This little local pub style establishment has loads of atmosphere and the whole staff is great. You get treated more like a friend than a customer. The food is a little pricier than what I'd expected of a place like this but well worth the money. I had the crab fries and pork belly BLT. Both were amazing. If I didn't live 120 miles away, I'd make this a regular hangout. read more

We didn't get a chance to eat. Arrived at 1:50 pm on a Friday, agreed to the 30 min wait time so got some ice cream downstairs. Our pager buzzed after 20 minutes so we returned to the front desk, but no one was there. Didn't want to wait any longer so we left. read more

I've always wanted to stop into Buddy Lou's and I finally had time for a quick lunch this past Monday. I stopped in right around noon and there were only two other tables occupied in the dining room at that time. My waitress was friendly and quick to take my order. I ordered the Greek salad with no onions and added grilled chicken. I thought $21 might be a little high, but when the salad came out I was stunned at the portion size! All of the ingredients were fresh. The chicken was about a 4oz portion, juicy, and flavorful. I ended up getting a box to take half home. I strolled around the upstairs antique/thrift area for a little bit and then headed downstairs for a sweet treat. After much deliberation, I left with a dirt sundae and plans to come back soon to try more. What a fun stop right along the C&O canal. I'd love to take advantage of the outdoor seating options in warmer weather. read more

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We absolutely love this place and can't say enough great things about it! If you're a fan of antiques, it's a fantastic spot to take a trip down memory lane. While some items are a bit on the pricey side, the experience is well worth it and makes for a fun visit. They also offer a Canine Friendly menu where you can bring your canine pet along and enjoy outside dining and socializing. Downstairs, you'll find a charming antique shop alongside an ice cream parlor, making it a great stop for browsing treasures while enjoying a sweet treat. Upstairs, the restaurant is beautifully decorated with nostalgic memorabilia, adding to the vintage charm. We stopped by late one night, unsure of what to order, so we decided to sample a variety of appetizers and sides--a great way to try a little of everything when you just can't decide! My husband, a self-proclaimed crab soup aficionado, was blown away by the rich creaminess of the Cream of Crab soup and couldn't stop raving about it. As for me, I'm a mac & cheese snob and rarely find a version that rivals my homemade recipe--but this one came close! Made with a blend of cheeses, it melted together beautifully, creating the perfect harmonic gooey cheese bite. A bit pricey, yes, but worth every penny. The Apple Bacon Brussel Sprouts were cooked perfectly, though missing one key ingredient--balsamic vinegar. Fortunately, our accommodating waitress was happy to bring me some, and let me tell you, it was house-made and absolutely phenomenal! If you order this dish, I highly recommend requesting balsamic on the side. Once again a bit pricey, but worth every penny. The Fried Green Tomatoes were served with Pico de Gallo and white cheddar, a combination I never would have thought of--but it worked! The sharpness of the cheddar balanced the bitterness of the tomatoes, making for a truly delicious pairing. The breading was light, crispy, and fried to perfection. Now, onto the most unexpected dish--Spam Fries! My husband and I aren't big Spam fans, and honestly, we never knew this was a thing. But we figured, why not? They were cut into strips and deep-fried, which made them way more fun to eat--even if they still tasted like Spam. Unfortunately, the Apple Jalapeño Coleslaw was the least enjoyable dish of the night. Since it was freshly made, the vinegar hadn't had time to break down the slaw, so it was a little too crisp for my liking. The sweetness from the ingredients was there, but I struggled to distinguish the apple and jalapeño flavors. Overall, this was a fun and flavorful experience with plenty of standout dishes. Some were unexpected hits, while others could use a little refining, but it was well worth the visit! read more

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Love the thought of going Buddy Lou's - it used to be amazing. Now it's cranky staff, a long wait and mediocre food. Will I still go back after a bike ride - yup! Hopefully they will figure it out. read more

Such a charming and unique spot right by the river! The antique décor gives the whole place a cozy, vintage vibe that makes it feel special. The staff is super friendly, and I love that it's a dog friendly restaurant, you can even order something for your pup. Their food is delicious, and they also serve amazing milkshakes and ice cream, perfect for a sunny day. Whether you're here for a meal, a drink, or just to relax by the river, it's a great place to stop by. Definitely one of those hidden gems that surprise you in the best way possible. read more

