Monocacy Crossing Restaurant

I get a lot of guff from my buds for never giving 5 stars to restaurants I've been to. I have always said - when I get a 5-star experience I grade as such. Well here's one: Stopped here for dinner with an 8pm reservation on a Saturday. Eyeing the menu I was excited bc there were several things I saw that I was interested in. Coming from 1:20 away, we bundled a trip to Target and Old Navy into the excursion- and somehow both of those are only 2mi up the road from here. We pulled up and walked in right at 8. There is an outdoor area with Edison bulbs hanging overhead, but we made sure with weather - to book inside. Several seating areas- bar, front dining room, and a back dining room. They were very busy, so I was interested to see if it was a "only show in town" or "this place is really good" business. Upon being sat we ordered a couple diet sodas, and I added an old-fashioned. The drink was really good - just the right balance of booze and mix. For appetizers we went with an order of crab deviled eggs, as well as the hushpuppies. I will say that the menu had about ten things I wanted to try: duck nachos, Korean beef tacos, caprese salad, etc. The deviled eggs were great: fried egg half, with the devil filling on top and lump crab meat on top. Came with 4 pieces and slaw with a nice tangy remoulade underneath. This is a must-try if you're into this items. The Hushpuppies were probably a top-10 item I've had so far in 2025. Deep-fried and moist and fresh inside with a little corn mixed in. They were served in a dish with bourbon sugar glaze sauce underneath. WOW THIS WAS FREAKING GOOD. For my entree, I popped on the bacon wrapped filet with horseradish cream, potatoes and green beans. I'm not much of a bacon wrapped anything fan - but the bacon was just an after thought that added a touch of salt and sweet to the bite. The clear sauce as well as the horseradish worked in concert with the meat to deliver an EXCEPTIONAL meal experience. Wow. Have I said that enough yet? Beans were flash steamed and fresh, potatoes were great. For dessert, I nearly got disappointed bc out of the 6 things they offered- 4 have coconut in it. Is that a big deal? No- bc I got the espresso chocolate cheesecake, BUT coconut pound cake, chocolate turtle cake with coconut, coconut creme brulee - kind of overpowers other options. My cheesecake was very good - right size and great flavor. Also had a cup of coffee. Our waitress was also very nice and after handling several tables and leaving us alone for 5-10 min without taking a drink order at the beginning of our visit - she was great. This is one to book ASAP.

Finally having a day free, one of my girlfriends and I decided to go for brunch at Monocacy Crossing. We had the duck nachos and the cinnamon buns, and then honestly ran out of space for more. The portions were great! We liked the duck nachos, but absolutely loved the cinnamon buns. We each had a drink as well - I had a peach sangria that I would have had another glass or so if I wasn't driving! I'll definitely return to try some more things on their menu!

Wife had halibut. I had the beef wrapped in smoked bacon. Very happy with both. Get the buffalo cauliflower ...excellent! Our waitress, Rachael , was very friendly. Checked up. on us but didn't hover.Great service!

It's been a long, long while since I've been to Monocacy Crossing. It hasn't changed. Spousal Unit and I went for our anniversary dinner. Forty nine years (or as she would say, 10 good years). We did not mention this to the restaurant staff by design. We were seated immediately in the dated dining room by a very attentive staff member. SU ordered the hangar steak with shoestring potatoes - an oldy but goody on the menu for years. She swapped veg of the day (a squash medley) for the arugula salad without any ordering issue. Her steak was well cooked, but not as salted as she preferred; no salt or pepper on the table, and she wouldn't ask, so she ate it as is. I ordered the lamb chop special (the only entree on the special menu). Lamb was also well cooked and under seasoned - a really nice choice. My squash was tasty but overcooked but hey, that's what I see in virtually every restaurant. Would have liked to have the option to swap for a different veg but no other choices were offered. Bread was OK, but one of the pieces was stale - not enough to send back, but enough that we didn't eat it. Desserts were excellent. SU ordered he coconut cake, and I went with my old standby Creme Brulee. Great choices! Service was good. The wait staff was attentive without being pushy. My only quibble: food came out way too fast, not giving us time to wind down over nice glasses of wine after a long day. Would I go back? Yes, especially if I was looking for comfortable food in a comforting setting, or if I could sit on the patio and relax over cocktails on a much cooler night. But it will not be my choice for next year's big five-oh celebration.

