the Wine Kitchen on the Creek — Restaurant in Frederick

It occurred to me, one night after work, that despite living in Frederick most of my life, there were tons of places I'd never eaten at yet. Tonight I chose one of those places at random and decided to treat myself to dinner since my husband was visiting family. I walked in around 9 pm and the hostess didn't bat an eye at my dining alone, and didn't say anything about it, which I appreciate. I was seated right away with no problems and immediately got a chance to look over the menu. I will admit, it took a little bit longer than expected for my waiter to come over, but as a lone diner I sort of expected that. I looked like I was waiting for someone, I'm sure. The look and feel of the place was very upscale, but they didn't have any problems with me walking in wearing a nerdy t-shirt. I was seated in this cute little booth for 2 with curtains on the side so, if I wanted a more private dinner, I could have it. It was a cute touch! The restaurant also offered patio dining and since it's by the creek, that would have been a downright charming experience were it not the usual Maryland summer. Despite having a bar, the restaurant was respectably quiet and low-key, making it an easy dining experience. I wasn't in the mood for something wild, and this place really hit the nail on the head. My first waiter Kevin, however, was the picture of polite helpfulness. He answered all of my questions, made some wonderful suggestions, and was incredibly pleasant to talk to. I was delighted to find out that this place takes part in DC restaurant week, so I was able to take part in that promotion. Under a suggestion from Kevin, I ordered a glass of their moscato (I wanted something light and sweet), and the wine was so good I brought home a whole bottle. Not really on them, but it does reflect their excellent selection. Dinner itself was delicious. The red pepper soup was refreshing and flavorful, without being too filling. The steak I ordered was cooked to perfection and was flavored in the perfect way to make the actual flavor of the meat shine. The potatoes were both light and fluffy, but also had the little chunks of potato that I prefer in my mashed. The best part was desert. About halfway through my appetizer, Kevin introduced my other waiter, Maddy, who took over after he went home. She was as much of a delight as he was, and made possibly the best recommendation of the night. Desert was this blackberry tart that I did not have room for but could not put down. Gooey and crumbly all at once, with a warm center that was almost caramel-y even though it was fruit based. Topped with a light cream to balance it all out, it was absolutely delicious. I will be thinking of that tart all day tomorrow. The prices on the menu were a little high, but I wouldn't go so far to say they were unreasonable. If I had wanted a cheaper option, I could have gone to any chain restaurant ever. In the grand scheme of downtown Frederick, with it's many small businesses and one of a kind dining experiences, I think this was reasonable. For reference, a lot of meals were between $20 and $30, but a good steak is almost always $30+. Despite the price, I had an exceptional dining experience, and would 100% recommend this place to anyone looking for upscale dining, without the upscale...

I have been enjoying WK in Frederick as well as the Leesburg and Purcellville locations (until that location closed a few years ago). I cannot count the number of times I've dined at their locations over the years and have enjoyed many special occasions as well as just drop in for a bite meals with normally great food and service. However, I am seriously wondering what is going on with Wine Kitchen on the Creek. I hope Jason takes a close look soon and gets things back on track. My most recent two visits have had issues as well as trying to reserve their Sunday night cookout for the past 3 weeks. On a visit where we dined in the bar, they overcharged us $10 for a bottle of wine. When I brought it to the attention of the server, she contacted Laura the mgr who made it a very lengthy and awkward wait to correct the bill. It felt as though she thought I should have just let it go. (I've known her since she started working there as a server) The next time we dined outdoors and the lady next to us had a dog that was nonstop snarling, growling, and barking at everything and everyone. 2 members of the staff seemed to know the owner as they stopped at her table to chat and act very friendly toward the dog. We couldn't have a conversation at our table due to the nonstop barking. Most recently on August 2, I tried to book 2 of the upcoming Sunday cookouts. It says you have to reserve the menu in advance, but the site wouldn't let me. I called WK and spoke to Laura. She tried to reserve herself and agreed there was an issue and absolutely assured me she would talk to Jason, sort it out and call me as soon as they had it figured out so I would be sure to get a spot at the Sunday cookouts. Umm... That was 3 weeks ago. I've heard NOTHING from Laura or anyone else at WK on the Creek. I tried to reserve the Sept 10 cookout today. Same issue. I called again... Couldn't get Laura or any other mgr. The person who answered assured me they would have someone call me back.... Seriously, what is going on at Wine Kitchen on the Creek. They've always been so good until...

We had an absolutely phenomenal meal at The Wine Kitchen—easily the best dining experience I’ve had in a long time. From start to finish, the service was spectacular and the food was nothing short of delicious. Every single bite was packed with flavor and expertly prepared.

Our server, Dwayne, was attentive, knowledgeable, and made the experience even more enjoyable with his warm and patient service.

We were pleasantly surprised to be dining during Restaurant Week, which offered a great variety of options. For starters, we enjoyed the sourdough bread with wildflower honey—simple yet exquisite. I opted for the Restaurant Week special and chose the Wagyu flank steak, perfectly paired with a baked potato and fresh chives. Alongside the entrée, I selected a cheese plate with some olive oil bread, which complemented the meal beautifully.

For dessert, I indulged in the “pick three” homemade ice creams: caramel coconut, sorbet, and vanilla—each one rich and creamy, a perfect sweet finish. (Another part of the Resturant week deal).

On the drinks side, I ordered a refreshing Cosmopolitan and a glass of wine, while my mom tried one of their new signature cocktails—a mezcal margarita—which she thoroughly enjoyed.

The ambiance was equally impressive. We were seated in a cozy, intimate private booth adorned with gorgeous wallpaper that created a charming, scenic backdrop. It made the evening feel truly special and memorable. I can’t rave enough about The Wine Kitchen. If you’re looking for exquisite food, attentive service (especially from Dwayne), and a warm atmosphere, this is the place to go!

I’m looking forward to returning so I can indulge in one of their wine flights. They let you mix and match from all sorts of wine on their menu. Also excited to try some more of their appetizers. The menu is seriously so creative and there’s so much to...