Family Meal – Frederick

We visited the restaurant on Father’s Day. They did a great job of keeping up with the service despite it being a rather busy Sunday. The staff was equally friendly and attentive.
We tried several of the shared sides and they were really delicious. The duck fat fried potatoes with the three different sauces were amazing! I also really enjoyed the deviled eggs.
I ordered the haddock sandwich and the homemade tartar sauce and it was quite tasty. The fish was fried to perfection and had just the right amount of seasoning. I will admit, I added a bit of hot sauce for extra pizzazz.
I wasn’t totally a fan of the fruit soda, but I’m not going to lower the rating simply because of that! I plan on eating there again in the very near future.

We’ve been to Family Meal many times and it’s been great… but for Father’s Day, it didn’t seem like they had their act together.
Our food took nearly 30 minutes to come out. They ran out of french toast, they didn’t have waffles… so you could basically get eggs or pancakes.
The pastrami for the hash was dry and the breakfast sandwich came out on a small hamburger bun.
We’ve had great meals in the past and no issues. But for $ 95 for breakfast, I was certainly disappointed this go around. I just hope quality is not being compromised for quantity as there are new restaurants opening.

I am a huge fan of Volt and when Family Meal opened years ago we took every opportunity to travel to Frederick to eat, upscale or family style even though we live more than 50 miles away. Volt continues to be superlative however on a recent stop at Family Meal we felt the quality had fallen some. Not that the food wasn’t good but not as good as before. We had the salad with buratta, Mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, and the meat loaf. All were OK but not as singular as the food in the past. The highlight was the chocolate milkshake which reminded me of the home style milkshakes of my childhood. The service was OK and we would love to have a similar style place to eat locally in Annapolis.

June 3^rd 2016
My Daughter and Granddaughter and I went to Family Meal after her graduation. I ordered the Meatloaf mashed potatoes and Sauted collared greens. The Meatloaf was phenomenal as were the potatoes and greens, the best. Our server, s name was Jeff the most important part of the restaurant, most pleasant, friendly and professional in what he does as a Server, I would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for a great place to dine. The only thing I did not like is when the head chef comes out of the kitchen and started yelling at the server’s for what ever reason. NOT PROFESSIONAL In front of customers that are trying to enjoy their meal. NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!

This place has great food and service feels like you at home eating with your family love it

Wow what can I say, the only post I have had removed was from a post for family meal. Anyway they apparently don’t like critical posts. The food is ok at family meal and you better be very wealthy to eat here it costs about 30 to 40 dollars to eat here for a full lunch for one person.
Everything is Ala Carte. the only thing that is so great or soo they have you think is the delicious city of frederick water they pour into a clear glass bottle and serve you like you are getting bottled water.
It’s a car dealer building gone retro. Not. it’s very expensive for what you get. The chicken is fair but for the price I would rather have a bucket of chicken and a six pack for less.
The one constant here is the girls that seat you. They are always trying to get you seated when clearly there is like 29 seats available.
Taking down my post, priceless.
Dinner for four order what you want to get full. super priceless or like 200 bucks. Bona. Apotato

UPDATE: Was reluctant to try this place again being the the breakfast didn’t impress me that much the first and last time I visited but I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong. 5 stars all the way. Mainly because it has me wanting to try the rest of the menu.
We went there for dinner but we also wanted a little bit of breakfast so we gave them another shot. Maybe it’s me or I just didn’t see it last time but the pancakes on the menu with the blueberry compote were a home run. If the pancakes were a home run the omelet, also on the «supper» menu was out of the park. Literally the best looking omelet I have ever seen. Most places and people think an omelet is supposed to be burnt or have the brown marks on there. All of you have just been eating sub par omelets. This omelets couldn’t of looked better and tasted phenomenal. Last thing that was tried on the dinner menu was the Bryan burger. It was off the chain delicious.
It’s a shame only my first review counts cause I would definitely go back and get the same exact meal I just had, it was that good. Makes me want to try the Chef’s other restaurant, Volt.

This place is awesome! Service is great, food is phenomenal, prices are reasonable. I’ve had breakfast, dinner and lunch here. Perfect, out of the way place for a working lunch or lunch date. The shrimp and grits are pretty good and I never get bored here because they rotate the items on their menu pretty frequently, so I’m forced to try new stuff (I never do that) but I’m never disappointed with my experience.
Duck fat fries are like a party in my mouth. Can’t wait to eat here again!!’

