Batter Up Diner will open this week at Cross Street Market in Federal Hill. The diner will take over the fully-enclosed 2,000 sq. ft. space on the Light Street end of the market that was previously Velleggia’s. Batter Up Diner is a concept from hospitality industry veterans Kara McCarthy and Saaby.
The name Batter Up is a play on words that honors Baltimore’s love for sports (the Orioles in this case) and pancake batter as pancakes are “the star of the show” at this new restaurant. The decor will be baseball-themed, and the staff working the counter will have umpire-themed uniforms.
The menu will feature pancakes with bourbon green apple and maple bacon, grilled cheese pancakes, coconut pancakes, carrot cake pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, and more. Batter Up will also serve dippers, which are breakfast meats dipped in pancake batter, fried, and drizzled in maple syrup.
The menu will also have traditional egg and meat platters; mac and cheese bowls with ingredients such as pesto, Cajun shrimp, and different meats; grab-and-go croissant sandwiches; and grilled chicken sandwiches from McCarthy’s food truck Flew the Coop.
McCarthy said they are excited about the different cake cups that will be served.
Kids will eat free at Batter Up if they are with an adult who orders a $12 or more menu item.
Batter Up will serve seven different boozy milkshakes as well as juices, mimosas, bloody marys, and beers from Baltimore breweries. If patrons want coffee, they will be directed across the hall to Ceremony Coffee Roasters.
Batter Up will open to the public on Friday afternoon after a test run in the morning. Its regular hours will be Monday to Thursday from 7am to 2pm, Friday and Saturday from 7am to 9pm, and Sunday from 7am to 6pm.
McCarthy is originally from Virginia but her wife grew up in Pigtown, and she has since fallen in love with the city. “Baltimore has so many cool pockets, I never want to live anywhere else,” she said.
“We are very excited to be in Federal Hill,” she added.
