Occupying a commanding amount of space on the street level of the new Zenith building across from Camden Yards, Frank & Nic’s West End Grille has made an auspicious debut. The handsome new restaurant walks a successful line between a casual, grab-a-bite vibe and upscale dining. For those looking for a friendly, non-fussy, place to meet up with friends over beers and burgers for a game, there’s a comfortable bar area with mutliple flat-screen TVs (including two 10-foot screens for football games). For more formal dining, there are two rooms dedicated to a menu that includes classic American cuisine with Asian accents (seared sashimi, grilled steaks and chops, Southwest roasted chicken and pasta primavera). We particularly like the options for side dishes, which include red skin mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, sautéed organic mushrooms, sautéed Catalan spinach, mac and cheese, broccolini and Italian-style green beans. The interiors are done in rich, warm tones and feature high-style, mid-century accents to complement the crisp contemporary feel. There’s a decent wine list and 10 specialty cocktails that all go for $10. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., with a latenight menu served until 1:30 a.m. (511 W. Pratt St., 410-685-6800)
