JoJo's Restaurant & Tap House — Restaurant in Frederick

My boyfriend and I went to Jojo’s last Saturday night for dinner. Now, full disclosure, we did get there at 9pm. Online it said the restaurant would close at 10pm and the last reservation available was for 9pm, so we made it and headed there. Once we arrived, we were headed to theis cute little table right next to the window. It was raining, and the vibe was romantic. However, about 10 seconds in we were told the restaurant was closing at 9:30pm, but that we could sit at the bar side - or we could stay at the table and leave at 9:30pm. The waitress told us that the table at the bar side area was up on a little stage area and that we would like it. We decided to go to the bar side and dine there to not be those people as we did show up at 9pm and that is rather late for dinner. Immediately, I regretted my choice. That’s on me for not stepping up and saying never-mind, we will eat quickly and leave. The bar side was of course loud, and people were getting drunk so just the opposite of the other side of the restaurant. We ordered appetizers and contemplated ordering dinner. We ordered the crab dip and fried calamari and drinks, which we liked. So, I ordered the steak with mashed potatoes and vegetables and my boyfriend ordered the chicken Chesapeake. Man, to say I was disappointed with this whole experience but especially the food is an understatement. We spent a total of around $150 and the food was traaaaaaashhhhh. My steak was basically all chewy fat and the mashed potatoes tasted like they came out of a cardboard box. I have made mashed potatoes from a box and have done a better job. The vegetables were barely steamed and you could tell they weren’t even cooked in any butter or anything to add flavor and were basically still hard. My poor boyfriend’s plate was worse than mine. The chicken Chesapeake was hard and you could tell it was grilled before and just reheated for him. It was terrible. I just feel like for the price, the quality of food was subpar to say the least. I have heard good things about this restaurant and have been recommended to dine there. Much regret. They could have and should have offered us free drinks, or dessert or appetizers as they did mention that the booking was a mistake on their end for even having the reservation be available to people. I just can’t recommend this restaurant to people, it...

So I went here with my father on, 4 jul 2021 at around 1500. We sat down and our server was really friendly and super nice. I had 2 long island ice teas and my father ordered a Guinness. Drinks were made pretty well compared to some of the other places I've been. I ordered the eggs benedict as I love them and try to see everyone else's take on them. My father ordered the pork skillet. When I saw my order coming out I was excited to say the least but a bit disappointed that was a lack of hollandaise sauce, as well as there wasn't any really flavor to it and it didn't really have enough body to it either. The poached eggs were actually done pretty well so I give them points on that but everything else was lackluster. The Canadian bacon had almost no sear on it the english muffin wasn't toasted in the slightest. Then I got homefries, and those were not hot at all they were a bit less then room temp honestly. The flavor on them were subpar as well and not enough seasoning at all. Then the skillet, where to even start with that. First off you go to any other place and get a skillet it comes out so hot that it burns your skin off just touching it for a split second. Not the case here as soon as it came out my father said it was cold and when I touched it, it was warm to the touch but not more then that. He gave me a piece of his food and the pork was cold and a little dry. His homefries were the same way mine were cold and bland. My father said "they feel like they were precooked and warmed in the microwave prior to serving. They have that old potato taste". Surprisingly the warmest thing in his skillet was the eggs but they were over cooked and dry. I don't like to complain so I just ate all my food and finally told the server when he came to pick up my plate how I really felt. he said "the kitchen was have technical difficulties" and he was sorry. I don't know what that meant but okay. I then went ahead to order dessert. I ordered the brownie sundae which was fine nothing to special about it though. Now I have never been here before and this was the first experience I had. I thought for a major holiday like the 4th they would be running their A team in the back because they had their A team in the front. I hope IF I ever go back here its better...

Tweeks Road Trip Food Review: I was on the tail end of a business trip, and one of my co-workers was looking for a Gluten Free food option, which is how we found JoJos in Fredrick VA. Not being experienced in gluten free places, I was dubious. All I had ever had was dry, poorly done gluten free baked items.. but this place was amazing. All the food was above average, and every detail of our experience was attended to. I highly recommend it if you're on the road and want to sit down, "cloth napkin" place with great food and an extensive drinks menu. Call ahead though, as they seem to really get packed quickly after 5pm.

I'm an appetizer guy, and I love seafood, so I got the bacon wrapped sea scallops, and one of my co-horts got the gluten free fried dill pickle slices.. which were the best I've ever had. The cream and aioli sauces they pair with their dishes are also very yummy.

For my entree, I was being good, but still wanted more seafood so I had the "Eastern Shore Crab Salad" with a half an avocado and a lime old bay dressing. That was quite good, even if it was $24. However, I wanted more so I also opted to add a slice of pan seared salmon for $15 extra bucks.. so it ended up being the most expensive salad I've ever had. Good eats though.

The friend to my left had a really great looking (super big) crab cake with butter mashed potatoes. She gave me a taste and it was really quite good. The food was flavorful and the portions were hearty over minimalist/artsy. I approve!

The friend to my right had thick slice of pan seared salmon atop bed of creamy, buttered couscous that looked really good too -- though she had problems finishing it after the appetizer.

After it was all said and done, were were rather stuffed, and we each probably dropped between around $50 per person (including appetizers). More than I was expecting to spend, but hey.. I got me some serious...