Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Baltimore / Maryland

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Baltimore / Maryland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

18th & 21st

4.8

4.8 (1600)

$31 to $50

Speakeasy

Columbia

About the restaurant

18th & 21st brings something fresh and classic to Columbia, Maryland. Named after the Constitutional Amendment that enacted Prohibition and then subsequent Amendment that repealed it, 18th & 21st promises to bring back a bygone era through an elevated, tailored evening experience. Our food and cocktails reflect the feel of prohibition supper clubs. This not to say we're stuck in the past, but rather that we try and emulate the style of that era. That means beautiful presentation, careful crafting, and perfect pairings to keep your night on beat. Combined with live music, this creates an unparalleled experience for the discerning and adventurous looking for a sophisticated evening. Due to the nature of the experience at 18th & 21st we request that all diners be over the age of eighteen.

Top review

WilliamVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Great service, wonderful meal, outstanding experience. Our third visit in a year. On of our top restaurants in the area.

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Housemade Donut Bread Pudding

Forgotten 50 Distilling

4.8

4.8 (13)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Berlin

About the restaurant

Plenty of free parking

Farm to table restaurant

Cocktail Bar, craft beer, wine, and other

Craft Distillery

Indoor/outdoor seating

Large hexagon Bar

Live entertainment

Next to the Army tank

Favorites: French Onion Soup, Tank Burger, Tandoori Wings, Crab Guacamole, Bread Pudding

Head Distiller Cody Miller

Vodka Awards:
San Francisco International Spirits Competition - Silver Medal
American Distilling Institute - Silver Medal
American Craft Spirits Competition - Silver Medal

Gin Awards:
San Francisco International Spirits Competition - Silver Medal
American Distilling Institute - Silver Medal
American Craft Spirits Competition - Bronze Medal

Top review

Mary Frances

Dined on Mar 29, 2025

My husband and I went to The Forgotten 50 last night. We’ve gone several times before and will continue to go.. this place is a gold mine. Here are all the pros… online reservations, service is outstanding (thank you Nicole!), food is fabulous & fresh, A LOT of Gluten Free menu options!!! And the bartenders know how to mix up an extraordinary concoction with their own libations!! We can’t wait to go back!

Starboard Claw

4.7

4.7 (83)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Rehoboth Beach

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Dewey Beach, Delaware, you'll find an upscale crab and seafood restaurant that exemplifies coastal elegance and culinary excellence. Upon entering Starboard Claw, you're greeted by a charming ambiance that combines contemporary design with coastal elements. We take pride in sourcing the freshest ingredients, with an emphasis on locally caught seafood. Whether you’re craving jumbo lump crab cakes, succulent lobster tails, steamed blue crabs, or a perfectly prepared whole grilled fish, Starboard Claw offers a diverse range of dishes to cater to every customer.

Top review

MicaVIP

Dined on May 1, 2025

The restaurant was not busy during happy hour but it started to pick up. Service was excellent! Thanks Nikki for being an attentive and nice server. The food was good

The White Oak Tavern

4.6

4.6 (639)

$30 and under

American

Ellicott City

About the restaurant

The White Oak Tavern is a family-owned business, operated by a brother & sister that are Ellicott City locals. The menu includes seasonal scratch made items, sustainable meats & produce from local farms and purveyors. The White Oak Burger is a community favorite and has been recognized as the best burger in Howard County for several years. The outdoor patio is dog friendly with a special dog menu. The bar has 42 rotating craft beers with a wide selection of styles with a free-to-join mug club. This includes a specialty cocktail menu with different seasonal ingredients along with a fresh mocktail menu. The Tavern offers brunch seven days a week with bottomless brunch cocktails and Sunday jazz brunch from 11am-2pm. On Friday & Saturday local musicians perform from 8-11pm. White Oak is located in Enchanted Forest Shopping Center in Ellicott City. Make sure to stop by & try the award-winning burger, draft beers and see what makes The Tavern unique. Cheers!

Top review

GARY

Dined on Apr 21, 2025

Wings were very good. Prices were reasonable and service was friendly and efficient.

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Happy Hour is the BEST Hour!

Monarque

4.6

4.6 (1263)

$50 and over

French

Harbor East

About the restaurant

Atlas Restaurant Group presents Monarque, a French brasserie located in Baltimore’s Harbor East. Monarque is inspired by the French era of prosperity when culture boomed and extravagance flourished. The cuisine is complemented by a beverage program with over 500 French wine labels and an extensive collection of Cognac and Armagnac.

Transporting guests to another time and place while being rooted in the present, Monarque hosts a rotation of acts every weekend, with Baltimore's best jazz musicians, cabaret vocalists, burlesque dancers, and more.

