For many years, Baltimore had few good restaurants that lured people, but when the Inner Harbor created a reason for both locals and vacationers to come, that all changed. Today, there are numerous great restaurants in Baltimore.People from as far away as Pennsylvania make the pilgrimage to Baltimore's Inner Harbor to eat.
This popular Italian restaurant is located in the Pier 5 Hotel. Not only does the cuisine taste like what you might find in Italy, many of the dishes are gluten-free and organic. The menu has been developed for virtually every taste, and you can determine if a small or large plate is best for you. Start your meal with one of several appetizers and salads on the menu like fried calamari served with banana peppers with dipping sauce or Tuscany Salad with arugula, fresh beets, sliced apple, navel orange and radishes drizzled with a cauliflower and apple cider vinaigrette. For an entree, the menu offers such things as risotto with scallops, shrimp and crabmeat with homemade pesto and cubed tomatoes and medallions of veal sauteed with shrimp that's topped with a champagne cream sauce and served over a saffron risotto cake.
Pizzazz Tuscan Grille
711 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-528-7772
pizzazztuscangrille.com/
The original Velleggia's opened in 1937 by a couple from Porto San Elpidio, Italy in hopes of finding their dream in America. They built the business to the point where Velleggia's became one of the most successful restaurants in Baltimore. The new owners moved the restaurant to its new location in the Inner Harbor so that it can expose more people to its marvelous cuisine. Its menu is large and well thought out. Among the appetizers is a dish for two people. It's a combination of shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels and clams simmered in a white wine and pesto sauce accented with wedges of garlic bread. The numerous entrees include Chicken Rolatini that is a chicken breast rolled with capicolla, mortadella in a mixture of cheeses, then sautéed in a creamy Marsala wine sauce and served over fettuccini and Fettuccine Al Mare Bianco, fettuccine served in a cream sauce highlighted with shrimp, scallops and crab meat.
Velleggia's Italian Seafood Restaurant
110 Water Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
410-986-4445
velleggiasitaliano.com
It's difficult to describe the décor at Caesar's Den. At the same time, it is a casual restaurant but it is also a place you might take your "significant other" for a romantic dinner. The waitstaff is very knowledgeable and they can help you through the menu. You can order either a hot or cold appetizer. The menu offers many including Maine mussels simmered in tomato and garlic, and Antipasto Di Mare, or cold seafood salad with calamari, shrimp, mussels and clams. The menu has numerous dishes including a breast of chicken sauteed with garlic, potatoes, mushrooms and wine sauce called Chicken Campagnola and Vitello Con Carciofi which are veal medallions with artichokes hearts in a light cream sauce)
Caesar's Den
223 South High Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(410) 547-0820
caesarsden.com
