Everyday Frederick, MD

[RevTim]

My wife and I are moving to Frederick, MD next month and we're hoping to get some suggestions on places that could become our "regulars". We're coming from Atlanta, where you can get relatively good, inexpensive food in most parts of the city. We tried some very good restaurants in the downtown Frederick area on a recent trip (Isabella's and VOLT) but we'll need reliable, inexpensive places to go when we're too tired to cook on any given night or if we don't feel like spending a boatload on a date night. We like just about everything under the sun as far as food is concerned - but we'd love to have good places to get Mexican, pizza, Chinese (take out is a plus), pub fare, and somewhere healthy-ish. Thanks in advance!

[tartuffe]

Based only on lunch experience, i believe that Tasting Room is better than Volt. This is not a knock on Volt which I enjoyed a lot (except for the somewhat awkward service) and also a good value, but Tasting room was just better.

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Tasting Room
101 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701

[askdrtodd]

It still baffles me that Tasting Room doesn't have a tasting menu. What are the best dishes there? I'll be there for Dinner Monday & Tuesday and Lunch Wednesday, I'm thinking:

Monday - Lucky Corner or Tasting Room or Black Hog
Tuesday - Acacia or Firestone's
Wednesday - Volt

Sound yum?

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Tasting Room
101 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701

[flavrmeistr]

The lobster mashed potatoes at Tasting Room are outstanding, as is the cognac-seared foie gras. They also have an excellent crabcake. You pretty much can't go wrong. I'd take Acacia over Firestone. The dry ribs at Black Hog are decent as are the greens. Can't comment on Volt, except to say that I am utterly underwhelmed. The dry-fried shrimp with ginger at Lucky Corner is outstanding. On the menu it's deep fried, so you have to ask for the dry-fried version. The pho is also very flavorful. Check the daily specials for fresh fish, especially the seared sea bass.

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Tasting Room
101 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701

[wysguymd]

For good, inexpensive food try Home at Braddock Inn.

http://www.braddockinn.com

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Braddock Inn
4830 Schley Avenue, Frederick, MD 21714

[flavrmeistr]

One of my favorites, especially when the weather turns cool. They have great nightly specials at reasonable prices. It really is like home cooking. Great bar, friendly local folks. Blues jam on Thursday nights in the bar downstairs.

[reiflame]

I recently had a restaurants.com coupon for Tajitu Ethiopian Restaurant up in Frederick and it was pretty good. It's not going to compete with the best of DC but it's great that people up that way don't have to make the treck now.

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Tajitu Ethiopian Restaurant
7 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701

[flavrmeistr]

I don't know from Ethiopian food, but I have Ethiopian friends up here that love Tajitu. You need at least four people to do it right. We had a decent Indian place on Market Street, but it recently changed over to a mediocre chic Italian place.

[foodtrip]

Yeah, I was recently in Frederick and noticed that Bombay was gone and something else was in its place. I always liked Bombay. Do you know what happened?

[flavrmeistr]

Not really. Bombay had a decent buffet lunch we used to hit on occasion. I was at Brewer's Alley during the World Cup when I noticed that Bombay was supplanted by an Italian bistro-type place. The word is that the food is not very good. It is not expected to last.

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Brewer's Alley
124 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701

[askdrtodd]

Just stumbled on this thread, heading up to Frederick in a couple weeks, will be there 3 nights. On the waiting list for Table 21 at Volt for Sunday, and Monday and Tuesday are still in the air. Considering what Volt will cost either way, probably thinking something median priced on Monday and something decently nice Tuesday. I loooove authentic spicy as hell asian food, be it Viet, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, etc. Frederick doesn't appear to have any super-authentic chinese/korean/japanese, so between Lucky Corner and Bangkok Kitchen, which is the winner? Tuesday thinking either nola or tasting room, probably nola, that's more my speed. I love a great crazy tasting menu, but I also love to sit at a bar with a good beer/wine list and a nice atmosphere. Any reco's are greatly appreciated!

[flavrmeistr]

Nola and Tasting Room are not in the same class. NOLA is more like a bar/coffee hangout that serves somewhat interesting food. Tasting Room is all about the food. Neither Lucky Corner or Bangkok Kitchen are fancy, but the food is good at both. Lucky Corner has a young chef that turns out amazing specials every night. They will make stuff as hot as you want it. Beer only. Bangkok Kitchen has some nice original Thai dishes as well as traditional. They also have a full bar. For pub food, I would recommend Brewer's Alley. Wag's has a good bar burger and cheap drinks. Isabella's has a changing menu of tapas and a Tuesday night wine sampling that is a good deal. The Black Hog has decent barbeque and a bar. Il Porto has decent Italian food. No decent Chinese to speak of. We usually go to Rockville for that.

