Food in Baltimore City Part 2

A continuation of Part One

*** Note: I don't drink so my price ranges and psuedo reviews of these places do not take in consideration beverage menus ***

$       Cheap
$$     Moderate
$$$   Expensive
$$$$ Breakin' da bank

Geisha 201 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 - Downtown $$
This is my 'sushi place'. Located blocks away from the Inner Harbor, they are usually blasting loud techno music. Fresh, high quality fish is the only kind Chef Kim uses. He is highly trained in the art. They recently added new rolls on their menu. I've heard some people say service can be off, but I don't usually go until 9 in the evening. If you don't fancy sushi, there's the typical Japanese and Korean fare as well.

I'm on a boat!

Samos 600 Oldham Street, Baltimore, MD 21224 - Greektown $$

Best Greek food in the city. I consumed Greek food for the most part during ages 17-24, so I've developed a palate for it. The first Greek restaurant I worked at had taramosalata (or 'taramo' for short), a creamy blend of fish roe, potatoes, olive oil, and lemon juice. Every Greek restaurant I went to didn't have this dip, and I hadn't found this dip until I ate here a year ago. If a Greek yiayia cooked for me, it'd be like this.

The Greek like murals that remind of the Motherland

Di Pasquale's 3700 Gough Street, Baltimore, MD 21224 - Highlandtown $$

They have a meatball sub here that is like no other. You get a homemade bagette with the insides dug out and meatballs, sauce, and melted mozzerella stuffed inside. It's what you would expect an Italian market to look like: homemade breads on the shelf, a huge deli case with lots of homemade and imported Italian cheeses and meats, Italian sodas, candies, pastas, and pastries surround you. There's an extensive selection of affordable wines and beers sold here as well. And if you fancy yourself some Guido memorabilia, you will find it here too.

A deli case full of housemade salads and antipasti

Oh! Just like the Motherland!

Patisserie Poupon 820 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 - Jonestown $
I'm a little biased because I worked here for 3 1/2 months this past summer. Freshly baked breakfast pastries, beautifully glazed mousse cakes, French cookies, and what I like to call, "adult" chocolate chip cookies. Although I've read about the service being truly horrendous, the bakers and the chef, Joseph, are such humble, modest, hard-working, talented people that care about their work. There is a location in Georgetown in D.C., but this is where all the busy bees are baking all the pastries.

*** Price range is what they have for retail. Pricing of wedding and special event cakes are another ball game ***

Greg's Bagels 519 East Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21212 - Belvedere $$

Hand-made bagels everyday at this mom and pop store. My favorite is the vidalia onion bagel although they have 6 or 7 different kinds. I worked next door so I went there so many times they would start to recognize me. And when I didn't have enough money to pay, I would give them an IOU. There's a laundry list of kinds of salmon they have prepared along with daily specials. They close at 3 on the daily, so get there early to get your choice of bagels.

Greg himself