The Tastiest Tapas/Small Plates in Baltimore

Isabella's

★★★★☆ 3.9 (518) • $$

"While visiting Frederick a friend recommended Isabella's for dinner and we are so thankful for the recommendation. Isabella's is a vibrant restaurant that serves Spanish tapas, amazing sangria and a variety of paellas. We were glad we made reservations because the restaurant was busy in the dining area and the bar.Isabella's has evolving menus based on the season so there is always new and inventive food and drink choices. We started the evening we ordered a carafe of spiced pear sangria and a pumpkin spiced martini. Both were very tasty. We ordered the Paella a la Valenciana (shrimp, chicken, mussels, chorizo, and clams), Remolacha (roasted beets, feta and greens) and Datiles Rellenos (bacon wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo). The paella was amazing, full of seafood and enough to share between two people. Don't forget to try the the Datiles Rellenos which were three beautifully prepared and tastebud tantalizers that nearly cause us to order another round.The only thing that could have made this better would have been sitting at the bar and taking advantage of their $6 tapas happy hour. Well, there will be another trip to Isabella's in the near future!"

Ketch 22

★★★★☆ 4 (372) • $$

"I use the term "Catch 22" all the time so when I saw this restaurant use that play on words we had to try it out!Sitting smack on the water in North Beach, what a cool chill vibe on a warm Sunday afternoon. Just 35min from the crib, Ketch 22 was well worth the drive.The menu is pretty standard for waterfront restaurants in Maryland so we both chose the jumbo lump crab cakes. They were delicious.. All meat and very little filler. The bacon topped deviled eggs were just as delicious.Service was outstanding and the patrons were super friendly.I'm re-discovering North Beach/Chesapeake Beach. Eventhough I loved everything about this place, I have to try other restaurants before I come back which is the proverbial "Ketch 22"..lol"

The Hitching Post Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (368) • $$

"Honestly everyone and everything here was good.1) Turkey necks2) Lamb 3) Drinks... I live in the south so of course I have opinions about southern cooking. This place is doing it right ;)"

The Bluebird Cocktail Room

★★★★☆ 4.1 (322) • $$

"Bluebird Baltimore is a stunning cocktail bar that exudes sophistication and charm. I recently visited to celebrate a friend's birthday and was thoroughly impressed by the upscale atmosphere and attentive service.The drink menu is creative and enticing, and I chose the Hessian's Head--a butternut squash sidecar that combined Maison Rouge, butternut squash, ginger turmeric syrup, and lemon. Each sip was a pleasure!While the experience was fantastic, parking was quite challenging due to its location, which can be a bit of a drawback. Additionally, be prepared for a workout, as the bar is situated up a considerable number of stairs. However, once you arrive, the ambiance and service make it all worthwhile.The pricing was fair for the quality of drinks and the overall experience. I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking to enjoy expertly crafted cocktails."

Riviera Tapas Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (170) • $$

"I've started career #2 in the Hyattsville area in 2020 and I thought I knew it all.. Sike! She couldn't wait to Hip me to some game and took me here. Talk about a diamond hiding in plain site.. Geeezus! Tapas style restaurants are probably my fav. I mean, you get to try several items in one seating.. who doesn't love that? We've been twice and so far we've tried the sautéed shrimp, lamb chops, bacon wrapped dates, grilled octopus, grilled pork chop, and jumbo scallops. For this being a neighborhood store front restaurant, the quality of the food made us think we were on K Street NW. Absolutely delicious!! The signature cocktails and the attentive friendly service matched the food!If you want a great dining experience in beautiful downtown Riverdale..LOL, please come to Riviera Tapas Bar, you will LOVE IT!!"

Sally O's

★★★★★ 4.6 (162) • $$

"Honestly my flabber is gasted that I have neglected to write this review for so long. I swear I told you guys about how amazing Sally O's is. There is nothing on the menu or off the menu for that matter, that I've tried that wasn't absolutely delicious. When people ask where they should go or what's my current favorite restaurant, I say this place without hesitation. The space is cozy and I love the decor. The menu is inventive, unique, and most of all delectable. I've come for brunch and had a variation on chicken and waffles and short rib hash. I've come for drinks and apps and had really wonderful cocktails and the most flavorful chicken wings. I've come for dinner and dessert; who doesn't want a giant slice of cake even if it isn't their birthday. I've come for Restaurant Week where you get specials that aren't normally on the menu and had the most incredible porchetta I've had in . . . ever? They really haven't treated me wrong (knocks on wood) yet.Uniquely Baltimore"

Tsunami

★★★★☆ 4.3 (180) • $$

"Cozy little place, great for when it's cold out! I had the chicken Ramen, the chicken was fried and came in a separate fry basket. My daughter got the spicy pork, both were good. Service was good, parking is on the street with meters or in the parking garage, not sure of the cost. Our soups were $13.00 & $14.00 each. They serve alcohol, however, I didn't have any. Tables are small, very cozy place."

Konstantine’s Greek Taverna

★★★★☆ 4.2 (179) • $$$

"What wonderful Greek food! From the falafels to the gyro to the salads - everything was delicious. We came in the middle of a Sunday afternoon with no reservations and they seated us without an issue. Our waiter was very patient with us and kept checking on us. Would have loved to sit outside, but there was a Baby shower going on outside."

Nora's Grill & Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.5 (107) • $$

"We enjoyed our visit. There were 4 of us. Our server seemed to struggle with English but was super helpful and kind. The food was good. I love Mediterranean food, so this does in a pinch when I have my Mediterranean food craving."

