The Lodge of Frederick

I wanted to have lunch at the lodge with two buddies of mine. As I proceeded to open the door, it remained shut. This happened a few times. I looked at one of my buddies and said, are we too early? I looked up on the main door and noticed a small sign that mentioned the lodge will be permanently closed. Our other buddy had a better experience. He was so enthusiastic to eat at The Lodge, he tried opening the door with all his might, it didn’t open and he smashed his face in…
I possibly could have given this place 4 stars if I had dined.

I’ve been to The Lodge 5 or 6 times, and I’ve found it to be very inconsistent. The food ranges from really great to pretty bad, and they have been out of my first choice on more than one occasion.
Moreover, the place has a very awkward vibe. The servers that I’ve had were poorly trained, and seemed really uncomfortable in their job. Some have been flat out wrong on information they provided me, I had to show one of them a menu to prove to them when happy hour started. It’s also very quiet, you can hear the kitchen staff and other people’s conversations from across the room. I personally don’t feel comfortable speaking at full volume in an environment like that, and it can be easily fixed by simply piping in some music. Not to mention the huge clunky uncomfortable furniture. I honestly wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow if they had just painted over the World of Wings logos and kept the previous stuff (as they did with the TVs).
Overall it seems like a cool concept, and thats about it. They clearly spent a TON of money theming the place, but with their rising prices and the inability to keep par-​stock, it seems they should have kept some of that in the bank. Definite potential here, but it looks like theres a lot of work to do.

After reading the unique menu I was looking forward to dining at The Lodge unfortunately the service nor food lived up to my expectations
The Food:
I myself had the meatloaf that was composed of deer, elk and one other wild game. It was served as round medallions and cold! Yes cold. Not one warm spot anywhere on the plate I informed the waitress who took it back to the kitchen and within 30 seconds it was back on the table. Now piping hot. Thanks but I’d rather not eat microwaved food. Nonetheless I packed it in a to go box and thought my hybrid cat would like it… even he turned his nose up.
The Service:
Worst than the food! I assume our waitress was new because she knew very little about the menu. If not for the waitress at a nearby table who saw our frustration and stepped in to answer questions I would’ve given my overall experience zero stars.

Whoever said this was American traditional. I never tried their duck balls but, I’m sure they are tasty. The menu also, listed Boar, and Bison.
My wife had a steak sandwich she said was moist and tender. I would ‘nt know, I opted for the fish and chips. They were good also.
I’d eat there again … my wife had a Groupon coupon.

We arrived at the end of the lunch rush. John noticed us waiting to be seated, he offered and cleaned a table for us. John was very personable.
We started with the Bison Chili. It was very flavorful, the ingredients all tasted fresh. The tortilla chips were warm, crunchy and also fresh tasting. The chili was very warm, not hot.
We ordered a Breakfast Burger with Bison and a Flying Dog Burger. Both were cooked as ordered. Everything was fresh, the buns, toppings and meats. My bun had been toasted but the grill left an annoying burnt odor on it.
Two observations about the environment, and why I did not give 5 stars. The ceiling had some stuff hanging from it, towards the middle of the dining area. It might have been from decorations, it gave me the impression of dirtiness. The tables had generic salt and pepper. I saw Heinz ketchup on a table. I felt this did not go with the healthy, natural, local sourced aspect being offered. I spoke to the owner and recommend he look into making the condiments compliment the theme. It made me wonder what quality seasonings are being used in the kitchen. Do the match the quality meats and produce or is the kitchen introducing unnatural, unhealthy highly procseed seasoning into the mix?

My husband has been wanting to try The Lodge for a while, and after hearing there were exotic animals/​meats on the menu I was done for the trek to Frederick.
Atmosphere: Not a super fancy place. Typical family kind of restaurant in a strip mall. I liked the stuff on the wall. There is a TV at each booth, and some larger ones in the bar area. Overall the place was clean, but I nearly broke my leg walking near the bathrooms as the floor was soaked and slippery.
Food: We shared the Bison Chili Fries, which was huge and delicious. I was dying to try the kangaroo which was on the menu, as I have had beef, elk, wild boar and lamb before. The burger was good and cooked to my desired doneness, but I can’t help but feel like I missed out on something by having it as a burger. I couldn’t figure out another way to try it if not in burger form.
Service: It was a bit after lunch and it was a little slow. The manager (owner?) stopped by the table to check on us.

