I love this place! We came here on a lazy snowy Saturday right as it opened, and we got a great table right by the window. It filled up fast, and there was a lively bar crowd, and also an engagement party celebration upstairs. All of the servers were so friendly, and happy to share their favorite dishes and beers, etc. We started with the wings, which were great, and then we had the house salad with salmon and the burger and fries. OK, I did not order the burger and fries, but my boyfriend did, and I ate half the fries on his plate, they were that good! Great, friendly, with generous pours for wine, and just a really friendly, great place with perfect food for a winter day. I wish I could find a place like this in Washington, DC. read more

I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. The food was overpriced and incredibly salty. There's a lot of potential here, but when your wagyu burger costs more than Le Diplomate's iconic burger in DC, I'm expecting something amazing. Every ingredient was very seasoned on its own, but when combined, the burger was overwhelmingly salty. I could barely taste anything besides salt. The cocktails were also overly sweet, and I regrettably had to send them back a couple of times. That said, our waiter's service was excellent. But this place needs a lot of improvement. Way too salty, too greasy, and overpriced. read more

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Food, service and atmosphere was amazing. Would highly recommend. Plan to visit again soon. read more

Was in Frederick, Maryland for a work trip and a coworker suggested hooch and banter. It's a small restaurant, but they were able to accommodate us without a reservation. The server was great very attentive and patient as we ask lots of questions about the menu. They have a new burger item every week so we all tried that it was a Smashburger with crab on top pretty good and very big. They had an option to upgrade the truffle fries which we did and the fries were great. Would definitely come back if I was ever in town again to try something new. read more

Hootch and Banter - Smash burger with crab - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Celebrated a birthday at Hootch & Banter and had a lovely time. We started with the Gouda tots, and had the pork chop and Short rib entrees. Everything tasted delicious. Our server was amazing, very helpful and attentive. I hear they have a great brunch, so I can't wait to go back! read more

Hootch and Banter - Lil" Peppa - Pork chop, roasted squash, and parmesan risotto. - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

I love that a lot of things like the pickles and the sauce are homemade. Everyone that works there was incredibly nice. The inside of the restaurant was freezing, food was pretty good but nothing amazing. My burger was raw even though I ordered medium. Just a few small things but overall it was ok. read more

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Was really excited to go to brunch here but it sadly left me slightly underwhelmed. Chicken empanadas were great, but the Wellington minis fell flat; wasn't a solid chunk of filet in there, was bits and pieces, and overcooked to boot. And the old bae Crab Benedict could have used more hollandaise. Server was super friendly. read more

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Everything....food was so amazing and unique. The atmosphere and decor was confortable and relaxed, and felt intimate. Loved Day Trippin' with the perfect mushrooms and poached eggs on top. The mini Wellingtons were a burst of that familiar beefy expectation! My friend enjoyed her Juevos Rancheros. An all-in-all good time. Our server was excellent. I cannot recall her name but I believe she was also of Asian decent, had great recommendations! Thank you! I can't wait titi try ya'll again for a second visit, and bring my other half. (Sorry no other pics) read more

Hootch and Banter - Day Trippin' - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

We've been here a couple of times and the service has been great each time. We've sat at the bar and at tables - same great service. We prefer their brunch menu personally, but the dinner menu also draws a huge crowd, and I like that their menu rotates to fit seasonal cuisine. I love the bloody banter and the crab Benedict on the brunch menu. The cream of crab soup is one of the best I've ever had - I'd certainly return for this! The truffle fries are incredible - I love that they taste like potatoes not cheap fries. My husband liked the wings, but said he personally prefers wings from pubs. The broccolini was very good, but I wouldn't get the Gouda tots again, personally. read more

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The food and service are exceptional. We were told that portions were generous so we decided to split dishes. The Caesar Salad has a house made dressing that was fantastic. It was a non--vinegar type that tasted rich with egg and cheeses. The next dish was one of the best seafood pasta we have ever had. Very rich and begging for a dip of the small garlic bread slices into the sauce at the end. We had room for Tres Leches cake and coffee to finish our wonderful experience. Only rom for improvement was the decaf coffee, not strong and rich as it should have been. Our waiter was very friendly, helpful and pleasant. All-in-all a great one that WILL be repeated on the future. read more

