Frederick MD: VOLT Table 21 (December 2012)

My spouse and I dined at Bryan Voltaggio’s Table 21 in VOLT in late December 2012. To dine at Table 21, you must telephone the restaurant no more than 30 days prior; the reservations that you can make on Open Table are for the regular restaurant menu/tables only. VOLT is open for brunch on weekends (either 3-course or 5-course menus available) and dinner Tuesday through Sunday (either 4-course or 8-course menus available). The Table 21 menu is served daily at 7:00 pm only and features 21 courses for $150 per person; there are only seats available for 8 lucky diners abutting the garde manger station where the cold dishes are prepared.

We will not go into detail about the food, but every dish was stunningly presented and unbelievably delicious. Of the 21 courses that we were served, there was only one that we found less than fantastic (although the woman sitting next to us said it was her favorite, so clearly everyone has a different opinion), which are pretty good odds! From the chips and dip to the mignardises, every dish was amazing!

The restaurant, housed in a mansion from the late 1800s in Frederick’s 75-block historic district, is totally modern inside, with several different areas: the bar, with counter seating and some couch seating, an outdoor patio (which was not open in December), the front dining room, and the rear dining room (which features the chef's counter as well as regular tables). Even the restrooms at this property are cool, with a spa-like feel and sliding door panels. There is parking on the premises, which we thought would fill up as the night progressed, but the parking lot seemed adequately sized for the number of diners.

Chef/owner Bryan Voltaggio was not in residence on the night that we dined, but the Chef de Cuisine, Graeme Ritchie, did a fantastic job of managing the kitchen. The food and service were phenomenal - as good as any meal we have enjoyed had at places like The French Laundry, Alinea, and Per Se. If you cannot score a reservation for Table 21, we are confident that the regular menu will impress you! 






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