Della Notte
An impressive introduction to the city's Little Italy is Della Notte. In its six years, the restaurant has become a local Italian favorite.

A basket of delicious freshly baked breads--Tuscan black olive, sun-dried tomato, ciabatta, and focaccia--teases your appetite. (By the way, Della Notte's bakery delivers to many area restaurants and delis.) You may have difficulty choosing a wine from their list of more than 700 selections, but knowledgeable servers can help select the best one to complement your meal.

The signature dish, Frutti di Mare, is a seafood lover's dream--a glorious jumble of sea scallops, jumbo shrimp, littleneck clams, langostino, mussels, and cold-water lobster steamed in white wine and herbs and served on a bed of linguine with a splash of marinara sauce. Use the bread to soak up every drop of the succulent juices.

The New York Cheese Cake Torte is spectacular from the first creamy bite to the last crumb of the crushed hazelnut biscotti crust. 801 Eastern Avenue; (410) 837-5500. Entrées: $12-$50.

James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant
Take a midafternoon break at James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant. Order a Guinness; then pause to look around. The building, designed and constructed in Ireland, was shipped to this location. You really get the feeling you've been transported.

Mussels James Gate is the house favorite (mine too). You get lots of plump mussels poached in Guinness stout, shallots, tomato, garlic, and parsley.

This is the place to try traditional Irish dishes such as Shepherd's Pie (ground beef slow-cooked with carrots and peas and topped with mashed potatoes before baking) and Irish Bacon and Cabbage served with mashed carrots and parsnips, mashed potatoes, and a mustard-parsley cream sauce.

A crowd usually gathers during mid- to late-evenings for the nightly live music. This may be just what you're looking for. No matter when you visit, don't miss the James Joyce Ice Cream; it's a combination of caramelized Irish Brown Bread and Bailey's liqueur folded into vanilla ice cream. It's wonderful; thanks, James. 616 President Street; (410) 727-5107. Entrées: $6-$18.

Gertrude's
Excite all of your senses at The Baltimore Museum of Art. After perusing the museum's visual artistry, savor the culinary art of chef John Shields at Gertrude's, his restaurant within the museum. John salutes his grandmother with the restaurant name and the region with flavors of the Chesapeake.

Single-Fry Oysters are one of the most popular items on the menu. They're hefty, moist morsels in a thin, crisp cornmeal coating. Be warned: Keep your eye on your plate, your dining companions will want you to share.

I like the Build Your Own section of the menu because even picky eaters can find something they like by designing their meals. The order includes an entrée, sauce, and two sides for $16 to $28.

On Tuesdays, the restaurant becomes Gertie's Cafe from 5 to 9 p.m. with a menu offering 10 entrées for $10 each. Portobella Crab Imperial and Southeast Asian Vegetable Curry are two favorites. My Cornmeal-Encrusted Catfish was especially good, still sizzling from the heat when it reached the table. The evenly crisp crust on the hot, flaky fish is a natural winner. It's wise to make reservations here. 10 Art Museum Drive; (410) 889-3399. Entrées: $11-$28.