My boyfriend and I came here a little while ago. The food and wine were fantastic. Only problems were our table was cramped and in an aisle, and we totally felt rushed out. read more

Took my brother and his wife here for the holidays. we enjoyed everything we ate and drank. Didnt feel the place was pretentious, service was good (it was early on a Saturday), did get a little crowded by the time we left but we were seated comfortably by the windows. The prices are online and we'll displayed on menus so the bill is not a shock like some $$$ places. I'd go back again for a special occasion. read more

Food is great. The space is tight. Made a reservation for 8 and was seated a half hour late. Could not get to the bar to make the time go by. Would return but not with a large crowd. read more

My husband and I had an amazing dinner at the tasting room this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary. I cannot say enough good things about the food and the staff. From the moment we walked in until we left we were treated like we were the only guests in the restaurant. I had the beef carpaccio, lobster chowder and scallops, all of which were prepared to perfection. It's hard to find a well done carpaccio these days, so i appreciated the classic preparation. My husband had the PEI mussels, and although I am not a huge fan of them, they were amazing! Massive, cooked well and the broth exactly as I would have wanted. He had the NY strip for dinner and not only was it cooked perfectly, it was delicious. Just the right amount of fat that literally melted in your mouth. Carrot cake finished our meal and it did not disappoint. Thank you again to our server and general manager for such a fantastic experience. We cannot wait to go back! read more

Wife and I came for our anniversary like we did the year before. The service was horrible! Vinnie never once checked up on us to see if our food was cooked right. No refills on my water. So after waiting forever for dessert and our check, Vinnie forgets my cappuccino. After horrible service, I still leave Vinnie a $30 tip (20%), when he returns , I ask for my Hot beverage to go, he has the nerve to bring me back a marked up bill with the $4 drink. It was deducted from his tip which he didnt deserve. At this point , Im frustrated and the manager comes over . i make him aware of the issue. After waiting a while we rolled out with out the drink. Damn shame. We really like the food. Volt will get my money from now on. read more

I had been dying to try the Tasting Room since we moved to the area, since the reviews are raving and overwhelmingly positive. Being a "foodie" can sometimes be difficult in a more rural area, with not too many unique options for food. The Tasting Room offers an eclectic menu with clean and delicious dishes. My husband and I ventured here on a Saturday afternoon, and although we were in-between lunch and dinner, the restaurant was still fairly busy. Clearly it is a local hot-spot. We decided to sit at the bar, which is very modern and clean. The wine list was wonderful, offering many different varieties. I ordered a Rose, and my husband ordered a beer. We continued to order some light entrees for our late lunch; I ordered the lobster chowder, and my husband ordered the shrimp and grits. Both were absolutely delicious. The service was great, and the staff was efficient and friendly. We cannot wait to go back again! read more

Come on! ....for a town this small, this restaurant is a 5 star experience. If they picked up and relocated this restaurant to NYC, I would still give it 4 stars. Perfect for special occasions or weekend dining. Interesting wine list, and they allow tastes of bottle-only wines....who else DOES that? The food is well prepared and classy. The ambiance is great, and it is located on one of the main corners in town, with floor to ceiling windows. The only downside would be that they cannot accommodate too many people due to the size, and it is definitely above-average in noise density. But, if you want a lively fun time with a date, you could not pick a better place. read more