This place is solid! Located in the downtown area of Frederick and is a solid sit down option if you are looking for one. My friend and I split the Wagyu burger, the Wellington bites, and the mussels and everything had great flavor! Admittedly, this was a little heavy and the portions were big. Service was slightly slow but I think that was because they were preparing food for larger parties. read more

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Cute spot! I'm glad we only had a party of two because anything longer was told about a 30 minute wait. I had their canned cold brew and it was tasty. I also had the French toast and it was delicious. Friendly service. Park in the deck around the corner and walk over and check them out! read more

Came here on a whim one Saturday evening and it was a solid choice. Sam, our server, was exceptionally friendly and accommodating. He is a great value to the spot. We sat at the "bar" area upstairs. Ordered a cocktail (passion fruit was in the ingredients) but I can't remember the name. Beautiful presentation and tasted nice. Ordered the crab dip and gouda tots. Both were really tasty. I especially enjoyed the gouda cream that it is served on top... so much so, that I requested and received a very hefty side portion of it for extra dipping lol. I'd definitely like to return to try the rest of the menu when I'm back in town. read more

I have grown to enjoy this spot. It took a few tries and a new chef but over the last few years I enjoy coming here more and more. My husband and I like sitting at the bar. Peter provided excellent service today and crafted perfect cocktails. Enjoyed a sandwich and the ambiance sitting at the bar. read more

Hootch and Banter - It's About Time (old fashioned) - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Friendly, prompt, professional service. Delicious branzino and fish n chips. The menu items were named something else though, for humor, I guess. Music not too loud. Bathroom clean. Thank you. read more

Let me just say this!!! Hootch and Banter is a vibe!!! Everything about this restaurant is simply awesome. I knew it was going to be great, when I saw a line forming 20 minutes before the restaurant opened. It was my first time dining here and it was worth the 1 hour drive from Arlington, Virginia. I loved it so much that I would drive back and forth again. First impressions are everything and upon entering, the host sat us at a nice table by the window. It was perfect. The host was very friendly. Now on to our waiter Corey H. Shout out to Corey. He was personable, friendly and offered great recommendations for drinks, entrees and desserts. I ordered a Moscow Mule and the Mediterranean Salad with chicken. My friend had the Carne Y Huevos Rancheros. The drinks and food were grrrrrreeeaaattt! For dessert Corey recommended the beignets and they were fantastic. I honestly can't wait to return. The menu is amazing, ambience is cute and quaint, staff are friendly and it's a great atmosphere. Tips: Get there early. The restaurant is first come/first served. Street and Garage Parking are available. read more

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This place is so good! It was actually my second time being there, but I didn't remember until I walked through and remembered the inside of the restaurant. I actually chose this restaurant based off of other yelp reviews, not remembering I have been there before, and was not disappointed. The staff is great. Even your neighbors are great. We stroke up conversations with the people left and the right of us! So much so that, I was too busy socializing and I forgot to grab pictures of the food when it was delivered. Especially, when the group of guys next to us started hating on my Florida Gators, who just won the 2025 NCAA championship. They saw my UF shirt and immediately had something to say . good times! If I lived in Frederick, I would frequent this place often. read more

Hootch and Banter - I can't remember what this was! But it was delicious. - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

This was a wonderful little spot for a dinner date. We had a wonderful server who took great care of us and gave awesome advice on the best things to order. We enjoyed a steak and cheese sandwich and a salmon dish. Both were delicious. After dinner we had the most amazing beignets fresh from the fryer and covered in powdered sugar. The drinks were also very tasty. read more

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Upscale bar. We were driving north and got hungry and we lucked out and found this place. Fortunately, we arrived before the crowd. Centered in the charming downtown Frederick. The service was great! The food was great! Prices were high! Couldn't visit often with a family of 7, but makes for a great date night. read more

