Heading to CFG Bank Arena? Here’s where to eat within a 10-minute walk.

What do you do in the time before the CFG Bank Arena doors open to the concert that's been holding your calendar hostage?

Eat.

At least, that's what the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, which advocates for businesses in the area, is expecting. As showrunners from Maxwell to Charli XCX and Billie Eilish take the stage in the coming weeks, the organization anticipates 60,000 new visitors venturing downtown.

Hopes continue to be high for the revamped stadium, which received a privately funded $250 million renovation. In its first year in business, the arena attracted more than 828,000 visitors. It has also been named among Billboard's "Top Venues" for midyear 2024. The improvements also extended to repaired and replaced sidewalks, as organizers like Downtown Partnership President Shelonda Stokes work to prioritize the "pedestrian experience."

"We want them to stay and spend time at our downtown businesses," she said.

And for some businesses, like Maiwand Grill, the foot traffic can be lifesaving. Monica Santiago, who manages the eatery, said lines will appear "out of nowhere" when a big show comes to CFG or the Hippodrome. "In the winter it accounts for most of our business," she said.

So we put together a list of the crucial spots to dine within a 10-minute walk from the arena.

Maiwand Grill

This Afghan spot brings in major lines between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on big show nights. Ordering at the counter is pretty swift, and the options for homestyle cooking range from chicken tikka and lamb kebabs to kadu (pan-fried pumpkin) and chickpea curry. It stays open until 9:30 p.m. each night, and opens at 10:30 a.m. on weekdays and noon on weekends.

Pratt Street Ale House

This brewpub has all the fried foods you need before spending a night on your feet. Choose from loaded nachos, pickle fries, chicken tender baskets and more. Of course, it wouldn't be Baltimore without the surprise addition of crab on a number of dishes. Here you can find crab on macaroni and cheese, crab on chicken breast and crab on jumbo pretzels. It opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. every day.

R&R Taqueria

This taco counter will get you in and out before that pre-show anxiety sets in. Classic street tacos from al pastor to chicharron are available alongside chicken mole burritos and huaraches, or masa dough topped with cheese, sour cream and your choice of meat. The taqueria stays open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 8 p.m. all other days (except for Sunday, when it closes at 7 p.m.). It opens at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends.

The Yard

The Yard is a sports bar and eatery within the Inner Harbor's Marriott hotel that serves up comfort food from burgers to BLTs and steaks. Its happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. also serves sliders, crab cakes and dips for the folks looking for a quick and easy bite. Its hours can be found on its website.

Puerto 511

Now to the people looking for an experience, Puerto 511 is for you. Warning: The full meal can last up to 2 1/2 glorious hours, but as my colleague Jess Gallagher said with eyes tearing over a deconstructed tamale, this food has been "kissed by a fairy." From the passionfruit-glazed ahi tuna to the octopus and concha ceviche bathed in "tiger's milk" — otherwise known as a citrus fruit juice marinade with lime, chiles, onions and cilantro — the food is worth savoring.

Covers of '90s music played to maracas and smooth piano interludes set the scene for this small venue, which has only a few tables and minimalist décor, including $100 paintings for sale with vibrant orange and blue hues. It may take a few rings of the buzzer to get inside the eatery, and reservations are needed, but it's worth it. It's closed Sundays and Mondays, but open from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. all days except Wednesday, when it closes an hour early.