There are certainly several hot spots in Baltimore where you go both to see and be seen (Sloane Brown knows a thing or two about this). When these local joints actually have food and cocktails that are completely top notch and have chefs who are something of a magician in the kitchen-sign me up.

Tucked away on a Canton corner, with a pretty fun view of the Natty Boh Tower, you’ll find Blue Hill Tavern. A modest building that holds one of the city’s culinary treasures, and the most beautiful and well dressed people in the 410, this tavern is more of a funky, upscale restaurant meets bar. Two floors with two bars, swanky drapery, rich decor, and corners perfect for private dining and cocktail chatter, this spot is the place to go for a dressed up date night or a low-key girls night out.

The cocktail list is not for the faint of heart. An avid dirty martini sipping girl (you can refer back to previous posts for some other finds in the city that make a mean one), I had to go with their Clearly Dirty Martini. Olive infused vodka. Say no more. 

Better yet, they offer several different types of olives. Blue cheese stuffed for me, natch. The martini certainly kicked off the dinner with an uber glam touch that also gave a wink to Blue Hill’s creative side-essentially what this place excels at mixing.

What’s unique about Blue Hill is that they rotate their menu according to season. Catching this dinner on the cusp of summer, I made the choice to get their watermelon feta appetizer. Had to get my last chance at this juicy summer fruit!

The colors in this dish speak for itself. A juicy and fresh watermelon round served as a base for rich feta cheese and bright greens garnishing the plate. To say that it was ripe is an understatement. Everything complimented each other perfectly and I’m fairly certain that watermelon was just picked off the vine. 

Of course I must pay tribute to their bread bowl. A nice array of doughs and a plate of oil and fresh whipped butter came out around cocktail time-amazingly fresh and warm! 

As for dinner, I opted for one of their many salads. 

A thinly sliced array of mixed greens is heavily decked out with sun dried tomatoes, feta, cucumbers, a kalamata olives that really resonate in the salad. Topped off with a crispy garlic crouton and a red wine vinaigrette, the salad was flavorful and beautifully presented!

Always a sucker for mac & cheese, I simply had to order theirs to split. This macaroni and cheese just shot up on my list of Top 3 Mac & Cheeses in the city (Blue Grass, Langermanns, and now-here). 

This photo does not do justice. Rich, creamy, velvety cheddar, is the star in this baked wonder. It was impossible to finish but I easily took it home. The caliber of this side dish is not to be discounted. I would dare to say this alone would make for a wonderful, hearty winter meal paired with one of their many wine selections and accompanied with a light salad. I think I may have just decided what I’m getting next time I go!

My date ordered their Tavern Burger. Another great winter dinner that is juicy, fresh, and chock full of aged cheddar, a fried onion, spicy ketchup, bacon, and kobe beef. The brioche bun is what sets this burger apart from most places.

What was my rookie mistake when going to Blue Hill was my lack of appetite for dessert. Their pastry and dessert menu reads like a delectable sensory experience. From local ice creams to “the candy bar” to brioche bread pudding served with apples and vanilla ice cream, their pastry chef is one of the tops in Baltimore. Upon my return trip here, I may just go simply to indulge in dessert. Life’s short no?

Whether you pop into Blue Hill for a post-work happy hour or a Saturday night on the town, their menu is rich in flavors and creativity.

Throw on your skinny jeans and heels this weekend and head over to what may be my new fave restaurant in Canton-head upstairs and let the amazing experience that is Blue Hill begin!

You’re in Baltimore. You’re looking for crabs. It’s a no brainer. What’s stopping you? It’s off-season. Take my advice-forego any chains when you’re in this town and go for someplace that’s both unique to the city and waterfront!

Bo Brooks is without a doubt in my mind the hotbed for crabs, no matter the month or the weather! Steamed crabs served all year long while sitting by the water overlooking boats, gorgeous luxury apartments, and a serious view of the city is the way to roll in this town. No reservation in my mind, Bo Brooks does crabs right-even for the most hesitant of crabcake/soup/dip/balls/etc lovers.

First off, Bo Brooks has one of the best margaritas I’ve tried in a long time. An avid margarita lover (and plus, tis the season right?), I laughed when the description for the tequila infused beverage said “a true Margarita is never neon green” and decided to try their authentic concoction. All I can say is wow. Salty, strong, and just the amount of tangy bite, it was a serious starter to the dinner.

