Restaurant Review: The Art Gastropub and Cafe (Hagerstown, MD)
Looking to celebrate my 21st anniversary with a nice dinner, my wife and I recently chose to check out The Art Gastropub and Café, located in downtown Hagerstown, MD. Now, if you know anything about Hagerstown, you’re probably already saying to yourself – “downtown? – are you sure?”
I’m pleased to say – “yes – I’m sure.”
Located on the west side of South Potomac Street, right now its location is a bit obscured by all of the downtown construction going on for the Maryland Theatre and BISFA expansions, but it’s neatly tucked into a nice street-front location – just down a bit from the Hagerstown Fire Department museum.
Upon entering the space, diners are greeted by a large, open dining room – with a rather substantial bar area along the back right of the restaurant. Dark colors and high industrial ceilings highlight the room, and following in its namesake, the walls are covered with eclectic pieces of art and sculpture, giving the whole room a hip and art gallery-type vibe.
Although we called ahead for reservations, a sign up front instructed us to seat ourselves, and we settled in at a small table towards the front of the restaurant. A large couch and seating area was positioned in front of one of the main windows – a great and inviting space to enjoy a cocktail or gather with friends.
We were soon greeted by a waiter, handed menus, and the evening’s specials were also explained. We took the time to order some cocktails from the drink menu (they also had a decent sized-wine list and a large beer selection), going retro and choosing a slo-gin fizz and a whiskey sour to wet our whistles as we perused the bill of fare.
The menu, like the restaurant, is modern and eclectic. There are raw bar selections on the appetizer section, like fresh-shucked oysters on the half-shell, Ahi tuna, and ceviche, as well as other unique starters live avocado toast, a hummus board, and poutine (fries smothered in cheese curd and bacon chives). These was also a nice selection of salads and sandwiches – again showcasing a different twist on the normal, with offerings such as truffle grilled cheese, caprese panini, and a brisket, ribeye, and shortrib-infused burger.
From the dinner menu, the Mrs. chose one of the daily specials, a grilled red snapper, served with a grilled sweet potato, asparagus, and topped with a tempura encrusted scallion. The fish was expertly cooked, and the sweet potato and asparagus was a nice pairing with the fish. The only letdown was that the tough, woody ends of the asparagus did not seem to be removed prior to cooking, but a quick slice of the knife quickly rectified that oversight.
I chose wild caught sea scallops, served with green beans and layered over a crab risotto. The sea scallops were wonderful, the green beans had just the right amount of crunch left in them, and the risotto provided a creamy backdrop upon which to highlight both the seafood and the vegetables.
For dessert, we settled on a house made crème brulee and a slice of cheesecake drizzled with chocolate sauce. Both were the perfect ending to a thoroughly enjoyable meal.
Service was attentive and pleasant, and I enjoyed talking to our server about the restaurant and their hopes at becoming well-established in the downtown corridor.
Prices were what I expected for food of this quality, and the atmosphere (while a little on the loud side) made me feel like I was visiting a more cosmopolitan and urban destination. There was a great overall energy to the entire room.
This is exactly the type of restaurant downtown Hagerstown needs in order to become the vibrant, active, and busy arts and entertainment district they are striving for. I would feel comfortable popping in after work here for a drink, meeting friends for dinner, or even stopping in for a nightcap after a performance at the theater next door.
Hurray, downtown Hagerstown! You’re finally attracting the sorts of dining destinations that will draw people in. With restaurants like this, there’s no need to travel another 20 minutes east to Frederick (and beyond). The Art Gastropub and Café is one of my new favorites in the city – you should go check them out.
REVIEW INFO:
Restaurant name: The Art Gastropub and Cafe
Ratings (5-star system):
Atmosphere: 3.75 Stars
Food: 4.00 Stars
Price: $$$-$$$$
Service: 3.75 Stars
Overall: 3.75 Stars
Type of Food: New American – Gastropub
Address: 49 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (240) 850-3350
Hours:
Sunday – Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Thursday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Website: https://www.theartgastropub.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheArtGastropub/
Parking: Street parking or downtown parking decks
Reservations required? Welcomed, but not required
3 thoughts on “Restaurant Review: The Art Gastropub and Cafe (Hagerstown, MD)”
So glad you enjoyed your dinner, however what you described is not pouting. No gravy – no pouting. The North Country purist living in my house says “Fries,gravy and cheese curds, period”
Damn autocorrect “poutine”not pouting
I’ve also eaten there and it was very very good. The filet I had was excellent and cooked to perfection. I also highly recommend the mushroom soup. This establishment makes a great addition to the dining options in downtown Hagerstown.