The Baltimore Sun’s readers have voted on what’s the best in the region, from acupuncturist and garden center to wedding venue and bike shop. This year’s winners include people and businesses recognized for outstanding service and customer satisfaction over the last year.
The poll includes nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal Services and People & Media. More than 80,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors and more.
For more categories, go to baltimoresun.com/best.
Best Bakery and Best Gluten-free
Flavor Cupcakery
118 N. Tollgate Road, Bel Air. 443-371-6664. flavorcupcakery.com
Shelley Stannard, the owner of Flavor Cupcakery, isn’t a baker “by passion or trade,” she said.
The mom of three, who once worked in advertising and marketing, originally wanted to open a home décor store. When she noticed that people weren’t inclined to spend as much on their homes in 2008 and 2009, during the recession, she ran with her sister’s idea to open a cupcake shop instead.
“We did not have a good high-end bakery in the area,” Stannard, 56, said. “We needed that go-to place that was local.”
It was a “huge learning curve” opening the bakery in 2010, Stannard said.
Prior to launching her business, she baked to formulate the recipes. Now, Flavor Cupcakery has 11 full-time pastry chefs, whipping up favorites including a “black bottom” chocolate cupcake with cream cheese filling and chocolate chips.
Stannard’s pick is a cheesecake cupcake with graham cracker crust, vanilla cake and a cream cheese filling.
“A lot of our cupcakes are pretty intricate, with crusts, with fillings, with special garnishes,” she said. “Most people come in looking for things that are a little bit more extravagant.”
Stannard appreciates the process, taking inspiration from a childhood neighbor in Massachusetts who “always baked from scratch,” she recalled.
At Flavor Cupcakery, Stannard sources all of her ingredients from a Maryland distributor. She even serves up sweets that are vegan, gluten free and “glegan” — a combination of the two.
The shop takes custom orders for events and special occasions. New or limited-edition flavors are announced on Instagram.
“We’re consistent with what we’ve offered throughout the years,” Stannard said. “But we also are always trying to keep it exciting. … We’re always bringing something new to the table that keeps people coming in the door.”
“It’s just a little escape from life,” she said of the world she’s created in the shop.
— Abigail Gruskin
Best Lunch, Pizza
Frank’s Pizza & Pasta
6620 Belair Road, Baltimore. 410-254-2900. frankspizzaandpasta.com
It may be named for just one man, but Frank’s Pizza & Pasta is the definition of a family affair.
Cousins Frank Mastrantuono and Armando Buontempo flipped a coin to decide whether they would call their Overlea restaurant Frank’s or Armando’s. Mastrantuono won the flip, and in 1985 the two opened Frank’s, a laid-back, genial spot specializing in pizza, subs and other Italian favorites.
Tragedy almost closed the restaurant just four years after it opened. In 1989, Mastrantuono was at work when the neighboring pharmacy was robbed. A stray bullet flew through the wall and struck the restaurateur, killing him on his 32nd birthday.
The restaurant’s strip-mall setting may lead some diners to pass Frank’s by, but don’t overlook this pizzeria, which serves up friendly service, hearty pasta and high-quality New York- and Detroit-style pies.
After nearly 40 years, Buontempo is still a fixture at the restaurant, making the rounds to greet customers and check in on the kitchen. The day-to-day operations, however, have fallen to his sons, Gennaro and Daniel Buontempo, who grew up at Frank’s and now have some innovations of their own for the family business.
When the brothers took over in 2020, the pizza recipe they inherited was guided more by gut feeling than precise measurements.
“It was like a traditional, New York-style pizza shop, where you don’t have recipes,” Daniel said. “My brother took it to the next level and made it into a science.”
Gennaro, who goes by Gerry, uses a natural starter to make the pizza dough at Frank’s, and then allows it to ferment for 72 hours before baking to develop a more robust flavor. Though the pies are New York-style, the restaurant adds a char to the crust that’s reminiscent of a Neapolitan slice.
That care extends to the rest of the menu: The chicken cheesesteak, for instance, uses fresh chicken breasts, marinated for several days before being chopped on the grill and layered with provolone and your choice of toppings. The Rosa pasta, farfalle noodles topped with vodka sauce, chicken, shrimp and lump crab meat, is a Frank’s specialty and a standout of the restaurant’s extensive pasta menu.
