Looking for a date night spot or a neighborhood hang for the game? The Baltimore Sun has you covered.
More than 51,700 ballots were cast in 43 categories during this year’s contest — demonstrating that Harford County is a dining destination.
Based on reader votes, here are the 2024 Best Restaurants of Harford County winners and honorable mentions:
Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from July to September. The results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.
Ambience: One Eleven Main
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarMucho GustoBacco Italian + Wine Bar
Asian: Chopstix
Honorable mentions:
Uncle’s Hawaiian GrindzLemon and GingerFuji Sushi
Bakery: Newberry Cafe
Honorable mentions:
Flavor Cupcakery & Bake ShopWoodlea BakeryYia Yia’s Bakery
Bar food: Das Bierhalle
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarSean Bolan’s Irish PubLooney’s
Barbecue: Mission BBQ
Honorable mentions:
Old Line GrillFast EddiesChaps Pit Beef
Bartender: Kari Burns, Das Bierhalle
Honorable mentions:
Tracy McCoy-Soper, Abbey BurgerPatrick Lynch, Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarSloane Dela Cruz, Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Beer list: Das Bierhalle
119 S. Main St., Bel Air. 443-819-3617. dasbierhallemd.com
Sauerkraut balls, 10 kinds of sausage and a giant 2-pound pretzel that could serve as a frisbee, if not so tasty. Such is the spread at Das Bierhalle, the German-American fusion eatery in Bel Air which opened in 2023. Kin of the Parkville sports bar with the same name, it doesn’t claim to serve purely German fare (hence, the Buffalo Chicken Schnitzel, Old Bay sausage and BEER-ia Tacos). Instead, it aims to please a multitude of palates with enough Old World entries to justify its name.
“We offer something for everybody,” said Shelby Stange, co-owner and manager. Though the slogan here is “Every day is Octoberfest,” non-Teutonic events pop up — everything from Taylor Swift album release parties to breakfast with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, for the kids.
Four bars and 29 TVs greet patrons, who raise their steins filled with suds from one of 30 tap lines. Or choose from the more than 100 beers in cans and bottles, half of them imports (favorites are Spaten and Warsteiner, from Germany). Every day boasts happy hours, with prices shaved on beers and crushes. Good service is a given, say customers, who voted Kari Burns and Doug Hitchcock as Best Bartender and Server, respectively.
Honorable mentions:
Independent Brewery Co.Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarHopkins Farm Brewery
Breakfast/brunch: Sunny Day Cafe
Honorable mentions:
Bagel WorksPappas Restaurant & Sports BarDas Bierhalle
Brewery: Independent Brewing
Honorable mentions:
Hopkins Farm BrewerySlate Farm BreweryDouble Groove Brewing Co.
Burger: Abbey Burger
Honorable mentions:
Vagabond Sandwich Co.Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarDas Bierhalle
Chef: Zack Trabbold, The Local
Honorable mentions:
Juan Portillo, Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarBrian Boessel, One Eleven MainSteve Braun, Sean Bolan’s
Cocktail: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar and The Local (tie)
Honorable mentions:
Mucho GustoOne Eleven Main
Coffee: Coffee Coffee
Honorable mentions:
Concord Point CoffeeDunkin DonutsCoffeeBar (tie)Wawa (tie)
Crab cake: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Box Hill Pizzeria & Crab CakesConrad’s CrabsWater Street Seafood
Deli: Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Honorable mentions:
Savona – Fine Italian Foods and WineSam’s DeliJarrettville Creamery and Deli
Dessert: Broom’s Bloom Dairy
Honorable mentions:
Flavor Cupcakery & Bake ShopPappas Restaurant & Sports BarJarrettsville Creamery
Fine dining: One Eleven Main
Honorable mentions:
The LocalPairings BistroBacco Italian + Wine Bar
Frozen treats: Broom’s Bloom Dairy
Honorable mentions:
Jarrettsville CreameryBomboy’s Homemade Ice CreamArctic Circle
Happy hour: Das Bierhalle
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarLooney’s PubSean Bolan’s Irish Pub
Healthful menu: Healthy Vibes
Honorable mentions:
HoneyGrowUncle’s Hawaiian GrindzSaladworks
Italian: Bacco Italian + Wine Bar
Honorable mentions:
Enotria RestaurantPappas Restaurant & Sports BarOlive Tree
Late-night dining: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Looney’s PubDas BierhalleMaGerks Pub & Grill
Latin: La Tolteca
Honorable mentions:
Mucho GustoPlaza MexicoSol Oaxaca Cocina Moderna
Live entertainment: Looney’s Pub
Honorable mentions:
Independent Brewing Co.Hopkins Farm BreweryFallston Barrel House
Lunch menu: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Vagabond Sandwich Co.Das BierhalleThe Hickory Lodge
New restaurant: Latitude Seafood Co.
