Highland Inn
12857 Highland Rd, Highland, MD, 20777
Highland Inn Menu
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Address :
12857 Highland Rd
Highland, MD, 20777 - Phone (443) 276-3202
- Website https://www.highlandinnrestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Morrigan D.
Visited here with some friends and it is stunning. This place is owned by the same person who owns the Milton Inn in Sparks, MD. So if you're used to that level of sophistication and flavor, this is your place ! We ordered the lamb and crab cakes , which were fabulous. The star of the meal was the incredible cheese plate - the harmony of the flavors (homemade jam, bleu cheese brie, spiced honey) was mind blowing ! We finished the night off with truffle torte and the bread pudding specialty. Overall, I definitely think well be returning.
(4)Ed F.
Food here is exceptional, especially for Howard County. There are a couple of other places I need to try, but this is surely one of the best restaurants in the county. If you're looking for elegant American/European fare, you can't go wrong here, as long as you can afford it. Went on a Groupon, so that eased some of the pain, but still a very expensive meal. Sometimes, though, you get what you pay for -- and the food is as good as the prices are high. We ate off the tasting menu, which offers smaller portions at a slight discount. Probably a better deal if you focus on the pricier entrees -- but the portions are small. If you're looking at the less expensive appetizers and entrees, I recommend splurging on full portions for a few dollars more. I'd recommend dishes, but they were going to rework the menu the next day. Besides, everything here is first-rate. The noise level is generally very low, except for the obnoxious party of 6 that sat next to our table midway through our dinner. Turns out there are privileged, prejudiced, clueless, loud rich people in Howard County, but that's another story. Survey asked about a TV -- there is one in the bar, but no sound. Pleasant jazz pumped into the restaurant.
(5)Maura G.
It pains me to share negative feedback on what has the potential to be a lovely, locally-owned, special event kind of restaurant. But for our family last night, The Highland Inn was a series of disappointments: The Food--was not good. My "seasonal" and server recommended, pork tenderloin was not tender, nor was a piece of loin. It was sliced, dry and charred. The sides, apple cubes and braised red cabbage tasted like the Mrs. Smith's brand in a jar I've seen at Safeway. There was nothing distinctive, or made-to-order about them. My sister's beef cheek was mostly fat, the Mahi-Mahi smelled "fishy" (ie: not fresh) and the creamer that came with our coffee at the end of the meal curdled in my mother's mug. The Service--was insufficient, inexperienced and weirdly robotic. When, before appetizers, I attempted to order a salad for my 10 year old, I was corrected and told that would have to wait until the proper course. (Really?) The Prices--we were celebrating a milestone birthday, and so were prepared to spend some cash. But when the bill arrived, over $1,000 for 14 adults and 6 children, we were flabbergasted. Yes, the kid's macaroni and cheese was delicious, but $17/serving? Outrageous. We live in challenging financial times and most restaurants offer corporate food. I was really looking forward to supporting and enjoying a lovely meal in a hometown, my hometown, establishment. Sorry, Highland Inn, you blew it for this HoCo girl. I won't be back.
(1)Nicole H.
love love love the crabcake with the fingerling potatoes and the lamb shank was amazing..I always order the desert and never wind up eating it...that is my fault...service could have been better...first time I went my waiter was a class above the rest...hands down..second time was some young girl that hardly knew the menu, and forgot some of the items that we requested...just when I though all hope was lost, here comes the waiter from my first visit, and he made sure that the rest of our dining experience went smoothly...it is a bit off the beaten path...I was pleasantly surprised..was a GROUPON well spent
(4)Lisa P.
Mediocre food and service. Wonderful drive and atmosphere. So disappointed in the flavor and quality of the food. I don't mind paying good money; except when it is for substandard food. We went for brunch. Ordered a lobster, crab and shrimp omelette that was missing lobster and the shrimp hadn't been cleaned and lacked any seasoning. My husbands poached eggs were more like hard boiled and the best part was when my son pulled a long strand of hair out of his mouth. Yuck $$$.
(1)Rowena F.