Gerry and Daniel recently purchased a mobile brick oven to make pizza on the road, so you can now find Frank’s pizza at local breweries and private events. The brothers are also thinking about expanding with another restaurant of their own.
Whatever comes next, Frank’s won’t be going anywhere.
“We want to keep our father’s legacy going,” said Gerry. That includes the restaurant’s recipe for success: “Really good food will keep them coming back,” he said, “but with us it’s a family atmosphere.”
— Amanda Yeager
Asian: Ekiben
Honorable mentions:
Chopstix Gourmet and Sushi Bar
Fuji Sushi
Bamboo Garden
Bakery: Flavor Cupcakery
Honorable mentions:
The Yummery
Cake By Jason Hisley
Woodlea Bakery
Barbecue: Mission BBQ
Honorable mentions:
Chaps Pit Beef Baltimore
Andy Nelson’s Barbecue Restaurant & Catering
Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar
Bartender: Jessica Kern, Massoni’s Italian Restaurant
Honorable mentions:
Ashlee Wiley, DeSantis Restaurant and Bar
Marijo Paterniti, Lib’s Grill Perry Hall
Brendan Forsythe, Little Havana
Breakfast/brunch: Sunny Day Cafe
Honorable mentions:
Miss Shirley’s Cafe, Roland Park
Sunshine Grille Bistro & Catering
Blue Moon Cafe
Brewery: Independent Brewing Co.
Honorable mentions:
Hopkins Farm Brewery
Checkerspot Brewing Co.
UNION Craft Brewing
Burger: The Abbey Burger Bistro
Honorable mentions:
Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Fuzzies Burgers
The Local
Caribbean: Little Havana
Honorable mentions:
Island Spice Grille & Lounge
Judy’s Island Grill
Jerk Taco
Caterer: The Classic Catering People
Honorable mentions:
Pairings Bistro
The Local
Lib’s Grill Perry Hall
Chef: Zack Trabbold, The Local
Honorable mentions:
Joe Lancelotta, Conrad’s Seafood Restaurant
Cindy Wolf, Charleston
Austin Karrasch, Ouzo Bay
Chinese: NiHao
Honorable mentions:
Joey Chiu’s Greenspring Inn
The Orient Restaurant
Bamboo Garden Restaurant
Cocktails: The Bluebird Cocktail Room
Honorable mentions:
Dutch Courage
Clavel
The Local
Coffee: Morning Mugs Coffee
Honorable mentions:
Zeke’s Coffee
Coffee Coffee
Artifact Coffee
Crabcake: Koco’s Pub
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant and Sports Bar
Box Hill Pizzeria & Crab Cakes
G&M Restaurant
Deli: Di Pasquale’s Marketplace
Honorable mentions:
Attman’s Delicatessen
Savona – Fine Italian Foods and Wine
Ravage Deli
Dessert: Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop
Honorable mentions:
Flavor Cupcakery
Cake By Jason Hisley
Diablo Doughnuts
Diner: EC Diner
Honorable mentions:
Blue Moon Cafe
Double T Diner
Nautilus Diner
Distillery: Sagamore Spirit Distillery
Honorable mentions:
Baltimore Spirits Co.
Old Line Spirits
Ellicott Distilling Co.
Ethiopian: Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant
Farmers market: Bel Air Farmers’ Market
Honorable mentions:
Baltimore Farmers’ Market
32nd Street Farmers Market
PA Dutch Market Cockeysville
Food hall: R. House
Honorable mentions:
Cross Street Market
Belvedere Square
Lexington Market
Food truck: B-More Greek Grill
Honorable mentions:
Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Mr. Souvlaki
Pizza di Joey
Gluten-free: Flavor Cupcakery
Honorable mentions:
Harmony Bakery
Ekiben
Papi’s Tacos Towson
Happy hour: Bacco Italian + Wine Bar
Honorable mentions:
Looney’s Pub Perry Hall
Nick’s Fish House
Pappas Restaurant and Sports Bar
Ice cream: Broom’s Bloom Dairy
Honorable mentions:
Taharka Brothers Ice Cream
Bmore Licks
The Charmery
Indian: Peerce’s
Honorable mentions:
Sizzling Bombay
The Mint Room
Ambassador Dining Room
Italian: Massoni’s Italian Restaurant
Honorable mentions:
Frank’s Pizza & Pasta
Italian Sensation
La Scala Ristorante Italiano
Japanese: Fuji Sushi
Honorable mentions:
Shoyou Sushi
Azumi
Yama Sushi Bar
Juice: Pure Raw Juice
Honorable mentions:
YogaFresh
Berri Purple
Gangster Vegan Organics (tie)
Z Vault (tie)
Korean: Ekiben
Honorable mentions:
Jong Kak
Shin Chon
Brown Rice Korean Grill
Latin American: Taco Love Grill Inc.
