The Food Market ’ s Amish Pretzels / $ 12
With the abundance of droolinducing dishes on The Food Market ’ s menu , it can be easy to overlook the very first item on it : the Amish Pretzels . This menu mainstay is buttery , salty and chewy — aka everything you want in a soft pretzel — and the beer cheese makes the perfect complement to an already impeccable plate . 1017 W . 36th St .
The Helmand ’ s Aushak / $ 7.95
For an upscale culinary experience , head to The Helmand , a Mount Vernon institution for more than 30 years , and start your meal with the aushak . These Afghan dumplings feature fresh leeks encased in a thin dumpling wrapper , plated on a bed of mint yogurt and topped with a ground beef sauce . Want a heartier helping ? Get the entrée portion for $ 19.95 . 806 N . Charles St .
Motzi Bread ’ s Challah / $ 13
Little Donna ’ s Pierogies / $ 15
Pierogies are a menu staple at Little Donna ’ s , a rowhouse restaurant in Upper Fell ’ s Point that ’ s been praised by The New York Times . Here , Chef Robbie slings pierogies exactly the way his Yugoslavian grandmother , Donna , taught him as a kid . Expertly seasoned potatoes are encased inside a tender pierogi dough and pan-fried with onion , then topped with sour cream and a few not-yourgrandmother ’ s extras : red chili garlic oil , sesame seeds , lemon and herbs . 1812 Bank St .
Named for a Hebrew blessing over bread , Motzi Bread is dedicated to serving its neighbors fresh breads and pastries made with locally sourced grains — regardless of whether they can pay full price — to ensure no one goes hungry . From their storefront in Charles Village , you can also get baguettes , sesame rye , focaccia and einkorn as well as sweeter treats such as chocolate chip cookies , granola and cardamom buns . Or find their bread on the menu at Artifact Coffee , Dutch Courage and Le Comptoir Du Vin . 2801 Guilford Ave .
Johnny Rad ’ s Hosoi Pizza / $ 17
Nothing hits the spot after a full day of exploring quite like a pizza , and Johnny Rad ’ s pies are unlike any you ’ ve had before . The eclectic Patterson Park pub-meets-pizzeria pairs adventurous toppings with expertly charred crust , making it impossible to have a bad bite . There are 12 specialty pies to choose from , but it ’ s hard to beat their Hosoi pizza , which pairs pickled jalapeno , smoked bacon and fresh pineapple for a spicy-salty-sweet combo . 2108 Eastern Ave .
Sacré Sucré ’ s Croissant / $ 6
In early 2024 , this Fell ’ s Point bakery opened a new , larger storefront with more space to relax and feast on sweet treats . If you must choose just one item on Sacré Sucré ’ s menu of colorful and complex confections , let it be their classic croissant . The pastry takes three days to make , resulting in an impossibly delicate , flaky and buttery experience that ’ ll remind you what a real croissant is supposed to taste like . 933 Fell St . VB
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