I have a special affection for ceviche. It preserves the original texture of fish while balancing bright, fruity tinges in a sophisticated way. It also comes in varying forms. Each plate feels like a standalone piece of art, where ingredients and sauces shine together like a constellation.
One fun project I took on this semester was tracking down the best ceviches in Baltimore. The restaurants I visited include Puerto 511, La Calle and Clavel (unsurprisingly).
Putting my criteria up front: freshness of ingredients was the baseline, and every restaurant on this list delivered that without question. The differences came down to flavoring, portion size, aesthetics and ambience.
Puerto 511
For anyone who finds it hard to decide on their order, Puerto 511 makes it easy: they have a fixed five-course routine designed by their culinary team, which rotates seasonally. Yet no matter what other courses might change, ceviche made with this season’s freshest harvest is a staple of the menu. When we visited in late August, ceviche of the time was Causa Acevichada, a dish composed of marinated fish and mashed yellow potatoes dipped in tiger’s milk, a rich sauce with citrusy tang, garlic and chili that adds a refreshing tone to this dish.
Beyond ceviche, we also enjoyed roasted veal heart, tamales, fried rice and ice cream as the ending dessert. The use of fruity flavors is threaded across dishes, tomatoes, pineapples, lemon, in ceviche, skewers and fried rice. Despite the multi-layered tangy notes, everything was well-balanced, with the slight sourness complementing the freshness of white-flesh fish perfectly.
Portion was generous with the price, $59 for each person for a five course meal, and we felt quite satisfied. The overall ambience leaned homestyle and approachable — perfect for a dinner with friends. We also enjoyed the little anticipation of not knowing what the next dish would be, since the choices were left to the team. Without a doubt, the courses and combinations they presented were thoughtful and cohesive.
La Calle
La Calle is a beautiful spot to dine in Inner Harbor: a spacious dining room, warm lighting, an open kitchen and a bar. Many couples sat by for a romantic night. For ceviche, we ordered two. Ceviche del Día, their daily special that changes every day, was our preferred one. The tuna was succulent, and the overall flavor was full and well-integrated. The rosy pink sauce interspersed with grass-green avocado made it a feast for the eyes as well. If you like ceviche, this is a solid pick. We also tried Aguachile de la Pasión. It was fresh, but the seasoning skewed too sour for both me and my friend.
While the seasoning lightly missed the balance compared with Puerto 511, the environment was aesthetic and elegant, and my friend and I really enjoyed their Barbacoa de Cordero — tender lamb that detached effortlessly and was well-seasoned. We finished the whole dish without even touching the supplemental corn tortillas.
Portions were sizable, around $60 or so per person. I’d recommend it for both dates and small friend groups of 2–6. The only caveat is that seating is almost always crowded, so I’d suggest making online reservations ahead of time.
Clavel
Citywide favorite. James Beard bar. I had heard a lot about it before visiting, yet only on my second time was I really convinced by the buzz around it. The first time, I focused on the tacos — lengua and barbacoa. They were good, no doubt, but not mind-blowing, which made me question whether the Clavel hype was really justified. But everything changed during my second visit, thanks to a friend’s recommendation — I finally discovered the right way to enjoy Clavel: the ceviches!
If I had to recommend just one dish, I’d go with the Salmon Crudo. It’s not a traditional ceviche, yet it still appears in the “ceviche” section of their menu. The salmon slices were like custard in flan: creamy, fresh, with a dreamy mouthfeel. The crispy tortilla underneath added a lush texture that stitched everything together.
The other dish my friend and I wooed up was the Campechana. It boasted plump sweet shrimp, octopus, and scallop bathed in lime juice in a goblet-style glass. It was abundant with seafood cuts, perfectly paired with crunchy cucumber, onion and totopos. It also came with crispy pork strips, adding another tactile touch to this multifaceted dish.
The price for each person ranges from about $50 to a little over $80. The dishes are huge and don’t skimp on seafood. The ambience is passionate and welcoming, with simple wooden tables and chairs as well as plenty of greens. Yet do expect to wait from 20–40 minutes or more. It’s the norm for Clavel, but the food makes it worth it. The background is indeed a little loud, due to the casual, no-strings-attached atmosphere. It’s a place where people laugh and joke freely. Definitely a spot for friends of varying group sizes, family gatherings, celebrations and a good place for dates for more familiar couples. For a first date, the con is just the likely long wait and the full-of-chatter backdrop.
Yet please don’t get me wrong: purely for taste, Clavel tops the restaurants I mentioned today — and the vast majority of spots in Baltimore. Its long-lasting popularity speaks for itself. If you’re interested in learning more about Clavel’s stories behind the storefront, take a moment to read our previous interview with the founder and mind behind the bar, Lane Harlan.
As the iconic dish of Peru, I believe ceviche inherits something special from this country: the embrace of both coastlines and mountain ridges, and the intersection of many ethnic groups. Baltimore’s businesses interpret this beautiful dish with their own local catch and cultural influences, nurturing distinct flavors of their own.
That said, my recommendations reveal only a fragment of what these restaurants offer — many of them have much more beyond ceviche. Just as ceviche’s tang sets you up for more food adventures, feel free to step ahead and venture into the unmentioned deliciousness.