As a big fan of Volt, Family Meal falls a little flat for me. It’s a good concept — creating a family style restaurant with more approachable food — but the majority of the food on the menu is fried. It’s hard to choose light options here. We started off with the chicken pot pie fritters (fried), mussels, fried green tomatoes (duh — fried) and onion rings (fried). The pot pie fritters are a very cleaver little appetizer and tasty too! The mussels had some really beautifully presented hassleback potatoes and a nice cream sauce. The onion rings were pretty run of the mill — nothing to write home about. Their fried green tomatoes must be brined in pickle juice which gives them a distinct flavor.
On to the entrees. I ordered the salmon which had amazing crispy skin over a nice bed of vegetables — spinach and sun chokes. I also tried the fried chicken which was really juicy, but the breading was a little soggy (womp-​womp).
For dessert we had the dark chocolate fudge tart with peppermint ice-​cream. The table agreed that the ice-​cream was the real star of the show. The tart was so rich, we couldn’t have more than a couple bites each.
Next time we’re in Frederick, we’re heading back to Volt!

Family Meal is a diamond in an area of Frederick, one would probably not stumble into very often. It’s not a bad neighborhood or anything, but more of an old forgotten industrial one where old factories and trolley tracks that once were mighty, grand and represented the strength of America, are now vacant and unappreciated by so many.
Family Diner, which is owned by the chef of Volt, is a modernized diner style restaurant that boasts amazing cocktails, craft beers on tap and in bottles and elegantly described meals ranging from all day breakfast dishes to family share style meals including Faro and Mac and Cheese. The menu is diversified and any choice you make is gonna be great.
Our party ordered; meatloaf, burger with fried egg, faro, duck fat fries, and Mac and cheese. All of it was PHENOMENAL and the staff are funny and very enthusiastic. Our waiter, Thomas, was posed with many «which would you rather have» type questions, and gave very articulate and well thought answers for each. He could have convinced me to buy anything from the menu. He was great. Dessert is limited but all the choices are well done and delicious.
Highly recommend for anyone and be prepared to be stuffed and very satisfied.

There was a large party when we went so this might not be a fair review. We will go back and update if needed.
Service was awful. No stars.
We ordered the duck fat fries as recommended by so many. No stars. They were mushy and no real taste. Also didn’t care for the dipping sauces.
Meatloaf was very good. A nice size portion and what I really liked was it was a clean slice. There was no grainy pieces of meat. The potatoes were also good. Needed more gravy.
They do not have standard soda (Coke/​Pepsi). The soda they offered was awful.

Came for breakfast for my first visit to Meal Plan and will be back for lunch and dinner soon!
Started with well made Latte with half&half and for breakfast meal the biscuits & gravy sausage with over easy egg is menu must. Gravy is light and tasty. Biscuit is soft and moist. The egg running over all brings it together. Staff is warm and welcoming. Looking forward to my next visit!

I can’t count how many times I’ve driven by Family Meal, but today I finally got around to trying this place out.
First and foremost, the aesthetic is beautiful inside. Very modern and chic. I think the only thing that could be improved is the music level; loud music can be an issue, but here it was quite the opposite. The music was almost inaudible. It almost came off like an annoying white noise.
The prices for Family meal were much more reasonable than I expected, given that this restaurant is owned by Bryan Voltaggio, so no complaints from me there.
I tried two starters; duck fat french fries (5.99) and chicken pot pie fritters (4.99). The french fries were excellent, probably the highlight of the meal. They were a perfectly fine size split between three people, so you’re getting bang for your buck. The three gourmet sauces (Sriracha mayo, Old Bay mayo, and a ranch mayo) paired with the fries were all awesome. The fritters, however, were nothing special. They tasted just like fritters you can get pretty much anywhere else, which isn’t a bad thing, but just not what you’d expect from a professional chef.
My main course was huevos rancheros. Good taste on the pork and beans, but there was definitely a lack of pico de gallo, and I think everything could have been a bit more seasoned.
So overall it was generally a positive experience. A little bit of salt and pepper on my food could have been used but it was good, but the appettizers were good as well, especially the french fries which I would recommend all day. I’d be more than happy to come back here to try more things off the menu.

