About

Clavel was founded in the summer of 2015.

We are a family/minority owned Taqueria & Mezcaleria serving food deeply rooted in Sinaloan ritual. We serve corn and flour tortillas- all made by hand. The corn tortillas are nixtamalized in house from corn sourced from small producers in Oaxaca and Puebla. Our specialty flour tortillas are made in house and rolled by hand daily. The meats and seafood are expertly butchered in house daily.

The Mezcaleria honors Mezcal and Destilados de Agave from the many beautiful states of Mexico. We also offer Mexican sugar cane and agave based cocktails crafted collectively by the bar team, all of who have been educated first hand on Palenques (mezcal distilleries) in Oaxaca and beyond (Jalisco, Michoacán, Durango, D.F., Puebla) We are two time James Beard semi-finalists in the ‘Outstanding Bar” category, a one time semi-finalist in the ‘Best Mid-Atlantic Chef’ category and in 2024 we became a James Beard finalist in the ‘Outstanding Bar’ category.

Our newest addition NIXTAMALERÍA CLAVEL is part masa production and part shop where we sell Mexican goods, locally made ceramics, and mezcal bottles to go.

Carlos Raba

Chef, Partner

Carlos Raba was born and raised in Culiacán, Sinaloa by his Mom and 5 Aunts who taught him traditional cooking.

He is a Black belt in Brazilian Ju Jitsu and the Co-owner and Chef of Clavel and Nana. Carlos is also the founder of Guardian Gym, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit gym offering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Yoga classes. Kids ages 6-17 train for FREE.

Lane Harlan

Founder, Mezcal Enthusiast

Lane Harlan was born in the Province of Pampanga, Philippines and raised all over the US, settling in Baltimore at the age of 17. She began traveling extensively in Mexico in 2013, researching the scientific and cultural significance of Mezcal. In 2015 her dream of opening a Mezcaleria in Baltimore began.

In 2020, she was named by Saveur Magazine as the ‘Most Interesting Woman in the Restaurant Business.’

She is the Founder, Director, and Co-designer of W.C. Harlan, Clavel, Fadensonnen, Angels Ate Lemons, and The Coral Wig.

Fotos de Clavel