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The wagyu burger was the absolute best burger I've ever had!!! I honestly can't even explain what made it so good. The brioche bun was toasted perfectly. The beef was juicy. The sauce and cheese paired perfectly together. Clearly, I truly enjoyed my meal. Oh the menu had super cute entree names like "Every Day I'm Brusseling" or "Filet Me Down". If I had any constructive criticism, it would be the fries. They were tasty, but I up charged for the truffle fries. In my opinion, I don't think it was worth the added expense. Fries were fries. Nonetheless, I will definitely be returning soon as I have my eye on a few other items. read more

Hootch and Banter - Wagyu Burger w/truffle fries - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Very good meal. Excellent service from the Mohawk server. The mini beef Wellington's are the best. My Reuben was pretty good..

This is the second year in a row we have celebrated my *early* birthday here for brunch. The service and friendliness of all staff members is unmatched. The food is always top tier and the vibes are so cute. It's no reason it's always busy, it's consistent every time. read more

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As soon as we entered, we were greeted warmly and made to feel very comfortable. We arrived just after 5 and there was a couple seated outside and a small group was just before us so we had lots of seating options! The bar is full service and a number of folks chose to eat there. We had a lovely little table in the window and enjoyed the people watching. Our server was outstanding, reviewing the menu and even letting us know what his personal favorites were. We had the butternut squash soup(excellent) the smoked turkey sandwich (very good and the KIDD burger (very good). The servings were generous and tasty. The only note...the homemade ketchup is quite spicy! A great stop on our road trip! read more

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From the moment we sat down, the playlist set the perfect tone for a memorable brunch experience of good vibes all around. To start off my day I ordered a Spanish coffee and my husband ordered the Bloody Mary with the Banter add-on--which could've passed as an appetizer. With salami, celery, tomato, house pickle, shrimp, bacon, and 3 blue cheese stuffed olives. It was too decadent to classify as a garnish. We tried the Breakfast Burger and The Banter, both of which were impressive. The Breakfast Burger was a hearty treat with an 8 oz prime burger, cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, a sunny-side egg, lettuce, tomato, fried shallots, and toasted shallot aioli on a brioche bun. It came with tasty breakfast potatoes on the side. The Banter was a twist on a classic sandwich, featuring house-cured corned beef, Swiss cheese, house thousand island dressing, sauerkraut, all served on black Russian bread. It came with hand-cut fries and house-made ketchup. While the pickles were crisp and crunchy, they leaned towards the sweeter side with their bread and butter flavor. Although they were a nice compliment to the sandwich, I wish I didn't ask for a whole bowl on the side. I should have asked first. Hooch & Banter offers tasty food, a relaxed atmosphere, and friendly service. It's a great spot for a satisfying brunch experience. read more

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After days of looking into the best restaurants in Frederick it came down to the wire to choose a brunch spot for Father's Day. Hootch and Banter unfortunately does not take reservations but if you read the fine print on their website you will see that there are some exceptions for certain holidays (Father's Day being one of them). I was excited to celebrate my father but also have a good meal. It took a little bit to get our table set up but we had no problem. Our host was FANTASTIC, extremely considerate and kept the energy high. She was a gem. My family shared a bunch of appetizers such as the empanadas, crab dip, and wings. The crab dip stood out the most. I got the burger and it was awesome. The home fries were a great touch. My family loved their dishes. We brought a cake for my dad's birthday and they helped to cut and serve the cake. What an experience. They treat us like family as soon as we walked in. Look forward to going back. read more

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Second stop on our anniversary cocktail crawl and the one where we had dinner. We shared a kidd prime burger and the gouda mac & cheese. I ordered the Hooch hot toddy and my husband had something hot with bourbon in it (looking at the website menu, I don't think what he ordered is on there. Sorry!). My drink was pretty good (very lemony though), his was not to my taste at all but he liked it. I don't like bourbon so this is on brand. The burger was very good, which has been actually fairly difficult to find in MD. Very good meat. The mac & cheese was also very good, and very rich; even between us we couldn't finish it. I didn't really care for their fries, they're a bit soft. I like crispy fries. But this is a personal taste thing. If you like soft fresh cut fries you might like them. Our server Manda was great, service was fast even though the place was pretty packed. We were unfortunately too full for dessert. I hope to come back sometime when it's not freezing outside so I can try some of the not-hot cocktails, but we were ice cubes when we came in so gravitated to the hot stuff. read more