I’ve been here a handful of times for either lunch or dinner. I love the concept behind Family Meal– diner/​homestyle food with a slightly upscale feel and high quality ingredients. I always try to make a reservation because they do get pretty crowded.
I love the Pot Pie Fritters, Mac n cheese, fried chicken, duck fat fries (dipping sauces are YUMMY!) and meatloaf. During the summer they had a fantastic Fried Green Tomato Po’boy. One time I did get fried chicken that was undercooked when I cut into it– they remedied the situation immediately and also offered free dessert.
Service is definitely hit or miss. The first two times I went the service was great! Last few times, not so much. We’ve sat with no silverware, no refills on water… One time all of our food came out at the same time (starters and entrees) so we were left starving for the first part of our dining experience and then had to scarf down our food once it came out so it didn’t get cold. Overall, I’d come back for the food and hopefully the service has gotten better.

A lackluster menu and questionable commitment to costumer service left as bland a taste in my mouth as the food did.
Here’s the good: Décor was fantastic. It’s comfortable, lively, sophisticated and fun with dishes that look like chickens and cute trays for the kids meals.
And here’s why I won’t be back:
I didn’t really believe the other reviews when they complained about the service. But while our waiter was friendly enough, they did try to clear plates before people were finished with them, increasing pressure to get through the meal faster.
But my biggest complaint about the service was over hearing one waiter say to another while walking down the middle of the restaurant, and right next to our centrally located table, «Seems like everyone’s hanging tonight. We’re not turning tables…» I’ve been a server and know this conversation well but I think it is inexcusable to talk like that around the guests. Leave that conversation for the break room or the kitchen.
And the most important part: the food. The items that were good, were great! Duck fat fries and the accompanying aioli sauces were my favorite item, followed by the mac & cheese. The fried chicken was decent but the biscuit was dry, I thought the meatloaf and fried green tomatoes were both bland, the orecchiette pasta was overwhelmed by the greasy sausage and donuts were just hush puppies with sprinkles mixed in.
I think this restaurant is saved by the Voltaggio name. I have to second another reviewer when they urge Bryan Voltaggio to take a closer look at this restaurant and make changes to the menu and crack the whip on the staff.

Had the pastrami hash with one egg sunny side up.
First impression of the plate was the egg. A glorious, lovely, perfectly prepared sunny side up egg.
Second impression is the portion. I am not a fan of restaurants with HUGE portions. I am not here for two meals or stuff to carry home. The portion was perfectly sized for a great breakfast!
The pastrami and potatoes dish was wonderfully seasoned.
I am a fan of this place!

The fried chicken definitely ranks as one of the top 3 I’ve had (only beaten by Ad Hoc/​Addendum in Napa Valley and about 5 orders of magnitude above KFC).
The rest of the food was very good: grits were top-​notch with mashed-​potato-​like consistency and the duck-​fat fries were good (if a bit soggy). The double burger was juicy with a soft potato bun (comparable to Shake Shack).
Service was quick but not overly friendly/​warm — the place was packed for Sunday brunch so I imagine servers were likely rushed/​overwhelmed.

I’m coming around to Family Meal after a few false starts. My first visit included great service, but pricey and somewhat disappointing fried chicken. Since then, I’ve mostly focused my efforts on beating the breakfast crowds, drowning myself in their delicious coffee, and agonizing over whether to order something sweet or savory. My new favorite is the breakfast sandwich, which is delicious and exceptionally affordable. It has woken my childhood glee for American cheese, in fact, and the homefries that you can request on the side taste like they’re fried in an aromatic, garlic oil. Just thinking about all this makes me hungry, but it’s really hard to say no to seasonal sweet waffles and pancakes.
If you can show up before 9 or 9:30 on the weekend, you may not have to wait for a table, and the friendly service will be on display. Inside the space, which has a contemporary hipster design, there is a large dining counter, and along the outer edge of the building are wooden booths with window views. The place looks great, although it’s not always the easiest to spread out, or the comfyest for loitering.
Once the place gets crowded, the mood can sour a little. This past fall, when the weather was hovering between beautiful and chilly, a group requested to sit on the patio, which allowed more space for one of their members who was disabled. The hostess opened the patio for this large group, and given that the weather was getting warmer, others soon requested patio seating as well, rather than waiting for a table indoors. Perhaps the restaurant was understaffed for this change of plans, but a few of the servers were visibly annoyed, which reinforces some of the «you’re not cool enough to dine here» vibe that this place risks.