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We've been visiting Buddy Lou's for years and have always appreciated supporting local businesses. Unfortunately, our recent visit left us disappointed. When we arrived, the hostess let us know there'd be a 15-20 minute wait, which we were fine with. However, her sarcastic response when I asked if the buzzer would reach downstairs made me feel dumb and like I was bothering her just for asking. (She was not busy. Just standing there.) While waiting, a couple of bar seats opened up, so we sat down hoping to have a drink until our table was ready. Instead, the bartender looked at us and, without a greeting or offer, simply said, "You know there's a wait," followed by "It's going to be a long wait." No offer for a drink, no acknowledgment of our patience--just a dismissive tone. We understand busy days, but basic courtesy goes a long way. A simple thank you or kind interaction might have encouraged us to stay. Instead, we left feeling disappointed and unwelcome. Sadly, this experience has changed how we view a place we used to enjoy. read more

Ice cream and doggie cafe below, human brunch/lunch place above. I parked at a street meter (free on Sunday, IIRC) and ate on the desk. I did have to remind the waiter about part of my order, but otherwise everything went off without a hitch. Old-timey and Americana decor. Gender-specific restrooms. read more

Buddy Lou's Eats Drinks & Antiques - Welcome to Buddy Lou's! - New American Near Me - Hancock, Maryland

1st attempt- $4 for a single scoop ice cream (tiny, freezer burnt scoop). Soft serve was down. The second time we attempted to get ice cream here we were told it was "off". They have massive signs out front advertising ice cream so it was disappointing especially for my toddler read more

Super service, the crab soups is a must! Small bar area to watch the game, good beers on draft, and tray yourself with a boozy milkshake for dessert. The antiques are original and worth a look around. A pure Gem off of Route 70 read more

Buddy Lou's Eats Drinks & Antiques - Shrimp& Grits - New American Near Me - Hancock, Maryland

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We went for an afternoon bike ride on the western Maryland rail trial and stopped here for lunch. This place was awesome! The decor was scattered with all kinds of history, the outdoor area really catered to bikers and even your furry friends! The menu had a good selection and everything that we tried was delicious. Our waitress Hannah was super helpful and recommended the biscuits and gravy to me off the brunch menu. It was delicious! We will definitely stop back in once their outdoor seating area is open for the season and enjoy another meal. If you're in Hancock, give this place a try! read more

This wasn't our first time to Buddy Lou's. We love the relaxed and old time atmosphere, but what we love best is the food made for us and our dog. Emory adores the Pup Plate (any meat), and I keep getting the urge for the Barbeque Chicken Salad. My husband's favorite is the fried bologna sandwich. It's great going to a place that's different from other restaurants. The amazing Hannah was our sweet server tonight and Emry the chef made a point to meet or dog Emory. Such a sweet, relaxing evening! Thanks, Buddy Lou's!!! read more

Year after year, Buddy Lou's is one our favorite places to stop on a roadtrip for dinner, a snack or to stretch our legs. It's fun to see the gradual changes because it seems to always have fun and new decor. The food is consistently good and we stopped in for ice cream with great seasonal flavors! Finished up our visit with a quick walk along the canal. Two thumbs way, way up for Buddy Lou's! read more

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We have been here a handful of times and we want to love it because it's so close to our home which does not have a lot of restaurants for us to visit. So, on a nice day we took our toddlers and sat on their deck under the shaded area. Our waitress was attentive and friendly and put in our order for our kids right away to ensure it got a head start while we decided on our selections. We ordered from the kids menu and ordered a chicken tenders and fries and a mac and cheese. These items came out just before our items did and had been submitted well before.. apparently the first round of chicken tenders were too dark so they sent out fries which were cold. The Mac and cheese was also cold so much so it had unmelted cheese mixed throughout it. The waitress was frustrated with her staff based off her facial expressions. She took back the mac and cheese and it came back out again and still wasn't very warm, and it ended up just getting boxed and taken home with none of it being eaten at lunch. Once the tenders came out we had to rip them up to cool down which was fine but by time that happened we had been done our own food and just trying to get food in the kids belly's which at this point was fries only. My husband got the burger and added bacon and I got the chicken sandwich.. neither of which were "bad" but for $15 and $17 a little more was to be expected as we keep trying to love their offerings .. Their draft beer selections are always minimal but my husband got a lager they had to offer and I had the Oktoberfest they had but they honestly tasted the same oddly enough. Again, the waitress was super nice and more than willing to help us get what we expected but just as we have experienced in past visits the kitchen seems to fall short on delivery. We have had a good visit before with amazing crab fries and the next time we visited it was awful.. so I am not sure if they lack consistency in quality depending on who is working but that has been our experience sadly. read more

Buddy Lou's Eats Drinks & Antiques - Pickle Brined Fried Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - Hancock, Maryland

