Must-try restaurants this month!

Have you gotten a chance to try some new food since returning to campus for the semester? If you were looking for a telltale sign to venture off campus or order some delicious new food for delivery, the events happening in Baltimore this week should have no trouble convincing you to do so! 

Restaurant Week: Jan. 28 — Feb. 6

Baltimore’s biannual Restaurant Week celebration is currently underway, and it is happening until next Sunday. During Restaurant Week, over 70 participating restaurants offer fixed price menus with several options per course. Depending on the amount of courses, most meals range from about $20 to $45 per person. The second Restaurant Week of the year happens in July, so if you miss any spots this time around, don’t forget to come back in the summer. No matter what kind of cuisine you’re looking for, you will find terrific options in neighborhoods all over the city. Here are my personal highlights thus far:

Jazz+Soju: I visited Jazz+Soju during the July restaurant week for the $18 two-course lunch. I ordered the sriracha brussels sprouts and spicy garlic wings, and I am not exaggerating when I say that Jazz+Soju carries some of the most delicious wings in this city. The Korean-fried style lends itself perfectly to the sticky sauce with which it is paired. The wings are substantially sized, so you feel as though you’ve eaten way more than six once you’re finished. I recommend Jazz+Soju for any day of the year, but the great two-course deal is a perfect reason to trek out to Locust Point.

Sotto Sopra: This lovely Italian spot is only a few blocks from the Peabody stop on the Homewood-Peabody-School of Medicine shuttle, and it’s the perfect destination for a date night. I also went here during the July Restaurant Week and ordered the $45 three-course meal. The calamari, carbonara and cheesecake were a truly great trifecta, but unfortunately I had filled up on the bread and olive oil and was positively stuffed by the time the meal was over. The portion sizes are substantial, so the high odds that you come away with leftovers is a bonus. 

Tapas Teatro: This might be the best Restaurant Week deal you can find anywhere. Tapas Teatro is within Blue Jay Shuttle distance from campus, nestled right next to The Charles Theatre and Penn Station. The four-course $35 meal includes a salad, appetizer, entree and dessert — do I have your attention yet? The spicy chicken croquettes and chocolate torte were the unabashed highlights for me, but the best part about Tapas Teatro is the tapas style. Bring a few friends along and order as many dishes as you can, then share the wealth and bask in the wonder of Restaurant Week together. 

Blk Food Baltimore

Food influencer Simone (@charmcitytable) is hosting giveaways throughout the entire month of February to celebrate Black History Month. Simone posted a list of over 100 Black-owned restaurants in the area for reference, and you can check out her interactive food map for her reviews and recommendations. Some favorites of mine from the list include:

Connie’s Chicken and Waffles: a perfect way to get your savory and sweet fix. There are a lot of unique flavor combinations that stem from the waffle variations, but you might enjoy cookies-and-cream waffles with fried chicken more than you expect. 

Chef Bobby D’s: a spot for some delicious Jamaican food conveniently located right in Hampden. The smoked wings and ribs are flavorful and juicy, and even though it is nearly impossible to decide which sides you should order, all of them are tasty in their own rights. My personal favorite is the macaroni and cheese, which is perfectly balanced in its sauce quantity.

The Land of Kush: without question, the best vegan chicken I have ever had. I don’t have too much experience with vegan foods in general, but The Land of Kush was a terrific first foray in Baltimore for me.