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JJ, Rob, and Catey met for dinner at Brewer’s Alley on Thursday, August 18th at 8:30 pm. We were seated in one of the two main dining rooms inside the restaurant. Brewer’s Alley has two dining rooms, a bar area with tables, and an outside dining patio. The decor of the restaurant is a tasteful blend of historic and artistic elements. The exposed brick and framed documents bring the history of Frederick alive while the handpainted murals and local art pay homage to our city’s artistic focus. Fresh flowers and lit candles on the tables adds to the comfortable elegance of the dining rooms. The atmosphere was inviting and intimate but it was a little difficult for us to engage in quiet conversation because it was a little loud in the back dining room.
Brewer’s Alley has an extensive and varied menu. They have many daily specials that highlight the talent and versatility of the chefs. Salads, soups, and sandwiches range from $8 - $18. Wood-fired pizzas are available in small ($10 - $12) and large ($16 - $18) sizes. Big plates (entrees) range in price from $11 - $34 and include beef, seafood, chicken, and pork selections. Rob chose the Chesapeake Surf and Turf, a 5 oz filet mignon seasoned with Old Bay and a 4 oz cake served with creamy mashed potatoes, sauteed asparagus, red wine jus, and Old Bay butter. Catey selected the Buffalo Shrimp Pasta, one of the daily specials. Crispy buffalo shrimp are served over ziti pasta in a blue cheese alfredo sauce with spinach and mushrooms. JJ initially ordered the Burgerdog Patty Melt, one of the daily specials but was informed that it was not available. He then chose the Mango Salmon, a grilled atlantic salmon filet with avocado mashed potatoes, cilantro-mango salsa, garlic spinach, and paprika aioli. Our entrees arrived promptly. The food was presented on elegant white dishware with a generous sprinkling of minced parsley.
We were disappointed in our server’s failure to return to check on our meals. JJ’s salmon was extremely undercooked and he was not able to eat it. When he informed the waitress of this she appeared annoyed and unconcerned. She was very rushed and asked if he wanted it re-cooked or if he wanted to move on with his meal and order dessert. We all found this to be shocking and chose to end our meal as soon as possible. When we walked in to this beautiful restaurant we expected to enjoy a wonderful meal together. JJ’s nearly raw salmon and our server’s irritated and rushed manner made for a poor dining experience overall.
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