Let me put you on to one of the prettiest new dinners in Baltimore, Nomsters. La Jetée is James Beard Award-winning chef Spike Gjerde’s brand-new French spot, tucked inside the Canopy hotel at Harbor Point, and no matter where you sit, you’ve got a lovely view of the water.
Everything from the service to the ambiance was on point, and the food? A great experience, for real. We worked our way through the Grand Shellfish Plateau, chickpea fries, a mushroom carbonara, seared tuna, and a really lovely dessert to close it out. It’s a splurge, yes, but it’s exactly the kind of place I’d send you for a special night out on the water.
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What Makes La Jetée a Standout French Restaurant in Baltimore
Spike Gjerde (of Woodberry Kitchen fame) was Baltimore’s first James Beard Award winner, and La Jetée is his take on the sunny South of France: think a lively Provencal bistro, but built on his signature obsession with local, regenerative sourcing and Chesapeake Bay seafood.
Baltimore Magazine called the vibe “Marseilles meets Maryland,” and that’s exactly it. It opened in October 2025 on the ground floor of the Canopy hotel, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the Patapsco River (you can even spot the Domino Sugars sign). It’s French, but it’s unmistakably rooted right here.
What to Order at La Jetée
Everything we got was delicious, but these were my favorites, in order of appearance.
Grand Shellfish Plateau ($98)
If you’re going to go big, this is the move. The Grand Shellfish Plateau ($98) came stacked with THE freshest seafood: oysters, clams escabeche, marinated mussels, lobster aioli, crab, and a whole lot more. It’s a splurge, obviously, but it’s built for sharing and it’s a genuine showstopper when it lands on the table. If you’re celebrating something, start right here.
Fougasse ($11)
This roasted garlic rosemary bread ($11) comes with the yummiest aioli, and I seriously could not stop eating it, lol. It’s a simple thing done really well, and at $11 it’s one of the more affordable ways to taste why everyone’s talking about this kitchen. Do not skip the bread.
Panisse ($13)
Panisse ($13) is the ultimate French bar snack: chickpea fries served with more of that magical aioli. I loved the texture on these, super crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Get an order to nibble on with drinks while you settle in.
Hand-cut Noodles ($27)
The hand-cut noodles ($27) are a grilled mushroom carbonara with English peas, aged cheese, and egg yolk, and honestly? Pure comfort in a bowl. Need I say more. This was one of my favorites of the whole night.
Yellowfin Tuna Au Poivre ($37)
The Yellowfin Tuna Au Poivre ($37) was perfectly seared and served with grilled potatoes, winter barigoule, tapenade, and a vigneronne sauce. If those last two words mean nothing to you, same, lol. Barigoule’s a Provencal way of slow-braising vegetables in olive oil and white wine, and vigneronne’s a French red-wine pan reduction (the name literally means “winemaker’s sauce”). Fancy, but so good.
Mille-feuille aux Poires ($14)
Save room, because this dessert ($14) was a lovely close to the meal: puff pastry with Asian pear, star anise caramel, vanilla cream, and a pear brandy ice cream. Quick FYI, it leans a little boozier, so it’s a grown-up treat. Next time I’m eyeing the bruleed croissant bread pudding, which sounds so, so good.
The Vibe and Experience
Full transparency, Nomsters: the team kindly invited my friend and me in to try the restaurant, and as always, everything here is my honest take. And my honest take is that this was a standout experience. The service was warm and attentive, the room’s stunning, and every dish delivered. This one lives up to the name behind it, and the best part is that the view’s stunning AND the food absolutely holds its own.
The vibe’s a coastal French bistro done right: lighter woods, linen touches, and those floor-to-ceiling windows that keep the whole room feeling bright and breezy, even with 80-some seats. It sits between Harbor East and Fells Point, so you’re right on the water no matter where they seat you.
This is a special-occasion kind of place: date night, an anniversary, or a celebratory dinner with your foodie friends. If you want to keep it more low-key, you can grab a seat at the bar for drinks or a full meal, no reservation needed. For another dreamy Baltimore date-night idea, the Bluebird Cocktail Room is one of my favorites.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 1215 Wills St, Baltimore, MD 21231 (inside the Canopy by Hilton Baltimore Harbor Point)
- Chef: Spike Gjerde (James Beard Award winner), with executive chef Matthew Audette
- Hours: it’s all-day. Breakfast M-F 7-11 AM, lunch 11 AM-2 PM, dinner 5-9 PM (bar until 11 PM Fri). Saturday brunch 8 AM-2 PM plus dinner 5-9 PM. Sunday brunch 8 AM-2 PM plus dinner 5-8 PM
- Reservations: book on Resy for parties under 8; walk-ins are always welcome, including at the bar. Parties of 8-plus, email lajetee@eccoproject.com
- Parking: complimentary valet at the hotel entrance, plus street parking (I found it easily) and a nearby garage
- Price: a splurge. Starters run about $9 to $98, entrees roughly $24 to $44
- Cuisine: French and Provencal, seafood-forward, with local, regenerative sourcing
- Website: lajeteebaltimore.com
- Phone: (443) 960-8670
It’s a splurge, no way around it, but La Jetée delivers on every front: the food, the service, and a genuinely lovely view of the water. It’s my pick for a special-occasion dinner in Baltimore right now, and I already can’t wait to go back for that bread pudding. If you’re building a whole night out in the neighborhood, Ejji Ramen in nearby Harbor East is another favorite for a more casual bite. For a celebratory French dinner on the water, though, this is the one.
Okay, I could talk about this meal all day, but I’ll let you go experience it yourself. Have you guys been to La Jetée yet, or is it on your list now? Let me know in the comments, Nomsters. And if you’re planning a whole date night around it, my roundup of Baltimore bars perfect for date night will help you finish the evening right. Save this one and send it to your favorite dinner date.