OPEN
Park Cafe & Coffee Bar: Coffee fiends in the Bolton Hill community were devastated when this beloved cafe shuttered its doors last month. “Our decision has not come easily,” former owner David Hart posted to Facebook on July 6. “Over the last several months our priorities have shifted and we feel it is best to leave while on top of our game.” But regulars will be happy to hear that the cafe reopened under new ownership earlier this week. Former employee Elsa Valdes, along with her brother, George Gonzalez, have taken charge of the business— which will maintain its menu of pour-over coffees, pastries, sandwiches, and house-baked goods. 132 McMechen St., 410-225-9282
Mr. Souvlaki: From burgers and bibimbap to cupcakes and charcuterie, Mount Vernon Marketplace already boasts something for everyone. And the communal marketplace now offers even more options with the opening of this new Greek spot. Mr. Souvlaki made its debut in the stall sandwiched between Big Bean Theory and Al Volo Pasta late last month. The stall served stuffed gyros, roasted vegetables, and, of course, marinated souvlaki skewers. Other dishes to look out for include traditional spanakopita, baklava, and rice pudding. 520 Park Ave., 443-796-7393
COMING SOON
Loch Bar Boca Raton: Snowbirds heading south this winter will be able to get a taste of Charm City by way of Boca Raton. Atlas Restaurant Group—the local company behind Ouzo Bay, Azumi, and brand new Italian chophouse Tagliata—will be opening a second location of its seafood spot Loch Bar in South Florida by the end of this year. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant will reflect the charm of Loch Bar’s flagship inside the Four Seasons Baltimore, with brass accents, red leather banquettes, antique mirrors, and an outdoor patio that stretches the length of the restaurant. Menu highlights will include a rotating oyster list and an expansive whiskey collection. Atlas first expanded to Florida last year, when it opened a second location of Ouzo Bay in Boca Raton.
Rise Biscuits Donuts: The first Maryland location of this North Carolina-based biscuit behemoth—which has been lauded by the likes of Food & Wine—will land in Timonium this fall. Slated to debut in November, the shop will feature the brand’s signature comfort foods including maple-bacon donuts and fried green tomato biscuit sandwiches topped with pimento cheese. Local franchisees Fran Kirley, Chris Kirley, and David Brindza plan to bring four additional locations to the area within the next three years. 1620 York Road
Rye Street Tavern: Scheduled to cut the ribbon after Labor Day, this new restaurant on the Sagamore Spirit Distillery campus in Port Covington will mark the second local concept from New York-based celebrity chef Andrew Carmellini—who launched the Rec Pier Chop House inside the Sagamore Pendry Hotel earlier this year. Unlike the Pendry’s Italian restaurant, Rye Street will focus on American fare with Southern and Mid-Atlantic influences. Stay tuned for more details. 301 E. Cromwell St.
World of Beer: Come winter, Baltimore County locals will have a new go-to hub to sip craft beer in Owings Mills. Joining the likes of Fractured Prune, UFood Grill, and Eggspectation in the mixed-use Metro Centre development, the new World of Beer location will occupy 5,000 square feet and boast two outdoor patios. The beer bar—which opened its first Baltimore County location in Towson in 2015—pairs more than 50 brews on tap (including local favorites like Union, The Brewer’s Art, and RAR) with pub grub like German pretzels, jalapeño burger sliders, and a margherita flatbread. Grand Central Avenue., Owings Mills, 410-581-2520
NEWS
BLK // SUGAR: Changes are in the works for this destination inside R. House, whose owner Krystal Mack took to Facebook earlier this week to announce a move to new digs. “I’ve come to realize that to truly make a change in the food space that is not only sustainable to BLK // SUGAR but our supporters as well, I, as well my brand and all that I have built, need to be in a space that is organically of my own creation and curation,” Mack posted. The message assures that, while the BLK // SUGAR stall will close inside R. House on Friday, August 18, this won’t be the last that we see of the sweets shop in the future. 301 W. 29th St.
