Federal Hill’s Himalayan Bistro Offers Up Delicious Indian and Nepalese Food

This is a sponsored post from Himalayan Bistro, however all opinions are those of Kevin Lynch.

Last week, I was invited by Danny Lamichhane, owner of Himalayan Bistro, to check out the 3,800 sq. ft. restaurant at 1030 Light St. and to sample some of the menu items.

Lamichhane, who grew up in Nepal and now resides in the neighborhood, has been an Indian and Nepalese chef for the past 21 years. He opened Himalayan Bistro a year ago after a 15-month renovation of the space, which was formerly a 7-Eleven. Lamichhane runs the restaurant alongside his wife Kalpana Lamichhane. Their son, Danish Lamichhane, is also part of the six-person team at the restaurant.

Himalayan Bistro has a large dining room featuring Nepalese and Indian artwork and ornate chandeliers, along with many booths and tables. The restaurant has a capacity of 90 and can accommodate large parties, according to Danny Lamichhane.

Himalayan Bistro’s lunch, which runs from 1130am to 3pm, features an all-you-can-eat buffet with many Indian and Nepalese favorites, as well as Chai tea. The buffet costs $9.99 during the week and $11.99 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Himalayan Bistro is open every night for dinner, on Sunday through Thursday from 5pm to 10pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm to 11pm. Customers can order dine-in, carryout, or delivery dishes off the menu during both lunch and dinner. Himalayan Bistro also caters.

During my visit, I made sure to try as many dishes as possible, and it was all delicious. Every table starts off with a basket of fresh garlic naan. Danny Lamichhane and the team roll out balls of dough and cook the naan along the walls of the clay oven in the kitchen. The dough cooks and bubbles up into a soft and tasty snack that is a perfect addition to all the other menu items.

All of Himalayan Bistro’s dishes have a great aroma and are filled with flavor thanks to all the imported herbs and spices used. These include cumin, coriander, green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, and star anise. Danny Lamichhane noted the health benefits of having these spices in your diet and also said that ‘spices’ should not be confused with ‘spicy.’ Himalayan Bistro’s dishes are mild, but the team can make dishes spicier upon request.

I started out with a sampling of the egg drop and lentil soup. Both were packed with flavor. I then moved on to several different types of chicken alongside several types of tasty rice. Danny Lamichhane said the Chicken Tikka Masala is the most popular dish at Himalayan Bistro and it’s easy to see why. The tender chicken and creamy curry masala sauce on top of basmanti rice is an excellent plate of food.

I also really enjoyed the Tandoori Chicken cooked in the clay oven and covered with a unique blend of spices, the Chicken Vindaloo with potatoes, and the BBQ wings. The Vindaloo, Masala, and Tandoori can also be ordered with shrimp, lamb, fish, and vegetables.

A vegetarian dish I had to get seconds of was the Daal Mahhni. The curry dish is made with black lentils, kidney beans, chick peas, and herbs.

Himalayan Bistro has a large selection of other vegetarian dishes.

I finished off the meal with the Rice Pudding. It was a real treat with the zesty flavor of green cardamom.

Overall, it was an awesome meal and the service was very attentive. I look forward to coming back and diving more into the menu. Other dishes include Cheera, Korma, Balti, Mango Jalfrezi, and Biryani, as well as Nepalese favorites Chow Mein and Momo – Nepalese dumplings. Drinks include teas and Mango and Strawberry Lassi.

Whether you are an Indian and Nepalese food regular, or have never tried Himalayan cuisine, I definitely recommend a trip to Himalayan Bistro. It’s a great addition to Federal Hill!

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via http://southbmore.com/2017/05/19/federal-hills-himalayan-bistro-offers-up-delicious-indian-and-nepalese-food/

Hammerjacks Approved for Baltimore City’s Fourth Arena Liquor License

Hammerjacks was unanimously approved for Baltimore City’s fourth arena license today at the The Board of Liquor License Commissioners (BLLC). The 48,000 sq. ft. venue at 1300 Russell St. in Stadium will take the place of Paradox; a currently-vacant warehouse facing Ostend St., which was most recently the home to a ceramic tile company; and a smaller building connecting Paradox to the warehouse. Hammerjacks Entertaiment Group (HEG) is led by Kevin Butler and Andy Hotchkiss.