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Brewer's Alley
124 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701

Tasting Room
101 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701

[askdrtodd]

Great, thanks! I like to taste as many small plates as possible, perhaps Isabella's is the way to go, and that wine sampling sounds perfect. I'm trying to squeeze in to Volt's Table 21 on Sunday, I'm dying to go, been on the waiting list for a bit. Does anyone know anyone that could put in a good word for me? It's just me and it would make my year if I got to try that tasting menu.

[askdrtodd]

What about Acacia? The menu looks pretty great...

[foodtrip]

I really like Acacia. I've been there numerous times, most recently for lunch on their patio a couple of weeks ago. The food is fresh, flavorful and well-prepared. Service has always been good. I don't know why it doesn't get more attention, but I highly recommend it.

[askdrtodd]

No luck on Volt huh. :( Really dying to try that tasting menu out!

[nickdanger]

A favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant I frequent in Gaithersburg, Il Porto, has a location in Frederic-white pizza, grilled fish, pasta, etc. For a hoot, check out Burgers and Buns in Paradise, near the fairgrounds, for burgers, dogs, and shakes. Good beer and pub fare is at Brewers Alley.

[flavrmeistr]

I clean forgot Cooper and the boys at Il Porto, which until recently was only steps from my front door. The Billy salad and the rosemary grilled veal chop are two of my favorite things.

[lawhound]

Juliet's Italian Market & Cafe on Church St downtown for Italian products, great sandwiches and I think some more substantial dishes.

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Italian Market & Restaurant
126 Defense Hwy, Annapolis, MD 21401

[willjade]

You must go to Lucky Corner. Wonderful Vietnamese. The Main Cup in Middletown. May's for crabs or any seafood. China Garden for Chinese take out. Latino Cafe on Rt. 40 for authentic Latin American cuisine.

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Main Cup
14 W Main St Ste A, Middletown, MD 21769

[storagelady]

Favorite traditional tex-mex style Mexican places are Cacique in downtown and Mexicali Cantina on Patrick St. NEVER go to La Paz - it's awful. If you are looking for traditional tacos (on corn tortillas like in Mexico), try Taco Michoacan on rt 40. Vietnamese - Lucky Corner is ok, but we prefer VIet Gourmet on Rosemont. Favorite places for continental/upscale AMerican are Mick's AMerican Bistro and Monocacy Crossing.

Great places for sandwiches and amazing baked goods: The Buzz in Monrovia. Great Italian subs: Juliet's Cafe on Church St. in downtown.

You can read about my experiences in local dining on my blog: http://thediningdiva.blogspot.com/

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La Paz Restaurant
5900 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

Taco Michoacan
1450 W Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21702

Mexicali Cantina
467 W Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701

Monocacy Crossing
4424 Urbana Pike # A, Frederick, MD 21704

[flavrmeistr]

Like Lucky Corner over Viet Gourmet. Like Taco Michoacan and Monocacy Crossing. Best Thai in Frederick is Bangkok Kitchen on 40, near the Giant. Wag's has a good burger. Black Hog has okay barbeque and sides. Tasting Room is a great place to blow some cash. Double T Diner near the FSK Mall has a good breakfast, runner-up is the Barbara Fritchie on 40 west of town. Have to go to Germantown or Rockville for good Chinese. Good pizza, fuggetaboudit. Al Forno, maybe. Good bagels at Market Street Bagels next to Carroll Creek. Liberty Road Seafood is good for crabs and oysters.

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Liberty Road Seafood
10524 Liberty Rd, Frederick, MD 21701

Tasting Room
101 N Market St, Frederick, MD 21701

Double T Diner
12 Defense St, Annapolis, MD 21401

Taco Michoacan
1450 W Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21702

Viet Gourmet
1812 Rosemont Ave, Frederick, MD 21702

Monocacy Crossing
4424 Urbana Pike # A, Frederick, MD 21704

[RevTim]

Thanks for the suggestions! Can't wait to try them out.

[reiflame]

I really love the Mountain View diner. There's one on the golden mile and one in Charlestown, WV. Giagantic portions, super cheap and amazing pie - what more could you want in a diner? The fried pork chops are patty melt are great.