We made a reservation about 2 weeks in advance, and when they called to confirm it, we realized they had inadvertently canceled our Saturday night reservation and moved it to Friday. We got it straightened out, and arrived at 7pm for our reservation. There is no place to wait except at the bar, so we stood there for 25 min, until almost 7:30pm to be seated. The restaurant is fairly small and tables are close together, but that didn't really bother us. We started the evening with a drink - berry infusion and spiced apple cranberry. Both were delicious and very smooth. Great price for their drinks, too, which is an added bonus. For appetizers, we chose the fried oysters and pork belly. Both were very flavorful and perfectly cooked. Entrees - Hubby got the rack of lamb, which was HUGE, and perfectly cooked. I had the filet, which is amazing. Served on a sizzling plate with a side of potato au gratin. I had trouble finishing it, I was so full, but I couldn't bear to throw any of it out! Absolutely delicious, and perfectly cooked. We finished the evening by sharing the frozen banana custard. This was maybe the only downfall. It was good, but not amazing. Maybe we were so full we couldn't appreciate it, but I just wasn't wowed. Oh well. It was still a nice ending to a great meal. Service here is great. They are attentive without being overbearing. They don't clear the plates until everyone at the table is finished eating (huge pet peeve of mine, as I eat faster than hubby and hate when he is left to eat his dinner while my plates are cleared). I would definitely return here, as long as we can find a babysitter! It is not kid friendly. And because it's so small, it's not really great for a huge group either, though I'm sure they would accommodate it anyway. read more

Probably the best steak I've ever had. A little cramped and loud at times but well worth the trip!

What a classy place! David the waiter who had worked there almost 12 years offered superb service and suggestions. Having a knowledgeable waiter just makes an occasion. The filet, house salad and chicken (had by the 3 of us) were perfectly prepared and the Burgundy wine was a perfect complement. I highly recommend this place! read more

Only went once so far but we were impressed. We just had drinks but they were quite good! We went during happy hour and there were many unique choices of martinis and margaritas. I definitely want to go back and try the food! read more

Food was great...was a bit pricey. Had some shells in the crab cakes. Atmosphere was loud. Had a table for six could not hear conversation from the two at the other end of the table. read more

Lunch was elegant scrumptious and a real great value. Carrot soup shrimp and grits and bread pudding with loads of fresh crusty bread done well at $18 sounds too good to be true. Rest of meal drinks and service superb. read more

I had a truly excellent experience at The Tasting Room the first time I ate there with my husband. I am dairy, gluten, and wheat intolerant, and he is a lacto-ovo vegetarian. On our first visit, our waiter was remarkably sensitive to our dietary needs and helped us find accommodations quickly. The food was, in my opinion, better than that at Volt -- and I could not wait to return for our seven-year wedding anniversary dinner. We returned last night and did not have a stellar experience. Our waiter was aloof and insensitive to our dietary needs. Whereas our previous waiter had been well-informed about the menu, this waiter was less informed and seemed impatient with us. He also forgot to put in my wine and salad order. The food honestly tasted like food I prepare regularly at home. My dessert -- flourless chocolate cake -- was also served with visible and large scorch marks on the top. The cake was badly burned and tasted dry. I definitely felt as if the food and service were not worth the price. We've decided to go to Volt for our next celebratory dinner. read more

My wife and I have dined at The Tasting Room a lot of times over the years. Visitors tend to like it more than we do. The food is consistently excellent (I haven't had anything I didn't love), but the atmosphere usually leaves me disappointed. The main issue I have is with how they've laid out the restaurant and with how they manage people waiting for tables. If you're a couple, you're going to be seated at one of the two-tops that run parallel to the bar, or at one of the high-tops along the window adjacent to Market Street. The two-tops are so close together that you're actually sitting closer to the stranger at the table next to you than your date sitting across the table from you. This, combined with the overall noisy din, makes private conversation tough. The high-tops can be a nice alternative unless there are a lot of people waiting for tables. Folks waiting tend to congregate around the bar, where there isn't a lot of room. As the number of people waiting grows, the crowd spills out into the dining area, and the first place that happens is the high-tops next to Market Street. If you're sitting at a high-top, on a busy night, be prepared for some unexpected guests at your table. To their credit, the staff do try to contain the crowd, but it just isn't that big a restaurant. there are only so many places to put people while they are waiting. The experience is a lot better at lunch (when it is less crowded but with the same excellent food and service) and with a party of four (because they will seat you at tables less prone to the crowding issues). They're in the middle of a renovation now. Maybe they'll have some better options for couples soon. read more