So my husband and I went there on a Groupon. Though I must give this disclaimer...even though we have a Groupon, we get whatever we feel like ordering from the menu if it sounds good--we are definitely "not restricted by our Groupon" type of folks. Nice location, very nicely decorated, beautiful wine case display...overall great ambiance. It was nice outside so we decided in their patio--not much of a view--we see the empty, grassy field and the parking lot. Our waiter was Matthew, who seemed very nice and knowledgeable. We started out the cheese platter which was awesome--there were 4 types of cheese, served with perfectly toasted crostini, honey and mustard seats, plus toasted nuts. Mix them all together and wow, it was perfection in your mouth! My husband ordered the tri-tip steak with mushrooms while I ordered the scallops. Both were presented nicely and both were excellent. His steak was tender, perfectly cooked. The chimichurri sauce it came with was amazingly flavorful. He ordered some extra on the side and I dipped my scallops into it! A smooth glass of their house Malbec perfectly complimented his meal. My dish came with 3 ginormous sea scallops which were seared perfectly and cooked till it was nicely tender. They were paired perfectly with the summer veggies, which were just cooked to a perfect crisp. The best part of my dish was the sprinklings of crunchy pork belly--all of it blended perfectly! So for dessert, none of their offerings were that exciting to us. They had ice cream, but it was Haagen Daz--my husband makes his own ice cream, so we're kind of ice cream snobs. Plus we didn't come to this nice restaurant to get pre-fabbed ice cream! There was crème brulee, flourless chocolate cake, fresh berries...eventually, we decided just to share the tiramisu--which is my most favorite dessert of all time--so I've had it many, many times in it's various forms during all my travels. I've had tiramisu mousse, tiramisu liquor, tiramisu cheesecake...just love this stuff. SO...THIS IS WHY THEY GET ONLY 3 STARS... Their tiramisu was....well...terrible...the worst I've ever had....It wasn't soft and fluffy, melt in your mouth, linger in your spoon-type of tiramisu. It was layered in some pastry dough (?) with some white cream (not creamy, just cream colored mush)...that definitely did not taste like mascarpone cheese. The poor square slab wasn't even sweet....so we sent it back... That's when we just lost the interest of our waiter...or may be we lost him when we showed him our Groupon (yeah, that was probably it). He just said, "Ok," when we asked him to take it back. Never asked us why we didn't like it or if we would like to try something different. He just grabbed our tab, re-did it and said good night. He was polite through it all, just not 5-star great. We think all their desserts may all be pre-fabbed and not made in-house. Overall, very nice restaurant with a nice atmosphere, but definitely not 5-star worthy...at least not yet, we hope!
(3)Will B.
Food was descent. Unfortunately, a gift card didn't work and management was not willing to resolve the situation. The gift card only covered maybe 1/3 of final cost so money wasn't the issue. There was obviously an error by the cashier when the card was originally purchased. For good customer service I would have expected a compromise. Food tasted good but customer service left a bad taste in our mouths.
(2)Cherry T.
Have been here several times with girlfriends , my daughter and have enjoyed every meal every time it really is a sweet romantic little place
(5)Keri K.
Excellent! Bought the Groupon to try somewhere new in the area, and we were very pleased!' Lovely ambiance, excellent staff, and phenomenal food! Delicious Malbec, fantastic lobster Mac and cheese, and a Gorgonzola Demi with a filet that was outstanding. Absolutely coming back!!
(5)Anne R.
cheese and crackers the food is amazing here. worth every penny you spend and more. amazing!!!
(5)Terrie P.
So good. HOCO has been waiting for this level of sophistication. Short ribs melt in your mouth. Lamb is succulent. Dessert was spectacular. Service was awesome. Owner and chef stopped by to check on our experience. We loved it.
(5)Laura S.
The gazpacho was the only thing that was worth the price. The octopus appetizer was tiny, with the potatoes dominating the plate. The lobster was tough and flavorless. On top of just mediocre food for ridiculous prices, the manager is very rude and doesn't know the first thing about customer service. Will not be patronizing this place again.
(1)Daniel B.
The Highland Inn is a "must go"! Worth the wait, and the art/decor is wonderful. Chef Brian Boston nailed this one -- brunch was superb and we cannot wait to be regulars at the beautiful bar! Highland has a real gem here. Our server, Bridget, was first class.
(5)Dianne M.
We invited a couple who are real foodies to dine here to show off that we have this wonderful place in Highland based on our previous experiences. Unfortunately, last night, the service was very slow and food came out cold after a long wait. Dinner took 3 hours! My husband ordered from full dinner menu and I ordered from small plates menu. His portion of sweetbreads was same as my small plate. I was very enthusiastic about this place until last night but not so much any more, which is too bad because it's so close to our home.
(2)Harley M.
Been here about 6 times and the service has substantially improved since the first few times i went during their opening month. Menu is diverse and offers something for everyone. They have a nice outdoor area and a huge selection of wine too.
(4)Paul S.
