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    Pairings Bistro

    4.0 (246 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Pairings Bistro Photos

    PAIRINGS BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Bar Seating
    Maria W.

    This spot is a hidden gem! I can't tell you how many times I've drove past here and had no idea it was there, upon entrance, I definitely didn't think it looks the way that it does. The fact that on one side you can order ice cream and other finger foods, you can also purchase honey, etc, then the other side is a fully functioning bat included restaurant. It has this five dining vibe ... I haven't had the food, but it looks really good. Their drinks and service is awesome and it gives off very chill vibes!

    Scallops with Jalapeño Corn Bacon Hash
    Lawrence F.

    We made reservations for a wonderful planned evening. Our reservation was originally in the spacious dining area(s), but we grabbed a spot at the bar so we could also enjoy some great acoustic tunes! (Duo) We decided to get the 4 course (non wine pairing option), and we enjoyed a delicious bottle of wine. Service is fantastic! From the servers, to the bartenders, to the management, everyone is very nice! The best part about doing the 3 or 4 course meal, is that you can order as you go! (If you like) So we both started off each with Whipped Feta with hot honey and pita bread, along with Hickory Smoked Salmon ~ Next we had French Onion Soup and a Fried Chickpea Salad - And then we had the Steak with Truffle Fries, and Scallops with Corn Bacon Jalapeño Hash - For dessert we went with the ever so rich and delicious Caramel Peanut Butter Cheesecake and Crème Brûlée. Finished the evening off with an Espresso along with an Espresso Martini. Everything was fantastic! We enjoy our evenings at Pairings, and I hope this review helps you to go check it out!

    Thomas G.

    Happy Valentines! I typically only go to Pairings for special occasions and for dinner this was our 4th visit. We weren't impressed. First, Pairings has renovated and the place is stunning. As for seating the old barrel room seems to be still the coveted spot as there are tables inside, outside, at the bar and throughout the skinny main room. For us this evening we were lined up on the wall of the dining room and our impression was much like a vacation resort where you can't help but hear the neighboring tables conversation. Aside from the jam packed restaurant the food was lacked the luster of Pairings as we remembered and tonight was missing the wow experience. Our server did well but overall the food was mediocre with cream of crab and the beet salad being the best. Oysters Rock and bistro steak were very average. The Caesar grilled was half inedible salad core. Wine portions during the pairing were poured lightly. Will try again when the restaurant isn't in the weeds scrambling, tonight simply was missing overall quality.

    Cheesecake. So filling!!
    Mel L.

    We visited pairings on a date night per a recommendation. I made a reservation in advance so we were seated right away. There was a nicely lit room and a bigger "family style" looking room with lesser ambiance. They tried to seat us in the more family friendly room with screaming kids and I immediately asked to sit in the other room, which they seemed to not have a problem with. I wondered the whole meal why we were initially sat in the first room when the only people in there were a large family with screaming kids. Once seated, service was a bit sporadic. The server we had was very helpful in explaining how things worked and was patient in answering my questions. I did an a la carte with wine and my husband did a 3 course meal with wine. I ordered the cheese and charcuterie and he had crab soup. Both were good. The cheese board (pictured) was nicely put together and sufficient. For entrees we had sliders (pictured) and venison tenderloin (pictured). Sliders came with a large helping of very salty fries, which I enjoyed, husband doesn't like salt like that. His venison was cooked well but for the price, the portion was lacking. Since he hunts and grills his own venison, in my opinion that meal fell a bit short. For dessert, he refused to share with me so we each had our own cheesecake which he regretted because it was very filling (and so good)! Overall, the place was good. The only thing that was lacking in my opinion was the sporadic service. We didn't see our server as much as I expected and the courses each took a decent while to come out. It was a Saturday night though so... Lastly, the wine we had was excellent. Even the moscato with dessert. Our favorite was the Noble Vines and we bought a bottle for 10% off! The guy at the counter offered to show us the other part of the restaurant but the whole experience was 2.5 hours and I need a nap so we politely declined. We would definitely like to come back and do this again though!

