My three positives and a negative because the world needs more positivity: + the corn appetizer was outstanding. I love a roasted corn. And - the runner cut it in half (which was super helpful in splitting a messy ear) + I wouldn't order or eat myself but the lamb shank was perfectly done - fall off the bone and well seasoned + the support staff did well. As I said - I loved our food runner and another girl came by multiple times to refresh silverware and wrap up leftovers - I didn't love my scallops/ prawns/ sausage. Honestly- based on the description- I wasn't super excited. I should have looked harder for something else. That said- I asked the other three folks - and they all rated their meals three out five read more

One of the best lunches I've ever had in Maryland, and I'm not just saying that due to the two fantastic gin cocktails I had with lunch. We got there early to beat the lunch rush, and our server arrived quickly to tell us the specials of the day and provide recommendations. We started with the crab dip, because, hello - Maryland crabs! Served piping hot with pretzel breadsticks, it was outstanding. Very flavorful, and very cheesy, but the fresh flavor of crabmeat still shown through. For my entree I went with the recommend salmon BLT. I would like to have the option to eat this sandwich every day for the rest of my life. The piece of salmon in the sandwich was huge, perfectly cooked, and its flavor was highlighted by the crunchy bacon and fresh tomatoes. Instead of fries, I went with the balsamic salad as my side dish, and it was refreshing and tasty, with not too much dressing. No room for dessert (I even had to take home half my sandwich) but I highly recommend this place to everyone who lives within an hour of Frederick. read more

Hootch and Banter - Outstanding crab dip served with pretzel breadsticks. - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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LOVE this place! I've been twice (once for dinner and once for brunch) and both times everything was delicious and service was great! One of my favorite restaurants. My only complaint is it's a little bit of a hike from Baltimore. read more

Hootch and Banter - Chicken Biscuit - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Cool little place. Love the vibe. We had a 30 minute wait for 4 on a Wednesday night. They have a handful of sandwiches and entrees. The crab cake was phenomenal and worth the market price. Also the Philly cheesesteak was great but you need to make sure you pay the extra and add the red peppers. They cut the richness of the cheese sauce. The place is known for great cocktails, but no one in my party bought any that night. There turned out to be an Insta-famous couple sitting next to us, we found out after they left. They did get quite a bit more attention from waitstaff and patrons than we did for some reason. :-) read more

This place is a gem. We live over an hour away and have been back multiple times and the food and service is always top notch. read more

Hootch and Banter - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Best Corned Beef sandwich I ever had....Seriously, The Best I Ever Had!! Corned Beef Sandwich Banter 2,0 read more

I went for brunch with some cousins and sat upstairs. It was nice and quiet but and the server was amazing! I got the shrimp and grits and I could have eaten it 4 times over, it was delicious!!! We got the crab dip and it was so so good! I can't wait to come back for dinner. read more

Fun atmosphere and nice friendly staff here. My friend got the Kidd burger and I got the Dirty Cheeseteak. Both were quite tasty. The fries were delicious. They make their own ketchup but I thought it was a tad too sweet. The best part of the meal was the dessert. We got the hot freshly made beignets. It came in a brown paper bag and our server shaking the bag table side to get all that powdered sugar on the beignets was a nice touch. Seriously LOVED this dessert. What a way to end our meal. I'd recommend this place even just for the beignets. So yummmy read more

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The rare occasion my husband and I get out for a date night, we came here. And boy was that a good decision. They do not take reservation and operate on a first come first serve basis. We waited about an hour and 15 minutes which was a lot in my opinion, but oh well. Our server was Vicki and she was phenomenal. She was helpful and personable. The food came out quickly and with a smile from the staff. The beef Wellington appetizer was amazing. Beef was so tender and the gravy was divine. I got the Kidd burger and hubby got the banter. Both were amazing. The corned beef on his sandwich was tender and melt in your mouth good. My burger was yummy, I loved the homemade ketchup that came with it. We got the peanut brownie for dessert, and that was so good too. Whenever we're back in Frederick we'll visit again. read more