Saw this restaurant while walking in the plaza the other day and decided to give it a try. I saw that they are 100% organic and everything was local farmed. I thought it was neat. Let me just say this was the best find. The customer service was great. We had Kristen serve my brother, my son and I. She was really sweet and suggested the very best. We loved her! She definitely made our first experience worth it. Anyways, We had the alligator bites for start off. I was a bit intimidated trying out alligator meat, but then I thought why not try something new. No regrets! We loved it! It was completely juicy and cooked to perfection. I had the Mediterranean salad with salmon, my son had the kids burger and my brother had the kangaroo burger which he really enjoyed.
The place it self was really neat. The décor it self was like being in a actual lodge. Very comfy and welcoming restaurant. They also had tv’s on each booth with sport channels a bar all the way in the back.
I’ll definitely come back to this restaurant for sure to try out more of the items on the menu. They have so much to choose from and it all looks so delicious! I really appreciate the fact that they are organic, local and not expensive.

I don’t think this place is anything great. I’m vegan and went here specifically for a veggie burger they had advertised on their menu, and when I went to order the server said they were out of them and didn’t know if they would be on the menu anymore. There really wasn’t anything else for me to eat. I ended up with a portobello mushroom wrap and just altered it. Also, the menu says they specialize in local, organic ingredients, but I really didn’t see anything organic on the menu. A lot of their food on the menu looked fried and just not what I’m into eating.

Local and unusual meats, local beers, and a casual atmosphere. What isn’t to like. Snake head fish bites are amazing and a great way to deal with an invasive species, eat it.
I love the variety of meats available and they gave friendly staff.

I really wanted to love this place. I like farm-​to-​table restaurants, and I heard that The Lodge is committed to cruelty free farming. Unfortunately, the experience fell short. My mom and I went for Saturday lunch. When we entered the restaurant three high school aged staff stared at us for an awkward moment and then finally asked us how many were in our party. I think the onus is on the staff in the hospitality industry to put the customer at ease, rather than making them feel just a little weird.
I ordered the Lodge salad with salmon. The salad was tasty, but the salmon was dry. My mom got the chili dog with onion rings. Very good onion rings, but lukewarm dog. The food wasn’t good enough to overcome the service. It was pretty empty for a lunch hour, but we still had to ask for drink refills. Nothing was terrible, but nothing was good enough to bring me back. Maybe my expectations were just too high.

Came again with a Groupon deal. Service was meh; waitress checked on us once and we had empty beverages for approximately 20 minutes. Seating is still awkwardly set up. We were crammed next to a large party with several squealing children who kept bumping into our chairs and table since there is no room for navigation between. Food temperature is always on the cooler side; seems like it sits for a while before being brought to the table. I want to love this place but it keeps falling short of the mark.

Tried it again, with same results. Cold food, poor service, management that just doesn’t seem to care. After my last visit, I figured maybe they were just having a tough night, and wanted to give it another try.
Don’t think these folks could find their gluteus Maximus with both hands and a flashlight.
Will not return. I work too hard for my money to spend it here ever again.

I’m not sure why I haven’t written a review for this place. but I just HAVE to say .
LOVE LOVE LOVE the jerk chicken sandwich here !!!

If you want a place to get a great burger, this is your place! I always tend to gravitate to the «Farm to Fork» type restaurant, and this place does not disappoint!
Erik, the restaurant’s owner is always front and center in the front of the house to check on his patrons, making sure they have a good time. The atmosphere is a cozy lodge environment, and you’ll never miss a second of your favorite game on one of the many TVs that are available throughout the restaurant, and even at your table.
I’m adventurous, so I dove in to the Kangaroo burger, and I’ve also tried the Bison, Elk, and others. I was expecting a gamey, metallic taste, but it was anything but. Couple that with the fantastic toppings, and you have yourself a fantastically tasty experience!

