You may know us as the vegetarians. The vegans. The crazy, committed, food-obsessed environmental flower children. We embrace these labels, and more. And we want you to hop on board! These delicious restaurants provide a transition from the commerce-fueled world of fine dining to the local, fresh, and delicious world of slow eating, appreciation for food, and community-driven sourcing. Prepare for your mouth to water.
1) Stall 11
Located at R. House, Stall 11 is a restaurant with vegetarian twists on traditional street food, such as Fungi Philli (a mushroom philly cheesesteak) and a Black Garlic Kale-Caesar (with tempeh, or fermented soybeans, instead of chicken). Stall 11 earns sustainability points not just from their plant based menu, but also from their local sourcing and own growing operations. They can also be found at farmer’s markets.
2) Maggie's Farm
Winner of numerous awards, Maggie’s Farm is a restaurant in Baltimore with a delicious, locally sourced menu. Their mission statement explicitly states their commitment to sustainability, saying that Maggie's Farm is: "committed to supporting local farms, businesses and charities. We currently source from Kohl Family Farm, Tuscarora Organic Co-op, Andy's Eggs & Poultry, Roseda Farms, Zeke's Coffee, our own garden, and more. We strive to provide quality, service, and product in a comfortable space. We might not be the best. But we hope we're your favorite."
3) Atwater's
With over 11 locations in the Maryland, Virginia, and D.C area, Atwater's is a casual eatery with many options, from marketplaces to sit down eating. Atwater's makes many of their own products, including their breads, jams, and ice cream. Other products are locally sourced. Atwater's also sources products from their own farm, and ensure that their menu is seasonally appropriate.
4) Woodberry Kitchen
A restaurant located at Clipper Mill, Woodberry Kitchen has long been at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement. This restaurant features local cheeses, veggies, and oysters, among other things. The rooms are filled with warm lighting and cozy wood tones, making dining all the more inviting. Besides this, Woodberry Kitchen is part of the Foodshed group (a restaurant group dedicated to farm-to-table cooking) and has been named one of the top-10 most sustainable restaurants in the US by the Huffington Post.
5) Parts and Labor
Carnivores, this is the place for you! A local, full service butcher and restaurant, Parts and Labor is a huge supporter of the slow movement, sourcing from local farms and practicing low-processing, whole-animal butchery techniques. Their website prominently features the names of the farms they source from, including One Straw Farm and Reid's Orchard.
6) MOM's Organic Market
And finally, a grocery store. MOM’s Organic Market lives and breathes sustainability. All of their products pass a rigorous set of heath and sustainability standards. They also practice what they preach through installing solar panels, buying wind-energy credits, using energy efficient heating and lighting, banning plastic bags, and having electric car charging stations and recycling centers at every store.