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 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 the re-opening of Vintage on Facebook and immediately went. We fell in love with the vibe of the place, the bar, the simple but sophisticated menu (focused on local), and the service. Its our ‘comfort’ spot.
Vintage has built on its success, the great food and vibes are attracting regulars and its become ‘the spot’ in New Market.
The Vibe at Vintage Restaurant
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 certainly has an antique, collector’s item vibe going. 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 has the type of bar that you inevitable will pick your favorite seats, and return to over and over again. What makes this bar great? Its the goldilocks of bars: not too big, not too small, not too fancy, not too dull, not too loud, it feels…..just right. Its one of the best bars around Frederick.
Its a cozy spot with attentive bartenders. Like the rest of the restaurant, it has a ‘vibe’. But what I like most about the Vintage bar is the drink menu. Its a great balance of local and global.
If you like wines, you’re gonna 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! The first time I drank Idiom was at Vintage, and Monocacy Brewing is a mainstay. I recently tried the Escutcheon Kolsch (Winchester, Virginia), a very hard beer to say but delicious to drink. Now Nicole and I have plans to make a trip to Escutcheon Brewery.
Want a cocktail? Don’t worry they mix them up in front of you. Nicole last weekend tried this monstroscity (in my opinion): Spicy Pickle Martini.
The Menu at Vintage: 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 its the Caprese Salad or Steamed PEI Mussels. But the Crab Dip and Ahi Tuna are great. You can 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 that 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.
If you are in for lunch, sitting at the bar, or just want to go simpler for your dinner, they’ve got handhelds. The multiple burgers and crab cake sandwich are terrific. But do yourself a favor and order maybe the highlight of this menu: The Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
What Else You Need to Know About Vintage
- 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 its amazing
- Its 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!
