Bolder filled by 5:45pm on a dreary Thursday in late winter, deservedly so. Want to come later, even on a weeknight, make a reservation or prepare to wait. This was our first time here, as on prior occasions we found the line too daunting. We were surprised when another 4:15pm patron was led to their reserved table, but we learned that their planning and caution was well-founded. We discovered the popularity of Bolder to be well-deserved. Seeking lite fare for an early dinner, calorie conscious, we both navigated the tempation-filled menu with success. We thoroughly enjoyed the bison burger and turkey club, the latter being sufficiently sample for a split lunch the next day too. Service was rock-solid and very efficient. We definitely hope to be back soon. And we will make a reservation. Dress code is casual. read more

Bolder - Turkey Club and chips - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

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I've seen the roadside signs for Bolder for years and have always been curious to try it. Running low on gas, I popped off the highway and decided to do so. It's a little bit off 70, but not bad. First off, this restaurant has an incredibly oversized parking lot. Maybe the restaurant has areas I didn't see, but I was a little bemused. Inside, it's decorated a bit like an old lady house with country accents. It's welcoming and nice, if a little old. I was seated and served quickly. My waitress was great. I ordered French onion soup and a bison burger with sweet potato fries. The French onion soup came out first. It had a huge layer of cheese on top, but it tasted like white cheddar. The soup itself was good at first but started getting bitter. I discovered a huge bay leaf in it. That explains that. Guys, leaving a bay leaf hidden in French onion soup is a violation of Article 35(2) of the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. My sweet potato fries were seasoned with a chipotle cinnamon blend. It was weirdly sweet and clashed with the burger. I didn't care for it and honestly feel like if you're going to season with something weird, you should be abundantly clear. The burger was a disappointment. It was fairly basic. It was cooked right, but every so often I would get a burst of salt. I suspect the meat was salted and not well mixed. My burger, fries, and side of soup came to over $40. I am honestly being more critical of them because of that. At that price point, I expect REALLY good, not salt pockets, a left-in bay leaf, and weird seasonings. read more

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We came by for my sister's birthday dinner as a table for twelve. Our server, John, was very attentive and took our drink and appetizer order as soon as we sat down. While we waited he brought us bread to the table. I'd compare it to Texas Roadhouse but honestly, much better. The honey butter gave it a sweet taste very similar to a Kings Hawaiian roll. For my entree I went with the cornbread chicken with a side of Brussels sprouts and cheesy broccoli. The chicken is topped with a honey butter which kept the meat super tender. I absolutely loved the sprouts and was satisfied with the broccoli. While it tasted great, the cheese soaked into the broccoli making it a very heavy and filling bite. Finally, for dessert I went with the brownie topped with ice cream. It was the highlight of my meal. My favorite part is that they didn't make the brownie super sweet. Usually when you pair a brownie with ice cream and syrup you end up with an overly sweetened treat but not this time. Everything complimented each other and kept a really good balance. All in all, this is a very quaint little restaurant on the side of a road in little ole' Mt. Airy serving hearty meals. read more

Bolder - Cornbread Chicken - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

I went to this restaurant once before and had a fantastic experience. Good service and food at that time, several months ago. My wife and I went tonight and it was literally the worst experience of my life! I will NEVER go back. I have never been treated so rudely and disrespectfully, EVER! Both the waitress and the manager, Ellie, were incredibly rude. We have a small dog and we asked if we could sit on the outside patio for dinner with the dog. There was nobody out there and it would totally be fine if they said that was not allowed. The hostess, who was incredibly nice and professional, said she would ask if we could sit outside with the dog. The hostess came back and said it was OK. Once the actual waitress came out to help us, that is where it all went down hill. She looked at our dog (a 16-pound small dog) and asked... "Is that a service dog, probably not?!". Our dog actually is a service dog, although we were never asked that as I do not like to bring that up. We were told it was OK to sit outside with our dog and her reaction was so rude I asked to speak to the manager. The "manager" was Ellie. Well, she wasn't any better. She did not apologize and was incredibly unprofessional and rude about the whole situation. As a combat veteran and 100% service-connected disabled veteran I have NEVER had that experience and hope I never do again. I will NEVER frequent this establishment again. read more

