Hanover Tavern

While not the most disappointing experience, not the best either. We arrived 10 minutes early for our 6 p.m. dinner reservation and we seated right away. However, we were told we could only order off the «Theatre menu» not the regular dinner menu because we were going to see the play afterwards. We clearly left 2 hours for dinner in order to not be late for the show. Had we not been going to see the play after I doubt we would have gotten finished with our meal later than 8:00. The theatre menu options were fine. However, my steak while cooked as I had asked (medium rare) was tough and flavorless. The garlic mashed potatoes had no garlic flavor and were soupy, glue like consistency and without proper seasoning. The brussel sprouts were delicious but lukewarm. My dining partners «blue plate special» said his meatloaf had really good flavor but was so hot at first he couldn’t eat it, obvious that it had been zapped in the microwave. The accompanying macaroni and cheese looked delicious but was ice cold so he couldn’t eat it. Service was frazzled and spotty. We heard the table next to us complaining that they had «run out of bread». All in all I would not return to try the regular menu.

We stopped here for the second time on our trip up 301 heading toward Annapolis. The menu is adjusted for the seasons. I had a crab cake sandwich with L&T and chose a side of handcut French fries. They were deliciously crispy. The crabcake was the diameter of the Ciabatta bun. The sauce contributed most of the flavor – there was lots of crab but I could not taste it distinctly. My husband had the Turkey Melt sandwich with a side of Brussels Sprouts slaw. The slaw was in a vinaigrette a little on the sweet side, but very tasty. Sebastian offered attentive and prompt service. This tavern has been operating since 1733. The upstairs dining area was light filled and pleasant for a noontime lunch.

The staff was amazing and very accommodating. We had our rehearsal dinner in the Veranda. The food was great, especially the fried green tomatoes! They ordered special beer and Dr. Pepper to have on hand for our guests. They were very quick to bring out the food and were very kind to our guests. Highly recommend for other events.

An excellent find In an off the trail area.
This historic tavern is using its wits to stay viable in the 21^st century. I enjoyed the buffet one evening and listened to local ghost hunters discuss their experiences in the area; the next day my daughter hosted a tea for a friend that was getting married. Both experiences were pleasant and well served with a hospitable staff and delicious food.

This restaurant has potential if it were not so poorly run. The food is tasty but the service lacks any consistency and there’s never any management around for assistance.
We were a party of 5 for Mothers Day and ordered the 3 course meal. After a good she crab soup, we waited close to an hour for our entrees and it took an additional 5 minutes following to get silverware to eat it. We decided we should gave our desserts boxed and that took an additional amount of time.
We made the mistake of coming here for Mothers Day the second time and all agreed we wouldn’t do it again. If only someone took the time to train the wait staff and get the kitchen in order, this place could be worth returning.

1 Oct– Nice atmosphere. Service was great! Our server was very sweet & fast! $ 5 burger nite is definitely a good value. The deserts are good, I recommend the coconut custard pie. Nice place to relax. The classic music adds a wonderful ambience to the experience.

I am so surprised to see positive reviews for the food at this establishment. I ordered one of their entrees, a seasoned fish dish with green beans and rice. The greens were so over-​cooked it was practically a paste. The fish was so over-​seasoned with some kind of horrible mesquite that it was utterly inedible. The only thing that was not completely offensive to my palate was the rice. This dish cost around $ 20, I believe. Needless to say I had to say something to the manager. He was very professional and friendly. I also couldn’t help but get the impression that he had heard complaints about the food dozens of times before. He graciously took it off the check and offered me something else. I had a salad. It was fine.
I don’t know who the chef is at this place, but there is no earthly way that they have any respectable culinary training. Or if they do, they are simply catering to octogenarians who have no teeth left and no sense of taste. I will never eat here again.

The food is amazing and the atmosphere is great!

They closed for the day. No notice on their web site. Drove an hour and a half to tour and eat… for nothing. What we saw when we looked in the ticket area looked like a tourist trap, so maybe it was for the best. Eat next door.

Cool atmosphere, our waitress Halley was great. Food was hit and miss, potatoe soup was good, fries were good and the fried chicken was great. The steak, shrimp and grits were very plan and no flavor

Great service and ambiance. Food mediocre. Shrimp and grits were bland, ny strip not impressive, fried chicken breast with gravy really good. Fried green tomatoes average, sides just ok. Potato soup of the day — good.