An arena license is needed to cover the large size and capacity of Hammerjacks and requires a capital investment of at least $1,000,000 and a venue capacity of at least 1,000. The other arena licenses in Baltimore City are at M&T Bank Stadium, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and Power Plant Live.

“It’s an exciting day for Baltimore, Hammerjacks is back,” said Butler.

The new Hammerjacks will feature a 2,500-person concert venue in a new building that will replace Paradox. The space can be modified down for smaller shows. The existing building facing Ostend St. will be renovated into a club/sports bar area that will feature smaller 300-person live music shows. An outdoor beer garden area will be constructed where the current connector building sits. The beer garden will have a pea gravel surface and string lighting. The second story will features an additional club area, offices, and a private events space that leads to a rooftop deck. All of the sections of Hammerjacks will be connected.

Construction is expected to begin on the project in the next 45-60 days according to Butler, and the team has already obtained the demolition permit. They are hoping to open late this year.

Hammerjacks can be modified to various sizes for corporate events, business meetings, high school reunions, weddings, and private events. HEG will also be leasing 2,500 sq. ft. of retail space on the property that will face Ostend St. Butler told SouthBMore.com they have been contacted by companies looking to open restaurants, microbreweries, and sports apparel shops.

Butler told SouthBMore.com he has been contacted by several national entertainment companies interested in booking shows at Hammerjacks and they have reached a deal with a company to handle ticket sales. Announcements will be made in the next 30-45 days according to Butler.

The exterior design of Hammerjacks is highlighted by brick, black steel, and the reopening and enlarging of windows on the club portion of Hammerjacks facing Ostend St. The buildings will also feature large Hammerjacks signs with its signature lightning bolt, as well color-changing LED lighting throughout the exterior. Entrances will be placed at the corner of Ostend and Russell, as well as a concert venue entrance and beer garden entrance on Russell.

Along Ostend St., Hammerjacks will have trees, planters, and bollards to provide aesthetic improvements, as well as safety precautions for pedestrians.

HEG has reached a deal to provide parking at nearby parking lots Lot N and Lot NN, as well as at a lot it purchased on Ridgely St.

HEG is also hoping to activate the 1300 block of Russell St., which dead ends at the train tracks south of Hammerjacks and is underneath the Russell St. overpass, into an urban plaza. HEG plans to paint and light the overpass and improve the block so it can host tailgates and events and add parking. Butler told SouthBMore.com those discussions are underway with city officials and the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Lots H and J at M&T Bank Stadium are a tribute to the former Hammerjacks music venue that once stood at its second and most popular location at 1101 S. Howard St. Hammerjacks’ original location was at 1024 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill, the current home of Nobles Bar and Grill, and a later version opened at 316 Guilford Ave. in Downtown. Butler was unaffiliated with any of the previous three locations, but obtained the rights to the Hammerjacks trademark in 2009 for $1,000.

Hammerjacks joins several other construction projects underway near M&T Bank Stadium. This includes Stadium Square,  the conversion of The Parker Building into offices, and a new brewery for Checkerspot Brewing Company.

Renderings Courtesy of Design Collective 

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via http://southbmore.com/2017/05/18/hammerjacks-approved-for-baltimore-citys-fourth-arena-liquor-license/

Development Team Brings Back 1100 Key Highway Apartment Project in Federal Hill

An apartment project at 1100 Key Hwy. is coming back to life for the third time as The Bainbridge Companies is reviving the approximately $66-million project that will bring an eight-story, 600 ft. long, 224-unit apartment building to Federal Hill. The project was presented today at an Urban Design & Architecture Review Panel (UDARP) hearing at the Baltimore City Planning Department. The property sits between Key Hwy. and Covington St. It is across the street from Digital Harbor High School (DHHS) and adjacent to E. Cross St. and CrossFit Federal Hill. Bainbridge does not own the small corner piece of land at E. Cross St. and Key Hwy.

In March 2014, Phoenix-based Alliance Residential Company originally proposed a 305-unit apartment building. Bainbridge took over the project in 2015 with a scaled-down building. Bainbridge walked away from the project, but decided to come back about six months ago. Bainbridge Senior Development Vice President Alex Barroso said the decision was based on seeing a lot of activity in the Baltimore apartment market. When asked if the apartment market and construction in Baltimore is oversaturated, Barroso said “no.”

