I think I recall one or two folks on this board being from Baltimore. I was watching No Reservations last night, and Bourdain was chowing down in Baltimore with Snoop Person from the Wire at one of her favorite haunts. The two restaurants that Bourdain hit looked amazing (Mo's and The Roost?). Being a countrified rube from Licorice Whip, Canada, and my only point of reference for Baltimore being The Wire, I was wondering what kind of neigborhoods these places are in, and do they get much traffic outside of regulars?


(you can find the entire episode in parts here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZVrONod ... re=related)

Two of my brothers have gone to The Roost and spoke highly of it. It's in Park Heights, which is well, interesting (?), but not terrible, at least by Baltimore standards. A daytime visit should be fine. There may be other locations, I'm not sure. The one in Park Heights is just a cool looking joint, but I've never eaten there.

Mo's Seafood is in Harbor East on President Street or thereabouts. It's within a few blocks from an ESPN Zone, Best Buy and Filene's Basement.

Two more from the East Side:

Tony & Jay Landsman also ate at Chaps on Pulaski Highway, which serves up Pit Beef. It's pretty good, but if it has been on Food Network in the past day or two there will be a line out the door. It's small, so it can fill up in a hurry anyway.

Another place that wasn't on Bourdain but was covered by Guy Fieri (don't judge the joint by the host, pls) is G&A Restaurant in Highlandtown, right on Eastern Avenue. They have these Coney Island hot dogs. They aren't the greatest hot dogs in the world, but they are cheap, decent and the atmosphere is well worth the price of admission. The people that work will bust your balls a but, but they are about as friendly as you can get.

I haven't been in Baltimore in years but as Elvis Fu said neither is bad- esp. once you get down by the water. Baltimore is very fluid though- so you could be in a decent place and then stray a couple blocks and you are in a world of difference.

Home before its dark out works almost everywhere in Baltimore.

Good to know - thanks guys. I am seriously considering a trip to Baltimore next time I head NYC way.

Another really cool place worth checking out is the oyster bar at the back end of the Cross Street Market in the Federal Hill neighborhood. Couple dozen bivalves and a big-ass Clipper Shitty to wash them down -- plus, it's cheap!

Fu pretty much covered it.

You would be fine in any of the more populated areas after dark--Fed Hill, Harborplace, Mt. Vernon, Fells Point, Little Italy--any of those will supply you with plenty of food and drinks til you can't stand anymore. Plus, Sound Garden is in Fells Point, and its a decent record store. For more way out there you might go to the True Vine which is co-owned by Jason Willett. Some decent clubs as well. The Ottobar is my favorite though.

Oh, and you need to get one of these:

Pretty much spot on. Lots of food all over the place. You would make yourself sick trying to get to half the places. And those neighborhoods are pretty safe for the most part, even after dark. Fed Hill is actually becoming a real trendy little community, or at least that was my impression when I was there in April (and provides great views of the Domino Sugar Factory har har). Just don't wander too far up the hill (different hill) towards the center of town...things start to get iffy up that way.

Apparently there was some gang activity at Harborplace, but I think that's done with. My parents kept emailing me to tell me to be careful if I went to a show in Baltimore. It was actually quite cute. If they only knew half the places I've been to see a show...

is hammerjack's still around?

I think even the new one is closed. The original is stadium parking.