MD, PA, NoVA recommendations needed

[wondersofwine]

In Northwest DC I recommend Macarthur Beverages (also known as Bassin's.) It is located near Canal Road, Foxhall Road, close to some of the embassies. Website is www.bassins.com. Portner's was a very good restaurant in Alexandria, VA. (Wide choice of restaurants in whole northern Virginia, DC area.)
Boordy is the oldest established Maryland winery. It is in northeastern Baltimore County. For this and other Maryland wineries see www.marylandwine.com.
If you like Italian food, visit the Little Italy section of Baltimore. I usually book at Boccaccio's--Luciano Pavarotti has eaten there. Purple Orchid on Charles Street has Chesapeake Bay seafood and Asian and French cuisine. (Small, intimate restaurant.) I have been there when a film crew was discussing the filming of a football movie in Baltimore (I think "Replacements" or "Any Given Sunday").
Prime Rib Restaurant on N. Calvert Street is expensive but known for elegance and good beef. There are plenty of seafood places and a couple German and Greek restaurants. City Lights, right in Harbor Place, seems to have pretty decent food along with the harbor or plaza overlook. It's fun to take the river taxi from spot to spot; the National Aquarium is in Baltimore; also an IMAX theater; Fells Point is fun for the casual restaurants and funky shops and all the sidewalk strollers. I've even had good seafood at a couple restaurants in Fells Point. Actually, Baltimore is probably a better restaurant town than most people realize. It may not always be a trendsetter, but it offers a variety of ethnic choices and Chesapeake Bay catches.

[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 05-14-2003).]