Our family has celebrated birthdays and anniversaries here for several years at Sunday brunch. It is always a delightful experience with excellent food and service. Everyone orders a different entree, but we love several of the appetizers and usually order four or five to split among 10 adults. I cannot recommend it highly enough! They give the birthday celebrant a free dessert-- a very nice gesture. As for the rest of us, we go for the coconut cake-- just delish!

Delicious food, and excellent service! I was with a group, so I did not sit at the bar, but it looked very inviting.

Amazing wait staff, extraordinary food and a friendly atmosphere. I can't wait to return to try additional fare from the menu. Every item of the nine we had was phenomenal.

We went for the first, but definitely not the last, time with friends. Everything we ate was delicious (we thoroughly sampled the menu). The servers were very attentive. The large outdoor garden patios are the perfect setting for a summer dinner.

The food was amazing. Cute little restaurant, indoor and outdoor dining. Yummy drinks and food. They were very busy so i was glad we had made a reservation.

Always imaginative and creative food here. Get the crab deviled eggs! Check out the subtle flavor of the homemade bread!

Maybe not for us. Returned to Monocacy Crossing last month, after being away for awhile. The layout has changed from a couple years ago, now seeming to focus more on the bar. Since we were there for a romantic dinner, not exactly what we hoped to see. But, after standing in the bar for a few minutes waiting for our reserved table, we were ushered into what must be the smallest of several dining rooms - maybe a dozen tables in a sparse, narrow room, with all the sounds of the loud, crowded bar room a few feet away. Our memories of the larger, more central dining room we've visited numerous times before left us a little confused. Likewise, the service seemed a little off--we really felt we had some servers that needed more training, in both tone and execution. Before they took our orders, they warned us that the kitchen was very busy and would send each thing out when it was ready; a word to the wise, I guess, though the timing was better than that warning braced us for. The food was good, but not the fine dining we had come to expect. After a decent cocktail, we had the Thai chicken appetizer, some soup, and the house-smoked salmon app (with potato latkes!). Everything tasted fine, though the chicken was pretty basic (like bar food?) though plentiful; admittedly, it was from the sizeable "snacks" section of the menu. For the entrees, we got the special bacon-wrapped filet mignon and crabcake combo, and a rockfish special. They were okay, though the steak was a bit overcooked (from medium to medium well). Total for dinner came to $133 before tip, including 3 apps, 1 drink, and 2 entrees. Maybe an off night--we may try again if we're close by.

Great food, the service is also upscale. The duck platter and steak platter are a favorite.

Although I have been a customer for decades, I won't be returning. 1) Large pot holes to enter and leave the parking lot. I'm sure I will need a front-end alignment 2) Asked for medium rare. It was medium well to well. waitress was clueless when shown the interior of the burger 3). Overall, food was average and service was poo.

One of our best experiences from eating out. I highly recommend this place. We went for dinner and had hanger steak. Price is reasonable and didn't feel like ripoff. Service was excellent. Found out that the owners are the chef and purposefully keep cost down and past them on to customers. Cheers to that. Today we came back for brunch on Sunday. Be sure to Make reservation. We had Bacon wrapped steak and two poached eggs. Wow - tasty tender steak, great home fries and just right poached eggs on crispy muffins. Awesome value - 2 good sized steaks and two poached eggs. $24. Very happy customers here.

The quality of food and the casual outdoor setting were really great! One of Frederick's best restaurants, and that's saying a lot! Setting is nice (outdoor seating). Service is excellent. Food is very good -- no complaints whatsoever, everything on plate was perfect. Price is killer for what you get...! Kitchen produces great food without delay. I give Monocacy Crossing 5 stars because we had 4 drinks, salad, appetizer and two entrees... and the price was just under $100. That warrants revisits in my book!