The proposed development will include a third-story courtyard and pool facing Key Hwy., a gym, a club room, a cyber café, and a rooftop deck. The building has a three-story, 227-space parking garage. The garage is covered by the building facing Key Hwy., but rises one floor above Covington St., which is 20 ft. higher than the base of the building. This level of parking will be covered with screening and landscaping. The parking garage will have two entrances on Covington St. and one on Key Hwy.

The exterior of the building will feature masonry, brick, hardy board, and different shades of gray. Some of the units will have balconies. The perimeter of the building will have landscaping, and apartments facing the ground floor of Key Hwy. will be “townhouse-style” units with front stoops with gardens. The building will have two lobbies, one on Key Hwy. and one on Covington St. The design will also likely include a large mural visible from Key Hwy. that could illustrate the area’s industrial history.

Beret Dickson of Hord Coplan Macht is the lead architect on the project and Michael Casey of Kimley Horn is the landscape architect.

At a previous UDARP hearing, panelists expressed concerns about blocking the views of DHHS. In response, Bainbridge scaled back the northwest corner of the building at E. Cross St. and Covington St. to allow for improved northern views from the school.

Today, UDARP panelists expressed some additional concerns with the design of the building and said that Bainbridge will need to present one more time. Bainbridge hopes to begin construction in October with an approximate construction timeline of 20 months.

This is Bainbridge’s first project in Baltimore. It manages approximately 25,000 units in areas such as the Washington D.C. and central Florida.

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via http://southbmore.com/2017/05/18/development-team-brings-back-1100-key-highway-apartment-project-in-federal-hill/

Weekend Events Around Town

This Weekend Events Around Town is brought to you by World of Beer Summer Block Party Series:

Once a month, World of Beer and McHenry Row will be hosting family friendly Block Parties outside on the McHenry Row circle featuring beer tents, food trucks, live music and more!

The first block party is on May 19th highlighting our friends and long time Maryland brewery, Heavy Seas Beer! There will be a variety of Heavy Seas beers starting at 5pm, then at 6pm Nate McCormick hits the circle and will be playing until 9pm. BARCS Animal Shelter will also be present with adoptable pets! The block party is family and pet friendly.

As the party unwinds outside it will just be getting started inside World of Beer. DJ Kamau will hit the stage inside and keep us rocking until midnight!

Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming WOB & McHenry Row Summer Block Parties (one per month through September):

June 16th featuring Firestone Walker

July 14th featuring Union

Lunchtime Yoga at Center Plaza: Thursday from 12pm-1pm

Pints for Poe at Peabody Heights Brewery: Thursday from 5pm-9pm

SFA Wine Tasting at M&T Bank Stadium: Thursday from 6pm-8pm

Cocktails at the Conservatory at Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanical Gardens: Thursday form 630pm-830pm

November Project Baltimore:  Friday at 630am at Patterson Park, Wednesday at 530am & 630am at Rash Field

Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico Race Course: Friday at 930am

Summer Block Party Series Kickoff Featuring Heavy Seas at World of Beer – Baltimore: Friday from 5pm-9pm

Lovechild Cask (Checkerspot Brewing and Waverly Brewing) Release at Wiley Gunter’s: Friday form 5pm-10pm

The Shrapnels Live At Monument City Brewing Company: Friday form 5pm-8pm

St. Pius X School Carnival: Friday-Sunday

Umphrey’s Mcgee With Aqueous at Pier Six Pavilion: Friday at 630pm

Baltimore Podcast Festival at Single Carrot Theatre: Friday from 7pm-11pm

Pierce’s Parks 5th Birthday: Friday from 530pm-730pm

Preakness at Pimlico Race Course: Saturday at 8am

Free Play at Baltimore Beach Volleyball: Saturday from 10am-7pm, Sunday from 10am-4pm

Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Open House: Saturday from 11am-4pm

City Life Happy Hour at Oliver Brewing Co.: Saturday from 12pm-4pm

Race Day Plaza Party at Horseshoe Casino Baltimore: Saturday from 430pm-7pm

W. Barney Street Block Party: Sunday from 2pm-6pm

Farmers’ Markets

Pratt Street Market at Pratt & Light Plaza: Thursday form 11am-2pm

Harbor Market at McKeldin Square: Friday from 11am-2pm

32nd Street Farmers’ Market in Waverly:  Saturday from 7am-12pm

Fell’s Point Farmers Market: Saturday from 730am-1230pm

BMI Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 9am-1pm

Hampden Farmers’ Market: Saturday form 9am-1pm

Whitelock Community Farm Market Stand:  Saturday from 10am-1pm

Federal Hill Farmers Market at Light Street Presbyterian Church: Saturday from 130pm-4pm

Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar underneath the JFX: Sunday from 7am-12pm

Have a GREAT weekend!