Food: Borderline unique but I found the quality to disappointing. A couple of people in my group ordered plates that came with fries and half of the fries were, in my opinion, inedible because it was so dry/fried. Cost: Affordably priced plates at least when I came to eat during lunch hours. Dinner may possibly be more expensive if I had to guess. The average cost of bigger plates were about $15 which I thought wasn't too bad! Environment: The place was on the smaller end and so definitely call ahead of time during busy times to RSVP. Walking from one end to the other (for example, if you were sitting near the front windows and walked to the back to go to the bathroom) might get a little tight if there are multiple people walking/getting through. There was a group of people standing and drinking at the bar and I saw that it was causing congestion between them, people trying to go to the bathroom, waiters/staff. Service: It was a little on the slower end but the restaurant was consistently busy and so that may have been why. Everything was still received at a reasonable amount of time, such as the check/water refills/etc. Uniqueness: I enjoyed the menu due to the creative splashes of ideas the chef/whoever made the menu incorporated! That is definitely a strong suite of this restaurant! read more

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Hootch and Banter lives up to the name, there's plenty of really great, top notch hootch to get even the shyest person to open up the banter! In all seriousness, this is one of my favorite Friday morning meet-ups in the upstairs bar area with the girls for bacon and coffee! What?! It's all Keto, right? The Charcuterie and cheese boards will knock your socks off which gets you ready for the "Strip Tease" entree! No kidding, it's amazing. And of course my husband loves the "Get in my belly" scallop dish... pan seared to perfection with a sun choke risotto. I don't know what the hell sun choke is, but this dish is fabulous and will have you choking back tears of happiness! I haven't even gotten to the amazing Bartender yet. Jeff is a drink Magi of epic proportions! He smokes the ice for your drinks! It's magic and it's awesome The ambiance is enough to keep us coming back and the creative, tasty drinks and dishes seal the deal! read more

Hootch and Banter - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Outstanding! I came alone and sat at the bar and had a great time. It's a cool intimate spot. The bartenders were both fantastic, I am sorry I can't remember their name. But, they made me feel completely welcome, helped me decide on a drink, I got a bourbon drink and damn if I can't remember the name but it was outstanding! Food wise I got the dirty cheesesteak, excellent. This was so damn good, the fries were good too, actually a little cold but still very good. The homemade ketchup is really excellent with a nice sweetness to it. I just want to emphasize the service here, the bartenders gave me recommendations on where to go next, which breweries to hit and which ones I may or may not like. Next time I am in Frederick I will absolutely be stopping back here. read more

Great food, fun atmosphere and very nice wait staff. We love to get a variety of their small plates to share. The only frustrating aspect of this wonderful restaurant is it does not take reservations. The last time we went, we put our name on the list and they said they would call us in 45 minutes. We went and had drinks elsewhere; returned in 45 minutes and were seated immediately. Their system works, but it is a deterrent to going there more often. read more

Went to this place on a Sunday night and loved every part of my experience! Everyone was socially distanced and all employees were properly wearing their masks. Food was amazing! Drinks were amazing! And the chocolate cheesecake was a 10/10! Our server was prompt and very accommodating. Will return when in Frederick! read more

Hootch and Banter - Flank steak salad - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

The green pepper steak was amazing and the mix drinks were great too. Good date spot.

