Apartment Look

fullscreen The first impression of Highland Park's RBTA, the neighborhood's new izakaya, is that it's a tad narrow. The space is akin to a railroad apartment, in which you have to pass through the separate compartments to get to where you need to be. "Cozy" isn't quite the right word for it, however, what with the industrial bulbs hanging over head, and the file of passersby at the front window, some of whom will glance at you expectantly as if hoping for some sign of your opinion on the place (FYI, we're having a perfectly good time ). The prevailing atmosphere here is one of a tucked-away stand in Tokyo’s famed Shoube Yokochou Alley , also affectionately known as "piss alley" (we doubt the tourism board was responsible for this one). The vibe at RBTA is a little frenetic, a little boozy, and the mindset is one of instant gratification. RBTA, named for the robata grill that exists in the heart of the kitchen, is the brainchild of chef Justin Ba...

Diners enjoy lunch at Tortilleria Sinaloa, which has top-notch tacos in tortillas made the right way — by hand. The unassuming storefront in Fells Point is one of several cheap-eats destinations in a city suddenly flush with award-winning chefs. (Doug Kapustin/For The Washington Post) Baltimore is that rare city with a dish so fundamental to its culture that the food’s name is an answer to a crossword puzzle. But if the crab cake is Charm City’s calling card, it can also be a cross to bear for those planning to open a restaurant there. The chef who dares to ignore the crab cake is the chef who risks losing the tourist searching for Baltimore’s signature dish, typically built with Chesapeake jumbo -lump crab, saltine cracker crumbs , a mayo binder and, of course, Old Bay. “You will find that in many restaurants there is a crab cake,” says Suzanne Loudermilk, restaurant critic for the Baltimore Sun. “It’s just part of our cuisine. When people do come from out of town, they inevitabl...