While my date and I weren’t exactly prepared to get our hands dirty that night with steamed crabs, we couldn’t go and not order something crabby.

Meet their crab cake sliders. With pillowy rolls and crabcake that is to die for, these little sammies melt in your mouth-without much tartare sauce even needed!

If this appetizer got any fresher, I think it’d grow claws and walk off the table a la Sebastian in The Little Mermaid.

Satisfying our need for crab, both my date and I opted for pretty diverse entrees. Mind you, the Bo Brooks menu is all over the board. From crab guacamole, bacon wrapped scallions and fish tacos that look fresh out of the water, there’s pretty much an item for anyone looking for something under the water.

My date opted for their rockfish which is battered and fried and served with two sides. Opting for their mac & cheese (which is super creamy and rich), the fish looked extremely tempting (mind you, I’m not a huge fish gal). 

True to Baltimore, there’s a touch of Old Bay somewhere hidden in the dish.

Always the lover of avocado, I went for their strawberry chicken club. The strawberries, avocado mayonnaise, chicken, lettuce, and  toasted bread was probably one of the best pairings I’ve had. Fresh, creamy, salty, and sweet the combination magically worked and couldn’t have been a better or lighter sandwich to have on that almost-spring night.

Looking over the menu, I was overwhelmed with what to get simply because everything reads beautifully, creatively, and having a fresh touch of something seafood. 

Despite reaching ultimate levels of fullness after our courses (to-go bags were much needed!), I couldn’t resist one of my favorite desserts, the Smith Island cake.

Delivered fresh from The Smith Island Cake Company, I ordered the original and was glad I did! Layers of homemade yellow cake and rich chocolate ganache was the sweet touch that ended my night. Accompanied with a fluffy cinnamon whipped cream, the cake reminds me why I’ll always be a Maryland girl-who can resist our state dessert?!

The presentation was beautiful and I’m already regretting leaving those few bites behind on the plate!

My date, a bit of a traditionalist, opted for their caramel sundae. 

Bo Brooks really nails down staples and this ice cream was no different!

If you’re looking for a fun, inexpensive, local spot to enjoy crabs (or sandwiches, or fish, or burgers, or..you get the idea), don’t pass over local, waterfront Bo Brooks. Sitting by the window, looking out the water, sipping a margarita, and cracking a crab. Yes, I’m ready for summer in Baltimore.

It seems that the little corner location tucked away on South Montford in Canton has finally found its groove in Tangier’s Bistro Bar and Martini Lounge. After stumbling through a few restaurants and bars, the French Northern Moroccan restaurant has served up some serious flair for this location.

This past Thursday night I was lucky enough to attend a Friends & Family event at Tangier’s, offering four different courses with a whole lotta atmosphere. 

After dropping my car off at their valet service, I walked into Tangier’s and entered a whole new region. Between the huge ceiling fans working off of a pullee system and the rich, red coloring, it is a true hybrid of modernity and class.

The option of sitting bar side or upstairs in a more dining room setting, I opted for the former and got to see the bar go from zero to sixty with a small crowd wanting their cocktails. My personal fave drink? The Casablancan-a blend of Limoncello, Ciroc vodka, and ginger liqueur that makes for a strong but sweet drink. 

The first course was a light and summery cucumber and tomato salad that was fresh, not overwhelming in size, and the perfect way to prepare the palate for what was to come.

The second, and most memorable of the dinner, was the Chicken Tagine. A tender chicken served atop olives (why I never combined these two before is mind boggling-the olives set the chicken and the light, citrusy marinade it was cooked in off delightfully) made for a flavorful dish that was not hard to finish.

Finally, my Paramentier came along. While I had never heard of this before, nor knew the correct pronunciation, it was easily the most unique dish I had seen in a long time. Two golden mashed potato squares that had a cornbread like consistency sandwich a thin layer of spiced beef, accompanied with a tomato chunk sauce for dipping. Much like the earlier plates, the portion and the quality are perfect. Simple, fresh, and full on flavor, the dinner left me satisfied and a fan of new spices and combinations I had not known existed. 

As if I wasn’t full enough, the Morroccan pastries provided at the end of dinner served up four small cookie-like gems. Two puffs of pink, two pirouette-like cookies, and one nutty number made for a small plate of sweet tooth goodies. 

Definitely a place I plan on dining again, I’d love to come back and investigate the bar scene and see the happy hour nightlife. Tangier’s small plates have left a big impression on this girl.