Lane Harlan
Clavel, The Coral Wig, Fadensonnen, and W.C. Harlan | Baltimore, MD
February 2026
Lane Harlan has been working in restaurants since she legally could. She graduated high school early and, with a bit of restaurant experience under her belt from Denny’s and a hibachi grill, moved to Baltimore, Maryland, to plead for a stage at The Brass Elephant, a local fine dining institution. Young and ambitious, Harlan ironed linens, took out the trash, and eventually bussed tables before moving to Roy’s Restaurant. There, she hosted, served, and became a food runner, learning how to multitask and stay organized in a high-adrenaline environment. Harlan then joined the team at Jack’s Bistro and quickly rose to bartender, transforming their bar program and gaining local attention.
In 2013, Harlan and her husband opened a bar of their own, W.C. Harlan. After its success, she took a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, which sparked a desire to open a mezcalería back in Baltimore. A block away from W.C. Harlan, she found a space with a large kitchen and invited Rising Stars alum Carlos Raba, her brother-in-law’s brother, to join as chef and cook traditional Sinaloan-inspired cuisine. Clavel, which opened in 2015, has since expanded its program, adding mezcal tastings and an in-house nixtamalization program.
Harlan opened her next venture, Fadensonnen, in 2018, a beer garden and natural wine bar that serves sake and stirred drinks upstairs. Across the courtyard, in 2019, she opened a natural wine shop called Angels Ate Lemons. In 2022, she opened The Coral Wig, where, with her knack for interior design, Harlan transformed the space into a tropical bar inspired by 1980s Manila. Beyond her many business ventures and more in the works, Harlan works closely with various local charities and organizations.
2026 StarChefs D.C.-Maryland-Virginia Rising Stars Award Winner
