Thirty Six Saloon Grill — Restaurant in Rockville

We visited this restaurant during the Covered Bridge Festival, fully expecting it to be busy. However, we didn’t anticipate it would end up being one of our worst dining experiences. The initial 20-minute wait to be seated was expected, but things quickly went downhill from there.

Our waitress was quick to get our drink orders, but that was the last time we saw anything resembling quick service. After nearly 30 minutes of waiting, we had to flag her down just to get our food order taken. We ordered a couple of appetizers. The pretzel bites with beer cheese dip were the highlight of the meal and honestly the best part of the whole experience.

Next came the spinach dip and chips, five minutes later after the pretzels. The dip was lukewarm—too cold to be hot and too hot to be cold. We weren’t even sure how it was supposed to be served, so we asked the food runner, who took it back to be fixed. Unfortunately, there was a mix-up in the kitchen, and another food runner almost served it to someone else before we finally got it back.

By this time, we needed drink refills, but our waitress had disappeared. My sister-in-law had to go to the bar just to get hers refilled. When our food started arriving, it didn’t come out together. I got my salad and baked potato, but the rest of the table waited another 5-10 minutes for their meals. My mother-in-law’s cheeseburger came without the raw onion she had asked for, and we had to flag down the food runner again to get it.

When my sister-in-law and niece finally got their food, it was a mess. My sister-in-law's fries were cold, and my niece’s mac and cheese and pulled chicken were also cold. Again, we had to flag down the food runner, but he said we needed to speak with our waitress—who was nowhere to be found. After my niece walked the whole floor looking for her, she asked another waitress, who told her we werent her table, so we still had to wait for ours. Finally, after flagging down yet another waitress, our waitress was found.

When she came to the table, she seemed upset that we needed her and explained she had been chasing someone down the street who hadn’t paid. At this point, we told her about the cold food, and when my niece handed her the pulled chicken, she remarked that it "felt warm." My niece had to clarify that while it was warm, it certainly wasn’t hot as it should be.

She did refill our drinks, but it took another 10 minutes for the hot food to come back. By that time, my mother-in-law and I had already finished our meals. I let the waitress know we’d need separate checks, but didn't ask how we needed them split. She just split them by person when she brought them.

By the time we paid, we were more than ready to leave. We’re not ones to leave reviews or complain, but this experience was terrible from start to finish. I can’t recommend this...

So disappointed on the food, service, and general vibe of the 36. We have gone there many times over past several years and each time gets alittle less of a favorite spot. This last visit, about a month ago, stopped. It was Thursday place semi full. Waitress took a while to get cocktails. Patient, out to relax so ok. Asked any specials, were directed to read the board. OK..What board? I ordered the Pork chop dinner/ husband ordered, a hamburger with the brisket. No sides with the 12.50 burger. After placing order then was told 2 different kitchens so food would not be brought out together. OK, wish known that wanted to have dinner with my husband would have changed. Your young staff are not very customer friendly, or exhibit much energy. Young man brought out my wilted salade lettuce already browning, had no utensils. Asked jim if I could get some his reply, we'll use his, pointing at my husband. I said no I would like my own please. Bruginly brout me out a steak knife. No smile, no sorry, no anything. Now, there was multiple napkins on the floor. Multiple multiple staff, including the young waitress with a mid drif shirt, multiple navel piercings stepped over it. My dinner, pork chop , no seasoning, baked potato way over done came . Ok, before a burger? My dinner almost finished, husband expensive burger comes in a paper boat. No paper, no nothing. Same attitude staff, no smile, no interaction. Just here.We had 2 cocktails, split a beer, 1 pork chop special dinner. And 1 hamburger/ brisket. Bill was over 65$ Have given this multiple times, worse and worse each time. Very sad to say we will not be back. Glad Benjamin's...

We have been here before and the food is good. But read what people say here about the service!!! Although, there are some good servers there, apparently over all there are not. And that is usually a result of lame management!!! Management is of no help, in fact they just stand around too. And I never received even a "sorry" or "explanation" when I sent the following message to them... "We like coming here, and the food is good. Last night, we had an out of town vistor (Texas), and we wanted to take them to some place special. Plus it was also my girlfriend's birthday. But this time our service was less than desired. I thought maybe she realized that when she FINALLY returned when we were done eating and asked if we needed anything else, and I replied "Nope, not anymore. It's a little too late for that." She didn't even seem to care. But hopefully the one cent tip did. I generally always tip around the 20% area, because I know that "good" servers work very hard. I probably should've asked for someone in charge, but our night was already ruined. I just wanted to pass this on, because with a server like that, not only did they lose their tip, it also cost you at least $5-$10 or more, since we didn't order more drinks. And when a server keeps losing money for you, especially mutiple times over time, your loses are going to add up." In summary, it's got pretty good food, but you better hope to be lucky and get a good server, otherwise you're in for a bad experience since management...