Best Tasting Menus In Baltimore
Sometimes you want to try a little bit of everything when you dine at one of Baltimore's restaurants. Rather than order just one main entree, consider trying out a tasting menu. You'll be able to sample what are likely a few of the chef's favorite dishes without committing to a full plate. Check out these five Baltimore restaurants' tasting menus.
See our previous Best Tasting Menus In Baltimore here.
Aldo's
306 S. High St.
Baltimore, Md. 21202
(410) 727-0700
www.aldositaly.com
Aldo's, a staple in Baltimore's Little Italy neighborhood, offers degustazione, or small tasting portions, of its famed pasta and risotto. It's $15 per person for the pasta duo and $23 per person for the pasta trio. There is a two-person minimum to order. The timballo and linguine and clams are excluded from the deal. Homemade pastas include fettuccine with fresh Maine lobster, orecchiette with broccoli rabe, porcini mushroom risotto and rigatoni bolognese. Tip: There is an incredibly inexpensive parking garage a few blocks from Aldo's at 400 South Central Avenue.
Kali's Mezze
1606 Thames St.
Baltimore, Md. 21231
(410) 563-7600
www.kalismezze.com
Kali's Mezze, part of the Kali Restaurant Group in Fells Point, has two Mediterranean-influenced tasting menus. The Mezze team offers a regular menu, which includes grape leaves, fried calamari, lamb meatballs and 10 other tapas for $35 per person. A vegetarian menu of 12 varieties of tapas is also offered. The tasting menus ends with a dessert platter selected by the chef. Don't forget to ask for a glass of wine, paired specifically with the Mediterranean flavors. Tip: Cross the street after your meal to take a stroll along the waterfront of Thames Street.
La Tasca
201 E. Pratt St.
Baltimore, Md. 21202
(410) 209-2562
www.latascausa.com
Enjoy La Tasca's authentic Spanish tapas while taking in views of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. La Tasca has two tasting menus at $65 and $75, each designed for two people. The regular $65 tasting menu has nine of guests' favorite tapas, including bacon-wrapped pork medallions, quick-fried calamari rings and grilled salmon. The heartier $75 signature menu also offers nine tapas, hand-selected by chef Josu, including grilled lamb chops, roasted stuffed quail, clams and shrimp sauteed with white wine, garlic and artichoke and pan-seared scallops.
PABU Izakaya
725 Aliceanna St.
Baltimore, Md. 21202
(410) 223-1460
www.pabuizakaya.com
PABU combines the freshest fish with locally sourced vegetables for its nigiri and sashimi tastings. The nigiri is offered in six pieces for $25 or 10 pieces for $39. The sashimi is five fish for $35 or seven for $47. PABU also offers an omakase tasting menu—a menu left up to the chef's choosing—upon request. After dinner, take a stroll along Harbor East's waterfront or grab a beer or cocktail on the newly opened outdoor patio. Tip: Have acclaimed sake sommelier Tiffany Dawn Soto pair the tasting with sakes.
Eleven Courses
Knights of Columbus
616 W. Seminary Ave.
Timonium, Md. 21093
(410) 459-6773
www.elevencourses.com
If you prefer to have a more intimate tasting, Eleven Courses offers a wine and artisan cheese or sweet bites tasting. The tasting includes five wines paired with either the cheeses or the dessert bites. Each tasting is $97 per person. Eleven Courses holds the tastings at the Knights of Columbus in Timonium; dates are on the website. Eleven Courses also offers multi-course tapas tours.
Renee Libby Beck spends her days as a public relations and social media manager for Medifast, Inc. and any spare time that she can find as a freelance writer. Her work has been published in local and national publications. Renee also serves as the Baltimore Food Examiner for Examiner.com.
