Showroom in Frederick is a restaurant that is a bit hard to describe, but an easy place to dine. It describes itself as modern take on American comfort food. Every time Nicole and I contemplate visiting Showroom Frederick, the same conflicting conversation ensues. Are we too dressed up and looking for something fancier? Or is today a day for comfy and casual? Certainly not how you’d describe a Voltaggio establishment.
Whenever we finally do visit Showroom, we are always glad we did.
Another Voltaggio Establishment in Frederick
If you’ve read our article on Thacher and Rye, you know its one of our favorite restaurants in Frederick. T&R is an upscale dining spot from Bryan Voltaggio, a celebrity chef from Frederick. Showroom is Voltaggio’s second Frederick restaurant, with a very different vibe.
Showroom has gone through a few transformations (really more name changes) in recent years, party due to Covid. Originally opened as ‘Family Meal’ many years ago, it closed in 2020 during Covid. After briefly reopening as ‘Born and Raised’ the same year, it quickly re-branded as ‘Showroom’.
The name Showroom has something to do with an old car dealership in the same area. The open, large window setting for the restaurant definitely has the feel of a large, bright car dealership.
The Vibe at Showroom Frederick
Here’s where describing Showroom gets tricky. So much about it says ‘diner’. Its located on a restaurant pad in a parking lot right off N East St in Frederick. It shares the lot with Rockwell Brewery, and is nothing like Thacher and Rye right in bustling downtown Frederick. You ride up to it almost like the diner you’d hit up on a road trip.
Inside there are booths, tables, and counter seating, an open kitchen, and its likely busiest during breakfast and brunch. But as you get more up close to everything in Showroom, you start to see the differences between Showroom and your average diner.
This is an modern, classy restaurant. There’s craft cocktails and a fine wine list. There are local beers on tap and something called ‘adult milkshakes’ (read below). The comfort food and roadside diner characteristics are all there. But this food is elevated, modern, and upscale. Are you dressed appropriately to eat here?
Modern Upscale Food in a Brunch Diner Atmosphere
Somehow this modern diner theme all comes together beautifully to make Showroom a superb place to dine. The dishes are mostly upscale plays off comfort food. Fried Chicken with Cheddar Chive Biscuits. Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy. Plus Burgers, a Reuben, and the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (a fried chicken thigh topped with peppers and pickles).
The menu has some proper entrees that are worthy for a weekend date night dinner. Roasted Salmon with veggies, Steak Frites, and and Short Rib are all great options to pair with whatever fine wine or craft beer you are enjoying.
A visit to Showroom can be an indulgent brunch on a weekend morning, or a weeknight work dinner with colleagues. But you can dress up a Showroom dinner meal enough to impress your wife and girlfriend…”I’m taking you somewhere nice”.
Those Adult Milkshakes at Showroom Frederick
Part of what raises the profile of Showroom is the drink menu. Order one of their specialty cocktails like the E Street Old Fashion, or the McCutcheon’s Mule, and a server will mix it behind the counter. The wine list has several quality old world and new world wines. There are always multiple craft beers and ciders on tap, including locals like those from Rockwell.
But the Adult Milkshakes are reason alone to visit Showroom. Ordering a classic diner milkshake is one of my favorite childhood road trip memories. At Showroom, you can enjoy the same pleasure but with vodka and Kahlua (“Kahlua and Cream”), bourbon (“Chocolate Cherry”), or gin (“Strawberry Banana”). If you aren’t sold on the place yet, make a special visit to Showroom just for an Adult Milkshake.
Comfort but Modern Food at Showroom
Our last visit to Showroom was a busy Saturday night that of course had an extended wait. We found ourselves sitting at the counter and I’ll have to admit this might be the best way to experience Showroom.
Sitting at the counter brings out the full modern diner experience. A server was making cocktails non-stop in front of us. The manager (bartender? not sure) could freely explain the various beers on tap. The bustling kitchen had a short-order energy the whole night that gave us the opportunity to see all the amazing dishes being served up to Showroom patrons.
On this particular night one of us had the Mushroom Risotto (very non diner like) which the other had the Meatloaf (full on comfort food). Both were delicious, as were the drinks and desserts.
