COMING SOON
Raffy’s on 36th: A new chapter for pizza lovers seeking out slices on the Avenue in Hampden has officially begun. Raffy’s on 36th opens this Friday, August 8, taking over the longtime home of former pie palace, The Arthouse. Led by local hospitality veterans Christopher Paternotte, Josh Mente, and Jesse Vann (also behind the Hampden Yards beer garden across the street), Raffy’s collabs with Ovenbird Bakery for its signature sourdough crust, elevating wood-fired pies like the Spicy Blueberry & Brie (an ode to Arthouse) or the Primavera with Lion’s Mane mushrooms. The menu also offers shareable plates like crispy Parmigiano potatoes on beetroot puree, smashed artichokes with ricotta, and elevated Italian sandwiches. To wash it all down, Baltimore bartender Shaun Stewart has curated a beverage program featuring cocktails, beers, and special pizza pairings by The Wine Collective.
Wonder: A new type of food hall is taking root in Canton this fall. We’ve become accustomed to our local public markets that spotlight budding food businesses. But this one, dubbed Wonder, will unite celebrity chef’s concepts under one roof. Founded by March Lore, an entrepreneur and former CEO at Walmart, the rapidly growing, delivery-focused food hall chain has 50 locations across New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. It’s readying to open in the former UNO Pizzeria & Grill on Boston Street, where it will house 20 different options by celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay and José Andrés.
NEWS
Downtown Partnership Provides Financial Support to Restaurants: Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) recently dropped $1 million in new grants to 22 local food businesses through its Baltimore Culinary Exchange program, part of the Mayor’s Downtown RISE initiative. The funding—grants ranging from $8K to $160K—backs both operating costs and property upgrades, giving a serious boost to selected restaurants across the 106-block Downtown Management Authority district.
Fourteen of the awardees are existing businesses, while eight are new concepts. The recipients also include 18 minority-owned and nine woman-owned businesses, with several moving into long-vacant spaces primed for revival. Among the grantees are Joyhound Beer Co., Refocused Vegan, Toki Underground, The Empanada Lady, and Blue Island Malaysian Cuisine.
EPICUREAN EVENTS
TO 8/9: Po Boys Pop-up at The Wren
The Wren pub in Fells Point is adding a special pop-up menu to its handwritten chalkboard list of European country cooking this month. Continuing through Saturday, bar manager Adam Estes is trading in his jiggers for an apron, cooking up a Creole Southern-inspired menu featuring three different po boys, including roast beef au jus and Andouille sausage. Also be on the lookout for deviled eggs, barbecue shrimp, and mud pie to round it all out.
8/16: Natty Boh Lookalike Contest at R. House
Natty Boh is a bohemian beer, yes, but it’s also a lifestyle. To celebrate 140 years of this Baltimore staple, Natty Boh, along with Chesapeake Beverage Co. and R. House, are throwing a Mr. Boh Lookalike Competition at the Remington food hall on Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. The best Boh-influenced costumes (‘staches encouraged) will win you a basket of specialty 140th-anniversary items from Route One Apparel.
Crust by Mack: In a heartfelt video announcement posted to Instagram this week, baker, business owner, and all-around Charm City champion Amanda Mack tearfully shared that she’s stepping away from the business she has built with love, flour, and family for the past seven years. As she supports her grandmother—heavily credited as the inspiration for her business—through health struggles, Mack announced that her Harborplace retail shop will close for good after service this Saturday, August 9. (Catering and events will continue through 2026 with Mack’s business partner at the helm.)
Crust began in 2018 as a pop-up, inspired by Mack’s grandmother’s pie recipe, and grew into a celebrated bakery with lines out the door for its crab pies and handmade pastries. Along the way, Mack has always emphasized her love for Baltimore, from fundraising for local causes to supporting the community through partnerships like CHUCG-Black Yield. As she put it in her video message: “There’s beauty in endings, because they always lead to new beginnings.”
Papi Cuisine: Papi Cuisine, known for its crab cake egg rolls and Afro-Latin fusion dishes, has shuttered its doors in South Baltimore. Chef and co-owner Alex Perez announced the closure via an Instagram reel, redirecting patrons to Proper Cuisine on Redwood Street downtown, which is operated by his business partner Berry Clark. While the two restaurants aren’t formally connected, they share similar vibes and menu DNA, and the pair remain on good terms. There’s no word yet on what will become of the restaurant space on E. Wells Street, which has also been home to spots like Minnow and The Hot Dry.