YUMMMMM. My favorite restaurant in Downtown Frederick. Tasting Room is a home run anytime. This is our special go to place. We try different starters, and I always get the Filet for dinner. It is gorgeous, delicious and is always consistently cooked to perfection. Recently, I have been a few times for lunch and I am blown away by the delicious quality food for a reasonable price. If you are looking for a high end meal and trying to watch your wallet, I highly suggest their lunch menu. The Salmon is my favorite lunch dish. read more

Went here for our anniversary dinner last month after receiving a few recommendations. Outstanding meal from start to finish, service was top notch as well. One of the best meals we have had in a long time. Prices are on the higher end, but worth the cost for excellent preparation and flavors with local ingredients. Cocktails were solid, but overpriced imo. Will definitely be back soon for another terrific meal. read more

We had an absolutely amazing experience last night! The service was prompt and courteous, the waitress made wonderful recommendations and was so charming. The food was impeccable, not a single complaint from the entire table. While it is leaning towards the more expensive side, the experience and high quality of the meals is beyond worth every penny. We will definitely be going back and recommending The Tasting Room in Frederick! read more

Seriously by far one of the best meals of my life! Steak - off the hook! Lobster chowder - come-on, go to another place chowder - like who would have ever thought you could say that about a lobster chowder? But it's that freaking amazing! Service was impeccable! I can't say enough awesome things about this place. If your a foodie and in the area you HAVE to eat here!!!! Truthfully it is very expensive but we did not hold back and looking back it was sooo worth it! Please know, you can dine here and not spend a fortune.Amazing food, amazing wine, amazing dinner company! I highly recommend!!!! read more

Wow, you try to go mixology and you forget there are customers that may want to eat at the bar. We have been here 30 minutes and have gotten one drink and NO offer for a menu. Happy hour ended at 5, management should be happy they stayed in the back. read more

The most degrading experience ever. You hear about these racist stories on the news and all over social media, and you tell yourself "Fortunately not around where I live"... until last night. I walked in with two other friends to grab some drinks. First the hostess did not bother to say "hello" or any other word, just looked at us in the strangest way. We walked to the bar, got dirty and snooty looks like we didn't belong there. Servers were walking by us but NO employee has uttered a word to us... Yes, that's right, we were standing there for ten minutes and NOBODY has uttered one word to us. And I am not being cynical but the three of us are all convinced that our race and physical appearance had to do with how we were treated. This was the most degrading experience ever. We left because we clearly were not welcome. We left and guess what, the hostess still didn't utter a word to us lol. We will never go near this place and will make sure to let anybody know about our personal experience. Take your money and dignity elsewhere where you are actually treated like human beings. read more

I really like the Tasting Room. The number one reason is the bar staff - they are always super nice and accommodating. Really like to have a beer here, especially at happy hour when they're half off. Wife loves pretty much all of their cocktails, which are always made with care (lemon on the rim of the glass, shaken, etc.) - staff really puts in the effort. Lunch is a great time to get a delicious meal priced reasonably for what you get. Dinner is fantastic; expensive and more suited to a special occasion, but certainly worth the price. Had brunch here once this fall. My meal was fantastic - steak and eggs. I could have licked the plate clean I think. read more

The tasting room is very honest, well prepared, fresh food, served up by some of the friendliest servers I've ever come across. Some may be upset that it is situated in Frederick, and some may be upset about the price, but really, there is nothing to complain about with this restaurant. Frederick is a quaint little place, it's cozy, very historic and has many great qualities that most people from out of town seem to overlook, simply because it is so low key. If you are really going to eat at any restaurant, in any town in america, with the mind-set that it isn't new york, or DC, then obviously, you are going to walk away feeling that way as well. If more people could step away from this notion, and just evaluate this restaurant for what it is, I think there would be many more stars. The servers and staff are honestly some of the best I've been around, they aren't robotic and they know their restaurant. The food is well prepared and doesn't rely on trends or popular additions to make it so. Anytime I've gone, I've noticed that the cooks really let the flavors of each item speak for itself, and I can really respect that. With fair prices for the dishes you'll receive, a pleasant atmosphere, full bar and nice wine selection, and great service, you really can't go wrong. There isn't much to choose from in Frederick, this is true, but there are truly some real gems in the area if you let yourself be open to them. This place is one of those gems. Go in with high expectations, not the absolute highest, and you'll walk away full and satisfied. I've never been let down, easily one of the top 5 in Frederick. read more