The Food here is can't miss. EVERYTHING is so good. Love it. Got the Steak Salad and Scallops (app) for my meal. Both were incredible. Wife got the PorkChop - was good but liked the regular PorkChop more. We ate on the Patio which was awesome. Perfect evening. Service was better Inside. Our server spent a bit too much time at a friends table while we had been there a while (10+ min)

Service is great and personable to the point I feel like I'm at a friend's house for dinner. Food is very high quality. Ambience is great having eaten at both the bar and seated at a table. So glad this establishment is near my home as it will be my favorite spot. Sunday Brunch is always crowded so remember to get a reservation way ahead of time, well worth it.

Monocacy crossing is a quaint restaurant located in a small house. They have a nice sized bar and area for high top tables. There are two other dining rooms. It was simple but very nice and comfortable. The menu had a nice variety of offerings but not usual fare, more upscale. We had the pecan crusted got cheese fritters in cranberry sauce which was absolutely amazing! For dinner we had the bacon wrapped beef medallions and shrimp and grits. Again, flavorful, expertly prepared and delicious! The servers were attentive and friendly. We will go back soon.

It was my first time at Monocacy Crossing. We had an outdoor reservation on Saturday, May 17 and our amazing server was Rachel. The cocktails were excellent with attention to detail and our special orders were accepted without question, especially our dessert cocktails. Our food was delicious and the portions big enough that we took some home. I haven't had that level of service and food and drinks in a very long time. I would definitely go back if I lived closer!

Nice hidden spot off route 80 in Frederick. The food and service are outstanding. Drinks are well made and delicious.

I visited for my birthday dinner with my family and this restaurant became my new favorite! Very friendly service and staff, nice bar, nice atmosphere, great food, and reasonable prices. We got so many dishes including appointments, snacks, main dishes, and dessert, and everything was so good except the shrimp and grits. The grits was great but the shrimp tasted off with its aftertaste (taste like dish soap) and a couple of people who tried also feel the same so we asked for change our dish. The staff was very quickly responded and we could swap it with another dish. (Thank you so much!) The best dish was hanger steak with potato straws, it was cooked perfectly and very delicious. Also their scallops with bacon chip was die for! I will surely come back for these. Also the sweet staffs came to our table and sang birthday songs for us, with the delicious ice cream sunday. It was very nice experience and I will come back.

Love love this restaurant!!! Saturdays they don't open till 3pm so we went for Linner The restaurant looks like a quaint old house the nice seating areas in the bar and dining room. They have a mini patio then a larger patio partially tented with string lights. Great ambiance. Patrick was our waiter and we loved him!!!! He told us the history of the restaurant and was super attentive. I had the Monoc Burger and it was amazing. The fries were spicy and delicious and the sauce that cones with the burger was so good. My mom had the Paparadelle with Bolognese sauce and the pasta was thin and light and the Bolognese was super fresh and seasoned well. We had their famous Coconut Cake for dessert and I can see why they are famous for it. The owners Mom makes that cake and no one should eat there without trying it. We plan to go back in the fall and will try other dishes as their menu is excellent and I will definitely call ahead to make sure we can get a table in Patricks section.

Nice restaurant off the beaten path. Old home that has been converted to a fine dining restaurant. Has full service bar and table seating. Service was very good. Maryland Crab soup was tasty but overly salty. Black Bass was also very good. But it too was a bit too salty. Would go there again and try different entrees.

Came with several people and the service was good. I got the bolognese which was okay, pasta itself was great however there was no sauce really on the pasta. We also got the shrimp and grits and that on the other hand was not very good. The shrimp had a metal taste to it, which was unpleasant pleasant. The fish and chips were great as well as the burger.

Absolutely delicious This restaurant was recommended so we went for our 10 year anniversary. We had onion straws snack $5. These were fantastic Ahi tuna and hanger steak were delicious. The coconut curry rice was the star of the show for me. Coconut pound cake for dessert. So tasty Candece was truly a great server and knew the menu extensively she has great recommendations. The prices were very good and the atmosphere was like I was at a family dining room - really enjoyed our time here. We will be back

I recently moved from Montgomery County back to Frederick. I have been to the more expensive restaurants in Frederick and down the road. Our dinner at Monocacy Crossing this last Sat was second to none. Fish and filet - amazing quality and cooked to perfection. Great service all for very reasonable cost. A Must !

