Whether you’re a fan of the city’s rich soul food and seafood or cavity-inducing sweets, Baltimore’s Black entrepreneurs are the engine behind much of it.

Their influence dates back to as early as the late-18th century during slavery, when some descendants of Africans introduced staples like collard greens and sweet potatoes, adding new flavors to local cuisine. Soul food remains popular today as a result of the culinary traditions shared by African Americans.

As we celebrate Black History Month, here is a list of Black-owned restaurants that continue to mold Charm City’s food scene.

Rooted Rotisserie

1116 Hollins St.

Owners Joe and Amanda Burton create dishes that feel elegant in an interior that’s comfortable and intimate — in a way that reminds you of home. The French-inspired cuisine was born of a 2021 trip to Paris that left the owners intrigued. They’d never had chicken so rich and juicy. Now the bird and its French-styled rotisserie are the main attraction at their eatery, delivering flavors exciting enough to capture the city’s attention, as well as viral food critic Keith Lee.

The Urban Oyster

914 W. 36th St.

Chef Jasmine Norton is no stranger to the culinary limelight. In January, her eatery, The Urban Oyster, earned her a semifinalist nod from the James Beard Foundation, the latest of a series of accomplishments for the self-taught chef. She’s made a name for herself by reframing the classic oyster, often found in raw bars and fine dining venues, and turning it into accessible fare for the masses. Norton compares the bivalve to eggs: a versatile delicacy with flavors that depend on the preparation, which in her case include barbecue sauce-slathered and a version topped with goat cheese and rosemary.

Blacksauce Kitchen

400 E. 32nd St. and 32nd Street Farmers Market

Owner Damian Mosley serves up some of the most sought-after biscuits in Baltimore from his Remington carryout business. His innovative approach to food, incorporating Creole influences and culinary traditions from across the Black diaspora, attracts fans willing to line up around the block. Banner food writer Christina Tkacik described Mosley’s thick filet of battered snapper as perfectly tender, and the oxtail, which came nestled in a tray of homemade roti, as “succulent.” The eatery is only open two days a week and operates a stand at the 32nd Street Farmers Market — a quirky model based on Mosley’s desire to build a business on his own terms.

The Land of Kush

840 N. Eutaw St.

Baltimore’s vegan food scene has experienced a boom in the last decade, spurred by the popularity of vegan soul food eatery The Land of Kush. Naijha Wright-Brown, who runs it with her husband, Chef Gregory Brown, also cofounded Baltimore’s vegan restaurant week. The owner of the eatery noticed more customers interested in plant-based diets, citing industrywide health-conscious trends. Diners looking to make the jump will find an array of options on Wright-Brown’s menu, from moist vegan crab cakes and savory barbecue ribs, to the more subversive, yet delicious, carrot tuna and rich coconut curry cabbage, according to reporter Cayla Harris.

BLK Swan

1302 Fleet St.

BLK Swan led the charge on innovative upscale dining in Baltimore. The restaurant’s supper club and fine dining experiences built a community using swoon-worthy playlists and an intricately decorated private dining room. The business honors a fine dining culture developed by enslaved and freed Black Americans, who were heavily influenced by French culinary traditions. BLK Swan offers elevated versions of dishes, including braised short rib, honey-glazed salmon and smothered shrimp and grits. It’s also the perfect spot for Instagram-worthy cocktails. There’s also eye-catching scenery at every turn, including a neon sign that reads “I came. I swan. I conquered,” a wall of black trophies celebrating the restaurant’s staff, and special “Soul Food Sunday” dinners this month.