Where can you go when it’s raining buckets! And you can’t find parking in downtown because everything is taken! Or there’s a festival going on that makes it impossible to navigate the streets??? A place with it’s own lot and plenty of parking that you can try to dodge the rain bullets and get in… If you hit it at the right time the wait isn’t bad… But if not be prepared.
Tried the duck fat fries with 3 different sauces. To die for. Yum! Its a good size portion that should be shared if you plan on ordering anything else! The sauces are really where its at.
Tried the fried chicken and biscuits. The chicken was soooo moist. The breading just perfect. And sooooo mich food. You might want to share… I didn’t and had a wonderful leftover the next day… And it microwaved just fine and just as nice! Very unexpected. Oh and the biscuits are sooo good. And the hot sauce too!
Then the dessert. Well. Just have it. I know you are probably full and can’t shove one more thing in. Just do it. I did. No regrets!

Our waiter was one handsome devil!
Kudos Bryan Voltaggio; didn’t know the first course was gonna be on you.
Oh! I’m Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddd!
For additional appetizers, we got the Chicken Pot Pie Fritters and the Hoecakes. I just double checked that spelling… yep, yep that’s right.
I feel like I’ve heard the term hoecakes before, but really didn’t have any idea of what they were. They look and taste much like pancakes, but apparently they are made with cornmeal. Ours definitely didn’t taste like they had cornmeal in them… or the large dollop of pimento cheese, hot peppers, and crumbled bacon masked the taste of the cornmeal. In any event, they were delicious. I’m not sure how one should go about eating them, but I found that eating them with a knife and fork allowed for a more even and appropriate amount of pimento on each hoecake piece. In other words, the taco method was not the way to go.
The chicken pot pie fritters were wonderful! Creamy and rich potpie filled perfectly round balls that were coating in breading and deepfried. This is one of those classics that you’ve completely adapted and they are quite addictive. Especially with that little bit of salt that you sprinkled on the outside.
I could see these working REALLY well at a football game.
I went with the Fried Chicken because that’s what I’ve been hearing all the time I’ve been hearing about Family Meal.
It lived up to the hype.
Super Crispy skin coats some of the moistest fried chicken I’ve ever had. Chicken was super fresh and perfectly cooked. Loved how it was served with the Franks-​Red-​Hot-​like hot sauce.
My friend ordered the mac and cheese and collard green sides.
LOVED the mac and cheese. It had more pimento cheese in it, which was appreciated. I think that you might be one of the only restaurants in the area that is utilizing pimento cheese– preach brother.
One thing was not well received… the collard greens were surprisingly disappointing. Not only were the collards undercooked, the flavor was just completely off. I know that people are really judge-​y about collards, and especially comfort food in general. And I get it, everybody grew up with something different. But indulge me for a second– cause I was taught how to make collards from a woman who was making them before both of us were alive. 2 words for you — Smoked turkey neck & Apple Cider vinegar. I know… bold to give advice to a Top Chef Finalist… but if you tasted Aunt Angie’s collards, you’d be begging her for the recipe. Trust.
Service was great. Low touch, quick to respond. We had everything and anything we wanted at all times. Fantastic server! We decided to forgo desert as we were completely stuffed, but I truly can’t wait to come back.
Prices are very reasonable, food is delicious, service is excellent. Congratulations Chef! You certainly have a believer in me.

Loved this spot. It’s located in a weird place… Kind of in an industrial area… Family thought we were going to an old diner type of place But to everyone’s surprise, was very farm chic and modern.
The pot pie fritters reminded me of Spanish croquettes… very good. My husband and I shared the brisket… which was a great portion and very tasty. We also ordered the duck fat fries… Yum. The kids plates were also great. Served to them on a lunch style plate with salad and applesauce! They were not a fan of the homemade applesauce though. They also loved that the soda came in glass bottles!
Craft beer was awesome as well. Service was great. Will definitely be back.

Such a nice place! I just kept looking around in amazement. The hostess and wait staff were friendly and accommodating.
Definitely start off with their chicken pot pie fritters — nice and crispy on the outside… soft and gooey deliciousness on the inside. For dinner, I ordered the meat loaf with mashed potatoes, brown gravy and crisp green beans. My husband ordered the fried chicken with biscuits. We shared the duck fat fries which came with 3 different dipping sauces. Both tasted «homemade» and were very good.
We had no room for dessert. :(I would like to try the banana-​butterscotch pudding or coconut cream cake. There’s always next time… :)