Came here a couple of times over the past month, twice to eat food. This place doesn't miss, IMO the best all around restaurant in all of Frederick. Want brunch? H&B. Want dinner or a late dinner? H&B. Casual drinks? H&B. You cannot go wrong coming to Hootch. read more

Hootch and Banter - Day Trippin - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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We came here for a Saturday lunch after running some errands in Frederick. After a quick search of restaurants nearby and some recommendations from my brother, we decided to check them out. Upon arrival, we were promptly seated by the host. The table we were at was a bit cramped, with folks struggling to get in and out of the booth table that was adjacent to us. However, the restaurant isn't all too big so it's understandable. Our server greeted us shortly afterwards and took our drink orders and brought out waters. My wife got the Spanish Coffee and I got the Hootch's Bloody Banter. The Spanish Coffee was delicious while the Bloody Banter was literally a spicy, cold, alcoholic soup in a cup lol (which is awesome IMO). Both drinks were fantastic! My wife ordered The Banter 2.0 and I ordered the Breakfast Prime Burger. The food didn't take very long to come out and any wait was worth it. The Breakfast Prime Burger was perfectly cooked. The sunny side up egg could've been cooked a bit longer, but everything else about the burger made up for it. The potatoes that came with the burger were perfectly cooked, cripsy on the outside and soft, almost mashed potato on the inside. Overall, super delicious and just what I wanted! The Banter 2.0 is also very tasty! While the sandwich itself is quite simple, ingredient wise, it is all that is needed to make this a great meal. The corned beef was flavorful and not too salty. The bread was soft and hearty. The fries were a bit al dente if I'm being honest, but that's more a personal preference as my wife enjoyed them. An awesome lunch that isn't too heavy, but still checks all the boxes! Overall, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant. The service was great, the food was delicious and the drinks were on point. We will definitely be back next time we are in the neighborhood. read more

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I stopped by Hooch & Banter for brunch and had a genuinely great experience. The staff stood out right away--friendly, professional, and polished in both demeanor and appearance. The warm, inviting interior added to the overall vibe, making it a comfortable place to settle in for a weekend bite. While Hooch & Banter is generally on the pricier side, their brunch offers the same high level of service and ambiance at a more approachable price point. I ordered the Banter Sandwich, which was essentially a Reuben. The homemade ketchup and French fries were absolutely delicious . That said, the bread on the sandwich was extremely soggy, which unfortunately took away from the overall dish. This might not be the best restaurant in Frederick, but it's definitely in the top 10 and worth a visit--especially for brunch. Ambience and staff professionalism 8/10 Food temperature and quality 7/10 Time for food to be served 6/10 PSA: if you are planning on going to brunch. Get there early. There is normally a line at the front door! read more

Hootch and Banter - Banter Sandwich - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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After arriving into Frederick, this was the first place that pulled up on the map and figured it's worth a shot and I love trying new places. This did not disappoint! Started things off with Johnny Merlot, which is Johnny Walker Red, lemon, honey and merlot floated on top with an ice cube. Must say that the flavors worked out really well and if I could, I would have put down a few more of these. The Hash Slinging Slasher was a big plate, but didn't make you feel like you needed to be rolled out of there. The flavors worked well, the pork belly was perfectly crispy, and the salad had this very refreshing taste to it. The Banter 2.0 had a very nice corn beef to it. Slightly dry and the sandwich could have used a llittle more thousand island dressing. Great size sandwich that came with a nice stack of fries. I was not a fan of the house made ketchup. I know the couple next to us liked it. It reminded me a bit of barbecue sauce and ketchup mixed. It's a great spot by the creek so you can get some steps in after you had your fill. Gave off that new, hip, brunch spot that you want to go to. Atmosphere is great. It's a little tight so people talking can get loud. The service was phenomenal. I want to give a shout out to Trevor who was our bartender and server. He gave us a breakdown of the Johnny Merlot and you could see how knowledgeable he was when you would hear him talking about drinks and food to others that were at the bar. I would easily come back and have a few drinks from him. read more

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Good meal and service. Ate outdoors very pleasant by waterway Try for yourself. Parking nearby in garage.

