If you’re like me you will probably eat almost anything! That means I’m always open to trying new restaurants and eateries wherever I am. When I was in Baltimore, there were so many cool places to eat that I simply did not have the time to try them all… although I wished I could. I did come across a few, however, that I thought I’d share with you all. These restaurants had some fantastic food and they are all of different varieties, so if you have varying tastes check them out! And if you’re more picky, this will give you a bunch of options the next time you visit the Harbor!
If you’re interested in price, my range will go from $ (least expensive- around $10-$15) to $$$ (most expensive- $70+)
The Oceanaire ($$$)
Seafood lovers rejoice! The Oceanaire has all your seafood needs, although it is on the pricier side of things. I went with my aunt for a little bonding dinner before we went to the airport to pick up my mom. Because it was a slow summer evening (I believe it was a Tuesday) we were offered the couples special. This meant we would each get an appetizer, a main course, a dessert, and a bottle of wine to share (although I did not indulge) for $70. Overall, I think it was a pretty good deal for the amount of food we received. I will say though, that it is very pricey if you simply order off of the regular menu. But it’s what you’d expect from a nicer seafood restaurant.
I ordered the Caesar salad as an appetizer, the jumbo shrimp scampi as a main, and strawberry sorbet for dessert. My aunt got the escargot (which we shared), the salmon fillet, and bread pudding to finish the night off. Everything came in a timely manner, and the waitstaff was polite and attentive. What I liked most about the atmosphere was that it was more formal than many seafood places. The waiters were in white coats and nice clothing. This is definitely a place to go if you’re looking for a nice date night location or a celebratory dinner.
The Rusty Scupper ($$)
I have written in detail about The Rusty Scupper in a previous post (check it out here), so I’ll just give an overview. If you’re looking for the perfect Sunday brunch place, this is the restaurant to go to. It’s right on the water and overlooks the entire harbor area. The atmosphere is fun with a live jazz band playing throughout the brunch. There are two times to choose from, one from 10am-12pm and another from 12:30-2:30.
You pay a flat rate of $45 per person (less for children) and receive an all included brunch with drinks. There’s tons of seafood along with the usual foods like eggs, bacon, meat, etc. Plus there’s lots of dessert options and food enough to stuff yourself silly. This was probably my favorite experience while visiting Baltimore, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is near the Harbor.
M&S Grill ($)
If you want a great Happy Hour spot, M&S Grill is the best. Their menu is full of great options, including seafood, and the waitstaff are wonderful. I went with my mom one evening around 6pm and we were seated outside right by the flowers and looking out at the water. The historic ship Constellation was about 30 feet away and the umbrellas shaded us from the harsh summer sun. Altogether, it was a perfect atmosphere to enjoy our early evening treats.
We ordered two oyster shooters and a shrimp cocktail, and my mom had a specialty mojito that she says was quite delicious and refreshing. This was my first time trying an oyster shooter and I have to say it was pretty fun! Not only did it taste great, but having it in shooter form made it slide so easily down my throat. The shrimp was fantastic (but if I’m being honest, anytime I have shrimp I love it), and I enjoyed sipping a lemon water to wash it all down. Great place: great atmosphere, great staff, great food!
Lebanese Taverna ($)
I had never really had Lebanese food before, but my mom took me to this restaurant for lunch on her last day visiting me. The restaurant itself was full of light and relatively quiet, which was nice since I wanted to be able to have a conversation. The waitstaff was attentive yet kept their distance which I liked. We decided to order a couple of different platters so that I would have the opportunity to try a bunch of different types of food.
While we were waiting for our meal to come out, we were given a basket of fresh pita bread and a bowl of hummus. It was so good that I almost filled up on bread! Luckily, I controlled myself and was able to enjoy all the different options when they arrived. There was more but different types of hummus, some tabouli, a mini salad, different types of meat, some rice, and other little foods. It was honestly amazing and deceptively filling.
Definitely worth going to Lebanese Taverna if you’re ever around the Harbor. You also get a view of all the boats docked in the harbor and it’s only a couple of steps from the giant Under Armour store if you’re interested in that.
The Hard Rock Cafe ($-$$)
Almost everyone knows what the Hard Rock offers, so I only add it because I had such a fun time there. It’s a classic restaurant that offers great burgers and a variety of different and exciting combinations of food. It is also on the water (although it’s more of a little straight than an actual waterway), and because of that there are two different seating areas. You can either eat outside in a more cabana-y type of place or sit inside in the more “normal” Hard Rock setting. Both are good option, I just chose the inside because I like to see the music videos. Outside, I believe, there is live music however.
My favorite drink to order there is the strawberry lemonade because it comes with real strawberries and is really satisfying on a hot day. There are a bunch of options to choose from, so if you have picky eaters with you there is something for everyone. The atmosphere is cool too because there are records, and outfits, and instruments from classic rockers and bands hanging all around the place. The TVs play old (and sometimes new) music videos so you can jam out while you eat.
There are so many more restaurants around the Baltimore Harbor that even if you don’t want to go to any of these places, simply walking around them will find you in a location with tons of different options. Wherever you choose, I hope you enjoy Baltimore as much as I did!
Ciao for now!
A Shea in the Life 
I can vouch for all 3 of these restaurants! Lebanese Taverna has the most wonderful and tender lamb kabobs on the planet! The Sunday Brunch at Rusty Scupper has a never ending supply of fresh boiled shrimp, clams, oysters and mussels on the half-shell, always a baked fish or two, caviar, smoked salmon and herring, a steamship round of beef and lots of breakfast stuff!
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