5 sports bars in Baltimore to watch the Orioles games

Narrowing down Baltimore’s many, many sports bars proved to be a challenge. Most of the sports fans I know are happy as long as they’ve got decent bar food, a TV view and maybe a deal on drinks. So what makes a “destination” sports bar? What would inspire a fan to leave the convenience of the pub that happens to be nearest to home?

As the Orioles season heats up, here are five Baltimore sports bars that offer a little something special, whether it’s the menu, deals, activities or convivial atmosphere that brings strangers together in shared excitement and hope for the home team.

29th Street Tavern

On a rainy Saturday, 29th Street Tavern in Remington was just a bar — old-fashioned interiors of brick, wood and stained glass; a mostly full house; a background murmur of chatter as people watched the Orioles game and sought shelter from the weather. But at 6:57 p.m., the tavern became unquestionably a sports bar as 20 horses bolted off in the Kentucky Derby. Patrons stood up from their pints, shouted, “Go, go, go!” and were locked in on the televisions together for about two minutes.

This cozy, communal environment is helped along by outdoor picnic tables, darts and sporadic Bingo nights. “It’s a classic mixed bag,” owner Aaron Reinhart said of the clientele, adding that local celebrities, including filmmaker John Waters, sometimes stop in, “rubbing elbows with the common folk.”

The menu consists of typical pub fare, plus a few lighter Mediterranean options like an ahi tuna pita and roasted red pepper hummus. Deeply creamy, sweet deviled eggs are straight out of a block party, and the fried cheese balls make an usual but tasty match: pepper jack and cocktail sauce. “I’ve tried every sauce to go with it, and somehow, cocktail wins every time,” Reinhart said. “It makes no sense.”

Come before the season ends for the soft-shell crab sandwich special, but the dish of the night was the chicken cheesesteak. Forget wannabe versions that use big chicken pieces; this thinly stripped meat was mouthwateringly griddled and held together by wisps of provolone. 398 W. 29th St., 410-235-2426, 29thstreettavern.com

Flock

As you step into Washington Village/Pigtown’s Flock, an angry raven soars in front of the moon in a mural by Annapolis artist Jahru, sure to intimidate any opposing team fans who dare to visit the sports bar. Flock, which opened in January, is done up in purples and golds, the restaurant equivalent of the purple devil emoji beloved by Ravens fans on Twitter.

With a southern and Caribbean menu, Flock is ideal for a meal before or during the game, and is about a mile’s walk from M&T Bank Stadium. The fried catfish remained shockingly moist under its crispiness and buttery bun. Truffle mac and cheese often has a tendency to overdo it with the truffle oil, but this one had just the right hint of flavor amongst the gooeyness. Fried salmon bites were a bit too heavy on the breading, but sweet chile sauce helped to cut through. The cocktails lean toward juicy, vacation-conjuring sippers rather than game-time pounders. 1415 Washington Blvd., 443-438-6326, visitflock.com

Frank’s Bay Tavern

When Frank Zapushek walked into the tavern he named for himself on a recent weeknight, the handful of bar dwellers seemed to mostly know him, earning a cheer or hug, and he introduced himself to newcomers. Here, he and his wife and co-owner, Karen Zapushek, aim for a small-town spirit reminiscent of the way Curtis Bay was when she grew up there.

“Everybody around here knows each other, and that feels fitting for the local bar,” Karen said.

They sometimes have trouble drawing people to the neighborhood but promise a clean, safe space that they’ve renovated. “Once they come into the bar, they love it,” said Frank, a retired Baltimore Police officer in the area.

Nine televisions hang above the bar, and Frank’s offers $12 beer buckets during Ravens games. Non-fans also have a lot to occupy themselves with: game machines, free pool tables, darts, open jukebox hours, giant Jenga and more.

The food is simple, such as $6 angus burgers and pickled sausages for a buck each. But the menu standout is the Bay Slinger, a shooter in a mini mason jar with clear liquor and fresh fruit. Frank won’t identify his concoction more than that, but according to Karen, it’s known as “devil juice in a Barbie jar.” 4507 Pennington Ave., 410-483-8798, franksbaytavern.com

iBar

Mastery of a deep fryer might seem like a prerequisite for opening a sports bar, but too many of them serve up half-frozen mozzarella sticks, soft fries and oily onion rings. Conversely, the kitchen staff of iBar nails the appliance, offering every fried item a fan could desire, each morsel crispy, hot and golden brown. The bar’s legendary wings can be fried regular or hard for an extra crunch, and choose between the authentic or chef-style preparation with garlic and parmesan. These buffalo are the kind of wings you eat like no one is watching, and there’s plenty of sauce left over to dip the seasoned French fries. Baltimore seems strangely obsessed with nontraditional egg roll appetizers, but the gimmick works on the southwestern version’s ratio of light fry, chicken, corn, cheese and a peppery, ranch-based dipping sauce. You know what you’re getting with a menu like this, but iBar’s snacks are as good as they get without trying to be elevated.

The bar has two distinct environments: an uproarious upstairs with music and laughter creating a party-like — if perhaps distracting — ambience during a Friday Orioles game. But the basement has more seating for the fan who needs to focus. 2118 Maryland Ave., 443-759-6147, ibarbaltimore.com

Shotti’s Point Charm City

With TVs at every angle in a narrow space, beach motifs and a ceiling speckled with a mélange of stickers, Shotti’s Point in Riverside makes for a boisterous, eclectic scene on game days. But the real draw is the food — the quality and flavors rise above most sports bars, but it still remains pub food at its core. Think poke nachos with fat chunks of seared ahi tuna, pickled jalapeños, avocado, scallions, wasabi aïoli, soy reduction and wonton chips that can support it all with just a light crisp. Cheddar cheese curds with hot honey are perfect for soaking up all the alcohol consumed over an hourslong game, and the shrimp salad sub sings with creamy sauce and succulent shrimp pieces, the sort of sandwich you’d want to eat outside during nice weather. Hope that the game falls during happy hour, when there are discounts like $6.50 crushes, $9 mussels and $10 for a half-pound of steamed jumbo shrimp. 701 E. Fort Ave., 443-835-2968, shottispointcharmcity.com