Wow, what a great experience! The lodge offers a great selection of beers and awesome food you dont see everyday in Frederick Maryland. Erik the owner came out to personally see how our food was and gave us an off menu sampler which we devoured and I hope he adds it to the menu! It was Lamb meatballs and it was divine!
The farm to table tagline enticed us and glad we decided to give it a try it was well worth the wait!
The atmosphere is very cozy and warm and inviting and my business associate and I enjoyed our dining experience. We will certainly be back as the food, drink and staff was top notch with excellent pricing. This little gem is a great find in Frederick!

Why have I waited so long to try The Lodge?
I’ve always passed by The Lodge but the rustic décor and dark ambience never seemed to pull me in. That was until a cold wintery afternoon when my best friend made a recommendation based on her past experience here. SOLD, if my best-​FOODIE-​friend said its good, it’s probably good.
She wasn’t lying.
The Lodge is mostly organic, the meats are organic and locally sourced when permitted. Which is deff right up my alley, SAY NO TO GMO! (Automatic 5 stars for being so earth & health conscious.)
The décor and ambience is actually quit nice very rustic, last frontier, cozy by the fireplace type of setting. The host and server we had were both very friendly, even other servers who’d come by and ask us if we needed anything were friendly (much appreciated.)
My friend ordered the crap dip, which of course I freebie-​d off of; it was tasty. The only thing I would change is the consistency of the dip, I like a chunkier dip whereas The Lodge’s version was much more silky and smooth. (Not bad, but id prefer HUGE chunks of crab meat and mile long strings of gooey cheese.)
After going over the HUGE menu I settled on the Jerk Chicken Sandwich which both she and my sister said were great. I opted out of the bun and instead asked for lettuce wraps (PROTEIN STYLE, I’m 80% vegetarian? Lol) I also ordered the fries and then to balance the guilty feeling of fatty goodness, I of course added a side salad. DUH.
The Jerk Chicken was tasty, having had my fair share of Jamaican cuisine this one was pretty tasty for a «last frontier» type of restro. It was also served with a slice of grilled pineapple and pico de gallo, which in my opinion were WINNERS. You get the heat from the jerk seasoning, mellowed out by the sweet pineapple and then polished off by the acidic pico. Such an odd trio of tastiness. *round of applause of Ingenuity*
The portions seem small but the prices are fair, people always assume organic means MILLIONAIRES CLUB but The Lodge debunks that myth.
Fries were perfectly FRIED. The salad was a good topper for the meal, it made me feel like I was doing something right! Lol
My friends got the Bison Cuban Sandwich and something I can no longer recall… Both, of which they couldn’t stop celebrating. So it must’ve been great.
Before we finished, the store owner or manager came out to ask us about our experience which is always a nice touch.
They also have a fully stocked bar but being it was 2PM I passed in hopes my friend’s children wouldn’t mistake me as Mommy & Daddy’s drunk friend. Haha, go adult Marley!
All in all, I will deff be back.

Blown away!
This place is in a league of its own. The owner gives you meat options like local grass fed beef, local grass fed bison, kangaroo, lamb or wild boar.
You HAVE to try the onion rings. They are fresh and REALLY hand battered. Not the «hand battered» that comes out of a bag in the freezer.
Everyone here was friendly and more than happy to help. The owner is great. He is so patient and friendly. I was new to try the bison and took his suggestion to have it cooked medium rare (I’m normally a medium well kind of girl) and I’m so glad I did. The bison was so lean, juicy, and fresh.
We will be coming back again soon!

Went here a couple of times. The wild boar has a nice flavor, but my favorite is the grilled cheese (with bacon) and adding duck (extra $ 2 charge). Delicious. I always go for the sweet potato fries. First time I ordered it they were cold/​undercooked, but I just flagged down the waiter and he brought me a fresh hot batch in no time!
Shout to John (the waiter)! He’s always courteous and has a smile, which makes for great service.

