Frederick Restaurant Week: Why You Need to Go

If you’ve lived in this area long enough, you have surely heard about and most likely participated in Frederick Restaurant Week.

Frederick Restaurant Week features unique and fine dining options available in Downtown Frederick and the surrounding area.

Diners are offered multi-course meals with appetizing prices at participating restaurants.

It’s a great concept that stimulates the local economy and gets people out to eat in Frederick.

Typically around 18 restaurants participate in this annual event.

For a list of all of the participating restaurants during Frederick Restaurant Week, along with their pricing and menu options, go to Downtown Frederick Partnership.

A few years ago, I was invited to participate in a ‘Sneak Peek’ of Frederick Restaurant Week.

Frederick Restaurant Week: A Great Excuse to Get out and Try A New Place

Frederick Restaurant Week

So, why do you need to go to Frederick Restaurant Week?

Well, I’ll give you 6 reasons!

Frederick Restaurant Week

1. Learn More About Frederick During Restaurant Week

The meeting place for our ‘Sneak Peek’ group was at Frederick Visitor Center.

There were bloggers, newspaper and magazine editors, a representative from Yelp, a local book author, and DC Food Writers among the group. And me!

Naturally, I felt so lucky to be a part of this event!

Before our actual tour, we were greeted by Tom Flores, Brewmaster with Monocacy Brewing Company.

Tom offered us samples of Monocacy Brewing Company beer.

For me, to pick a favorite was really tough, but I really liked the Raspberry Brown Ale!

Monocacy Brewing Company gave us samples
Monocacy Brewing Company
Beer Samples
Explaining the brewing process at Monocacy Brewing Company

2. Get Out and Cure That Cabin Fever During Frederick Restaurant Week

After our beer tasting, we split up into 3 separate groups and walked through Downtown Frederick to our group’s assigned restaurant locations.

Carroll Creek Downtown Frederick

Although it was a chilly, overcast day, it was still nice enough to walk alongside Carroll Creek and get a little bit of brisk exercise.

Walking to our first restaurant for Frederick Restaurant Week

3. Try Something New During Frederick Restaurant Week

The Cellar Door Restaurant was our first stop

Our group’s first restaurant stop was The Cellar Door Restaurant.

Once seated, we shared 2 bottles of wine.

One being a Sauvignon Blanc and the other one a Crush Master’s Red Blend.

Both of these wines were very good!

Our server, Fernando, told us which wine to drink with which food item.

Cellar Door Wines

4. Partake in Multi-Course Meals

Our first course was the Goat Cheese Fritter with Strawberry and Apple Compote.

The Cellar Door appetizer

Then our next course was the Cream of Crab Soup.

The Cellar Door Restaurant - Cream of Crab Soup
The Cellar Door Restaurant - Cream of Crab Soup
Beef Short Rib at Frederick Restaurant Week

We then enjoyed the Beef Short Rib with Carrots & Scalloped Turnips.

After this, we had Shrimp Satay with Corn Relish over Grits with Peanut Coconut Sauce.

Shrimp Satay with Corn Relish Frederick Restaurant Week
Strawberry Cheesecake fritter for dessert

Finally, for dessert, we had a Strawberry Cheesecake Fritter with Strawberry Sauce.

5. Enjoy Unique and Delicious Fare During Frederick Restaurant Week

After we finished at the Cellar Door Restaurant, our group’s next stop was Brewer’s Alley. 

Brewers Alley Menu

First, we were treated to a Kolsch beer sample.

Brewers Alley Kolsch sample Frederick Restaurant Week

Then we were served a BBQ Jumbo Shrimp with Garlic Spinach & Grilled Jalapeno Polenta.

Brewers Alley appetizer
Brewers Alley Chipotle Blue Salad

After that, we enjoyed a Chipotle Blue Salad: Grilled Romaine with Toasted Corn, Red Onions, Grape Tomatoes, and Croutons with Chipotle Blue Cheese Dressing.

After our salads, we were served BBQ Pork Suppli: Risotto Croquettes Stuffed with BBQ Pork served with Smoked Tomato Aioli.

Brewers Alley appetizer
Restaurant Week

Annnd, more beer samplings.

Brewers Alley beer samples

Then, Fried Okra: Corn Meal Crusted, Served with Poblano & Banana Aioli.

Brewers Alley Restaurant Week

And finally the Cauliflower & Beer Soup: Roasted Cauliflower, Garlic, Oatmeal Stout & Cheddar Cheese.

Cauliflower Beer Soup

Our third and final stop – thank God because I was so full, I don’t think I could have tried anything else – was The Wine Kitchen.

This was where we met up with the other 2 groups of people to have our final tastings.

The Wine Kitchen
The Wine Kitchen Menu

The Wine Kitchen gives you a card with your glass of wine, giving the type of wine and a full description, including the notes, flavors, acidity, and finish.

And here I thought wine was just something you drink!  

Wine card - description of each wine
Wine Kitchen's assorted wines
Frederick Restaurant Week Media Preview Event

We were then served Butternut Squash Carpaccio Salad with Speck & Goat Cheese.

The Wine Kitchen carpaccio salad

Our next course was the Scallop with Red Beet Risotto.

The Wine Kitchen scallop dish

So, I’m not even going to begin to try to describe how everything tasted because (A) I’m not a food writer and (B) it was all SO incredible that there wasn’t one thing that was better than the other.

It was all amazing!

Well, maybe I lied.

The one thing that really stood out for me was the Cauliflower Beer Cheese Soup from Brewer’s Alley.

Oh my goodness!!

I was getting so full at that point, but it was exquisite!

6. Don’t Get FOMO: Make Reservations & Hashtag Your Experience During Restaurant Week

Next time I go I will be bringing my husband along because I know he would absolutely love it!

Frederick Restaurant Week is fun!

I highly recommend that you participate in Frederick Restaurant Week.

I mean, who wants to miss out on the most talked about week in the Frederick culinary scene?

Not me!

As a matter of fact, Terri and I make it a point to go every year.

This year we’ll be going to The Wine Kitchen for a Sunday lunch.

We will be sure to use Frederick Restaurant Week’s hashtag #FredRestWk.

Because FOMO!

Whoever sees this hashtag will kick themselves for not taking advantage of this once-a-year event!

Definitely make reservations at whichever restaurants you decide to go to.

Tables and times book up quickly during Frederick Restaurant Week!

To learn more about great restaurants in Frederick, Maryland check out our posts on:

Best Brunch Restaurants in Frederick, Md

The Top 10 Best Latin-Inspired & Mexican Restaurants in Frederick

10 of the Most Romantic Restaurants to Eat in Frederick, Md

Best Pizza in Frederick, Maryland.

Bon Appetit!

Frederick Restaurant Week: Why You Need to Go
Pam
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5 thoughts on “Frederick Restaurant Week: Why You Need to Go”

  1. Yum, I should have never read this or looked at the pictures of the food before having dinner. Everything looked like a masterpiece! You know I love my wine but like you, I don’t have a clue and could have learned a lot by being there. I hope you are invited back next year!! Cheers!!

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