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Christina Tkacik

Christina

Christina Tkacik is a food reporter for The Baltimore Banner. She joined the staff of The Baltimore Banner in August of 2022 to cover all things food. Prior to that, she spent more than six years at The Baltimore Sun, including three years as the newspaper's dining reporter and restaurant critic. After all this time in Charm City, she can pick a crab but still can't shuck an oyster.

The latest from Christina Tkacik

Harford County is getting 2 new places for steak
New steakhouse Butcher on the Bay is coming to Havre de Grace, while a branch of John Brown General & Butchery will open in downtown Bel Air.
Hands holding fork and knife and eating delicious juicy steak on a wooden plate.
The Dish: Boatyard’s sale to Atlas became the ‘drama du jour’ in Annapolis
The sale of Boatyard Bar & Grill in Annapolis inspired an existential crisis in Maryland's capital.
Dick Franyo announced in January that he was selling the Boatyard, his Annapolis-meets-Key-West watering hole, to the Atlas Restaurant Group, which has been fast expanding its presence in Maryland's capital. Regulars worry the sale will alter the quirky character of the longtime Eastport haunt. The restroom at Boatyard, like its dining room, is full of vintage photos and sailing memorabilia.
4 James Beard semifinalists are from Baltimore
Canton’s Café Dear Leon is a semifinalist in the category of outstanding bakery, Marta chef and owner Matthew Oetting was recognized in the category of best chef in the mid-Atlantic region, Doug Atwell of Southpaw is a semifinalist in the outstanding professional in cocktail service category, and Remington’s Pink Flamingo was named in the best new bar category.
Marta chef and owner Matthew Oetting, pictured in February 2023, is opening a new restaurant in Harbor Point.
The Dish: How Hampden’s ‘unusual’ Duchess came to be
After a career working for other big-name restaurateurs, chef Kiko Fejarang is cooking Chamorro food on her own terms.
Chef Kiko Fejarang at restaurant The Duchess on 36th Street in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood.
Atlas is rebranding Ouzo Bay, one of its oldest restaurants
Ouzo Bay will end operations next month after 14 years in business.
Ouzo Bay in Harbor East, which announced Tuesday it would be closing.
Marta is coming to Harbor Point ... with a caviar and martini cart
Matthew Oetting is bringing a seafood-focused branch of Marta Fine Food and Spirits to Harbor Point, complete with lots of caviar.
Building off the success of Marta Fine Food and Spirits in Butchers Hill, chef Matthew Oetting is opening Marta al Mare in Harbor Point.
Don’t Know Tavern to shut down; owner alleges dispute with landlord
The Don’t Know Tavern, which first opened on Light Street in 2007, is set to close next month.
Don't Know Tavern at 1453 Light Street in Baltimore.
A massive Inner Harbor hotel — and its restaurant — have closed
The Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel and its ground floor restaurant, Morton’s The Steakhouse, have both closed their doors in Baltimore.
The Sheraton Inner Harbor at 300 South Charles St. has closed, as has its ground floor restaurant, Morton’s The Steakhouse.
The Dish: Move over, Starbucks, Yemeni coffee is taking over Maryland
The Yemeni coffee trend has come to Perry Hall.
Haraz Coffee House’s new location in Perry Hall marks the Michigan-based chains first foray into Maryland. On the menu are a variety of coffee and espresso drinks as well as pastries like the Dubai chocolate-inspired mosaic cake.
Ledo Pizza cofounder Thelma Beall ate pizza once a week, even at 101
Thelma Beall, the matriarch of Ledo Pizza, died New Year’s Eve.
Ledo Pizza cofounder Thelma Beall sampled the fare at her nearby Ledo branch once a week.
The Dish: The ghost kitchen serving Indian food you won’t find in most restaurants
Unavu, a new ghost kitchen in Charles Village, aims to introduce its delicious, lesser-known Southern Indian cuisine to customers.
Chef Prakash Raj displays a prepared Dosa dish at Unavu, an authentic Indian homestyle cooking restaurant in Baltimore.
Restaurant La Cuchara closed for foreseeable future after fire
A fire in La Cuchara’s hood system Sunday night led to water damage at the Hampden-area restaurant.
Hampden-area restaurant La Cuchara is closed after a hood fire.
Eat this, not that: Choose these Baltimore restaurants instead of chains
The Banner's food reporters suggest local spots to spend your money in the new year.
Birria tacos at Tacos El Guero Food Truck off Merritt Boulevard come with herbs worth savoring.
These restaurants were supposed to open in 2025. We’re still waiting.
The Fishmonger's Daughter, Candela and Armada are just a few of the restaurants we hope to see open in 2026.
The future home of The Fishmongers Daughter in Catonsville. The restaurant was originally set to open in 2025 but is still in progress.
The Dish: The 10 best things I ate this year
These are the best meals I ate while covering Baltimore's dining scene, from a cheesesteak at Frank's Pizza and Pasta to The Duchess' pancit bihon hollai.
The whole marinara pie at Doppio Pasticceria in the Remington neighborhood of Baltimore, Md. on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
The Dish: After 50 years, Tersiguel’s serves its last meals in Ellicott City
Tersiguel's, a mainstay restaurant of old Ellicott City for classic French cuisine, will serve its last meal this weekend.
Tersiguel’s, a mainstay of historic Ellicott City, will serve its last meal Dec. 20.
Pit beef ramen, coddies on sticks: Local chefs reimagine Baltimore food traditions
Baltimore chefs are putting their own — delicious — twists on nostalgic ingredients such as pit beef, crab soup and coddies.
Pit beef ramen from Ejji Ramen at 711 S Central Ave.
Spike Gjerde to open tapas bar in former Mount Vernon Stable & Saloon
Celebrity chef Spike Gjerde will open Bar Dalí, a Spanish-style tapas bar, in the basement of the former Mount Vernon Stable & Saloon.
Woodberry Kitchen owner Spike Gjerde is photographed at Woodberry Kitchen on July 10, 2024.
The Dish: This Chinese restaurant has an AI-powered robot in the kitchen
At new Chinese restaurant Mahjong by Johns Hopkins University, the sous chef is a set of artificial intelligence-powered robots.
Mahjong just opened at 3105 St. Paul Street near Johns Hopkins University. A Mahjong staff member with the Botinkit robot.
One of The New York Times’ best dishes of the year is in Hampden
Critics for The New York Times called the shrimp and corn patties at The Duchess in Hampden one of the best dishes they ate this year.
Patrons line the bar during dinner at The Duchess in January 2025.
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