A cute little wine and gift shop, hosting Friday and Saturday outdoor concerts…read more We love this little wine shop, both for it's offerings, but especially for the weekend concerts and the outdoor umbrellaed tables. We drove up on a Saturday late afternoon in Aug 2025 and found parking across Main Street. There are other free lots nearby and sometimes a free shuttle around town on Sat and Sun. While waiting for the music, we staked out a table among some that people had reserved ahead of time in front of the wine shop, with other tables just outside the lot and more across the quiet side-street. From the wine shop, we got a nice little pinot noir to take home. They offered plastic glasses and a bucket full of ice, so we could have had that during the concert. They also have beers and ciders, gourmet snacks, and many clever and original accessories and crafts. The wine shop's owner encouraged up to walk to nearby Joe's Deli, and across to the Patapsco Distillery where the band set up under a small canopy, and we also got some food and drink from them for our table. And there's a sweet little ice cream shop across Main Street too! The band played light rock and folk and people were relaxed in conversations and enjoyment of the music. The gentle breeze kept us cool under sun-shielding umbrellas. This is nicely done weekly pair of concert, and the welcoming hostess and cooperative nearby shops make this a pleasant way to visit Sykesville on a Friday or Saturday evening, continuing through Nov 8th.

This charming business had employees that were extremely friendly and helpful. If you're not into…read morewine, please get a snowball ( with marshmallow ) from their Snowball Station ... it was a perfect fit for a hot day.

Took a few seconds to make eye contact with someone so we could be seated. When the person did come…read moreover they asked "How can I help you?" The sign on the door says "Please wait to seated?" We want to be seated...... Once we were seated it took awhile for sever to come over. I actually had to stop one of the serves walking around to ask if anyone was working this section. Finally the person behind the bar came over to take our order. The food is delicious. I love when real corn beef is on the menu and not just on a Reuben. The Irish grits were a new thing I didn't know I needed. The flavors gel so well together. I'll go back again to try dinner but I sure hope for a better reception.

Fantastic Establishment !!…read more 11'15'2024 Hubby and I randomly stopped by in the evening and snatched 2 seats at the bar. We were greeted by Taryn who was as awesome as her name. Collectively, we ordered the following. Chicken Pot Pie - Amazing flavor and portion size. Smoked Chicken Wings - Creatively delish. Broccoli (2) Hot Toddy's - THE BEST HUBBY AND I EVER TASTED !! There was live music on this evening. The mood was very chill, and relaxing. Great vibes. Hubby and I visited again for dinner on 5'7'2025 This is our special day. Hubby and I met 29 years ago today. We were seated and assisted by Tatum. Collectively, we ordered the following. Seasonal Soup: Creamy Chipotle Chicken Soup Corned Beef n' Cabbage Chicken Pot Pie Smoked Chicken Wings Cruzan & Ginger Ale Cruzan & Pineapple It was happy hour, and everything was amazing. The beverages were discounted. The food was great, and the atmosphere was cool. This evening happened to be their Wine Pairing Dinner evening. It was fun to watch the crowd of customers anticipate their 3-4 course meal w pairings. I researched afterward and saw they're just about monthly, $65 which is a steal, and it appears they sell out. Definitely worth participating. I have 50 11 food allergies so I may have to sit this one out. Another great visit down in the books!!

What a great venue! Amazing staff! And overall vibe of this wine lounge! Popped in (with a resy of…read morecourse) on a Saturday afternoon for a wine tasting and we were greeted very warmly and checked on often! I believe our winetender's name was Rhonda? (Shorter hair and glasses) super friendly, wine knowledge was excellent and she talked us through each one and gave us time to taste, chat, and munch in between. I'll definitely be back because there are wines that weren't available that day that I know I want to come back for! A great addition to cute Frederick's Main Street area!

at the risk of letting the World know about this wonderful gem of a winery - Simple Theory is…read moregreat! Low key, personable space, settings are intimate but also part of the winery space. Enjoyed all of the wines, the Rose was great, and Saperavi is a wonderful discovery! Sadly, we can not remember the woman's name who served us, but she was great - knew the wines, new the winery story was a true asset to the winery experience.

The food was good and this was our second time here. But today, we felt rushed despite we were on…read morepatio and not that it was busy. We were handed the cheque and box when we didn't even finish. While eating, two servers came and started taking the plates away and my husband had to say he is still working on it. We didn't appreciate that.

The outside was a bit deceiving by appearance. Once entering though...totally my vibe. The rich…read moredark green walls and minimal gold accents gives it that art deco era feel, in my opinion!!! Came here for a birthday lunch. I had the old line burger, chef's kiss! They had the chicken salad sandwich, again chef's kiss! For dessert, the Smith Island cake, so moist. Had a mock-tail, the botanical bloom I believe. Little lip smacker but pretty good! Great to see non-alcoholic options. I will be returning!

