Romanian cooking in Maramureș is hearty and unfussy — ciorba (sour soup), mămăligă (polenta), grilled pork, and plenty of sour cream. Baia Mare has a decent spread of restaurants around the pedestrian centre, ranging from straightforward traditional kitchens to more ambitious places that draw on the region's produce. The local pălincă (plum brandy) is worth trying with or after a meal.