Mixed feelings here. Service and atmosphere was great, our server was amazing. The food was pretty underwhelming though. Went for brunch and had the chefs charcuterie board, truffle tots, two burgers, a tofu bahn mi, and chicken and waffles. The charcuterie and tots were the best parts of the meal. The burger patties were criminally under seasoned, and the portions were absurd. I like a big messy burger but this was challenging to eat. The tofu bahn mi was good, but the Wasabi mayo was overpowering. Fried chicken with the chicken and waffles was delicious, waffles were bland and dry. Cocktails were nice. Overall not terrible, but we were disappointed for the price we paid. Pretty easy fixes here if they could just tighten those things up it would be a 4 or 5 star experience. read more

Went for lunch and quality has seemed to have seriously slipped from past visits. For starters, the $20 Crab dip is almost all cheese and no crab, medium rare burger was completely blackened on both sides and served more than well done, cheese steak is plain and is literally large chunks of meat with an enormous amount of cheese. Will think twice about going back to our once favorite place downtown. read more

The food was amazing and the waitress was great highly recommend and love the atmosphere. Reservations recommended

Randomly found this place on July 4th after a day at the range. We were pleasantly surprised by how good the food was and I sometimes still think about it. I find it difficult for something as simple as eggs and potatoes to stand out, but this place nailed it. The employees were all friendly and helpful. One con: the location of the restaurant itself which isn't in the best area. We were seated by the door and had a nice view of what appeared to be homeless people/shirtless drug addicts hanging out. read more

Hootch and Banter - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Three visits and a year later, this occasion-priced restaurant has finally come into its own. What was uneven portion sizes and quality is now top-notch seasonal fare and generous portions. What was a "checklist" of trendy mixed drinks, now feels like the product of a seasoned bar manager, with accessible but still interesting variations on popular drinks-- the current emphasis seemed to be whiskeys. Service is smooth, professional, unintrusive. The restaurant is an attractive, cozy space. It might be claustrophobic when full, but half-full it's just right. Appetizers and sides are both sized to share. The menu and selection are interesting enough to catalyze conversation, but not so complicated as to need all one's attention. The only real drawback is pricing, which for many will make this an occasion destination. Food in particular is closer to big city pricing than Frederick pricing (eg, $28 for a half-chicken, $36 for a lamb shank). But the portions are well-sized to match. read more

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My friend and I came here Saturday afternoon after doing some shopping. We were really excited about all the different cocktails and appetizers so we decided to try a few. We really enjoyed everything we ordered. The cocktails were really pretty and tasted great. For apps we tried the beef Wellington minis and the empanadas - both were really great and definitely something I'd suggest! The atmosphere was cool and our waitress, Brooklyn, was very prompt and sweet. She made good recommendations and had we enjoyed her service. We'd definitely come back to try some more things, their menu was pretty extensive and there were a few other things that looked good as well! read more

Hootch and Banter - Empanadas - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

We had Filet Wellington and French Onion Soup staters. The Wellington was under-cooked and doughy, it was too vinegary (would have been better with an actual gravy or de Ju), moreover the filet tasted uhm, how to describe I said not quite gamely but corn-y. (But Not in a funny way haha). The French onion soup was too sweet. Seemed amended. After these, we decided to pass on am entree. The Bee's Knees was very good. He had to get his own after drinking half of mine. Lol The Genevieve's Revenge drink was well, the Revenge was that we drank that $15 swill. Yuck! The house Syrah is good! Service was great. read more

Hootch and Banter - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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Sam Kohl and Amanda are amazing servers! Love the vibe, staff and the food is really good to! One of my fave spots in downtown. Go upstairs for the lounge experience! read more

Really good environment! Can get pretty busy so make a reservation when you can, pretty creative menu as well. Only negative is the prices but everything downtown is expensive nowadays... Would definitely return here! read more

This place lives up to the hype. Stopped in for a snack. Expectations exceeded, already planning my next visit. 1) chicken empanadas with apple butter and honey mustard and pick de gallo. Unusual sauces on top, outstanding and surprisingly amazing. Especially with the pico to offset the sweetness. 2) macaroni and cheese - by itself... amazing. With a little of the pico de Gallo from the empanadas mixed in... the best Mac n cheese experience I've had. When the waiter says "it's a game changer to mix the pico from one app with the Mac and cheese" I got skeptical. I was wrong and Joe was right. That was the pro tip. This place should charge 2.00 for a side of pico with the Mac and cheese. I would happily pay it every time. 3) pudding chomeur- way too good. Think pancake soufflé with slightly charred edges and vanilla ice cream. Definite bread pudding vibes. Service was killer, food was killer, so was dessert. 5 damn stars. read more

