourmet but you'll leave happy and satisfied. They have their own parking lot so you should be fine on that account.
Is your daughter by any chance friends with Chaz? ;D
Happy birthday!
Thanks...
and fuck you. :-*
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Vaccaro's (the desert place) is heavenly!
Cool, a Jag endorsement!
Chaz, what 65 yr. old doesn't want pasta? ;)
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Vaccaro's (the desert place) is heavenly!
Cool, a Jag endorsement!
Chaz, what 65 yr. old doesn't want pasta? ;)
To be fair, she is turning 60. And as far as dining prefs, i'm pretty much in the dark. Just trying to help out. I've only met the woman once ;)
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pasta is so cheap, it's insane how many people pay $$$ for it in a restaurant.
Vaccaro's (the desert place) is heavenly!
Cool, a Jag endorsement!
Chaz, what 65 yr. old doesn't want pasta? ;)
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Is that the excuse you give azaghal to get out of paying for dinner?
"You never take me out anymore!!!"
pasta is so cheap, it's insane how many people pay $$$ for it in a restaurant.
Vaccaro's (the desert place) is heavenly!
Cool, a Jag endorsement!
Chaz, what 65 yr. old doesn't want pasta? ;)
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Vaccaro's (the desert place) is heavenly!
Cool, a Jag endorsement!
Chaz, what 65 yr. old doesn't want pasta? ;)
One who's watching their weight.
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Joe, seriously? You've never had good home-made pasta? That's the only way I can rationalize how the distinction between it and 99 cent bag of dried stuff from Safeway, smothered in reheated sauce from a can and topped with Kraft "parmasan", is lost upon you... You've just never had any.
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Joe, seriously? You've never had good home-made pasta? That's the only way I can rationalize how the distinction between it and 99 cent bag of dried stuff from Safeway, smothered in reheated sauce from a can and topped with Kraft "parmasan", is lost upon you... You've just never had any.
Believe me, most of these places are only serving up the restaurant Safeway version of pasta dishes. The better ones who are making their own will charge you Milton Inn prices.
For me, it all depends on what's mixed in and what sort of sauce as I can't stand your run of the mill spagetti with tomato sauce. Can't stand pasta salads either. Serve a nice pasta dish with a good garlic and wine sauce full of shrimp and mushrooms, than now we're talking... or eating.
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Fogo De Chao http://www.fogodechao.com/
Brazilian Steakhouse.
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Can you swing Five Guys? Its pretty inexpensive if you split the drink and fries!
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Fogo De Chao http://www.fogodechao.com/
Brazilian Steakhouse.
I'd go there in a heartbeat, but my lady friend is a pescatarian, and word is her folks aren't big on the red meat either.
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Believe me, most of these places are only serving up the restaurant Safeway version of pasta dishes. The better ones who are making their own will charge you Milton Inn prices.
Amici's does make their own pasta at decent prices. I've only been once so I can't comment on dish consistency but my dish was fine - not out of this world, but definitely good enough and homemade.
I agree though, it all depends and I'm just as picky as the next. I was just teasing with the thought, the older you are the softer the food? lol Obviously I was just poking fun.
Ford - at 65, I hope people aren't worrying about eating pasta for one night. ;) They might push it or their blood sugar with pastries, though. (I did note that Amici's definitely is using white flour if that means anything)
Maggiano's does serve Barrelli's which is ridiculous.
Good Luck, Chaz, sounds like you have particulars to contend with so have fun and enjoy, whatever you decide.
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Amici's does make their own pasta at decent prices.
That's good to know. Will keep that one in the back of my mind as I haven't been there yet. ;)