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!

Pizza is about as rampant in the city as sushi. In every pocket of Baltimore, you can find a fantastic pizza place-no questions asked. This summer, however, I was on the hunt for a pizza place with outside seating, great drink options, and close to where I’d be going out later-Fells Point.

The winner? Bagby Pizza in Harbor East! Tucked in the Bagby building of Harbor East, across from Whole Foods, the MAC, and Talara, you can find a slice of tranquility in Bagby’s.

Walking inside, you’re greeted by a warm brick facade, high bar stool tables and seating, a super warm staff, and paintings scattered around the room from local artists. 

Going during their happy hour from 4-7, I took advantage of the $3.25 Stella (let it be known, I am no beer drinker. Stella is my only exception) as soon as we ordered.

My advice is to peruse the menu online before going in-store in the chance that it’s busy. As soon as you walk in, you go up to the counter to grab a menu and order there and then seat yourself to have your food delivered. 

I had heard some rave reviews on their salads and homemade dressings and decided to try the Bagby Chopped Salad.

Let’s put it this way-I barely remembered to take a photo of the salad before consuming it as fast as I could. The salad was super fresh, filled with veggies and paired perfectly with their house dressing! Such an ideal summer salad and it curbed my appetite so I wouldn’t then indulge in the entire pizza.

With a zillion pizza options to chose from, all sounding great to me (I WILL be back for that fresh basil chicken pesto pizza), my date and I opted for their BBQ chicken pizza.

The pizza came out at the perfect time post salad and looked amazingly fresh! 

Sweet with a tangy kick, the creaminess of the cheese complimented the bbq chicken perfectly! I easily ate 2 slices and didn’t feel the usual pizza heaviness afterwards.

For a higher price pizza ($16), it was worth it. We wound up leaving with enough leftovers for the perfect Friday night late night snack and the pizza itself was gourmet and so fresh out of the oven that it put all other $10 pizzas to shame.

The exciting news is that Bagby’s is expanding! With outside seating already provided (and more coming) and a menu that surpasses pizza with sandwich options that sound tempting, I really look forward to my next Bagby’s visit!

Given my penchant for Harbor East ( the Whole Foods and South Moon Under beckon my wallet every time), this will be a great post-shop stop or pre-going out pizza place to bring the friends and relax over a few slices and some great beer!

Bagby’s takes the traditional pizza and beer night to a whole new level, offering a gourmet dash of class to every dish! 

Fall, to me, means several things in Baltimore. Some of my favorite festivals in the city, exciting new exhibits in the local museums and galleries, and being able to dine (comfortable sans humidity) al fresco. While most people may think of Fells Point, Inner Harbor, and even Harbor East as being go-to spots to dine outside and catch a few glorious rays bouncing off of the water, I have another little nook I like to perch while tasting flavorful wine and dining on fresh, gourmet fare. 

The Wine Market is not new to the always debated Federal Hill/Locust Point area but the menu is changing with various seasonal entrees, small plates, desserts, and so forth that every trip always brings something different yet appropriate for any seasonal cravings one might have. 

After spending a long day walking the Mount Vernon Square, it was unanimously decided that it was time to sit down, unwind, enjoy a glass of something light and refreshing, and end the day on a nice autumn note.

As you enter the Wine Market, you’re greeted with a little shop filled with wines, ciders, ales, and then some that provide great browsing material while waiting for your table (or even if you just want to pop in and find something for whatever you may be cooking at home later that night). With the option of buying a bottle and taking it to your table for dinner, the restaurant’s wine menu then becomes even more copious and overwhelming with great options.

After jotting down a couple new finds I’ll definitely be back to buy and try ( apple hard cider, anyone?), we were brought to our table outside. A pleasant September Saturday evening provided a warm enough breeze that we were able to be comfortable and enjoy the tucked away ambience the location brings. 

Always a true lover of sangria, I opted to try their house made sangria. A crisp, peachy concoction, the drink was refreshing, not overly sweet, and filled with peach halves and blueberries. Definitely a great end of summer drink that isn’t too heavy or rich for this time of year. 

While we were already provided a small plate of fresh bread and a tomato based oil to dip it in, we decided upon splitting a cheese plate with cardamon spiced almonds and quince paste (a dense jelly like square with a mild fruity tang). While I couldn’t even begin to repeat, rewrite, or remember the exact cheeses that were in season that night, I can remember we managed to polish off each of the three different triangles with ease.

A nice array of sharp, mild, and creamy cheeses filled the plate along with lightly buttered bread crisps. The plate disappeared in a matter of moments as the cheese worked perfectly with the sangria, the crisps, and the lightly seasoned nuts. For anyone looking for a casual meeting spot for a drink, I highly recommend this for just that! Opt for bar seating and enjoy a small plate of cheese and a glass of either wine or sangria to have a true Wine Market experience!

Following the cheese, both my date and I ordered Grilled Steak Salad (a full day of walking in the heat made us veer towards something light and easy over some of the more heartier entrees the restaurant offers). 

Words can’t describe how incredible and fresh the salad was when it arrived following the cheese plate. With all the dishes coming out in a steady pace, the salad arrived at the perfect time and looked as delicious as it tasted.

Chock full of fresh greens, deviled eggs, avocado, goat cheese, plump tomato, and, of course, a flavorful cut of steak ( cooked to your liking!), accompanied with a sweet and creamy dressing. 

Overall, The Wine Market provides a tucked away restaurant ( with a parking lot!) that is brimming with gourmet, decadent entrees and a slew of wine offerings and drink choices that change seasonally, e.g. a pumpkin inspired dessert that’s currently being offered. A great place to meet the girls for after work drinks or to bring the significant other for a quiet, romantic dinner, the restaurant is Baltimore’s answer (in my opinion) to Howard County’s Pure Wine Cafe and The Iron Bridge Wine Company. 

Stop by and be sure to check out their shop for some great take-home wines, sit down for a relaxing meal, or do both and leave far richer than you came in!