****UPDATE: THIS RESTAURANT IS NOW CLOSED**** Our reservation was accepted immediately and we were seated in a smallish dining room just beyond the bar. The décor is faux Hunt Cup and just not very pleasing to the eye (the window treatments are dizzying and the mural is just...sad). The acoustics were horrible as we could hear everything that was said across the room. The service was very good though I found out more about the menu from other waiters than our own just by listening to them address other patrons. The food was disappointing. Our soup starters (cream of crab & shrimp/corn chowder) were good but certainly not worth the $12 price tag. Same for the fig salad, as the figs were overly ripe and the dish over-priced for what it was. One entree missed entirely--the mahi was overdone and swimming in a pumpkin broth that was too earthy and heavy for the fish; shrimp & grits were good, not great, and had a smoky quality that grew tiresome by the end of the meal. Given that this restaurant strives to be in the same class as the Oregon Grille, I consider it a failure as there was nothing remarkable about our experience, no 'wow' factor to make us want to return again. Don't mind paying for an amazing culinary experience but this wasn't it.
(2)Robert H.
We have had 2 great meals at Highland inn during the early opening days, but were very disappointed recently on a celebration when dinner should be special. We had a dinner reservation and had to wait 30 minutes after being told "it would be a few minutes"; no updates during wait and when seated the restaurant had multiple empty tables. The service was superb as usual, but the food was sub-par; the Rockfish was fishy, not fresh, and overcooked. Carrots accompanying were uncooked. Steak was nicely seared but not tender. This was very disappointing as we expected Highland inn to live up to the $150 price tag; uniform quality of the food and preparation should be maintained in this category, unfortunately it was not.
(2)Jim A.
Let me start by saying that it was one of the coldest days of the year, but... there is a theme here. We did not have reservations, so we were seated in the lower level dining room. It was like being sent to the kid's table at Thanksgiving dinner. Large high ceiling room that was very COLD and very loud. Voices from a large group at the far end of the room could be heard word for word. The upstairs room looked much more cozy. We started off with one COLD tiny hard piece of bread each with COLD butter. Oysters Rockefeller - very very small oysters with spinach and what tasted and looked like Velveeta cheese. COLD. The lobster bisque was actually very good - just not enough of it. There were very few non-meat selections on the menu, so we went with the Sea Bass for an entree. It was also very good, but served on a COLD plate with no sides and COLD garnish. Wine was ok but was definitely not a generous pour for $11. Tiramisu for dessert was obviously thawed from frozen and was freezer burned. Waiter was great at first and then disappeared for long stretches. Overall we felt they were way over priced even with a Groupon. Maybe we would have had a totally different experience upstairs. We will never know. We will not be going back.
(1)Pear Y.
Pricey but definitely high quality. We had the tri-tip steak and it was absolutely delicious. However, both my boyfriend and i ordered our steaks medium..his came out perfect but some of mine was still very rare. The duck fat fries were super impressive-they were perfect. Food took a little long to come out but it didn't bother us that much.
(4)Fred L.
We have dined here three times so far and have not been disappointed. The food and service are both excellent! The last time we were there, I ordered the filet mignon topped with a seared foie gras lobe and Bordelaise sauce. Absolutely amazing! Juan Carlos is a very attentive and knowledgeable server. This is a top-notch restaurant that is rarely found in rural areas. I highly recommend the Highland Inn!!
(5)R M.
The food here is quite good. We had steak and scallops, and they were great. Dessert was awesome - apple chimichangas with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. However, this place is quite expensive compared to comparable restaurants in the area, so I don't think we will eat here often. The service was so-so. When I made the reservation I asked to be seated upstairs (I heard it has a nicer atmosphere) since we were celebrating our anniversary, but they failed to do that and we had to sit in the noisy back room. Fail. They also assigned us a waiter who was also the bartender, and he disappeared for great lengths of time. Fail. I wanted to have more positive things to say, but the best thing I could say is good food for a steep price, but not a great experience.
(3)Teresa D.
Service and atmosphere was very good. Food was good but not exceptional like I was expecting. I was surprised when I made reservations and told them it was my husband's birthday, and again last night, they offered nothing to him. Food was good & ambiance was nice. However it was a bit presumptuous with martinis at the bar $28 & pricey dinner. Steak was outstanding and Tuna was over spiced. We know this is opening week and hope they are checking reviews. Restaurant has great potential, with some adjustments to prices.
(3)Elizabeth B.
