Hi there, I am excited and honored to be your food blogger for the ARVO 2017 Baltimore! I have lived in Baltimore for the past four years and am eager to show you the gems around Charm City.
Over the next few weeks, I will regularly upload posts with different themes, such as seafood, Italian and places for drinks, etc. For my first post, I will go the practical route and talk about lunch options near the Convention Center.
This year’s ARVO will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center, which is conveniently located in the downtown/Inner Harbor area. While this is a superbly central and convenient location, I have to be honest and admit that this is not the most gastronomically inspiring area. What the area lacks in creativity and inspiration, it more than compensates with the sheer number of options. While most places are commercialized big chain eateries, there are a few good lunch options that are within walking distance. For dinner options, I really recommend venturing out of the downtown area. There are plenty of good options (to be suggested in subsequent posts) within a 10-15 minute cab ride.
Shake Shack
400 E Pratt St. 
Started not too long ago as a stand-alone burger shack in Manhattan, Shake Shack has grown exponentially in the past few years. For visitors from abroad, this is a quintessentially American, fast-food experience that is much tastier than McDonalds. Personally, I think the absolute (taste) standard of the food is very high and the burgers are delicious. For visitors coming from the west coast, I would humbly suggest that Shake Shack burgers taste better than In-N-Out burgers -- I know this may sound blasphemous but I did live in LA during my intern year. And do I need to mention that they serve beer as well?!
Chick-fil-A
400 E Pratt St. Right next to Shake Shack
This is a fast-food chain that is more well-known in the south and specializes in chicken. While not surprising, its chicken sandwiches really are superior to those of its competitors. The chicken pieces are moist, flavorful and not over-battered. In addition, the frosted lemonade and waffle fries are delicious as well.
The Cheesecake Factory
201 E Pratt St. within the Gallery Mall
This is another classic American establishment. While its regular food is only OK, it offers many varieties of cheesecake to-go, all of which will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.