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.comI haven't been to it, suggesting in case you need more room?
Google search of restaurant listings provided this:
http://www.littleitalymd.com/restaurants.htmOverall, 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!