Dining

Thai Restaurant ‘Be More Thai’ Opens in Federal Hill
Thai Restaurant Be More Thai recently opened at 1006 Light St. in Federal Hill. It fills a space vacated by Thai Yum, which closed in 2019.

South Baltimore Business Roundup
A new spa opens in Federal Hill, a Federal Hill shop upgrades to a bigger space, a restaurant leaves Pigtown, and two local restaurants close out-of-town locations.

European Wine Importer ‘Wide Roots’ Launched in South Baltimore
Riverside resident Russ Lorber launched his wine import company Wide Roots late-last year. Wide Roots, which has an office at Spaces in Stadium Square and has a warehouse in Upper Marlboro, has a small portfolio of boutique Italian wines it is selling to restaurants and liquor stores around Maryland.

Federal Hill and Pigtown Main Streets Receive Grants for Small Businesses from the State of Maryland
Federal Hill Main Street and Pigtown Main Street are among the 41 main street programs across the state that will receive funding from the State of Maryland. Governor Larry Hogan today announced $7 million in awards for these programs.

TWISB Podcast, Episode 10: Discussing the Restaurant Industry During COVID-19 with Dave Rather of Mother’s
On Episode 10 of This Week in South Baltimore, Nate and Kevin chat with Mother’s Federal Hill Grille owner Dave Rather about the 24-year history of his popular restaurant, how restaurants are handling COVID-19 and recent setbacks in the city, and his plans for the future.

Serenity Wine Cafe Receives Donation from The Famous Fund
Serenity Wine Cafe in Locust Point is the latest South Baltimore restaurant to receive a donation from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood’s The Famous Fund. Jimmy’s started the fund on GoFundMe to support local restaurants that have been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic and dining shutdowns.

Barracudas and Pickles Pub Get Donations from The Famous Fund
South Baltimore restaurants Barracudas and Pickles Pub are the latest businesses to receive donations from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood’s The Famous Fund. Jimmy’s started the fund on GoFundMe to support local restaurants that have been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic and dining shutdowns.

Morning Mugs Coffee Opening This Weekend in Otterbein
Morning Mugs Coffee will open this Saturday at 15 W. Hughe’s St. in Otterbein. Morning Mugs replaces a shop called Hughes and Hanover that closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic and never reopened. The retail space is located in the Vision complex which has offices, coworking spaces, and apartments.

Portion of Cross Street in Federal Hill to Close Again in the Spring for Outdoor Dining
Federal Hill Main Street told SouthBMore.com that the north side of the unit block of E. Cross St. will once again close for outdoor dining this spring, likely in March. This first started in July of last year, but was removed in December when Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott implemented a temporary ban on indoor and outdoor dining in the city.

Diablo Doughnuts Closes Federal Hill Shop, Relocating to Brooklyn and Launching Food Truck
Diablo Doughnuts announced this week it has closed its Federal Hill shop at 1035 Light St. in Federal Hill and will be relocating its operations to 3432 S. Hanover St. in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn location is also the home of The Smoking Swine, and Dizzy Cow Pizzeria.

10pm Dining Curfew Lifted in Baltimore
Last Thursday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced bars and restaurants in Maryland will no longer be required to close at 10pm due to improving COVID-19 metrics in the state.

Illusions Magic Bar Gets Donation from ‘The Famous Fund’
The initial recipients of funds were South Baltimore bars Shotti’s Point Charm City and Sliders Bar & Grille, in addition to The Chasseur, G&A Restaurant, and The Angle Inn. With The Famous Fund growing, new businesses are being nominated and the latest recipient is Federal Hill’s Illusions Magic Bar, which received a $15,000 donation.

Work Begins on Phase One of Hammerjacks Project
Demolition began last week to prepare for phase one of the Hammerjacks project at 1300 Russell St. in Stadium Area. The properties are comprised of the former Paradox music club; a currently-vacant warehouse facing Ostend St., which was most recently the home to a ceramic tile company; and a smaller building connecting Paradox to the warehouse.

Preliminary Work Begins on Topgolf and Gwynns Falls Trail Park Renovation
Preliminary soil work began this week on a project that will bring a Topgolf and a renovated waterfront park to the “Warner Street District” between Horseshoe Casino Baltimore and M&T Bank Stadium. The master developer for this new entertainment district is Horseshoe Casino Baltimore’s owner CBAC Gaming, which is a partnership of Caesars, Rock Gaming, and Caves Valley Partners (CVP).

Indoor and Outdoor Dining to Reopen in Baltimore City on Friday with Restrictions
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott announced today that the shutdown of dining in Baltimore City will be lifted this Friday at 6am. Restaurants and bars can reopen indoor seating at 25 percent and outdoor dining at 50 percent. Indoor and outdoor dining has been prohibited in Baltimore City since December 11th due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sliders and Shotti’s To Receive Aid from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood’s Fundraising Campaign
Jimmy’s Famous Seafood has launched a GoFundMe fundraising effort to support local restaurants struggling due to the current dining shutdown in Baltimore City implemented by Mayor Brandon Scott. Beneficiaries of this fundraiser will be South Baltimore bars Shotti’s Point Charm City and Sliders Bar & Grille, in addition to The Chasseur, G&A Restaurant, and The Angle Inn.

Great Plates of Late Around South Baltimore
Great plates around South Baltimore including pizza, nachos, short rib, burritos, and tacos.