I have never been so disrespected and ill-treated as I was at The Tasting Room in Frederick, MD during Restaurant Week, Spring 2013. Let me begin by saying I like food. I'm a foodie. I spend lots of money on good food, good service, and a good experience. I dress well. I'm an attorney. I like nice things. Advertised rather blatantly for Frederick Restaurant week is a prix fixe menu on which you can order 2 or 3 courses, from a total of 3 offerings, including appetizer, entree, and desert. Are you grasping it? Pick two, pay about $20. Pick 3, pay about $30. Simple enough, and unequivocally advertised. Let's break for a moment to discuss allergies. My lovely girlfriend has a death-inducing allergy to egg. She also has a rather annoying tendency to brush death with other conglomerations of poultry-related substances. Take it for what it is, it is a difficult thing to avoid, but certainly not an unavoidable one at a restaurant of the caliber of the Tasting Room. The time came for my girlfriend to notify the server of her allergy. After she explained, in her typically humble way, the server announced that the restaurant takes allergies very seriously. He then launched into an explanation of how substitutions and modifications could not be made, against the restaurant's best wishes, due to the regimented nature of restaurant week. We were made to understand that modifications, regardless of the reason, would necessitate some exceptions be made by the chef and or management to accommodate us. To participate in Restaurant Week, The Tasting Room had to lower its deliverables to us; therefore, our expectations of the service should diminish comparably. After noticing that my girlfriend and her sister could not dine on the entree menu without some exception to either egg, poultry, or meat generally (my girlfriend's sister is a vegetarian primarily, and no vegetarian option was offered), they asked if we could still elect to just enjoy appetizers and entrees, per the widely-advertised 2013 spring Restaurant Week Frederick menu on OpenTable. We were told by our ever-accommodating server, "No." While the restaurant would love to offer the menu in two-course choices as advertised, they were actually unable to offer less than three options, and could not, in fact, give us two courses in person. When we asked what that meant, and what would happen if my girlfriend (who was allergic -- to death -- of every item on the dessert menu) could not eat an item, the server replied "well, they're still going to charge you and bring something out anyway." The server insisted on calling over the manager. True to form, the manager backed up the server, explaining that if we were to order from the prix fixe menu, we would need to order three courses, in spite of the Restaurant Week advertised duex-course option (as opposed to the trois for those following), because the restaurant simply couldn't serve -- or charge -- for just two...regardless of allergies. No server offered themselves to us to return our jackets. We had to physically stop a server in the walkway and request service of our jackets. The server than hastily collected the menus, the last of which was tucked under my elbow, and the server physically removed it from under my elbow while asking, "May I remove this?" and before hearing a response. I don't like making scenes. While I have very good reasons for not complaining about restaurants (not limited to, but including the fact that that I've served and bartended in environments that call for 4-star service and menu knowledge), I made an exception. I noted on the receipt how disappointed I was with the service. That was all. We walked across the street to Brewer's Alley and had a very accommodating meal (as we knew we could, and would). But the point remains: I've never been treated with such demeaning pretense during a restaurant week experience. I've dropped significantly more on meals that warranted money above and beyond the meager menu offerings provided by the Tasting Room to garner some Restaurant Week attention. More significantly, I cannot believe the establishment shamed us in front of other patrons for what is an inherently unavoidable accommodation. If someone can't eat egg or poultry, and you have a vegetarian in attendance, how did you plan to serve them? Did you think falsely advertising the availability of two courses would draw in otherwise wary customers, at which point the ambiance would woo them into a false sense of wallet-looseness, against better judgment (and allergic implications)? False advertising and wrongful inducement come to mind. read more