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Unfortunately we had an unpleasant experience at lunch here today. First, there was a long wait despite multiple tables being available. Once we were seated there was a long wait time for our food and the waitress didn't stop by our table to check on us. The kids menu macaroni and cheese was inedible and tasted like it had gone bad. The pulled pork was fatty and the sauce was way too sweet. The chicken sandwich was over cooked and the fries were cold. At the end of the meal we pointed these things out to the waitress and she showed no concern. I asked to talk to a manager and was told there wasn't one on duty. Overall the staff seemed overwhelmed and uninterested. The ambiance was unique and we were excited to try this place after seeing so many good reviews. We were disappointed to have bad customer service and poor food at such high prices. Would not recommend. read more

Delicious food, great service, fun atmosphere. We had burgers, which were super flavorful, and fries, which were perfectly cooked and seasoned. And a BOOZY MILKSHAKE!!!! Would definitely return. read more

I was told 15 to 20 minute wait. No problem. We waited 30 minutes. When our pager went off another customer was complaining about not being seated and asked the hostess for a manager and the manager took them first and sat them. Then we got sat. A waiter came over to take our order and said I'll get your order in before the table that I just sat and our order was never placed. The table the waiter said he would take our order before got their food first. We waited another 15 minutes, only to have the waiter come out and let us know that our order was delayed, but we had already overheard the manager in the kitchen, asking for our food to be cooked. Too little too late. Wouldn't recommend going here. Been here twice. Food is good, but have heard numerous complaints from the staff about being understaffed. read more

Tony and I were on our way to Washington DC Area and we stopped in Hancock, MD to have lunch. We found Buddy Lou's Eat Drink and Antiques Restaurant. They have some lovely outdoor seating on decking....in the view of a graveyard! We had to wait a little bit, so we went to the bar. He had a beer and I had Cherry Coke! When our table was ready, we were escorted outside. We went with Country Fried Chicken Livers with a spicy dipping sauce and a Fried Bologna Sandwich with peppers, onions and sweet mustard The food was very good!! Definitely recommend and definitely going back!! read more

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Stopped for a bite to eat here on our way to Virginia. They had some yummy food. If your in this area, you should stop in. I took a few pics down by the river. So pretty. read more

Buddy Lou's Eats Drinks & Antiques - View outside near the restaurant. - New American Near Me - Hancock, Maryland

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On our drive between Michigan and the Outer Banks, NC, Hancock is our favorite half-way spot to spend the night. We have frequented Buddy Lou's several times in the last few years. My original 5-star rating best describes all but the last two experiences. The main difference is with attentive service. We have found staffing to be ample, with many servers and support people moving about the restaurant, however, the attention to detail and attentiveness during our stay has been lacking. For example, we receive our appetizer and then wait for silverware. We receive our entree, missing an important component like salad dressing, and must leave the table to go find the sever after an extended wait. Drinks are not refilled without asking. Our servers have always been kind and friendly so as people, all the ingredients are there. Perhaps some additional training would solve the problem. The atmosphere is lively, fun and interesting. Buddy Lou's is located right beside the biking/walking trail in a beautiful area. We have always enjoyed our food. There are some creative items to choose from on the menu, like Lion's Mane crab cakes and appetizer. Unfortunately, on this trip, the Lion's Mane was not in stock. I did enjoy the flavor and freshness of their Santa Fe chicken salad. We will return on future trips and still recommend stopping by. read more

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Food was excellent as well as service. Great atmosphere and quirky, unique decor. One of our favorite places to eat!

You can't miss the colorful and eclectic Buddy Lou's when driving through Hancock. We stopped in for lunch on our way home from Memorial Day weekend. Kudos to the restaurant for being open on a holiday (most others understandably weren't). As some other reviewers have mentioned, they do seem to be understaffed but doing the best they can. We ordered just before they put "a hold" on service from the kitchen which we overheard was around 25 mins. We did wait a while for our food but it was delicious and came out piping hot and fresh. I had the pickle brined chicken sandwich which was superb. So moist and crunchy. It came with hand-cut fries which were also good. My date had the bbq sandwich which came with a side of bacon baked beans. He enjoyed it a lot. And don't miss their house made lemonade--it was really refreshing. The antiques are neat to browse through and most of the decor is actually for sale. There's also quite a bit of odd and eccentric art if you find that entertaining. Overall, this was a cool stop full of character. It's on my radar for next time we pass through the area. read more

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Delicious fresh food. At the end of a holiday weekend they were out of a few menu items (to be expected of good food!). Seafood Alfredo and salad were phenomenal with blackened shrimp, scallops and a ton of crabmeat! What a gem. read more

