The Smokehouse Restaurant at Antrim 1844 — Restaurant in Taneytown

We enjoyed the Smokehouse for our Anniversary. The menu is six courses. We were able to select items for 4 of the courses and the chef had two courses that he prepared. Everything was wonderful! We chose the 5 wine pairing option which may be a little much for some people but they offered a 3 wine option.

Our server was knowledgable. Her timing was immpecable. Around when we had finished a course and at other tables or in the kitchen so we could enjoy our meal in private.

The starter course (chef selected) was miniature spring roll, spanakopita, and beef wellington. As a side note these were 3 options from our wedding at a different venue and my wife loved them. So it was nice getting them again a year later.

For the appetizer course I had the Chevre & Beets. My wife had the Burrata. Both were delicious. The next course (chef selected) was, if I remember correctly (5 glasses of wine remember), crostini with eggplant, red pepper and asparagus, parmesan, and a mustardy sweet and tangy sauce. It was so good I was a little sad when I finished and had no more.

We both got the salad. My wife said it was one of her favorite parts and she doesn't like fruit in her salad. It was fresh and light perfect for summer.

The intermezzo course (chef selected) was Strawberry Cucumber sorbet. It was sweet and crisp. The perfect palate cleanser.

The main course did not disappoint. My wife had the Filet Mignon and I had the Braised Lamb Shank. My lamb fell off the bone, it was so tender. The texture of the farro and heartiness of the brussel sprouts made sure that there was some crunch. The Filet was cooked perfectly, my wife ordered Med Well. The meat with a bite of the bacon onion jam gave a smoky sweetness that was reminiscent of a backyard barbecue but was elevated to fine dining.

For the final course we both chose the Panache of Pastries. We both agreed the pear ice cream was the best part. Refreshing and Creamy. It was a home run. Chef Ilhan Erkek knows how to curate a menu.

This was an expensive meal, but the attention to detail, the service of the staff, the quality of the food is well worth it. Also if you get the 5 wine pairing my suggestion is to reserve a room at...

Unfortunately, my experience at Antrim was far from satisfactory. My husband and I had eagerly anticipated dining at this restaurant for years, given its numerous positive reviews. However, our visit left much to be desired.

Upon arrival, we found no staff to guide us to the restaurant or assist with seating, leaving us wandering until a fellow guest intervened. That in itself gave us a bad impression. After a bewildering 30-minute wait in a bar/lounge area outside of the restaurant, we were served lackluster hors d'oeuvres that tasted suspiciously like freezer food from the grocery store, setting a worrying tone for the evening.

The initial appetizer—a chef's special—featured a fish cake with an overwhelmingly fishy taste, setting off alarms about the quality of the cuisine. My first official appetizer, sautéed mushroom, was fine in taste, but I had to stop eating as I noticed a dead ladybug in my food. While our waitress seemed apologetic and promptly removed the plate, the incident went unnoticed by the rest of the staff. Even the palate-cleansing sorbet between courses failed to impress, resembling a frozen lime-flavored ice block that proved too difficult to enjoy with a spoon.

The wait for our entrees was excruciatingly long, and when they finally arrived, our supposedly medium-well fillets were served completely rare. What was supposed to be an "experience" turned into a frustrating three-hour ordeal, testing the patience of even the most enthusiastic food lovers.

In summary, our visit to Antrim was a disappointing misadventure, leaving us with little to savor but ample time for reflection on the misguided hype surrounding the restaurant. For those with a genuine passion for exceptional dining, I strongly advise...

Very nice experience from start to finish.

Service was excellent.

Upon entering we were greeted pleasantly.

We had a reservation and showed up about 15 minutes before.

The restaurant had others waiting as they haven't started to seat people yet.

So we were directed to the bar.

The bar is very small but very comfortable.

At the time we were there it was sort of crowded because of the people waiting to be seated.

You could fit about 10 people in here and be comfortable and that would be it, the bartender is more than capable and it has a wonderful fireplace.

While we were waiting, they actually brought out hors d'oeuvres while were waiting.

It wasn't long till we were taken to our table.

Our waitress was magnificent, we usually don't dine in places like this and she was very helpful.

We were in a small room with about five tables total.

A very small room, very intimate.

The room had a big fireplace with a big fire and a gentleman playing a piano.

Very nice indeed.

We had ordered the bison, the filet, lobster bisque and each had a wine pairing which was very nice.

The food was excellent and just enough.

What a...