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My co workers and I were told that work was shut down for the day and decided to go somewhere to eat. This is a lovely place in Frederick and the area just took me away. So we went inside and the feel of the place is so cozy. I wish to sit and eat and stay here forever. The waitress was so sweet and the hostess was too. She came out go get us and help us because she felt we looked confused. We were confused. We went in sat for four. All three of my.co workers for Hamburger and I wanted something different so I got the banter. Would I go again, no. I am not usually a picky eater but I should have gotten the burger. Go for the atmosphere and the awesome service. read more

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FREDERICK RESTAURANT WEEK I love @hootchandbanter, another fave of mine in Frederick. Though @hootchandbanter was not a Frederick Restaurant Week participant, I thought it was still worth stopping by for Sunday Brunch with @cedricthemc @whatpamcooks. The food here is not only amazing, the portions are huge and perfect for sharing. Executive Chef Christian Blouin @drgangstataco is always killing it! Our picks: Chicken Biscuit Momtréal Breakfast Banter In The Morning We also enjoyed some appetizers: Twice Infused Chicken Wings Crab Dip Everything we had was deliciously satisfying but I must say this: That Chicken Biscuit was off the chain, @drgangstataco. The biscuit was warm and had a little crunch to it. I drizzled the Honey and Old Bay dipping sauce from the wings on my chicken, WHOA. Oh, let's not forget about the Blue Cheese dipping sauce also served with the wings! Cedric and Pamela requested some to go, they were THAT GOOD! @bitterbarjeff is the man behind the amazing cocktails served at @hootchandbanter. He accomodated my special request: Peach, Pomegranate and Mango Mimosa, which was actually THE BOMB! Moscow Mule was Cedric's pick Thanks to the H&B Team for their warm hospitality, which has been consistent since I started dining there in February '18 (we dined for the first time before heading to the theater to see #BlackPanther). The staff, the owners, everyone is so pleasant and that is super valuable! read more

Perfect for a date night just ask for Maggie. Wings were absolutely amazing and I loved the Casablanca drinks. read more

Food was mediocre, but wanted to note that I am giving this low rating due to our awful, AWFUL and disrespectful server. My friend and I had just finished a very long, 12 mile hike and wanted to get some grub nearby. We settled on this place as the menu looked good we were craving burgers and a drink. We were seated near the high top tables by the host on the first floor, where there was cushioned seating against one side of the wall. Us being ridiculously tired, we both opted to sit on the cushioned seating next to each other along the wall. Immediately, our server makes an EXTREMELY CRUDE remark of, "What, are you going to hold hands now?" (we are both females). UM. WHAT?????? Honestly I was so flabbergasted by the words he just uttered out of his mouth. From ordering to checking up on us, the way he approached us just felt downright disrespectful, with a hint of rushing us, and making snarky remarks making us feel we were disrupting HIS time. He also had this habit of putting his hand/arm over us on the seating along the wall and leaning in. PERSONAL SPACE PLEASE. Food was okay, the star was probably the crab dip. The ketchup they gave us for the fries was weirdly artificial and ridiculously sweet. My burger (KIDD Prime Burger) was made how I asked (medium rare) but nothing memorable. Friend's Dirty Cheesesteak was nice portion, but barely had any cheese in there. They did load her up well on the hots though (extra 0.50C) Overall. Not coming here again. Server almost so awful I wanted to speak to manager. read more

I stopped in at 7:40. They said it was a 40 minute wait but they would take my number and let me know when a table was ready. That was just under 4 hours ago... I am not holding out hope to be seated. They need to step up their service game. read more

I visited Hootch & Banter for lunch with some friends recently. I ordered the Crab Dip and The Banter. The Crab Dip was delicious: Gooey, rich and slightly chunky cheddar cheese was filled with shredded lightly briny crab and paired with soft pretzel bread for dipping. The Banter was a flavorful sandwich with savory black bread filled with tender seasoned and lightly smoky corn beef, melty gruyere cheese, and tangy and spicy whiskey mustard. The side of fries were crisp and nicely seasoned. read more

Hootch and Banter - The Banter - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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Stopped in on a busy Saturday afternoon and we were not disappointed. Great ambiance. Great food. Great service.

