10Tavern — Restaurant in Thurmont

This is an update to the review I wrote in July of 2023. When my wife and I went to 10 Tavern then, she got a BYO Burger for $9.00. Looking at their menu a few minutes ago, that same burger is now $15, with the note "additional toppings extra." That's a 66.7% increase in less than a year, and for what? A plain, simple, thawed out (not fresh) patty on a bun. I consider that absolutely absurd. A year ago the price of a Heineken was $6.00, way to high for a small town like Thurmont (especially considering a bottle of it is only $3.75 right around the corner at the Kountry Kitchen.) I hate to think what they're charging for one now. Patronizing 10 Tavern brings to mind the old saying "A fool and his money are soon parted."

The wife and I thought we'd check this place out this afternoon, so we went at 2:00 when we thought it wouldn't be too crowded, and it wasn't . The first thing we noticed was the acoustics were very poor. Had there been a crowd, the noise would have definitely driven us out. As it was, there was a din that made us consider leaving but we decided to stay. The beer: she asked what the price of a Coors Light draft was vs. a bottle of Coors light, and they were the same, at $5.50 (draft pints only being 16 oz., not 20 oz.) OK, $5.50 for a 16 oz. pint isn't too bad, but $5.50 for a bottle of Coors Light is. She ordered a bottle of Coors Light, and received a draft pint instead. Not being one to complain, she accepted it. The pint of draft Yuengling I got was a buck more at $6.50, which I consider absurd. Even worse, a bottle of Heineken is $6.00. Now the food: she got a "Build your own burger" which was reasonably priced at $9.00, and a buck for the provolone cheese, but it was a frozen patty, not freshly made, and on the greasy side. She requested the bun NOT be toasted, but it was. Again, now being one to complain, she accepted it. I got their salmon burger which came on a bun with an interesting cucumber salad and siracha mayo which I liked but, once again, the salmon had to have been frozen because it came out quite soft, bordering on mushy. There wasn't a fleck of firm meat in the whole thing. And their sandwiches do not come with a side, like fries. They're an additional expense. Bottom line, the food is somewhat acceptable for what they charge, but the beer prices are not. (I didn't even bother asking what a shot of Tullamore Dew or Jack Daniels cost.) Note to the owner: I'm sure that, after all the money you sank into this place, you're trying to get it back as quickly as you can but hey, this is Thurmont, MD. Not Frederick, not Baltimore, not D.C. My suggestion to you would be to lower your prices to a reasonable rate, build up your clientele, and then slowly raise prices over a period of time. For us, though, we will not be back.

(Postscript: I couldn't decide whether to give 2 or 3 stars for Ten Tavern, which would average at 2.5 but, since that's not an option, I rounded...

A delicious crab cake sandwich with big fries, and an extra helping of att-it-tude...

So here's the scoop. I entered 10Tavern, and received no greeting. I was met with no host, no sit-down instructions or anything. I saw other guests just take tables, and I did that, preparing for my party of five.

Server, Laney comes and takes my drink order, I tell her I have a group coming. She says little and gives me the Pepsi.

My family arrive, and we eat our food. All is well, but I notice our server becoming consistently more dismissive and curt as the night goes on.

She requires prompting to pass out silverware, take used dishes and finish orders.

We get the bill, and I notice an additional 20% charge has been added to all four of our bills. The charge is described as a "large party fee."

I looked at Laney, and I said, "I want this removed, because I was never told of it before." She gets her manager.

I speak with the manager, and I tell her I want it removed. She gives me a spiel about "how the system automates that, and we don't control that." I insist I won't pay, regardless.

She calls the owner.

A couple minutes later, Laney comes back with the new bills devoid of the additional fee. She repeats to me, like a broken record, "are you ready to pay your bill?" Nearly 7 times, with a rude and resentful tone.

I tell her, "I will pay my bill at my own pace." This is not what she wants to hear. She says, "have the night you deserve."

I hope my story clearly outlined the 2 star review....

I checked this place out yesterday. The decor inside is low-key miminal & the atmosphere is very friendly. It felt like a dive bar that us millennials could enjoy since everything around Thurmont always feels like it's for older generations and there were alot of younger people inside this restaurant which elevated the vibe. It's small inside so be prepared to wait. The nashville chicken sandwich was amazing! This could be a staple sandwich for this restaurant to put them on the map! It was really delicious, chicken was juicy on the inside and the breading was the right amount of crunch. This is definitely a must have sandwich if you are trying this place out for the first time! I'd love to see this bar eventually branch out and offer karaoke and trivia nights because Thurmont never has anything fun for younger folks to do. You have to drive to Frederick to do these type of things at bars so I hope they continue to grow and maybe add fun events for folks to enjoy while they are eating at the restaurant. The pricing is a little high IMO but everything is expensive these days so I guess it is what it is. The service was okay but a little slower & that's because they just opened & were busy so be patient while they work out a routine. I didn't mind waiting because the waiters/waitresses were doing their best to attend to everyone inside which is great to see. I'd definitely come back and chill with a drink &...