I was excited when this new restaurant opened up near by, hoping my husband and I would have a nice place to go for dinner and to bring company when they were in town. Well, the two of us were both very disappointed when we went there for dinner Friday night. We were both dressed nice but that didn't seem to be of importance. Several people had jeans and even themed t-shirts on. We were promptly seated on the main level where a row of two-top tables were lined up. Think stalls in a horse barn but no dividers. The tables were lined up so close together that the waiter could barely get in to serve us without knocking into the customers. He must do Yoga or something because he managed very well considering his size. I saw someone else take out a groupon and was wondering if it was the "groupon section". It was awkward and uncomfortable...and laughable. There wasn't any music playing so it was extremely quiet, you could hear a pin drop. You couldn't help but listen to everyone's conversations. In fact, our neighbors on each side gawked at our food when it arrived and asked us how things tasted when we started eating. It wasn't the cozy, intimate setting for a night out (without kids) with your husband, which was what we were expecting. The entire room was too bright and uninviting. There are two horse themed murals on either side of the room which were pretty but then the adjacent wall had mismatched paintings of all different sizes and subjects tacked up, distracting from the murals and adding to the discomfort in the room. The tables have a big round base so you couldn't comfortably sit with your feet in front of you, unless you wanted to put them on the base, and with heels, it wasn't comfortable for me. Our server was very nice and attentive. The water server was overly attentive. We couldn't take one sip, literally, of water without having him run over to fill it up...again, it became laughable. I saw another couple get sat by the hostess and because there isn't but a foot between each table she accidentally knocked a butter knife from their table to the floor. She proceeded to pick it up, place it on the plate, and walk away. The couple eyed it suspiciously, expecting her to come back for it. The dumbfounded look on their faces when she didn't was priceless...and funny. Lastly, the food...meh. I had the tri tip beef with the reduction sauce. I found the sauce very good, but not enough of it. The beef tips were very chewy. The potatoes had absolutely no flavor to them at all and the broccolini looked like something the cat brought in, although it did taste good. My husband had the French onion soup which he said was good. He also had the veal oscar and said it was ok, but tiny portion. We were planning on going here regardless of the groupon but I'm really thankful that we didn't pay full price, it wasn't worth it. When you try a new place you have certain expectations, especially based on the price, and Highland Inn did not meet ours. We still managed to enjoy ourselves (I think the wine helped) but will not be going back any time in the near future.
(2)JoAnne m.
so glad to finally have a great restaurant so close to home in Brookeville. No it is not cheap, but high quality costs more. I have had numerous dinners,lunch & brunch & each time both the meal & service have been excellent
(5)Bill J.
If you are looking for a restaurant that has high prices and mediocre food then this is the place for you. We have been there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In all 3 cases, the food was just OK, but the prices were high.
(2)Amber F.
Walking in, we were pleasantly surprised by how the building was renovated. The wait staff also seemed nice. This pretty much ends all the positives I have to say about this place. My spouse and I decided to try this place out for lunch, and they sat us in this awkward little room to the side that has 3 tables (for 2 people each). It might not have been so awkward if the only other person in the room was instead seated to the far side, but instead was sitting dead-center in the room, and was closer in proximity to me than my spouse across the table was. For an appetizer we tried the Poutine and the Citrus Marinates Olives. The Poutine was kind of bland, especially considering how good the Poutine is at Victoria Gastropub, AND for a cheaper price! The Olives were also a miss. They tasted like they came straight from a jar. Not to say that's bad, but I'm pretty sure I can get a jar of olives for cheaper than $8. For our entrees we ordered a roast beef sandwich and a hamburger. The roast beef wasn't any more special than deli meat from the grocery store, which was a bit of a turn-off. The burger was burned on the outside and greasy on the inside, the bacon was overcooked, and the fried onions were meh. The potato chips on the side were over-cooked and even worse than the ones you get at Famous Dave's, and even those are merely intended as a vessel to try their variety of BBQ Sauces. And the drinks, you may ask? The real heart-crusher was the $4 Coke. This was just a simple glass of coke. For $4. Maybe the ice was imported in from the mountains of Alaska, but still of little consolation considering there's 2 feet of snow on the ground here. We decided to pass on dessert since after looking at the menu nothing looked as if it was worth the $9, especially after the disappointment of the rest of the meal. On the plus side though, the Twist 'n' Turn Tavern next door (which has turned into a joke among the locals for how bad it is) will not be suffering from much competition here.
(2)anna m.
