I was visiting Baltimore for a swim meet and decided to visit Lexington Market with my 11-year-old daughter. The bright spot is the crabcakes at Faidley's were absolutely the best I've ever had. The bad thing is it is a pit. We ate at a table on the second floor so we could people watch. The place was filled with shifty, scary people. While we were sitting there, security guards roamed the area. I felt like I was in a prison. We watched two men conduct lengthy negotiations over a drug deal. The security guard took note and radioed someone - after the deal was finished. Nothing happened. If you've watched The Wire, you know exactly what Lexington Market is. It's a shame because it could be a really neat place and some of the vendors are awesome. I won't go back. I will have my crabcakes shipped.

being born in Baltimore, i have been to Lexington Market NUMEROUS times. My Dad and I would stop in, get some oysters, count the pig heads, get a deli sandwich, then always grab a couple bags of fresh roasted peanuts and head to an Orioles game. I was 8 then. It has gone a little downhill since then, i wouldnt recommend the elevator, but i would recommend the market itself. Every trip there is unique. Its unlike most other markets I've been to in other states. I would also recommend an Orioles game. Happy travels.

I live in Baltimore County, I`m not that old, however I have been to Lexington Market countless times. It is a very seedy place honestly & from the time I was younger, I never felt safe in that place. There is a lot going on. They have some pretty good food but I am not too sure about their sanitation. Last year around this time, I bought some Shrimp Fried Rice from one of the vendors, & about an hour later, I broke out in hives! It really surprised me, but I couldn`t think to expect anything more. Maybe if they actually cleaned Lexington Market up, people of good moral standing would visit more often, but more often than not, it is filled with very questionable people. Thank God I have never been robbed, but it isn`t a safe place at all. It makes me feel very uncomfortable.

When I visit other cities, I like to go to the places where the locals go. Sometimes they might be off the beaten path or not in an ideal neighborhood but, they are usually where I have the best, most authentic experiences. People who work in Baltimore don't eat at Harbor Place, they often eat in the city markets. Lexington market is the largest and best known. At lunch time it is bustling with people from U of MD and other business which surround it. Most Fridays (and I think Saturdays) there is live music. The choice of food is amazing. My husband thinks that Parks makes the best fried chicken in town but you could sample the numerous fried chicken stands in the market. You must try the cookies at Bergers with the chocolate icing on the top, a true Baltimore delicacy. Faidleys ships crab cakes around the country but I also like their raw bar. Go to Lexington Market for lunch. You can go to a chain restaurant at home.