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via http://southbmore.com/2017/05/18/weekend-events-around-town-188/

Mid-Week Listing: Approximately 2,500 Sq. Ft. Rowhome in Federal Hill with a Sunroom and Rooftop Terrace

Welcome to Mid-Week Listing! Each week SouthBMore.com will showcase a home on the market listed between $250,000 and $500,000.

This 2,458 sq. ft. Federal Hill rowhome features original hardwood floors, a fireplace, built-in shelving, a large kitchen island, spacious bedrooms, a walk-in closet, a sun room, a parking pad, and a large two-tiered landscaped rooftop terrace.

136 East Gittings Street
Federal Hill          
Price: $434,900
Tax: $9,469
3 BD/2.5 BA
2,458 sq. ft.
Off Street Parking: Yes

 

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via http://southbmore.com/2017/05/17/mid-week-listing-approximately-2500-sq-ft-rowhome-in-federal-hill-with-a-sunroom-and-rooftop-terrace/

Great Plates of Late Around South Baltimore

The Pretzels at Crossbar

It took Crossbar Der Biergarten four years to open after its first proposal to join the neighborhood and I think the team spent that entire time perfecting its pretzel recipe. I am a huge fan of pretzels and, in my book, ordering one is pretty much a requirement when it’s on a menu. That will certainly remain the case at Crossbar.

The really large, golden brown pretzel comes out hot with a side of creamy mustard. You can also add the beer cheese fondue, which I recommend. It’s perfectly soft and tastes great, especially with a large German beer.

Tre Carne Pizza at DiPasquales 

DiPasquales, which just opened at HarborView in Federal Hill, offers a great combination of 100-year-old Italian recipes and stunning waterfront views. DiPasquales is famous for its Italian subs, but I also really wanted to try out their brick oven pizza during my visit.

I ordered the Tre Carne with chicken, sausage, pepperoni, tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella, and it was one of the best pizzas I’ve had in a while. The chicken had a ton of marinated flavor, the sausage and pepperoni were of really high quality, and the thin crust was soft with a nice char.

I also split The Real Italian sub, which was also delicious.

The Breakfast Routine at The Outpost

Another relatively new restaurant is The Outpost American Tavern at the former Porter’s space in Federal Hill. On a recent visit there for brunch I ordered The Breakfast Routine, a take on Canadian-favorite poutine with fresh-cut french fries, cheese sauce, sausage gravy, and a fried egg. The fresh-cut fries were really tasty, and all the toppings came together just right. It’s a really filling plate, so bring a friend!

Drunken Noodles at Thai Yum

Drunken noodles are a popular Thai dish and Thai Yum in Federal Hill does it really well. I got my order with broad rice noodles, vegetables, chili, sweet basil, and green peppercorns with beef. This dish has so much flavor, the noodles have a great texture, and the fresh herbs and spices will get your senses going.

I also tried the Chicken Pad Thai and the Lad-Na appetizer. It was a great dining experience.

Fresh Lemonade at Mo Machado’s

On a recent stop by Mo Machado’s Mini Mart in Riverside I got a glass of the fresh lemonade. The fresh-squeezed drink is a great combination of sweet, tart, and refreshing, and really hits the spot on these warm days. Make sure to pair it with an ice cream cone or snow ball!

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via http://southbmore.com/2017/05/17/great-plates-of-late-around-south-baltimore-14/

Banditos stabbing occurred after dancing led to tensions between groups, according to documents

The knife attack that left three men wounded at Banditos Bar and Kitchen in Federal Hill over the weekend occurred on the dance floor after a female from one group started dancing with a male from another, and the two groups "began to stare at each other" as tensions built, according to charging...

via http://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-md-ci-banditos-charging-documents-20170516-story.html