By now, you all know the Inner Harbor - its shops, its boats, its skyline. You know Fells - its clubs, its bars and its annual hosting of the ultimate Halloween costume party. You know Little Italy - the pasta, the gelati, the romantic little dates. But Greek Town? You probably gave it as much a passing thought as you did Baltimore's non-existent Chinatown.
However, if you were about to throw in the towel on this city's cultural diversity, you're in for a surprise. While there may be no Imperial Dragon gates, no fake Oakley hawkers, no egg roll stalls and no fake ID merchants, there is a little-known borough lying discreetly behind Little Italy. For all you gyro-starved people, Greek Town awaits your discovery.
So what are you waiting for?! Toss those coupons for Orient Express back down on the counter and go treat yourself to some real Mediterranean cuisine. Although Greek Town doesn't share much of their cultural dancing, singing, and crafts outside of their small Greek church community, they have world class cooks that will find the way to your heart through your stomach.
All four of Baltimore's premiere Greek eateries are in Greek Town, centered around Eastern Ave. and Broadway. Even if you haven't taken Latin or read your Greek philosophers, their names give them away. The Acropolis. Ikaros. The Gemini Bistro. G. Karabelas. These restaurants offer relaxed dining experiences with amazing food that will keep you satisfied for the 11 months of the year when the Baltimore Greek Festival isn't in full swing.
To take it from the top, The Acropolis is under the reign of Demetrios Avgerinos, the chef who made Greek food famous in Baltimore. Their traditional Greek cuisine by specializes in grilled whole fish, Maryland seafood, steaks and chops. In typical Greek style - Greeks love their fun, full bar is available. Ikaros offers the same food, though a little less spectacularly. However, the portions are larger and the prices are lower, making it an ideal destination for the college budget. The walls are painted in fresca to make you think you're on a villa overlooking the sea. Not a bad view to have in November.
The Gemini Bistro is the most versatile and chill of the four. It offers contemporary Mediterranean cuisine along with other light fare. Their two renovated floors give you the choice of between sitting down at an intimate table by the fireplace or just stopping in for casual seating in the lounge. Dining rooms available for private parties. G. Karabelas, like most Greek eateries, is a local, family-owned business as well. It offers a comfortable ambiance and more great food.
What's great about these places is that they have all succeeded in integrating all that's great about Greek food with what's marvelously Maryland. Along with the traditional feta salads, rice and grape leaves, chicken souvlaki and roasted lamb, Greek food is a celebration of seafood - something which, it turns out, just happens to be a specialty here in Baltimore, too. All four of the restaurants benefit from their proximity to the Bay by serving up fish, mussels, lobster and crab to die for. If you close your eyes, your mouth might even fool you into thinking that you're in Greece.
As winter approaches, there's nothing like a mental and gastronomical escape to the Mediterranean. Greek Town just might do the trick.
