Restaurants in Overlea

When laid out item by item, Lucky Inn's lunch and dinner menus could possibly span the entire length of the Great Wall of China. The lengthy lists keep the eatery’s chefs busy crafting favorites such as general tso’s chicken, beef with broccoli, and shrimp in garlic sauce, as well as noodle dishes of the lo mein, chow mein, and chow fun varieties. Meat-free fare arrives in the form of orange-flavored tofu and sautéed snow peas, harvested by ski instructors during slow days.

Polished chrome, checkered floors, and red, vinyl booths decorate New Towne Diner. The eatery recalls classic diners of the 1950s so well that acute ears can hear the ghosts of poodle-skirted gals and slicked-back greasers sock-hopping across the floor and extolling the wonders of this new NASA thing. Reubens, cheeseburgers, and stacks of pancakes peacefully coexist on their comprehensive menu, packed with classic diner fare from breakfast to dessert. Lox-and-onion omelets are morning highlights, and later-in-the-day staples include teriyaki chicken or beef marinated in housemade sauce. Its dessert case, populated with fresh-baked pies and cakes, was the focus of their listing with the Baltimore Sun, which claimed it "always provides reason enough to stop in."

Caribbean Dutch Pot Restaurant's owner and culinary captain, Ras Prince, layers plates with traditional Jamaican fare. Prince draws from spice-heavy Caribbean recipes, incorporating chicken, goat, and seafood to silence stomach rumbles without diners having to snack on soundproof insulation. Events such as karaoke, culturally focused open-mic-poetry nights, and live reggae bands on Saturdays and Sundays further imbue the intimate space with a spirited, tropical atmosphere. That atmosphere will be carried over to Woodlawn Memorial Park in July when the Restaurant hosts a Reggae Jerk Festival. Inside the restaurant, elements of Caribbean design, such as bamboo accents and tables topped in reed placemats, complement brightly colored walls and free wireless internet routed through a coconut.

The chefs at Acropolis Restaurant fill the menu with classic and contemporary Greek dishes. Grilled octopus and spicy feta dip whet appetites for shrimp saganaki with melted kasseri cheese, vegetarian moussaka, and house specialties such as lamb giouvetsi, which simmers braised lamb with string beans, tomatoes, wine, and herbs. Cups of Greek coffee or wines from California, Greece, and Italy complement each meal, which are served at tables lit with a soft glow cast by candles in blue holders. Cool blue and off-white walls hold up framed paintings of Mediterranean vistas, and clean white tablecloths give guests a sense of elegance and a place to win hide-and-seek.

The Flores family never dreamed that 15 years after they emigrated from Mexico, Maryland state senator Jim Robey would be on hand at their restaurant opening to whack a celebratory piñata. Yet that's exactly how the business started—with an explosion of candy foretelling a boom of happy customers.

Named for the Flores’s hometown of Nayarit, El Nayar was designed as a reflection of the clan’s personality, which they describe as "authentic Mexican, laid-back, and down-to-earth." They’re proud that amid the exposed-brick columns and blue- and red-tiled counter, immigrants can be found enjoying cactus and eggs beside American businessmen talking shop over tacos and quesadillas. It’s this mentality, along with sizzling fajitas and house-made spicy sauce, that has earned the restaurant an award as a Top 10 Mexican Restaurant by the Baltimore Sun.

Also honored with a Healthy Howard award for the dietary excellence of its menu, the BYOB establishment encourages diners to supplement meals with glasses of a favorite red wine, good for the heart, or shots of tequila, good for hand-walking skills and adding into specialty margaritas.

Brothers Jimmy, Tony, and Nick Miller pioneered Buddy Maratta’s Cafe and Deli, christening it after their father’s childhood nickname, with the vision of enlightening palates to traditional Baltimore cuisine. Drawing on his degree from the Baltimore Culinary Institute and on years of fine-dining experience, Chef Nick whips up a menu of breakfast and lunch sandwiches and salads and calls upon the Miller mother and aunts to bake homemade desserts and cakes. Platters of specialty crab fries, braised-short-rib cheesesteaks, and a variety of gourmet salads emerge from the kitchen into a casual-dining area where rows of tabletops bask beneath hanging lights and framed artwork, among the free WiFi waves. In addition to dining in, patrons can request catering services for special events, meetings, and jury-duty reunions.