On our way to Fenwick MD for a long weekend and decided to stop for lunch. Saw their sign on the interstate so decided to give it a try. From walking I. Until we left service was friendly. I did the chicken taco salad and hubs did the burger. If in the area again will definitely stop here read more

Bolder - Chicken Taco Salad - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

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Wasn't impressed the three times I was invited by friends. From the food to the service to the drinks...this place is all hype and doesn't deliver anything but mediocrity. Cozy enough place but wouldn't return again. read more

Food C Service A- Ambiance B Cool , nice , spot on RT 144 Not gourmet, but usually adequate. However, the summer salmon and summer chicken specials came in very uninspiring this time. Tasted like leftovers read more

Bolder's: Where the prices are bold, but the flavors and service are not! Mediocre at best.

I often come here but tonight was my last visit. I ordered a dirty martini with Grey Goose - I asked for a stuffed olive and was charged a $5.00 fee to stuff one little olive with blue cheese and was not informed there was a fee for a premium drink that I was already paying extra for because I had selected Grey Goose. My martini was $19.00 in Mt. Airy!! For a minute I thought perhaps I was in DC or NYC with the cost of this drink. The fact that you charged me to stuff one olive and not tell me about it is just piss poor customer service. I have worked in the service industry for decades and this is just simply unacceptable. read more

Bolder was recommended by a friend and it was a great one. Seems to be a local hideaway but very nice with great food at an affordable price for the offerings. We were seated quickly and met by a very friendly and knowledgeable server. He was quick to make recommendations and checked on us enough to make comfortable. It's a wine bar/restaurant unfortunately we couldn't try the wine as we had a drive to get home but others were and they seemed very happy. The menu is varied and diverse with meat, pasta, salads etc. it was a difficult choice but I had the beef medallions. They were perfectly cooked and very tender. The sauce and mushrooms were a great complement and more would have been better. I saw a few bad comments on the Brussels sprouts but they were crispy and tasty but I would add some balsamic that would have elevated them. Overall it a cozy restaurant and it appeared to have a nice bar area. We'll be back when in the area again. Thanks read more

Bolder - a lot of cars parked in a parking lot - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

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I do not need to return. Unappetizing main course meals. Very good service. We came here for Restaurant Week 2024. Our order included: * London Broil (tender sliced marinated London Broil / rustic mashed potato / red wine demi glaze / broccolini) - The mashed potatoes definitely came from a box. - The broccolini was a tough texture. - The London broil was very chewy; it was not tender. * Everything Encrusted Salmon (everything bagel seasoned salmon / lemon dill risotto / ratatouille) - Two people in our party ordered the salmon. Both of them returned it. Both salmon dishes did not have the "everything bagel seasoning" and it was dry. -The manager apologized and agreed that the salmon was not cooked correctly and did not have "everything bagel seasoning" which made the salmon dish unique. * Creamy Shrimp Bacon Corn Chowder: Grade B+ * Southwest Chicken Eggrolls avocado crema: Grade B+ * Red Wine Poached Pear Salad V/GF (red wine poached pears / goat cheese optional / mixed greens / carrots /pickled onions / candied walnuts / mushrooms / white balsamic vinaigrette) : Grade A+ * Dark Chocolate Crème Brulee - This is a unique take on creme brulee. I give them a B for offering a different perspective. It was very rich. * Carmello Custard Bread Pudding Grade: B+ Our table unanimously agreed that the mulled red wine was the highlight of the night. They served it warm with cinnamon sticks. Grade: Double A+. I asked our awesome server to show us the bottle. She brought it out and I took a picture (see attached). While our server was very friendly, the wait time and issues with the food was a blinding distraction. Unfortunately several of us had food poisoning for two days. Sick as a dog. read more

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Great place for brunch! My Bookclub has met here several times now in Sunday morning for brunch. The lunch menu is also available but the brunch is amazing! French toast and breakfast burritos and $3 mimosas! The coffee is good and the service is quick and friendly. We always enjoy our time here. There is an outdoor patio as well as indoor seating. read more

