Most iconic Baltimore restaurants (Dundalk, Glen Burnie: house, theater, closing)

[OyCrumbler]

What are some of the most iconic Baltimore restaurants and what do they serve?

[diamondeye]

Well, it's gone now but one used to be called Hausner's, it was legendary. I can't think of one now that would be classified as "iconic" although Baltimore does have many good ones. I suppose "The Rusty Scupper" on the Harbor might be one, and Philips, although that is a chain.

[Digger 68]

Yeah, the Scupper is one, Sabatino's back in the day. Iconic might not be what some on here think. The Little Tavern was iconic. The Bel Loc Diner was another. Gino's, c'mon. Any of the good restaurants in Little Italy in the 70's. The Turf Inn where High Tops is now believe it or not was popular with City residents in the 50's, and 60's into the 80's.
Everything wasn't just in the city. Baltimore was much more sprawling for shopping in dinning in the 50's, and 60's than people think.
I will have to ask my Father. Problem asking him is he traveled all over the US in the 70's and probably wouldn't pick a Baltimore restaurant. I am sure he could come up with some from the 50's.

[santafe400]

Just outside the city limits, I'd say
Pappas in Parkville
Costas Inn in Dundalk
G&M in Linthicum

For Baltimore proper itself:
Rusty Scupper
Petit Louis Bistro

[Digger 68]

Or Pappas in Cockeysville? Some of those are popular, but not iconic.

[Borntoolate85]

I found these from a 1975 travel guide. I wasn't around then, but a few of them were still around from my childhood:

*Danny's in the, located where the Potbelly stands on Charles Street in Mount Vernon. It was the most awarded restaurant for many years and even received a four-star rating from the Mobil travel guide. It was known for its impressive wine list and French cuisine in addition to the traditional seafood.
*Just several blocks up from Danny's, near where the Charles Theater stands, there was also the Chespaeake, perhaps serving the finest seafood from the Bay.
*Gordon's on Orleans St, known for its crab cakes
*Harvey House on Charles St. in Mt Vernon
*Horn & Horn on Baltimore St. on The Block
*Jimmy Wu's New China Inn in Charles Village, which my parents really enjoyed as young adults, and the best Chinese in B-More
*Maison Marconi on Saratoga St. downtown
*Maria's 300 in Little Italy, across from where La Tavola stands.
*Orchard Inn on Joppa Road near Loch Raven Blvd.
*The Prime Rib on Calvert St. in Mt. Vernon for the best New York-style steak & ribs
*Thompson's Sea Girt House on York Rd. at Northern Pkwy, which lasted for over a century before closing in the '90s
*Velleggia's in Little Italy (closed about ten years ago)

Interestingly, the downtown map of Baltimore shown on that vintage travel guide has its southern cutoff at Lombard St, showing that the Inner Harbor wasn't much of a destination yet! It's too bad that more chains, New American, and generic hipster places dominate these days; I miss the warmer home character and innocence of the old days.

[LilLisa83]

There's one called Hon. They dress like the 50s. Its iconic because it's infamous... For the owner getting introuble for using that word, hon. Gordon Ramsey was there.

[james777]

Originally Posted by LilLisa83

There's one called Hon. They dress like the 50s. Its iconic because it's infamous... For the owner getting introuble for using that word, hon. Gordon Ramsey was there.

Yes, a uniquely Baltimore place.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafe_Hon

Cafe Hon | Baltimore

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by Digger 68

Yeah, the Scupper is one, Sabatino's back in the day. Iconic might not be what some on here think. The Little Tavern was iconic. The Bel Loc Diner was another. Gino's, c'mon. Any of the good restaurants in Little Italy in the 70's. The Turf Inn where High Tops is now believe it or not was popular with City residents in the 50's, and 60's into the 80's.
Everything wasn't just in the city. Baltimore was much more sprawling for shopping in dinning in the 50's, and 60's than people think.
I will have to ask my Father. Problem asking him is he traveled all over the US in the 70's and probably wouldn't pick a Baltimore restaurant. I am sure he could come up with some from the 50's.

Originally Posted by Borntoolate85

I found these from a 1975 travel guide. I wasn't around then, but a few of them were still around from my childhood:

*Danny's in the, located where the Potbelly stands on Charles Street in Mount Vernon. It was the most awarded restaurant for many years and even received a four-star rating from the Mobil travel guide. It was known for its impressive wine list and French cuisine in addition to the traditional seafood.
*Just several blocks up from Danny's, near where the Charles Theater stands, there was also the Chespaeake, perhaps serving the finest seafood from the Bay.
*Gordon's on Orleans St, known for its crab cakes
*Harvey House on Charles St. in Mt Vernon
*Horn & Horn on Baltimore St. on The Block
*Jimmy Wu's New China Inn in Charles Village, which my parents really enjoyed as young adults, and the best Chinese in B-More
*Maison Marconi on Saratoga St. downtown
*Maria's 300 in Little Italy, across from where La Tavola stands.
*Orchard Inn on Joppa Road near Loch Raven Blvd.
*The Prime Rib on Calvert St. in Mt. Vernon for the best New York-style steak & ribs
*Thompson's Sea Girt House on York Rd. at Northern Pkwy, which lasted for over a century before closing in the '90s
*Velleggia's in Little Italy (closed about ten years ago)

Interestingly, the downtown map of Baltimore shown on that vintage travel guide has its southern cutoff at Lombard St, showing that the Inner Harbor wasn't much of a destination yet! It's too bad that more chains, New American, and generic hipster places dominate these days; I miss the warmer home character and innocence of the old days.

Are any of these still around? If so, what are the things to order there?

[james777]

Originally Posted by Borntoolate85

I found these from a 1975 travel guide. I wasn't around then, but a few of them were still around from my childhood:

*Danny's in the, located where the Potbelly stands on Charles Street in Mount Vernon. It was the most awarded restaurant for many years and even received a four-star rating from the Mobil travel guide. It was known for its impressive wine list and French cuisine in addition to the traditional seafood.
*Just several blocks up from Danny's, near where the Charles Theater stands, there was also the Chespaeake, perhaps serving the finest seafood from the Bay.
*Gordon's on Orleans St, known for its crab cakes
*Harvey House on Charles St. in Mt Vernon
*Horn & Horn on Baltimore St. on The Block
*Jimmy Wu's New China Inn in Charles Village, which my parents really enjoyed as young adults, and the best Chinese in B-More
*Maison Marconi on Saratoga St. downtown
*Maria's 300 in Little Italy, across from where La Tavola stands.
*Orchard Inn on Joppa Road near Loch Raven Blvd.
*The Prime Rib on Calvert St. in Mt. Vernon for the best New York-style steak & ribs
*Thompson's Sea Girt House on York Rd. at Northern Pkwy, which lasted for over a century before closing in the '90s
*Velleggia's in Little Italy (closed about ten years ago)

Interestingly, the downtown map of Baltimore shown on that vintage travel guide has its southern cutoff at Lombard St, showing that the Inner Harbor wasn't much of a destination yet! It's too bad that more chains, New American, and generic hipster places dominate these days; I miss the warmer home character and innocence of the old days.

A good list. I would add Sabatinos in Little Italy, the Sunset restaurant in Glen Burnie, and Bo Brooks Crab House, which are still open. DiNitti's in Little Italy, the Middleborough Inn, the Brentwood Inn, the Phil Mar Inn, the Golden Plough, Minnicks of Dundalk, and Pierce's Plantation in Dulaney Valley, have all closed.