Eats and Drinks
Best Deck Dining
Vin
1 E. Joppa Road, Suite 155, Towson, (410) 337-0797, www.vinbaltimore.com
Throwing money into a forgotten corner of Towson Circle's old Hutzler building created the goofily glamorous new restaurant named Vin (pronounced "vine"), with an interior that simulates the effects of a constant adrenaline drip. Fun. Slightly more sedate, and altogether satisfying, is the swanky raised outdoor deck, positioned across a tiny, untraveled loading alley from the restaurant proper. Furnished flamboyantly with mammoth umbrellas, layout-ready lounge groupings, and sturdy dining tables, the deck pulses giddily to thumping DJ beats. (The sound system itself needs work.) It reminds us of movie scenes set around Hollywood hotel pools, and we've started carrying our screenplay with us when we go there. A good deal of chef Christopher Paternotte's enterprising menu is available on the deck, and its advantage over the inside room is that diners can actually concentrate on his food. Think of it as your reward for having endured shopping in the nearby malls.
