What Are The Best Places To Eat In Baltimore?

Baltimore's food scene splits between old-line institutions serving crab and seafood, contemporary restaurants clustered in Fells Point and Canton, and a growing number of James Beard-nominated chefs working in neighborhood spots. For crab, Faidley's Seafood in Lexington Market (a public market operating since 1782) sells steamed crabs by the dozen at market rates that fluctuate weekly; a dozen large crabs typically cost $35 to $50 depending on season and supply. For contemporary cooking, Chef Chad Gauss operates Knife & Fork in Hampden, where entrees run $24 to $36. For casual dining, Chaps Pit Beef on East Lombard Street operates a carryout counter with roast beef sandwiches under $15, and has been the same family operation since 1987.

Crab and Seafood: What To Know

The distinction between crab houses matters in Baltimore. Faidley's, located inside Lexington Market at 203 North Paca Street, is a counter operation where you order steamed crabs, pick them yourself, and eat at shared tables; it operates 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Crab houses like Koco's Korner on Gough Street and Bob Evans' restaurant on Pratt Street offer table service and full bar programs. Koco's does not take reservations and fills to capacity most evenings after 6 p.m., so arriving before 5:30 p.m. reduces wait time. Prices differ: Bob Evans' crab cakes are roughly $24 as an entree; Faidley's crab cakes are roughly $17. The flavor difference tracks price inconsistently. Both use lump crab, both are established (Bob Evans since 1980, Faidley's since the market's early 1900s operation). Ordering steamed crabs whole rather than prepared dishes is cheaper and more typical for locals; a dozen large crabs runs $35 to $50, compared to $22 to $24 for a single crab cake entree.

Other seafood destinations: Thames Street Oyster House in Fells Point shucks oysters fresh at the bar, with pricing by the half-dozen at $12 to $18 depending on variety. Lexington Market also contains Dehon's Seafood counter, operating since 1944, which sells steamed shrimp, crab, and other raw product cheaper than restaurant markups.

Neighborhood Restaurants Beyond Seafood

Canton, a neighborhood south of the Inner Harbor, has become the center for new restaurants. The Walters Art Museum (free admission, general hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Mondays) sits between Canton and Mount Vernon, and restaurants like Milton Inn (entrees $28 to $42) are within walking distance. Hammersmith in Canton serves seasonal American cooking; entrees run $20 to $32. These are reservations-recommended but not always required; calling ahead reduces risk of a 45-minute wait.

Fells Point, Baltimore's oldest waterfront neighborhood, has narrower margins between restaurants. The Wharf Rat, a brewpub on Pratt Street, charges $13 to $18 for burgers and sandwiches. Across the street, Wit & Wisdom (seafood, entrees $22 to $38) and Pazo (Italian, entrees $18 to $28) reflect different price points on the same block. Fells Point fills heavily on weekends; most restaurants operate on first-come, first-served basis during peak hours (Friday and Saturday 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.).

Hampden and Neighborhood Spots

Hampden, northwest of downtown, is a neighborhood with lower check averages. Chaps Pit Beef operates a roast beef counter with sandwiches ($11 to $14); it is carryout and standing room only, and is open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Enchantment, a diner on The Avenue, serves breakfast and lunch only and closes at 3 p.m. daily. Woodberry Kitchen, a farm-to-table restaurant in the same neighborhood, requires reservations and charges $65 to $85 per person for multi-course menus.

Lexington Market

Lexington Market, at 400 North Paca Street, is a public market operating since 1782 with multiple food stalls. It is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, closed Sundays. Faidley's Seafood and Dehon's occupy permanent stalls; other vendors rotate seasonally. The market is not air-conditioned and is crowded during lunch hours (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and after 4 p.m. Eating here costs $8 to $18 per person on average, half the cost of table-service restaurants.

Related Questions

Do I need reservations at Baltimore restaurants? Most crab houses and casual seafood spots (Faidley's, Koco's, Bob Evans') operate first-come, first-served, so no reservation is required or possible. Contemporary restaurants in Canton and Hampden (Hammersmith, Woodberry Kitchen) prefer or require reservations; calling ahead is safest during Friday and Saturday dinner.

What's the cheapest way to eat crab in Baltimore? Buy steamed crabs by the dozen from Faidley's or Dehon's at Lexington Market ($35 to $50 for a dozen large) and pick them yourself, rather than ordering prepared dishes or table-service crab houses. Cost per pound is lower, though labor (picking) is yours.