Fine dining restaurant has extensive seafood selection

As a typical student's years at Hopkins pass, it will probably seem like the places to entertain and be entertained decrease marginally (yet ever so distinctly) in the same fashion as their cumulative GPA points. Parents' and friends' visits gradually require more effort and planning, more research and asking around. No longer will an a cappella concert or a football game do to pass the afternoon or the time between coming and going. There's one place I take my parents without fail, every time they come to visit - McCormick and Shmick's - located downtown in the Pier 5 hotel. The food is always delicious, with a seafood selection that would make even the home-grown, Eastern seaboard native proud. Besides, what other restaurant around here boasts oysters "from both coasts?"

I'll start off with the inner decor. It's a nice restaurant, with a view of the inner harbor, mahogany paneling, white tablecloths and windows within view of almost every table. There's an outdoor, enclosed patio for seating in the late spring and summer, so it's got the atmosphere of a posh restaurant on the water. The help is friendly, but sometimes the wait for a table can be tedious - even when you've got reservations. Oh, and a reminder: be sure to make reservations. McCormick's is a hot spot on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, so calling ahead will guarantee you a table.

Now, on to the food. A personal favorite of my family is the crab dip. Generally made of crab, artichokes and a cream base, it's the best appetizer to start out with. It's served with bread chips sprinkled with cheddar cheese and is enough to whet the appetites of four people. The house salad is also a few notches above your typical restaurant fare, and includes mixed greens, various vegetables and sunflower seeds topped with a light vinaigrette.

One aspect that I thoroughly appreciate is that they bring you a basket of bread to tide you over as you wait for your food. Though some critics would argue that merely this serves as a filler and takes away appetite that should be reserved for the finer flavors of the main course, I think restaurants that serve this staple know what people truly want - to eat. Yes of course, they want the Yellow Fin Ahi and the filet mignon, but they're also hungry. Everyone knows that one of the most annoying things is to be sitting in a restaurant, on the verge of passing out as you wait for your appetizers or main courses. Also, I find the basket-o-bread helps prevent stumbling drunkenness brought on by pre-dinner Jonnie Walkers or Manhattans consumed on an empty stomach.

The main course selection is by far the best I've seen in Baltimore. The menu is reprinted everyday with the fresh catch selections for the day, and the chef's expert creations. My favorite dish was a combination of halibut with lemon butter, green beans and potatoes. However, my friend the "Hippoglossus hippoglossus" is a fairly seasonal catch, so it's not always on the menu. My dad loves to eat (as well as recommend to all who go with us) the stuffed salmon. This dish has been on the menu every time I've been to McCormick's, and it's probably the best thing to try if it's your first time there. The tenderly cooked salmon is stuffed with a mixture of blue crab meat and seasonings, and served with garlic mashed potatoes and a vegetable. Last time I was at McCormick's I had the Mahi Mahi, which was served with a light, sweet sauce drizzled on top, and the same sides as the salmon. I have to admit, however, that I wasn't a big fan of the Mahi Mahi. Maybe it was the fish, or the lack of flair in the dish itself, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It's got a cool name, but it's nowhere near as good as the Atlantic Halibut.

Overall, McCormick's offers a pleasing, fine dining experience. It's rather pricey, so take with you your parents or a date you want to impress the next time you go.