Inside: Riptide by the Bay

(Credit: Kelly Christ)

Photos:

Opened since May, 2008, Riptide by the Bay is Fells Point's only place for steamed crabs. Riptide prides itself on using local resources and selling the local product. And as far as local color, Riptide has its characters, and even its own ghost.

Vibe: Owner and designer Roger Rippel gutted the entire place, but maintains the nautical theme of what was once known as The Mariner, closed since 1986. Rippel installed solar panels, uses biofuels and hopes to get a hydrogen generator. "We tried to build a ship in here, but the city held us up for three months," said Ripple. Baltimore politics—go figure. (Which is precisely why we haven't been holding our breath about another Fells Point opening, Miss Irene's.)

The façade, originating from the 1700s, preserves that old time vibe we love so much about Fells. The second floor even has its own ghost, Maggie. Stay tuned to see if Maggie makes the Fells Point GhostWalk.

One thing we're not so spooked about is the alley converted into a dining room. It's technically an open area, so the government can't control whether or not you decide to smoke a cigarette there. Imagine that.

Crowd: "It's Fells, so we get tourists in here," says bartender Scott McKnight, "but I get to brag on Baltimore."
And who doesn't love braggin' on B-more, besides David Simon. As far as Metromix is concerned, there's no better neighborhood to brag about. Thames Street's got everything—from coffee shops to make-believe police departments.

"It's casual," says Rippel, "People just come in to talk. They talk about the issues without getting into an argument. It's like a forum." This is one of the few places in Baltimore that doesn't care about being P.C. "Somehow, we've become a Redskins hangout," says Rippel. While we may be trending toward a one-party nation when it comes to politics, we don't have to be a one-team town. Go 'Skins!

Libations: It's never too early for the Boh on blue, a blue point oyster and a dab of cocktail sauce swimming in a snifter of Natty Boh. If you'll have nothing to do with grit or slime, you probably don't belong in Fells, but Riptide by the Bay still satisfies the beer snob in all of us, changing drafts seasonally. In fall you'll find New Castle, Guinness and Smithwick's. Riptides also serves $2 Miller Lite drafts during happy hour, if you're too good or too poor for Natty Boh. (That's our only complaint. Those Bohs were $3.50. Seriously, Riptides, that's a rip-off.)

Insider tips: Don't ask for crab legs or lobster. It's Fells Point and you should know better. Do ask about specials: Buy a beer get a crab, $2 drafts during football and $2 crabs on Wednesdays. Also, try the pineapple chili and the crab bruschetta with avocado. Do it. Oh, and ask the bartender for the lunchbox. He'll add a little amaretto and OJ to your beer. Now, if that only came in a drink box.

Bottom line: It's Baltimore, people, the place where you drink beer and get crabs. That sounded bad, but seriously, we love that there's finally a place to get crabs in Fells. OK, now we've ruined it. Check out Riptide by the Bay, the seafood's good.

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