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For me classic European food and restaurants is French, Spanish and Greek - and it doesn’t matter if it’s prepared by an American or a European chef. Now lots of Americans might well think that Italian food should also be classed as classic European. The problem with that is that as a nation we’re all too familiar with great Italian food and visiting Italian styled restaurants. However, if you feel somewhat upset by that - did you know that French cuisine, widely accepted as the best in all in the world, owes its finesse and reputation to Italian cooking? A member of the Florentine Medici family, famous for their role in the renaissance, married into French nobility and was so appalled by the French cooking in the 17th century that she brought in her own chefs from Italy.

Classic French Food and Restaurants in Baltimore include Crepe de Jour, on Sulgrave Avenue in the Mount Washington area, which specializes in crepes. Although quite a small restaurant they also serve salads, sandwiches and evening meals. The Brasserie Tatin perhaps tries a little too hard to be a classic French restaurant, mistakenly thinking that mixing French, Greek and other European influences it will become a fusion of American-French cuisine. Unfortunately, it just ends up being confused as to what exactly it is trying to offer - and despite it’s alluring  name seems quite ordinary. The Petit Louis Bistro on Roland Avenue describes itself as sophisticated and affordable. Now for me, if you visit a sophisticated French restaurant in France - it’s anything but affordable. However, this place really does manage to create an ambience of sophistication by maximizing the impact of the furnishings and décor in the restaurant. It also has some good French cuisine; for dinner I’d recommend the Moules à la Provencale (mussels in a white wine, onion and basil sauce) and Steak au Poivre (grilled steak with a Cognac cream sauce) and have a glass or two of Châteauneuf du Pape 2005 to go with it. All in all - the Petit Louis Bistro wins my vote for the best French restaurant in town. NB. None of these places serve Frogs Legs!

Two Greek restaurants dominate Baltimore. In the Fells Point district on Bond Street is the Black Olive. This family owned restaurant is set in a renovated store and full of character and charm. Greek food is all about fresh greens, lamb and fish - so being near the harbor means this place has a plentiful supply of fresh fish and seafood. Whether you choose the octopus salad or Spring Lamb Chops - expect black olives to be in with your meal somewhere. The other main Greek restaurant in Baltimore was established in the late 1960s - The Ikarus Restaurant on Eastern Avenue. Another family run business which prints its menus in Greek as well as English - just to convince you of their genuine Greek credentials; which isn’t really necessary as you’ll adore this classic European food.

Classic European food has to include the idea of Spanish food in a Tapas Bar. Tapas Teatro on North Charles Street is one such place; and is obviously convenient for theater goers. It has outdoor seating for the hot and humid evenings we can get in the summer. In Spain itself different Tapas bars have there own specialties and you’d go from one to the next having small portions in several different bars. Tapas Teatro has somewhat cornered the market for itself and does have a fantastic range of Tapas food to choose from. Drinking Spanish wine is almost obligatory in a Tapas bar; personally I prefer Tempranillo to the better known Rioja. However, you should also try the home-made Sangria here. Tapas Teatro also serves full lunches and dinners; but for a ‘proper’ Spanish meal I think I’d rather go to La Tasca Spanish Bar & Restaurant, at the Inner Harbor on East Pratt Street. Serving several versions of Paella and with lots of different Sangrias on offer, you really can get a flavor of Spain here. I’d have to recommend the Paella Valencia - traditional Paella made with chicken and seafood’s.