In early June, The Food Market opened its doors to big crowds during the Hampden Honfest, and hasn’t slowed down since. The neighborhood hot spot is packed to capacity every night of the week, and has been drawing raves for its food, service and atmosphere (even if that atmosphere can be a tad on the loud side). The front of the house is smartly run by manager Elan Kotz, who learned the ropes at Aldo’s in Little Italy. Chef Chad Gauss (formerly of City Cafe) has developed an accessible but intriguing menu, packed with classic American dishes all given a creative spin— “blue-collar food with a white-collar approach,” is how he describes it. Dig into steak tacos, chicken and biscuits, lobster fingers, bison steak, spaghetti with crab meatballs or the house favorite, pork schnitzel. All wines are available by the bottle or glass, and there’s a nice selection of craft brews. The cocktail list is entertaining as well, but we always opt for the same: the Pimlico Playboy— the house take on a classic bourbon mint julep— aah! 1017 36th St., 410-366-0606. —Brian Michael Lawrence
