Located on a side-street off York Road near Towson University, Sushi Hana is an unpretentious Japanese restaurant that features the best and freshest sushi in Baltimore. The service is quick, the prices are fair, the ambience is somewhat stark unless you ask to be seated in the back room.

Could not believe THIS Curry Chicken! It is out of this world. If you like Sushi -- look no further -- service and ambiance for a fabulos price. It's a must try!

This is a wonderful chinese restaurant just a block from the famed Senator theater on a side street. Not a place you would find in you were not looking for it. The menu includes sushi as well as Cantonese and Schechuan cuisine. The staff are friendly, and the prices are reasonable.

This little crawly crustacean is the one thing that beats out the Oriole as Baltimore's mascot. Most people have had crab before, but not the 'Baltimore Way'. Visitors usually wonder what the disposable paper tablecloth is for until a waiter or waitress dumps a bushel of steamy, heavily seasoned crabs right in the middle of the table! There are few dining experiences similar to this one; everyone picks away at the mound of critters, drinks gallons of cold beer or soda, and chats the evening away. Don't let the barbaric-looking mallet fool you... in the hands of a true Baltimorean, it is a brush in the hands of an artist. Just ask one for help, and he/she will surely be glad to teach.

Baltimore's Little Italy is well known for dozens of very good to excellent Italian restaurants. Of course, with fame, has come higher prices and crowds or locals and tourists. Amiccis gets its share of the crowds, but its prices are amazingly low while the quality of its meals is still excellent. The atmosphere is less formal, more relaxed, than many Little Italy establishments, and its menu is not quite as extensive as some. But they have all the staples one expects, plus some very creative dishes unique to this busy and fun place. Amiccis is our favorite Italian place in Nickle City, and judging from the lines on weekends, its the favorite of many other locals as well. NOTE: Parking can be a problem in Little Italy on the weekends especially. Be prepared to drive around a bit, or park in a nearby lot and enjoy a stroll to your restaurant through this interesting Italian neighborhood.

About 25 miles west of Baltimore, you can step back 40 years for a real country American dining experience in Westminster, Maryland. Baugher's Country Restaurant serves rib-sticking, inexpensive home cooking. It's all like mama used to make on the farm. Plus they make their own ice cream and have a local fruit and vegetable market. Baugher's ain't fancy, but if you want plenty of good food on a budget, this is the place to be.

Bertha's is a landmark of East Baltimore's Fells Point. The specialty of the house is steamed mussels with a wide selection of sauces. Once you have been there, you will begin to notice the green "Eat Bertha's Mussels" bumper stickers throughout the US.

This is a neighborhood bar that has recently expanded its seating and its menu. It is famous for its half-pound hamburgers made from ground sirloin, but the italian specialties are also quite good. Wide selection of beer. Moderate prices

This is the best pizza in a town with lots of great pizza. Call ahead for takeout. The best thing on the menu is their tomato bread - sliced fresh tomatos on warm pizza dough bread. Get a couple and it makes a healthy, inexpensive meal.

This place has it all -- sushi, Thai, Sechuan, Cantonese. Prices are reasonable and the food is good.

Jimmie's is a bar, a diner, a seafood restaurant all rolled into one. It is most famous for its great high-fat breakfasts which you can swill down with a bottle of beer. Lots of Johns Hopkins doctors come here to eat so it cannot be all that likely to cause food poisoning. It is also a routine stop for presidential candidates visiting Baltimore to meet the average citizen in a photogenic setting. If you are visiting Baltimore, put this on your list for good breakfasts, and quick lunches or dinners.

At one time, Baltimore was a city of MANY markets. Sadly, many have closed down now. If you go, in addition to the wonderful Cross St. Market already mentioned here, don't miss the best, the biggest, the oldest, the funkiest (IMO) one... Lexington Market. No pretention, just lots of great food, atmosphere, and just a bit of on-the-edge taste of danger as well. Right on the Metro Line, just a few blocks up from Camden Yards. I've been away from Baltimore for close to a year now, and real, honest to goodness, non-touristy, real-life places like Lex. Market are the kind of things I miss the most about B'more... Enjoy!

At least once a week during my entire childhood, my parents took my brother and me to the Chili's just off of Northern Parkway. If you go, be sure to order the Margarita and the Fajitas. They've also got great salads and appetizers.

You MUST go there if you visit Baltimore. It's just East of the Inner Harbor down on Cross St, and it's got the best seafood and atmosphere. Cheap huge beers, raw bars, O's games on TV. It's my personal Baltimore heaven.