This elegant restaurant features floor-to-ceiling murals of cafe scenes and gilded mirrors. The owners redecorated the dining room in the mid-90s; only the cracked tile floor is original. To start, try a half-order of the gnocchi in red pepper sauce or sample from the tapas Bar. For a main course, the thin-crusted pizza is a nice choice. Made with homemade sauce and topped with mozzarella, it is a gourmet delight. For dessert, choose from truffles, fresh fruit served with ice cream and Profiteroles with chocolate sauce.

This restaurant mixes Old World Cuba with modern, innovative flavors. Outdoor dining is available, umbrella-shaded tables afford views of sailboat masts and the waterfront. Black bean soup and Black Bean Cakes served with guacamole and sour cream are among the several delectable appetizers offered. Salads and pork, catfish and chicken sandwiches are also offered. Entree highlights include Mahi-Mahi Con Plantanos, plantain-encrusted Mahi topped with a pineapple and black bean relish and Parillada de Verduras, grilled vegetables over rice. There's also an extensive wine list.

Located a short stroll from the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Neo Viccino makes a great post-show destination. Decorated in cool pastel shades and sporting some very comfortable booths, the dining room is as amenable to good conversation as it is to fine dining. The Italian portion of the menu offers a selection of salads and pastas. Fish, meat and fowl, prepared in an Asian or Southwestern manner, complete the menu. The Swordfish with Lump Crabmeat in Lime and Chili Sauce is great. Neo Viccino's also has a formidably large menu for take-out and delivery, perfect for those cold Baltimore nights. 

The menu at Joung Kak includes Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisine. Not satisfied with just the traditional offerings, the chef has also created a few of his own, like the Seafood Pancake, a pizza-sized loaf containing squid, shrimp and scallions. But the specialty here is Korean Barbecue, cooked at your table in a huge, brass-covered pot. The decor is sleek and polished, and the ventilation hoods over the tables give the dining room a very modern look.

Mughal Garden is distinguished chiefly by the size of its menu. In addition to the typical Vindaloos, Saag and Kebabs, you'll find a fantastic Mulligatawny Soup, a great Salmon Tikka and a Tandoori Lobster that is one of the best seafood entrees in town. Many of these appear on the daily all-you-can-eat buffet, but you'll need to peruse the menu to see everything that is offered. The spacious dining room is modest but inviting, and the atmosphere is very casual.

Mick O'Shea's Irish Pub and Restaurant features live Irish music, five nights a week. One of the many bands that call Mick O'Shea's home is O'Malley's March, lead by the Baltimore Mayor, Martin O'Malley. Inside, you'll find a massive bar with wooden tables to complete the décor. Much of the food is standard bar fare, but heartier dishes are also available. Be sure to try the Celtic entrees like Shepherd's Pie, Irish Stew and Corn Beef and Cabbage.

Hollywood Diner was the main location for Baltimore-born film director Barry Levinson's coming-of-age film classic "Diner." It was also featured in the movie "Sleepless in Seattle," and was a frequent location for the dramatic TV series "Homicide." No doubt you would find its chrome exterior and homey interior familiar. But it's also special in another sense. It is run by the non-profit Chesapeake Center for Youth Development, which hires at-risk youth to serve up the wonderfully prepared classic American diner fare.

This downtown restaurant called Banthai Restaurant has been doing a brisk business since it opened in 1993. One taste of the artfully presented food and you'll understand why. Try the Pad Thai, a delicious blend of noodles, shrimp and peanut sauce. Or, if you're a bit daring, order something served in a spicy curry sauce. If you're in town during the warmer months, be sure to sample the Sweet Rice and Mango, which combines rice with tart-sweet fruit.

This friendly little place called David & Dad's is great if you're looking for breakfast on the go. They offer a wide range of fresh-baked muffins; everything from blueberry to chocolate chip; as well as a good variety of breakfast sandwiches. They also do lunch, offering a large menu of deli and specialty sandwiches. Their Reuben is especially good - plenty of dressing and sauerkraut, without being too wet. There are a few tables, but most of the business is take out. Be sure to try a brownie.

From soup to sauce, everything at this family-owned Italian favorite is made fresh daily. Add to that the Calvert House stylish decor, its friendly staff and its jovial neighborhood-hangout atmosphere, and you'll see why it's become a downtown institution. All the Italian standbys are well represented here, and their crab cakes are so popular that they actually sell packets of the mix. Located just minutes from Center Stage, it's a great choice for a pre-curtain meal.