Bolder - Breakfast Burrito - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

It's funny I have never reviewed bolder before, it was a Go To restaurant in western Howard county, long ago. It was roughly a year since my last visit before doing restaurant week a few days ago. I had the best meals here in the past, but now it's a episode of Gordon Ramsay's kitchen nightmares. From the dated decor to the worn fixtures on the bathroom and undercooked or just plain bland food . I am sure it's now a Mecca for the old folks to love the dining experience. I will not go into details about my dinner as that book is too long to write. The bar cocktails were a hit and miss. But as I decided to take home the desserts, just to get out of there..... The apple fritter looks and tastes like a Sysco special and the tiramisu tastes like cardboard. I am reminded why I will not be coming back to bolder. Now what to do with the tiramisu, it's really hard to turn it down... read more

Bolder - Terrible masu. - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

Service was terrible. We waited too long for appetizers and main course, and during that time, a table that arrived after us got both their starters and main dishes before ours even came out. No one ever explained the delay or apologized. Staff checked on drinks but ignored the fact that we were still waiting on food. The staff was nice, but there must have been some miscommunication, because other tables got their food before us. My husband had to get up to inquire about the delay. The food was good, but maybe they were understaffed. By the time the food arrived, the experience was already ruined. We typically tip 20%+, but this did not credit that amount. read more

i had the most delicious clams here 10 days ago. they had a broth of tomatoes, peppers and bacon. ambiance nice, but not any other single people. wish they had a friendly bar area! read more

Bolder - clam - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

So I read a bunch of reviews before coming. We started with the Boda Bing shrimp or something like that. The sauce was a bit too peanutty for me but cooked well. The grab dip was like cream cheese (not my favorite) but the pita it came with were bangin! There were mixed reviews on the cornbread chicken. My husband took the chance at it was delicious! Lots of food and taste was great. I ordered the turkey sandwich which is fine. Probably would get something different next times The bread with what I am guessing is honey butter is also fanrasi read more

Bolder - Cornbread chicken - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

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Ambiance is great (don't expect super fancy, but remember you're not in DC). Service is pretty decent, drinks are strong but good. Their food...is GREAT. Burger was SO JUICY. One of the best we've had in the area. If you're in the area (for farm, hiking trails) and need a place to eat & drink, highly recommended! read more

Bolder - Bolder burger, artichoke & crab dip - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

The menu is amazing, the portions are generous, tasted wonderful and the staff lovely. HIGHLY recommended!

Place is solid for an area without a ton of options but a welcome addition A little pricey overall, the food is good but not amazing Drinks are average In our rotation but there are a few other wallet friendly options that are slightly better read more

This place is one of our go-to spots. GREAT seasonal menu. Haven't had anything I disliked. Service is always attentive. Love the happy hour menu. I also think the ambiance is perfectly flexible- I've eaten in the bar in yoga pants and a t-shirt and dressed up for a special occasion in the dining room. I also love that they have outdoor seating for those perfect Maryland nights! read more

A popular local spot. All the foods we ordered tasted good, very much like family style meals. Friendly service, refreshing drinks, plenty parking. Family friendly. The apple walnut salad tasted very refreshing. Kids loved their vegan burger and seafood pasta. Glad we started trying out local spots, will definitely return. read more

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Best fine dining in the area. Their food is delicious and the servers are friendly and attentive. A great place to celebrate an occasion or make an impression. read more

Went here with my family about a week ago. I got the buffalo chicken wrap with no bleu cheese and it was good! The fries were also very crisp and tasty. My partner got the cornbread chicken which is chicken coated with corn bread with a semi-spicy jam on it and it was really good as well! That one is also pretty unique.. I don't think I have been to a place that does cornbread chicken before. The server was also really nice and helpful with recommendations and timing the food we got to go so it was ready when we got the check. The ambiance inside was fine. I think there was some semi-interesting art on the walls, and the bathroom was pretty clean so thats a plus. Overall, would definitely recommend. read more

