The Tasting Room

Everything was absolutely delicious and the service is always top notch! I forgot how much I love the Tasting Room - both the food and cocktails. We started with the burrata appetizer - Very refreshing with the peach and frisee. For our entrees we got the rack of lamb and stone bass. Absolutely loved the taro croquette that came with the stone bass. Husband really enjoyed the lamb. We ended the night with the matcha strawberry Creme brûlée and the molten butter cake (SO GOOD). For drinks, I got the espresso martini (best in town) and husband had the refresa. Highly recommend for a nice dinner downtown!

My wife and I were celebrating our 10-year anniversary. They gave us a complimentary glass of champagne to celebrate. We started off with the pear salad and brussel sprouts, which were absolutely incredible. For dinner we had the scallops and the dry aged burger. I think it was probably the best burger I had in my life. I highly recommend it! For dessert, we had the pumpkin creme brulee. It was delicious! I can't recommend this place enough. The prices were very fair, especially when you consider how amazing everything tasted.

We had an early dinner on Saturday and were seated right away. The service was excellent, and the food overall was delicious. That said, the crab cakes were a little too dry for my liking. I wouldn’t order them again and would likely opt for the smoked duck next time—it was juicy and perfectly seasoned. The Spanish octopus was also excellent.

Really nice spot downtown. Wednesday is half priced bottles of wine, so I went with the chablis. It was delicious. Paired well with my meal. The mussels were delicious. They were cooked and served in a curry sauce that was drinkable, it was so good. The bread they give you for dipping has a nice flavor, as well. Toasted but still soft. The scallops were in another, totally different curry. Lacked a little bit of luster compared to the mouth full of flavor with every bite like the mussels, but still tasty. The scallops were nice and soft. Not chewy at all. I ended with the white lava cake for dessert. Topped with their house made vanilla bean ice cream, and a lemon sauce on the bottom thay was amazing. Overall, it was a really delicious meal. I highly recommend it, and i will definitely return.

I would definitely recommend making a reservation at The Tasting Room, as it’s a popular choice for fine dining in downtown Frederick, where options are somewhat limited. For parking, the Church Street garage is your best bet, though if you’re lucky, you might find parallel street parking nearby. I’ve dined here twice for dinner, and while the food is quite good, the atmosphere didn’t fully resonate with me. Both visits were for date nights, but I found the seating arrangements to be a bit too cramped, with tables placed very close together. The noise level was quite high, making it difficult to have a quiet conversation. Being right downtown, sirens frequently sounded outside, adding to the distraction. At times, I could overhear conversations from neighboring tables, and we had to repeat ourselves to hear each other clearly. That said, this was on a busy Saturday night, so weekday experiences might be more subdued. On the bright side, their happy hour is fantastic—though it’s bar-only—and the cocktails are delicious. While I’m not the biggest fan of the espresso martini, the Lily Pad is my go-to, and their old-fashioned is consistently solid. Overall, The Tasting Room is a great spot for a quick drink or a more casual outing, and with a reservation, it’s well worth a visit.

When we got there, it started off kind of rough. They sat us sort of in the middle of the dining room with a table that was lopsided. But when the waitress came over, she immediately fixed the table and brought us eacgh glass of Prosecco for our anniversary. It was very sweet. We ordered the charcuterie platter, which was delicious. The we couldn't decide on what wine we wanted since he wanted steak and I wanted seafood. The Somalia came over and made some great suggestions and we ended up finding a bottle that we both agreed on based on her recommendation. He got the Wagyu steak frites and I got the linguine and clams. It took a really long time to get the food. But it was worth it. His steak was off the chain. My linguine and clam sauce was a little under-seasoned. But the pasta was really well done and the clams were perfect. We got the butter cake for dessert, soooo good. Overall a great experience!

A must try if you're in the area!! Actually, this is a must try, even if you have to drive outside the area. We stopped in for happy hour - great cocktails and we had a lot of them but sadly I did not take many pictures. Really liked the atmosphere and the bartender was so nice! I'll be back!

Review: The Tasting Room – A Longtime Favorite, but a Disappointing Change My wife and I have been dining at The Tasting Room for over 20 years, and it has consistently been one of our favorite restaurants. The food, service, and atmosphere have always been exceptional — truly a place we’ve celebrated and recommended to countless friends. Unfortunately, our visit tonight felt noticeably different from what we’ve come to love. The crab cakes, once the best we’ve ever had, have changed dramatically since our last visit in February. They went from being a signature dish we eagerly looked forward to, to something I honestly wouldn’t take the time to eat again. I understand the restaurant recently brought on a new chef, and while I’m sure he is talented, I hope he reconsiders altering the dishes that helped define The Tasting Room’s reputation. Some classics are best left as they are — especially when they’ve been perfected over decades. We truly hope to see the beloved flavors that made The Tasting Room special return soon.