Hootch and Banter has become a favorite dining spot with my Frederick area crew!! The food, the service, the cocktails, and the cute decor and ambiance are just a whole vibe every time!! Yelps peeps-the reviews are true..the food is fresh and well thought out..and the cocktails are amazing. The service is spectacular and attentive, with all the servers being knowledgeable about the menu, and honest with their recommendations. The only (possible) downside is that its first come-first serve, but truthfully, it is worth the wait! Overall, highly recommend! read more

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Date night! Checkout this restaurant for first time. We arrive without a reservation around 5 PM. Had a drink at the bar and our table was ready for two a lot faster than we expected. It's a very small restaurant on the first floor, but great ambience vibe. My husband ordered the. Wagu burger - super beefy and the parmesan fries with the spicy ketchup was the best! I ordered a Mediterranean salad that was very generous portion size. Our drinks were whiskey, sour and BBL, lol! We absolutely love the names on the menu. The food was great, and our server (AMANDA) was very friendly, made great recommendations, was the best and service was awesome. read more

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It was a busy Saturday afternoon in Frederick, the annual street festival was awesome. We were looking for a place to have lunch and Hootch save the day. We were able to get seated immediately upon arriving. They were definitely busy, but the wait staffs were efficient and we were and Mike our waiter took our drink orders immediately. We started off with two 2017 Carlos Spain Terpranillo, Cosmopolitan, Per My Last Email, Johnny Merlot, the drinks were amazing and prices were reasonable and good pour on the wines. We all decided to try a few individual dishes to share with each other. We started with the house pickles, Wellington minis, smoked gouda Mac and cheese, chicken Empanadas, and two orders of the twice cooked infused wings. Everything were delicious and I highly recommend the Mac and cheese and the wings. Honestly I recommend everything we ordered. They have both indoor outdoor seating, we were seated indoor, outdoor have a limited seatings. Mike (Mark) was super friendly and a nice guy. Surprisingly it wasn't super noisy or loud, we were able to speak and hear other without any issues hearing one another. Lastly, take a look at the menu to see why a few of our cocktails have unsual names with the ingredients. I highly recommend Hootch and Banter it's a lovely place. Thanks Mike you were awesome! read more

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The ambiance is really nice. Perfect for date night. Food was definitely flavorful and bar tenders were 5 Star. I had the lamb pasta dish, which was very good. Definitely a hearty dish so I couldn't finish it all. We had the crab dip for an appetizer, which could've been a little better but overall this is a great place. read more

The staff is quite friendly and courteous. The food is okay but a bit pricey for what it is. We always look for clean food -- without additives and especially prefer organic, when available. Unfortunately, we didn't find it here. The corned beef is cooked with nitrates, so we had to forgo that. They are very accommodating for gluten free options but their menu doesn't always reflect it correctly, so be sure to ask. Overall, for the cost of our meal, the food was just so-so. read more

The food, service and ambiance is enough to make our family go back more and more! Love Hootch and Banter

Vicky was an amazing server. Super friendly and knowledgeable. The miss piggy 2.0 was one of the best pork chops we've ever had and everything we tried was delicious (Kidd burger, crab cakes, crab dip). Would definitely come here again. read more

Hooch and Banter!! What a gem of a place! It's right by the riverwalk in cute, downtown Frederick. I was there at brunch and got the shrimp and grits and an amazing margarita! The flavors were amazing and the service was fast! I will definitely be back!! read more

Hootch and Banter - Patron Margarita - New American Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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Shared a meal here with family and it didn't disappoint! Our table had the wings, Mac and cheese, beef Wellington (appetizer) and haddock-- all were delicious! Waitress was amazing, really knowledgeable and quick with our order. There's decent bar seating and a wall of booths/tables! Although, there was still a wait when we arrived. Would come again! read more