    Saron B.

    I've been to Pairings once before almost 3 years ago and I remember liking the ambiance of the place and their wine list. I went there this time with a group of 6, which we had reserved a table in their covered patio. Ambiance: I recommend dressing up a bit when you dine here, it has a fancy/classy vibe. It's a perfect spot for celebrating anniversaries/valentines/dinning with people visiting from out of town. They have great service. The waiters are very attentive and very formally friendly! Food: We went at dinner time so we chose from the 4 course menu (picture of menu added). Salads: I got the golden Beets for my salad: this was actually Ana amazing salad, I'm not a big fan of beets but the combination of the goat cheese and walnuts with the golden beets had perfect harmony. Soups: I had the cream of crab soup, came with a side of dry sherry, It was not bad at all but I wasn't a big fan, other cream of crab soups have that flavor that pops in your mouth, and this was lacking that flavor. Entree: I got the steak which came over a bed of truffle frites. The truffle frites were crispy and delicious, the steak on the other hand, which I done medium, was a bit chewy. Maybe if I had gotten it cooked differently, it would have been better. Steak was seasoned well. Dessert: I got the flourless chocolate cake. I love dessert that does not fill your mouth with taste of sugar so this chocolate cake was perfect for me. It had the right amount of sweetness and the right amount of creaminess. Definitely would get this cake again. Overall, Pairings is a really cute spot to visit. I only gave it 4 stars because my entree wasn't too impressive!

    Cream of Crab Soup
    Alicia F.

    Do not judge a book by its cover. This place is so cool inside. It is in a plaza but deserves to be a free standing place! We went at an off time like 2 pm so it wasn't all that busy. The bartender was our server. We had whipped goat cheese crab soup and a blackened chicken salad. The salad had fried capers. They were amazing. The food was the best! Will def be going back in July!

    Cream of Crab and Salmon appetizer
    Carson F.

    Went in for a small snack today and was pleased with what we got. The mushrooms in the salmon app were delicious. I also appreciated the fact that they serve the cream of crab soup with the sherry on the side since I don't prefer it. Both were delicious even with the small portions. Great ambiance and friendly staff. I will probably get wine and an entree next time as the menu was very extensive with a lot to choose from!

    Golden Beet Salad Rosemary Truffle Fries
    E L.

    Tasty meal and complementary champagne for birthday celebrations! Cozy spot with knowledgeable owners that I would definitely go to again!

    Cider glazed chicken, very tender and moist with risotto and brussels sprouts.
    Katharine T.

    Went tonight for our anniversary. Service was a bit slow but the staff was super friendly and attentive. Started off with the french onion soup and charcuterie board. The soup was great and the board was good - would have been nice if the olives were pitted but other than that, no complaints. For our entrees we had the steak and the chicken. I'd say the steak and fries were a bit under-salted for my tastes, but they weren't bad. The chicken was fabulous, but again, I think the risotto was a bit under-seasoned. Overall, I'd get the chicken again for sure, it was very tender and moist. For dessert we had the apple fritter and cheesecake. Both of these were great! I also had a wine flight and my husband had several cocktails. Got a bottle of wine to take home too. We got a nice small champagne toast on the house since our opentable reservation said it was our anniversary, which I thought was super sweet. I went a few years ago with my mom and got the paired menu that time, I'm remembering the pours as generous and it was definitely too much for us to drink, thus not getting it this time. Anyhow, overall, I'd definitely recommend the place if you're fancying an upscale night out, I probably just wouldn't get the steak au poivre.

    Flash grilled Caesar salad

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    Pairings food and drinks are amazing! I love the espresso martini!!! The lunch specials are a great deal!

