With all the great restaurants in Frederick, staying in town to dine is often worth it. Frederick has plenty of great restaurants to choose from, especially downtown.
But if you want a restaurant worth leaving town for without a long drive to Baltimore or Washington D.C., you should seriously consider Vintage Restaurant in New Market.
Vintage New Market - Review Contents
Vintage is the New "Spot" in New Market
Let me first admit that Nicole and I are regulars here. When we first moved to the area, we saw a post about Vintage’s re-opening on Facebook and immediately went.
We fell in love with the place’s vibe, the bar, the simple but sophisticated menu (focused on local), and the service. It’s our ‘comfort’ spot.
Vintage has built on its success. The great food and vibes are attracting regulars, and it has become ‘the spot’ in New Market.
The Vibe at Vintage New Market
Vintage is right downtown New Market, about 15 minutes from downtown Frederick. You park on the street and walk down National Pike (the main street of this old town) until you turn into the historic building that is now Vintage.
The place has been a hotel, restaurant, general store, and probably more, but it all creates a setting with natural charm.
I assume the name must have something to do with the decor, as the restaurant has an antique collector’s item vibe. If you sit in the bar area (which I highly recommend), you may sit at an old sewing machine.
The Bar at Vintage: Cozy, Classic, and Local
Vintage is the type of bar where you will undoubtedly pick your favorite seats and return over and over again.
What makes this bar great? It’s the Goldilocks of bars: not too big, not too small, not too fancy, not too dull, not too loud. It feels just right. It’s one of the best bars around Frederick.
It’s a cozy spot with attentive bartenders. Like the rest of the restaurant, it has a ‘vibe.’ What I like most about the vintage bar is the drink menu. It’s a great balance of local and global.
If you like wines, you’ll find rotating local favorites like Black Ankle Vineyards (maybe 15 minutes away) and Linganore Winery. But you’ll also have plenty of old-world and new-world wines to choose from.
Beer drinkers will love the plethora of craft beers….and local! I first drank Idiom at Vintage, and Monocacy Brewing is a mainstay.
I recently tried the Escutcheon Kolsch (Winchester, Virginia), a very hard beer to describe but delicious to drink. Now Nicole and I plan to visit Escutcheon Brewery.
Want a cocktail? Don’t worry—they mix them up in front of you. Nicole last weekend tried this monstrosity (in my opinion): a Spicy Pickle Martini.
The Menu at Vintage New Market: Sophisticated Comfort
Let’s get to why people keep coming to this New Market restaurant: the menu. Vintage serves up the food you want to eat.
We’ve mostly been for dinner and almost always enjoy a starter. Usually, it’s the Caprese Salad or Steamed PEI Mussels. But the Crab Dip and Ahi Tuna are great. You can’t go wrong with this list of ‘Sharables’.
Your main course offerings are just enough to give you options, some variety, but simple stuff you recognize. Vintage has a real chef back there who can serve you up a proper, high-end weekend entry.
Want a Ribeye? New York Strip? Grilled Salmon? Check, check, check. Or go full comfort with the Shrimp and Grits, Cajun Pasta, or a Homemade Mac and Cheese Entree.
They’ve got handhelds if you are in for lunch, sitting at the bar, or just want to go more straightforward for your dinner.
The multiple burgers and crab cake sandwiches are terrific. But do yourself a favor and order maybe the highlight of this menu: The Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
Another note about the menu: Vintage features steaks from another local favorite—Wagner’s Meats in Mount Airy. So you can both drink local and eat local at Vintage New Market!
What Else You Need to Know About Vintage New Market
- We have yet to try, but they do Lunch on Friday and Saturday and Brunch on Sunday (a buffet!). Seeing what this chef has done previously, I’m guessing it’s amazing
- It’s a great place for private events
- In nice weather, sit on the outdoor patio
- Happy Hour is a regular thing
- Great Place for dinner after visiting Tree Trekkers!
So make the short 15 minute drive sometime to New Market and check out Vintage!
