The Downtown Frederick restaurant and bar scene got better this week with the opening of Bentztown Frederick. Nicole and I took the chance to check it out, and I can emphatically say it will immediately become one of our go-to restaurants in Frederick.
Bentztown is a vibrant venue concept that combines dining, a great bar, and entertainment. It was created by the owners of the popular Brewer’s Alley and Monocacy Brewing in Frederick. Bottom line: It’s a trendy, fun place that will be a tremendous addition to downtown Frederick.
Bentztown Brings Nashville to Frederick
The Bentztown theme is ‘Music City,’ aka the vibe of Nashville. This means an emphasis on southern food, craft beer, bourbon, and, of course, music. As we discuss below, the food is southern but slightly upscale.
Bentztown has an amazing bar and a stellar cocktail list to go with it. Whiskey drinkers will love Bentztown, as the list of rye, bourbon, and other whiskies is long, and you can get flights!
Bentztown is also clearly designed to incorporate music, keeping with the Nashville theme. The back section of the venue has a small stage and entertainment area. In fact, a talented local band performed the night we visited, keeping us around for another hour and a round of drinks.
Bentztown Frederick Basics
Bentztown is located just blocks from Market Street, the main drag in downtown Frederick, in a small cluster of buildings surrounded by Carroll Creek, Baker Park, W Patrick Street, and Bentz Street. You can park on the street or in the West Patrick Street Garage or Court Street Garage.
- 6 S Bentz St, Frederick, MD 21701
- bentztown.com
- facebook.com/Bentztown
- Bentztown Menu
- Reservations (not available yet)
- $$$
Watch Our Recent Saturday Night Out at Bentztown in Frederick!
A Trendy, Semi-Upscale, Cozy Place to Eat and Drink
Bentztown makes a great first impression. We were able to park right on Bentz Street in front of the restaurant. The restaurant front has garage-style doors that were wide open when we arrived, giving the restaurant and bar an ‘open air’ feeling on a beautiful Saturday evening.
Bentztown is not taking reservations yet, but will soon. However, the hostess seated us right away at a high top with a perfect view of the bar, restaurant, and (little did we know until later), the music stage.
It’s a gorgeously decorated eatery. It’s casual but slightly upscale, comfortable, and vintage. If the goal was to create a place laid-back enough to ‘unwind’ but nice enough for a date with your significant other, then Bentztown hit the mark.
The bar and table chairs are comfy, lux leather seats. The bar is grand, wood-paneled, two-sided, and perfectly lit (not too dark or light). Skilled bartenders make cocktails using smoke and thick glasses. The Bentztown’s bar is immediately one of the best places to get a cocktail or beer in Frederick.
The Bentztown Frederick Menu: Upscale Southern Food
The Bentztown Menu was created by Executive Chef Stephanie Wilson, a Maryland local who is also listed as the Executive Chef at Vintage in New Market (another regular spot for Nicole and me). At Bentztown, you’ll find lots of southern classics, including starters like fried green tomatoes (which we tried), deviled eggs, hushpuppies, and something called ‘ pickle jar’.
You can go two ways on the menu for your main meal. First are the sandwiches, and I will admit that while neither Nicole nor I ordered one, my guess is that this will end up being the strong suit of the Bentztown menu.
The sandwiches our table neighbors ate looked delicious, including the sticky chicken biscuit, the ‘piggy’ (pork sandwich), and the smash burger. I’m actually quite excited to return and try these delicious-looking sandwiches.
Alternatively, you can go the route Nicole and I took on our first visit and order a ‘Meat and Three’ or ‘Southern Supper’ entree. Nicole had the Smoked Ribeye, while I enjoyed the BBQ brisket meat and three entree. Of course there is also Shrimp and Grits, Chicken and Waffle, and Red Hot Cat (fried catfish).
All the Bentztown dishes are elevated a few notches above ‘pub food.’ It’s a restaurant-quality menu worthy of a date night or special occasion.
Fabulous Bar with Plenty of Bourbon (and Bourbon Flights!)
As mentioned, I envision Nicole and I re-visiting Bentztown quite frequently solely for its bar and drink menu. The bar is attractive, well-stocked, and professionally run.
The beverage menu has plenty of draft beers (including several Brewer’s Alley and Monocacy beers of course). But the specialty cocktail list is solid, and includes several flavors of margaritas, martinis, mimosas, and ‘crushes’. Something for everyone.
But my favorite part of the bar menu is the whiskey list, which has a long list of ryes, bourbons, and other whiskeys. The small-batch bourbon list is extensive, and there are several locals, such as McClintock’s.
One way to enjoy the Bourbon at Bentztown is through flights. This is how Nicole and I decided to end our meal. Flights come in pairs of 3, and you can choose from Rye, Local Frederick, Small Batch (our choice), or Irish.
A Focus on Music and Events on the Bentztown Stage
As we enjoyed our dessert course, Nicole and I noticed the band getting set up and doing sound checks in the performance area. Undertone and the Drew Kuhens Trio (a local Frederick group) started playing their first song right as we paid our bill.
This allowed us to experience another important Bentztown experience – Live Music! Bentztown clearly has plans for regular performance events by local artists, and they’ve done a good job of keeping this area ‘separate’ from the dining area but still connected to the overall venue.
Once the music began, we decided to stick around and listen to their first set, which also allowed us to sample another round of Bentztown drinks! Great way to cap off the evening.
Bentztown Frederick All-Around Great Addition to the Frederick Food, Drink, and Music Scene
Nicole and I obviously love Frederick and especially the downtown restaurant and bar scene. So we get excited when there’s somewhere new to try, or a new opening that raises Frederick’s downtown profile.
Bentztown does so on many levels. It’s a scrumptious new restaurant with creative food and an attractive bar. It’s also a new place for residents to find music and entertainment.
Most of all, it’s a place with character and a vibe that blends nicely with the rest of Frederick. We highly recommend you check it out!
What Else You Need to Know About Bentztown Frederick MD
A few more tidbits about Bentztown in Frederick:
- There is a late nite menu coming soon, for those sticking around for late-night shows
- Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
- Check out the recent visit from Maryland Governor Larry Hogan !