My family of 5 (including 3 kids ages 9, 11 and 14) went to dinner at Highland Inn on a Saturday night at 7:30 pm. The restaurant appeared very busy, but we were seated downstairs within 5 minutes of arrival. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, and not pretentious. Our server was Matthew who was very friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu and extensive wine list. He was very attentive to our family even though he had several other tables that he tended to that night. Our family of 5 thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Highland Inn. Our appetizers were foie gras, pork belly, clams casino, seared scallops and seafood bisque. Our dinner entree choices were a half rack of lamb, sirloin steak with foie gras butter, braised short ribs and roasted salmon. Everything was cooked to perfection. The rack of lamb and sirloin were perfectly medium rare. My daughter devoured her rack of lamb down to the bone. Our desserts included the creme brûlée, mango sorbet, and tiramisu, which were all scrumptious. Although we brought our 3 kids to the restaurant, there is no kids' menu, but of course, we knew this beforehand. Our kids are accustomed to eating a variety of different cuisines, and upon reviewing the menu prior to booking our reservation, they had already picked out menu items that appealed to them. However, the clientele appeared to be composed mostly of adults. If you have finicky kids with a limited palate, this may not be the ideal place to go. The bottom line is this...the Highland Inn is perfection. The staff was terrific and the food was even better. My husband and I have already made reservations for a return early Valentine's dinner on Wednesday (a mere 5 days after our first meal there) just for the two of us. While our family was at the restaurant, we ran into several friends who also had nothing but wonderful things to say about the Highland Inn. This is a must-go-to place. Run...don't walk...before more people hear about the Highland Inn and you'll find it difficult to get a reservation! I will be coming back with my girlfriends for lunches and brunch soon!
(5)Mrs S.
My family and I had the multi course New Years Eve dinner. Since the restaurant stated they would have a toast at midnight, it was exactly what we were looking for. We are local, but wanted to have a night out close to home. The meal was very good and we have no complaints. The service, however, leaves much to be desired. We felt rushed throughout the entire meal and were given a glass of champagne with our dessert, which was around 11:00pm, with no explanation. When we asked, we were told the restaurant was due to close before midnight and there would not be a toast. Of course - when you are rushing your customers out the door! Our waiter was constantly asking if we were finished with our meal when we were not. He brought our check soon after dessert without asking if we wanted coffee or anything else. We did call the restaurant soon after the experience and as a courtesy, the manager expressed that he would like to send a certificate for a future experience at the restaurant. After speaking to him a few times, we have yet to receive this certificate. Very poor customer service when we are residents of Highland and like to support our local businesses. Will not be contacting the restaurant again as they have lost a few customers and any recommendations we would have brought their way.
(2)Lisa P.
This review only applies to the bar (lounge), though I plan to come back and try the dining room. Service at the bar was great; the bartender was friendly, helpful and attentive. We opted for the crab dip and burgers. The crab dip was fabulous - especially the freshly toasted crostini (brought out in batches as it was toasted!). My burger was great as well, perfectly cooked and big enough for 2 meals! Prices were reasonable. My only complaint is that the bar stools are uncomfortable and awkward, which is why I will likely choose the dining room or a bar booth next time.
(5)Elizabeth M.
I would like to give 2.5 stars--right in the middle. My husband, young son, mother-in-law and I had Mother's Day Brunch at Highland Inn. We had a reservation, and despite the entry being packed, they seated everyone within a few minutes. Our meal was okay. The Tomato and Crab soup was really delicious. I wasn't at all interested in muffins as a bread offering but that is clearly a preference; my son loved getting cake before his meal! I'd much prefer a warm sourdough bread with whipped butter or similar. My husband and I both had Poached Eggs Oscar. The eggs were poached properly and the hollandaise was good, but the English muffin looked to be bought (eh, okay) and was not warm or tasted. I skipped most of my english muffin. The crab pieces were very big and generous. The potatoes and asparagus served with the eggs were both okay. Nothing special. All in all, so-so. Our service was not good. I am not sure if our waitress had too many tables, but we expect to not have to send back items that were different than we ordered, but we had to send back an entree, a drink, and a dessert all for being different from what we ordered. We also had to ask for coffee (first cup) 3 times, salt 3 times, and waited a long time (even in fine dining terms) for most everything. The manager was very professional and attentive when he saw our meal was not going well. I would really like to give Highland Inn another try as it is a lot closer to us than The Milton Inn (Brian Boston's other restaurant, which we love). At least we have a Groupon for next time.
(2)Patrick R.
This place is going to do well. Scallops with pork belly were outstanding. Crab cake was excellent. John the waiter was very helpful. We will definitely be back.
(5)kati d.
The best spot to sit is at the bar where you can learn about how they make everything from the food to the drinks. Everything they make is fresh and clean. Every time I eat here I come away with wanting to try to mimic whatever amazing dish I had that night -- and the waiter makes it sounds so simple. Yum yum yum.