We are long-time members and things have changed consistently at Black Ankle and always for the…read morebetter! The vineyard always will be a beautiful place to enjoy great wine, people watch, enjoy well behaved dogs, and break bread with friends and family. The creation of the patios through and beyond the pandemic was a great move. The vistas never disappoint, the charcuteries boards with fresh baked bread have always complimented the wine well, the food trucks and various vendors have always been fun, but a piece was missing. That piece has been added! We were pleasantly surprised to find The Terrace Kitchen by Chef Tony Castellon delivering an elevated menu with options from homemade chocolate chip cookies to The Amalfi Toast featuring a personal fav boquerones. There are options on that menus that are to die for including veg options as expected. Note: There are chilled vegan options inside ask the desk. We enjoyed the Mediterranean inspired with Japanese twist Char-Siu Skewer with ponzu aioli, and lemon wedge dipped in a (chili, paprika, cumin dust?) was perfect to balance out the skewers. Damn tasty lamb and beef the squeeze of the lemon and spice perfected it. The Crispy Potatoes were a delight, not too heavy or greasy, nice char, and full of flavor delivered by the lardon, green onion, and melted Gruyere . Very satisfying, would order again. The Amalfi Toast is a do not miss IMO. For the uninitiated, boquerones are Spanish white sardine filets cured in acid then packed in olive oil. Unlike the premium salty boney tinned sardines available in the US, the result is a delicate cured white sardine filet over toasted focaccia coated with whipped buffalo milk garlic butter and fresh herbs. Outrageous food my friends, just delicious. Thank you Chef! Your CA roots are showing. The chocolate chip cookies were very good. We missed the duck taco special on the board which I would have tried no matter what. If it was a confit duck taco, well IYKYK. So kudos to Black Ankle Vineyards and Chef Tony Castellon. The future is bright with this new partnership. Looking forward to returning more often to catch live music and enjoy it all. P. S. Heather Aubrey Lloyd performing solo on guitar and playing many 79's and 80's covers was a great addition to our experience. Please tip these performers, you can hit her up on her website if you did not bring cash: https://heatheraubreylloyd.com/tipping

Representing the DMV runner-up to out of town pick for letter B for 2025, B is for Black Ankle…read moreVineyards. My girlfriend & I visited Black Ankle on a Saturday in September 2025. We were out somewhat in this direction, and there was a Meetup group going here, so we thought to check it out as it's rare we ever go to a winery as it's normally out of the way, more likely of an occurrence when on a vacation. We took some crazy back roads from where we were in western Howard County, through Carroll, & into eastern Frederick County, where Black Ankle is. We went to the bar inside to get wines. I got a white wine; I think Chardonnay, and I think my girlfriend got a sweeter Rose or something like that. Both were delicious, but we preferred our own more. We sat outside in a nice patio area. We were in the hot Sun on that sunny day, but that was cool with me. We learned of a tour going on, which we got in on. The tour guide who wore an Italian flag bowtie was entertaining and informative. We walked around the vineyard, going inside the cooled storage areas, centrifuge area where the wine is mixed, etc. We even saw some of the old wines they had made from years earlier. We saw sheep dogs, which protect the vineyard from pests, which were cute. Overall, this is a high quality winery with plenty of nice outside & inside seating.

Bolder filled by 5:45pm on a dreary Thursday in late winter, deservedly so. Want to come later,…read moreeven on a weeknight, make a reservation or prepare to wait. This was our first time here, as on prior occasions we found the line too daunting. We were surprised when another 4:15pm patron was led to their reserved table, but we learned that their planning and caution was well-founded. We discovered the popularity of Bolder to be well-deserved. Seeking lite fare for an early dinner, calorie conscious, we both navigated the tempation-filled menu with success. We thoroughly enjoyed the bison burger and turkey club, the latter being sufficiently sample for a split lunch the next day too. Service was rock-solid and very efficient. We definitely hope to be back soon. And we will make a reservation. Dress code is casual.

I made anniversary reservations for two. As it was our first time here, I didn't specify seats, so…read moreknow for the next time to ask for a cozier table for two. Despite being seated at a table for 4 at the busy entrance door, it was still nice. The service was great and the food was amazing! We started with a clam appetizer in a garlicky tomato-basil wine sauce served with fresh lemon and flatbread. It was very flavorful. I had the Strawberry Balsamic Salmon with spinach risotto and asparagus. This was the best meal I've had in a long time! The balsamic vinegar complemented the strawberry fresca salsa with red onions and the risotto was luxuriously creamy and mouth-watering. The asparagus complemented it all nicely. It's a good thing the portion was huge as I was able to indulge again for lunch the next day! My husband had the The Talk of the Town - Crabby Fried Green Tomatoes. The portion wasn't as big so he was easily able to finish itl. The fried green tomato slices were breaded and fried to a crisp and topped with pure colossal crab meat that was broiled a bit on top and it was all covered with a tasty red pepper coulis. We now can add Bolder to our list of favorite restaurants!

Enjoy the food and love the ambiance. Live music is bonus. Really enjoyed the lovely service by…read moreGrace. Very thorough and helpful

Grace was amazing! She was very attentive and so helpful, I would definitely be back to see her…read more The restaurant was also really amazing, the food was great and the atmosphere was lovely!