I gotta say they were okay. I went there with my girlfriend for our anniversary expecting a $100 bill between 2 people to be close to amazing. Let's start with the food. I got the filet, she got the NY strip. Both were cooked exactly how we asked, but the seasoning just wasnt what I wished. They are very classic and stuck to the butter salt and pepper and they did it right so I cant hate. However, it didn't taste much more amazing than the sirloin I had gotten from Ruby Tuesday a week prior. The server was okay. When we ordered water with lemon she made a face that screamed "you're gonna be cheap, so I'm gonna focus on other tables" which I understand to a point. However, we weren't cheap, we each got steaks and an appetizer, we just dont drink soda or alcohol. I believe that a 15% tip is appropriate for mediocre service, 20% if it was solid, 25% if he/she kicked ass. We tipped 15%. Again, it was good so I can't really complain, but given that we dropped $100, it just didn't live up to what we thought it would and for that price, we'll go to firestones or volt and see how they compare before returning there. read more

A lot of friends rave about the filet but i found it mediocre. The cocktail menu was great however so I will be going back for drinks. Recommend the "to chai for " cocktail read more

Unapologetically Insulted - YELP buried my review so YOU couldn't see it: Well, The Frederick Community needs to know about this: Sat. Jan. 3, 2015, 12:30 p.m. A friend recommended the Tasting Room's filet mignon as [bar none} the best he's had in any local restaurant. My daughter and I (both dressed in business casual clothing, heels, no sneakers) decided to have our first new year Saturday lunch there. We checked the menu posted in the window and decided to ask if the filet mignon was available durning lunch. THE CHEEKY YOUNG MAN who greeted us consulted with another man standing at the entryway in kitchen whites and then turned to us and said: "YES, IT IS AVAILABLE, IF YOU THINK YOU CAN AFFORD IT BECAUSE IT IS $40.00." No, I am NOT kidding. My daughter, who frequently dines there was speechless. I, on the other hand, did say that his remark was very insulting. We then went to a neighboring restaurant and had a delightful lunch WITH A FULL BOTTLE OF WINE, to boot. In today's economy I find it interesting that the Tasting Room can insult the public and turn away a potential $150-$175 on a Saturday afternoon. Sadly, I'll never know how wonderful their filet mignon may be. I'll go to Dutch's Daughter and gladly pay $55.00 for a King cut filet, and be treated with respect. Shame on you, Tasting Room. read more

Food was okay but service was terrible. Our server had an attitude problem from the getgo when asking for utensils to asking after 20 minutes when we would be getting our drinks. I had to actually get up and ask for forks to the manager after 25 minutes. We constantly felt like we were imposing when asking for simple items that should have been provided. Overall, wouldn't recommend this place and reviews are not worth going to Fredrick from down South unless you live in rural Frederick then maybe it's the place for you. read more

The SO and I had a very nice dinner there a week before Valentine's Day. An excellent server served excellent food, all this in a nice surrounding. Cheap it was not but worth every penny and we will with great certainty be back! read more

We used to come here often. It was expensive. The roasted filet was delicious but $45. They still packed in the customers and you needed reservations on a Friday or Saturday evening. Last night we stopped in for a Friday night drink and were shocked that the bar and tables were mostly empty. Then we saw the menu prices and understood why. They have dramatically raised their prices. One appetizer each and a couple of drinks set us back $100, with no dinner. Appetizer portions are small. If we had ordered dinner, well that filet is now closer to $60. Don't go here here if you are not prepared to spend $200 on dinner for 2. We won't be back any time soon. read more

Crab cakes and jumbo scallops were absolute hits. The couscous with the scallops is to die for. Excellent meals, pricey, but decadent food. Back room noisy with large groups; acoustics to blame. read more