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    Tapas Teatro - Gambas Al Ajillo

    Tapas Teatro

    4.0(356 reviews)
    20.4 miCharles North
    $$

    Been here twice now. Love this spot. Wide menu selection of tapas style cuisine. Service is always…read moregreat, our waitress was fantastic. Unfortunately they don't carry henny as part of their bar stock. Most recently came here on a Wednesday evening. Tried the seafood paella which was disappointingly bland, squid tasted like cardboard, I've had way better at multiple spots. Ate it anyway since I was starving and didn't have time to reorder. The arugula/onion/tomato based salad was great!

    It has been a long time since I ate here or a drink here, but I was at the Charles recently and got…read morea preshow drink. I highly highly recommend their vermouth sodas. It's just a really light drink and you get an olive. It's nothing super special but it does taste really special. The cool thing about tapas teatro is that you can order a drink here and take it inside the theater. Honestly, this place is one of the most solid institutions in the city so I'm very glad that they were doing well. The food here was a mix. My favorite bite was probably the octopus and romanesco sauce. A few things were a mess like the random loaf of bread they gave us to start that was dry. The ambience probably hasn't changed much since since they opened, which was probably around the early 2000s it's giving very much a sex in the city vibes of the years past but honestly there's nothing wrong with it and it's a solid place. I really hope they never go out of business.

    Photos
    Tapas Teatro
    Tapas Teatro - Grilled Octopus

    Grilled Octopus

    Tapas Teatro

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    Barcelona Reston - Pork belly & Potato Tortilla

    Barcelona Reston

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    66.9 mi
    $$

    It's been a while since I came here, but I LOVE Barcelona! The happy hour deals are pretty good. I…read morewish they had more wine options on the happy hour menu specifically red wine. The service was great, our waitress and fast, kind, and checked in with our group the perfect amount of times. The food was all amazing. They're fairly small portions so you do end up spending quite a bit, but the quality is great! If you want the paella you have to order right when you arrive cause it's 30 mins to 45 mins for them to cook it. Paella Salvaje* 5/5 Grilled octopus 5/5 Spiced Beef Empanadas 3.5/5 (tasted like pasta on the inside no spice lol) hanger steak 5/5 Happy hour trio deal Patatas Bravas 3/5 meatballs 4/5 Chicken Jamón Croquettes 4.5/5 Wines were alright. We ordered the sherry dessert wine which was not a fan fave. The sparkling white wine on the HH was refreshing and pretty good, very dry. Overall, always a good experience. It wasn't too crazy on a Thursday night. The inside ambiance is nicer at night time than day time. I'll have to go back for HH again and order some apps and paella.

    Barcelona Reston delivers a strong tapas experience with a few minor misses. The menu has a great…read morevariety, and overall the food quality is impressive. The standout for me was the patatas bravas--perfectly crispy potatoes paired with a spectacular garlic aioli. The truffle sheep's cheese was also outstanding, rich and flavorful, although the truffle honey didn't quite deliver on its promise--I could barely taste the truffle. It also only came with one slice of toasted bread, but thankfully the bread service helped stretch the dish (and even then, there was still cheese left over). The spiced beef empanadas were nicely crisp and satisfying. The grilled octopus, however, was just okay--slightly over-charred, which made it hard to fully appreciate the flavor. On the other hand, the paella salvaje was excellent, loaded with chicken, gaucho sausage, pork belly, chickpeas, and pickled onions. Definitely a must-order--but be sure to put it in early since it takes a while to prepare. For dessert, the flan catalan was a great finish--not overly sweet and nicely balanced. The wine list is another highlight, with plenty of good options available by the glass. We ordered the paella first and followed it with four tapas, which ended up being plenty of food for four people. Pricing came out to about $45 per person before tip, which felt reasonable for the quality and quantity. The interior has a warm, stylish vibe with lots of wood and dark tones, though it does feel a bit cramped--tables and booths are quite close together, and it can get pretty loud. Service was friendly and well-paced. It does get busy during peak hours, so reservations are highly recommended (they use Tock). Overall, a great spot for tapas with a lively atmosphere--just be prepared for some noise and tight seating.