(5)C B.
I was excited to have a nice place opening up close to home to make our local go to. When we arrive the Highland in looks nice and we were greeted by a friendly hostess. Our waiter was helpful and polite. We ordered drinks a couple appetizers, and two meals. The appetizers, lobster mac and cheese and rockfish tacos were good but not great. Our meals were ordered 1 steak (medium) and 1 scallop meal. When the meals were delivered the steak was cooked through well done with no pink in it. The waiter agreed and apologized and took the steak back. 15 minutes later the steak was delivered, this time raw and purple the whole way through. At this point the waiter said the steak would be taken off the meal and we told him we didn't want to wait any longer. I was surprised and disappointed with a several things. On a Friday night, I would assume they had one of their better kitchen crews working. Cooking a steak correctly should be a task that is relatively easy for an experience cook in a high end restaurant. in addition at a restaurant of this caliber I would expect that both meals would be removed from the bill since I had to eat mine cold waiting for my wife to get her meal and the lack of her meal ruined the dining experience. The last was that no manager or owner ever came to the table to apologize, although the waiter was extremely apologetic, I would expect the manager in an established like this to come to the table to try to save the reputation of the restaurant and salvage the relationship of a potential repeat customer.
(2)Dave M.
Long story short: an excellent restaurant ... great food, great service. It's about time that HoCo has a nice (albeit expensive) restaurant like this. Six of us for dinner on a Saturday night. The place was packed but we were seated within 10 minutes of our 7:30 reservation. My G&T was great. (Actually, I had THREE of them!) Someone else said that their Whiskey Sour was really good. People drank wine. Menu was varied and unique. I got some kind of frissee salad with a soft-boiled egg on top. Totally out of my comfort zone but it was fabulous. The table got two, different cheeseboards which were excellent. Other people enjoyed their salads, too. My Lamb Steak (special of the night, recommended by our server) was awesome. My dinnermates loved their Duck and Pork Chop. The tilefish was kind of bland but fresh and nice presentation. Desserts were awesome: crème brulet was great. Macadamia torte was excellent. It was not inexpensive ... $90 per person. Of course, that included multiple drinks (and two bottles of wine) and appetizers and entrees and desserts and coffee and a generous tip. So, maybe, in the big picture, that's not so bad. (Entrees ranged from upper $20s to low $40s.) I'm usually VERY critical of restaurants but Highland Inn did a great job, great food. Frankly, I look forward to going back which is very unusual for me to say about a restaurant. But this place knows what it's doing.
(5)Kerry S.
I have been anticipating the opening of this restaurant for several months now, and I was not disappointed! The Highland Inn has excellent food and amazing service. Our server Matthew was very knowledgable on the huge wine list and made great entree recommendations for us. We went on a jam packed Saturday night and we were seated immediately and on time. The wine list is phenomenal and I will definitely be going back. Eat the duck entree...it's off the charts!
(5)Susan S.
My husband and I visited here last week and overall it was a positive experience, except for making reservations and dealing with the rude hostess. When I called in the morning to make a reservation for that evening I was told immediately there was nothing available until 8:30 or 9 p.m. I then asked, what about 5:30, and was told, yes there was something available! When I arrived, the skinny short-haired blond hostess was rude and snooty with me. After that things improved, because our waiter was very attentive and the food was great. The Highland In needs improvement in training their hostess and reservation-making.
(3)Brian E.
We had lunch today at this wonderful addition to Howard County the whole experience was worth 5 stars. Next trip to the Highland Inn will be for dinner.
(5)Dot A.
Beautifully appointed. Smooth and professional service, warm welcome and a delicious dinner.
(5)Kathleen O.
Visited a new fine dining restaurant in Howard County this evening. So glad we have an option other than chain restaurants! The restaurant is beautifully decorated and the atmosphere is cozy and intimate. We sat at the bar and the bartender recommended a terrific bottle of wine and several tasty appetizers. The staff is very welcoming and we'll definitely be coming back.
(5)Helen M.
The community has long awaited the opening of this restaurant! Our party of 4 enjoyed a variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. The scallops were amazing - both the appetizers and the entree portions. The pork chops were also delightful. The creme brûlée was fabulous! Both the service and ambiance will entice us back. Looking forward to supporting this new local establishment!
(5)Jason B.
I went to check out the new restaurant in town when it first opened. I was not impressed. I ordered a rare stake. It was burnt a smothered with salt. The rest of the meal was mediocre with small portions. As for atmosphere the fire alarm went off all night over and over. No manager came to smooth it over nothing. Never went back.
