Carriage House Inn Restaurant & Catering — Restaurant in Emmitsburg

I have been wanting to go to carriage house Inn for a while now. For our anniversary my husband and I like to go out to nice restaurants and have nice, fancy meals. This restaurant is over an hour away from my house so my husband decided to surprise me and take us there for our anniversary.

We ended up getting there early for our reservation and sat right away. We did not realize that on Sundays it’s a very limited menu. It’s basically brunch and then a limited dinner menu, which is OK but I would not have gone on a Sunday if I had known that because I wanted real food, but thats our fault for not looking in advance.

The host was super super nice. She sat us at our table, we waited a few minutes then a girl in all black came, set some water glasses down extremely hard and then walked away. No smile. No words. Nothing. No clue who she was or her purpose but she was not happy to be giving us waters. We sat there for a while longer and then finally our waitress came over.

We already been sitting there for a hot hot minute so we knew what we wanted after grabbed our drinks. We ordered an appetizer and our food. We got the tuna which was amazing and I highly recommend the tuna!

Then my meal came out. My husband sat there and watched me eat my meal because I guess his wasn’t ready? Then the table next to us, their waitress told them what the specials were for the day…...

I didn’t know that there were specials and I’m actually really sad because I’ve been wanting a scallop risotto for a very long time. Well, your special as a scallop risotto and I can tell you I’m sure I would’ve liked that better than that crab salad I got. The crab salad was literally just A LOT of lettuce with maybe four lump crab meat clusters on it and Three or four little shrimp from shrimp salad - definitely not worth it nor good.

My husband got the bruschetta chicken and this one was on us. We didn’t realize that the bruschetta portion had raw onion on it, but we told our waitress we didn’t want scallions or onions on anything so feel like that should’ve been a clue to her to let us know that there’s raw onion on that. Thank goodness, my husband‘s not allergic, but he had to eat food that he royally does not like.

More of the story is the food was not good outside of the tuna. The service was just OK - our server maybe she was overwhelmed. I have no idea, but I was super underwhelmed with this restaurant and can’t say that I would recommend it to anyone. So disappointed that my anniversary dinner was spent like that Maybe others will have a good shot though!

Oh wait! I was looking for pictures - adding in their butter and rolls were...

Last night was our third and last Valentines Day dinner at the Carriage House Inn. Everything about the experience was bad. It was a cold and windy night. The exterior door opens directly to the hostess station and the back wall of the hostess station has a large cut-out the size of a picture window so that the cold wind passed directly into the dining area every time the exterior door opened. Just our luck to be seated under the wall cut-out so that we were cold throughout the meal. Plus, the hostess had the nasty habit of sticking her head through the cut-out repeatedly. Her head came directly between myself and my wife. So much for any sense of privacy during our meal. We were really uncomfortable all in all. Why in God's name hasn't the restaurant closed off the cut-out? It would just take a piece of plywood and the whole experience would be vastly better. The hostess should know better than to be sticking her face into our meal, especially on Valentines Day. So much for a romantic experience.

Unfortunately, the food and service were just as bad.

Food: We come to the Carriage House partly because it always offers roast beef on Valentines Day. In the past the meat has been pretty good, maybe even outstanding. Not in 2024. This year the meat was very tough and difficult to cut! A real let down. Also, every entree came with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Portion size was never a problem before. But this year, there must have been a potato and asparagus famine. The potatoes came in the form of a small perfectly formed half dome that must have been served with a small ice cream scooper. A small solid unappetizing mass. Not fluffy or whipped the way good mashed potatoes should be served. And the asparagus spears were scrawny at best and few in number. I do better at the frozen food department of my grocery store.

Service: Someone needs to train the servers. She brought our first and second courses at the same time. The first courses must have been sitting out for a good while. While this didn't affect my wife's salad, my french onion soup was pretty sad. The cheese on top was room temperature and had cooled to the point that it was difficult to eat with a spoon while the soup underneath was already lukewarm. I have had onion soup at the Carriage House before and it was very good but our server ruined mine last night.

Value for our money: NOT!

I think I will avoid the Carriage House in the future unless improvements are made. Now to find a good restaurant that serves...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Carriage House in Emmitsburg, MD, and I must say, it was a truly delightful experience. From the warm and inviting ambiance to the attentive and friendly staff, everything about this restaurant exudes a sense of charm and sophistication.

I opted for the surf and turf plate, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. The combination of flavors and textures was simply mouthwatering. The surf portion of the dish consisted of perfectly seared scallops that were incredibly tender and had a delightful caramelized crust. The accompanying turf, a succulent steak cooked to perfection, was juicy, flavorful, and cooked exactly to my liking. It was evident that the kitchen staff takes great care in selecting high-quality ingredients and executing each dish with precision.

The plate was beautifully presented, with vibrant colors and artful plating. It was evident that a lot of attention to detail went into creating this culinary masterpiece. The sides that accompanied the main dish were equally impressive. The roasted vegetables were cooked to perfection, retaining a nice crunch while still being tender and flavorful. The buttery mashed potatoes were the perfect complement to the main course, providing a rich and creamy element to balance out the flavors.

The service at The Carriage House was impeccable. The staff was knowledgeable about the menu, offering suggestions and answering any questions I had. They were attentive without being intrusive, ensuring that I had everything I needed throughout the meal. The waitstaff's friendly and professional demeanor further enhanced the overall dining experience.

In addition to the outstanding food and service, The Carriage House offers a charming and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant is housed in a beautifully restored historic building, and the interior exudes a warm and welcoming vibe. The rustic décor and soft lighting create a relaxed and intimate setting, making it an ideal spot for a special occasion or a romantic evening out.

Overall, my experience at The Carriage House was nothing short of exceptional. The surf and turf plate was a true delight, showcasing the culinary expertise of the kitchen staff. Combined with the attentive service and charming atmosphere, dining at The Carriage House is an experience I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a memorable and delicious meal in...