Great beer. And that's just one reason the Wharf Rat's just slightly off the beaten path Fells Point location is the bar we most often send semi-adventurous tourists to. Visitors to Baltimore come expecting a few things: some "salty" atmosphere and characters, non-NYC/D.C. prices, and decent yet unpretentious grub. Well, the Rat's food is certainly unpretentious. It's got salt to spare--wooden walls, ceilings, and bars, nautical knots everywhere, this place defines rustic--and in the twilight, all that wood, rumbling conversation, and flickering light can be downright romantic. Its house-brewed offerings are sublime, and often priced to move (at least until 7 p.m.). Just try to resist yet another ESB. The downtown location has a little less sodium, but it's almost directly across Pratt Street from the convention center; conventioneers aren't exactly tourists, but hey, they deserve good beer, too.
