MR . NICE GUY COCKTAILS
CANTON
Anthony Nastasi Jr . told the Baltimore Business Journal at the start of the pandemic that his newly minted Canton space , Mr . Nice Guy Cocktails , was destined to be a short-lived pop-up . The former bartender spied an opportunity when restaurants suddenly shuttered : takeout cocktails . But after two months of successfully serving up to-go daiquiris and sangria , he decided to make it permanent . He added outdoor seating with the help of his carpenter father , and hired on a crew of local pros , including former Sagamore Pendry sous chef Justin Spivak , former True Chesapeake Oyster Co . bartender Ashley McMichael , Greg Mergner of R . Bar and Heath Gorenflo of The Elk Room .
KEILLER KYLE
OVENBIRD BAKERY
LITTLE ITALY
When Mugs ’ Bistro closed in 2017 after nearly 70 years in business , it was hard to picture what might take its place in Little Italy . But this cute bakery has filled the hole quite nicely . Baker Keiller Kyle — a trained bird biologist whose baking career was inspired by the cult favorite show “ The Great British Bake Off ”— launched the petite artisan bread store in the vein of a European bakery . In addition to the breads , which include spelt and honeyed oat sourdough , overnight rye , rosemary focaccia and more , the small shop offers up pastries ( such as cinnamon praline scones with maple glaze and apple-caramel hand pies ) plus bagels , sandwiches and desserts . The always-changing menu is posted regularly to the bakery ’ s Instagram and Facebook accounts — and it ’ s hard to decide which delicious treat sounds best .
TASTE
26 BALTIMORE . ORG