Smashingly good. They had a pork chop dish with horseradish slaw that was among the best things I ever had anywhere.

I would just like to take a moment to express my thanks to Kelly and the staff for the excellent experience we had at Monocacy Crossing. While we have resided in Gaithersburg for quite some time, and passed by the restaurant on multiple occasions, this was our first experience dining there. My first impression is why did we wait so long!!! It was also a special occasion as we were celebrating our fifty-first wedding anniversary. Let me say that our young host Ben was extremely charming and attentive, and the brunch dining experience was perfect. (deviled eggs, oh yes what a treat) Please thank the entire Monocacy Crossing team for us.

Food as always was excellent as was the service and the ambiance. We always our visits to the Monocacy Crossing restaurant!!!!!

Monocacy never disappoints. My family and I were greeted by Becca, who is congenial, polite and professional. When we sat down, we were greeted by our server who was a natural comedian! She described the halibut and beet salad specials and took the time to laugh at our jokes too! My husband and I ordered the same meal which was halibut with tomato sauce and jasmine rice. The veggies were perfectly grilled. Others in the party ordered ham and bean soup and a prime rib. Our stomach's were full so we had to pass on the dessert. You can tell that this family business is really well-managed. The employees look happy and enjoy working for this establishment.

We have been here several times and have always enjoyed the food, service and ambiance. We made reservations on Saturday b/c hubby wanted steak. They only steak on the menu was hanger - a cheap cut of beef. Should have got the chicken. The steak was doused in a sauce which we think was a ploy to hide the lack of flavor. The potatoes were supposed to be a form of fries but they too were terrible. Too thin and overcooked. Overall, it was an expensive disappointment.

We love coming to Monocacy Crossing because it's a quaint little restaurant tucked away on Route 355 with awesome food and ambiance. Today we had brunch with a party of 8 with call ahead reservations, and were seated promptly. The restaurant has been remodeled and updated so it has a nice upscale and trendy feel with a large bar seating area and outdoor patio. The food is excellent and the service was efficient. We started with appetizers and tried the fried deviled eggs, mussels in a white wine sauce, and the crab dip. All three appetizers were delicious. My favorite is definitely the crab dip. For main dishes, my husband ordered the Huevos Rancheros, which he had to add some Chalula sauce to add a kick of flavor and spice. The eggs were cooked perfect. Then I ordered the shrimp and cheddar grits with cherry tomatoes which was pretty tasty since the shrimp seemed fresh. Lots of flavors. We have eaten here a few times and have not been disappointed.

My wife brought me here for my birthday. We made reservations for a Tuesday night. Plenty of people sitting outside, in the bar and the dining room. We sat in the dining room and tables were spaced apart for Covid. Our waitress was personable, pleasant and was on top of everything. Excellent service. The food was outstanding. I noticed that there was not salt or pepper at the table. Either that is being done because of Covid, or maybe more likely because the food is seasoned perfectly from the kitchen. Any good restaurant should not need to offer up salt and pepper and this was the case with our meals. We had an appetizer, 2 entrees and shared a dessert. Everything was excellent. It is a tough call to say if the service or the food was better, so I'll split it down the middle and say both were great. Although we sat inside, they had large fires going outside to keep people warm on a chilly night.

We did a very early dinner, 5 pm on a Sunday. Walked in without reservation and was seated at one of the high tables. Service was prompt. We ordered a bison steak which was as perfectly medium rare but the quinoa base was a bit too peppery. Another dish was the pork schnitzel with German style potatoes - crispy cutlet and big portion. Ended with a warm peach tart and ice cream. Glasses of wine were very reasonably priced. Good outdoor seatings and ample indoor as well.

