Brick Ridge Restaurant

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  I've driven by this adorable restaurant dozens of times before stopping in. The outside is charming, but as soon as you walk in, the restaurant is very disjointed-- It's pieced together, with a very weird layout.
  
  The menu sounds very appetizing, but the food is nothing special. I say ok at best. I had the shrimp and grits. The tarragon was added with a heavy hand. The overall dish clumsy.
  
  The beer selection was great, but I can stay home to have a good beer!
  
  The owner was there the evening we went. He was very personable and helpful, but that's not what makes for a great experience.
  
  Overall, the experience was mediocre at best. Very disappointing. I will not be returning.

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  Posted on 10.09.13 M H.

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  The Wife and I decided to give it a go for our weekly date night.  What a great decision that turned out to be.  
  
  The restaurant is located on Rt. 27 more or less in the middle of no where.  The one immediate downside I noted was the gravel parking lot which made it difficult for the wife to walk in heels.  There was ample parking and the area was lit up enough to make it comfortable.  
  
  You walk into an old house converted into a restaurant and it's a very beautiful and simply decorated atmosphere.  Was quickly greeted by a charming hostess who took us to our table (reservation was made ahead of time, would recommend it just in case they're busy).  
  
  Drinks came out quickly, not sure about he liquor selection, I stuck with a delicious seasonal pecan brew and water.  Next came the appetizers, macaroni and cheese fritters and delicious corn bread hush puppies! (WOW)!  The main course was just as good.  I had steak and lobster and the wife stuck with the peach marinated pork chop(WOW AGAIN).  We got dessert to go and were on our way.  
  
  The meal was adequately priced, a little steep on the entrees but not too bad for the quality.  The service was phenomenal!  Never went without a full glass or being asked if anything was needed.  The atmosphere was quiet and extremely comfortable.   Overall I can't wait to go back and try some more dishes.  I'm also going to give brunch a try!!!

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  Posted on 09.11.13 Robert V.

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  Great for Sunday brunch. It is a very friendly staff and Todd the owner is very  attentive. The dinner beef filet and the rum salmon were excellent. By all means try the shrimp with cheese grits

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  Posted on 08.04.13 T K.

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  We went here with a group and this is an really nice place. Everyone's food looked really nice and tasted very nice. Prices are a little on the higher side but well worth it. Only a couple of small things that wouldn't stop me from returning, it would just be something I would pay more attention to. I got the steak burger, it was very good except that the roll is a little too much bread and over powers the meat a bit. My wife and I both ordered dessert and it was awesome except the her's never came. She ordered it and then I ordered it without ice cream and somehow they thought we only wanted one dessert????
  
  Anyway, all in all I really liked this place and would return again.  The Sesame-Ginger salad dressing is awesome.

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  Posted on 07.29.13 Bob F.

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  This quaint little spot is well worth the drive off the beaten path.
  
  They have a great selection of cocktails that were all great (a bit on the sweet side but still good).
  
  On top of their regular menu, they have a weekly menu that showcases each state.  We happen to get lucky enough to drop in when they were showcasing Nevada (my home state whoo hoo!).  
  
  Both our appetizers were good and our meals were equally pleasing.
  
  Their prices are truly unbeatable given the quality of service, environment, and food.
  
  All in all, a great little quiet spot that makes for a nice drive away from the crowds.

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  Posted on 06.14.13 Standards H.

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  I love this place! The weekly specials are inventive and the owner is Sarandon friendly. In about 10 experiences, I've only had 1-2 things I didn't love.
  
  On busy nights, service can be painfully slow, and they do have a tendency to move favorite items off the menu (bring back the duck with Brie potato cake already!) but all in all, this is the best dining option in Mt Airy, and beyond. The brunch cannot be beat.

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  Posted on 06.02.13 Shauna K.

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  Had a very nice meal at the Brick Ridge Inn. The restaurant serves american food with specials that are inspired by a different state each week.
  
  Cream of crab soup was delicious. The filet mignon was excellent, perfectly cooked and went well paired with the optional mushroom medley. The short ribs on the weekly special menu were also tasty. We shared a mango sorbet for dessert.
  
  Service was attentive but unobtrusive.
  
  I would have given the restaurant 5 stars if it wasn't for the choices of wine. I suffer from migraine and have found that sparkling wines and american wines can trigger a migraine. I can understand that this restaurant features american wines, but unfortunately all the reds and whites they offered were american, although they did have non-american sparkling wines. For me these choices were like playing russian roulette. It would have been nice if they would have allowed me to bring a bottle of wine that I knew was safe, and let me pay corkage, but when I called and asked and explained why, they answered with a resounding "No".
  
  All in all the meal was delicious, but as I enjoy wine with my dinner and would prefer not to have a headache, we won't be eating here as often as we would have liked to.