— — — -Review for restaurant: — — — — — — — —
Been here for lunch twice. The first time, I had the fried green tomato BLT, which was delicious. My boyfriend had the fried chicken sandwich, which was even more delicious. I also had a tasty citrus salad, which was essentially oranges and grapefruit– very light and refreshing.
The second time, I tried the braised beef hoagie with homemade bbq chips. The hoagie had pickled red onions and cured lemon, which was amazing. The meat itself was fine– dry in some places, but the cured lemon and onions made it stand out.
The service was also very prompt and attentive.
This is a really cute lunch place, and I’m sure brunch is awesome too. Interesting menu– not your average country lunch place. I like it a lot, and we’ll be back!
— — — –Review for wedding venue: 3 stars — — — — —
This is a unique wedding venue. We held our wedding inside, and our reception throughout the tavern. It was perfect for mingling, dancing, and socializing.
The wedding coordinator is nice, but somewhat disorganized. There were several things (decoration setup and sound rental) not listed with pricing on the initial wedding brochure. At our first meetings, we asked if there were any extra fees or charges, other than what was listed in the brochure, and were told no. We learned of these fees very close to our wedding, which was annoying.
But, she was good at helping us select food & bar package options in our budget. And the staff did a good job on the wedding day.
So, I’d recommend this as an interesting venue, but go into it knowing that there may be some unanticipated organizational hiccups.

My daughter’s rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception were at Hanover Tavern. Isabella (Events Manager) was so helpful throughout the planning, we never worried about anything. The staff was professional and personable, and catered to our every need, we truly felt spoiled. The food was delicious and the venue was gorgeous. We could not have been more pleased. It was a pleasure working with such wonderful people.
Thank you for making it so easy to pull off a beautiful wedding.

I was there for dinner with my kids!
When we walked in, we felt so welcomed! (young girl with all smiles) welcomed us
The server Sara and I think manager Dianne
Was so kind and helped us out on are order! Wow so yummy and great timing :)
Will be coming back with many people to try this great place out! The price was wow
Out of this world!
$ 25.00 for a family of 5 with left overs!

Made reservation for 6 pm to accommodate attending the theatre following dinner. Received the limited menu as expected and ordered an appetizer. Bread was never offered during the meal unlike the other tables around us. Water glasses weren’t filled unless requested. Ordered a pork tenderloin which was delivered marginally warm and over-​cooked. Ordered a dessert of pumpkin pie which was too sweet, strongly spiced, and served cold. I suggest eating early in the main dining room to take advantage of the full menu or elsewhere. Overall the $ 90 tab for two was far too much for the quality of food and service delivered.

We were very disappointed in our meal here. We waited over an hour for our main course to arrive and then it was cold. Our first course was delivered quickly and the she crab soup was delicious, but the fried green tomatoes were average. Then we waited and waited for our main dishes. When it finally came all of the plates were barely warm if that. The shrimp and grits were cold, the liquid had separated from the grits so they were a congealed mess… such a disappointment. The filet mignon was cooked properly but was barely lukewarm while the vegetables were cold. The mashed potatoes were the warmest thing on the plate and probably because they were under the steak. Next time we will come just for the theater and eat dinner elsewhere.

My husband and I just happened upon this place and really enjoyed the food, service, and historical atmosphere. We had a very attentive server who was very sweet. We ordered the crab dip for an appetizer and it was amazing! My husband had the crab cakes and I had the filet mignon for our entrees, both dishes were very flavorful and well prepared. For dessert we had crème brûlée and it was perfect! If we ever pass through again we will definitely stop in and next time will be sure we get there in time to have dinner then hit up the play afterwards.
After eating we walked around the open rooms upstairs and enjoyed viewing the historical aspects of the house. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, not just a dinner.

We had a lovely lunch today with our two young daughters. My husband ordered the blue plate special, meatloaf with mashed potatoes, and thoroughly enjoyed his meal. The kids also enjoyed their pumpkin pancakes with fruit and home fries. Our waitress, Sara, was very attentive and friendly. A great experience, a wonderful lunch. We’ll be back!

The Hanover tomato pie was so flavorful and beautiful to look at. My friend and I have already set a date for our next visit here. The she crab soup was very tasty and had lots of crab in it. The waitress was very nice and helpful. She was great. She told us that the chef makes fresh mozzarella. Yummy! Treat yourself to the Tavern. You’ll be glad you did.

We followed the brown «historic site» signs on a whim and ended up being treated to a dining space with some great underground character, the house’s excellent taste in music, and some truly wonderful food. It turned out to be the best night out for dinner we’ve had in a long time. Our server, Ryland was attentive and pleasant, and the chef for the night, Zach G not only prepared some fantastic meals, but came out to make sure we enjoyed the food. Apparently, they’ve made some changes recently, and whatever it was, we think it has paid off handsomely.
Our first experience at the Hanover Tavern was absolutely delicious, and we’ll be stopping by again on our trips through the area.
P. S. With two side-​dishes for your entrees, don’t pass up on the four-​cheese macaroni. It carried a lot of flavour without being overly salty the way cheese sauces can get.