Wine Kitchen on the Creek in Frederick is everything a date night restaurant should be,and then…read moresome. We sat outside along Carroll Creek on a perfect evening and honestly the setting alone is worth the visit. But the food is what will bring you back. The pressed watermelon, feta and pistachio salad with vanilla onion jam was a nightly special and was outstanding... one of those dishes that sounds unexpected but every element makes complete sense together. The dill pickle hummus was a standout starter as well. The pork belly and grits is a classic on their menu for a reason... rich, perfectly executed, and totally delivers on the hype. The duck breast and filet with foie gras butter were both exceptional mains... the kind of dishes that remind you why you go out to eat. Do not overlook the sides. The potato salad especially is criminally underrated. The Short Shorties mini cocktail flight was a fun and delicious way to start the evening... a Negroni, Manhattan and Martini all in miniature form. Honest and knowledgeable hospitality from Kat, outstanding seasonal food, and a creek-side patio that makes the whole experience feel special. This one is a must for Frederick.

I'd tweak the opening to reflect that:…read more I've been coming to The Wine Kitchen for about a year now, and I can't believe I've never taken the time to leave a review. We stopped in for Sunday brunch, and it didn't disappoint. The service is always friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is one of my favorite parts of dining downtown. We ordered the brunch special. (Not pictured: the Caesar salad, which is a must every time, and the short rib poutine--another favorite.) I had the blueberry muffin French toast with blueberry sorbet, and I'm honestly drooling just thinking about it again. My friend got the biscuits and sausage gravy with a fried egg, and it was absolutely delicious too. If you haven't been here for brunch yet, you're missing out. And if you're looking for dinner, run--don't walk. The Wine Kitchen has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in Frederick, and it never disappoints. It reads like something someone who actually frequents the restaurant would write rather than a polished promotional review.

This place was so awesome! As soon as I walked in I knew I was going to love it. First of all, the…read morename is everything. Very cool to learn about what a snallygaster is. Theres seating at the bar and a couple tables. We sat at the bar and were greeted quickly. We ordered a few drinks and the bartender was very nice to talk to. She is very passionate about the art of drink making and shared her tips and tricks. She makes a great espresso martini but would probably make you anything you asked for and would enjoy the chance to be creative. We ordered a brie platter which was decent. It was what we were looking for (not a heavy meal). They have wine for sale in the back, as well as assorted ciders, seltzers, and beers. A bit pricey in my opinion for certain items, but that's okay! They have coffee and t shirts for sale too. Dogs are allowed here and the locals seem to know each other and the bartenders know their names too. Very nice and homey to go somewhere that everyone knows each other!! Would recommend this place to anyone.

Snallygasters accommodated our large group after we were told by another local spot that they don't…read moretake dinner reservations on weekends. Well it all worked out how it was supposed to because the food, ambiance, and service were great here! Water carafes were provided to the table & we ordered several drinks. All of the cocktails were beautiful, colorful and had curated understated garnishes. I enjoyed the jalapeño lime fizz, one of the non-intoxicants. Food took a little longer than expected but it was worth the wait. The red pepper pesto with linguine was creamy and rich and topped with fresh Parmesan. I only wish I'd had a piece of bread to sop up the sauce at the end! I'd be interested in trying their brunch and lunch options if I'm in the area again. Our server, Tom, was attentive. The bathrooms are clean and nicely warm thanks to a heater. We all had a great time.

Great staff and an awesome atmosphere! The butter chicken and smash burger on the daily menu are…read moreboth amazing. For brunch, the French toast and burrito are easily some of the best in the area. The restaurant has a unique split layout with both indoor and outdoor seating, plus two bars on either side, making it a great spot whether you're there for a meal, drinks, or just to hang out. Definitely worth checking out!

Parallel's creative brunch menu caught my eye, so my wife and I decided to check it out with some…read morefriends on a Saturday morning. We made reservations since we were a group of 6 including 2 infants, and these were warranted as the restaurant progressively filled up as we got closer to peak brunch hours. We were offered a large booth, which was appreciated as we needed space for the babies. The food here tasted quite good. My wife ordered the Pork Belly Benedict, which offered tender-crisp, thick slices of braised pork belly atop soft, buttery focaccia and coated with well poached eggs and creamy hollandaise. We both highly enjoyed my Broadlands Breakfast Sandwich, a clever take on a standard bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich swapping crispy, perfectly sweet French toast for standard bread. The breakfast potatoes served alongside were crispy on the outside with fluffy interiors and good seasoning. Our friends enjoyed their sandwiches as well. As the name alludes, the drink program is strong and offers something for everyone. In addition to wine and whisky, a solid selection of both cocktails and draft beers are available. Prices for both food and drinks were quite reasonable given the quality of what we received. I do dock a star for just so-so service. Our waitress was a bit MIA during the first part of our meal when we were trying to order, and then kept checking in on us every 5 minutes once our food arrived. We also had to remind her a few times to get a high chair for our little one. Fortunately, the food and drinks all arrived accurately and within a timely manner once ordered. Service woes aside, the creative fare satisfied our taste buds and we look forward to returning soon for to sample more of the brunch menu and libations.