Who knew a sports bar would be so hard to come by in Frederick but we were struggling to find a chill spot to watch the Blackhawk’s game on a Friday night. Granted we were out-​of-​towners but we had three Unilocal addicts scrambling since we had a party of 12 – 15 that wanted to drink beer and sing Chelsea Dagger.
The Lodge popped up and was so close to our hotel so we went for it and loved the beer list. Diverse selection of brews including some local choices which blew up our Untappd accounts. Beers are served in a mason jar — have to love that!
I am surprised at the negative reviews for service because either we are royalty or they were just AWESOME to us. We showed up at about 9 and said we were going to have a big party. They lined up tables for us as quick as possible. They must have come out to change the channel for us on the TVs 5 times but each time with a smile on their face. Our waitress was around often and made sure we got our food order in before the kitchen closed. Overall they treated us great when we really needed it.
Foodwise the all-​star was the «bison chili nacho sweet potato waffle fries». The name alone should let you know how good they were. I also had a bowl of bison chili which is free if you check in on Unilocal and order an entrée or sandwich — had a nice kick and also gluten free. Alligator bites were tough but alligator generally is. Also the slider trio of bison, elk, and kangaroo all tasted similar but with so many dipping sauces you can mix and match. Food could be better but for the beers and service I thank you Lodge
I polled the table and it came out at 3.5 so I am rounding up because I see potential in the place that opened less than half a year ago

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure whats up with the low ratings for this restaurant, because I thought it was amazing. They haven’t yet had their official opening yet (January 16^th apparently), so I’ll chalk it up to working out the kinks — by the time I visited, everything was great.
This place is exactly what I’ve been looking for in Frederick — gourmet, organic burgers in every combination under the sun. They have a huge selection of burger meat (including some unique options like ostrich, elk, and kangeroo, as well as vegetarian options like grilled portabella, black bean, and sweet potato & quinoa), toppings, sauces, cheeses, and buns. They have a few pre-​selected burger combinations, as well as non-​burger options like steaks, salads, and crab cakes. Everything is organic and the majority of the menu items are locally sourced. Burgers start at 8.95 and come with a side of fries or chips — you can get some of the fancier meats, toppings, or sides like sweet potato fries for a small upcharge.
I went with a Waygu beef burger cooked medium, with maple bacon, sauteed onions, romaine lettuce, and cheddar cheese on a rustic roll with a side of fries. IT WAS SO GOOD. I’m a burger fanatic and this burger kicks the butt of anything else I’ve had in Frederick. It was unbelievably juicy and flavorful and cooked just as requested, with no gristle whatsoever. So many burger places seem to have no clue what ‘medium’ means, but they got it just right. The sauteed onions were delicious and cooked just long enough to still have a little bite to them, which I loved. I hate when sauteed onions get cooked to the point of looking like soup. Everything was super fresh — the fries in particular were a standout — perfect boardwalk style, thick cut and crispy on the outside with the skin on, tender on the inside.
I have a sneaking suspicion some of the complaints regarding ‘tough’ meat are a result of people requesting well-​done burgers as if they were at Five Guys. Organic, grass fed beef tends to be a bit leaner — don’t ruin such a great cut of meat by asking the chef to cook it to the consistency of shoe leather. Same deal with bison — bison is super lean and really shouldnt be cooked anywhere near well — it can get super tough and can’t stand up to long cooking times like beef. Medium is really the upper limit for bison.
Maybe a note on the menu regarding how certain meats are best enjoyed might be worthwhile. They’re using quality stuff here, so don’t be afraid to order it a little less cooked.
My sister got a black bean burger (they were out of the quinoa) with chipotle mayo and romaine (and maybe something else, I can’t remember) in a whole wheat tortilla — she really loved hers as well.
They have a dessert menu too, including some healthy milkshakes as well as traditional versions I’m itching to try, but I was too stuffed this time around — their portions are huge!
I’ll definitely be back to try the elk/​kangeroo/​ostrich slider sampler when I’m feeling a little more adventurous. This place is great and I hope it sticks around!