Restaurant Week Extended: If you didn’t get a chance to take advantage of the dining deals at your favorite local hotspots last week, more than 60 restaurants have opted to extend their special prix-fixe menus through August 13. Among the eateries continuing their discounts include Birroteca in Hampden, Fork & Wrench in Canton, Liv2Eat in Federal Hill, and Sotto Sopra in Mt. Vernon. See our suggestions here.
Spirits Tavern: This Upper Fells Point dive on the southeast corner of Bank and Wolfe streets (an intersection that has become notorious for collisions) took a major hit last weekend, after a car slammed into its front window early Sunday morning. Luckily, no one was hurt, and the bar is still fully stocked and intact. Major repairs will occur in the coming weeks, but, in the meantime, the watering hole will be open at 5 p.m. every night with happy hour specials and plenty of draft beer to go around. 1901 Bank St., 410-563-1612
EPICUREAN EVENTS
8/12-13: Blue Moon Turns 21
Hard as it might be to believe, it’s been 21 years since Blue Moon Cafe first graced us with its beloved pancakes, cinnamon buns, and fan-favorite Captain Crunch French toast. This weekend, the funky breakfast spot will celebrate its big birthday accordingly with boozy specials like a Bloody Mary eggs benedict and champagne-and-strawberry French toast. The specials will run at the 24-hour Fells Point flagship, as well as the spinoff in Federal Hill, all weekend long. 1621 Aliceanna St. and 1024 Light St., 410-522-3940
8/20: Fiesta Del Sol
North Baltimore neighbors Clavel, The Charmery, and Union Craft Brewing are coming together to host this end-of-summer fiesta to celebrate the release of the brewery’s new guava and passionfruit-flavored Older Pro gosé varieties. Get down to beats by Reggae Spin Cycle while enjoying tacos by Clavel and paletas (Mexican-style ice pops) by The Charmery. The Sunday fun-day fête will also feature sprinklers and pop-up pools lifeguarded by Hampden’s unofficial mayor Lou Catelli. 1700 Union Ave., 12-6 p.m., 410-467-0290, Free
8/21: Haenyo at Gnocco
This Korean-fusion pop-up hit the scene earlier this summer, hosting one-night-only dinners at local spots including Holy Crepe Cafe in Canton and Cafe Andamiro in Mt. Vernon. Now, the concept from local industry veterans Collin Morstein and Irvin Seo is back at it, this time taking over the kitchen at Gnocco in Highlandtown. On August 21 from 5-10 p.m., the chefs will serve up a menu that puts a Korean spin on chef Brian Lavin’s commitment to pasta and seafood. The menu will highlight kalguk-su (a light soup of seasonal ingredients and shellfish) and, fittingly, tteokbokki—a spicy noodle dish resembling Italian gnocchi. 3734 Fleet St., 5-10 p.m., 443-449-6540
SHUT
Ryleigh’s Oyster Mt. Vernon: Regulars of The Lyric and Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall will need to find a new pre-show hangout, now that Ryleigh’s Oyster has shuttered its location in Mt. Vernon. The seafood spot stationed within blocks from both venues closed its doors last week due to financial struggles. Owner Brian McComas recently told The Sun that he plans to convert the restaurant into a private events and catering kitchen. Ryleigh’s flagship in Federal Hill, along with its ’burbs spinoff in Timonium, are still going strong. 1225 Cathedral St.
Ten Ten Ramen: Ramen lovers are lamenting the loss of this North Charles Street spot in Mt. Vernon, which announced last week that it would be closing doors with little explanation. The owners took to Facebook to thank the community for three years of “emphatic patronage.” Ten Ten’s second location, which serves its signature DIY bowls with flavorful broths and an array of toppings, is still up and running in Annapolis. 137 Prince George St., Annapolis, 410-837-6047