Thanks for the feedback on your trip. While the formal reviews of restaurants posted are great, i really enjoy the travel journals posted by all the members on this site. We find that our trips aren’t just targeted at food-locations, but at historic, family or scenic locations also. Including these in the journal is a great way to record the event!
Thanks again for posting yours, it reads well!![8D]

The trip was great!

We stopped at Old South Mountain Inn in Boonsboro, MD for their Sunday brunch buffet on the way up. Went on a tip I found in a thread on here from a couple years ago, and it paid off! I normally don’t trust scrambled eggs at any restaurant, especially served buffet style in a steamer tray, but these were a very pleasant surprise–not caky or dry. There was also some nice (if lean) link sausage, some so-so potatoes, crepes with a delicious strawberry sauce, excellent biscuits, and tons of dessert options (I had to have 2 slices of the fantastic strawberry-rhubarb pie, my favorite!). Best of all were the INCREDIBLE locally grown peaches, which were ever-so-slightly crisp but very sweet and sticky with juice. They were also selling baskets of them. There was also some more lunch-like fare, like casseroles, roast beef and salads, but I didn’t have room to sample those. The place itself is a perfect country restaurant–very nice yet homey and unintimidating. Business was booming when we were there–I got the sense that we were lucky to get a table without reservations (it even says "reservations strongly encouraged!" on the brunch menu). I actually wouldn’t have minded waiting, though, because we could see a lounge off to the side of the hostess station that looked like a cozy living room at grandma’s house. Just a great place all around, though a touch on the expensive side.

We then headed on to Gettysburg and, arriving in town, decided to take one of the walking tours of the town before heading out to the battlefield. I really recommend one of these by the way–the battlefield tours (which are run by the Parks Service) don’t really acknowledge that the town exists (because it isn’t part of the Park area), when some pretty important stuff took place there during the battle. The guide was very nice and knowledgeable and a 90-minute walking tour was only $9! Anyway, though the heat wave has subsided it was still pretty hot in the sun, so once we were done we headed to a malt shop right off the "diamond" (you’re apparently not supposed to call it a "circle" or a "square," according to our guide) on (I think) Hanover Street. I’m kicking myself for not remembering the name! We had awesome root beer floats that were packed to the brim with yummy Turkey Hill vanilla ice cream. Really hit the spot. If anyone knows the place I’m talking about (right across from the PNC bank) please speak up!

We then headed out to the battlefield for one of the CD-guided tours (which I also recommend, since the other types of tours are pretty costly and you get to sort of do your own thing this way). We took more time than we anticipated, finishing up around 7 or so, so we figured we might as well get dinner at Dobbins House (in the tavern). It definitely lived up to the hype! The building is just beautiful and incredible–it’s so rare you get to even go to a building that old, let alone eat in it! As everyone promised, both the King’s Onion Soup" and the ginger bread (with lemon sauce) were great. Our guide earlier had told us that Baltimore was "closer than you think" at only 50 miles away, so I decided it was OK to order seafood–I got the special, which was a seafood newburg with rice, which came with a salad & roll.

What really impressed me about the food was that they didn’t "phone in" any part of the meal. Everything was good! The salad was clearly made with fresh, quality produce; the house dressing was tasty; the roll was better than you’d expect; and the rice that came with the newburg might have been laced with some kind of addictive narcotic, because I absolutely could not get enough of it. The newburg itself was hearty and delicious.

Anyway, we were quite well-fed on the trip, and we owe it all to the Roadfood.com forums, though we didn’t take advantage of any of the advice in this thread. Still, thanks to everyone w,20,223860.010,1,38688,66.105.85.18
223869,223860,223860,2006-08-06 12:07:57,RE: Places between DC & Gettysburg?”

I will be going to Gettysburg next month and would like to check out the Wolfe’s Diner in Dillsburg on Route 15 that is mentioned on here but am unable to find Dillsburg on any map. Could someone enlighten me about where this place is? Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Byght

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks! Anyone who has more, keep ’em coming! I’ll let you know where we stopped & what we thought on Monday.

Please do report back. It is always good to get the latest scoop on things. Have a good trip!

Cozy is very good and so is the other place that you pass before you get to the Cozy. Of course I can’t remember it’s name. It is the first place you get to when you exit US15.

MikeS.

Welcome to Roadfood. I’m a frequent traveler between Carlisle, PA and Arlington VA for work.

If you’re doing a one day trip, I’m not going to be much help for breakfast, because I either take something with me, or stop at McD’s in Dillsburg, and head down the road.

In Thurmont, there’s a buffet called Cozy’s that I know a lot of people like, althoutgh I can’t vouch for it, since I haven’t stopped in over ten years. Where I work, it’s a favorite of people that I work with.

There’s an Irish place on the SB side of RT 15 that I think is called the Shamrock or something. Stay away. I thought the quality was not that great and it’s expensive to boot.

Personally I get my Roy Roger’s Double R Bar fix on this stretch of road. There’s one near the Frances Scott Key mall, and then at Thurmont, both owned by the same group who does care about their product. But it’s not roadfood.

The previously mentioned Chubby’s BBQ [:p] actually has good food, but his prices are on the high side. I’m personally boycotting his joint, not for something he did here, but I had a run in with his staff over an issue he posted about, but happened a couple of weeks earlier.

The other place I make a frequent stop is at Catoctin Mountain Orchards, if they’re open. They don’t serve meals, but their jellies, relishes and other canned stuff is outstanding. I’m a diabetic and their low sugar products are excellent.

In Gettysburg, we met friends of my wife a few weeks ago at the Appalachian Brewing Company, on Rt 30 about a mile west of downtown. It was excellent, even if you don’t drink the brew. My wife’s friends told us they had two excellent dinners at the Pub in the square at Bus Rt 15 and Rt 30.

Actually, this is a great stop for some fine barbeque, and you will not find a nicer staff of employees. The food is just great!

quote:

Originally posted by Byght

Hi, new to the forums but a big fan of Jane & Michael’s writing in "Two for the Road" and Gourmet. Decided to sign up because my fiancee, a friend and I are taking a day trip up to Gettysburg (been through it a zillion times, never stopped) on Sunday, and I’d like some tips.

I’ve seen the previous threads on Gettysburg itself (the Dobbins House seems to be the overwhelming favorite), but what about in between (i.e., Central MD along Route 15 and environs)? Anyone have any recommendations for breakfast/lunch on the way up or dinner on the way back?

Thanks!

Hi, and welcome to Roadfood.

A friend in the area speaks highly of this place…

http://www.carriagehouseinn.info/

It is quite good, but not necessarily "roadfood, as it is a bit upscale. Check and see if it fits your needs.

Wolfe’s Diner on Route 15 in Dillsburg is a wonderful old diner. Great breakfasts served all day, lunch includes CARVED turkey every day, and be sure to RESERVE your piece of pie when you walk in the door. If not, it might be gone. In fact, get TWO pieces of pie and you will be in heaven.