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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