Because of a long stint in France I find myself a bit picky about eating in the USA but happily Frederick has a couple of standout restaurants but bar none Monocacy Crossing really makes me feel like I'm in Provence. It is almost impossible for restaurants here to source the products that make French bistros stand out, but the Chef here knows how to handle his kitchen to make the most of what's available and every time I dine at Monocacy Crossing I have been pleased with my choice. I also find the service and the pace of the dining just right. So, j'ai bien mangé ici: Merci et à bientôt.

Another great meal last night. Five star service, great atmosphere and excellent food. Love this place. Had the flank steak special last night.Cut my meat with my fork.

We have been coming here for years and it's normally excellent food. This past weekend was a disappointing dinner. The shrimp and grits with andouille sausage was served almost like jambalaya with a dark gravy over the grits. Also with greens which were so bitter they were inedible. We were told they were dandelion greens which can be bitter. None of this was in the description. Second dish was the sweet corn risotto topped with citrus arugula- a red sauce rimmed the risotto along with an olive oil and 4 dollops of what I think was supposed to be pesto. Again not in the description and I have never seen risotto with sauce around it. It was flavorless anyway and the risotto was more like a mash. Luckily the other 2 dishes were fine, my parents always order the staples there - salmon and bolognese. Disappointed overall though.

Thanks to Marsha for fantastic service tonight! We were very happy that they were able to accommodate us without reservations on a Friday night...during Covid. Great Covid precautions in place. Plenty of space and hand sanitizer at the door. Trust me here, you NEED the deviled eggs with colossal crab topper. Truly a special treat! If you are a burger person, i highly recommend the house burger. They use a house blend of short rib and brisket. bacon, blue cheese and caramelized onions...absolutely spectacular! I also pounded my fries tonight. They were perfectly house cut and crispy. My husband had the shrimp and scallops with pasta. I snuck a few bites and if you are in to meaty scallops then this is for you! Dessert was on point, with a carrot cake bread pudding . What?!?! YES. carrot cake bread pudding. Was totally over the top but, oh. My. God. Worth every single calorie in my mouth! It was hot, borderline savory with a hint of sweet. Beautiful mouthfeel with the shredded carrot and the house made whipped cream was a perfect top for this delight! Go ahead, splurge and then take a long walk after you loosen your belt. Paired with a lovely bottle of the Walla WCrispy Deviled EggsSautéed Shrimp and Scallops Over Pasta Ribbonsalla Merlot. Yes BOTTLE. Don't waste your time with a glass. Get the bottle and you can always cork what you don't finish. Bottom line, treat yourself and someone you really like to be with to a date night at Monocacy crossing. You won't be disappointed!

Great food good service cute little place for a special event. We have been there multiple times, and have never been disappointed in the food or service. They have outdoor seating's when the weather is nice and although the inside is small, it is very cozy.

Service was excellent and attentive. Food was served hot but a long delay in the dinner. Halibut was done well, tasty and served hot. The tagliatelle with a pork and veal meat sauce was tasty and filling. The fritters were fantastic for the appetizer. Drinks were nothing to make you want to reorder them. Nice night in a secluded room. Clean and bright.

The food was delicious here. It was my first visit and we decided to try brunch. The table had duck nachos, goat cheese fritters, and cinnamon rolls. Portions were generous and the food was great for the value. Great service and delicious food!

Everything was amazing! The food was great as normal. Our sever was so sweet and kind. We had a reservation but didn't seem as busy as normal. The wasn't too loud but a few friends making jokes at the bar. You must go and try everything!!

Very good brunch! Sat outside on a beautiful day and had the Belgium waffle with spicy chicken. The chicken was perfectly cooked, well spiced, and delicious. The waffle was very cinnamon-y but fluffy and light and paired so well. The maple syrup is a nice touch and service here is great. Our server, a young male I think he was new, was very friendly. Would definitely come back sometime!

Great service, very tasty and fresh food. Salmon was perfect. And it's so nice to sit outside! We will be back

The service was wonderful and the food was delicious. The table we were seated at was kind of wonky. It's a cozy restaurant. The price is very reasonable. I don't recommend bringing children. It's a nice adult brunch place.