Food and service is amazing. Owners really know how to put on a nice spread of menu options. Love Love Love the upstairs!

We hosted a rehearsal dinner in the upstairs lounge. Everything was wonderful - the drinks, the food, and the fabulous wait staff for our event. Our guests loved the cozy lounge, the bar, and all of the great food throughout the evening. It was perfect! I'd host another event here in a heartbeat. THANK YOU Hootch & Banter!!!! read more

Can't recommend it highly enough! We had brunch at Hootch and Banter on a busy Saturday afternoon and sat upstairs. The entire restaurant is beautiful and everyone was incredibly friendly and wonderful (genuinely so!). The food is outstanding and the portions generous. The burger is insane, the crabs benny was a huge hit, and our 2nd grader loved his chicken and waffles. The beer and bloodies were on point. Our server was so helpful - very familiar with the menu and just a delight overall! We had kids with us and everyone was accommodating and warm. I also accidentally left my credit card and had to go back the next day to pick it up and the manager was gracious and kind, quickly grabbing it from where they were safely keeping it. Whenever we're back in town, we'll be sure to come back! It's a must go to spot! read more

My first visit was kind of a mixed bag. The place looked very homey... cozy in fact. That was one of the problems. Tables were jammed close together and the group next to us was... exuberant. Think sitting next to a bunch of Kardashians except louder and less interesting. Granted, that wasn't the restaurants fault except for the forced intimacy amongst their tables. The service was friendly, if perhaps a bit slow. That may be due to how crowded the place was. The menu offered lots of mouthwatering options and with the help of a recommendation from our server I settled on their Dirty Cheesesteak sandwich. On the plate it, along with the fries looked delicious. I roll piled high with meat, melted cheese, onions, and spices. Given all that, it was surprisingly tasteless. Nothing bad... just nothing about it that was great. Anyway, All those other people couldn't be that far off and I'll probably give this place another try next time I'm in Frederick. Though maybe when it's not so busy. Also, the picture includes the nicely soft spoken couple on the other side of our table. read more

Hootch and Banter - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

The 4.5 star rating on Yelp led a buddy and I to Hootch and Banter, but after grabbing drinks and a snack there, I'd give it only a 3 star rating. Here's why: 1) Drinks: The cocktails are very watered down. My friend ordered a Manhattan and it came with too much ice. I ordered a Cloud9 and same. It was like water. Both tasted gross. The space is large and it looked like people were enjoying the food. We ordered the bread and oil as a snack and it was tasty. read more

Great food and atmosphere! We had a great time and staff were very friendly and helpful. We will come here again.

The place is super cute inside. Small and quaint. The staff is fantastic. Loved our waiter Tom. He made us feel very relaxed and not rushed. Very nice and professional. The food was outstanding! The crab dip and Crab cakes are amazing! The Crab Cakes are huge and all crab with very little filler. Would highly recommend eating here. Hopefully we will get back this way again soon. read more

The limited menu was off-putting at first, but that soon became irrelevant due to the quality and presentation of all the dishes we ordered. I can not remember what everyone ordered, but I can confirm plates were all but licked clean when it was time for coffee and desert, which we didn't have, too full! The Banter 2.0 was my meal of choice, and I wish I had snapped a picture before devouring the sandwich. It was delicious! All in all, this was a great dining experience. Friendly service, good food, and a pretty neat industrial feel due to the open space design. Only 4 stars because drinks weren't topped off when low. This is waiter etiquette 101. Other than that, I'd recommend this establishment. You won't be disappointed. read more