We arrived around 2pm Sunday...it was full and they told us 30 minutes. Within 10 minutes the restaurant was half empty and they wouldn't seat us because of a shortage of servers...ok, that happens but frustrating. We were finally seated and wait quite a while for a server to come over. I ordered cream of crab soup and a breakfast special, my wife eggs benedict. I waited about 20 minutes for the soup to come out, others who were seated after us were getting their food. The soup was actually pretty decent, and that's the only positive thing I can say. About 15 minutes later our food arrived. Hash browns were frozen then deep fried and arrived luke warm at best. The bacon and toast were cold. Of the two eggs I ordered over easy, they broke the yoke on one of them and it was fried hard. I ate one egg, bacon and left the rest. My wife did the same. I went to the bar to pay, I couldn't wait to get out of there. Never again. read more

It's a fun novelty attraction. A glimpse into the past with plenty of memorabilia to fulfill your kitsch needs. Music and bar situation, but we got there too early to enjoy the live act...perhaps the next Crosby, Stills, and Nash?! Michael McDonald?? Food was decent, service was excellent. I'd recommend checking it out if you are looking for something different. read more

Amazing restaurant and antique atmosphere. Found this dog friendly (patio) restaurant in our travels today. Friendly staff, excellent food with good portions and decently priced. 2 levels of antique shopping. Sleeves of old shirts are hanging decor while the other parts of shirts are used to refurbish seat covers. Such a quaint place, excellent find. read more

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Good food. Very welcoming and friendly staff. A cool place with a lot of antiques around that you can purchase.

It was ok, no dogs but a whole lot of dog decorations it was ok it was ok don't come here if you want good food

Love BL's restaurant. Fun atmosphere, eclectic & interesting decor and things to purchase. Fresh food, everything is delicious. Freshly cut fries. Great veg options. Love the lions mane mushroom crab cakes & nuggets-so unusual and really good. I've decided to try something new each time I go there, except I'll always ask for a side of ranch. Totally recommend, kid friendly, dog friendly, people friendly easy parking. read more

Buddy Lou's Eats Drinks & Antiques - BLT - New American Near Me - Hancock, Maryland

We visited during the lunch hour. The waitress was cleaning off a table, almost bumped into us twice...no apology. She made us very uncomfortable while we were trying to order a drink. The menu items were way overpriced. We finished our drink and sat there over 15 minutes while at least 4 employees were standing around. We ordered something to go. Do to no service We went up to the "bar" and asked for our tab. The waitress finally came out and slammed our food down on another table. We will never visit this place again. Obviously other people don't either because the place was dead DURING lunch hour! read more

TLDR: Fun dining atmosphere that has solid food and service. Perfect stop while hiking/biking the nearby trails. Vibe: 5/5. Situated in the small town of Hancock, Buddy Lou's is conveniently located right out the interstate as well as right off a popular hike/bike trail. Both the outside and inside of the restaurant ooze with eclectic decor. Plenty of seating both indoors and out for small and large groups. Upstairs the restaurant has an antique shop, Cracker Barrel vibes anyone? There is definitely a lot to take in at Buddy Lou's, but in the best way possible! Service: 5/5. The staff at BuddyLous was great from start to finish. My large group of 8 arrived 30 minutes early for our Sunday brunch reservation, but fortunately the restaurant already had our table ready, so we were seated immediately. Our waitress handled our table solo and was on point for the entire meal. My group was returning from a 2 day camping trip, so we were extra needy in terms of food and drinks. We ordered several rounds of drinks, appa leading up to our mains and everything was handled with stride. We even had a few to go orders placed during the meal and they came out perfectly at the end. Overall, very impressed with the service received during a peak hour! Food: 5/5. BuddyLous offers an interesting menu that takes your American bistro dishes, but adds their own unique twist. During our brunch service, my group Raided the menu and ordered several cream of crabs, the crab fries, fried green tomatoes, pork belly BLTs, biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, the BuddyLous burger, lions mane sandwich and the quiche. Everything came out perfectly timed and hot/fresh. Best in show goes to the cream of crab soup, which had huge chunks of backfin in each cup and a well balanced creamy taste. Most interesting of the dishes was the lions mane sandwich. Lightly battered and fried, the mushroom was the size of a softball and had unique taste that paired well with the aioli. The fries were also a hit, as they are hand cut and reminiscent of OC boardwalk/Thrashers style fries. Portions were overall generous and at a more than reasonable price point. If you find yourself in the Hancock area, I highly recommend stopping by Buddylous for a bite! PS. they are also very dog friendly, with their own k-9 approved menu! read more