Monocacy Crossing is like an oasis of great food, great atmosphere and great service in the middle of a beautiful rural area. It is a very welcome change to the urban area I live in - not that I don't love my neighborhood in Washington DC, but this restaurant is a real treat to all the senses - sight, taste, smell and even my psyche. We went there with some good friends and were lucky enough to snag an outdoor table on a mild night. Of course, we had a great time - there is nothing like a great meal spent with good people. Plus, the setting is lovely, the chairs are comfortable and the drinks are delicious! My raspberry mojito was a real winner and was served in a huge glass. My appetizer was an Anaheim Chili Relleno with lemon cream. OMG was this delicious. I do not know how they got the breading so light and crispy while also infusing the dish itself with so much flavor. This appetizer was outstanding and so unique! Main course was halibut served on rice with Cajun seasoning. I've had a LOT of halibut in my life but this one is memorable. The serving size was huge and the combo with the Cajun seasoning (and maybe some crawdads) is inspired! The quality of the fish was excellent and the sear was true perfection. And I know this will sound odd - but, to me, one of the best ways to evaluate a great chef is how good they can cook the simple stuff. Well, the rice was perfection - flaky, chewy, light with just the right amount of moisture. Whoever cooked it knew what they were doing. Dessert for me was the coconut pound cake which is apparently made from the personal recipe of the owner's mother. Outstanding! Like something you would find at a church supper - warm, moist and buttery. It is definitely on the sweet side so a good cup of coffee is great to balance it out and Monocacy Crossing definitely has a great cup of coffee too! The menu is large - there are many offerings and almost ALL of them tempted me. Plus there were a mouthful of specials this evening (like the halibut with Cajun seasoning that I was lucky enough to have). It was honestly difficult to select from the seemingly curated menu. But, for me, one of the BEST parts of the dining experience - quite an accomplishment given how great the food was - was Jadelyn, our server. She was smart, attentive, fast (without rushing us), knowledgeable about the food and history of the restaurant and - to top it all off - fun! It was a pleasure to be served by her. I truly found Jadelyn to be one of the best servers I have ever had. All in all, Monocacy Crossing conspires to create a fantastic dining experience. Can you get a fancier place? Probably. Can I find a good restaurant closer to home? Yes. Is the interior just a little dated? Maybe but who cares!!! There was NOT ONE THING that disappointed tonight at Monocacy Crossing! I have eaten all around the world but I would put Monocacy Crossing up against all the finest restaurants that I have ever eaten at! BRAVO!

Another amazing experience at Monocacy Crossing restaurant. Savannah was our server and she is exceptional. We had spicy pear martinis she made and they are worthy of coming back for! The bread basket is delicious with the flavorful butter. The burger was perfect, the fries extra crispy, and ask for the special sauce! Josie is also an excellent server so ask for one of them when you go!

Wonderful workers and delicious food! We were able to change our reservation times without any issues and everyone that worked there was super nice. The worker read our minds after seeing we got seated next to a huge group of teenagers celebrating a birthday and were quite loud and offered to move us to another table. The crab dip appetizer was super good. I wish they would have asked instead of assumed that we wanted our main course after we fully finished our appetizer. We were taking our time eating the appetizer and wanted to save some for when our main course came and were wondering where our food was. The food was definitely cooked just as asked. I wish the coating on my filet mignon wasn't as salty, it was good but just too much after a few bites so I pushed it off to the side. The portions were very generous overall for the price. I would definitely come back to try other things on the menu!

First time at Monocacy Crossing, we were impressed with the menu and wanted to try out everything. Picked the crispy red onion straws, crispy artichokes and garlic butter pretzel knots which were all delicious and serving size was good for 2 adults and a pre-teen. Adults enjoyed a red sangria which was delightful and a beer which was served in a tall glass. There is no printed kids menu but they do have kids items like chicken strips and pasta with butter sauce, my son picked the latter and really enjoyed it. We shared the grilled bacon wrapped filet mignon, medium rare, which came out perfectly crispy on the outside and warm tender red center which is just how we like it. Service and attention were great, did not have to wait much for either drinks or food, and the waitress checked on us often to make sure everything came out to our liking. Although the place is well known, it is still a hidden gem and is now on our list of favorite restaurants in Frederick.