For those who are fussy about their food

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For Those Who Are Fussy About Their Food has been a long-running feature of The Hungover Gourmet, debuting back in 2003's issue #7. Here are some recent favorites!

My friend mentioned he was taking his son back to College Park today, which presented a perfect opportunity to sample a cheesesteak from Tokoa, which bills itself as serving "authentic Philly-style cheesesteaks". This sandwich clocked in at 9.5" and just over 1 pound. Our panel agreed that the meat was tasty, cooked well and not chewy, but the seeded roll just didn't have that chew I crave. But it was certainly better than another popular Baltimore-area shop whose cheesesteak roll literally split at the seams with the first bite.  I'd definitely stop if I was in the area but I wouldn't make a special trip. 

(3.5 / Website)

With sunny skies and 70-degree temperatures on a Thursday afternoon in March, there was absolutely no reason for the Lunch Bunch to sit around the office and eat sad sandwiches or salads at our cubes or in our offices. Instead, we opted to get some fresh air, share a picnic table, and scarf down grub from a Baltimore County staple, Charcoal Deli. Hidden down a side street by a chain pizza joint and the school my daughter attended for nine years, Charcoal Deli is pretty nondescript. There's a handful of picnic tables, an order window, a pickup window and well, that's about it.

The menu features barbecue, pit beef (a MD staple), burgers, dogs/sausage, and a variety of named sandwiches like the Hillary (smoked turkey grilled with Q sauce, topped with Provolone), Larry (double burger topped with Roma sausage and American cheese), and Scotter (beef/turkey combo with Old Bay and American cheese). I opted for the 1/4 burger topped with a mound of barbecued ham and Tiger Sauce (aka mayo with horseradish), while my pals opted for the Danski (beef with Swiss and Old Bay on a Kaiser roll with Q Sauce), Pit Beef, and a Turkey Club. Sides included delicious skin-on fries and so-so mac & cheese that was low on cheese and heavy on oil (booooo!).

As Lunch Bunch dictates, if the sandwich or eatery you recommend meets with approval, you get to keep going. Thanks to the gang at Charcoal Deli, I'm still up. 

Note: They are building a brand new ALDI across the street from Charcoal Deli. I see a lot of ALDI trips that end with me picking up lunch or dinner afterwards. (3.5 / Website)

As a NJ native, one of my biggest culinary complaints about my 20+ years in Maryland has been the dearth of good diners. A trip to the diner was an almost religious experience in the Garden State, with favorite places for favorite times, like The Golden Eagle for post-movie watching or the Oaklyn Diner for a huge platter of meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy on a Saturday morning to lay a good base for the shenanigans ahead. We live smack dab between two diners, both terrible, so when Chris suggested a change of scenery on a recent Saturday I jumped at the chance. 

I figured out a radius of about 30 minutes from home and thought Shrewsbury, PA (north on 83 just over the state line) looked like it had potential. After a quick search we settled on J&B's Grill,  located at 14 North Main Street in Shrewsbury. Though not a standalone diner, it definitely falls into that category, with the restaurant occupying an old home. Dining areas are divided up into a few rooms.

I was hoping for meatloaf but decided on the Open Face Turkey with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and a side of corn while Chris went with an Open Face Reuben. A cup of salty (in a good way) Chicken Noodle Soup started me off, full of big chunks of chicken, thick slices of carrot, and wide egg noodles. The turkey platter was huge, with plentiful slices of moist turkey atop cubes of white bread, and a mound of delicious homemade mashed potatoes on the side, all covered in a creamy yellow gravy. I made a little spot on my plate, dumped my corn into it and went to town. Fries that accompanied Chris' sandwich were hot and crispy, though the cole slaw was a bit on the sweet side. 

It took a bit of time between the soup and entrees, but the restaurant was pretty jammed and we were in no rush. After lunch we hopped in the car and checked out the Markets at Shrewsbury, just a few miles up the road. Great selection of dairy, meats, pretzels, candy, pastries and more. I have feeling we'll be trekking back this spring to check out their flea markets and get barbecue from That Pig Place. (3 / Website)

Here at THG HQ we’re spoiled by the abundance of tasty burger options within striking distance. There’s local joints (the Canadian-inspired Clark Burger, Burger Brothers, Charcoal Deli), gastropubs (Abbey Burger Bistro), and the usual fast food/fast casual options. But my current fave is Habit Burger, which has been in our backyard for a few years now. We can’t get enough of their sloppy signature Charburgers complete with lettuce, pickles and sauce, and Habit’s onion rings are among the best I’ve had (they even offer decent sweet potato fries). Shakes are “tasty” per Ryan (our resident milkshake enthusiast) and the
Santa Fe Sandwich is big enough for two meals, while the all-too-infrequent Patty Melt is a belt-busting meal of two patties and grilled onions on rye. Best of all, Habit’s burger offerings travel well and stand up to the rigors of takeout, unlike Shake Shack and other “smash” burgers that I feel are best consumed on-site. (3.5 / Website)

Hadn’t been here for years but had the chance to drop in and have dinner with friends before a Marty Stuart concert across the street at the awesome The Grand Opera House. We started off with a few brews from their impressive beer list and an order of Tavern Pretzel Crullers, served with warm herbed butter and a beer-cheese dip. I rarely order a fish sandwich unless it’s a place that’s seafood-centric, but something about the Creole Catfish spoke to me and I was rewarded with a crisp, spicy piece of fish topped with a creamy remoulade sauce on a brioche bun. One of my best meals out all year thanks to great beer, great food, and great company. (4 / Website)

If you ever find yourself heading to the Charles Theater in Baltimore (or even “enjoying” a layover at Penn Station), add a little time to stop by The Royal Blue, a cozy little joint with a small but reliable menu right around the corner. Featuring a long bar and about a dozen high tops, Royal Blue is the perfect spot for a bite before or after your movie. We’ve been a handful of times and love the Pretzel Bites & Beer Cheese, Smash Burgers, Mac & Cheese, and Pretzel Donuts (which look just like the Pretzel Bites but are tossed in cinnamon and sugar before being drizzled with icing). For my money, though, no visit to Royal Blue is complete without the Bang-Bang Fried Chicken Sandwich, a slightly spicy, sweet, and sticky handful featuring a buttermilk-brined chicken thigh (my fave!) on a toasted bun. Plant-based and vegan options abound if you’ve got friends who are into that. (3.5 / Website)