What started as a pop-up in the summer of 2014 has finally led to proprietor Dylan Salmon’s brick and mortar ode to bivalves in hip Hampden. Think white-tiled floors, classic cocktails, clams, whole fish, and oysters of all varieties prepared raw, fried, and more. The paint on the walls has barely dried, having just opened in December, but Instagram is already abuzz with the pan-roasted oysters.

It took a while, but this outpost of the famed Brooklyn pizzeria by the same name finally opened to much fanfare this past summer. The former Hampden Republican Club has been transformed into a Neapolitan-style pizza lover’s haven with ample wood paneling, two straight-from-Italy wood-burning ovens, and a bar tucked away in the back. An impressive list of 31 pizzas includes a variety of creative toppings (Meyer lemons, local brisket, hot chile oil) and an entire vegetarian section.

Tucked away inside an old, refurbished mill, you’ll find this modern tribute to Sicilian cuisine. Owner Donna Crivello’s team is serving up wood-fired pizzas, smoked mozzarella arancini, pastas, and elevated takes on entrees that are inspired by Crivello’s grandmother (the restaurant's namesake). The space includes a sleek bar for small plates and cocktails, an industrial-meets-chic dining room, and a picturesque outdoor patio that overlooks the Jones Falls’ babbling brooks. (Valet recommended.)

The owner of Station North’s highly touted Bottega opened this sister restaurant early last year to rave reviews. Adrien Aeschliman has taken the charming experience of his first restaurant, but added a bar serving classic cocktails and a menu that focuses on unfussy French fare. The menu changes regularly, but expect seasonal vegetables, proteins such as quail and stuffed rabbit, whole fish, the well-known Gruyère beignets, and an approachable wine list.

The explosion of craft beer guarantees a solid IPA at most bars, but if you want to dig deeper, this Mount Vernon bar has an excellently curated list, including esoteric sours from Europe, double IPA’s from little-known breweries in Pennsylvania, and options even the biggest beer fan likely hasn’t heard of. Enjoy your brews in a clean, Scandinavian-inspired space while nibbling on elevated familiar eats like shrimp and grits and Nashville hot chicken.

Local restaurateur Alex Smith has added a swank oyster bar to his list of Harbor East restaurants (he also owns the highly regarded Azumi and Ouzo Bay). At Loch Bar you’ll enjoy towers of shellfish at the sweeping marble bar and live music seven days a week. For dinner, grab a seat on one of the leather tufted banquettes or the outdoor patio and indulge in other East Coast favorites like crab cakes and lobster rolls as you take in the killer view of the harbor.

The latest restaurant from James Beard finalist Cindy Wolf is an homage to her Argentinian mentor, chef Marcelo Vasquez. This Harbor East restaurant takes inspiration from that region's meat-forward cuisine, highlighting beef flown in from Uruguay, sausage from Argentina, and locally raised meats from the mid-Atlantic. For those not in the mood for red meat, there’s a large selection of small plates, a variety of empanadas, pizzas, and fish, all served in a lush, two-floored space filled with palm trees and nightly live music.

Steam buns are all the rage at this Fell’s Point spot. Three recent college grads started selling their wares at the Saturday farmers market, eventually generating enough buzz to move into a permanent spot in the historic neighborhood. Expect pillowy buns overstuffed with curry fried chicken, Thai meatballs, or Old Bay steamed shrimp, and sides of tempura broccoli served in a fast-casual space that’s small but hip.

Gunther Brewing Company’s abandoned boiler rooms have been transformed into this stunner in the Canton neighborhood. Choose either the relaxed bar area — where you’ll enjoy innovative cocktails from head bartender Shaun Stewart and oysters on the half shell — or go for dinner in the sweeping dining room, replete with a lush living wall and a 30-ft open kitchen, where diners can watch chef Jerry Trice create globally influenced dishes like a hoisin-glazed rack of lamb or a Thai seafood pot.