Monarque welcomes guests of all ages Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the experience is suited for guests 18 years of age and older, and only adults are permitted to dine.

When making your weekend reservations, note that parties of 1-5 guests will have two hours to enjoy our cuisine and entertainment, parties of 5-8 will dine for two hours and 30 minutes, and parties of 9 and more can enjoy seating for three hours.

Top review

keven

Dined 6 days ago

Second time here. Just as amazing as the first time

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Experience

The Monarque Entertainment Experience for Two

Harold Black - Annapolis

4.6

4.6 (72)

$30 and under

Italian

Annapolis

About the restaurant

Given that Harlod Black is a cocktail bar, the age requirement for entering is 21.

Harold Black is a warm, intimate bar that is quiet enough to hear your conversation yet lively enough to keep you talking. A list of house cocktails gives you a range of options; additionally, the bartenders are ready to work their magic if you have something else in mind. Harold Black serves the same menu as Acqua with a couple of pub-style additions. Please be aware of a few house rules: 1. We look forward to having you join us and are happy to hold your table for up to fifteen minutes. 2. Your booking reserves your seats for 2 hours. 3. Due to our small size we cannot guarantee booth seating. 4. Our maximum party size is six people, no exceptions, and unfortunately we cannot book multiple tables for one group. To buy out Harold Black for a private event or book our private dining room, please email events@haroldblack.com.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 29, 2025

Great vibe & service, food delicious, music 10/10!

Agave Mexican Restaurant - Rehoboth Beach

4.6

4.6 (188)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Rehoboth Beach

About the restaurant

Traditional and modern mexican.
We serve the best authentic Mexican food in Lewes. And we've got the largest tequila and mezcal collection in Delaware.

Top review

Lauren

Dined 4 days ago

Cinco de Mayo! Great food and wait staff! We’ll return for sure.

Rams Head Tavern - Annapolis

4.5

4.5 (1722)

$30 and under

American

Annapolis

About the restaurant

For over 30 years, Rams Head has been an award-winning favorite serving creative tavern fare. Rams Head offers an outstanding happy hour, a legendary beer selection, and extraordinary live music 7 nights a week. Whether in one of the cozy dining rooms, the historic pub, or on the Wisteria-covered patio, you'll see why so many Annapolitans consider Rams Head their second home. .

We do not accept reservations for outdoor dining.

Have tickets to a show at Rams Head On Stage? If taking advantage of our FREE Premium On Stage Experience, please make note in the 'special request' section while making your reservation.

Top review

Suzette

Dined 2 days ago

Great service. Chef came out to talk about food allergies

Anejo Rose Cantina & Tequila Bar

4.5

4.5 (175)

$30 and under

Mexican

Hanover

About the restaurant

** We will be open at 11am on Cinco de Mayo (5/5/25). We will not be accepting reservations. We will be taking walk-ins only.**

High energy, contemporary, sophisticated Mexican Restaurant offering a taste of Mexico within a fun and festive environment.

We aim to exceed guests expectations in all areas, food, beverage and ambiance. Personal connections bloom fueled by the effects of extraordinary food, curated cocktails & a lengthy tequila list create an experience that will arouse and excite our guests senses.

With deep influence by regional Mexican cooking, dishes made from scratch with authenticity in mind.

The bar offers a creative cocktail program with a large selection of signature hand crafted margaritas and Mexican cocktails along with Mexican and craft beers. A focused selection of wines will also be available.

Tequila is the show stopper at Anejo Rose and a staggering selection of Blanco, Repasado and Anejo along with Mezcals will be featured at the bar.

Top review

Diane

Dined on Apr 24, 2025

Excellent experience w/ delicious food & cocktails. We sat on the patio which is perfect on sunny days and really enjoy their spicy margarita and love the chicken fajitas. A wide range of taco selections, too, including a Smashburger one! Family friendly. Save room for churros.

Fallston Barrel House

4.5

4.5 (567)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Fallston

About the restaurant

A new Local Favorite, we bring you craft spirits & provisions. Join us in our Bar or comfortable Dining Room for Lunch, Dinner, or any special occasion to enjoy our Chef's masterpiece menu, featuring local favorites & a modern twist on classic comfort food, paired with small batch craft distills & brews. Congratulations to our very own "Amanda Wiley"who won Best Server of the Year for 2022 at the Restaurant Association Gala.....................................

PLEASE MAKE A NOTE IF YOU ARE HERE TO SEE A BAND..................................................................
PLEASE CHECK WITH THE RESTAURANT TO SEE IF THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT & CALL THE RESTAURANT -
DO NOT MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE. THANK YOU

Top review

Joseph

Dined on Apr 25, 2025

The entertainment, the band Social Drinking, was also fantastic.

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