(2)Kevin O.
The Brunch is to die for. Second time we came for Brunch on Sunday and they were both consistently good. We are foodies and are very particular....let me tell you that you will be happy you tried it.
(5)Gene M.
Ambience too "busy". Murals are nice but out of place for a classy restaurant. Waiter was either too busy or aloof. We had to try hard to get his attention on multiple occasions. We were a group of six. Mixed reviews. Half of the meals were good, half average. I had the "signature" shrimp dish. Waiter made a big deal about large "U-15" shrimps, Giant food shrimp cheap party shrimp platter has bigger shrimps. The dish was ok but i would not order it again. Not what i would be proud enough to label it "signature". Same of the signature desert. We had one of each dessert, peach cobbler is truly not worth ordering. I must say i was disappointed, i like to support our local restaurants but not sure I will go back.
(2)Kathie P.
The Highland Inn is a totally wonderful experience. It is tucked away on Rt. 216 in Highland, MD. The setting is lovely, the dining room is gorgeous, and the bar area is first rate. You need reservations, but that is easy to do on-line through the website. My neighbor and I went for the first time for dinner recently. I had rockfish which was perfect, and I also had shrimp and grits, which was perfect. My neighbor had a date salad and oysters rockeffer. Awesome!!!! They offer small plates with wine suggestions for each plate. I really can't say enough good things about this place, and I know that I will be back. The food is fresh and well prepared.
(5)Mary T.
Because of the high prices, we usually sit in the bar to take advantage of the less expensive bar menu. The hamburgers are amazing! Everything we have tried is fantastic -- a true gourmet experience! The bartenders make very interesting cocktails, pricey but unique and delicious!
(5)Kaya C.
I love this place! I've been a few times and every time I come it gets better and better. First things first: make a reservation. It can get pretty busy and if you have a party of 3+ making a reservation will ensure that you don't have to wait for a table. The venue is nice & upscale so I'd recommend dressing business casual at the very least. The waitstaff is always friendly and knowledgeable about the wines. Today my waiter was exceptionally attentive (although I'm horrible with names. His name started with a B and sounded European). Everything on their menu is fabulous. Personally I usually start with the artisan cheese plate and get the tri tip as a main. I've also had their scallops, salmon, crab cake, chicken, and duck. Today I went for dinner and they were still running their Valentine's Day menu. At first I was disappointed because my guests have never been and they saw things they liked on the regular menu. But we were all pleasantly surprised by how great the special menu was. I ordered the lamb (which I highly recommend they add to the regular menu). It's very rare that I find a great cut of meat perfectly paired with a sauce. Bravo chef!
(5)Chris C.
We decided to celebrate a birthday closer to home rather than going into DC... big mistake. Nice place, and good service, but the food is average at best. I had a ribeye steak, and gf had the pork tenderloin. I've had alot of steaks all over the DC/B'more area and rarely do I get one so bland, and over-cooked. I ordered med. rare, got medium-well... but wasn't interested in sending back; and gf's pork was also over-cooked and beyond bland. I ordered the lobster mac 'n cheese as well; usually my litmus test to the quality of food execution at steak restaurants - again, bland, no cheese flavor, but did have decent bits of lobster. I think most would consider it to be a good, unique experience ... unfortunately for me, it fell far short of my basic food expectations.
(2)Annie S.
I took my mom here to celebrate Mother's Day a week early. We had a wonderful time - the place was so quaint and the cuisine was delicious! We started off with the mushroom bruschetta and I had the oyster Po boy sandwich and my mom had the swordfish both were done beautifully and had tons of flavor. The staff were really friendly and extremely accommodating, not to mention very knowledgeable of how the food was prepared and any other questions we had. I highly recommend this intimate 19th century little inn in the country. It's off of Route 216 right past Route 108 in Highland, Md.
(4)Cynthia S.
There was only ONE waiter for ten tables. It took at least ten minutes to call him to bring us somthing we need.
(1)Shady K.
Five of us went for a birthday celebration with a Groupon in hand. It's a lovely setting, and the bar is nice. I asked for a not-too-aggressive Sauvignon Blanc. Luckily I was brought a taste before ordering. It (truly) tasted like grapefruit juice. I opted for a Pinot Grigio, which was fine. Among us, there were four different appetizers ordered. My stuffed date salad, while it sounded mouth-watering, was very bland. The mango was tasteless (not close to ripe). There were hints of the orange mascarpone, but just hints. The other diners: The lobster bisque was good, per my friend. Caesar salad - okay. The other was so forgettable that I've forgotten it. Entrees: Filet - thank goodness for the tasty béarnaise sauce. Rockfish - dry (pretty hard to do!). Accompanying risotto - no bite at all. It was just a side of rice. Crabcake - good, not great Lamb chops - good, not great Service was very slow. Very slow. A second glass of wine never arrived, but our water glasses were filled promptly and often. We brought a cake, which our waitress offered to have sliced for us. It was whisked away, and took nearly 15 minutes to be brought back. Cappuccino took 10 minutes. All in all: expensive, merely adequate food, slow service. I won't be going back.