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    Barcelona Reston
    Barcelona Reston - Raw Oysters

    Raw Oysters

    Barcelona Reston - Happy hour appetizers

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    Happy hour appetizers

    The Vineyard - Duck Wantons

    The Vineyard

    4.1(196 reviews)
    12.9 mi
    $$

    Small town bistro with an extensive wine list. The menu features a variety of shareable, small…read moreplates, and maybe six entrees. We had the short rib pierogis, spinach salad, and crab cakes. The ambience was nice and the service was decent. The menu, particularly the entrees, seemed a little pricey for the area but the food we had was all good. Havre De Grace is a small waterfront town, so I have to say that considering the context and location, our dinner was really quite good and exceeded my expectations. If you're in town, it's a nice place to come for wine and an elevated dinner.

    Every town, burg, or community - however large or small - should be the proud possessor of at least…read moreone... Bistro, that is. A cozy little restaurant that serves up delightfully delicious food in a decidedly casual setting. And in Havre de Grace, The Vineyard Wine Bar fills this niche with a subtle sense of style. As the name suggests, wine has played a significant role in Vineyard's obvious success. So much so, in fact, that not only does the restaurant sport a superb compendium of vintages by the glass and bottle, its lunch and dinner menus are also divided into categories - Light Bodied, Medium Bodied, Full Bodied - that correspond to specific types of wines. Yes, wine is definitely the name of the game... But don't let that fool you. The kitchen also has a great deal to say... and all of it good. The food here is excellent in every respect, as is the service. If I lived in HdG, I have absolutely no doubt that I would be tempted to dine here every day of the week. The Vineyard is everything a great bistro should be - and then some. But I begin to digress... As you have undoubtedly surmised from the above remarks, our dinner here was an extraordinarily satisfying experience. My dining partner and I began by sharing the Bruschetta Trio. Bruschetta is an Italian appetizer that begins with grilled bread topped with garlic and olive oil and then adds a variety of toppings. In this case, the finishing touches consisted of a luscious garlic spread, sundried tomato and basil pestos, melted mozzarella, and house marinated tomatoes with a balsamic glaze. While most incarnations of bruschetta may be consumed manually, Vineyard's substantially succulent variations on the theme (as you will note from the photograph above) demanded the ministrations of both knife & fork and were well worth the effort... Incredibly and unforgettably delicious. As we moved on to what would be considered the entrée or main course, options were numerous and varied... from Cornish Game Hen to Crispy Skin Duck... Venison to Dakota Steak... Lamb Vindaloo to Pesto Bucatini... ... On this particular evening, however, matters piscatorial appeared to take precedence. My dining partner was absolutely ecstatic with her Tuna Bites. Which is precisely what they were... diminutive squares of blackened tuna luxuriating in a Creole remoulade (a creamy, mayonnaise-based sauce originating in France). A definite "wow" factor at work here. On the other hand, my Mango Glazed Salmon was equally up to the mark... First of all, it was wild caught, which I much prefer (with rare exception) to the farmed variety. Secondly, as with most species of fish, salmon tends to be prone to both over and under cooking. Here, however, it was perfectly prepared - cooked through but still moist and succulent at the core - superbly complemented by a slightly smokey red pepper coulis (a smooth sauce made from puréed and strained fruits or vegetables), and companioned by lemon & herb risotto and roasted asparagus spears. On to the wine... With regard to both taste and texture, tuna and salmon are certainly among finny fare's heartiest representatives. Thus, despite the oft-quoted dictum, "Red wine with meat, white wine with fish," and the gentle urgings of our server in that direction, I have always found that salmon and pinot noir are - somewhat akin to lamb and red Bordeaux - a match made in heaven. And, in this instance, the 2022 Lundeen Mon Père Pinot Noir from Oregon's Willamette Valley proved to be a perfect match for my companion's blackened tuna bites as well. Dessert was a special treat. Naturally, many of the usual familiar sweet endings were present and accounted for. And, given the superior quality of the cuisine thus far, I had no doubt whatsoever that they would have acquitted themselves with suitable aplomb. For some reason, however, my dining companion and I were both drawn to the Crème Brûlée Cheesecake (pictured), which we decided to share... and, which, as it turned out, proved to be one of the high points of our evening. This was an intriguing amalgam indeed: The sweetness of taste being more influenced by the former; the firmness of texture by the latter. It is - if you will pardon the seemingly psychological digression - what we might consider a type of "gastronomic Gestalt," in which the whole is greater than the mere sum of its parts. In other words, the components of Crème Brûlée and Cheesecake have been combined... and from this fascinating combination there has emerged a new dessert that is even more desirable than the components have been individually. Well... call it what you will. I just know that it was so incredibly delicious that I would return at a moment's notice just to indulge my taste buds once again.