The food here is really good. The service was a little slow but very friendly. It was a busy Friday night so it seemed like they were just a bit overworked. We stopped by this place passing through because it's pretty conveniently right off the highway and weren't disappointed. Although, we weren't sure if we were in the right place because you have to drive through a neighborhood to get there . Plates are between $15-25 but not as pricey as you'd think for the quality. Definitely not DC pricing. The steak medallions were melt in your mouth tender, mashed potatoes were delicious and sprouts were nicely crispy while not burnt. The creme brûlée was good other than the sugar on top had a little too much torching but overall good. read more

Bolder - Creme brûlée - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

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Delicious food! The dining room was a bit overcrowded but great food and drinks. Popular spot with locals

We stopped by because it was literally the only spot nearby for brunch. Glad we stopped in though, we were the first ones there this morning. Service was great, restaurant was clean, and food was tasty. Nothing out of the ordinary though, and I will say, for being the first ones there, our food took longer than expected, to come out. By the time all of our food (4 people) came out, the potatoes on our plates were cold. The waitress did ask if we would like a fresh batch which then was replaced for us. Other than the long wait, everything else was good. Nice cute little spot for a quick brunch. $3 mimosas and bloody marys! read more

Bolder - Bang Bang shrimp. Huge Shrimp with tasty sweet and sour sauce. - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

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I went for Father's Day. Honestly, it was almost perfect. Seating outdoors was great and spacious due to covid-19. Server was really sweet although she almost forgot my drink. The Bold Bang shrimp were DELISH. See picture attached. However I think the Brussels sprouts were lacking, I guess mostly appearance-wise! Maybe a better dish to serve them in would make them look more appetizing? Taste-wise they were okay. Need sauce on top of them! The Server gets extra points because she gave us a white claw bucket with ice in it but put my dad's favorite beer (bud light with lime) inside! Also in general, this place is just a tad expensive, but getting appetizers was a good move on our part. read more

Bolder - Shrimp, white claw, Brussels sprouts - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

My wife & I were in the area, and she remembered having lunch here previously. This was my first, and likely, last time here. We both started with soup. She had the shrimp, bacon & corn chowder, which somehow tasted like corn-flavored roux. My French onion soup was very beefy, cheesy, and super-salty. The bread cut through some of it, but I eventually had to stop eating it due to the salt. She had the fried green tomatoes with a crab cake appetizer as her meal. The crab wasn't fresh, and the tomatoes were sliced too thin and weren't cooked enough to actually eat. Our server, Brianna, was nice enough to replace it with the shrimp salad. It was nearing closing time, so the included potato chips were cold & stale. I had the cornbread chicken with sweet jalapeño butter, garlic mashed potatoes, and cheesy broccoli. The mashed potatoes and jalapeño butter were the highlights. Unfortunately, the chicken breast cutlets were desert dry and the nearly-flavorless cornbread crust just slid off. The broccoli were barely blanched, because they were nearly raw, and the cheese sauce, though flavorful, was curdled & gritty. My wife tempted fate and ordered the crème brûlée for dessert. That was actually very good, although a bit too sweet for my palate. The whipped cream tasted fresh and had confectioner's sugar mixed in. Brianna kept up with our refills and was very pleasant and friendly. I just wish that what we ordered from the menu turned out as good as it sounded. read more

Bolder used to be great but it has fallen on hard times. The restaurant itself and the supplies like plates and cutlery are all worn down (and uncleanable according to staff) and the food we got last week ranged from mediocre to inedible; weird salads with just oil for dressing, gluey not browned crab cakes, almost raw "roasted" potatoes... And for that, we got to pay 5-star prices and deal with attitude from a manager when we had the audacity to complain about sticky tables and inedible food. We won't be back. read more

