Where to Eat & Stay

WE LOVE BUCKEYSTOWN!

Located just 1/4 miles south of us, it’s a concentration of charm, beauty, and history. Here’s a little about Buckeystown history. It’s a bit outdated, but gives you some of the background.  Something for Everyone in Buckeystown

Great Food & Shopping in Buckeystown:

Bodmer’s – handmade pottery created by Nancy Bodmer – a fixture in Buckeystown. Her custom birthday and wedding plates are treasures.  Check website for open times.
Barrel & Stone   – A great new shop by Tuscany Designs.
Dibs Antiques – primitive benches, salvaged windows, and tons of vintage items.  Open third Fri/Sat/Sun of each month.

Sweet Clover Barn Sale – follow their signs through Buckeystown and down Manor Woods Rd to another great barn sale.
Buckeystown Pub – Great for crabs on the patio by the creek.  Open every day.
a.k.a. Frisco’s – Worth seeking out – about a mile north of us (left on English Muffin Way, then right onto Wedgewood Drive) Delicious soups, salads, sandwiches, and creatively-topped baked potatoes freshly made to order. Don’t forget your side of Exploded Potato!

Great Food & Shopping in Frederick:

Make a day, or weekend, of it!
There are tons of great places to eat, shop, and stay in and around Frederick, MD. Here’s some Chartreuse & co favorites:

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Thacher & Rye
Nationally acclaimed and boasting Brian Voltaggio as its owner and chef, this is Frederick’s premier restaurant. Foodies travel from NYC, DC, Richmond, and beyond to enjoy an evening here. And it is an evening. Perfect service. A delight to the palate. 3-5 courses is typical, but be prepared to spend $100/each, minimum. It’s an experience, and a treat.

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The Tasting Room
Before Thacher & Rye arrived on the scene with its celebrity chef, The Tasting Room was Frederick’s ultimate dining experience. Michael Tauraso (chef and owner) is an extraordinary chef who loves and understands food. Their lobster bisque alone is worth the trip. And they have the best martinis in town.

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Firestone’s
They’re so into food, they opened a nice little gourmet food shop right next door. Their duck is divine. Ask for a table upstairs by the windows. They look down on Market St., giving you dinner and a show!

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Il Porto
Excellent Italian cuisine. Their daily specials are always a treat as they’re what’s fresh from market. Nice wine list, too. If you stay at Hollerstown Hill B&B, Il Porto is just a few blocks down Market from you.

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Isabella’s
A true tapas bar. Select from a huge range of ‘little plates’ – your server can recommend for you if it’s too overwhelming. We usually start with 4 dishes, share, and add as we’re inspired. It’s fun. If you’re in the mood, try their Lemon Drop Martini. They’re also known for the sangria.

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Up On Market
Fashioned on the archetype of the Austrian cafe based on the owners’ extensive European travel, Up On Market offers an authentic dining experience. Whether seeking a cafe au lait alongside light French patisserie, or an equisite entree, this restaurant delivers exceptional dishes in a tasteful atmosphere.

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Black Hog BBQ
Featuring all types of BBQ – this great BBQ is owned and run by Mike Tauraso, one of Frederick’s premier restauranteurs.

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Cafe Nola
The. Best. Lattes.   They put Starbucks to shame.  Order yours in the classic, wide-mouth cup, sit back, and enjoy.  You can thank me later. . .   The food here is great, too.  All freshly made, locally sourced.  I love the unexpected blend of flavors.  Though I don’t love high-top tables, grab one in the window at Nola for some great people watching.

DOWNTOWN FREDERICK SHOPPING:

So many! We love:

Patrick Street
The Emporium – huge antique mall, right downtown, and it wraps around to Carroll Street.
Relish – table settings, cookware, essentials for entertaining
Terressentials – organic and fair-trade gifts and body products
Venus on the Half Shell – Hip collection of vintage clothing and mid-century furnishings.
Vintage MC – a stellar selection of pure mid-century bliss. If Mindy doesn’t have it, it’s not worth having.

Market Street
Tiara Day – ultimate glamour girl experience
The Muse – handmade items from throughout the USA
Zoe’s Chocolates – The Best.
Lebherz’s Oil & Vinegar Emporium – just go. It’s amazing
Retro Metro – cool, funky, funny gift items

Carroll Street
Brass and Copper Shop – repairs and sells vintage lighting
Cannonball Antiques (no website) – quirky flea market feel
Patrick Street Interiors – Farrow & Ball, Fine Paints of Europe, wall papers and full design services

NEARBY LEESBURG, VA:

If you like the Chartreuse & co shopping experience, you’ll also want to visit: Old Lucketts Store in Lucketts, VA, just 20 minutes south of us. It’s a fabulous store including 30 dealers, filled with great finds and an inspiring decorator style.
The Cottage , just across the street from Lucketts, is a Victorian-era home, transformed into a delightfully decorated vintage home-furnishings store.

Plus downtown Leesburg,VA is loaded with history, charm, and some great food, as well:

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Lightfoot Restaurant
– Downtown Leesburg, the owner/chef of this great restaurant has transformed the late 1800s bank into a stunning location for enjoying some truly excellent food. Excellent wine list, too.

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Blue Ridge Grill
– Along the bypass around Leesburg, this surprise of a restaurant is located behind (yes, I mean behind) the McDonalds, surrounded by otherwise typical strip mall fare. Walk inside and be comforted by an oh-so-Virginia-horse-country decor, along with delicious food. My favorite is the Seared Tuna Salad. My husband loves their French Dip.

PLACES TO STAY

Inn On Market
To enjoy Frederick from a well-appointed, historic site, stay at the Inn On Market.  The owners relocated from DC to Frederick for their retirement, and settled in one of Frederick’s oldest buildings (c. the seventeenth century).  Inspired by travel across Europe, the owners founded a cafe & inn, reenvisioning the former to reflect the comfort of an Austrian bistro.  The ajoining inn features an equally thoughtful rendering throughout its four available rooms.  Added to its attractions is its location, which is in the heart of Frederick’s downtown.

Hill House
On West Third Street, it’s at the heart of historic downtown (I actually grew up several blocks west of this inn on West Third Street). All the houses throughout this area are late 18th and early-mid-19th century row houses. Just around the corner from Frederick’s main street, Market Street, its location is perfect for walking to all the shops and eateries along Market and Patrick Sts.

Hollerstown Hill
In a quieter part of town, Hollerstown Hill is nestled alongside the historic campus of Maryland School for the Deaf. It boasts a lovely garden and all the charm you’d expect from a high Victorian home. It’s a pleasant walk of about 4-5 blocks into the heart of the buisness district (but be warned that it does sit on a hill, and returning is a climb.)

Additionally, there are several national chain hotels within a few miles of Chartreuse & co:

Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn, Hilton Garden Inn , Home 2 Suites, and Homewood Suites are all close-by and seem to be the best ones, as recommended by other visitors.