Good Places to Eat (travel, best)

[mlmeloy]

Originally Posted by jonjj

On a sidenote, I forgot how good Matthews was until I recently went there. Their pizza actually reminds me of what I experienced in Italy. A large pizza in the states is not what Matthews serves at all. Is it the best I have had in the states? No. But it is definitely the best I have had in the DC/Balt region.

I agree. Matthews is excellent. I'm not sure ANYTHING is as good as Gino's in Chicago--no pizza joint this side of the Atlantic can live up to that comparison--but Matthews is really, really good.

I also really like Zella's (by Hollins Market).

[bawlmer]

Originally Posted by jonjj

Actually I have been to Ginos in Chicago. Pizza was good. I'll give you that but the noise and wait were horrible. I don't want to wait an hour for pizza. Maybe prime rib--but not pizza.
Also, I am saddened to see that is your only reference for pizza in Chicago. There are way better places there than Ginos.
I thought I would see how the reviews were for the place. Looks like Matthews wins.
Gino's East of Chicago in Chicago, IL - AOL City Guide

Talk about making things up? Yipes! Your "experience" at Ginos is almost verbatum what is in the reviews. Guess that's just a coincidence. You forgot to google a pizza place in Italy so you could claim to have been there too.

[jonjj]

Not a coincidence at all. I lived in that area for several years and visit regularly. Genos is like the "Inner Harbor" of pizza places there. I can name several locals that are much better than Ginos without the wait. I already agreed with you that the pizza was good. But, oh well, I see you can't read to well so I will leave it at that.

[trickymost]

Nobody's mentioned the Parkville Pizza Corridor...there are a TON of decent pizza places between Northern Parkway and Joppa Road on Harford.

IMHO I'm from around NYC and Dominick's Pizza is the best I've had outside of NYC. It's inconsistent, but when it's good it's the best.

[rudy_d]

I went to Baltimore Pho this weekend, a new Vietnamese restaurant next to Hollins Market. The food and service were spectacular. They also had a really nice wine and beer list. It was not at all what I expected. If the restaurant is any indication, the Hollins Market/Union Square neighborhood is on the verge of a transformation. Right now it looks a lot like Federal Hill but with fewer yuppies.

[jonjj]

One of my favorite Baltimore festivals is by the Hollins Street Market. The Sowebo Festival. It is not quite as lively as it used to be but it is still a lot of fun. There is great housing stock in that direction and a lot of rehab work is going on there.

[carolott]

Originally Posted by rudy_d

I went to Baltimore Pho this weekend, a new Vietnamese restaurant next to Hollins Market. The food and service were spectacular. They also had a really nice wine and beer list. It was not at all what I expected. If the restaurant is any indication, the Hollins Market/Union Square neighborhood is on the verge of a transformation. Right now it looks a lot like Federal Hill but with fewer yuppies.

Good to know. Now I have an excuse to walk up there...if only they'd deliver!

[Funkypirate8]

Originally Posted by jonjj

I agree with you on that one. But, a new place just opened that actually has good Chinese food. It is only carry-out though. Spring Chicken on East Baltimore Street near downtown. The food is great. '

I always thought Baltimore had lousy pizza. If anyone knows a good place for that, fill us in.

I think it has great Indian food. Lots of places to choose from.

Matthews Pizza across from Patterson Park on Eastern has great pizza. It's not your standard but it's really good! Go hungry.

[Funkypirate8]

Originally Posted by NYMTman

I used to live in the Harford Road area, a block from the Cameleon Cafe. That was good. The Big Bad Wolf, farther up Harford Road from AL BBQ, is the best BBQ I've ever had, but they have little in the way of seating. Also, Las Amigos (again, Harford Road) is some of the best Mexican food I've ever had.

I like to rag on Baltimore a lot on these forums, but even I'll admit this: When I lived near Harford Road, I was within walking distance of more excellent restaurants than when I lived in Greenwich Village. No joke.

I disagree here:

Cameleon: Great but pricey
Big bad wolfe: yuck! They serve BBQ with hardly any sauce! Alonzo's on Cold Spring recently added BBQ to their menu and it's yummy. AL bbq is good, too.
Los Amigos: not good-- that white sauce they serve with chips? What is that? El Salto is so much better. Also, Holy Frijoles in Hampden.
Suzie Sobo: good for Asian-ish.
Sobo Cafe in Fed Hill for comfort food.
Kisslings on Fleet has the BEST WINGS

[shazzer02]

If you're willing to travel down to the Canton area...there is a FANTASTIC little place called Birches. Food is cooked from scratch as you order (so it takes a bit longer), but I have never had anything less than a top notch meal there.