Lunch

Ordering fish and chips at a place named Basta Pasta might seem like a stretch. But in fairness, the Lutherville restaurant's full name is Basta Pasta Italian & Seafood Restaurant, and it ably handles both fish and pasta. Judging from a recent order of fish and chips, it's clear the fry cook knows his business - the coating on the fresh filet was crisp, without a hint of oil visible. The fish is actually local rockfish, which elevates the classic English street fare to sit-down restaurant status.

Behind the nondescript storefront with its necessary neon window signs, Towson Best does indeed serve some of the best Cantonese food in the Towson/North Baltimore area. A group of young and unfailingly friendly owners and staff greet all who enter and set the tone for casual lunches and dinners that make you not only want to return for the food and but also to patronize a place run by such nice people. The room is divided by long planters. To your right is a tidy eight-stool sushi bar with its pristine fish and smiling chef, small booths and a few tables.

The gang at Mission BBQ is inviting the public to have lunch with a group of World War II veterans visting from California. You'll find no sunshine patriots at Mission BBQ , these guys stick to their mission of honoring Americans in uniform every day. So, go, and get there at noon for the daily singing of the National Anthem, and stay for the good barbecue and a chat with the vets.

Open only since last month, Luigi's Italian Deli in Hampden avoids any of the missteps that invariably are part of a new restaurant. Luigi's, and several of the small restaurants on 36th Street in Hampden, aka The Avenue, belie the old adage that patrons are reluctant to walk up stairs to a restaurant. At the top of these steps is a pleasant porch furnished with four tiny tables. Sipping a Blood Orange Pellegrino and tackling one of the specialty sandwiches makes scaling a few steps a small price to pay. There is also a spacious patio out back.

This coming week offers a chance to visit two worthy Maryland landmarks. The normally off-limits Gibson Island Club will be open, and you can enjoy a lunch overlooking the Magothy. And I paid an advance visit to the Shrine of St. Anthony at Folly Quarter, a remarkable Roman Catholic monastery complex in western Howard County. Being a fan of pre-World War II buildings and architecture, I opted for a preview of the 1931 monastery, which is open daily for Masses, confessions and other functions.

The downtown Baltimore lunch crowd can look forward to two new fast - food spots opening in May -- Sushi Express and Crazy Kabobs. The new vendors will fill empty space in the food court at The Gallery mall across East Pratt Street from Harborplace. As The Baltimore Business Journal reported Tuesday, the openings are part of changes that also include Saladworks closing about a month ago. Mall owner General Growth Properties is working on filling that spot to boost the seven-vendor food court's occupancy from its current 85 percent, said General Growth spokesman Greg Harris.

The Village Square Cafe is a modest, bright and spotlessly clean place in Roland Park with few pretensions. It understands that delivering the right experience must begin with the owners and run down the line to servers, cooks and bus boys. It seems a simple enough credo for success, and here, they do it well. The lunch menu is understandably heavy on sandwiches, but there are also pizza, wraps and omelets. The great list of sandwiches ranges from $7.95 for the BLT to $9.95 for the half-pound burger and fries, with the other sandwiches, including a stellar Reuben, priced at $8.95.

Those folks at Mission BBQ are serious about their commitment to honoring America's men and women in uniform. At Thursday's, "Lunch with the Heroes" event, the Glen Burnie restaurant will be providing a complimentary lunch to more than 25 Wounded Warrior Project alumni. The owners of Mission BBQ , Bill Kraus and Steve Newton, will also present a $10,000 check to the Wounded Warrior Project, money they've raised through the sale of through the sale of the restaurant's American Heroes Cups.