The Verandah Kitchen in Hampden

★★★★☆ 4.4 (52) • $$

"I had a really delicious meal here for winter restaurant week. As many times as I've walked by this place I had yet to order or stop in so restaurant week was a good opportunity to try something new. The space is small but really inviting. It feels like you're sitting in someone's home waiting for a dinner party to begin. The restaurant week special was a six course menu tasting. There were two selections one for omnivores and one for vegetarians. I selected the omnivore option. The tasting begin with the most luscious soup I've had in a long time, before moving on to a fried seafood shrimp dish with my favorite spicy green chutney. The next courses were curry chicken and keema paratha. Paratha is one of my favorite Indian foods and this one did not disappoint. The chicken curry was fine, but I actually enjoyed the curry tofu more; the flavors that were imparted, chef's kiss! The final savory course was a rice dish speckled with lentils and served with a side of ghee. To end our culinary journey we indulged in the perfect gulab jamun. Everything was truly wonderful! The chef/owner came out to ask how our meal was and we were so stuffed we could only smile and nod lol. Definitely coming back!"

Mucho Gusto

★★★★☆ 4 (61) • $$

"Dined here for my 50th birthday, my best friend and I. We were greeted by a friendly greeter and seated right away. They had a cute little area with props where you could take photos. The waitress assisted us right away. I had a charred pineapple margarita and a peach margarita. The peach was my favorite. I also had nachos, bacon wrapped jalapenos and boom boom shrimp over coleslaw. The portions were very tasty and filling. This place was pretty busy for a Wednesday night but, there were no long waits for anything. They suggested dessert but, we declined because we were already full. This isn't a very large place so plan ahead if you have a large group. Check them out if you're in the area. They won't disappoint."

SoBo Market

★★★★★ 4.7 (40) • $$

"SoBorific! Great drinks, great food, great company, best of all, my friend literally live right next door to SoBo Market! We started our night with a quick cocktail before heading out to town, ended up chilling for about an hour and just chatting up with the Bartender and the Owner. Classic Old Fashion is your friend! Also, I was sleepy before going out, I ordered a coffee to get my groove back, the bartender suggested I get a boozy coffee drink. He touched my heart!We went out for the night and since they were still open when we got back to the house, we ended up getting a night cap along with a Avocado Toast with Salmon. It was perfect, there were three of us and there were three toasts!!! Check them out, it's a little place, very intimate at the bar seating. Come on in and meet a new friend or hang out with the locals! Thursday is Vinyl night!"

Miss Toya's

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (67)

"Had a great time eating brunch at Miss Toyas. It was a slow day when I visited but do recommend making a reservation as it did start getting busy towards the end. Our server was very attentive and gave us suggestions when we were deciding between options. For the appetizers, we had the salmon bites which were not that great. They were fried a little too hard and became dry. The main courses were the lamb chops and fried chicken with eggs and potatoes with a side of pancakes. The food was good but a little on the dry side. I really liked the pancakes, they were a generous portion and had the perfect sweetness."

Naru Sushi

★★★★★ 4.7 (10)

"I've had sushi in a few different spots in Baltimore, but Naru Sushi in the Beseto food court was my absolute favorite! The setup is especially unique and I wasn't expecting that on my first visit. You won't find a sign for Naru on the outside marquees. Instead, Naru is one of 4 restaurants in Beseto food court. Beseto food court features restaurants from Beijing, China, Seoul, Korea, and Tokyo, Japan. Each kind of cuisine has its own section of the eatery. The Tokyo area smells sweet like the wafting aroma of fresh-baked waffles and bubble tea. Naru is the second place you come to on the right when you first walk in. For such a small place, Naru doesn't skimp on the offerings. They've got nigiri, they've got sashimi, they've got poke. They have managed to mix the sushi classics with the local favorites in a smart way. The cashier/chef is a gentle, pleasant soul. Once they take your order, find a seat among the dining hall style seating. The best part is that it's BYOB! My girlfriend and I pulled out our sparkling red wine while we waited on our sushi. Perfect sushi date night. Naru made everything to order but it doesn't take long. The food comes out on the cutest bamboo trays. All of my rolls including raw salmon have tasted especially good. Makes me wonder where they source that salmon from. Everything I tasted pleased my finicky palette probably because the food just taste like care. I will come back as often as life permits!"

Reds Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (11)

"Stopped back in again for the second time to take our some friends. Unfortunately the disrespectful weather didn't allow for the grill to be open for burgers and salmon, but my friend was still able to get a beyond burger. The place was ready for us, when we said we would be there a little early. And our waiter, Manny (I think he's the only waiter), did his thing again. He brought out a really good mixed drink for my friend, which she really enjoyed. And he bougied up some sprites for my other two friends, which made them feel nice and fancy.I enjoyed my appetizer sampler. I'm not crazy about Pretzles - but this pretzel was fresh and sooooo delicious! Like a soft cloud, I just had to share. The shrimp tempura was also very good. It was a good choice for me. I was pretty comfortable after that, so I got some chicken wings for my main course, with more Thai chili sauce. The wings were really really good, though I'm not a drum stick fan. If I could go back and just have flats I would. But they were finger-licking good. The music from the bar next door wasn't too loud, as I remember last time. Everyone enjoyed their appetizers (got another believer in the Brussels sprouts, the soup was still faithful, and the tater tots made you wanna slap somebody's mama). I appreciate that everything always comes out hot at Reds. No one is getting anything cold unless that's how it's served!Really pretty and chill vibe to the place too. You can dress formal, or be dressy casual, or just plain. You'll never feel like you don't belong there. Just a good place to be. Always enjoy it there."

The Point Crab House and Grill

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"Great quality and great service! Bring a sweater in the winter. The bartender was great and the drinks were better."