Oh, the Pastabilities

Meatballs, doughnuts, and steamed crabs may seem like an odd combo, but a restaurant in Halethorpe is offering all three under the same roof. Greg Orendorff, who owns Gianni's Italian Bistro (3720 Washington Blvd., 410-242-4555) with his wife Colleen, has expanded his operation. On one side of the storefront space is the couple's trattoria, in the middle is a Fractured Prune franchise, and in a connecting room is their new crabhouse, the Angry Mallet, which serves hot crustaceans dusted with Orendorff's special seasoning all year long. You can order off the Italian or seafood menus in either dining room. Don't miss the 10-ounce whopper crab cake. This seems to be a case where size does matter. G & M Restaurant (legendary for its crab cakes) is located nearby, and, as Orendorff—who owned Luigi Petti in Little Italy for many years—points out, "We have to compete."