(2)Jody M.
Came with a friend and didn't know what to expect. It's a very romantic atmosphere with candles at each table. Great place to bring a date! I loved the crab cakes! They came on fried green tomatoes with a tomato jam. Loved it. The servers were very attentive as well.
(4)Jared J.
Out of Business baltimoresun.com/enterta…
(1)Sharon K.
We'd been wanting to try this restaurant since before it opened. Unfortunately, it was a big disappointment. Although the ambiance of the main level is pleasant, we were taken to the downstairs dining room where we might as well have been in someone's 60's era rec room. The lights were too bright, the jazz background music irritating. The service is very good and the food presentation excellent. The food itself, though, is average. I had the tri tip and asked for it to be cooked medium. However the waiter convinced me to take it medium rare because it would be too tough and less flavorful otherwise. Big mistake. It was almost raw. The grilled romaine salad with couscous and pureed cauliflower was good, nothing exceptional. The dessert truffles with oreo ice cream were sweet but otherwise tasteless. Hopefully, this restaurant is just going through its growing pains and will improve. I think I'll wait another year and maybe try it again.
(2)Xani P.
Nice upscale spot in Howard county, but a few problems. When they are aiming for this kind of fine dining experience (and the price to match) flaws should be minimal. The atmosphere is nice although we were seated at a small 2 person table which became crowded with the wine list and large paper menus we were given. On the wine list is an offering of a flight of spirit infusions (vodka, gin, tequila and bourbon) which we wanted to try, and which the waiter said could be chilled "if we wanted" (who wants WARM liquor? especially on a hot july night). They were just ok, and more appropriate for serving at the bar, so maybe they shouldn't be included on the dining room wine list. The lobster mac and cheese appetizer was the best dish we had- very rich and tasty, good portion size, lots of big chunks of lobster. They brought this out on it's own, even though we ordered 2 appetizers, we shared this one and I had to remind the waiter we had ordered a second app (warm peach), which he brought right away. This was a nice salad with peach, foie gras, and hazelnuts but it was drowning in too much dressing. THEN before I could finish the late appetizer, the waiter brought out the entrees, so again our small table was overcrowded with plates. In a fine dining establishment the next course should never be brought out before the diners finish the prior course and those plates are removed. The chicken entree was fine, but it was a breast, which was not mentioned on the menu, and which is a weak cut in my opinion. It was a bit dry/plain. The crispy skin ocean trout was a nice looking dish, over a bright green vegetable ragout, but the "60 degree egg" should have been cooked a few more degrees, bits of the white were uncooked. Also, could have used some salt. We skipped dessert. We had a groupon for this visit, not sure I would go back again and pay full price. Service could be improved.
(4)T B.
Took my wife for Valentine's Day dinner. Given the fact that a good friend, who is a regular here, recommended the place, we gave it a shot. Was not a great experience. We were seated so close with other couples that it was hard to have a decent conversation with my wife. The prefix menu for Vday weekend was ok. Didn't think too much of the quality of food given the price. The ambience, food, price just didn't match well. Hope they improve in the future.
(3)James B.
We went here a few days before Valentines day with a groupon. The service was excellent as was the lighting and food. As everyone else has stated, the tables are very close together, so you either look straight ahead talking to your partner or you'll be talking to a stranger. Luckily most people keep a quiet voice and nobody brought kids. I would probably return with another groupon someday.
(4)Arsham M.
So I liked it.. But it is relatively pricey.. And delicious!! The food came out quick but also "on time" - well done kitchen. Green salad was super tasty. Lobster bacon Mac and cheese is not as heavy as you'd think and very good. The steak was PERFECT. No dressing needed whatsoever. Scallops - cooked very well - came atop the succotash which was yummy. If you like white wine, the Brancott is a perfect Sauvignon Blanc. We had a gentleman named Matthew taking care of us who was knowledgable, attentive, and kind.. Exactly what you want. Water was always filled and dirty plates bussed.. Can't really ask for more. I recommend but plan on $60/pp (one drink included)
(5)