    Photos
    The Vineyard - The bar

    The bar

    The Vineyard
    The Vineyard - Wine education class

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    Wine education class

    El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Patatas bravas

    El Mercat Bar De Tapas

    4.3(231 reviews)
    52.7 mi

    I've been here Multiple times yeah very good within the week and everything is amazing. Everything…read moreon the menu is amazing. Absolutely some of the best food I've had in Maryland hands- down

    4.4.26 My friend and…read moreI came here for dinner to celebrate her birthday. I had originally made a 6:30 p.m. reservation for a Saturday, but she ended up running late so I called at 6:30 to push it to 7:00. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate the last-minute change, which I really appreciated. There are picnic tables out front, but we chose to sit inside. I ordered a variety of tapas including the octopus, cod fritters, crispy chicken wings, beef empanadas, and she ordered the seafood paella and a house salad. My friend absolutely loved the paella. My personal favorites were the chicken wings and the octopus; both were flavorful and well-prepared. Service was friendly, and our server checked in on us frequently, though there were a few hiccups. My chicken wings were initially forgotten, I was given another table's check, and I was accidentally charged twice for the wings. I called the next day, and Wendall, the general manager, promptly handled the refund, which I appreciated. Despite a few minor oversights, we had an enjoyable experience overall. The staff was especially kind. My friend asked a couple of team members to take photos for us, and they were more than happy to help, which added a nice personal touch to the evening.

    Photos
    El Mercat Bar De Tapas - View of the interior seating

    View of the interior seating

    El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Seafood Paella (3 stars)

    Seafood Paella (3 stars)

    El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Mother's Day champagne... thank you.

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    Mother's Day champagne... thank you.

    Isabella's - Fried manchego cheese

    Isabella's

    3.9(539 reviews)
    58.3 mi
    $$

    A tapas bar/ restaurant in downtown historic Frederick. We…read morewent for a Sunday brunch (with a reservation for a 5-top in the window). The waiter was patient and easy going, especially for such a busy time. The food was well seasoned and portions plentiful. The biscuit that came with the combo was a cheese biscuit, however the menu didn't mention the cheese otherwise we would have asked for a plain biscuit (looking forward to having jelly with it, but not so much on a cheese biscuit), but regardless, it was a good biscuit. I look forward to visiting again next time in town, trying their dinner/ tapas.

    Our group of 10 stopped in for Sunday brunch before a show at the nearby Weinberg Center. Even…read morethough the restaurant was busy, our reserved table was ready, and we were seated in a quieter side room that worked perfectly for us. The décor is colorful and warm, with Spanish-inspired art. On this brisk cold afternoon there was also a cozy brick fireplace in full working mode located in the back of the main dining area that adds to the charm. Our server was excellent--friendly, organized, and very mindful of our need to finish in time for the show. She handled separate checks, kept drinks filled, and made sure everything ran smoothly. The food was the highlight. We ordered full brunch meals, and everyone enjoyed their dishes. The house-made chorizo, flavorful sauces, and Eggs Benedict (with the option of a fresh biscuit instead of an English muffin) were especially good. Overall, we had a great experience. The menu is large, the atmosphere is inviting, and we'd happily return the next time we're in Frederick.

    Photos
    Isabella's
    Isabella's
    Isabella's

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    Pairings Bistro - tapas - Updated May 2026

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