Sumner Says

Over the summer, I attended a Phillies v Orioles game at Camden Yards. I started the day with high expectations, as I heard Oriole Park is among the top-ranked MLB stadiums for food.

I tried to incorporate a mix of classic stadium foods and unique Baltimore eats. Here is a list of everything I tried, ranked from best to worst:

1. Lemonade – Stadium Stand

Rating: 10 / 10

Hear me out. I know this seems like a lame thing to be at the top of the list, but the old-fashioned lemonade sold throughout the stadium is absolutely delicious. Maybe it was the heat, or the 7th inning fatigue, but this beverage quenched my thirst and energized me for the rest of the game.

The lemonade is sold by stadium hawkers and can be purchased with or without vodka. I ordered one without vodka and personally didn’t feel like I was missing out. This will be my first purchase at my next game.

2. Mini Donuts – Deddle’s Donuts

Rating: 9 / 10

These donuts were my most anticipated game-day treat and they did not disappoint! My group got the donut “bucket”, which came with 20 mini donuts and the option of two different flavors. We chose churro and funnel cake. Both were tasty, but the churro was my personal favorite.

Toppings such as chocolate and strawberry sauce were available to be drizzled on top. Pleasing a large group is hard, so we went without any toppings. If I was flying solo, I would have added chocolate. That likely would have elevated these donuts to a solid 10/10. Even without any toppings, my party had no problem devouring the bucket and leaving no crumbs.

3. Soft Pretzel with Cheese – B&O Market

Rating: 7 / 10

I’m a sucker for a soft pretzel covered in salt and dipped in a side of nacho cheese. This wasn’t the softest, nor the freshest, soft pretzel I ever had, but it got the job done.

4. Chicken Fingers – Chicken Shack

Rating: 6.5 / 10

The chicken fingers were a divisive food amongst my group. Some thought they were terrible and some thought they were wonderful. I personally thought they were pretty good for a stadium tender. Honey Mustard and BBQ were available for dipping sauces (and ketchup, if you count that). While lackluster, they certainly make for a good photo.

5. Maryland Dog – Camden Franks

Rating: 6 / 10

I couldn’t leave the venue without trying what Maryland is known for – crab! The Maryland Dog was a hot dog topped with crab dip and crispy onions. Unfortunately, the crab dip was not what I expected. I was envisioning large chunks of crab, but instead I received a smooth, small-portion of dip. Perhaps I just ordered from a bad batch because I swear I saw other dogs throughout the day that were piled high with crab meat.

The crab spread had more of a cheese than crab flavor. Oddly enough, the hot dog and crab cheese dip combo almost tasted like a Lebanon bologna sandwich. If you’re interested in trying this hot dog, you won’t have to travel far. About every other stand is a Camden Franks.

6. Soft Serve Ice Cream – Stadium Stand

Rating: 5 / 10

The summer day was HOT and every hot day calls for ice cream. By the time the soft serve was delivered to me by my lovely girlfriend, it was more like a rainbow-sprinkle covered chocolate and vanilla soup. Still, it tasted like a typical soft serve you’d get from your neighborhood Rita’s. The dessert did come in a souvenir Oriole’s hat, which gives it a few extra bonus points.

7. Chi Town Dog – Stuggy’s

Rating: 2 / 10

The biggest regret of the game: the Chicago-style hot dog. This hot dog was piled high with toppings, including a roasted red pepper, pickle, onions, relish, and mustard. It was too much to handle in the stadium seating of a baseball game. There was onions and mustard EVERYWHERE – it was like a scene out of a gruesome hot dog murder. I’d highly recommend sticking to a regular hot dog, and saving the Chicago-style dog for the next time you’re in the Windy City.

Was I disappointed with my food from the day? Yes.

Could my own choices be to blamed? Also, yes.

There were many food items that looked appetizing that I didn’t get to try, including:

• Crab Cake Egg Rolls – Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
• French Fries – The Local Fry
• Smash Burger – Fuzzies

I noticed more of the unique stands were on the first-level of the stadium. My seats were in the nosebleeds on the third-level, which had a lot more repeat stands (e.g. Camden Franks and Chicken Shack). It was quite a trek back downstairs. In hindsight, I should have purchased more food when I first arrived to bring upstairs.

If I ever return, I’ll be trying all new things and can hopefully give the ballpark a higher rating. For now, I have to say the Phillies lost, and so did the food at Camden Yards.