Wow. What a disappointment. After all the "rave" reviews I've heard about this place I was eager to try it out. The gentleman at the door was rude and condescending. My wife and I came in on a Tuesday night with no reservation. The restaurant was ultimately empty at 5:00, but we were refused a window seat. Forced to sit at a small table by the kitchen. After hearing loud, obnoxious conversations from the wait staff, I had asked to be moved to a more secluded table. The man who I assume was the host couldn't even look at me in the eyes when he told me "everything was booked". Unbelievable. At this time we were the only table in the restaurant... we got our appetizers which were pretty underwhelming and got to our main course. The steaks were nothing special for the price. We skipped dessert and decided to go someplace else. Once we were done, guess what? There were maybe 5 tables in the window still available that could have accommodated us. Will not be back. Don't believe the hype, there are much better establishments in Frederick. read more

Came here for the first time for my birthday dinner and had a wonderful experience. The Tasting Room definitely met my high expectations. I ordered the Tuna Steak, which was phenomenal. My boyfriend is a very picky eater, and they accommodated him by allowing him to order the cheeseburger off the lunch menu (which was equally phenomenal!) The drinks were also great. I will definitely be returning. read more

If you're willing to drive into downtown Frederick for dinner I would highly recommend this place! It's pretty expensive but you will get a great meal! I've been here a handful of times for special occasions and each time I love my meal! I love filet and only eat it at really nice restaurants and this is in my top 3 favorites places to get one! All of the side dishes are very yummy as well and the desserts are delicious! The space is a little cramped, but most places downtown are. I love this place! read more

Fabulous food! Lobster stew was the perfect blend of lobster and seasoning. The duck was perfectly prepared. Our server, Justin, was obviously not having a good day. We ordered cocktails, and a bottle of wine and dessert and he could not have cared less about us or our experience. read more

The food was great, as was the service. However, a server really should let a guest know when there is a $5 up charge for substituting a different side. read more

Great meal, My wife had the Monkfish, daughter the crabcakes and I had the NY Strip. The appetizers (cheese plate and foie gras) were also outstanding as well as the bread. Hostess seated us quickly even being 30 minutes early. Restaurant is attractive, with wonderful street views from the big windows. Couldn't have picked a better restaurant to celebrate my wife's birthday. I almost forget the birthday sorbet with candle!! read more

We arrived about 15 minutes early for Sunday brunch and was informed they opened at 11am...we waited in the foyer....When she came over 2xs to get menus and specials menu and the waitress/hostess asked us if we had RESERVATIONS! We said No are we supposed to have Reservations? She said we PREFER YOU DO! ...WE WERE THE ONLY ONES THERE! How rude and disrespectful. We are retired, SENIOR CITIZENS and traveling....DONT SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE! read more

We came out to Frederick for the weekend specifically to try The Tasting Room and it exceeded our expectations! My husband and I are both "foodies" and we both agree it was the best food we've ever had! The staff was great, the food and drinks were worth the price, and the location is perfect. We can't wait to go back! read more

Went here the other night for my birthday just after they re-opened, and it was very good! The lobster bisque was probably the highlight for me. We order that, and the foie gras torchon to start off. I enjoyed the foie a lot, but thought that it was a touch over salted. The pineapple fritters were very good, and the pickled pineapple was decent. It was too much on its own but with the other components it balanced nicely. The lobster bisque was extremely decedant while still being light and not overly heavy at the same time. Absolutely delicious. We also ordered the veal duo and the filet. They forgot the mushrooms for the filet, but didn't charge for them so no foul done. The veal was good. The short rib wasn't as tender as I was expecting it, and the top part was a little bit tough. I also wasn't too overly impressed with the polenta. It wasn't bad, just didn't really do it for me. The filet was good, cooked perfectly to order. The au gratin was also good. Finished off with the tiramisu which was served triffle style. Overall it was very good, but didn't absolutely wow me, which is what has to happen for a 5. Definitely a solid option though! read more