Honorable mentions:
La Cuchara
Plaza México
Cocina Luchadoras
Lunch: Frank’s Pizza & Pasta
Honorable mentions:
Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Sunshine Grille Bistro & Catering
Gertrude’s
Mediterranean: Samos Restaurant
Honorable mentions:
Mr. Souvlaki
Ouzo Bay
Samos Greek Island Grill
Middle Eastern: The Helmand
Honorable mentions:
Baba’s Mediterranean Kitchen
Ammoora (tie)
Maggie’s Farm (tie)
Villagio Cafe (tie)
Outdoor dining: Nick’s Fish House
Honorable mentions:
Bowley’s on the Bay
Peerce’s
Little Havana (tie)
The Valley Inn (tie)
Pizza: Frank’s Pizza & Pasta
Honorable mentions:
Pizza di Joey
Pizza John’s
Margherita Pizza Of Bel Air
Poke: Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz
Honorable mentions:
Poke Bowl
Hilo Poke & Sushi
Blowfish Poke & Grill
Ramen: Akira Ramen & Izakaya
Honorable mentions:
Ramen Utsuke
EJJI Ramen
Mi & Yu Noodle Bar
Raw bar: Thames Street Oyster House
Honorable mentions:
Lib’s Grill Perry Hall
Dylan’s Oyster Cellar
Ryleigh’s Oyster
Server: Jaidyn Humphrey, Frazier’s On the Avenue
Honorable mentions:
Jimmy Neilson, Maggie’s Farm
Dennis Bushee, Massoni’s Italian Restaurant
Jenna Brouse, True Chesapeake Oyster Co. (tie)
Jessica “Cheeks” Haines, Charly’s (tie)
Snowball: Snoasis
Honorable mentions:
Emmorton Snowballs & Ice Cream
Sharon’s Shaved Ice Snowballs
Ice Queens Snowball Shop
Soul food: Southern Blues
Honorable mentions:
Blacksauce Kitchen
PlattaKing
Papi Cuisine
Soup: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
Honorable mentions:
Petit Louis Bistro
One Eleven Main
Soup’s On
Steamed crabs: Conrad’s Seafood Restaurant
Honorable mentions:
Richard’s Fish & Crabs
Costas Inn
Mr. Bill’s Terrace Inn Crab House
Taco: Taco Love Grill Inc.
Honorable mentions:
Clavel
La Tolteca
Mucho Gusto
Tea house: Tea by Two
Honorable mentions:
Emma’s Tea Spot
Grace Table Tea Room
Kung Fu Tea X TKK Chicken
Thai: Spice and Dice Thai Kitchen
Honorable mentions:
Bodhi Corner
Thai Spice
Thai Arroy
Vegan: Golden West Cafe
Honorable mentions:
Great Sage
The Land of Kush
Harmony Bakery (tie)
One World Cafe (tie)
View: The Bygone
Honorable mentions:
Rusty Scupper Restaurant & Bar
Nick’s Fish House
Bowleys on the Bay
Wedding cake: The Yummery
Honorable mentions:
Cake by Jason Hisley
SugarBakers Cakes
Flavor Cupcakery
Wine list: Pairings Bistro
Honorable mentions:
Linganore Winecellars
Harford Vineyard & Winery
The Wine Collective
Wings: C.R. Wings
Honorable mentions:
Kislings Tavern
iBar
Route 24 Ale House
Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.
