Check out Anthony’s Anchors Aweigh and GDL Italian by Giada
Let’s take a look at two new restaurants that appeared recently on the local dining scene. I’ll begin with one that opened June 5.
Located at 3648 Washington Boulevard, you’ll find Anthony’s Anchors Aweigh. It is run by Anthony Orendorff, whose parents owned Luigi Petti in Little Italy.
To pinpoint the location, it is adjacent to the Beltway Motel a fixture along Washington Boulevard for years. After extensive renovations to the previous restaurant at that spot, Anthony and staff are anxious to welcome diners to taste the various Italian and seafood. I’ll tell you this, I already had the crab cake and it was filled with jumbo lump crab meat and broiled just as I like it. My dining companion ordered the salmon and found it moist and flavorful. I tried and agreed.
Some of their seafood entrees include the crab imperial, crab fluff, stuffed shrimp, shrimp scampi and the broiled rockfish. Some of their Italian entrees include the chicken parmesan, lasagna, eggplant rollatini and crab sauce Antonio, Anthony’s favorite. Also on the menu is chicken, pork chops, salads, soups, sandwiches, tenderloin, fish, pizza and sour beef and dumplings. And for your crab lovers, they offer them year round (depending on many factors) and all-u-can-eat on Monday nights. It includes crab soup and corn on the cob ($35.00).
The restaurant serves all three meals, seats about 120, will do on and off premise catering, there is a banquet/meeting hall, carry out, plenty of free parking, a bar, six TV’s, open seven days and live entertainment soon to arrive. Reach them at 410-565-6431.
Let’s head downtown and make a stop at the Horseshoe Casino on Russell Street, next to M & T Bank Stadium. We are going to the second level and visit GDL Italian by Giada, named after the Food Network personality and author Giada De Laurentiis. This happens to be her only restaurant outside Las Vegas. When she was in town she was quite busy. Besides opening the restaurant, she threw out the first pitch at Camden Yards and attended the Preakness.
The 180 seat restaurant opens daily at 4 p.m. If you like wine, you’ll notice the list includes select favorites from the GIADA collection that has earned her awards from Wine Spectator. I’m told the staff and especially executive chef Brian Drosenos, are sourcing local products for use in the kitchen. Also, some of the beef, seafood, and produce will come from the local area.
The restaurant is also quite lovely, a definite upscale look. The architect was R2Architects, LLC. Coincidentally, the same guys that did my house. I guess most of you will believe that. When asked why open a restaurant in Baltimore, she replied, ‘this is my opportunity to make a mark on the east coast.’
Here’s some sage advice, if you’re going to Giada’s, go directly there. Don’t stop in the casino. You may need few dollars for a tip.
Reach them at 443-931-4575. By the way, it opened May 22.
Eddie Applefeld is a Baltimore native and a graduate of Towson University. He has been in the broadcasting profession for over 30 years. Currently he is the Promotions Director of WCBM radio. Before that, he was part of the Rouse & Company show on WQSR, host of a cable TV show called Dining Out and adjunct instructor at Towson.
His past accomplishments include being named a finalist in Baltimore Tourism’s Employee of the Year Program and winner of Toastmaster’s Speaker of the Year contest. He was also twice a heartthrob for the American Heart Association’s gala fund raiser.