1. The Helmand
City: Mount Vernon, MD
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (410) 752-0311
Address: 806 North Charles St.
Description: There’s seemingly every type of food at this Afghan restaurant that’s fewer than 10 blocks north of the Inner Harbor. For a reasonable price, you can dine on ravioli filled with ground beef and topped with a creamy sauce made of split peas and yogurt. Lots of meals have yogurt in them, including the pumpkin with garlic yogurt sauce. The atmosphere is really casual for this dinner-only restaurant that’s open nightly. This is a Baltimore favorite, and it fills quickly.
2. City Cafe
City: Mount Vernon, MD
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (410) 539-4252
Address: 1001 Cathedral St.
Description: This is a vegetarian’s delight because there is always a sandwich, pasta, and soup to try. Theatergoers are delighted because they can catch a pre-show dinner and make curtain time or stop by for dessert and coffee following the show. City Cafe takes up the entire first floor of a 1920s architectural gem that enjoyed a complete interior facelift in 2009. Executive Chef Chad Gauss shops local. The casual-dining experience includes outdoor seating at tables with umbrellas during the warmer months. Because of its location, it attracts a large neighborhood clientele from Mount Vernon who return often to try the latest creation on the menu. It’s open daily. Since 1994 the restaurant, winner of several City Paper awards, has been serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s also a coffee bar for your morning joe or last cup of the day, and a bar where the martini rules and you can order from the menu. Parking is available at meters, which must be fed until 6 p.m. Reservations are suggested for this restaurant, which can seat up to 170 people, particularly for the weekend brunch when the wait time is about 25 minutes. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until last seating at 10 p.m. (10:30 p.m. on Friday), Saturday from 10 a.m. to last seating at 10:30 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to last seating at 8 p.m. Coffee shop hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
3. The Brewer’S Art
City: Mount Vernon, MD
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (410) 547-6925, (410) 547-9310
Address: 1106 North Charles St.
Description: Chef Dave Newman directs the seasonally changing menu in this pub, restaurant, lounge, and brewery that’s said to be the “gayest non-gay bar in the city.” Newman purchases produce from Baugher’s, a family-owned farm in Westminster, and the Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative out of Hustontown, Pennsylvania. They brew their own fine beers on the premises and offer a selection of beers and fine wines from around the world. You can also find a great selection of Scotches.
4. An Die Musik
City: Mount Vernon, MD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (410) 385-2638
Address: 409 North Charles St.
Description: This store derived its name from a Franz Schubert composition from the early 17th century. It figures, then, that An die Musik specializes in classical, opera, jazz, and world music. Every member of the staff is an expert, and they welcome customer queries about obscure recordings. Check the Web site for the concert series. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. unless there’s a concert and then they stay open later. It’s open on Sunday from noon until 6 p.m.