Alright guys! As most of you know, I’m ALL about eating well, ha. I’m obsessed with finding the best spots wherever I go so I decided to do guides for small cities outside of Baltimore + DC. I’m starting off with Hanover, MD for today’s latest. To be completely honest with you guys, it’s not the best place to go for good food, but if you’re looking for something in the area, these are my recommendations (in no particular order):
Maiwand Kabob
Maiwand Kabob’s definitely one of my favorite places to eat in the area. They’re a small fast-casual chain (with 3 other locations in Harper’s Choice, Columbia Crossing, and BWI), and their food is always on point. They’re located inside the Shops at Arundel Preserve, and their noms will leave you satisfied.
They have daily specials for great prices, but my go-to is their Chicken Kabob ($10.99). It comes with rice – think super fragrant with spices and raisins so it’s not just basic rice – and salad, but they let you swap that with different sides if you prefer. I always substitute spinach for salad (it tastes just like Indian saag), and their chickpeas are really good, too. It also comes with a giant piece of naan that’s made fresh in front of your eyes! Other recommendations include their lamb kabob and their pumpkin appetizer. Baby pumpkin that’s pan-fried then baked, seasoned with sugar and served with yogurt and a magical ground beef sauce. So, SO good.
Vivo Italian Kitchen & Wine
Vivo’s located inside The Hotel at Arundel Preserve, and I’ve had some really great experiences here, along with some not-so-hot experiences. Their food is good 90% of the time, as long as you go during peak hours. I usually get the same thing when I go, but I’ve tried most of their menu. Their pasta fresca (house made pasta) is really good, and their pizzas are solid as well.
Must-try noodle dishes include their Mafaldine Bolognese (pictured above), their Bucatini Lobster & Shrimp (pictured below), and their Gnocchi (prepared however way). My recommendations for “secondi” are as follows: their Lemon Chicken and their Chicken Marsala. Like I mentioned before, their pizzas are good so if you’re in the mood for thin, Italian-style pies, definitely feel free to indulge. As for apps and desserts, I haven’t been super impressed by them, but their mains are solid.
The Mafaldine Bolognese is especially tasty IMO! The noodles are always cooked perfectly al dente, and the sauce is to die for – it contains house made sausage, braised short rib, and warm ricotta. The Bucatini’s super indulgent with its creamy sauce with roasted tomatoes, chardonnay and thyme, and there’s always a healthy amount of seafood.
If you can, come for lunch because dinner prices can be steep, like their most simple pasta dishes start at $15. Also, their complimentary bread is really good, and it comes with this bomb white bean dip. I always end up getting seconds!
Bagels N’ Grinds
Oh god, I spend way too much money here because it’s great for eating on the go. They sell new-york style bagels, and I honestly love their bagels. If you think you’ll frequent this place, make sure you remember to sign up for their rewards program for perks. They have all kinds of breakfast and lunch sandwich options, but I usually keep it simple and go for bagels with cream cheese.
I go early in the morning because there’s more to choose from, and everything’s fresh. Their cheese, egg, pumpkin, and everything bagels are what dreams are made of. I’m sure I’m forgetting some other flavors I love, but I’m honestly not kidding when I say you can’t go wrong with whatever you get.
My go-to cream cheese is their veggie – that’s my feeble attempt at being “healthy” – and it tastes great on whatever flavor you get. FYI, they have another location in College Park so if that’s closer to you, go there instead.
David’s
This is the first of two restaurants I’m featuring from Live! Casino & Hotel. David’s is fairly new, but I’ve already gone several times already. They describe their food as “global,” and the second you see their menu, you’ll understand why. They have everything from Mediterranean to Asian!
Start your meal off with their Skillet Cornbread ($10). It’s honestly some of the yummiest cornbread I’ve ever tasted, and it comes with honey butter and fresh strawberry jam. I often wake up in the middle of the night dreaming about their cornbread, and I’d seriously go back just to enjoy this skillet of nomtastic goodness. Their fried mozzarella stack ($11) is also delicious, and it makes for a great photo.
They serve breakfast all day, and two of my favorite dishes are their Buttermilk Pancakes ($13), and their French Toast ($14). Both are tasty! The pancakes are literally pan “cakes.” They’re huge and fluffy! As for the French Toast, you can get them Hong Kong style or traditional – always get Hong Kong style – and they come with strawberries, bananas, honey butter and maple syrup. Think of them as giant blocks of challah french toast…because that’s what they are.
One last thing before I move onto restaurant Casino restaurant no. 2, make sure you save room for dessert because their sweets are exceptional. I’ve tried their Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Tart, and their Baltimore Cookie Cheesecake, and both were delectable. I’m heading back to try their pineapple upside-down cake with coconut gelato next.
If you’re in the area, make sure you guys try David’s. It’s a great place to get your grub on for both lunch and dinner, and valet’s free as long as you get your ticket validated. If you prefer, you could also park in the Costco lot right across the street.
PS. They have private selection series’ often so check their website. Think of it as an intimate dinner party with an alcohol-brand of their choice! I went to one with Maker’s mark, and the food was on point. I got four incredible plates with cocktail pairings, and tickets were only $75. Trust me, you’re getting incredible bang for your buck so consider splurging.
Prime Rib
And speaking of splurging, the food at Prime Rib definitely doesn’t come cheap, but it’s solid steak. To be honest, I was skeptical at first because their Yelp reviews were eh, but I’m not sure where all the negativity’s coming from? My family and I went for dinner, and we were quite impressed!
You can’t go wrong with any of their meat, but my favorite’s their angus filet mignon because it was melt-in-your-mouth good. Although they’re known for their steak, their seafood is really delicious as well. They call it their “Day Boat Menu,” and it changes weekly depending on what’s available. They source everything locally so you know your food’s going to be fresh.
Cava/Chipotle/Bonchon
So, I’m gonna lump these three together because they’re huge chains that everyone knows. If I want to be healthy on the go, I almost always hit up Cava (greens bowl with chicken) or Chipotle (brown rice bowl with chicken and veggies). Bonchon’s not as healthy, but the food’s pretty good, and the price is comparable so I listed it. The quality differs greatly from place to place so keep that in mind – the location in Hanover is just ok, but it’s good enough to list! Get their spicy fried chicken with a side of pickled radish.
Timbuktu Restaurant and Lounge
Come for their crab cakes! They’re ginormous with very little filler, and you’ll most definitely enjoy them. I can’t say much about their other food – I literally only get one dish here – and the ambiance isn’t great, but your tummy will thank me after enjoying these heavenly balls of perfection. Also for those of you interested, a long while back I asked some of Baltimore’s top foodies to talk about their favorite crab cakes in the area so make sure you guys check out that guide.
Alright friends, that’s a wrap for today. I hope you enjoyed reading about Hanover’s food offerings. Have you tried any of these places? Let me know by leaving a comment below. If you have recommendations to share, I’d love to hear them – I’m always looking for nomtastic places to eat. Until next time, friends – sending so much love! For more on food, click here, and to read more about my adventures in the DMV, check out THIS tab.
ok I am having a foodgasm from all of this
Great recommendations! I’ll keep these places in mind when I visit MD!