First Look: Townhouse Kitchen + Bar opens in Harbor East

Townhouse Kitchen + Bar (1350 Lancaster St., 443-268-0323) fits right into the glitzy Harbor East restaurant scene with its sophisticated, polished look and power-people vibe. The huge bar is a great place to check out the crowd, or you can nestle into the cozy, black-leather booths or grab a seat at one of the plush sofas in the well-lit lounge. There are community tables, too, so you can follow one of the fun house rules: “Feel free to talk to strangers.” Of course, all this beauty is backed up with excellent beverages—including 40 beers on tap and a novel table-tap system—and promising cuisine. Chef Bryan Perdue puts his spin on American fare by adding Latin, Asian, and Mediterranean influences. We noshed on appetizers on a recent visit—warm pretzel sticks with honey-mustard dip, deviled eggs, and a (not Maryland-style) crab cake with pineapple-tomatillo salsa. The restaurant is off to a good start.