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  Posted on 04.21.13 Susan J.

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  Ended up here because I had a Maryland Restaurant Association gift certificate. I'm glad we tried it. It's located north on MD27 in Mt. Airy, not a place I usually think as haute cuisine. The owner bases his menu selections on states of the union. Sounds a little corny but it really does work. I had the Charleston (SC) Cream of Crab soup. It had nice spiciness to it and a generous serving of crab on top. Mississippi was the state of the week so I chose the grilled pork chop served over sweet cornbread stuffing with bacon and greens. Pork chops are so easy to dry out when cooking, but this one was still nicely succulent. Rice and beans were served on the side. Perfect side. We also had jambalaya at the table. It looked good with plenty of Andouille. The other offerings on the menu were eclectic and all sounded appetizing. The service was pretty good. It appeared to me that our server was spread pretty thin for a Saturday night but maybe she was just trying to give us time to relax. The dining room was clean and pleasant. The only knock is I thought the background music was a bit too loud. I'm not sure I'll get here again - it's a little off my beaten path - but it was definitely worth the trip. Recommended.

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  Posted on 02.17.13 Kem W.

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  The whole experience was just ok: the restaurant is quaint (nice small town restaurant feel) and staff are very nice, but  their food does not warrant the prices they charge.  
  
  Appetizers are reasonably priced at around $6 to $11--I had a fried ravioli dish that I liked.  Prices for main meals range from $18 - $29.  The week we went they were featuring food from Missouri, so I ended up trying their bison steak and fish fry.  They weren't bad but just ok:  I thought I could make equally tasty or tastier meals at home with little effort.  If you go, don't expect too much.  Nice "mom and pop" like restaurant but I'd never go out of my way for it and will most likely not go back.

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  Posted on 12.30.12 Tochi K.

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  One of my favorite restaurants in the greater Frederick area.  A bit off the beaten path, but that makes it all the more fun to go to.  The food is always excellent and they have a nice selection of beer and wine.  The owner is usually around and does stop by tables to check about the service and food.  I will agree with another reviewer that the service can be hot or miss, especially at the front desk.  My mom and I usually shake our heads as to where they sit us, as well as the lack of friendliness when greeted.  That is really the only complaint I have, and that doesn't stop me from rating this place 5 stars.  The menu is so diverse and the beer/wine selection so good to match to almost anything on the menu, that this place will always get my business.  I've taken family here, friends, and dates - everyone has always been impressed.  There are usually specials outside the regular menu, and they are usually tied to one of the 50 States - a couple of appetizers, main entrees, and desserts.  I have enjoyed a variety of the entrees and find the preparation and execution of the meals to be spot on.  Though I am not a brunch person, they do a good job with it as well.

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  Posted on 07.14.12 Johnny D.

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  Todd runs a beautiful restaurant with fabulous menu selections.  The variety changes occasionally giving you a fresh scrumptious choice.  Never have we had anything but a pleasant service, top-notch foods done to perfection. The ambiance is wonderful.
  Todd even made me a drink not on the menu with no hesitation ... deelish!
  Thank you Todd, you are a sweetie.
  TTFN ~
  Marydon & Harold Ford

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  Posted on 12.30.11 Mary F.

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  Everybody needs a good meal and we have always enjoyed Brick Ridge. There is a higher grade of food here then most of the local restaurants, the menu has a creative flair pulling different dishes from around the country. That said I still love the cream of crab soup - its thick and seasoned perfectly in my opinion. The atmosphere is interesting there is no bar that I can find they do offer a variety of drinks. The portions are sized right for a three course meal.
  
  Enjoy!

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  Posted on 07.06.11 Greg P.

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  I am a big fan of Brick Ridge. We've been there many times in the past for different occasions, from special events to occasionally just showing up on a Thursday.  
  
  Upside:
  The food is upscale amazing. My favorite meal in the world is their steak with horseradish topping & a glass of cabernet.   The veggies are always fresh & cooked perfectly.  I think the owner may be a CIA grad & it shows.  He usually stops by each table to check in.  
  
  Check their website before you go to see which state is being featured.   Last time we visited, I think it was Wisconsin, so the featured drinks & meals were cheesey & sausage-y.  I tried an apple cider martini, which I'd never do normally but was really pleasantly surprised.
  
  <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brickridge.com%2F&s=0f67af59e5b6a121d7f3454ba98984e61be1af7aa4cd1b81f3dc83d0229032a6" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.brickridge.co…</a>
  
  As I recall, I think they have a birthday club w/specials (hoping to get mine soon!), a Thursday night $20 per person menu & recently I got a coupon for a $12.95 Wednesday blue plate special (which I haven't tried).  Brunch on Sunday is a wonderful treat.
  
