Firewater Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Maryland

Stopped here with my wife while we were driving through the area and were thoroughly unimpressed for the reasons below.

We sat at the bar, which is typically where we prefer to sit. Unfortunately, we chose a spot where bartenders were constantly passing by to grab bottles for drinks they were making—so it was frustrating that it took 20 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us. It was clear that had anyone been paying attention, they would have noticed we hadn’t been helped. The only reason we even got menus was because I had to ask for them; otherwise, it likely would’ve taken even longer. We had found a beer list on the bar and hoped we could at least order quickly once someone did come over, only to be told the list was outdated—so outdated, in fact, that 6 out of the 8 beers listed had changed.

It was busy when we arrived around 6:30 p.m., but I’ve been to busier bars and restaurants and received far better service. It didn’t seem like the bartenders were communicating with each other, which both my wife and I noticed independently.

The wait time for the food was as expected, and our meals came out correctly. Some reviews mention mistakes with food orders, but we didn’t have that issue. The only complaint was that the Crab Louie salad had significantly less crab than expected—barely half of what we anticipated, especially for the price. That said, given the touristy nature of the area, it wasn’t entirely surprising.

The first time any bartender addressed us unprompted was after we had already finished our meals. By then, we had been there for over an hour without anyone asking if we wanted drinks, menus, or even just checking in to see how things were going. I mentioned this to the bartender, who seemed surprised and apologetic. Shortly after, a manager or supervisor came by after hearing about our experience and offered us a complimentary dessert, even though we had already paid and were ready to leave. We politely declined, and when she offered a dessert to go, we again declined, as we’re not really dessert people. If you’re only offering something or apologizing as the guests are walking out, it’s too late. The person did adjust our check and provided a discount though.

The poor service is almost certainly due to the fact that the bartenders pool tips—something we confirmed by asking. That kind of system can lead to a lack of accountability and no real incentive to provide even decent service, let alone great service.

Given the mediocre service and just-okay food, we won’t be returning if we’re ever in...

We've been looking forward to trying Firewater and it did not disappoint. while it just opened three weeks ago, if there were any initial kinks, they certainly have them worked out. Our service was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. They have placed an emphasis on the Mixology, and that was validated my expertly-crafted Old Fashioned (although I passed on having the glass smoked with oak), garnished with a freshly-shaved from-the-orange, peel, and a Luxado cherry. Yes, their logo was actually melted into the singular oversized ice-cube with a heated brass press. Nice touch Firewater, nice touch.

While the menu is not vast, there is something for everyone. We opted for an appetizer of the smoked salmon deviled eggs - nice little poppers that were a bit overshadowed by the raw onion garnish. Capers would have been a better choice, but that's just personal preference. The Cider-glazed salmon with asparagus almondine and garnish of apple and butternut squash was spot-on with well-balanced flavors. The star of the show (excluding the Old Fashioned) was the Pastrami sandwich. While I opted for the smaller portion of 8oz instead of 16oz, it was generously made with a nice balance of brown mustard to melted swiss cheese on fresh rye. The meat was very lean, something I was concerned about, and properly seasoned. Garnished with a side of parmesan fries, and little Gherkin pickles - suffice it to say, it did not last long.

We're looking forward to summer when we can tie up the boat at one of their guest slips and enjoy a summer meal. This is a much needed and excellent addition to waterfront dining at...

Wonderful service by Nicole, who was besieged as one of only two servers available that day (she really deserves a hand for her patience and professionalism).

I had a minced, cucumber and cream cheese dip, which was more tasty than it sounds. It had a hummus quality (with a cream-cheese tang and sweetness).

I then ordered the fisherman's stew, which was loaded with shrimp, scallop, white fish, and various mussels. It was in a mild, tomato stock which could have been seasoned just a tad stronger (the flavor was still very acceptable, just not impactful). The seafood, however, was cooked perfectly. The scallops were buttery and flavorful, the shrimp were tender and not rubbery, the white fish was firm and flaky, yet didn't fall apart in the stock. The mussels were the right amount of briny and were the most flavorful, if not difficult, to deal with, because they were not shucked, of course.

To drink, I had a citrus sangria which was the right amount of tart and sweet, prepared by a young, but capable, bartender (I happened to see her prepare it).

The real star if the show, of course, is the restaurant view of Deep Creek Lake, of course. It was a brleautiful, cool day with low humidity, allowing the large picture windows to remain open during lunch. It was a welcome, comfortable breeze throughout the meal.

The pricing is moderate to a little steep, but the food, the ambience and lakeside views certainly make it worth the cost. In an area where there is little (but improving) upscale eating, The Firewater is a welcome addition to the Deep Creek/...