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Amazing eclectic venue with the best wings we've ever had. For anyone traveling across PA on the turnpike, highly recommended stopping at Buddy Lou's as a really special experience if you have a little time to veer and want some really good food and drink. So much better than eating at the Breezewood exchange and we will definitely be coming back. Decor was super cool with a barrage of unusuals from the 40's 50's 60's & 70's on the walls and throughout. Right next to a trail that runs the Potomac river. read more

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I would leave a zero if I could. Arrived at restaurant was told it would be a few minutes which was fine. Got seated and waited for 20 minutes and no one came over. A large group arrived and they were seated immediately with a server over in less than a minute. Manager was of no assistance, walked away when asked if they were the manager, chicken shit, didn't want to hear about issue. read more

Had the fries with crab meat, cheddar and garlic aoli. The hubs had cherry pulled pork sandwich, baked beans and coleslaw. Neither of us were disappointed; SO tasty! The crab, cheddar and aoli would be epic on a baked potato!! We sat outside so I could pet the puppies that brought their owners, if they passed our table. Loved the ambiance of dogs to pet, 50's music and pink wringer washer on the porch. There is an antique shop in the lower floor but we had to leave... next time. read more

Good food and service, and fun ambience. Just off the highway easy to access and return on your journey. It seems like a pleasant local hangout and I liked the music they played too! Didn't have time to explore the retail side as we had to get home, but it looked interesting. read more

My wife had scoped this spot out during a recent road trip to DC. It's a bit off the interstate, but lots of antique décor, super friendly staff, and good food. Parking can be found either in the adjacent lot or on the street. Spot is kid friendly and they had a high chair for our toddler. For food we shared the famous crab fries and the crab cake sandwich. When in Maryland, am I right? Overall it was pretty good. I think my only wish was that the fries came out more crispy. Other than that the crab meat was plentiful and seasonings and tarter sauce did not disappoint. 'Til next time, cheers! read more

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We stopped by Buddy Lou's on our way to DC and thought it was a very interesting shop/restaurant. Antique on the first floor and restaurant on the second floor. Lots of people with dogs were dining at this restaurant. Seems like they may have a small special menu for the doggies. As for our meal, we got crab cake sandwich which I loved. Very fresh and meaty crab cake. The sauce was delicious too. Would recommend this to crab meat lover. My husband got the avocado toast that's on the appetizer menu. Quite disappointing as the avocado was clearly raw and the bread was mediocre. Not worth $12 in my opinion. Would probably try their burger next time which is only $3 more. I also tried the dragon berry mojito. It was a refreshing drink but can't taste any alcohol. It was more like a sprit soda with mint and strawberry. Maybe order something else if you want something stronger. Overall, not bad but would probably get other food next time. PS: you need to pay for parking in the lot. We didn't know but luckily didn't get a ticket. read more

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This place is wonderful! It is one of the places you find and want to tell all your friends to stop at. We travel with our dog all the time and are always on the lookout for a place that will welcome them like they welcome us. This place is a place like that! Dogs are central to visiting this place. There are dogs inside and out. They have their own menu and get a free pup-cup of ice cream at the end of the meal. The food for humans is great too! We had the biscuits and gravy, don't miss them!! Sunday brunch was fabulous. The only thing better than the food was the friendly staff!! From the folks that greeted us and sat us at a table, to the many servers that stopped by to check on us. Friendliest of all was the manger who talked with us and shared information on the town and the restaurant, and where the love for dogs comes from. We highly recommend this special place. read more

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Food was good. Service was good. Def caters to owners and their canine friends. Ambiance is eclectic. Super casual.

A serious case of "eyes bigger than belly" happened here tonight as I sat down with their martini special. Which by the way, was delicious. How could a cucumber vodka martini sitting on the outside deck in the setting sun not be delicious? I ordered two appetizers thinking that they would be smaller portions. Yeah, they were not. The problem was that they were both great and I overate. A nice basket of hot wings arrived first. Not too hot but with just enough "hot" to be interesting. Wonderfully not swimming in sauce and served with celery sticks and a small pot of blue cheese dressing. Eight meaty wings is a nice portion. And then my second course arrived, a basked of fried chicken livers. Some big pieces, some smaller pieces, all of them perfectly crispy and delicious. A few that were more than bite sized and needing to be cut in half before dipping in the tangy sauce. After the wings and this big serving, I ended up leaving nearly half of them behind. Bummer because they were delicious. It was nice to sit outside and I had great service. Buddy Lou's was a pleasant five star meal for my final stop in the Hagerstown area on this trip. [Review 15619 overall - 652 in Maryland - 1123 of 2021.] read more

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