  The atmosphere can't be beat for intimate.  I think it's in an old school house & the gardens that fill the grounds are beautiful in the warmer months.  My children love to visit the animals who live in the back yard.  There is also a windmill on site.
  
  Downside:
  I would not order the artichoke appetizer again: 4 stuffed canned, marinated artichoke hearts.  We mentioned this to the server, and the owner came to visit us (both a bit defensive), but really, it just wasn't to our taste.
  
  If you are a table of two, don't sit next to the pole in the middle of the room.  It's so close to the next table, you feel like you're having dinner with them.
  
  The last time we visited, the service could have been much, much faster, but I understand there are sometimes mitigating factors.  It does not color my overall impression of a wonderful restaurant.

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  Posted on 02.16.11 Gin K.

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  This was our 3rd or 4th visit here but our first with the kids.  For this particular night, I give the food 3  stars and the service 2.5.
  
  We arrived on a very cold rainy Sunday evening about 5:30.  The parking lot is not paved so we had to be careful where we stepped.  The place was essentially empty, but the young host seemed a bit flustered that we didn't have a reservation.  This seemed to set a tone for the evening, unfortunately.   After a quick consultation with a waitress, he seated us in the sideroom where it appeared a small Christmas party was getting underway.
  
  Since the main menu doesn't list any children's plates, I asked about a children's menu.  The waitress brusquely informed me, "Chicken tenders, hamburger, hot dog."   Nothing more, nothing less.  Alrighty then.   I always considered this a family type of place - there's always people with their children there - but perhaps not..?
  
  I like the menu here; it's varied without being so much you can't decide.  Brick Ridge is known for their changing specialities that highlight foods from different areas of the country.  On other occasions the server has explained the dishes and ingredients, gone over the list, ask if we had questions, etc., but we got nada that night, adding to the sense of "move along please."   We were brought a bread basket which consisted of sweet cornbread and some sort of brown bread (I didn't eat it so I'm not sure, but the kids gobbled).  
  
  When the waitress came back for our orders, she simply stood there.  No smile, no "have you decided" or anything, just.... standing.   We ordered two appetizers, and the waitress suggested she bring our salads first as these would "take time."   Well... okay.   Salads were pretty good, standard issue.  I had a lemon vinaigrette which surprised me by being very creamy.   The appetizers, which arrived quickly in my opinion, were crab fondue and hushpuppies.  The puppies were delicious - piping hot when they arrived, nice and crisp on the outside, not greasy, with a light dusting of powdered sugar.  They were just dense enough and spicy enough to be interesting.  The fondue was just okay.   The flavor was crabby but there were no pieces of crab that I saw.   Too much cheese on top.  The grilled parm bread that accompanied it overpowered the fondue; I prefered the sesame cracker.
  
  Entrees:  I had shrimp risotto.   Very nice, creamy, perhaps a tad too much lemon.  The shrimp were plentiful and fresh, not overcooked.  Husband had the crab cakes which were good sized and had a nice light crispness on the outside, very little filler.   I prefer mine a bit spicier but he loved them.  Vegetables were a medley of haricots-vert, asparagus, carrot and I believe butternut squash.  Nicely steamed and pretty to look at.   I appreciated that the children's meals were served with the veggies as well as the ubiquitous french fries.
  
  The owner came out at this point to ask how everything was going.  That's always a plus.  But again, there was an odd air about it.  No smile, no chattiness.  Just "how's everything?" and then over to the partiers.
  
  For dessert, I requested a nutty Irishman, which the waitress asked me to remind her how to make.   Husband and kids split a slice of mud pie and a slice of cheesecake.   The slices were quite large and more than enough to go around.   I tasted the cheesecake and it had a good vanilla flavor, but the consistency was very chalky in my opinion.   My coffee drink came sans Bailey's, but we were ready to go by then so I didn't complain.
  
  Overall - this was a good though not great meal, and the service was efficient if not exactly friendly.   It was just hard to shake the feeling that we needed to hurry, and that's a huge turnoff for me.  We'll likely visit again but I think this is somewhere we'll keep as adults only.

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  Posted on 12.15.10 Elaine T.

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  This small restaurant packs a huge punch in flavors.  Our family went for dinner yesterday to celebrate my wife's birthday.  We have a very pleasant time.  The staff was excellent in their recommendations.  My wife got the seafood pasta and I needed my lamb chop fix.  All were excellent.  My little girls shared appetizers, they loved the Maryland Crab Fondue and Calamari (go figure).  I would only critique the dinner salad, which can be better.  If your planning to head out to Brick Ridge, reservation is a must for dinners. Check out their menus online in advance also.

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  Posted on 03.17.10 Kevin Y.

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