Honorable mentions:
Sol OaxacaThe Grazing Room at Boards by DanaAkira Ramen & Izakaya
Outdoor dining: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Tidewater GrilleThe Island at Flying Point MarinaDas Bierhalle
Overall: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
1225 E. Churchville Road, Bel Air. 410-420-5218. pappasbelair.com
Pappas serves so much crab that it’s a wonder diners don’t leave the place scuttling sideways. Thirty-one dishes on the menu feature crab, the staple at the family’s four area restaurants.
“We go through 1,500 pounds of crab meat a week here,” said Tim Miller, managing partner at the Bel Air venue, which opened in 2023. The 8-ounce crab cakes, made of colossal and jumbo lump meat, comprise 60% of the business and follow a secret recipe created more than half a century ago.
On occasion, said Miller, male customers pull him aside and say. “These crab cakes are better than my wife’s, but don’t tell her.”
Seafood powers the menu, from grilled octopus and orange roughy to specials like Chilean sea bass, served over sweet potato puree and topped with spinach and a mandarin orange sauce. Steaks, burgers and pastas have devotees, too.
“The only thing we don’t serve is pizza,” said Miller.
The outdoor patio, open year-round, is a favorite with patrons, and those with the late-night hungries are seated ’til midnight. As the holidays near, there’s a run on Pappas’ hand-carved turkey dinners, with walnut cornbread dressing. What, no crabmeat stuffing?
“If that’s what you want, we’ll work something up for you,” Miller said. “Our kitchen guys are pretty flexible.”
Honorable mentions:
Das BierhalleMucho GustoThe Local
Pizza: Love Crust Pizza
Honorable mentions:
Bacco PizzeriaBuontempo Brothers PizzaItalian Sensation
Place to take out-of-towners: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Independent Brewing Co.Das BierhalleDouble Groove Brewing Co.
Place to take the kids: Broom’s Bloom Dairy
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarVagabond Sandwich Co.Conrad’s Crabs
Seafood: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Conrad’s Seafood Restaurants-MarketsRichard’s Fish & Crabs-The Seafood StopWater Street Seafood
Server: Doug Hitchcock, Das Bierhalle
Honorable mentions:
Molly Patrick, Das BierhalleJeremy Markel, Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarRegan Reisinger, Fallston Barrel House
Service: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Das BierhalleDouble Groove Brewing Co.The Local
Sports bar: Looney’s Pub
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarDas BierhalleSean Bolan’s Irish Pub
Steak: Texas Roadhouse
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarOne Eleven MainThe Local
Steamed crabs: Conrad’s Crabs
Honorable mentions:
Richard’s Fish & Crabs-The Seafood StopMadonna SeafoodWater Street Seafood
Takeout: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Vagabond Sandwich Co.Box Hill PizzareiaTutto Fresco
Value: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Das BierhalleMamie’s CafeLa Tolteca
Vegetarian options: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Honorable mentions:
Uncle’s Hawaiian GrindzFuji SushiIndian Garden
View: Tidewater Grille
Honorable mentions:
Mountain BranchBroom’s Bloom DairyThe Promenade Grille
Wine list: The Vineyard Wine Bar
Honorable mentions:
Pappas Restaurant & Sports BarBacco Italian + Wine BarPairings Bistro
Honorable mentions
Black-owned restaurant: Maison Intimate Catering