Our first trip to Bolder was June 30 for dinner; we walked in without a reservation and they were able to seat us. The food was good: zucchini frites, spring salad, and a Peach/Ham sandwich, which my husband said was excellent. The spring salad needed a little more zip, but was otherwise fresh and plentiful. The restaurant was full, as was the patio. We ate inside, which was much more comfortable considering the weather, but the noise level was a bit loud - not loud enough to shout, but close. The service was good when we received it, but very slow. This seems to be the norm these days, not enough staff, but it was a bit slower than slow. We decided against ordering dessert simply because by the time it would take to get the dessert menu, wait for someone to take our order, and get a dessert delivered to the table, we could go down the road, get an ice cream, and be home. Which is exactly what we did. We will try Bolder again someday since the food was good, and we'll hope they have more waitstaff. read more

My friend and I went on a Sunday afternoon about 4. The hostess asked us if we had a reservation. I looked around and saw several empty tables as i replied "no". He sat us at a table. The waitress came and introduced herself and took our drink order. She returned with our drinks and a delicious basket of warm bread with honey butter on the side. We ordered the beef tips, mashed potatoes and roasted Brussel sprouts. OMG that was one of the best dinners out I have had in a long time. You can tell the food is made right there by the Chef. It was out of this world delicious. Once dinner was done we were both full but wanted desert. So we got the chocolate crème brûlée to go. It was absolutely delicious!! We will definitely go back. The price was average to high but the food was out of this world. They have an out door patio for when the weathers nice. read more

Great food and always amazing friendly service! The staff are very attentive and work so well together. We had 11 people for dinner and the team had our meals hot with perfect timing for all of us to enjoy at the same time. Thank you to Ellie and her team! read more

The food at Boulder is very good. It's a very quiet, relaxing place for a date night. Highly recommend if you just wanna get away from the kids go for it. The staff are very good. It's a little bit pricey, but for the food you're getting I highly recommend again it's a great date night spot . read more

Possibly the worst dining experience of my life at a total cost of 240 dollars. The owner is rude, insulting and provides poor leadership. She insulted the entire dining party because the steak was overdone and the vegan meal was covered in cheese and butter. When the owner was told that nearly half the time I order vegan, it comes back incorrectly. What's worse are the insults. We were at fault for the incorrect meals according to the owner. She would not stop insulting the party, even after we requested the insults stop. We were regulars, multiple times a week, but no more. On a previous visit, one of our guests, from out of town and elderly was repeatedly insulted by the same owner. I am an educated business owner. This situation is untenable. Kindly avoid such a restaurant and do not put your free time at risk. If we are truly free enterprise, then this behavior must be removed from our community. read more

Renovations since August '19 and NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH. Food is great but a little pricey Bar is real nice with outside patio read more

Came here for brunch on Sunday. Service was great and the food was amazing. My friends got the bolder breakfast and I got the New Orleans breakfast. Loved everything. read more

Bolder - New Orleans breakfast - Wine Bars Near Me - Mount Airy, Maryland

Great menu and delicious food- what more can you ask for? We've been many times and it's always good. Take out is quick and service when eating in is excellent. Nice little bar in the back and outdoor seating when it's warm. Highly recommend. read more

Food, service and drinks are always outstanding!! Highly recommend for that special occasion with friends or a loved one.

It felt great eating at a restaurant again! We sat outside under a covered awning which had a great atmosphere with music and plenty of room in between tables (safe COVID-19 practices). The staff was professional and our server was great and knew the menu very well. We started off with the Shrimp Bolder to share and my wife had the French Onion soup. Both are highly recommended! For entrees, my wife had the Cornbread Chicken which came with 3 good sized chicken breasts, cheesy broccoli, and mash potatoes. It was DELICIOUS and had to bring some home because the portions were huge! I got the Eggsplosion Burger with sweet potato fries. The burger was good but the brioche bun was on the dry side which was a bummer. I will probably try something else next time. Overall we had a great experience and will be going back. The prices were reasonable, the food was good, and the service was great. read more

First time there for a Birthday. Make reservations a few days in advance, a little towards the louder side (very full house) but fantastic service, great menu options, hearty serving sizes and fantastic food. We had a party of four, we tried the flatbread (fall menu with bacon and apples - huge hit) , crab dip- so good. We had the New York Strip, Tuna, Crab Cakes, and a Louisiana type dish (a lil' spicy). All fantastic- and reiterating service was amazing. read more